August 30, 2020

This information is important for the upcoming week.

Key Resource: All Things DSF

I want to encourage you to check out our schools virtual hub, All things DSF, which you can find at www.atdsf.com

This site, formerly called the Rebel Hub, is home to quick links, resources, and will be the landing page for any time-sensitive links on the banner at the top, such as our "Information Center" staffed live on the first day of school. (see below). This is a great site to bookmark for future reference and quick access.

Student Schedules

Student Schedules

Student schedules can be viewed in Power School. If your student believes there is an error on their schedule, we invite them to fill out this form: https://tinyurl.com/DSFERROR2020. Examples of schedule errors include, but are not limited to:

No class during a period
Two classes during the same period
Missing a core class (English, Math, Science, History, Health/PE)
Repeating a class you have already passed
Enrolled in a class that you have not passed the prerequisite course (ex.- placed in Spanish III without passing Spanish II)

Please note that, as in every year prior to the first day of school, schedules are in draft mode. While we do not anticipate many changes between now and September 8th, they are subject to change in order to accommodate balancing of classes.

PowerSchool Parent Portal

HCPS has created an easy-to-follow video for creating a PowerSchool parent portal account: https://youtu.be/5BDCv307vrI

Click here to access the PowerSchool Parent Portal homepage: https://sis.henrico.k12.va.us/public

Welcome Back Messages to Students (via Text and social media)

While we've worked hard to make sure staff and families are fully informed as we enter the school year, we've been trying to figure out the best way to get word to students regarding expectations, where to go, and what to expect.

With the exception of our 9th graders (see below), we will not be having whole group class meetings where we go through a PowerPoint. Instead, we are going to send out short videos all week providing them with key information. We'll post to Instagram, but we also wanted to text it to you parents with the hopes that you will forward the video to your students if possible. Look for those to drop later this week.

Freshmen Homeroom Meet & Greets

We've set up virtual meet & greets with for our 9th grade students with their homeroom teachers and their Big Sibling student mentors. Students can ask questions about high school and the virtual environment, and start to build community. These will take place on Thursday, September 3rd at 11 am. Students can access the link to these conferences online at www.atdsf.com.

Technology Information

If you are new to HCPS and do not have your laptop yet, you should pick it up THIS WEEK, using the nearest distribution hub, Godwin High School. This will take place from 8:30-4:30, this week only, please call DSF if you have questions.
If you have not yet activated your webcam, you should do so THIS WEEK at Freeman. Park out front and head towards leadership center on the right. THIS MUST HAPPEN THIS WEEK IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN SCHOOL NEXT WEEK.
- - - Where: Freeman HS
    - When: Monday through Thursday
    - Time: 8:30 through 12 and 12:30 through 4:30
If your computer is having technical difficulties, you should come by the repair helpdesk at Freeman THIS WEEK.

While on campus, follow the instructions below to make sure your computer is running the most recent updates. Thank you for your attention to these matters as we prepare for our virtual start a week from Tuesday.

Computer Network Update

New Information:

This information has not been shared in a Sunday message yet, so it is listed here for the first time. Consider this the "breaking news" for this week.

First Day of School

At 9am on the first day of school, all students should log into the Schoology class of their FIRST PERIOD teacher, as indicated on the schedule they can now access on Schoology. They will see a link for the FIRST DAY and click there to log in to the first meeting with their instructor. We'll take it from there.

If a student gets lost, doesn't know where to go, has a technical failure and loses connection with the teacher, (or if the teacher's at-home technology fails) and they are not sure where to be, then students should visit www.atdsf.com and click on "Information Center" at the top of the page. This will log them into a live session with several of our staff members that will be there to help them find their way.

Teacher Opening Communications

As soon as next weekend, you and your student will start to recieve communications from your student's teachers. Your student will likely receive a one-time email with links to their teachers "welcome" video messages. That email will go to your child's "hcps-students" email address next weekend.

You will also likely recieve weekly emails from your teachers outlining what students will be doing in each class in teh coming week. This is a lot of messages, but it is our hope that they will provide context and guidance to families to help motivate, engage, and support students as they learn. These are not required reading, but rather another tool to make sure we are working together toward our common goal.

Information We've Previously Posted:

The information below had been posted in weeks prior, but is still relevant and important. Click the topic to read the collapsed text below it.

Webcam Activation

Students must get the webcam on their HCPS laptop activated this month. Our goal is for 100% of our students to have this capability for the first day of class, which will take place virtually. We sent this letter earlier in the summer that has specific instructions.

Where: Freeman HS
When: Monday through Thursday
Time: 8:30 through 12 and 12:30 through 4:30

Daily Schedule

Freeman has developed its virtual learning bell schedule based on the sample schedules developed by HCPS. Please click below to see our daily schedule with sample lesson plans demonstrating what form many classes will take.

Freeman Virtual Learning Bell Schedule

Students are expected to attend each class and attendance will be taken at those synchronous class meetings.

Sign-Up for Parent Accounts:

Now more than ever, staying connected with the school and your child’s teachers is important to your child’s success in school. Henrico parents can create accounts to view grades and attendance information through PowerSchool, access assignment information through Schoology, and receive communications through the SchoolMessenger App. If you haven’t already, please take a moment to set up your access to these tools. If you need assistance, please reach out to our Innovative Learning Coach, Jessica Ciokan (jkciokan@henrico.k12.va.us).

PowerSchool Parent Portal - click here then choose “Create Account” tab
Schoology - click here for directions
SchoolMessenger App - click here to sign up to receive school and teacher communications in one place. (click here to learn more)

DONATE to the Freeman Fund (Our only academic fundraiser)

Each year, Freeman’s PTSA relies on the Freeman Fund to pay for programs, teacher supplies and other activities that benefit each child and build a strong Freeman community. In previous years, the fund has provided items like classroom sets of books, microphones, microscopes and other teacher needs that extend beyond their budgets; events like We the People and All-Star Prom; and programs like Teacher Appreciation as well as the Angel Fund, which helps students and families in need. As we start the school year virtually, we anticipate the fund will help with unexpected expenses that arise from virtual learning. Even now, teachers are thinking about and anticipating needs for supplies and support that students may not have access to at home. We hope the Freeman Fund will be able to help with those efforts right out of the gate.

These funds are provided solely through the generosity of donations from the Freeman community. Please visit freemanptsa.org and click on “Donate to the Freeman Fund” to learn more. On behalf of the DSF PTSA, thank you!

Suggested Computer Network Update

The majority of middle and high school student laptops have been off the HCPS network for almost 6 months. This has prevented the student laptops from receiving updates from the HCPS network that are necessary. While many student laptops have had the camera activated in the last month or so, the updates the laptops needed to receive did not apply due to the length of time needed to complete (~20 minutes).

HCPS is asking secondary students to bring their laptops with them onto school campus, connect to our network via WiFi and following instructions to receive a computer update to be ready for the school year. This can be done in the car, by the student, but has to happen on the HCPS wireless network. Those coming to school to pick up yearbooks or get webcams activated can do so at the same time.

This update does not require them to get out of their vehicles.

Students will just need to:

Get in close proximity to the school building (anytime between 8AM and 7PM))

Log into their laptop
Connect to WIFI at the school (2 out of 4 bars is sufficient signal strength; 3 to 4 bars is best if possible)
Follow these instructions (~20 minutes)

While it is understandable that this is very inconvenient to families and students, HCPS would not be requesting families/students to do this unless it was necessary. This only applies to secondary students with Dell laptops.

For any issues or concerns, please email helpdesk@henrico.k12.va.us

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