January Messages

Hello, Learning Coaches!

We welcome two new sets of Learning Coaches this week! These messages are sent to our Learning Coaches every week, usually on Fridays. They keep you informed with announcements, reminders, and tips to assist you in your Learning Coach role. If you just joined us, this message will not benefit you very much today. After you have completed a few hours of onboarding, feel free to return to the message so you can become familiar with the message format, etc.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Earlier this week, our Technology Department shared a link to a special edition newsletter that provides best practices to stay clear of online tricks that could cause you to share personal information unwittingly. They also included a survey about your fall technology experience.

Please click this link to access the newsletter and survey if you have not done so already. (If you read the newsletter but did not complete the survey, click here. They would like to receive as many responses as possible. Thanks!)

2. The Principal Town Hall was held on Wednesday. If you were unable to attend and have not viewed the recording yet, click here...after you read the rest of the Weekly Message. :-)

3. Congratulations to the Learning Coaches or our Honor Roll recipients. Online ceremonies are being held today in the school level auditoriums. Watch the Dashboard for an announcement with the recording link if you were unable to attend. (Links to the live events are on the Dashboard now.)

4. [Elementary and Middle School] LEAP Interim #1 for ELA and Math are next Monday, 1/24 and Tuesday 1/25 respectively. Please follow the path below in your child's Canvas Student account to read the instructions for navigating to the LEAP360 interim online assessment:

Account > Files > Testing Information

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DEADLINES/REMINDERS/DATES

1. Second-semester curriculum supplies and materials are being shipped. It could take the rest of the month to ship to all grade levels. When your package(s) are on the way, you will receive an email from Stamps.com with tracking information.

Curriculum supplies are listed here. Click the grade level tab at the bottom of the Google sheet to see what will be coming your way.

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Routine Reminders:

1. • The October '21 Testing Newsletter lists state and school-level test dates for the entire school year. Please take a look so you are aware of the dates in advance.

   • Tutoring Facts -- Session confirmations and reminders are sent to the student's school email account. Learn how our tutoring program works and schedule a session here. Questions go to tutoring@uview.academy.

     • Family Cyber Safety Hub -- Review the site and use its resources to set expectations and keep your child safe online.

   • Curriculum Supply Facts -- Questions go to curriculum@uview.academy.

   • Download or bookmark the Student Calendar

   • UVA Help Desk -- Computer support. 225-286-1600, Toll-Free 833-286-9905 (7 am until 6 pm, Monday thru Friday)

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TIPS AND RESOURCES

1. Guide your child to start each week with zero overdue assignments. To achieve that goal, make the following activities part of your daily routine:

• • • Run a daily Missing Submissions report in your Observer account to identify overdue assignments. (Remember that an assignment is overdue the day after it was due.) Click this link to learn how.

    • Audit the Modules page at the end of each day (or throughout the day) to verify that the current day's assignments were completed -- including foundational (view-only) assignments that explain the concept. (Remember, learning takes place in view-only assignments. Submitted assignments demonstrate what was learned.)

    • Redirect your child to complete unread and un-submitted assignments by the end of the week they are discovered.

    • Be consistent and stick with the plan.

2. Incorporate a meaningful incentive component that rewards your child for (1) learning with intention while completing assignments, and (2) sticking with the plan you devised.

Hello, Learning Coaches!

Another new set of Learning Coaches joined our family this week. Welcome!

These messages are sent to our Learning Coaches every week, usually on Fridays. They keep you informed with announcements, reminders, and tips to assist you in your Learning Coach role. Those of you who just joined us yesterday (1/13/22) will not benefit from everything in today's message, but we recommend that you read it so you can get a feel for the content of the weekly messages.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Monday, January 17th, is a school holiday in acknowledgement of Martin Luther King Day.

2. [High School English I] The interim LEAP 360 assessment for English I students is next week. The test window is Tuesday, January 18th through Friday, January 21st. Navigate to the login instructions in your child's Canvas Student account as follows:

Account > Files > Testing Information

3. [High School Geometry] Today (1/14/22) is the last day that Geometry students can take the online LEAP360 test. Please follow the path below in your child's Canvas Student account to read the instructions for navigating to the LEAP360 interim online assessment:

Account > Files > Testing Information

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DEADLINES/REMINDERS/DATES

1. [1st semester Learning Coaches] Click here for a reminder on how to set up or access your Student Progress Center account for 1st-semester final grades or transcripts.

2. Second-semester curriculum supplies and materials are being prepared for shipment. Some have shipped. However, this is a lengthy process that can take another two weeks because supplies are being shipped for all 3,700+ students in K-12. When your package(s) are on the way, you will receive an email from Stamps.com with tracking information.

Curriculum supplies are listed here. Click the grade level tab at the bottom of the Google sheet to see what will be coming your way.

3. Our Family Cyber Safety Hub is a valuable resource for managing your child's online experience. It also provides resources for you to initiate discussions with your child about cyber safety. Learn more about key features of the hub in the December Learning Coach Info Session, co-hosted by a representative from our cyber safety partner, LineWize.

4. Check out UVA's online store for school swag here.

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Routine Reminders:

4. • The October '21 Testing Newsletter lists state and school-level test dates for the entire school year. Please take a look so you are aware of the dates in advance.

   • Tutoring Facts -- Session confirmations and reminders are sent to the student's school email account. Learn how our tutoring program works and schedule a session here. Questions go to tutoring@uview.academy.

   • Curriculum Supply Facts -- Questions go to curriculum@uview.academy.

   • Download or bookmark the Student Calendar

   • UVA Help Desk -- Computer support. 225-286-1600, Toll-Free 833-286-9905 (7 am until 6 pm, Monday thru Friday)

TIPS AND RESOURCES

1. Daily Routines

• • • Run a daily Missing Submissions report in your Observer account to identify overdue assignments. (Remember that an assignment is overdue the day after it was due.) Click this link to learn how.

    • Audit the Modules page at the end of each day (or throughout the day) to verify that the current day's assignments were completed -- including foundational (view-only) assignments that explain the concept. (Remember, learning takes place in view-only assignments. Submitted assignments demonstrate what was learned.)

    • Redirect your child to complete unread and un-submitted assignments by the end of the week they are discovered.

    • Guide your child to start each week with zero overdue assignments.

    • Be consistent and stick with the plan.

Remember to incorporate a meaningful incentive component that rewards your child for (1) learning with intention while completing assignments, and (2) sticking with the plan you devised.

2. [Repeated from last week for our newest Learning Coaches] One of our favorite online resources for supplemental support is Understood.org. Their articles are relevant for adults who are closely involved with their children's education. (They are relevant for everyone, but are slanted towards supporting our children.)

• • Growth Mindset -- Explains how we view challenges and setbacks.

  • Four Strengths Kids Build When They Take on Challenges complements the first article.

Both articles are very good and relevant. Check them out soon!

Hello, Learning Coaches, and Happy New Year!

Well, we're off to the races with the 2nd semester, and we have a sizable group of new families along for the ride. Welcome to our newest Learning Coaches!

These messages are sent every week, usually on Fridays, and are designed to keep you informed with announcements, deadlines, and reminders. We also provide tips and supplemental resources to help you be efficient and effective in your Learning Coach role.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. 2nd-semester lessons begin on Monday, January 10th. All students, including our newest, should be (trained and) ready to learn bright and early Monday morning.

2. If you have not seen the December Info Session Recording about cyber safety for school-aged children, we highly recommend watching it. The December monthly info session for Learning Coaches was facilitated primarily by a representative of LineWize, our cyber safety partner.

Learn how to:

• Locate key pages to start navigating our new Family Cyber Safety Hub. (You will be impressed!)

• Initiate supportive discussions with your child about cyber safety that will inspire your child to come to you -- unprompted -- when they have concerns or questions about an experience on the internet. (That's what you want.)

• Establish a digital contract with your child about internet usage. (You will not believe what's available!)

• and more...

The December Info Session was a follow-up to the pre-recorded webinar that Linewize prepared for our November Info Session. Learn even more about the new Family Cyber Safety Hub in the November recording.

All of our Learning Coach Info Sessions are available on this page. Check out the December and November recordings so you can become a more informed parent about cyber safety in our changing world and can have meaningful dialogs about cyber safety with your children to ensure their protection and to help them develop smart cyber skills.

3. [Returning Learning Coaches] Keep your eyes open for announcements about the availability of 1st-semester grades and high school transcripts in the Student Progress Center.

If you did not set up your Student Progress Center account before the Winter Break, take time to do that now so you can log in without delay when final grades are uploaded. Click here for information on setting up your account. (Returning LCs only. New LCs will set theirs up later this semester.)

4. [High School Geometry] Geometry students will take the online LEAP360 test any time between January 10th and 14th. Please follow the path below in your child's Canvas Student account to read the instructions for navigating to the LEAP360 interim online assessment:

Account > Files > Testing Information

If the file is not in the student's account today, look for it Monday morning. (This is especially true for new students. The file is not likely to be there today, Friday the 7th.) Contact the Geometry teacher Monday morning if the file is not there, and remember, the assessment can be taken any time between Monday, the 10th, and Thursday, the 14th.

DEADLINES/REMINDERS/DATES

1. Second-semester curriculum supplies and materials are scheduled for shipment by the end of January barring unforeseen weather delays.

This is a lengthy process because supplies are being shipped for all 3,700+ students in K-12. Please be patient with us as the Curriculum Department gets everything mailed to you. When your package(s) are on the way, you will receive an email from Stamps.com with tracking information.

Curriculum supplies are listed here. Click the grade level tab at the bottom of the Google sheet to see what will be coming your way.

2. Our online store carries window stickers, pencils and pens, phone grips, cups, sports bottles, visors and caps, polos, sweatshirts, hoodies and jackets, duffel bags, backpacks, and more. Prices range from $0.23 to $72.51.

Check out UVA's online store here.

3. The Student Handbook includes a relatively new addition -- "Appendix I: Respectable Language." New parents have access to the new version of the handbook in the UVA Onboarding Course, but returning parents might not have had a chance to read the appendix before the break.

Appendix I identifies UVA's expectations for "respectful and appropriate language" from parents, guardians, and Designated Learning Coaches when communicating with UVA employees, students, and other parents. If you have not done so already, please read the policy on page 33 of the Student Handbook, which is located here.

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Routine Reminders:

3. • The October '21 Testing Newsletter lists state and school-level test dates for the entire school year. Please take a look. 3-8 students take the LEAP 360 Interim test (online and at home) later this month.

   • Tutoring Facts -- Session confirmations and reminders are sent to the student's school email account. Questions go to tutoring@uview.academy.

   • Curriculum Supply Facts -- Questions go to curriculum@uview.academy.

   • UVA Help Desk -- Computer support. 225-286-1600, Toll-Free 833-286-9905 (7 am until 6 pm, Monday thru Friday)

TIPS AND RESOURCES

1. This tip will always be in your weekly messages because it's that important. It will evolve as the semester progresses and additional grading practices for overdue assignments kick in. In the meantime, this is a perfect time -- right at the beginning of the semester -- to establish routines for auditing the status of lesson completion and providing the guidance your child needs to get and stay on track.

• • • Run a daily Missing Submissions report in your Observer account to identify overdue assignments. (Remember that an assignment is overdue the day after it was due.) Click this link to learn how.

    • Audit the Modules page at the end of each day (or throughout) to verify that the current day's assignments were completed -- including foundational (view-only) assignments that explain the concept. (Remember, learning takes place in view-only assignments. Submitted assignments demonstrate what was learned.)

    • Redirect your child to complete unread and un-submitted assignments by the end of the week they are discovered.

    • Guide your child to start each week with zero overdue assignments.

    • Be consistent and stick with the plan.

Remember to incorporate an incentive component that rewards your child for (1) learning with intention while completing assignments, and (2) sticking with the plan you devised.

2. One of our favorite online resources for supplemental support is Understood.org. Their articles are relevant for adults who are closely involved with their children's education. (They are relevant for everyone, but are slanted towards supporting our children.)

• • One of this week's topics is the Growth Mindset -- how we view challenges and setbacks.

  • The other article of interest discusses Four Strengths Kids Build When They Take on Challenges.

Both articles are very good and relevant. Check them out soon!