Middle school teachers are now using ZOOM. Zoom classes are virtual, real-time classes that allow teachers and students to interact via video. See below to 1) help you know how to get into Zoom classes, and 2) know the Zoom classroom schedule.
Getting into a Zoom Classroom
All students should have the Zoom app on their iPads. (If your student does not, PLEASE CONTACT HOSEK OR TEACHOUT IMMEDIATELY.) It is a blue rectangle with a white video camera icon inside.
- Click on the Zoom app.
- Click on “join a meeting.”
- No sign in or sign up is required.
- “Join a Meeting” should now be open.
- Type in the teacher’s personal meeting ID number (see below).
- Click “join.”
- A message box will appear that tells students they are in a waiting room.
- Once the teacher admits the student into the meeting, make sure the video camera is on and the microphone is muted.
If you do NOT have the Zoom app...
- Open Safari browser on the iPad.
- Go to www.zoom.us
- Click on “join a meeting” in the upper right corner.
- Enter the teacher’s meeting ID number (see below).
- Click “join.”
- You will wait in the teacher’s waiting room until the teacher admits you into the Zoom class.
Teacher Personal Meeting IDs
- Teachout: 780-826-2360
- Hosek: 726-104-8419
- Shaffer: 519-706-3963
- Please check with your electives teachers for their Zoom IDs.
Last Ditch Links to Zoom
If you don't have the Zoom app and the webpage link didn't work, use the following links...
Zoom Classroom Schedule
Zoom classes will meet Tuesdays through Fridays. You should be on time and be ready to take notes, complete work, and participate in discussion. Sessions will run 10-30 minutes. Check with your elective teachers to know when you are meeting with them.
Tuesdays and Thursdays
ELA, math, and science will be held on these days at the following times...
9 AM period 1
10 AM period 2
11 AM period 3
Wednesdays and Fridays
All social studies classes will be held in their homeroom teacher's Zoom classroom at 9 AM.
Communication...
with parents, guardians, and students will be done primarily through the app Remind101. Download the Remind 101 app and text the class codes below to 81010.
Ms. Teachout's codes:
6th: @eteacho
7th: @eteachou
8th: @eteachout
Mrs. Hosek's codes:
6th: @929d8b
7th: @32gfaf
8th: @gcgcd4
9th: @4k9742c
Mrs. Shaffer's codes:
6th: @928797
7th: @76f7826
8th: @7337427
You can also contact us through email.
6th grade: emily.teachout@doralcolorado.org
7th grade: stacy.hosek@doralcolorado.org
8th grade: tammy.shaffer@doralcolorado.org
Lockers
Okay. They're actually cubbies. Each student will be issued a 13" by 13" cubbie in which to keep their binders, books, notebooks, etc. Students are to use only their assigned cubbie and leave other students' property alone.
Students, leave valuables such as electronics, toys, and collectables at home.
You may decorate the interior of your cubbie with removable, school-appropriate decals.
Though not required, door inserts are available from Ikea for $17 (Ikea door insert). Parents must purchase and assemble inserts.
TurnItIn
Students will be turning papers and essays into a program called TurnItIn. The program will check for plagiarism and grammar and language usage errors. More information about this will be given to students in their ELA classroom, though all teachers who assign writing will be utilizing this program.
EXPECTATIONS
Expectation #1: Come to class on time.
You may enter the building at 7:50 a.m.
The school day begins promptly at 8:00 a.m. You should be in your seat working on bell work.
Expectation #2: Come to class on time.
This year there will be a FIVE-MINUTE PASSING PERIOD between each class. You should use this time to go to the bathroom, get a drink, eat a quick snack. You are expected to be in your seat doing bell work when the bell rings signalling the end of each passing period.
Expectation #3: The teacher dismisses you, not the bell.
Expectation #4: Come to class prepared.
pencil and/or pen
paper and/or binder filled with paper
planner
textbook for class
iPad
other class-specific materials (calculator, novel, etc.)
homework
Expectation #5: Use a planner daily.
You are required to bring and use a planner daily. The planner should be large enough to write in homework and assignments for five subjects daily.
How Planners Will Be Used
You are required to use your planner in each of your core classes everyday:
- When homework, a paper, or a project is assigned, write it down on both the assigned date and the due date.
- When there is no homework, write no hmwk.
Why Planners Are Important
Planners are an important organizational tool! Read this excerpt by author Dr. Nancy Darling from Psychology Today and you'll understand why planners are helpful:
Expectation #6: Make friends with your homework.
Expect homework more often than not now that our class time is only one hour.
If you are someone who consistently and thoroughly completes your homework, homework is your friend and it will significantly help your end-of-quarter grades. Even if you feel like feeding your homework to the dog, don't. Do your homework and bring it to school the next day.
If you forget to do your homework or leave it at home, know that SOME late work is accepted based on what it is and the circumstances involved. This said, accepted late work must be turned in DURING THE UNIT in which it was assigned. Accepted late work will receive HALF CREDIT.
Parents, if you feel that your student's homework load is exorbitant, exceeding for a prolonged period of time the 10-Minutes-Per-Grade-Level-Per-Night Rule (60 minutes for 6th, 70 minutes for 7th, and 80 minutes for 8th), then please contact your student's teacher(s) to discuss your concerns.
Expectation #7: Use the appropriate hall pass when you leave during a class.
Expectation #8: Use the restroom during passing periods.
You may NOT use the restroom during the first 10 minutes of class nor the last 10 minutes since you have passing periods now.
During class, grab a pass and sign out to use the restroom.
Expectation #9: Your cell phone is out of sight and out of use during the school day.
If we see it, we take it, even if it's peeking out of your pocket. Only parents or guardians can pick it up from us at the end of the day.
The two exceptions are when we explicitly ask you to take it out and use it during class (i.e. for Remind 101, photographs, Kahoot!, etc.),
OR if you are charging it at a cell phone charging station. Mrs. Shaffer and Mrs. Hosek have four ports in each of their classrooms. You will need to bring your own charger, however, to use the charging stations.
Expectation #10: Use earbuds only with teacher permission.
Earbuds are needed for programs such as iReady, for research, and sometimes for Individualized Education Plans. The middle school teachers will decide when and how earbuds will be used in their classrooms. While in disuse, earbuds must be kept in backpacks or cubbies.
Expectation #11: Use technology appropriately.
See the technology page for detailed technology policies. In brief...
Three "strikes" wilL lead to the loss of your iPad privileges FOR THE YEAR.
Stay on task. It's that simple.
Don't play games unless a teacher directs you to a specific website for ACADEMIC purposes.
Use your technology for good only. Don't play pranks or bully others online.
Don't use your apps as social media; shared Google docs are not chat rooms.
The Internet if for research only, not for looking up images, not for watching YouTube, etc.
Expectation #12: Come dressed in uniform.
See the uniform page to know what (and what not) to wear. In extreme brief...
No, you can't wear HATS except on spirit days, even at recess.
LEGGINGS may only be worn under skirts.
JEGGINGS are allowed as long as they are not see through and have pockets.
Shirts should have the Doral logo on them.
SWEATSHIRTS must be dress code appropriate, even at recess.
Our Doral COLORS are red, white, navy, teal, purple, and black.
WHAT ABOUT...
Class Tardiness
All tardies are considered UNEXCUSED. Students arriving tardy to school any time after 8:00 am must report to the main office where they will be checked in as “tardy to school” and receive a pass. Students will only be admitted to class tardy with a “tardy-to-class pass.”
Students with excessive tardies are subject to consequences with parent contact and administrative discipline and/or will be referred to the Administration/Attendance Review Committee.
Consequences for Tardies Per Quarter:
- 3 Tardies = Verbal Warning
- 5 Tardies = Assigned an Administrative Lunch Detention
- 7+ Tardies = Parents will be contacted for a Conference and student will be placed on an Attendance Contract with an Intervention Plan.
Assignment & Assessment Revisions
Assignment Revisions
Significant learning can often be achieved through the correction of mistakes. With this in mind, assignments that receive a grade of 69 percent or less may be eligible for revision. It is up to the discretion of each individual teacher to decide which assignments he or she will allow to be revised.
Assessment Revisions
Students who score below 70 percent on an assessment may retake the assessment in order to raise their grade. The highest score they can receive on the revised assessment is a 70 percent. This policy rewards students who put forth the effort by allowing them to pass their assessment and to ensure that they understand the material before moving on.
Make-Up Work
- All students are entitled to receive their assignments or “make-up” work for any absence or suspension. Make-up work is not to be withheld from any student.
- Students ARE NOT entitled to receive a grade/credit for missed work with an unexcused absence.
- Homework must be completed within 24 hours times the amount of days missed after returning to school. In addition, all assignments must be made-up or the student will be issued an incomplete. Be aware, incomplete assignments may affect the student’s final grade.
- It is the student/parent’s responsibility to contact the teacher regarding any missed assignments. If a student anticipates being absent for more than two consecutive days, it is the student’s/parent’s responsibility to contact the school and pick-up any class work/homework from the teacher.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the taking of another person's ideas or words and passing them off as your own, either inadvertently or deliberately.
Though plagiarism is taught starting in the upper elementary grades, many students still commit plagiarism in middle school. Some of these students don't realize that copying and pasting from the Internet is wrong. Or they know it's wrong, but don't know how to cite their source for the information that is "just perfect" for an assignment or project, and decide to not worry about it. Or, some students copy another's work deliberately and hope the teacher doesn't find out!
The following is how Doral Academy deals with plagiarism in the middle school grades:
- Discuss: Teachers will first talk to the student about the plagiarism to find out why it occurred.
- Redo/Revise: Students must redo entirely or partially revise the assignment. The course of action required is up to the discretion of the teacher.
- Grade: It is also up to the discretion of the teacher whether he or she will give the student credit for the redone or revised assignment. The decision will be based on several factors, including how much information was plagiarized and the number of times the student has plagiarized previously.
- Administrative Discipline: More severe consequences will be administered only if the student continues to knowingly plagiarize. At that time, the student will receive a referral which goes on his or her student record permanently and may be subject to suspension.
