• • • • All students will receive instruction via live and pre-recorded lessons and/or assignments from their classroom teachers daily. Live lessons will begin at 8:45 a.m. for elementary school students and 7:41 a.m. for middle/high school students. Any live lessons can be recorded and posted for students to reference/review at a later time as needed.

      • Teachers will design lessons based on the regular curriculum that is used in our district for their grade/subject.

      • Those that participate in full-time remote learning will be involved until February 1, 2021 or until schools are able to return to full, normal operation.

• Chicopee Public Schools has purchased an additional 3,000 Chromebooks for 1:1 capability and will be provided to students as needed.

• Wi-Fi hotspots (“jetpacks”) will be purchased with priority to our homeless and foster care population. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to notify CPS if needed.

• Please contact your school for more information using the link below.

https://www.chicopeeps.org/schools

• An IT helpline has been established. It can be reached Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM at 413-594-3487 (option 1).

• The SchoolBrains Community Portal provides access to view your child's assignments and grades. Additionally, a Google Classroom feature allows you to join your child's classes as a parent/guardian in order to view assignments and announcements. The teacher may send you an invitation to join via email; alternatively, you can request that the teacher send you the invitation.

To explore the features that Google Classroom offers for parents/guardians to monitor their child's progress, please consult the link below.

• Parent/guardian email summaries

• Assignments will be issued as if students are attending regular, in-person classes and be graded according to the regular CPS grading policy. Term grades, progress reports, and report cards will be issued as normal. Attendance will be taken in accordance with CPS attendance policy.

• Promote Good Time Management: Help your child set and keep a schedule to be engaged in online activities and independent schoolwork. Establishing regular sleep habits is also highly recommended.

• Maintain Effective Communication: Encourage your child to make contact with classmates and teachers in order to describe any problems she/he has with learning materials or assignments. (The type and extent of this communication is, of course, dependent upon the age of your child.) As a parent/guardian, effective communication with teachers is also crucial for a positive remote-learning experience.

• Reduce distractions: Where possible, reduce distractions while your child is completing schoolwork. This includes noise as well as clutter. A designated workspace that will be comfortable for your child is helpful.

• Use a checklist for focus: For some children who struggle to stay focused, a basic visual checklist of tasks needed for a particular activity will be helpful. For example, if the child is asked to watch a video, read a prompt, and then provide a written response, the checklist would include keywords such as watch, read, write. The child would then check off each item once it is completed.

• Provide positive feedback: Providing immediate and positive feedback can go a long way in helping to motivate your child. And don't forget to celebrate yourself, as you are playing an essential role in the learning and growth of your child.

• Give your child (and yourself) a break: The teacher does not want your child to be frustrated with or miserable about learning. In fact, teachers spend time trying to make lessons interesting and tailoring instruction to provide the right level of challenge for their students. If you find your child feels frustrated, it is okay to take a break or slow down the pace of an assignment. Don't hesitate to reach out to the teacher for guidance.

• Encourage movement: Kids need to move! Allow time for exercise before your child participates in a distance learning task. If possible, you could also set up a work station so that your student can stand while learning remotely.

(Ideas extracted from John Hopkins School of Education)

• Contact the guidance department in your school to discuss your concerns. Find your school in the link below.

https://www.chicopeeps.org/schools

Teachers have the option of using Google Meet or Zoom for their remote lessons. Should your teacher use Zoom, here are some helpful videos to get you started.

Join a Meeting

https://www.youtube.com/embed/vFhAEoCF7jg?rel=0&autoplay=1&cc_load_policy=1

Joining and Configuring Audio/Video

https://www.youtube.com/embed/HqncX7RE0wM?rel=0&autoplay=1&cc_load_policy=1

If you have more questions, check out this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnrj6Q5RuvU

To know how strong your Internet speed is, visit speedtest.net and click Begin Test:

When the test completes you will be given a report showing your upload and download speeds.

We recommend a minimum up/down speed of 5 Mbps (megabits per second). However above 10 Mbps up/down is optimal.

If you find you have below 10 Mbps, there are some steps you can take to fix connection problems.

1. Plug your Ethernet cable directly into your computer (Wireless connections can be weaker.)

2. Don’t have unnecessary windows/tabs open on your web browsers

3. Check to see what other devices in the house may be connected to the internet (mobile devices, gaming systems, streaming movies) and disconnect them.

If connection problems persist, contact your internet service provider (ISP) to discuss options for getting a faster service. You may have an outdated modem or there may be issues with the connection to your residence that can be resolved by your ISP.

Also, an IT helpline has been established. It can be reached Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM at 413-594-3487 (option 1).

To make the most of your experience, it will help to have access to some (if not all) of the following materials when you are working remotely. Some classes may ask you to use specific materials but you will be given advanced notice of them.

1. Markers, pens and pencils

2. Paper (blank, lined, and graph)

3. Ruler

4. Highlighters

5. Pencil sharpener

6. Eraser

7. List of user names and passwords (keep in a secure place)

8. Schedule of meetings

9. Timer

Whether this is your first online learning experience or you’re an expert in online learning, here are some tips to help you and the others get the most out of the experience.

• Participate: The benefit of these virtual learning environments is that you get to interact with teachers and students. Ask questions, share ideas, and engage in some powerful thinking with your peers and teachers.

• Make your needs known: Things happen with technology that may make your experience more challenging. Please let your teacher know what we can do to help make your experience better.

• Use the chat feature: This is a great way to participate in the background and extend the discussion and conversation.

• Remember you’re on camera: This is just a reminder that all participants will be on camera for the majority of the virtual learning sessions. It is our only way to communicate and see each other. However, it also means that when we’re not talking, people can still see us. While you do have the option to black out your camera, we would like to encourage you to reserve that function for times when it’s necessary (e.g. your cat jumps on your desk and spills your water and you have to clean up).

• Organize: We strongly suggest you have your materials readily available around your workspace.

• Microphones

  • Mute your microphone when you’re not speaking to eliminate extra background noise, etc.

  • Talk in a conversational tone. No need to project too loudly.

  • Audio settings can be adjusted in the Settings section.