August 2020

Dear GPA Parent/Guardian,

Welcome to OUR VIRTUAL CLASSROOM. My class is YOUR class. My name is Erin Eickhorst and I am beyond excited to welcome you and your child to Gompers Preparatory Academy (GPA). I will be your child’s English Language Arts and/or social studies teacher. This is my 5th year at Gompers Preparatory Academy and I consider it a privilege to work with the families of our wonderful school. This year will be much different than previous years as we begin distance learning. It is my hope that we work together to make our class a success. Now more than ever, your role as a parent is so important. In fact, not only are you a parent, but now I would like to think of you as a “Learning Coach” at home. Hi Coach!

How can you help your child get used to distance learning? Here are some tips to help you as a parent and as a learning coach.

8 Tips for Parents as a Learning Coach

1. Make sure the learner is on time, ready, and prepared to learn every day.

2. Make sure the computer is fully charged the night before

3. Make sure the student has dressed appropriately and in GPA attire when participating in live video conferencing.

4. Know your child’s schedule, start time, and their teachers

5. Attend Zoom classes as often as you can

6. Be involved throughout the day.
   -Check-in
   -Make sure learner is on task as well as taking necessary breaks
   -If the student is off task, Asking: What should you be doing right now?

7. Follow-up at the end of the day.
   -How did you do today?
   -Did we meet our goals?
   -What did you learn today?
   -See if they finished the assignments or not

8. Keep in contact with the teachers

PowerSchool for Parents, monitor

Monitor daily progress, making sure students are getting their assignments turned in.

During distance learning, we will use Zoom and other conferencing and virtual meeting platforms, to deliver class meetings, homework, assessments, special projects, and much more to our students every day. In our classroom, the practice of teaching both the skills of the standards-based curriculum and higher-level thinking skills reinforce each other and facilitate deeper levels of knowledge for all learners. I will provide your child with tutorial videos and assignments.

Parents and students will be able to access off-campus learning opportunities through our Google Classroom page. Parents should have their login information, as Google Classroom will be the primary platform for the distribution of weekly assignments.

Expectations for Students

• Make sure your surroundings are proper

• Leave a respectful digital footprint by not sharing embarrassing, illegal, or inappropriate content.

• Adhere to the GPA Code of Conduct handbook

• Adhere to the GPA Technology Use Policy (pg. 17)

• Adhere to GPA culture, non-negotiables, REACH values, and core beliefs.

• Complete and turn in assignments on time

Parents, if your child is ill and will not be able to participate for the day, please email or call both the attendance office and me.

Contact Information:

attendance@gomperscharter.org / (619) 263-2171

eeickhorst@gomperscharter.org / (815) 980-0930

Thank you for your commitment to your child’s education. I look forward to a wonderful school year from a distance. Thank you for being my partner this year as we learn and teach together.

Very Respectfully,

Ms. Eickhorst