Greetings from the Deans!

We are looking for a parent/guardian and a student to join TGS's Positive Behavior Team! The selected individuals will meet with the team about once per month and help out with some tasks in between meetings. This is a great opportunity to include your input in The Graham School's effort to foster student ownership of and responsibility for their high school education. Please apply here.

The Graham School will observe Veteran's Day on Wednesday, November 11. We recognize, appreciate, and honor the dedication and commitment of those who have served in the US armed forces. Thank you!

TGS Instructional Coach, Kate Livingston, graciously created a series of helpful videos to support families in supporting their students. Check them out!

• How to create a Schoology account
• How to check student grades
• How to navigate Schoology

We continue to monitor the evolving COVID situation in the Columbus area and track case data specific to the areas where most TGS students live. In Franklin County cases are rapidly increasing. We urge you to continue to wear your masks, wash your hands frequently, and maintain social distancing. As a community we must see a decrease in cases before we can consider a plan to safely bring our students back to school 2nd semester. We need your help. At The Graham School we are CREW, not passengers!

If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out by email or call the school at 614-262-1111.

Sincerely,

Amy Vickroy, Sarai Correa, & RJ Larry

What is Crew? Why do we do it? When is it? Why do students have to attend? Here is a quick rundown of all things Crew and why it is so important at The Graham School!

All students at The Graham School are enrolled in a Crew. Crew is a required course that meets M-TH from 2:35-3:15. Students receive a grade for Crew and are expected to attend regularly, just as they would an academic class.

The structure of Crew provides for consistent academic progress monitoring. Crew is also essential to bringing our community together by allowing for relationship building, promoting shared understandings and positive connections with peers, and encouraging all community members to become Crew, not passengers. At The Graham School we make a point to ensure that all students are known well and supported by adults. Crew helps make this happen!

With all that is going on in our world today- a global pandemic, rampant injustice, political turmoil, and economic strife, Crew is perhaps more important than it has ever been for our community. We believe that if there has ever been a need to wrap around our students- our Graham family, it is now and it is urgent. Please make attending Crew a priority. Thank you!

• STUDENT PROGRESS: Asynchronous (independent) assignments/homework are VITAL to both attendance and grades. If a student is failing a course they may be missing assignments.
  

• ATTENDANCE REMINDER: While we are engaged in virtual learning, students must attend ALL virtual class meetings (synchronous) AND submit all ALL independent assigned work (asynchronous) by Friday at 3:30 p.m. in order to be counted as present. It is imperative that students engage in synchronous classes AND complete asynchronous work to avoid being considered truant. If your student is unable to log into class or complete asynchronous work on a given day due to illness or tech issues or you have questions about attendance, please 614-262-1111 or send an email to: frontdesk@thegrahamschool.org. Also CREW is a required course. Students must attend every synchronous Crew session and complete the asynchronous work.

• GOGUARDIAN is a tool that TGS teachers and adminstrators are using to better support students in the virtual classroom. Click here to watch a video demo of GoGuardian Teacher.

• FREE INTERNET HOT SPOTS are being offered to all families eligible for free or reduced lunch through a partnership with the ESCCO. Please contact the front desk at frontdesk@thegrahamschool.org or 614-262-1111 if you are eligible and interested OR if you are not eligible but still in need. Click here to complete a Free & Reduced Lunch Application.

• EXTENSION LEARNING CENTERS: Do you lack high-speed internet? Do you need additional help with your work? Could you use a quiet work space, an extra meal from time to time, or emotional support during these trying times? Rock City Church is providing extension learning centers throughout the Columbus area. Click here for more information. Click here to find an e-learning center near you.

• SCHOOLOGY occasionally experiences connections issues. We recommend the following:

  • frequently refreshing the Schoology website
  • emailing teachers to let them know that you or your student are unable to get in
  • monitoring the Schoology status page
  • checking school email for instructions from teachers.

• TU (Tardy Unexcused): the total time missed from classes totals less than 3 hours
• HU (Half Unexcused): the total time missed from classes totals approximately 3 hours
• AU (Absent Unexcused): the total time missed from classes totals more than 4 hours

Additionally, Fridays in PowerSchool reflect the percentage of independent (asynchronous) work that was completed and submitted for the week.

The School:

TGS is a public community secondary school with a charter granted by the State of Ohio. Open to Ohio students in grades 9-12, the school's main focus is experiential education in a small-school setting where all students are known by all staff members. The Graham School serves approximatly 250 students annually. Its demographic characteristics reflect those of urban Columbus and Central Ohio.

Mission:

The Graham School (TGS) has a particular mission to urban students in Central Ohio preparing them for lifelong learning and informed citizenship through real-world experiences and rigorous academics. Fostering ownership and responsibility for their education prepares our students to be successful in college, the workplace, and other endeavors they undertake upon leaving Graham.

Vision Statement:

The Graham School’s vision is to be an innovative leader in the educational world by engaging students in authentic academic work, networking with community partners, and nurturing social emotional growth to empower future citizens and leaders.

Core Values:

• We are committed to listening, learning, unlearning, and putting our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion into action
• We vow to stand together to embrace one another fully, empower students continuously, and pursue educational justice unapologetically
• We are a safe, positive school climate
• We solve problems together in a peaceful, restorative way
• We reflect on our experiences in order to gain fresh perspective and inform future outcomes
• We encourage a growth mindset for students and staff
• We believe that learning is a priority and time spent in class and community is essential
• We use these Habits of Learning as foundational principles --Adventure & Risk, Perseverance, Self-Direction, Service & Stewardship, and Teamwork & Collaboration
• We believe that cultivating these habits has a profound impact on student achievement and the ability to thrive
• We create belonging within our school and honor our connection to the world community
• We are CREW, not passengers

Email: frontdesk@thegrahamschool.org
Website: www.thegrahamschool.org
Location: 3950 Indianola Avenue, Columbus, OH, USA
Phone: (614) 262-1111
Facebook: facebook.com/The-Graham-School-203552974632