Carver Announcements for May 3, 2020

Hello Carver Families,

SPS at Home will continue through the last day of school on May 21^st. Please ask your student to log on Canvas on the chromebook each day and access each course. Each teacher will post daily announcements for assignments and times when they are available for personal feedback and to answer individual questions.  Some additional information to know for this week:

1.        SPS has announced that students will keep chromebooks at home this summer and return with them to school on the first day of school. If you are moving this summer and will not be attending any Springfield Public School next year, you may return your chromebook during the times listed below for drop-off. Please tape a note on the front of the device with your student’s name and ID number and that you are moving/will not be attending SPS in August.

2.        Kajeet hotspots are required to be returned at the end of school. If you enroll in Explore summer school and need a hotspot, you will be issued a new one on the first day of Explore summer school.  

3.        Do you need items from Carver (such as the yearbook you purchased)? Do you have items that need to be returned to Carver (such as a uniform, school instrument, kajeet hotspot, or library book)? Here are the dates, times, and procedures for dropping off those items and for picking-up items at Carver:

o 6th grade, Last name A-M, Monday, May 11 (9:00 am - 4:00 pm)

o 6th grade, Last name N-Z, Tuesday, May 12 (9:00 am - 4:00 pm)

o 7th grade, Last name A-M, Wednesday, May 13 (9:00 am - 4:00 pm)

o 7th grade, Last name N-Z, Thursday, May 14 (9:00 am - 4:00 pm)

o 8th grade, Last name A-M, Monday, May 18 (9:00 am - 4:00 pm)

o 8th grade, Last name N-Z, Tuesday, May 19 (9:00 am - 4:00 pm)

o Evening (all grades) makeup, May 19 and May 20 (3:00 pm -7:00pm)*

*District Kajeets will be turned in these two days.

·       Drop-off and pick-up will be in the same carline.

·       Please message or email the teacher directly if you have items you need from Band/Orchestra/PE locker or any items you need from a classroom to ensure the items are ready for you during pick-up times.

·       Students will not enter the building to get items from a classroom.

·       Tape your student’s name on the item(s) you return.

4.        Grading Policy: SPS sent a message to the parents of middle school students to provide details about the district’s expectations for learning, grading and other academic feedback. These guidelines apply through the last day of school on May 21. It is our expectation and hope that students are participating and continuing to learn to the degree in which they are able. Teachers will continue to provide you with feedback to aid in your learning and growth. It is essential each student learns the necessary standards to finish well this year and to be prepared for the next grade level. Your continued effort is needed as your student continues to learn at SPS at Home. Your child’s teachers are available to provide any support you might need, so please continue to reach out and make connections. We understand that nothing about our current reality is ideal. However, the Carver community is an amazing and resilient community, and we will all get through this together. Click here for the SPS parent message about learning, grading, and academic feedback.

5.        During the SPS at Home learning time, please feel welcome to reach out to your child’s teachers for any questions on learning or assignments. You can find a list of email addresses at this link (click here) or at sps.org. In sps.org, please select ‘Carver’ from the list of schools at the top of the page, then select ‘About’ on the Carver page. You can find the list of teacher emails listed under staff directory.

6.        Carver nutrition services staff will be handing out a breakfast and lunch combined food pack from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm each day in the Carver car line until May 21. Your student does not need to be present in the car to get the food pack. If you are unable to make it to the car line during those time, you are welcome to send a neighbor or other person to pick up the food pack! No ID’s are needed!

7.        Due to the Stay-At-Home order, the phones will be answered remotely by the office secretary from 7:30 am – 3:00 pm. Please call the main number at 523-6800 to speak to an off-site staff member. We will not be able to get items from the classroom to have ready for your student in the pick-up line. Please message or email the classroom teacher to have the items ready in the pick-up line. 

8.        Make Explore part of your summer plans! At this time, Explore Summer School for SPS is scheduled for two sessions: Session I is scheduled for June 3-30 and will be online only. Registration begins May 4^th online at www.sps.org/Explore. Session II will be held July 6-July 31. No decision for session II has been made at this time.

9.        READING IS IMPORTANT! Please follow the Carver Library Instagram page at carver_ms_library. Mrs. McGuane will be sharing out inspirational quotes, updates, links to resources to promote reading, and links to free Audible books and webcasts by popular authors. Parents can also message the librarian through the Instagram Library page for assistance on accessing Canvas. You can also use this link (click here) to access Mrs. McGuane’s Library Canvas page with ideas for accessing ebooks, Makerspace crafts and activities to do at home, and author readings. After clicking the link, click on “Book Books and More” to access the items.

10.     Parents! Need help accessing and checking online learning with your student??? Click here for a guide created by our librarian for quick “how-to” items for parents.  Please be sure to reach out with questions as we navigate online learning. Ask your student to canvas inbox (email) his or her teachers and read the answers from the teacher together or email the teachers directly! Teachers are available via email or the librarian is willing to help via email or Instagram. At Carver, we want you to know we are in this together and we want to help you and your child during this SPS at Home learning experience.

11.     Need help with log-in for Canvas, questions about technology or devices, questions about Canvas or Canvas Conferencing, or answers to frequently asked questions about technology for your student or yourself? Check out this extensive resource from SPS for tech support! Click here for the link or access it by going to sps.org and clicking SPS at Home.

12.     If your student needs internet access, please call school at 523-6801 to request a Kajeet hotspot for free. In addition to the hotspot offered from SPS, local companies are also assisting and offering for low-cost or free internet services for students. Check out this document for additional resource options on internet access you wait for access from a kajeet/district hotspot.

13.     Carver PE Department has partnered with Foundation for Springfield Public Schools to for a Pick-a-Project. Click here to view a flyer on the project. The project is designed to raise money to purchase a specialized heart monitor that will send wireless updates on the student’s performance for the day to the teacher and parents and can also be set to average a class performance for friendly class competitions. Please considering donating or sharing this link to promote Carver’s Pick-a-Project! Click here to donate or to copy and share the link! Thank you!

14.     We want your photos of SPS at Home learning! Please use this link to share photos of your family during this extended break and of your student during online learning!

Thank you for your assistance as we work toward providing an education for your student. Please know as a Carver family, we are committed to serving all students and care about your family.

Take care and be safe.

Dr. Dana Powers

Carver Principal