HINTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
April 1, 2020
Dear Hinton Schools Families and Hinton Community:
Our administrators, teachers and instructional support staff are working hard to develop a continuous learning plan that will help our students finish the school year strong. As you can imagine, this planning has presented its own set of trials, as most of it has occurred digitally or at a distance so we can protect ourselves just as you are at home. We will meet the challenge, however, because that’s what we do as Hinton Comets. Our students deserve a learning plan that will help them grow academically this spring, and that is what we are determined to give them.
The last few weeks have made me even more proud to be the superintendent of Hinton Schools. From our teachers and administration having their “wave” parade to our staff and Keystone girls, Stephanie and Barbara, getting the grab and go meals out to our students, this community has worked to provide children with basic needs, as well as lift their spirits. All of this has occurred while Hinton residents and Hinton School employees have also taken the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. There’s nothing we can’t accomplish when we work together as a team.
We know you and your child have many questions about what the remainder of the school year will be like. The purpose of this letter is to share what we know and to ask you for your help as we prepare for this significant transition. While this is not how we expected to end the school year, we believe our continuous learning plan will allow us to keep students on track, while also protecting what is most important – their health and well-being.
A change of this magnitude will not occur without bumps in the road; however, with your help, I am confident we can offer the best services possible for our students. There are several ways that you can help us at this time:
- Contact Information – Please contact your child’s school to ensure we have the most up-to-date phone number, email and address on file for your family. This will be important so that we can communicate often.
- Technology – We know some students may need assistance with access to technology devices and internet access due to the survey the teachers and administration took after Spring Break. We are working to help fill this gap for students. You have helped us determine the level of need across the district by letting someone at the school know. We have added two hotspots outside of two parking lots in order that there is availability for internet for those unable to access it at home or work. XStreme Services has added a hotspot at the pavilion area of the Walking Trail. Students can remain in a vehicle while working on their assignments.
- Office Hours – If you have questions about the remainder of the school year or you need assistance with something at the building, please call your child’s school office between the hours of 9:00-2:00, Monday – Thursday or contact your child’s teacher by email. They are happy to assist you on a one-on-one basis so it is safe for you and members of our staff.
- Other Resources – Please visit our website at hintonschools.org for information about free breakfast and lunch for all children, menu plans for April, as well as for resources regarding the prevention of COVID-19.
- ALL IMPORTANT INFORMATION will be on the Hinton Schools App or Hinton Schools web page- hintonschools.org in the EVENTS or NEWS tab. Please choose “ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS” as this will get you notification immediately when important information is put up on the Events or News App/web page. Facebook (FB) will only be used to inform you of the amazing and fun things going on with our school.
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our teachers and staff, we will resume services to students on Monday, April 6, 2020 using our continuous distance learning plan. We understand this ongoing instruction cannot be delivered through a one-size-fits-all approach. I hope as you read the information below you can see how we are working to help meet the needs of all students:
Elementary Distance Learning Plan Hinton Elementary - PK-4th Grades believes that students learn best when provided with
various opportunities to experience learning. This includes hands-on activities, written practice,
and online options. The teachers have collaborated together to develop lessons that align with
the standards for each grade level. Packets of materials and instructions accompany the
supplies needed to complete these tasks. The lessons provide a strong educational focus on
literacy and math. Teachers will be providing daily support to students and parents through
email, class apps, phone calls, and/or other online communication tools that parents are
comfortable using. Packets are not to be returned to the school, but instead pictures or emails of
checklists of activities completed will be sent to the classroom teacher by the parent/guardian.
Resource teachers, paras, and aides will also be keeping in touch with parents and students to
provide additional support for students and parents. The packets will be available for parents in a drive thru pick up lane over a 3-day period. Special Education Students will be serviced through weekly packets, phone calls, and teleservices through ZOOM. Within the students' packet there will be academic content, as well as any related services content, such as OT, PT, and Speech. Packets will be delivered on Monday’s. Students will be provided a checklist to show completion of each skill/assignment and a suggested weekly schedule to follow for completion. Parents will send a copy of this checklist to the child's teacher via text or email. Each week our Special Education teachers and Related Service Providers will be contacting parents and students to check in and see if they need anything and provide flexible instruction. They will be available throughout the week if parents have any questions or concerns to support student learning through ongoing communication and collaboration. Our weekly calls and checklist will help us monitor, assess, and provide feedback to students and parents about their learning. Any IEP/MEEGS/REDS meetings will be conducted through ZOOM or a conference call, original dates and timeline will be followed. Parents have been contacted and made aware of our plan and services.
Middle School Distance Learning Plan
Hinton Middle School (5th-7th) has taken data from our students to create a distance
learning model that fits the needs of every student. Students with internet and device
access will be sent their weekly lesson plan template from their grade level teachers. This
template will include assignments for every subject, with careful consideration to daily time
spent working by students. All lessons/projects given to students are review and/or enrichment
of skills taught previously in the school year. Teachers used the OSTP Blue Prints and standard
alignment maps to determine which skills students would most benefit from having continued
exposure to. Teachers will be monitoring student work on the digital platforms as well as
regularly communicating with students and parents via email, phone calls, FaceTime, and Zoom
meetings. Students without internet and device access will be mailed (or delivered if
necessary) printed versions of the digital lessons given in our digital plan. Teachers will be
regularly contacting these students via phone calls and text messages to not only do check-ins,
but also receive a checklist completion picture from students and parents. Beyond this, the
teachers have also given a list of interactivities, labs, and extra practice websites/pages
for those who wish to practice beyond what is assigned. All teachers are available
specified times each day throughout the week so parents and students understand we are still there to support them. Special Education Students will be serviced through weekly packets, phone calls, and teleservices through ZOOM. Within the students' packet there will be academic content, as well as any related services content, such as OT, PT, and Speech. Packets will be delivered on Monday’s. Students will be provided a checklist to show completion of each skill/assignment and a suggested weekly schedule to follow for completion. Parents will send a copy of this checklist to the child's teacher via text or email. Each week our Special Education teachers and Related Service Providers will be contacting parents and students to check in and see if they need anything and provide flexible instruction. They will be available throughout the week if parents have any questions or concerns to support student learning through ongoing communication and collaboration. Our weekly calls and checklist will help us monitor, assess, and provide feedback to students and parents about their learning. Any IEP/MEEGS/REDS
meetings will be conducted through ZOOM or a conference call, original dates and timeline will
be followed. Parents have been contacted and made aware of our plan and services.
High School Learning Plan
The HS plan (8th-12th) is divided into two parts: 1) Those with internet, 2) those without
internet Availability of teachers: Per state framework, Math and English classes will meet 4 days
a week, Monday-Thursday. Science and History classes will meet two days a week on Tuesday
and Thursday, and elective classes will meet two days a week on Monday and Wednesday.
Teachers will be available for two hours each time their respective class is meeting for help and
to guide students on their work. For students with the internet, this help can be done through
e-mail or the chat feature in canvas. For students without the internet, each teacher has been
asked to reach out via phone to check on how those students are progressing in their work.
Email is available at all times for questions.
For those with Internet:
Students will use district issued Chromebooks or personal device and internet connection to
access all work via the Learning Management System of Canvas. Canvas has been utilized by
all teachers and students in the eighth thru twelfth grade since August. Teachers will post all
relevant notes in the page’s navigation bar, all assignments and quizzes will also be posted in
the appropriate navigation bar on canvas. Announcements will be used by each teachers
classes for any important information the students need. These announcements pop up on the
home screen whenever a student logs in. Also inside Canvas, students will utilize the chat
feature during teachers “office” hours for immediate assistance on any work they are doing.
They can also use the email feature inside Canvas to email any questions at any time. Teachers
have been instructed to check email often and to respond back as quickly as possible. The goal
of this instruction is to utilize the LMS to engage students by reinforcing learned skills and to
introduce and skills not yet covered during the school year. Grades will only be recorded that
can help a student’s overall average go up.
For those without internet:
Teachers will create a packet of work that is equitable to the work done in the digital platform.
Included with the packet will be a checklist that students/parents can check off that is
completed. This checklist will be the method of determining progress on the work. The checklist
will be returned to school either via text message, email or phone call and will not be required to
be turned back. For parents that cannot pick up packets via curbside pickup, those packets will
be mailed. Teachers are going to check in at least once a week to make sure they are doing ok with work. Special Education Students will be serviced through weekly packets, phone calls, and
teleservices through ZOOM. Within the students' packet there will be academic content, as well
as any related services content, such as OT, PT, and Speech. Packets will be delivered on
Monday’s. Students will be provided a checklist to show completion of each skill/assignment
and a suggested weekly schedule to follow for completion. Parents will send a copy of this
checklist to the child's teacher via text or email. Each week our Special Education teachers and
Related Service Providers will be contacting parents and students to check in and see if they
need anything and provide flexible instruction. They will be available throughout the week if
parents have any questions or concerns to support student learning through ongoing
communication and collaboration. Our weekly calls and checklist will help us monitor, assess,
and provide feedback to students and parents about their learning. Any IEP/MEEGS/REDS
meetings will be conducted through ZOOM or a conference call, original dates and timeline will
be followed. Parents have been contacted and made aware of our plan and services.
Schools are at their best when the community works together, and now is the perfect time for us to shine. You are and continue to be your child’s first and most important teacher. While our faculty and staff will be leading the way, we know you will be encouraging, supporting and teaching your child side-by-side with us. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child(s) teachers during their office hours.
We miss our students terribly, but we are trying to make the best of the situation for everyone. Thank you for helping us rise to this challenge. We could not do it without you. We love each one of you and pray for you daily.
Sincerely,
Marcy Derryberry Superintendent