Dear Students and Families,
These are unprecedented times. Please read our emails carefully for important information. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, here are some important updates.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
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The DOE is assuring families that absences will NOT count towards high school admissions or for promotion decisions. If you are keeping your children home, that is okay. You have the right to do so. This is a public health crisis which is substantially helped by limiting community spread and by social distancing.
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Please email scill@bcs448.org if you have not already to indicate that you will be keeping your child at home so that the absences can be excused with the appropriate code.
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Educators who have to report to work are mindful of our role as carriers and we appreciate the community’s efforts on social distancing and staying at home as much as possible if you are able. Thank you to all the families who have asked about our needs. We are also worried about our own families (some of us are immunocompromised and taking care of our elderly parents and grandparents). All of us can do what we are able to stem the spread of COVID-19. We are crew.
TEACHERS WILL EMAIL ASSIGNMENTS
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BCS is a mastery grading school. Students will pass their classes when we have evidence that students have mastered the learning targets.
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As long as students have an internet-connected device, they will receive assignments via their student email addresses or Google Classroom from their teachers which they should work on from home and return to the teacher regularly.
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Yesterday, we surveyed all students and 95% of our students report they have access to an internet-connected device at home. For the limited number of students who do not have internet-connected devices at home, we have collected their information and will make alternative plans for them.
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We are already seeing very low student attendance so we are moving everything to email to accommodate students learning from home. We understand that students and parents are worried and are staying home in this crisis. We understand and we are responding and accommodating.
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Please sit with your child at a computer so they show you how they access their BCS email address (firstname.lastname@bcs448.org
). This is the MAIN communication tool between students and staff. -
In Grades 6-8, teachers will also email the family groups with their assignments because we are set up to do so since students are programmed by grade. In Grades 9-12, since students are individually programmed, not by grade, families will not be emailed but should instead regularly sit with their child to look through the student’s email address for assignments.
SCHOOLS REMAIN OPEN
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The Chancellor said this morning that schools will remain open and that there will be daily updates as we respond to the crisis.
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Any school that has a staff member or student who has confirmed COVID-19 will close for at least 24 hours. BNS and BCS DO NOT have any staff or students who have tested positive for COVID-19.
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If your child tests positive for COVID-19, please let me know right away.
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Again, we are already seeing very low student attendance and we have many staff absences as well so we are moving everything to email to accommodate students learning from home.
UPDATES ABOUT AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING
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Until further notice, there will be NO afterschool activities including clubs, teams, plays, Mastery Support, tutoring, etc.
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As of now, the Lower Grades YWCA Afterschool is STILL OPEN but please stay tuned for an update from Janet
FAMILY CONFERENCES ON MARCH 19
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Thurs March 19 evening conferences will be held virtually from 4:20pm-7:20pm
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Teachers will make phone calls to the parents of students who are not yet at mastery or who have other concerns in their classes on Thurs 3/19 from 4:20-7:20pm
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As always, all parents can get live updates about academics from PupilPath. If you need PupilPath registration information, please email Scill@bcs448.org
PROTECTING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH DURING THIS HEALTH CRISIS
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Separate what is in your control from what is not.
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Do what helps you feel a sense of safety.
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Get outside in nature–even if you are avoiding crowds.
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Challenge yourself to stay in the present.
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Stay connected and reach out if you need more support.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions/concerns.
Very sincerely yours,
Scill and Imani
(NOTE: If you are reading this update on the website and did not receive it in email, please email Scill@bcs448.org to be added to our family email group.)