Principal Update on Distance Learning, 2020
Dear Parent(s) & Guardian(s),
I want to start off by expressing my gratitude on behalf of the staff, for your help and patience, not only with us, but as you work and focus on supporting your child’s remote learning.
Updates & Reminders about Remote Learning:
Students need to login to Edmodo through the Clever portal to find out about daily expectations and assignments. Your child’s teacher(s) will be posting assignments for the day by 8a.m. and your child will be expected to complete daily assignments. Some of these assignments will be physical assignments that they do with paper/pencil, and some will be virtual with online assignments.
Grading:
Some parents were confused with the "no school grades" information that came from the FLDOE and governor's office. This was in reference to the school grade assigned to DCSS as a whole, not in terms of students receiving academic grades.
We have moved past our transitional time and now are grading assignments for the fourth quarter. Teachers will assign practice and mastery grades. As we strive to ensure your child is still receiving a robust and rigorous education, I want to remind you that it is important to allow your child to complete assigned work independently. This will allow us to truly assess your student’s level of mastery of each standard. It also shows which standards a teacher needs to re-mediate, clarify, and/or reteach. If we move forward based on inaccurate data, this will only cause frustration and confusion later.
Everything we do is foundational. While it may be easier on the front end to assist your child so that they answer questions correctly and/or complete the assignments, we know that academic struggle is necessary and purposeful as it strengthens brain development and promotes scholastic achievement in later years. While your child is at home with additional academic supports now, when we return to school, he/ she will be expected to work independently in the classroom.
Instruction: Teachers have been conducting whole class lessons and pre-recorded lessons in which students can self pace. As we move forward we will be incorporating small group zoom sessions for remediation as well as differentiating the assignments to meet your child academically where they are and ensure they continue to grow.
Communication:
Let’s continue to ensure that we are all on the same page as advocates for your child’s academic success by keeping communication strong and positive. Please reach out if your child needs any extra support.
Your child’s teacher(s) will have daily office hours for student questions/assistance and parent conferencing on Zoom. They are trying to adjust the time frames to have different options for families. Office hours should be posted in Edmodo. If you are unable to reach a teacher, or have not received a response within the expected 24 hour turnaround, please call the help desk and we will get the teacher to reach back out to you. The front office phones are routed to help desk lines for you from 8am-3pm.
We hope that everyone stays safe and healthy.
Thank you,
Amanda Sauer
Principal
Help Desk
Doodling Break
Doodles With Mo:
Sometimes we all just need to take a break and doodle. Kennedy Center's Artist-in-Residence Mo Willems invites us to do just that. Everyday at 10:00 our time students can grab some paper and something to write with and join Mo for a creative adventure in doodling. Here's the link to join the stress-reducing fun of doodling. Even better, click here for one of the archived episodes.
Nature Walks - Get Outdoors
The weather is getting nice and although many of our favorite places are temporarily closed, the great outdoors is still open! Consider a family field trip to a local nature trail or even in your neighborhood. It's easy to practice social distancing when outdoors. Here are some resources to help you make the most of your outdoor time.
Public Library E-Books
DCSS Familes - charter school students do have DCPS student numbers. It is the Focus account student number that starts with an "S" - we have begun to assist many of you in getting your Parent Focus Account portals set up. In the meantime, if you need your child's focus ID number, email bmerryman@southsidecharter.org. She can call you on our verified contact numbers and then provide you, your child's Focus/DCPS student number.
See below from Jacksonville Public Library
While you, your kids, your students, your friends are keeping your distance from others, don't forget that all DCPS students have access to tons of digital books, movies, tv shows, graphic novels, comics, videos and more with your Focus - Student ID.
Just use your DCPS Student ID number (without the S) as your library card number and PIN for any Jacksonville Public Library digital service.
If you have any trouble, email us at jplpromotions@coj.net and our team will get you fixed right up.
But I'm not a DCPS student! What can I do? (adult, college, private school, etc.)
The library offers e-cards that can be used to access digital content for anyone who doesn't already have a library card. If you already have a library card from Jacksonville Public Library, you're all set!
If not, go to www.jaxpubliclibrary.org/get-library-card to fill out an e-card application and in less than one business day you'll receive your card number and PIN in your email.
Hardship Resources
JEA - has suspended disconnections of electric/water at this time: https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20200313/coronavirus-during-pandemic-jea-wonrsquot-shut-off-water-due-to-late-payment
Internet: (updated 3/24)
AT&T has expanded eligibility for its low-cost internet program & new customers get 2 months of free service. In addition to SNAP recipients, the expansion covers households participating in the National School Lunch Program & Head Start. Learn more - https://m.att.com/shopmobile/internet/access/
Unlimited AT&T Home Internet
All AT&T consumer home internet wireline customers, as well as Fixed Wireless Internet, can use unlimited internet data. Additionally, we’ll continue to offer internet access for qualifying limited income households at $10 a month through our Access from AT&T program. We’ve expanded eligibility to Access from AT&T to households participating in the National School Lunch Program and Head Start. Additionally, we’re offering new Access from AT&T customers two months of free service.
Comcast:
Comcast is offering free Wi-Fi, postponing service cutoff for coronavirus crisis. A map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots is available at www.xfinity.com/wifi. For those with school-age students at home, Comcast created new educational collections for all grade levels in partnership with Common Sense Media. Customers say “education” into their X1 or Flex voice remote to use.
Xfinity WiFi hotspots across the country will be available to anyone who needs them for free – including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers. View a map of available hotspots, here. Once at a hotspot, consumers should select the “xfinitywifi” network name in the list of available hotspots, and then launch a browser.
New customers will receive their first month of service free. Offer available through May 12, 2020. Remote customer service support at no charge between now and May 12, 2020. In-home modem included.
$9.95 per month (plus taxes)
10 Mbps
No term commitment
No deposit
No installation fee
Charter Communications, Spectrum’s parent company, announced Friday that beginning March 16, it will make its services available for free for 60 days to households with K–12 and/or college students who do not already have internet through the company. Optional in-home Wi-Fi service at $5/month.
Free Internet modem
High-speed Internet at 30 Mbps
No data caps
No contracts
Within the next 60 days, current customers will have unlimited smartphone data (excluding roaming), an additional 20GB of mobile hotspot / tethering service, and extra free data up to 5GB of data per month. Increasing the data allowance for free to schools and students using our EmpowerED digital learning programs to ensure each participant has access to at least 20GB of data per month.
Sprint made general announcements that for the next 60 days there will be no disconnects or late fees. Other deals available are:
Complimentary international calling rates from the U.S. to countries defined by the CDC as Level 3
Metered data plans receive unlimited data for 60 days and an additional 20GB of mobile hotspot data per month for 60 days
Food for children/Food pantry resources:
Families needing assistance during school closures with feeding children - see link https://www.feedingnefl.org/feeding-assistance/ for a detailed list of food distribution places for Duval.
Also Monday-Friday, a “grab and go” school lunch and snack will be available for students, with pick up curbside at Duval County traditional public schools from 11am - 1 p.m. *Note DCSS is NOT a distribution site* these would be neighborhood Duval locations, but all Duval chidren will be served. Students must be present to pick up the lunch ages 5-18, no ID needed and can pick up at any site. Note Duval will soon be offering dinner pick up as well...
Need Assistance? Email jdavis@southsidecharter.og or call the help desk and ask for a return call by Mr. Davis
Educational Apps/Software utilized at DCSS
Often described as blended learning, or online platforms, these are educational software programs that teachers utilize to help personalize and differentiate learning. They often have an individualized student log in that then tracks and adjust the students' progress through the lessons. If a student is needing a high level of support from a parent when completing a lesson, then please contact the teacher, as their may need to be some re-teaching or adjustment to the online path. These programs are meant to be activities, lessons and assessments that the student can do independently.
*Note - these are our core programs for 2019-20. With Covid-19 closures, many software companies have opened up their software and teachers may integrate other learning tools, but these remain our core digital programs.
Clever:
Clever is not educational software but a single sign on provider that helps students not to have to learn multiple log ins/passwords and provides efficiency when students are moving from one program to another. Students often have a QR badge that they can use to scan/utilize the camera function of a laptop or ipad to access the programs even faster. Need your child's clever log-in? Contact your child's teacher. clever.com/badges. *For school closure, we have these ready to go/pick up if needed*
Edmodo: (All students K-8)
Edmodo is an educational technology company offering a communication, collaboration, and coaching platform to K-12 schools and teachers. The Edmodo network enables teachers to share content, distribute quizzes, assignments, and manage communication with students, colleagues, and parents. Middle School students also participate in an "All Middle School" communication group in which they can get information about school events, or ask questions. Students can email their teacher directly through Edmodo.READING
Lexia: Used at DCSS for primarily Grades K-2 depending on your child's reading level. Students who are struggling readers in grades 3-5 may still be utilizing Lexia to build basic reading skills. - (available through the clever portal)
Reading Plus: At DCSS is it utliized as the main reading software program for grades 3-8 to increase fluency, vocabulary and reading comprehension. (available through the clever portal)
Lexia Power Up: For learners in grades 6-8 that are struggling in reading, they may be assigned lessons in Lexia Power UP (available through the clever portal)
Imagine Learning Language & Literacy: Reading/Speaking/Listening Software designed for our English Language Learners who need to build the basics of English reading, speaking and listening. This is not for all of our ELL students, but for those still at the basic levels of learning English. It may be used in place of their Lexia/Reading Plus program. (available through the clever portal)
MATH
Imagine Math
Is our main math software for grades 3-8 at Southside, taking students on a path of individualized lessons (available through the clever portal)
DreamBox: This is our K-2 math software to deliver individualized math lesson and progress checks along the way. (available through the clever portal)
SCIENCE
Study Island: We currently have student accounts for Study Island in 5th and 8th grade science as a review tool taking the students through the main topics as both of these grade levels are tested in Florida and cover multiple years of content. (available through the clever portal) https://app.studyisland.com/cfw/login/
Other:
USA Test Prep: Just at the name implies, this software is for test preparation, and not necessarily lessons and an individual path. This is used currently in 3-8 grades ELA, Biology, Civics, Algebra and Geometry. It gives students practice in applying what they have learned to test questions in the content areas. https://www.usatestprep.com/member-login
(available through the clever portal)
Typtastic:
In the computer lab, students K-2 work on their keyboarding skills with https://typetastic.com/
Typing.com
Students K-8 utilize typing.com to work on their keyboarding skills https://www.typing.com/student/login
Code.org
Students in K-8 are familiar with Code.org and have log-ins to work with coding as part of computer science. Have them log in and show you what they have learned! https://code.org/
Teachyourmonstertoread.com
Students are familiar with this website and have log-ins from the computer science lab where they practice phonics and reading through a technology based website. https://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/
Seeking HR Contact: Johnson & Johnson
Are you a current employee at Johnson & Johnson Vision on Centurion Parkway across Southside Blvd? If you could perhaps reach out the HR office personnel to obtain a contact name/number and send that to CeCe Zamora, we would love to credit you a volunteer hour for getting us the information!
Need a volunteer project?
Feel free to prepare a set to donate - calculate your time and efforts and cost for volunteer hours!
Need Volunteer Hours?
Log your volunteer hours on a computer in your Powerschool account (option does not appear on the App)
1 hr: Leave a positive review on Facebook, Yelp, or Great Schools - let shopping families know what you LOVE about Duval Charter at Southside. This helps our marketing team!
Coke Rewards
Boxtops
SchoolStore.com
Duval Charter School at Southside
Website: https://www.southsidecharter.org/
Location: 8680 A C Skinner Parkway, Jacksonville, FL, USA
Phone: 904-4235348
Facebook: facebook.com/DuvalSouthside
Twitter: @DCSSouthside