Online Students: There is a section of this email specifically for you below.
IN-PERSON STUDENTS
Thank you to all of your wonderful children for their active participation in 7th Grade Orientation. They are an absolute delight, and made our first day back so enjoyable! With one day under our belts, we have a few things that we can pass on to make tomorrow even smoother:
Drop-Off and Pick-Up
Please pull as far forward as possible, and continue to move forward as the line moves. One car stopped can back us up all the way to 9800 S. We’ve normally had much more to say about drop-off and pick-up, so thank you for navigating it so well!
Please also drop your students off as close to the start of school (or their schedule, if partially online) as possible. Also please pick them up directly after school. Students will not be allowed to linger on campus until we are able to resume after school activities unless they have an appointment with a teacher.
Masks
Everyone was phenomenal today with masks. It’s a new experience for all of us, but everyone seems to be adjusting quickly. The only area we could use some reinforcing at home is reminding students that they should still stay 6 feet apart while outside, especially if they have removed the mask to eat or drink. If students are unable to do so, we’ll have to have them eat inside where it’s monitored more closely, and it’s much too nice outside for that. A few steps back while eating make it possible for us to enjoy the outdoors while we can.
Complete Skyward Registration
If you still haven’t completed registration in Skyward, please do so tonight. We cannot give your student a Chromebook unless it has been completed. Students attending in-person should plan to use the school device. This allows us to ensure they have access to programs purchased by the district.
Cash Lunch Payments
Lunch payments should be made in Skyward. If you must use cash, please pay in the main office and not in the cafeteria.
Locker Information
Locker numbers and combinations can be found in Skyward (both mobile and desktop) under Student Information/Profile. Lockers should only be used at the beginning and end of the day, and only when necessary.
Student Check-Out
Please request via Skyward (Attendance > Attendance Request) if you need to check out your student. Put the name of the person checking out the student in the comment field. When you arrive at the school, show your ID in the attendance office and return to your car. We’ll take it from there!
ONLINE COURSE UPDATES
Thank you so much for your patience as the online course structure is established. The flexibility and options we are offering as a district require more finesse and legwork than a rigid structure, and we are excited to do everything possible to ensure you have the best learning environment possible!
Online Course Platform
All district virtual courses are offered through Canvas. Use the login on our website to access course materials, communicate with the teachers, and much, much more. In-person courses may use Google Classroom, but all virtual courses have been asked to use Canvas as a starting point.
Class Schedules and Teachers
There is still some movement across the district with online courses in order to ensure the most people are able to take the courses they requested virtually. Please be patient if you’re not seeing a lot from your online course for the first few days, and if your assigned teacher is changed. More information should be coming related to online classes from the district.
Times and Locations for Online Courses
The times currently listed in Skyward for online courses don’t line up with our bell schedule, and the school listed is often Copper Mountain Middle School. It’s a technical issue, but don’t worry, you’re still an Elk Ridge student! The times can be ignored completely unless you are participating in an in-person class virtually, which the teacher will communicate to you in the first week or so of class.
Virtual Courses with In-Person Counterparts
The original plan for virtual courses involved a separate online course option for all virtual students. While that was possible for most classes, DLI, ALPS, AP Geography, and a few other classes either preferred or needed to be taught in a blended format. If you are in a blended class, your teacher will communicate the times, access instructions, and other logistics in the coming week. It will also be modified as needed to provide the best possible experience. This change happened very recently, so please be patient as teachers work to find the best ways to include those students.
Chromebooks Not Required for Virtual Students
You will need a device for your online classes, but are not required to use a school device. However, if you want one, we’ll have one for you. Once in-person classes resume for all students, a school device will be assigned.
We are sure you have more questions. Please let us know and we’ll work as fast as we can to get answers. We have never been more proud of the staff, students, and community that makes Elk Ridge so great. Thank you, and we can’t wait to continue the adventure tomorrow!
