Letter from Ms Visca, Principal
I hope you are as well as can be expected during these challenging times.
I am writing to you to update you on a few key school operations/happenings/changes. Please read this message thoroughly.
I want to start by acknowledging and thanking our students, staff, and their families for everyone’s cooperation with the protocols and policies associated with the adaptive learning model and school as it is now during a global pandemic. Together we have done an incredible job keeping our school safe. Our Director just shared that as of Nov 19th in the HWDSB:
· 47 positive student cases, which equates to 0.12 per cent of 40,000 students
· 15 positive staff cases, which equates to 0.3 per cent of 5,000 permanent staff
· No schools have closed
· No student to staff transmission
I know that we all have COVID fatigue, but I implore families to keep vigilant, particularly through the holidays as it is making a difference.
Mid-term Reports and Supports:
Mid-term reports are being distributed in Block 1 classes on Nov 25th and 26th. The marks are loaded in Parent Portal now for you to see. Students not coming into school for face2face learning may email the school ([email protected]) to make arrangements to pick up their report or to have it emailed.
I make no illusions that these times are difficult and have profound effects on homes and individuals alike. In reviewing the mid-term reports, some of them suggest that the struggle of the adaptive learning model/remote learning and/or over all mental well-being is having an impact on achievement.
So, first and foremost, I want to reach out to you as parents, caregivers and guardians regarding mental well-being: If your student is struggling with schoolwork due to mental or emotional distress, please talk with them and work out a plan of support and care. All of us at Sherwood would be happy to be a part of that journey to wellness. There is a host of support for your student in the Community and here at the school. Contact your family doctor. Share the CONTACT Hamilton Phone number: 905-570-8888 or website: https://contacthamilton.ca/childrens-and-developmental-services/ with your household. Our Guidance Counsellors are also happy to support with suggestions and program changes.
For students with last names A-F, please contact Ms Grilli, [email protected]
For students with last names G-M, please contact Ms Lea, [email protected]
For students with last names N-Z, please contact Mr Sloan, [email protected]
Second, I want to share some of our observations regarding some concerning academic behaviour associated with our blended learning model. We are collectively concerned about the lack of student engagement that is affecting achievement. We know the situation, and the adaptive model, are not ideal, but we all need to work together within it. No model in these circumstances is ideal, but there is a Board committee using student, teacher, and parent feedback to make tweaks for the better, if possible, for semester 2.
Regardless, there are two things we note that we hope parents/guardians will help us with:
- Many students are not signing into remote classes – or they are signing in and not participating. Students connect with their teachers remotely through MS Teams. We are finding students are either absent from the remotely delivered classes in the PM or they are signing in, but when called upon, do not answer – indicating they are “present” but not there; they may be at their device but engaging in other things like video games, TV, and phones etc. and not focusing on the instruction and discussions. Attendance is a concern overall. Please note that at 15 consecutive absences, we are obligated based on Ministry policy, to remove a student from a class.
- Many students are not handing work in. Some issues are related to comfort in the HUB platform. However, when that is removed as a barrier, a significant number of students are still not submitting work, despite being asked many times and given many alternate options. Teachers determine a mark using their professional judgment using a combination of observation, conversation and product submitted. If a student does not submit work, they will not demonstrate the overall expectations of the course and they will not earn the credit.
Please know that this is not a concern for ALL students – but the number of students having difficulty is greater this year than previous years. As such, we wanted to open a connection with you and invite you to have conversations with your student to discuss – in a supportive way – their progress and anything getting in the way of that. Some strategies that work:
- Ask if they are struggling – if so – where? How? Make a plan for success together and engage a guidance counsellor if needed.
- Ask to SEE their work online. Ask your student to see their courses on the “HUB” pages. Using the buttons for assignments and content, you will be able to see if your student is completing assignments–you will also, in most cases, be able to see the mark and feedback for completed assignments.
- Use Parent Portal: https://www.hwdsb.on.ca/parent/ to see updated Board info and protocols. More importantly will see your student’s marks and attendance here. Please update the verification sheet under the “Form” section to ensure we have accurate address and contact information.
- Connect with your student’s teacher for specific suggestions about how to help them: Teacher emails can be found under staff information on our website: https://www.hwdsb.on.ca/sherwood/staff-information/
- For students with IEP supports please contact our Learning Resource teachers: Ms McKague and Ms Martin.
Adaptive Learning Model:
While many students/families have elected to learn from home during the morning Block 1 face2face time, it is important to note that under the current model, if making this choice, students are learning independently through the course HUB page for those 6 weeks–there is no direct teacher instruction. Synchronous learning does occur for all students daily in all afternoon remote classes.
Please note, that if a teacher is absent (will be contacted by the teacher) for the afternoon remote class, students are to work independently from the HUB.
Intentions for Semester 2 Block 1 Face2Face Learning:
We are asking families to declare their intentions for semester 2 Block 1 face2face learning. If your student is going to stay home and work independently from the HUB during this timeframe, please email our office administrator, Brenda Smith, [email protected]
We ask this to better balance our cohort numbers and to make better use of our adaptive model.
Individual Education Plans:
Individual Education Plans (IEPs) have been mailed out to home addresses. Please have your student return a signed copy to school or email the designated Learning Resource teacher indicated on the cover letter.
Course Withdrawal Dates:
For grade 11 and 12 students (with parent/guardian support) who are considering withdrawing from a course, connect with your guidance counsellor and note the following course withdrawal deadlines (varied due to the adaptive model) for the mark not to show permanently on your transcript:
Period 1 course: Nov 30; Period 2 course: Dec 4; Period 3 course: Dec 15; Period 4 course: Jan 8
Grade 12 Students/Potential June 2021 Graduates:
Please see the attached information sheet at the end of this message. Also, students should refer to the Guidance 2021 Hub page (parents/guardians please ask your student to see this HUB page) and they should check their HWDSB email regularly for updates and for information about college and university virtual sessions. For example, grade 12 students have been informed about the following McMaster U presentation:
What: Transitioning to University presentation by McMaster U
When: Nov 23, 2020 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Please register in advance for this information session:
https://mcmaster.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUrfu-rpzIrGdYufi4ZE4BBlyNvQQ3-6RSt
CLICK THE LINK 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE SESSION START (2:45 pm) TO RECEIVE YOUR ZOOM LINK
Community Involvement Hours requirement for 2021 graduates have changed (please see the information below on new community hour guidelines for this school year only). Record Forms should be signed and into Student Services by April 1st, 2021 at the latest. Please note that for 2021 graduates, only 20 community service hours are required.
The literacy test/course requirement for 2021 graduates has been waived.
We do not know what graduation 2021 will look like but we are committed to celebrating it in some way as we have more time to plan this school year. If you have suggestions that align to public health COVID protocols, please do not hesitate to email me.
Community Service Hours Requirement Changes for all Students: NEW FOR 2020-2021 ONLY:
One of the key changes for this school year only is that students aged 14 years and older can count to a maximum of 10 hours from paid employment towards their earned hours. Students counting paid employment towards their graduation requirement will be required to complete a reflection exercise indicating how their work contributed to the service for others. Please see chart below for all changes.
Please email a scanned copy of the completed community hours forms to Ms. Chamoun in Student Services at [email protected] .
Grade 8 Open House:
If you have a student transitioning to grade 9 in Sept. of 2021, we are having a virtual open house on Nov 25th at 6:30 pm. The session will be held through Microsoft Teams Live and can be joined through the following link http://hwdsb.info/sherwood.
2019 – 2020 Honour Awards:
Honour award certificates will be distributed to in class learners beginning this week.
School Culture and Spirit:
We recognize that much of what we all love about the high school experience is on hold. We are trying to find creative ways to do things virtually and within the protocols. Some clubs have started virtually including a book club, positive space and student council. Information will be coming soon about school pictures and spirit wear. To follow school activities and for updated information, follow us on Twitter and on our new Instagram account; both are @Sherwood_HWDSB
Well, I believe that is enough for one message. I thank-you for your reading it through. I truly believe that together we can lift our students up and show them that circumstances need not dictate one’s fate–we will get through this pandemic and our students will learn and achieve. All the best.
Michelle Visca
Principal
Sherwood Secondary School
Updated on Thursday, November 26, 2020.