Distance Education Handbook

Humboldt County School District 

Grass Valley ES Distance Learning Handbook & Guidelines 

March 24, 2020

Dear Superkid Families,

Due to the threat of COVID-19 and mandated school closures, we are now offering Distance Learning for students enrolled at GVES School.  Distance learning may look differently for different students. Much depends on the student’s grade level, access to the Internet, and a student’s ability to complete assignments/tasks with the assistance of parents, while keeping in close contact with the classroom teacher.  

GVES will be providing school-issued Chromebooks to students who do not have a device at home, providing paper packets to assist learning, and using Google Classrooms to communicate with parents and students.  Google Classrooms may be accessed through student Google accounts and also downloaded as an app on Smartphones. This is a great way to communicate with your child’s teacher throughout the week. Teachers have already created Google classrooms for their classes and are ready to begin that two-way communication with you and your student.

Please reference our parent guide online to help set up and understand Google Classroom.  Most of the students know their login information-it is the same as they use to login to the computer at school.  Or, you can email your child’s teacher to get your student’s login information. Please check your child’s Google mail account daily for messages from the teacher.

Teachers are available from 8:00-3:30 Monday through Friday through Google Classroom or email.  Please note that attendance and participation as stated below is beginning this week 3/23-3/27/20, so it is essential that you have made contact with your child’s teacher. We appreciate your patience as this continues to be a learning experience for us all. We look forward to enhancing your child’s learning experience even during this unsettling time and we look forward to seeing our students in classrooms when school is reopened at the site level. 

We will continue to keep parents informed using the Google Classrooms, email, phone calls, the HCSD communication app, and through our Facebook page. 

Best to you all,

Kristen Holden

Principal, Grass Valley Elementary School

DISTANCE LEARNING ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

1) Attendance and Grading

1.1) Weekly Attendance Procedure (Beginning Week of 3/23/20)

Student attendance must be recorded weekly.  In order for a student to be marked as present for the week they must

1. Have two-way communication in writing with their teacher of record which can include email or text message.

2. Log into the online platform used by the student’s teacher of record and demonstrate progress on assignments.  The online platforms used at GVES include: Google Classroom, Edgenuity/Pathblazer/Clever, Summit Learning.  

3. For those students not using online learning, dated and signed academic packets will need to be submitted to the school site weekly during the designated time. Parent Communication must still happen weekly with the teacher through email or Google Classroom.

4. If the teacher is unable to communicate with the student during the week and no documented progress has occurred, the student must be marked absent for the 5 school days of that week.

1.2)  GVES teachers are required to maintain the legal record of student attendance.  

  1. Every PreK-4th grade student must have a state certified teacher of record.

  2. The ‘designated’ teacher of record will print the two-way communication record for each student AND/OR 

  3. The ‘designated’ teacher of record will print off the weekly progress in order to track student attendance.

1.3) Grading Protocols

     1. Students are assigned tasks/assignments/school work by the teacher each week.

     2. Each grade level will take grades on a combination of coursework as determined by the

         administration and grade level team.

     3. Sufficient progress is determined by a combination of coursework submitted, weekly progress 

         monitoring and activity login times. Teachers will assign a weekly grade for coursework in IC.

     4. All teachers will provide feedback and progress to the student through Google Classroom or                                  

         email.

Device Management 

Student and Family

Chromebook Policy Handbook

Spring 2020

2) CHROMEBOOK DISTRIBUTION AND COLLECTION

2.1) Chromebook Distribution/Check-Out

Chromebooks will be distributed/checked out to students at GVES upon request.  Parents and students must complete the required forms prior to distribution.

2.2) Chromebook Collection/Check-In

Chromebooks and chargers must be returned when requested or when a student terminates enrollment. Students who are withdrawn, expelled, or terminate enrollment for any reason must return their Chromebook prior to the date of termination.  Chromebooks are the property of HCSD, and students are responsible for returning them in reasonable condition. Students may be charged a repair fee (per repair) not to exceed the replacement cost of $300.

Chapter 3 - Responsible Care and Use

3) TAKING CARE OF YOUR CHROMEBOOK

Students are responsible for the general care of the Chromebook issued to them by the school. If Chromebooks that are damaged, broken, or fail to work properly please contact the school as soon as possible. 

3.1) Guidelines for Chromebook Care

Just like any school property issued to students for individual use, students will be held responsible for maintaining their individual Chromebooks and keeping them in good working order; therefore, general care is expected at all times. Students are responsible for any and all damage. Use the following guidelines to ensure proper care of your Chromebook:

1)   Use a clean, soft cloth to clean the screen; do not use cleansers or liquids of any type to clean the Chromebook.

2)   Chromebooks are not to be carried in a backpack, as damage may result from heavy books, drops and other accidents.

3)   Do not place anything on the Chromebook that could put pressure on the screen.

5)   Insert cords and cables appropriately; do not force any cords when plugging into the

Chromebook or electrical outlets.

6)   Store Chromebook in a secure location. 

3.2) Protecting Your Chromebook

Chromebook Identification - Each Chromebook will be labeled and can be identified in the following ways:

1)   Serial number label

2)   Humboldt County School District Asset Tag

Asset tags, labels, and identification stickers may not be modified or tampered with in any way.

3.3) Storing Your Chromebook

When students are not using their Chromebooks, they should be stored in a safe location. Chromebooks should not be stored in a vehicle at any time due to temperature extremes that can damage the Chromebook.

Using your Chromebook

4) APPS ON YOUR CHROMEBOOK

4.1) Saving work with your Chromebook

Students will save work in their Google Drive which will be accessible on or offline. Students may also save documents on external drives. Each Chromebook has space for saving documents while offline, and students are able to create or edit documents while offline. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that work is not lost due to mechanical failure or accidental deletion. Chromebook malfunctions are not an acceptable excuse for not submitting work. Teachers will instruct students on methods of managing work.

4.3) Installed Applications, Extensions and Add-ons

The applications originally installed must remain on the Chromebook. All apps, extensions and add-ons will be managed, installed and/or removed. From time to time, HCSD may add applications, extensions or add-ons. 

4.4) Inspection

Students may be asked to provide their Chromebook for inspection by staff. Chromebooks are the property of HCSD. Students have no expectation of confidentiality or privacy with respect to any usage of a Chromebook, regardless of whether that use is for school-related or personal purposes, other than as specifically provided by law. HCSD may, without prior notice or consent, log, supervise, access, view, monitor, and record use of student Chromebooks at any time for any reason. By using a Chromebook, students agree to such access, monitoring, and recording of their use. Teachers, school administrators, and the technology department staff may use monitoring software that allows them to view the screens and activity, including all documents or files on student Chromebooks no matter where or when the documents were created.

Responsibilities

5) RESPONSIBLE USE

The use of Humboldt County School District’s technology resources is a privilege, not a right, and is not transferable or extendible by students to people or groups outside the district. The use of technology resources terminates when a student is no longer enrolled with Humboldt County School District.

This handbook is provided to make all users aware of the responsibilities associated with efficient, ethical, and lawful use of technology resources. If a person violates any of the rules in this handbook, privileges may be terminated, access to the Humboldt County School District technology resources may be denied, and the appropriate disciplinary action shall be applied. The school’s progressive discipline policy shall be applied to student infractions.

The Internet can bring a wealth of educational material to the classroom, but may also contain material that is inappropriate in an educational setting. The Humboldt County School District filters websites believed to be inappropriate in compliance with the federal Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). However, on a global network, it is impossible to control all materials. The Humboldt County School District cannot and does not believe that inappropriate material can be completely filtered. Violations may result in disciplinary action up to and including suspension/expulsion for students. When applicable, law enforcement agencies may be involved.

5.1) School Responsibilities

1)   Provide student educational accounts through the Humboldt County School District issued email.

2)   Provide Internet filtering of inappropriate materials as much as possible on the internet.

3)   Provide Google accounts. Humboldt County School District reserves the right to  

      review, monitor, and restrict information stored on or transmitted via Humboldt County 

      School District owned equipment and to investigate inappropriate use of resources.

4)   Provide guidance to aid students in use of the Chromebook and Internet resources and 

      help assure student compliance of the Acceptable Use Policy.

5.2) Student Responsibilities

  1. Students must use Chromebooks in a responsible and appropriate manner, adhering to the tenets of Digital Citizenship.

  2. Students must obey general school rules and adhere to Humboldt County School District’s AUP (Acceptable Use Policy).

  3. Chromebooks must remain free of inappropriate writing, drawing, stickers, or labels related to gangs, tobacco, drugs, alcohol, violence, discrimination, profanity, or any other school prohibited forms of expression, including sexually explicit content. Photos that include, but are not limited to, inappropriate language, alcohol, drug, gang related symbols or inappropriate pictures will result in disciplinary actions.

  4. Students must understand that the use of any information obtained via the Internet is at  the student’s own risk. Humboldt County School District specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through its services.

  5. Students must help the Humboldt County School District protect its users by contacting any staff member about any security problems encountered.

  6. Students must take responsibility for any activity on their computer by monitoring their Chromebook/account(s).

  7. Students should always secure their Chromebook after they are finished working to protect their work and their Chromebook.

  8. Students must notify an adult if he or she receives inappropriate digital content.

  9. Students who withdraw, transfer, are expelled, or terminate enrollment from school for any reason must return their Chromebook prior to the date of termination.

10)  Students must protect their passwords and personal information.

11)  Students are responsible for completing all digital coursework assigned.

12)  Students must immediately report a missing or stolen Chromebook to the school.

13)  Students must give credit to all sources used, whether quoted or summarized, including 

       all forms of media on the Internet, such as graphics, movies, music, and text. Students 

       must demonstrate academic honesty and integrity by not cheating, plagiarizing or using 

       information unethically in any way. Plagiarism is a violation of student handbook and 

       classroom policies.

14)  Students must comply with trademark and copyright laws and all license agreements. 

       Ignorance of the law does not allow immunity. If you are unsure, ask a teacher or parent.

5.3) Parent/Guardian Responsibilities

1)   Parents are encouraged to talk to their child about Internet safety, the Nine Themes of Digital Citizenship, and the standards that their child should follow when accessing the Internet, just as they do regarding the use of all media information sources such as television, telephones, movies, and radio.

2)   Parents are expected to support their child by providing Internet access at home when at all possible.. 

3)   Parents are expected to adhere to the Humboldt County School District Acceptable Use Policy.

5.4) A Good Digital Citizen

1)   Advocates for equal digital rights and access for all.

2)   Treats others with respect in online spaces and never cyberbullies.

i. Will not create, transmit or access materials that are obscene, offensive,

threatening or otherwise intended to harass, demean, or bully recipients

ii. Will not engage in Sexting (the sending of sexually explicit photos, images,

text messages, or emails by using a cell phone or other mobile device)

iii. Will not send, access, upload, download, or distribute offensive, profane,

threatening, pornographic, obscene, or sexually explicit materials

3)   Does not steal or damage others’ digital work, identity or property.

i. Academic Honor Code

ii. Will not change Chromebook’s settings (exceptions: personal settings such as font size, brightness, etc.)

iii. Will not install/download software or transmission of copyrighted materials

iv. Will not download software/applications illegally

v. Will not participate in fraud, electronic forgery or other forms of illegal behavior

4)   Makes appropriate decisions when communicating through a variety of digital channels.

i. Will not use anonymous and/or false communications

ii. Will not bypass Humboldt County School District’s web filter

5)   Uses digital tools to advance their learning and keeps up with changing technologies.

i. All software, applications, games, music, videos, etc. must be district approved/provided. 

6)   Makes responsible online purchasing decisions and protects their payment information.

i. Will not use district issued Internet/e-mail accounts for financial or commercial gain or for any illegal or inappropriate activity

7)   Upholds basic human rights in all digital forms.

8)   Protects personal information from outside forces that might cause harm.

i. Will not give out personal information over the Internet

ii. Will not gain unauthorized access to others’ accounts, files, and/or data

iii. Will not use or possess hacking software; it is strictly prohibited and violators will be subject to state or federal law resulting in criminal prosecution or disciplinary action by the Humboldt County School District.

9)   Proactively limits health risks of technology, from physical to psychological.

i. Will not vandalize school equipment (any malicious attempt to harm or destroy hardware, software or data, including, but not limited to the uploading or creation of computer viruses or computer programs that can infiltrate computer systems and/or damage software components will not be allowed).

*Additional Sign-out information and Chromebook expectations will be shared upon device check-out