Remote Learning 2.0 in Camas Elementary Schools
Greetings, Prune Hill Families!
As we continue to work toward a full remote Monday-Friday opening experience for our students, below are answers to common questions that may help give you a clearer picture of what school will look like for your penguin September 1st. If you were with us last spring during emergency teaching, we understand clearly how painful that was for all involved, and have worked to streamline platforms and create a structure that mirrors our on-site school day. Our hope is that when we begin bringing kids back into school, the schedule looks and feels similar to them.
We will work hard to support each of you and your family’s particular situation to engage your learner. We’re watching closely to see how and when we can get small groups back with us safely.
I will be in touch Friday, through my weekly updates, and again next week for a Q&A. If you want to be prepared, I’d suggest downloading the ParentSquare app on your cell phones…that way I can send you videos!! 😊 Otherwise, digest this FAQ and jot questions down that you may have. Maybe pick out a wig to wear for next week’s Zoom meetings together?? I’ll be in touch.
Sincerely,
Julie Swan
What is synchronous/asynchronous instruction?
Synchronous Instruction: Teachers deliver live instruction and communication to the whole class or in small groups.
Asynchronous Instruction: Teachers will deliver a recorded video of a lesson. Students engage in learning at their own pace. Asynchronous instruction can take place using digital platforms like Seesaw (K-2) or Google Classroom (3-5) or watching teacher-created videos.
What will the school day look like?
Elementary school days are organized into instructional blocks with intentional social-emotional breaks in between the blocks. This is an example of what an elementary remote learning day could look like, which includes set time for specialists like music, library, and PE. This is only an example of one day, please note that your child’s schedule will contain all of these components, but will not necessarily be in the same order as shown below. Individual teachers and grade teams will communicate their schedules to you …..
| 8:00 AM | Student logs on for morning meeting with class; this will focus on community building, social-emotional learning (SEL), and preparing for the school day – Synchronous |
| 9:00 AM | Brain Break/Movement Break – Synchronous |
| 9:15 AM | Instructional Block #1: whole class, small group, individual practice, asynchronous learning – Synchronous |
| 10:15 AM | Brain Break/Movement Break – Asynchronous |
| 10:45 AM | Instructional Block #2: recorded instruction with learning tasks, individual/small group check-ins, asynchronous learning – Asynchronous |
| 11:45 AM | Lunch |
| 12:15 PM | Brain Break/Movement Break – Asynchronous |
| 12:45 PM | Read Aloud/SEL/Community – Synchronous |
| 1:15 PM | Instructional Block #3: Music – Synchronous |
| 2:15 – 2:30 PM | Reflection from the day, preparation for tomorrow – Synchronous |
Will students in grades K-3 get Chromebooks this year?
Yes! Chromebooks will be distributed via curbside pickup at our school during the week of August 24-28. We will share our schedule when it is set.
Will curricular materials be provided to families?
Yes, we are building a collection of materials to share with families. Due to shipping constraints, the distribution of these materials will likely take place during the first week of school in a curbside format.
What is ParentSquare, and why should parents register?
ParentSquare is the new and only communication tool Camas School District will use going forward K-12. It allows for two-way communication among teachers, our school, and our district. We encourage you to register your account through the invitation you received on August 11. If you choose to not register, you will still receive messages from ParentSquare, you just won’t be able to respond to the sender, RSVP for events, sign up to participate, view school calendar events, or choose your communication preferences. By default, you will get all of your messages via email in a digest mode each night between 6-7.
A parent overview of ParentSquare is available at https://youtu.be/QyosnpErX1w.
Why is the Camas Connect Academy not open to students in grades K-2?
We’ve been looking for quality K-2 online curriculum resources/programming for a fully online platform for our earliest learners and haven’t been successful. We’ve also had teachers spending time trying to develop a program unique to the Camas Connect Academy and have come to the conclusion we cannot offer a program we feel will deliver for our early learners better than having them start the year with our remote learning option.
Our thought is to start all K-2 students in remote learning and then when conditions in the community start to allow us to bring students back on campus determine who prefers/needs to stay online and provide services for them. Communication that reflects this will be coming from our principals this week.
Where are our school supply lists?
Our staff members are working to pinpoint the essential items needed in a remote learning environment. As soon as we have the lists ready, we will share them with our families. We want to be very mindful of what supplies are needed during remote learning. We are going with an online purchase of school supplies that you can order and have delivered to your home.