Greetings from the Deans!

The events in our nation's capitol on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 leave us saddened yet more determined than ever to press forward with resolve our pursuit of educational justice; our commitment to putting our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion into action; and our work in solving problems in a peaceful, restorative way. When classes resume next week our teachers will remind students that we are a safe, positive school climate. Crew leaders will create safe listening spaces where students will be able to reflect and share; and our school counseling staff and school leaders will be available if students need or wish to further process these events. For a helpful parent guide on helping children and teens cope with traumatic events, click here.

The Graham School is thrilled to announce a new initiative- Family Crew. Family Crew will strengthen our community and allow us the opportunity to more closely connect with our families- and for you to connect with each other! Please read more about Family Crew below. We personally invite you to participate and would love to see you at our first meeting on January 27, 6:00-6:45.

If you have not done so already, please take a moment to fill out our Mid-Year Review family survey- also embedded further along in this newsletter. Your feedback is vital to continued growth in our capacity to best serve and support our students and families.

We want to remind you that, due to the current trends in COVID-19 cases, our plan is to continue with our remote learning model through the end of Quarter 3- Friday, March 5. As we prepare for Q4 and May Days, we will continue to evaluate the feasibility of bringing students into the building by taking the following factors into consideration:

• Franklin County COVID case data
• access to the vaccine for school staff and related guidance from Governor DeWine
• CDC core indicators for risk of transmission in schools
• physical constraints of responsible social distancing in a building as small as ours.

As of January 7, CDC data indicates that Franklin County currently falls into the higher risk and highest risk of transmission in schools categories for the first two core indicators. In the meantime, TGS will also continue to pursue strategies to engage with and support all of our students online. We urge you to continue to wear your masks, wash your hands frequently, and maintain social distancing. 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. We wish you all the best for a safe, healthy, and happy 2021.

Sincerely,

Amy Vickroy, Sarai Correa, & RJ Larry

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

• Second Semester classes begin January 11, NOT January 6 as previously scheduled.

• Due to COVID-19 community spread in Franklin County, the building continues to be closed. You can still contact the front desk at 614-262-1111 or at frontdesk@thegrahamschool.org if you have questions or need assistance. Meal pickup will continue as scheduled.

• OST's and WebXams have been postponed until the spring. More information to come.

• 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