Distance Learning

Faribault Public Schools Distance Learning Communication to Families (Spanish) (Somali)

What is Distance Learning?

Distance Learning is a method of instruction where teachers provide educational materials to students through electronic means or a distribution of materials, ensuring a daily interaction between teachers and their students. Distance Learning allows instruction and collaboration to continue when students and teachers can’t be in the same physical space.

Faribault Public Schools will begin Distance Learning on Monday, March 30. The process to develop routines will take a couple of weeks as we begin our Distance Learning programming.

As a parent, Distance Learning gives you the opportunity to take a more hands-on role in your child’s education. Your responsibilities include making sure your child has the supplies they need, making sure they complete their assignments, answering their questions, and contacting their teacher(s) if you or your student have any questions. In addition to contacting your teachers through email or other applications, you can also leave them voicemails at their regular school phone number. They will receive immediate notification of the voicemail in their email.

How will students connect with Teachers?

Early Childhood

Families will have access to SeeSaw, an electronic learning platform for daily and weekly material from teachers. Families without internet access will be able to access physical documents distributed on March 26th as well as continued distributions of materials throughout Distance Learning.

Elementary School

Families will have access to SeeSaw or Schoology, electronic learning platforms for daily and weekly material from teachers. Families without internet access will be able to access physical documents distributed on March 26th as well as continued distributions of materials throughout Distance Learning.

Middle School

All students have an iPad device that they can use for Distance Learning. Some courses will be distributing materials depending on content and will do that through our food distribution system. Families without internet access will be contacted by individual teachers to receive instructions and learning materials.

High School

All students have an iPad device that they can use for Distance Learning. Some courses will be distributing materials depending on content and will do that through our food distribution system. Families without internet access will be contacted by individual teachers to receive instructions and learning materials.

Technology Support - For technical support please email: techsupport@faribault.k12.mn.us

When Distance Learning is in effect, online applications like Seesaw, Schoology and Infinite Campus are the easiest way for our teachers to stay in contact with families and deliver instruction to students. If you don’t have wireless internet in your home, you can go to https://www.highspeedinternet.com/mn to find a list of local providers.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Charter Spectrum is providing 60 days of free wireless internet service for new customers. You must cancel after 60 days to avoid charges. There may also be additional charges for the modem and router installation. You can call this number to apply for free wireless internet service from Charter Spectrum: 1-844-488-8395.

If you are a current customer of Jaguar Communications, they are offering a $25 discount on services for families with children:
1-507-214-1000.

If you have a smartphone, service providers T-Mobile, Sprint and AT&T are offering to activate free hotspot service. This allows you to use your phone as an access point and share your wireless internet service with another device. Contact your cell phone provider for more information.

All Faribault Public Schools students in grades 6 through 12 are provided with an iPad. If your student(s) doesn’t have a device, you can check one out by contacting your teacher. Supplies are limited, so we recommend each household check out one device.

If you don’t have internet access, your student will still engage in Distance Learning through pencil and paper assignments and materials supplied by teachers.

Distribution of Materials

• Initial Pick-up Date: March 26th, 2020 from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM at McKinley Early Childhood Center, each elementary school, Faribault Middle School and Faribault High School.

• Educational materials will be distributed and collected at the same locations and times as Food Service.

Food Service

Even if students are not in our buildings, their health and nutrition remain very important to us. As long as schools are closed, we will serve free breakfast/lunch bags for all children 18 and younger from 10 a.m.-noon at these locations: Buckham Library, Evergreen Estates, Cannon River Mobile Home Park, Discovery School, Four Seasons Apartments, McKinley Early Childhood Center, and the Faribault Education Center. The FEC location will serve from 7 a.m. to noon.