Thank you all so much for your support, understanding, and grace in these challenging times. We have a lot of new information to share with you tonight, please read everything! Most of this information is about technology, our Virtual Learning Protocols will come in the next 48 hours. Remember, our Virtual Learning will begin on Monday, March 23.
Several of you have reached out about picking up your student’s Lost and Found items, band instruments and items from classrooms. During the open Technology Times listed below, you will be able to take care of these things.
We have created a family resource page on our website with lots of information about food resources and other support your family might need. Please visit that site for more information.
We have a lot of information about technology to share with you. Please read this email in its entirety. We also have all of this technology information on our website.
Chromebook/Charger Pick-Up and Repair We are also aware that many students missed school on Friday, March 13th, and have not yet gotten their device. There are also instances where there is an issue with a Chromebook not working properly that would inhibit a student’s ability to effectively learn remotely. Below is a schedule of times when our tech support team will be available for you to come to check out your student’s device or exchange it if a repair is needed. Please only seek repair if the issue with the Chromebook will interfere with their virtual learning. We do have a back-up supply of Chromebooks to loan students while their device is under repair, but that number is limited.
Open Technology Times at IC Imagine If you need support for a repair or need to pick up a device please come to the school during the times below. We will also have school supplies available if those are needed for your Champion to complete home-based learning activities. When you arrive, please plan to visit the tables outside of the gym. If it is raining, the tables will be in the gym.
You will also be able to pick up items from classrooms, Lost and Found and band instruments at this time.
Here is the schedule for tomorrow, Wednesday, 3/18 - Friday 3/20. We will re-evaluate this and share next week’s schedule with you at a later date.
Wednesday 3/18
Thursday 3/19
Friday 3/20
7:30am - 8:30am
NO Open Technology Time
Open Technology Time
Open Technology Time
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Open Technology Time
Open Technology Time
Open Technology Time
4:00pm - 5:30pm
Open Technology Time
Open Technology Time
Open Technology Time
3-12 Families In an effort to be proactive, we sent all 3-12 grade students home with their Chromebooks and a charger on Friday, March 13th. One of the steps in this process was to update the permissions that would allow student devices to connect to wireless networks other than the IC Imagine wireless. We created a policy change related to wireless connectivity restrictions around 2:30 on Friday, March 13th. That late change means that some student devices did not get the update on their device before they left for dismissal.
Fortunately, if your student’s Chromebook is not able to connect to outside IC Imagine wifi, the fix is a straightforward one. Please bring your child/children’s device(s) to the IC Imagine campus and open/power on the device. Your child does not need to be present, nor do you need to login to the device for this update. You can perform this task in the comfort of your vehicle. We will open the arrival/dismissal loop so that you can drive through and get your device permission update. Simply connecting the device to our wifi will allow it to receive the permission, and then it should be able to connect to other wifi networks. You do not need access to school personnel in order to get this update on the device.
K-2 Families If you are a K-2 family, you will also need a device and access to the internet to engage with virtual learning. Below are the requirements for your device. We are able to provide devices to families if you do not have one or if the one you have does not meet these requirements There will be a special area for K-2 checkout as there will be some paperwork to sign.
For K-1 families: You will need a device that allows you to access your email, receive and send picture files (via email or Remind), view google docs, PDFs, play videos and listen to audio files.
2nd Grade families ONLY: In addition to the above, visit https://login.i-ready.com/ and see if your browser is supported.
Please note that if your child needs school supplies for at-home work, we will have a school supply station for you to pick up materials when you visit the school for Technology Pick-up and Repair.
Internet Access If internet access is an issue for your family, we will have staff on hand to help get you the resources in your home you need. If you filled out the technology form we sent out last week and indicated this is an issue, someone from the school will reach out to you via phone. Otherwise, you may come to school at the scheduled Chromebook/Charger Pick-Up and Repair times and someone will assist you in person. There are several resources for free internet access listed on our website.
In Need of At-Home Tech Support If you need at-home tech support, please complete this form. Mr. Hunsicker or a member of our Technology Support Team will reach out to you directly to support you with your Technology Needs.
Bark and Monitoring Activity on Devices While at Home If your student is using the Chrome browser and is logged into the browser using their school email account (firstnamelastname@icimagine.org) then Bark will still be monitoring their activity. We will be adjusting the settings so that parents receive alerts 24 hours a day, and the school will continue to get Bark alerts as well. Please be aware that we have a team of people that evaluate these regularly and identify criteria of high concern. Please understand that we will not be able to respond to individual concerns about Bark alerts, but the school will contact you about confirmed issues regarding safety and explicit content. Other alerts should be managed at your discretion in your home.
When your child is on their school-issued device, it is the school’s expectation that they are logged into their IC Imagine account (firstnamelastname@icimagine.org). It is also the expectation that your child always use the Chrome browser and their school email while learning from home. If your child is on another device and not logged in to their school account, Bark will not be monitoring their activity. Please also be aware that without the firewall in place at school, your student’s access on the internet will not be limited. It is crucial that you stay engaged with your children while they are in an online environment.
A note from Bark:
During this time of uncertainty and confusion, we would like to be a source of comfort and relief for you and your students. Doing schoolwork without the structure of a classroom environment can lead some students to feel anxious and isolated. With less visibility into student activities, your administration may not be as aware when kids are struggling.
Bark for Schools can support your community during a time of social distancing. By monitoring school-issued accounts for signs of issues like cyberbullying, depression, suicidal ideation, and more, schools can be alerted when students might be in danger. Our service is available completely free, and parents and guardians can also get alerts through our Parent Portal. When families and schools share the responsibility of responding to urgent alerts, kids stand the best chance of getting help when they need it.
Cleaning Chromebook Devices As the threat of COVID-19 continues, cleaning shared surfaces is a vital part of reducing the spread of unwanted germs. We wanted to take a moment to share proper procedure for sanitizing your electronics to avoid damage to these devices. These instructions can be applied to computers, phones, and other high touch electronics.
You may use a Clorox (or other sanitizing) Wipe or a lint free cloth or towel with isopropyl alcohol to sanitize devices. Please do not use any gels or hand sanitizers on your devices. Any sprays should be applied to the cloth and not to the device directly. The below steps should be completed in order to reduce the risk of damage:
Completely power off the device and unplug any chargers or external devices from the device (ex: external USB keyboard or mouse)
Make sure the wipe is damp but not fully saturated, if squeezed no liquid should drip from the cloth. Wring out wipe if needed before using it on the keyboard or screen of the laptop so that excessive liquid does not come into contact with delicate electronic connections.
Wipe down the device on the outside and over screen and keyboard and let air dry completely before closing the laptop
Once completely dried you can close or turn the device back on
As always, we appreciate your continued engagement with our communication and your support of all of us here at Imagine. See you online on Monday, March 23rd!
