Welcome to TESG’s Distance Learning Site!
During the COVID-19 closure, TESG is committed to continuing to provide standards-based, engaging learning experiences for our students, even if these experiences must happen remotely or digitally! The House websites linked below contain all the lessons, links, activities, and submission requirements students and families need to participate in TESG’s Distance Learning.
House Websites
Ms. Moore’s Counselor’s Corner Website
FAQs about Distance Learning
How much time should we be spending on the activities each day?
This is the million dollar question! Learning at home is very different from learning in a school setting, and learning at home during this kind of global crisis is different than anything anyone has done before!
As an experiential school, we know that learning happens in all kinds of ways beyond assigned school work–reading for pleasure, crafting, being outside, cooking, playing cards or board games, using your imagination, building Legos, and so on. We also know that protecting our children’s (and our own) physical, mental, and emotion health must be the primary focus right now. And in these unique times, we know that everyone is doing their best to juggle responsibilities, and many in our community are facing economic hardships, adding to the stress. So keep doing what you can, and remember that TESG is here to support you! Don’t hesitate to let us know what you need.
What is on the websites?
Every Monday morning at 10:00am, each House’s website will go live with new content! You will find these links above. These websites will host all the assignments, links, resources, and other information your student will need to complete their work. Arts classes also have websites with activities for students to complete! Assignments will be due on a weekly basis by 11:59pm Sunday nights. Submission requirements and processes will vary by House, so be sure to read the assignment descriptions carefully and reach out to teachers with any questions about how to submit assignments.
Something isn’t working. Where can I get help with these apps?
Click the name of some of the most commonly used apps below for a link to their help guide:
Epic SeeSaw Prodigy Kahn Academy Moby Max
NewsELA Zearn LearnZillion Happy Numbers
If you have multiple children who are using SeeSaw, you may want to ask their teachers to activate your Family account. The Family App is separate from the Student App in SeeSaw, and it is only for viewing submissions and teacher feedback and commenting on your child’s posts. You child can’t post new assignments using the Family App, so each child will still have to log in individually to the their student account through the Student App to upload new assignments. However, if you have multiple children, the Family App can be helpful for tracking what your kids are submitting and seeing the teachers’ feedback all in one place. Once the teachers have invited you to your Family account, if you need help adding multiple children, click here: https://help.seesaw.me/hc/en-us/articles/206514685-How-do-I-add-another-student-to-my-family-account-
What are “office hours”?
During certain hours each day, each House will hold virtual office hours using Zoom. When you log into the Zoom session, you or your student will be able to talk to one of the House teachers about assignments and lessons, ask questions, get login help, or just check in and say hi! No need to wait for your homeroom teacher’s time–anyone in the House can help! These are not private Zoom sessions, so this is not a time to conference about individual student progress or anything too personal.
What are student conferences?
Each homeroom teacher will connect with their students individually on a weekly or biweekly basis for conferences via Zoom or phone. These conferences might include reading, writing, or math talks; conversations about assignments; or discussions about questions a student may have.
Need help with Zoom? See the help video below.
How will you take attendance?
In accordance with state guidance, we will not be officially taking attendance during distance learning. But even though there won’t be attendance attendance records, we still want to make sure that all our students are able to participate in the distance learning program. Please let your teachers know if you are experiencing difficulties or need support.
How will I know if my student is completing their work?
Teachers will enter scores for the past week’s assignments by 5:00pm each Tuesday in PowerSchool. These will be visible immediately in the Parent Portal. All families have received a new Parent Portal letter. If you already have a working account, you can disregard this letter; otherwise, that letter will have all the information you need to create that account. If you need help creating your account, see the guide here.
- For help creating a ParentPortal account or viewing and understanding your student’s assignments and scores, see the How To document here.
- If you need help with your username or password, email Mr. Durham at adurham@tesgk8.org.
- If you are locked out of your account, email Dr. Bocci at mbocci@tesgk8.org.
What will grades be like during the Distance Learning?
In alignment with state guidance, during the COVID-19 closure, will not be entering our usual 1-4 scores into PowerSchool. Instead, we will focus on students’ participation and score assignments as complete, incomplete, or missing. Students will get specific feedback about their assignments and their learning during Zoom conferences, on SeeSaw, or within other apps their House may be using.
Feedback might include mentioning the “glows and grows” for a student’s assignment or asking them clarifying or extension questions. In other words, formative feedback is a way to start a conversation with the student about their work. The goal of formative feedback is to help a student grow in their understanding of an idea and encourage them to think critically and creatively about it.
What will final grades be like for 2019-2020?
The State Board of Education recently issued its policy for final grades for 2019-2020:
- For K-5, students will not receive final grades. TESG will still provide families and students with end-of-year feedback focusing on the student’s strengths and areas for growth.
- For 6th grade and up, students will receive a final grade of either a Pass “PC19” (for any student who was meeting expectations prior to March 13 or has done so during the Distance Learning) or Withdrawal “WC19” (for students who were not meeting expectations prior to March 13 and have not begun to do so during Distance Learning). **WC19 is not considered a failing grade and does not indicate the need to repeat the course or the grade** TESG will also provide families and students with end-of-year feedback focusing on the student’s strengths and areas for growth.
Will there still be EOGs?
No. The state requested and received a federal waiver for all federally-mandated testing. This waiver includes all EOGs. The General Assembly upheld this waiver. There have been some questions about whether students will have to “make-up” these EOGs when they return in the fall. Per current legislation, students will not take their EOGs at the beginning of the year, with the exception of 2020-2021’s 4th graders who will take their 3rd grade reading EOG within the first 10 days of school next year as part of the Read to Achieve legislation.
We have no internet access and/or no device. What can we do?
If you have a device, but no internet, Spectrum is offering free home internet access for K-12 students. Enrollment is by phone: 1-844-488-8395.
While the school can’t offer loaner devices or facilitate the exchange of goods or services between families, we do know that there are both folks wanting to donate devices and folks who may need devices. We encourage families to continue communicating directly with each other about what you may need or have to offer via Facebook or other social media.
If you are unable to secure a device for your student, please let your teacher know. We can provide hard copies of work for your student. These packets will be mailed each Monday. Because of the stay-at-home order, you will still have to upload your student’s completed assignments to SeeSaw each week for the teacher to provide feedback on them.
What about my library books and field trip refunds?
The library is blocking all fines through their closure. If we are still closed, but the libraries re-open, the school will handle the return of any books in your children’s book bins and cubbies. You will need to return any books your child has with them, so check their backpacks!
Field trip refund checks were mailed on Monday, March 30.
My Hot Lunchbox refunds should already be hitting your accounts. These refunds will stay as credits in your account if your child returns to school at TESG next year. If you leave TESG, the credits will be refunded to the card used to purchase the meals. If you know you won’t be returning, you can call and request that refund.
How are we going to get all the personal items students left at school? What about our TESG merchandise order?
May 26 and June 9: Student pick-up dates. Before the pick ups, staff will gather all your child’s personal belongings, swag order (if applicable), and medications (if applicable) and bag them for you. You will enter the parking lot in a single-stacked car rider line. Staff will bring the items to the car. To help us keep things running efficiently, please post the names and grade levels of your students in the car window.
- May 26th: This will be the main pick-up date. To control the flow, we will divide the day as follows:
- 8 am – 12 pm: Students with last names A-J
- 12 pm – 4 pm: Students with last names K-Z
- June 9th: This will be a make-up pick up day. Any family can come between 8 am – 4 pm to collect the items.
Student items remaining at school past June 9 will be held while we contact families individually to determine their wishes for the belongings. Given the cost involved, and the legalities of shipping medications, we will not mail items.
