Dragon Dispatch

Greetings from the Deans!

As Quarter 1 closes, we remind students and families that the asynchronous (independent) assignments/homework are VITAL to both attendance and grades. If a student is failing a course they may be missing assignments. IT IS NOT TOO LATE. Please check PowerSchool for missing assignments and submit them. If you need help accessing PowerSchool or Schoology please contact the front desk at frontdesk@thegrahamschool.org or your student's Crew leader.

We wanted to also share with you information on a support tool called GoGuardian. The Graham School is using GoGuardian to help students manage their browsers, limit the number of distractions, and provide students step-by-step support. It allows staff to see and limit open internet tabs on TGS devices and on Chrome when a student is logged in with their school Gmail account. It also empowers teachers to support students in avoiding distractions, just as they would in a classroom. With GoGuardian teachers can see where students are in the work and support them. When students are struggling to find, start or complete assignments, teachers can give specific, personalized directions. They are also able to see trends in work while students are working so they can bring the class together and provide clarification. Finally, GoGuardian allows teachers to see some of the technology glitches and help students in the moment.

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. This week Franklin County Public Health (FCPH) reported another slight increase in reported cases and in hospitalizations. 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

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15 and pays tribute to the cultures and contributions, as well as the history, accomplishments, and heritage of Hispanic and Latinx Americans both past and present. Please join us as we honor and celebrate the Hispanic and Latinx Americans who have enriched our nation and our school!

• NO SCHOOL OCTOBER 22 & 23rd: This means no synchronous (live) classes or assigned asynchronous (independent) work. This would be a great time to catch up on missing assignments while TGS staff participate in the EL Education Virtual Summit 2020 "What Matters Most: Racial Justice, Quality Curriculum, Social Emotional Learning."

• 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.

• NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY is holding a Domino's Pizza Fundraiser to raise funds for service projects. Buy one card for $10 and get one free large pizza for every large pizza that you order at menu price. Click here to purchase your pizza card!

• 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.

• 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.

As you monitor attendance M-TH (full days of school) in PowerSchool, please be aware of the following codes and their meanings:

• 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