Principal’s Message
from Jeff Calden
Happy Sunday - Today we have some important information regarding the new bell schedule we are instituting when we return after break. This is designed to reduce screen time and shorten the length of classes for our students. There is also a ton of new information that dropped this week regarding this year's A.P. tests. And a video that shows in real time the importance of social distancing. I hope everyone can take some time this coming week to use the break from school to do the things that make you happy and give you some semblance of normalcy - which we can all use these days. Be safe, be strong, be kind, and as Mrs. Hackett always says, "make good choices."
New Bell Schedule for After Spring Break
We have put together, in conjunction with the Middle School, a new schedule for when we return from Spring Break on Monday, April 13th. This new schedule is designed to pull back from screen time and lessen the amount of hours students and teachers are in Live Online Distance Learning. This new schedule creates a Monday where there is NO live school, but students are checking in for activities and assignments to work on from counselors and schools specialists regarding counseling, college and career information and deadlines, physical and emotional wellness, and school spirit and culture. It's an opportunity to pull back, have a day to involve yourself with a few areas of school that online distance learning on its own did not cover. It's also a day to get any work done that you did not get done with no new work being assigned by teachers.
Tuesday through Friday will be O/E days with three 65 minute periods that start at 9:00 am and are done at 12:30. After a one-hour lunch break, beginning at 1:30 on Tuesday through Thursday, teachers can offer office hours, intervention, work with a particular class or group, including A.P. test prep, or students can check in with their counselors. On Fridays, when 6th period is over at 12:30 pm, the week is over for everyone.
Zero periods will meet three days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) for 40 minute periods.
The Monday Special Course is in Schoology and there are simple instructions on how each student needs to sign up to be in that course.
The instructions are in the next blurb of this newsletter and also attached to this email.
We hope that this new schedule, which cuts screen time and live teaching by a bit over half, will allow students and teachers to work productively without getting burned out. The plan we had to follow our regular schedule exactly was a good one to start with and it got us through to Spring Break. We had all hoped to be going back to school next week. But when it became clear that wasn't going to happen, we knew we needed something that was more sustainable to get us from now through June 4th. The schedule is below.
Please contact me at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Monday Special Course
The Monday Special Course is in Schoology and there are simple instructions on how each student needs to sign up to be in that course.
A code is required to sign up for the class. The High School Code is ZZ4X-ZMFZ-T2B4B
To sign up - simply go to Schoology, Click on My Courses, Click Join a Course, and then enter the code above.
A course called Monday Special for SLVHS will show up in your courses. When you open that course you will see folders that you can open to get that week's assignment.
Social Distancing - Video Study Shows Can Happen When People Do Not Follow Social Distancing Rules
A new video making the social media rounds demonstrates the dangers of Americans refusing to follow social distancing guidelines during the Coronavirus emergency. The one minute and 15 second feature on the Twitter feed of location data firm Tectonix GEO claims to track the mobile devices of spring-breakers from one single beach in Florida, following where the throngs went after Spring Break 2020 concluded. You can watch the video on Youtube at this link. https://youtu.be/cq2zuE3ISYU
New Advanced Placement (A.P.) Testing Updates for Students and Families
Below is the email I received this morning from the College Board regarding more specific information on this year's A.P. Tests.
Exam Dates
* Exams will be given from May 11–22.
* Makeup test dates will be available for each subject from June 1–5.
* Students can take exams at home or in schools, if they reopen.
* Each subject's exam will be taken on the same day at the same time, worldwide.
* View the full testing schedule.
Exam Format
* Most exams will have one or two free-response questions, and each question will be timed separately.
* Students will need to write and submit their responses within the allotted time for each question.
* Students will be able to take exams on any device they have access to—computer, tablet, or smartphone. They'll be able to type and upload their responses or write responses
by hand and submit a photo via their cell phones.
* For most subjects the exams will be 45 minutes long, plus an additional 5 minutes for uploading. Students will need to access the online testing system 30 minutes early to get set up.
* Certain courses—Art and Design: 2D; Art and Design: 3D; Computer Science Principles; Drawing; Research; and Seminar—will use portfolio submissions and will not have a
separate online exam. All deadlines for these submissions have been extended to May 26, 2020, 11:59 p.m. ET. Teachers and students may receive separate course-specific
communications.
* Students taking world language and culture exams will complete two spoken tasks consistent with free-response questions 3 and 4 on the current AP Exam. Written responses
will not be required. We'll provide additional details in the coming weeks to help students prepare. *
* Tips for testing on specific devices will be available in late April.
Confronting the Digital Divide
We recognize that the digital divide could prevent some low-income and rural students from participating. Working with partners, we're investing so these students have the tools and connectivity they need to review AP content online and take the exam. If your students need mobile tools or connectivity, you can contact us directly to let us know by April 24.
Exam Scores and College Credit
As usual, students' work will be scored by our network of college faculty and AP teachers, and will be reported on a 1–5 scale.
We anticipate releasing scores as close to the usual July timeframe as possible.
We're confident that the vast majority of higher ed institutions will award college credit as they have in the past.
We've spoken with hundreds of institutions across the country that support our solution for this year's AP Exams.
Special Benefit for Teachers
To help support teachers and schools that are struggling to collect and score student work for course grades, we'll provide every AP teacher with their students' responses from the online exams by May 26. Administrators and teachers can individually determine whether they'd like to use these results locally as part of a course grade or as a final exam.
Exam Security
Like many college-level exams, this year's AP Exams will be open book/open note. The exam format and questions are being designed specifically for an at-home administration, so points will not be earned from content that can be found in textbooks or online. However, students taking the exams may not consult with any other individuals during the testing period. We'll take the necessary steps to protect the integrity of each exam administration, as we do every year.
We're confident that the vast majority of AP students will follow the rules for taking the exams. For the small number of students who may try to gain an unfair advantage, we have a comprehensive and strict set of protocols in place to prevent and detect cheating. While some of these practices are confidential to maximize their effectiveness, students and education professionals can learn more about our security measures.
At a minimum, test takers should understand that those attempting to gain an unfair advantage will either be blocked from testing or their AP scores will be canceled, and their high school will be notified as will colleges or other organizations to which the student has already sent any College Board scores (including SAT® scores). And they may be prohibited from taking a future Advanced Placement® Exam as well as the SAT, SAT Subject Tests™, or CLEP® assessments.
Remote Instruction and Practice
On March 25, we began offering free live AP review courses, delivered by AP teachers from across the country. The courses have been viewed more than 3.2 million times since they became available. On-demand lessons are now available for Art and Design, AP Capstone™, and Computer Science Principles.
In addition to sharing information about these classes with students, teachers who are providing remote instruction can use AP Classroom for most subjects. We've now unlocked secure free-response questions in AP Classroom so teachers can digitally assign relevant practice questions students can take at home. Additional tips for helping your students practice are available.
Professional Development Opportunities
We'll be providing webinars, videos, and other resources to help AP teachers and coordinators leading up to exam day.
|
Coordinators can register for live training on April 10 to learn more about exams.
Health Corner From SLVUSD Nurse Sarah Dahlen
Keeping hands clean through improved hand hygiene is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. I invite you to watch this video with your children regarding proper hand hygiene techniques and consider doing this activity at home: excellent handwashing video. We need to create the habit of slowing down and having the patience to perform proper hand hygiene several times throughout our day as well as not touching our faces.
About the virus: Why Washing your hands works. • Since the virus is not a living organism, but a molecule of protein, it doesn’t die but disintegrates on its own. The length of time it takes depends on temperature, humidity and material type. • The virus is fragile, the only thing that protects it is a thin external layer of fat. That’s why any soap or detergent is the best remedy. • Once the layer of fat is dissolved, the molecule of protein falls apart and disintegrates on its own.
Best Cleaning Solutions • Alcohol or any mixture of alcohol at more than 60% will dissolve any grease/fats, especially the outer fat layer of the virus. • Any mixture of 1 part Clorox, 5 parts water directly dissolves the protein, which kills it from the inside. • Oxidized water can be used besides soap, alcohol, and clorox because peroxide dissolves the protein of the virus. All are harsh on the skin and you may want to use gloves.
I’m here if you have questions, please reach out for help if you need. Sarah Dahlen, SLVUSD School Nurse [email protected]
CIF and CCS Have Officially Cancelled all Spring Sports Though it was fairly certain to happen after most high schools committed to online school for the remainder of the year, it still hurt to read it when I got the email on Friday. Both the California State and Central Coast Section have agreed to cancel spring sporting events.
Did You Leave Things You Need in Your PE Locker? After break, Mr. Coulson and I are going to try and put together a plan to help students get into the locker rooms and get anything you left behind that you need. Notice the word need. If we are able to make this happen- we will be send out information after break.
|
|
Seniors - Senior Exit Portfolios are now Optional for 2020 - Read Details Below
Because we realize that we are all facing additional challenges and hardships during this unusual time, our school and district administration, pending board approval, has made the decision to make the Senior Exit Portfolio optional this year to all seniors. We hope this will allow those students who are already facing the challenges of online learning and meeting graduation requirements to have one less project and concern to worry about. We also recognize that many Seniors are near completion or have already completed their portfolios. We still want to honor all your hard work and dedication. We will accept and grade all portfolios turned in by April 13th. All portfolios that pass will be awarded Honors recognition. These students will be commended at Senior Awards and Graduation.
Yearbook Sales
Yearbooks are now only $85 instead of $90.
Don't pass this deal up!
SLVHS Newspaper - The Claw - Now Being Published Online
Follow the student journalists covering San Lorenzo Valley High School at The Claw newspaper online: https://theclawonline.org/ and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SLV_Claw.
SLV Unified School District LCAP Survey - Please Give us Your Input
We value parent input and would like to hear from all families!
NO SCHOOL NEXT WEEK - ENJOY YOUR SPRING BREAK
Online Distance Learning Schedule for the Week of: March 30 - April 3
|
Monday |
March 30 |
MS | Monday Special Lessons for Students No Live Classes - No more A Days |
|
Tuesday |
March 31 |
O |
New O Day Schedule Live Classes from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm Afternoon Block Opportunities 1:30-2:30 pm |
|
Wednesday |
April 1 |
E |
New E Day Schedule Live Classes from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm Afternoon Block Opportunities 1:30-2:30 pm |
|
Thursday |
April 2 |
O |
New O Day Schedule Live Classes from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm Afternoon Block Opportunities 1:30-2:30 pm |
|
Friday |
April 3 |
E | New E Day Schedule Live Classes from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm |
Social Distancing
With the Governor moving the entire state from Shelter in Place to Stay at Home, it is apparent that we are not going to be able to be with some of our favorite people or go to some of our favorite places for a while. I have gathered some information about Social Distancing to share with you. You may be young, and healthy, and showing no symptoms, but if you or someone you visit with are carrying the virus and you aren’t practicing social distancing, you are putting lives at risk, including your own and those of your family and friends.
In Santa Cruz County, we are in the first stages of this health crisis. And we while we don't know a lot about this virus yet, we do know a few things about how to keep it from spreading. We know that Social Distancing works. We can see that in the differences in the death rates in countries who didn't practice Social Distancing early on and those who did. There are people in Italy dying because they did not practice social distancing or take it seriously soon enough.
While I am not normally an advocate of more screen time, spending time with friends is probably best done online or on the phone at this point. Or if it is in person, it should be done outside, with people at least six feet apart, and with no more than a few other people at once. Not being with those you want to be with. No concerts, no movies, no sports. No restaurants, no museums, no libraries. This is what Stay at Home means. And it saves lives.
We will get through this eventually, but how long it lasts and how many people die depend on how many of us are as safe as we can be. By how many of us are washing our hands, using hand sanitizer, not shaking hands, staying away from large gatherings, trying our best not to touch our faces, using wipes and cleaners more than we ever have. And by practicing Social Distancing. A short term inconvenience to make the world a safer place right now and in the future.
Below is a link to a really good summary of how to stay safe from the senior director of infection prevention at Johns Hopkins Medicine.
The Just in Case Directions for SLVHS Distance Learning
You log into your Schoology account - using your School email. Won't work with any other email.
You have to use Google Chrome as your browser, not Safari or Firefox or anything else.
You need to login once class has started - before may not work.
If all that is happening and still not working, you need to sync your Google Profiles.
Video attached to this email to show you how to sync your Google profiles.
This checklist has worked for several students this morning.
If you are in you should see a small chat circle in the bottom left hand corner of your screen.
If it still doesn't work, just go on Schoology, get the assignments, do them, and email your teachers that you can't get on, but you are doing the work.
Then email our tech support at: [email protected]
Remember - if you are a student, you DO NOT have a GoGuardian account. GoGuardian is for teachers.
By signing in properly to Schoology during the class, you will automatically be dropped into the right teacher and the right class in GoGuardian.
Contacts
Jeff Calden: Principal [email protected]
Danielle Winters: Assistant Principal: [email protected]
Katie Amos: Administrative Assistant: [email protected]
Ellen Taylor: Attendance: [email protected]
Jeff Kitts: Technology Support: [email protected]
Rachel Oglive: Technology Support: [email protected]
Leslie Burns: Counselor: [email protected]
Jen Kelly: Counselor: [email protected]
Deborah Mitchell: Social/Emotional Counselor: [email protected]
Charlotte Achen: College/Career Counselor: [email protected]
SSC Health Department: https://www.santacruzhealth.org/Coronavirus
SCC Office of Education: www.sccoe.link/coronavirus
Below are some helpful links and contact information for SLV High School students and parents:
SLV High School Website SLV High School Calendar SLV High School Bell Schedule
SLVUSD 2019-20 School Year Calendar SLVHS Student Handbook
Administration Staff Directory Campus Map
SLVHS Cougar Parent Club SLVHS Athletics Booster Club
SAN LORENZO VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
7105 Hwy 9, Felton, CA 95018
Phone: (831) 335-4425
Fax: (831) 335-1531
Attendance Line: (831) 335-3646
The Community Opportunity Link is provided as a courtesy for parents and students by the San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District to receive information of current local events and other student opportunities. These opportunities range from scouting, sports, arts/drama, local community events, as well as other parent resources. In an effort to reduce paper, flyers will not be sent home to students; all approved flyers will be posted to this District-created website.
