Expectations for Online Learning
Reinforcing Student Expectations - Parents, we really need your help to ensure an appropriate virtual learning environment for our students. Please review the expectations listed below and talk to your child about following them, especially the concerns regarding student safety. We look forward to partnering with you to help our students experience ultimate success now and in the future.
Keep Cameras On - Safety is our number one reason why cameras need to be on during all live lessons through Zoom. Unfortunately, outside individuals have used student names to log into our Zoom classrooms. Inactive cameras create not only a disruption to the learning environment but an inability to keep uninvited guests out of the classroom setting. Seeing and hearing the students also helps us ensure that students are safe at home and gives parents peace of mind if they are unable to stay home with their child. It also keeps students engaged socially and provides more opportunities for students to learn about each other and their teachers for when we return to school. Also with cameras on, it ensures that our students are active participants in their learning.
Secure Personal, School Account Information - Students should keep their account information and school information secure and private at all times. Sharing your personal/school information enables others to impersonate you online and puts you at risk of being accountable for their actions.
Display First and Last Names in Zoom Meetings - Students need to log in with their first and last names and their Sanford email account in order to attend classroom sessions. This helps us maintain safety and ensures that your child will be accepted into the classroom for that day, as teachers are told not to accept names of individuals not on their rosters.
Help Us Maintain a Professional Learning Environment - Although we appreciate high involvement from our parents and know it is essential to helping our students experience academic and behavioral success, please remember that the appropriate parent protocols for communicating with teachers are to contact them via email or phone and NOT during the online class sessions. Failure to adhere to this expectation could result in both the student and the parent being removed from the Zoom session. Students will be disciplined according to our student handbook for inappropriate language and behavior, just as they would if they were in our school building.
Parents/guardians should be mindful about what family activities would potentially be heard/seen during the students’ use of video conferencing. This is a great tool to keep students connected, but please have your students use these tools somewhere near enough you can monitor, yet private enough to concentrate on their work.
Recording conference sessions: We encourage teachers to record non-confidential video conferencing sessions and post them for students who cannot attend the live session. There may be some sessions a faculty member may want to record about specific instructional group activities. We want and need our faculty to be efficient and effective when covering material or providing reinforcement. These recordings will not be publicly available, only shared within the Google Classroom. Faculty will announce their intention to record the session giving students/parents/guardians the opportunity to turn off their camera and/or microphone if privacy is of concern.
Privacy Guidelines for Parents/Guardians To maintain a positive, productive learning environment and assure confidentiality for students and teachers during virtual learning, all parents/guardians are asked to follow the following privacy guidelines.
● Virtual learning sessions on Zoom are designed for students. To prevent disruptions to the learning environment, parents/guardians should not actively participate in the sessions, although parents/guardians may assist their child with technology and/or remain nearby. ● Do not video record, audio record, photograph, live stream, or transmit in any other way any part of the virtual learning session, including not posting on any social media platform. ● Any confidential or personally identifiable information related to students participating during the live virtual learning sessions on Zoom should not be collected, discussed or shared. ● Parents/guardians should not engage with students during their live learning sessions. Please wait to talk with your child during a planned learning break. ● If a parent/guardian has a question, please email your child’s teacher. ● Parents/guardians should email their child’s teacher or principal with any questions or concerns regarding privacy or virtual classroom expectations.
Tips for Success
Be an Active Participant - It is important for students to be engaged and active participants in a virtual setting. Valuable learning occurs when students participate in class lessons, discussions, and activities by responding to their classmates and teacher.
Establish Routines and Expectations - It is important to develop good habits from the start. Create a flexible routine and talk about how it’s working over time. Help students get
up, get dressed, and ready to learn at a reasonable time. Keep normal bedtime routines, including normal rules for digital devices.
Equipment is Ready - Please ensure virtual learning equipment is available and charged.
Create a Positive Learning Environment - Your family’s regular learning space for occasional homework might not work for extended periods. Set up a physical location that’s dedicated to school-focused activities. Make sure it is quiet, free from distractions and has a good internet connection.
Begin and End the Day by Checking In - Not all students thrive in distance learning; some struggle with too much independence or lack of structure. Please check in with your child at the beginning and end of the day. These check-in routines can help avoid later challenges and disappointments. They help students develop self-management and executive functioning that are essential skills for life.
Stay in Touch - Teachers will mainly be communicating regularly through our online platforms, virtual learning environments, and email. Stay in contact with classroom teachers, school leaders, and counselors but understand it may take a day or two for us to respond. If you have concerns, let someone know.We are committed to making this be a valuable learning experience for you. We are here to help!
Help Students ‘Own’ their Learning - Provide support and encouragement, and expect your children to do their part. Struggling is allowed and encouraged! Don’t help too much. Becoming independent takes lots of practice. At school, your child engages with other students and any number of adults hundreds of times each day. Many of these social interactions will continue from a distance, but they will be different. Wear School Appropriate Attire - We want to make sure the learning environment is maintained at all times. As a result, it is an expectation that students follow the normal school dress code to avoid distractions to the learning environment.
Be On Time for Every Class (Attendance) - Attendance remains a high priority for the Sanford School Department. When students are learning virtually, it is still important that they report to each class every day on time, and are ready to learn. Remember, attendance is still a primary indicator of academic achievement.