Mrs. Abrams' Expectations

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE PAGE

Parents and Students,

This page contains important information for both parents and students.

Communication is very important to the success of your child. I can be contacted by email, phone, and text.

Alane Abrams 214-499-3145

alane.abrams@epiccharterschools.org

PARENTS:

Epic is not a traditional school model, parents play an equal (if not bigger) role in their child’s academic success. Please read the outlined points so that I can be a more helpful team member.

1. Please be aware of your child’s weekly assignments. I cannot stress this enough. Some assignments require a specific percentage completed each week and/or a specific number of lessons to be completed each week. You can have access to your child’s curriculum and google folder anytime. I can help you get access to any of these, just let me know. Students risk being withdrawn if weekly assignments are not completed.

2. I submit grades weekly for every course in which your child is enrolled, so be sure to get assignments completed in all required courses. I track progress using the percentage completed in each course AND number of blue ribbons in Study Island.

3. Please hold your child accountable for the work assigned each week. Epic is no different than the traditional school in that all students must complete their assignments to earn a grade. If lessons are not completed, then their progress falls behind and grades suffer. Student grades are not only based on their scores but also their pacing progress, so when student falls behind in a subject, it brings their grade down.

4. As a partner on your child’s academic team, you will need to help your child (when needed) with their assignments with the intent on helping them learn the content. However, it is very important that parents do not help on tests/quizzes - especially on the Study Island quizzes. Consider Study Island to be a standards mastery program. Each Study Island lesson reflects a standard that your child must master in order to pass the state test in April and be prepared for their next grade level. Their score for each lesson helps me identify topics that your child may need more help on so it is VERY IMPORTANT for your child to receive NO HELP on these quizzes.

5. Contact me if you see problems or have questions. I very much appreciate parents letting me know what’s going on with their child - whether they’re struggling academically, having technology issues or other concerns that may be affecting their academic performance. I can better serve your child if I know that they need help.

STUDENTS:

1. There are specific assignments that must be completed each week. Some examples are completing your core curriculum (Plato, Compass, Gradpoint), Study Island, sessions with a HWH tutor. (This is not including benchmark tests - MAP and ACT that must be completed three times per year.) Students may also be assigned supplemental programs as well. Please get organized and schedule time each day to work in each subject area just like you would at a traditional school. Once you fall behind in your pacing progress, it is more difficult to get caught up.

2. Keep up with the pacing progress you need to complete each week. You will be given a Pacing Guide at the beginning of each semester that outlines the percentage of curriculum you must complete each week. Print this and post it in a place easy to see.

3. I ask that you respond to me within 24 hours if I’ve contacted you for a response.

4. Be honest and upfront about where you are struggling or need help. I am here to help you but cannot if you do not communicate with me. It’s my job to help you if/when you need it.

5. I require video or face-to-face meetings with all of my students. Please do not miss these meetings since they are part of your grade. They usually are no longer than 1 hour if I teach a lesson and shorter for a check-in to monitor progress.

6. Be aware that students scoring below a proficient grade (usually 60% or below) may be assigned mandatory HWH tutoring.

PARENTS/STUDENTS: Epic’s Truancy Policy This policy basically states that if the student has not completed work in 10 consecutive days (2 - weeks) or made contact with me to let me know what’s going on, then the student can be withdrawn from Epic.

There is also a Minimum Assignment Policy. If the minimum number of gradable assignments are not completed each 9 -weeks, students can be withdrawn as well. Students not completing their ENTIRE set of assignments (called Gradable Assignments) each week are at risk of breaking the minimum assignment policy and can be withdrawn.

Fulfilling Every Student’s Individual Potential…

The Epic Mission, “Fulfilling every student’s individual potential by personalizing an educational plan that focuses on school and family partnership to achieve optimal student performance,” is our goal each and every day.

Epic is dedicated to providing students and families with a learning environment that can meet an individual student’s unique needs. The core values of honesty, respect, tolerance, fairness, self-discipline, integrity, responsibility, citizenship, work ethic, and trust are the foundation upon which the School is built. Epic Charter Schools is a FREE PreK-12 public school provided in sponsorship by the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board for parents/students seeking a non-traditional educational setting utilizing internet-based, individualized self-paced instruction provided in nearly any location.

We believe that learning best occurs when:

Students are provided an opportunity to receive instruction in a manner that appeals to them and their family.

Within appropriate guidelines, the curriculum is self-paced to benefit the individual student.

The curriculum is accessible to students at a time that is best suited for his/her learning style.

One-to-one teaching is used as appropriate.

Real life context-based learning is emphasized.

There is supplemental enrichment through individualized instruction, independent study, field trips, apprenticeships, and appropriate uses of technology, etc.

The entire community serves as the school campus.

Interesting, worthwhile learning opportunities are provided that will stimulate the interests of each student.