Miller, Dana

 

 Welcome back! My name is Mrs. Miller and I am so excited to be your child's teacher this year!

I am always here if you ever have any questions or concerns. 

dmiller@jacksonsd.org  

  

Specials 

Here are the specials for this week. Our specials are from 2:30-3:10 daily. You will have a Google Meet with the special area teachers every other week. This week your child WILL be having a Google Meet with all their teachers. Please use the links next to their names to connect you right to their classrooms.

MONDAY - Library w/HOGAN 

Link: https://classroom.google.com/c/MTU4ODk5MTY2MDU3?cjc=4gvzfy6

TUESDAY - Art w/Ehlers

Link: https://classroom.google.com/c/MTU4NTg4OTM3NDUz?cjc=sxyctrr

WEDNESDAY - Music w/O'Keefe

Link: https://classroom.google.com/c/MTU4ODk3MzIwMDE0?cjc=jq5cds4

THURSDAY - Gym w/JAKALOW

Link: https://classroom.google.com/c/MTUzNDY5ODEzOTMy?cjc=uzpqltf 

FRIDAY - Computers w/GOLDBERG 

Link:  https://classroom.google.com/c/MTU4NjMyNDEwMDQ2?cjc=bbzs3ls

 

The Google Meet 

 

Participating in a GoogleMeet 

Teachers will make a Google Meet link visible in your child’s Google Classroom. Students will be able to meet with their teachers each day by clicking this link. On the first day of school September 8th, students should click this link when Homeroom/Morning Meeting begins in order to meet their teacher.  

Google Meet Expectations 

The Google Meet Classroom environment is an extension of your child’s classroom at school. It should be appropriate and free of distractions. Poor lighting, loud background noises, an unstable webcam, and a too-casual atmosphere may prevent students from listening to and engaging in a lesson. Make sure that your child’s camera is at eye level and that the background behind them is as clear and appropriate as possible. 

Establishing behavioral do and don’t guidelines, as well as clear norms for Google Meets, can provide your child with the most stable learning environment possible. 

Student Expectations 

To maintain a positive, productive learning environment and assure confidentiality for students and teachers during distance learning, all students are asked to observe the following guidelines: 

• Keep in mind, you are IN SCHOOL! Hours and attendance will run simultaneously with your scheduled classes. Students are expected to log in and remain for the entirety of the class period. 
• Be on time. 
• Come prepared. 
• Follow the school dress code. 
• Find a quiet place free of distractions. Family members, including parents, guardians, siblings, should not be a part of the meetings. Do not attend meetings from your bed. 
• Attempt to select an area in your home with enough space for necessary items- books, notebooks, computers, etc. 
• Make sure your device is charged and ready for use. 
• Turn cameras ON; show your face. Do not turn off your camera. 
• Mute yourself until you are told to unmute. 
• Ask questions in the chat and/or raise your hand. If for some reason a student needs to leave the meeting, they should comment in the chat. 
• Use polite and appropriate language. No side conversations. 
• Give your best effort online as you would in the classroom. 
• Do not record meetings to protect the privacy of all participants. You must have legal consent from all of the participants to record a meeting. Inappropriate use/behavior on Google Meets will be handled according to the district’s Code of Conduct.

Parent/Guardian Google Meet Behaviors 

To maintain a positive, productive learning environment and assure confidentiality for students and teachers during distance learning, all parents/guardians are asked to observe the following privacy guidelines: 

• Google Meetings are designed for students to seamlessly transition to remote learning. To prevent disruptions to the learning environment, parents/guardians should not actively participate in sessions. You may assist with technology. Any academic support should come from the teacher. 
• Do not video record, audio record, photograph, live stream, or transmit any part of a Google Meeting. You must have legal consent from all of the participants to record a meeting. 
• Any confidential or personally identifiable information related to students participating in a Google Meeting should not be collected, discussed or shared. 
• Parents/guardians should not engage with students during Google Meetings. 
• If a parent/guardian has a question, please email your child’s teacher. 

Jackson School District 1:1  Program Launch 

September 2020

All students in grades PreK - 12 will be issued a Chromebook from the district.

Objective of the Program 

• The Jackson School District will provide each student in Grades Pre-K - 12 with a loaner Chromebook for use at home and in school for the duration of the 2020-2021 school year.  

Rationale of the Program

• In an effort to provide an equitable educational environment for students that will provide access to software, online resources and digital media, the Jackson School District believes that all students in Grades Pre-K - 12 should have access to technology both at home and in school.
• This technology will be a platform for research, differentiated teaching strategies, access to online textbooks, resources in the classroom environment, and for at-home learning experiences.
• The one to one technology resources will allow for students to maintain an undisrupted educational environment in the event of unexpected school disruptions to the traditional classroom learning environment.

Assignment of Chromebooks

• Parents will be required to sign the Acceptable Use Policy and Terms of the Loaner Program upon login to their child’s Portal account in August.  Once completed, students will be assigned a Chromebook and charger with a unique and designated serial number to that student.  
• Failure to complete the online paperwork will result in a student not being provided a Chromebook.  

Preparing for Distribution

• Each student who has completed the appropriate paperwork will be provided a school-issued Chromebook on or before the first day of school. 
• The configuration of the Chromebook was completed by the Jackson School District and includes the installation of necessary apps and extensions, as well as the required security and filtering settings to ensure student safety and accountability.
• Parents may purchase a protective case for the Chromebook to prevent damage due to daily usage.  This purchase is optional and is yours to keep once the Chromebook is returned in June. 
• Parents may purchase liability insurance for the Chromebook.  The insurance policy will protect the parent from being responsible for the full replacement cost of any lost, damaged, or stolen Chromebook during the course of the school year.  

Expectations for Student Use:

Taking Care of Your Chromebook

Students are responsible for the general care of the Chromebook which they have been issued by the school.  Chromebooks that are broken or fail to work properly must be taken to the Tech Department.  For more information, see the “Managing and Maintaining the Chromebooks” section. 

General Precautions:

• No food or drink is allowed next to your Chromebook.  Chromebooks are not permitted in the cafeteria.
• Cords, cables, and removable storage devices must be inserted carefully
• Students should never carry their Chromebook while the screen is open.
• Chromebooks should not be open or used while walking through the halls.
• It is suggested that you purchase a protective case. 
• Do not expose your Chromebook to extreme temperatures or direct sunlight for extended periods of time. Extreme heat or cold may cause damage to the laptop.
• Always bring your laptop to room temperature prior to turning it on.

 

Chromebook Care:

The Chromebook screen can be damaged if subjected to rough treatment.  The screens are particularly sensitive to damage from excessive pressure on the screen.

• Do not lean on top of the Chromebook.
• Do not place anything near the Chromebook that could put pressure on the screen.
• Do not poke the screen.
• Do not place anything on the keyboard before closing the lid (e.g. pens, pencils, notebooks).
• Chromebooks include serial numbers and barcode stickers that must remain on the device.  These stickers are important for inventory and insurance purposes.
• Do not place any additional stickers anywhere on the Chromebook.  
• Do not write or mark the device for any reason!
• Clean the screen with a soft, dry anti-static, or micro-fiber cloth.  Do not use window cleaner or any type of liquid or water on the Chromebook.  You can also purchase individually packaged pre-moistened eyeglass lens cleaning tissues to clean the screen.  These are very convenient and relatively inexpensive. 
• Any student choosing to break these rules could be subject to forfeiting their Chromebook privileges. 

Carrying the Chromebook:

The protective cases will only provide basic protection and are not designed to prevent damage from drops or abusive handling.  They should be used during storage, including transporting and any other time the Chromebook is not in use.   

Chromebooks Left in Unsupervised/Unsecured Areas:

• Under no circumstance should a Chromebook be stored in unsupervised areas.  Unsupervised areas include the school grounds and campus, the cafeteria, unlocked classrooms, library, locker rooms, hallways, bathrooms, extra-curricular bus, in a car, or any other entity that is not securely locked or in which there is no supervision.
• At no point, should a student take a device that was not assigned to them.  Violations of this policy will result in referral to administration and possible disciplinary action.  This will be carefully monitored by the teachers, the Tech Department, and the administration.

Sound:

• Sound must be muted at all times unless permission is obtained from the teacher for instructional purposes.

Managing and Maintaining the Chromebooks

• Minor issues with Chromebooks will be addressed via one of two ways:
• In-House Tech Support 
• HelpLine to the Technology Department (for after-school office hours for support)
• Major issues with Chromebooks will be addressed by the Technology Department and the student will receive a “loaner” device until the problem is resolved.
• Chromebooks can only be updated by the Technology Department, which includes the addition of any apps/extensions desired by students or teachers.  Some of these updates can happen remotely (without collecting the device), but some cannot.
• The Technology Department will be the entity that determines if a Chromebook is damaged and to what extent.
• Theft of a Chromebook by another student will be addressed through the School Code of Conduct.
• Students will be fined for damaged or lost Chromebooks via a Fine Letter in Genesis.

Returning the Chromebooks in June

• Student Chromebooks and chargers will be collected at the end of each school year for maintenance and inspection over summer vacation.  Students will be fined for damaged or lost Chromebooks and chargers.  Students may keep their purchased carrying case for the next school year.

• Any student who transfers out of the district will be required to return their Chromebook and accessories.  If not returned, the parent/guardian will be held responsible for payment in full.  If payment is not received, the parent/guardian will be turned over to a collection agency.

Switlik Is a

Bucket Filling School!

Switlik Elementary School is working towards a more caring and respectful environment. We are using the world acclaimed book by Carol McCloud, Have You Filled a Bucket Today- A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids in order to create a safer, kinder, more respectful school culture.  

The philosophy is simple and is this - imagine everyone is born with an invisible bucket. The bucket represents a person's mental and emotional health. You can't see the bucket but it’s there and it is our responsibility to fill that bucket. When you say nice things, show respect, act in kindness, you are filling each other's buckets and, in turn, filling your own bucket.  

Switlik Elementary school is working towards keeping our buckets full every day, thus resulting in individuals who feel healthy mentally, emotionally, and socially.  

 

Be a bucket filler

not a bucket dipper!