April 8, 2020 Message from the DHHS Principal Good afternoon Daniel Hand High School students and parents/guardians,
I hope all is well and you and your family are safe and healthy. See below for a few updates and reminders that I would like you to review prior to the holiday weekend.
Updates and Reminders:
1. Students should check Google Classroom and their school issued email address (lastname.firstname@madisonps.org) every school day, and in many cases, several times each school day. I understand that students are being inundated with Google Classroom notifications being sent to their email. Students can turn off these notifications in Google Classroom if they find them to be overwhelming. The hyperlink below will demonstrate how to turn off these notifications. If notifications are turned off, it is even more important for students to consistently check Google Classroom and their school email. If students download the Google Classroom mobile app, they can fine-tune which kinds of notifications they receive on their mobile devices as well. Below is a hyperlink demonstrating how to make adjustments. 2. Student attendance during "Live" sessions is strongly encouraged. If for some reason, a student cannot attend a live session, the student should contact the teacher, preferably in advance, via email to explain the circumstances.
3. The transition to online/distance learning has been impressive thus far. As a reminder, appropriate online student behavior is expected at all times. This includes appropriate online screen names as well as appropriate communication while engaging with teachers and peers while working in the online arena.
4. For the next three Wednesdays in April (15, 22, and 29), we will follow a revised schedule. On each of these days, teachers will be online and available to students from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Teachers will participate in professional development from 11:00-2:00 p.m. and will not be available for students and/or parents/guardians.
5. As a reminder, coursework and expectations communicated by teachers is important and work, not completed or not submitted, will count as missing. 5a. Students are encouraged to reach out to teachers for clarification of assigned work or if they are experiencing any issues that preclude them from viewing course materials and meeting expected deadlines.
6. The spring National Honor Society Induction process and ceremony has been postponed until next school year. After careful consideration, a "virtual" process would not do justice to this incredible event. I am hopeful that school will return to normal for the start of the 2020-21 school year. If so, we plan to coordinate this wonderful event in the fall. If for some reason online/distance learning continues at the onset of the 2020-21, we will reevaluate our options.
7. Many teachers and counselors are calling home to communicate concerns or information with parents/guardians. In this online world, faculty members are calling from either their home phone or cell phones and using *67 to block their numbers. I understand that the number of "robocalls" is overwhelming but you may want to consider answering a blocked call as it could be from a Daniel Hand faculty member.
8. Later this afternoon, parents/guardians will receive an email with a link to a survey as we are seeking input regarding the online/distance learning experience for your children. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey for each of your children. I suggest parents/guardians seek input from their children when completing this survey. Survey results will be shared with our teachers and will help shape future online instructional plans. Thank you in advance for completing this important survey.
9. National Assistant Principals Week is this week, April 6-10, 2020. Please join me in recognizing the incredible efforts of Mr. Bodner and Mrs. Whitcher for their contributions to ensure our students and staff experience success. If you have a moment, feel free to send them a positive email. Although I have been impressed with the efforts of our students and teachers, it is natural to experience some stress and anxiety during this unprecedented time. As I mentioned in my last two electronic messages, I would like to reiterate that ongoing communication between the school, students, and families are always important, but even more important in the realm of online/distance learning. If you have any questions for the high school administration, please call 203.245.6350 or send an email to initiate a conversation. As a reminder, support staff members, including guidance counselors, social workers, and school psychologists are readily available to support students and/or families in need. If you are in need of any type of support, please contact the school immediately.
Please continue to follow the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that include social distancing, washing your hands regularly, and avoiding touching your face as these are all examples of responsible and healthy decision-making. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns or just to let me know how you are doing. Enjoy the holiday weekend.
Stay healthy,
Mr. Salutari
I'm a new Text block ready for your content. Daniel Hand High School 286 Green Hill Road • Madison, CT 06443 • (203) 245-6350 |