Dear Family,
We would like to thank our students and families for their efforts, patience, and understanding during this time. We know tthese extended Cyber Days have been a disruption and a major adjustment for everyone.
Please be sure to share the information below with your son.
As schools in Illinois are closed until April 8, we have reviewed our procedures and will be making the following modifications to our schedule for the coming weeks. Our Easter Break will remain from the end of the day on Wednesday, April 8 through Sunday, April 19. As a reminder, the building and its surrounding grounds remain closed and off limits until further notice.
We are making these changes to provide opportunities for our teachers to meet with their students virtually. We believe this modification will provide additional time and flexibility for extended instruction, discussion, and support. Therefore, we will be moving to a rotating block schedule. Teachers have the option of using Zoom, Google Hangouts, Showbie, YouTube or any additional conferencing tool to offer these opportunities.
Green and Gold Day Block Schedule
Beginning March 30, we will have two rotations, a Green Day and a Gold Day, for the purpose of the optional video conferencing as explained below. This block schedule is temporary for the duration of the time that the building is closed.
On Green and Gold Days, teachers will have their students participate in one of two learning activities (Video Conference or Cyber Day Assignment).
Video Conference
Teachers may chose to offer a video conference during the assigned class time as indicated in the schedule below. The schedule provides an opportunity for teachers to conduct conferences with students without overlapping during the scheduled days.
Green Day
A Period 9:00-10:00 AM
B Period 10:15-11:15 AM
C Period 11:30 AM-12:30 PM
D Period 1:15-2:15 PM
E Period 2:30-3:30 PM
Gold Day
F Period 9:00-10:00 AM
G Period 10:15-11:15 AM
H Period 11:30 AM-12:30 PM
I Period 1:15-2:15 PM
Attendance for Video Conference
If a teacher chooses to offer a video conference, attendance will be based on whether the student attends the conference. Teachers will send the instructions for accessing the video conference to students in advance so that he knows when and how to access the conference during the scheduled time.
Cyber Day Assignment (Classes Not Using Video Conference)
If a teacher does not offer a conference s/he will provide an assignment that will be due at 4:00 pm that day. This work is not restricted to the times outlined above; it can be completed anytime during the day. This assignment may be longer in length to accommodate the additional time that is offered for the period. Attendance will be determined based on whether the student submits the assignment by 4:00 pm.
Please see below for the schedule week of March 30:
Monday, March 30 – Green Day (A to E Periods only)
Tuesday, March 31 – Gold Day (F to I Periods only)
Wednesday, April 1 – Green Day (A to E Periods only)
Thursday, April 2 – Gold Day (F to I Periods only)
Friday, April 3 – NO SCHOOL (Faculty Office Hours 9 am – 12 noon)
To emphasize once again, teachers have the option to offer a video conference OR provide other regular classwork as has been the procedure during our Cyber Days. In short, your son’s day could consist of a video conference(s), regular Cyber Day instruction, or a combination of both.
Assessment Days
For the week of April 6, teachers will provide some type of instrument through which they can measure their students’ learning over the past three weeks. These assessments may include, but are not limited to, an online quiz or test through Google Forms or another online testing system, a “written quiz” that will be posted to a teacher’s page at the start of the period and due at the end of it, or a presentation that will be during that given time.
Please see below for the schedule week of April 6:
Monday, April 6 – Green Day (A to E Period Assessments only)
Tuesday, April 7 – Gold Day (F to I Period Assessments only)
Wednesday, April 8 – NO SCHOOL (Faculty Office Hours 9 am – 12 noon)
Further guidance regarding the assessments will come from individual teachers.
We will begin Easter Break at the conclusion of office hours on Wednesday, April 8.
Faculty Office Hours
Office Hours are available to give students or parents an opportunity to speak with a teacher by phone. Please email the teacher(s) you wish to speak to in advance of the scheduled office hours with the best number and time to call during that time. When the teacher calls at the given time, the number will appear as blocked. Please click here for the Faculty Directory.
Counselor Availability
Students or parents may also contact counselors via email with a phone number and time between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm during scheduled Cyber Days that would be convenient to speak. Please visit the Student Services Directory to contact your son(s) counselor at least 24 hours in advance. When the counselor calls at the given time, the number will appear as blocked.
Zoom Student Guide
Please click below for a student guide about accessing and using Zoom. The behavioral expectations that are in the guide apply to any video conference tool that our teachers choose to use so please review them with your son over the coming days.
Teachers have received training in how to use video conferencing as an option. That being said, we know that with technology, there can be problems that arise. If issues do come up, we ask that the students be proactive in contacting the teacher as soon as the issue occurs. We will do our best to work through any issues that may arise.
Thank you in advance for your efforts these coming days. We will continue to keep you informed of our schedule and any changes that may need to be made as needed. Please continue to take care of yourself and stay healthy and safe!
God Bless,
Jon Baffico
For more information related to Saint Patrick High School’s response to the Coronavirus situation, please go to: https://www.stpatrick.org/coronavirus-information/
