Skip to main content

September 14, 2020

 Happy Sunday evening!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I am sure there is a lot of nervous energy tonight but I feel confident in us all as a team. We will do this together as a team, supporting one another. If I don't see you in the morning please know I wish you all the best. Call the office or text me with anything you need. 

Anyone who needs a working fob should head to the IT office tomorrow to get one. Their office is on the back left side of the middle school. 

As you get ready to review expectations with students tomorrow please take a moment to ask them all to log-on to eHallpass. Have them use their Chromebooks. Remember when you and the students get to the log-in page you do not type an email address and password. Just click on the red Google button (twice). We will be around to trouble shoot. I believe I have the settings ready to go to limit bathroom passes to 3 at a time for each location. Instruct students they must choose the bathroom in the hall they are in. Science should choose the one closest to them. Many are reporting the app isn't working properly, most likely because they are not in their Ashland account on their phone.

We will dismiss by category in the afternoon:
1. Student drivers and passengers
2. Walkers
3. Parent pick-up
4. Buses - we will call bus numbers as they arrive

Below are some links that may be helpful. I have also created a Resource page that houses all of the information. This page can be found on the right side of the newsletter.

Tips and Tricks for AHS Technology

AHS Student Handbook

AHS Hybrid/Remote Learning Expectations

Mask Breaks & Outdoor Learning

Mask infractions tracking sheet


A parent who teaches in another district shared these Google tips:

1) NAMING YOUR CLASSES

It is helpful for students to use BOTH the period and also the subject when naming classes.  For example, "A-Math" 

2) The THEME (or banner) COLOR
In Google Classroom, the color you make your "banner" determines the color of the icons next to the assignments.  Students ask that teachers avoid making their icons gray.  This is because when a student completes an assignment, it grays the icon and when the assignments are all gray it gets confusing.

ex) This is when the "theme" is green:
image.png.        image.png
(not done).       (done)

vs. when the theme is gray:
image.png.        image.png
(not done).       (done)

To change the banner color or the theme, on the Stream Page of the class, in the banner, there is a link in the right corner that says "select theme".


Finally, 
3) DE-CLUTTER YOUR STREAM PAGE
Anytime you post an assignment on the "Classwork" page, the default is that a notification also gets posted on the "Stream".  Some people find it helpful because students can look there to see the most recent assignments. Some find it busy and unorganized.  Most people like using the "Stream" just for quick announcements or for important info that they don't want getting lost (like zoom links or textbook links for example).

Anyway, to turn off the notifications, make sure you are in the class and go to the gear in the upper right hand corner.  Scroll down until you see "Classwork on the stream" and choose the types of notifications you would like. (Note: Students will still get email notifications of the assignment - unless they turn off their notification settings)
image.png

Hope this helps!  I know it helped my colleagues. 

Have a wonderful day and do not hesitate to reach out with questions. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

August 22, 2025

Good afternoon- Thanks to everyone who helped to make New Student Orientation a success last night. It was great to see so many students and staff in the building. I am looking forward to seeing you all on Monday. We start at 8AM in the auditorium. There will be some members of the Class of 2026 painting their parking spots on Monday afternoon. Please try to park in the faculty parking lot or in the back of the building if you usually park in the student section.  New staff, please join the staff  Google Classroom . All information sent to faculty/staff will be housed here. The  class code is a5ca6a4. The custodians have been working hard to make sure each classroom has the correct number of desks (minus study halls). There may be a few classrooms off a desk or two based on student moves at the end of this week. If anyone has furniture in their rooms that is not being used, please let me know. We are short some L-shaped desks, under-desk file cabinets, and bookcases....
Post a Comment
Read more

May 12, 2025

Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms & mother figures out there- Best of luck to the special athletes competing in the 5-Town Special Olympics today!  I apologize for the late notice, but we will do a class meeting with the juniors/prom attendees on Tuesday, May 13, and the seniors on Wednesday, May 14, during x-block. Please send your second block seniors to the auditorium, as we are not able to make announcements on 5/14.  Art Saves Ashland, which includes the student art show, as well as the Spring Choral Concert, are happening back to back on Thursday, May 15, starting at 4pm.  The concert is at 7pm in the auditorium. These events showcase the amazing talent of many of our students.  Here is the Early Release schedule for Friday, May 16. You can also find it linked on the school calendar. Departments will continue work on curriculum mapping for the afternoon.  Grand March will begin at 4:30pm in the gym if you are planning to stick around to see our p...
Post a Comment
Read more

March 10, 2025

Good morning- I hope the adjustment to the clocks springing forward hasn't thrown you off too much. I love that it means more light in the afternoon/evening.  On Thursday, March 13 year 2/3 teachers from Milford and Nipmuc High Schools will be here for learning walks. I have shared a schedule with impacted teachers but it may change over the next few days. Thank you for your flexibility and willingness to welcome new educators.  I am sure you saw Jim's message that the School Committee will hear our proposal on Competency Determination for the Class of 2025 at their meeting on Wednesday, March 12. I hope to share an update at our faculty meeting on Thursday, March 13, after school in the library . The meeting will involve MCAS training. As you are aware, the state has moved to a new portal so it will be important information for everyone to hear. Training for staff that do not attend faculty meetings will be scheduled at another time. Following the training, we will be walking...
Post a Comment
Read more