GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS

The transition from classroom instruction to remote learning will be a big change for our students and their families. Our classroom teachers are working to create an environment that enables parents and students to be successful. As we work together during this challenging time, parents will need to think differently about how to create an environment to allow their children to grow, as well as how to monitor and support their children’s learning. Students will need to adjust how they manage their time, schedule, and workload. Some students will thrive with remote learning, while it might not come to others as easily. We are here to support your family and guide you to success.

In order to help students be successful, parents need to establish routines and expectations. Trinity encourages parents to set regular hours for their children’s school work, and we suggest students begin their studies around 9:00 a.m. Keep normal bedtime routines for your children. They should also remain active and take periodic breaks as they study.

Your child may have a regular place for doing homework, but this space may not be suitable for an extended period of work time. We encourage families to establish a space where their children will learn most of the time. This should be a public place that is quiet and has a strong wireless internet signal. It should also be a space where parents are able to monitor their child’s activity. Middle and Upper School students may feel more comfortable working at a desk in their bedrooms, but parents should still monitor the learning environment.

Remote learning hours should not mirror those of a regular school day. Lower school students should spend between one to two hours a day on school work. Middle school assignments should take between two and three hours a day, while upper school students’ times may vary depending upon classes. Obviously students enrolled in AP and dual credit classes will have differing needs.

Encourage students to spend at least one hour a day outside, following all social distancing requirements. Another important daily event should be reading - not just for schoolwork, but for pleasure. This is also a great way for your child to relax and relieve stress.

Teachers will communicate with parents through myTST or email, when necessary. TST wants parents to contact their children’s teachers; however, we ask that they keep in mind that teachers will be communicating with many other families, and that communications should be brief and focused on the issue. We also encourage parents to familiarize themselves with the technology and sites used by their teachers such as myTST, Google Classroom, and Google Hangouts Meet.

Parents are encouraged to stay involved with their children and their work. Go over assignments with younger children. Check to see what assignments are due that day. Ask if they need any help or resources. Model how to do the activity or problem. Older students may not require or want as much parental involvement, but it is necessary. Sometimes children will need help setting priorities. Be there for them. Not all students adjust well to a remote learning environment and struggle with too much independence or lack of structure. Stay involved, so that if this happens, it can be addressed sooner rather than later.

Remind your child to be writing with their own ideas. It is unethical to take someone else's words, whether on accident or intentionally; it is considered plagiarism when taking one's words as your own. Checking in with your child on assignments, monitoring, reviewing, asking questions, and offering assistance can help avoid the practice of copying, no matter the age.

During a normal school day, your child has numerous interactions with teachers and peers. These may be sharing thoughts or ideas, asking for help, participating in small group discussions or debates, or just brainstorming different ways to problem solve. Some of these interactions will now take place virtually, while others may not. Social interaction is important to a child’s learning process. While we ask that parents stay involved with their child’s learning, please remember that it is important that your child complete his or her own work. Don’t be tempted to complete assignments for them, even if they are struggling. Struggling is part of the process. Reach out to your child’s teacher if necessary. Your child may need to take a small break midway through an assignment sometimes, to help them regain clarity, before completing.

One challenge for families with multiple children will be how to manage all of their children’s needs, especially when their children are different ages and have different needs. There may be times when siblings need to work in different rooms to avoid distraction. Noise cancelling headphones may help with this problem as might staggering work and/or break times. Be mindful of other issues such as bandwidth. If one child is trying to work on an online assignment and another is streaming Netflix, there may be issues. Try to alternate your child’s school time between online and offline assignments as well.

Make sure your child has opportunities to move and exercise. This is important to their health, well-being, and to their learning. TST’s physical education teachers will post activities or exercises weekly on myTST, but it is important for parents to model and encourage exercise as well. Think also about how your children can help more around the house with chores or other responsibilities. Don’t let your children off the hook - expect them to pitch in. This is an excellent time to introduce children to age-appropriate chores such as loading the dishwasher and folding clothes.

It is imperative for parents to monitor their children and help them manage the worry, anxiety, and emotions they may experience during this time. Try your best not to transfer your stress or worry to your children. They will benefit from maintaining as normal a routine as possible. Assure them that this will be over soon, and they will be able to resume their normal lives. Regular exercise and play time will also lower their stress levels. A writing journal and sketchbook can be great releases for anxiety and stress as well.

An Episcopal education has the ability to incorporate mind, body, AND spirit into the daily life of our students. As an Episcopal school, Trinity School of Texas is based on tradition, faith, and reason. We will continue to motivate and challenge our students remotely as their character and work ethic continues to grow, all while being nurtured from their teachers afar. Trinity will remain reasonable as we work to meet all students' academic needs. Student minds will continue to have opportunities to be creative, to imagine, to think critically, and to do good for others, all remotely.

Trinity will carry on its weekly chapel services on Wednesday and Friday to continue our mission of providing a joyful spiritual environment for our Trinity community, remotely, on myTST.

The chapel services can help bring together our TST community, even though not together physically. This may ease stress and anxiety for all ages, including parents. Beginning each morning with a simple prayer or daily devotional may be another way for a positive start to the day that mirrors your child's daily school experience.

TST does not want its students staring at computer screens for 7 - 8 hours a day. We ask that parents remember students are not experts at remote learning and that it will require some trial and error before we find the right balance between online and offline learning experiences. Teachers will periodically check in with you to assess what you’re seeing at home and what we need to adjust. Thank you in advance for your patience.

Students will soon begin missing their friends, classmates, and teachers. Help your children maintain contact with friends when circumstances permit. Monitor your children’s social media use, especially during this extended school closure. Older students will rely more on social media to communicate using popular apps such as SnapChat, Instagram, WhatsApp, or Facebook. These are not official, TST-sanctioned channels of communication. Remind your children to be polite, respectful, and appropriate in their communications. A student’s written words and tone can sometimes offend or cause harm to others.

Video chatting in a professional setting is a new experience for many students. Here are some tips to help you.

• Getting clear video is all about contrast. Light your face more brightly than the background to make it easier to see you. Everyone wants to look good on camera!

• Hold your head high in the picture frame. It conveys confidence.

• Keep your clothing school-appropriate

• Be yourself. Move physically and make facial expressions. Do not try to be silly or distracting to others.

• Microphones pick up all ambient noise, so keep your mic muted until it’s your turn to speak.

• Remember activities such as eating, drinking, shuffling papers, etc. are distracting (and sometimes unflattering). Just don’t do it.

• If you can’t use video, upload a nice image of your face to your account, so that your classmates have something to look at while you speak.

• Enjoy yourself.

• Exit the call promptly when the time comes, do not hang around.

Google Hangouts Meet is a video conferencing tool that your child’s teachers may use for

• A live class

• One on one help

• Recording a class lesson

What devices can I use Google Hangouts Meet on?

• Laptop/ computer (PC or Mac)

• Tablet

• Chromebook

• Smartphone

Views to Choose From:

Each user can change his or her view by clicking the 3 dots in the bottom right or to see the grid view Download the Google Meets Grid View extension to view grid view of all callers. This has automatically been installed to all TST google domain users.

For questions about:

An assignment, resource, learning activity, or class

CONTACT YOUR TEACHER DURING REGULAR SCHOOL HOURS

A technology-related question or issue or a password reset

CONTACT Erica Fisher at efisher@trinityschooloftexas.com

or call 903.309.0092 M-F 9am - 1pm

A personal, academic, or social concern

CONTACT YOUR TEACHER, MRS. WILKINSON, OR MR. WHITWELL DURING REGULAR SCHOOL HOURS

Other issue related to distance learning or inability to complete work because of technology issues

CONTACT YOUR TEACHER, MRS. WILKINSON, OR MR. WHITWELL DURING REGULAR SCHOOL HOURS