What to Expect:

• Our Virtual FCS experience is a mix of learning synchronously (in scheduled classes) and asynchronously. This allows students to have predictable structure and instructional time with their teachers, but it also gives them flexibility for completing their work.
• Students move through a rotation of scheduled classes each day.
• Students have advisory/homeroom every day, Meeting for Worship (virtually) on Wednesdays, and asynchronous clubs and asynchronous athletic activities each week.

Daily Schedule:

• Students should check their email and Veracross between 9 and 9:30 am each school day to see the day's assignments.
• Students attend Advisory/Homeroom from 9:15 and 9:30 am each day.
• Assignments due that day will be posted in Veracross by 9 am.
• Assignments are due at 4 pm on their due date.

Assignment Format & Workload:

• Assignments are posted in Veracross by 9 am for that day.
• Students have assignments every day in Math, English, Science, History, and Languages. They receive ongoing feedback.
• Rotations classes (e.g. Art, Music) will also assign assignments and activities but with less frequency.
• We aim for 30-40 minutes of dedicated daily work per class as a guiding principle. As always, some students work slower and some work faster.
• We use Google Classroom to post all content, worksheets, and other materials that students might need.
• Google Classroom is also our mechanism for “collecting” completed assignments; students can submit their work and teachers can hand it back electronically.
• Students receive ongoing feedback on their work via Google Classroom.

Advisory & Seeking Help:

• Each morning, students will log into a Google Meet with their advisor. This enables advisors to check in and provide support. This is also when we do attendance and share announcements for the week/day.
• Students can reach out to teachers for additional support via email or Google Classroom.

Advisory & Seeking Help:

• Each morning, students log into a Google Meet with their advisor. This enables advisors to check in and provide support. This is also when we do attendance and share announcements for the week/day.
• Students can reach out to teachers for additional support via email or Google Classroom.

Learning & Wellness Support:

• Learning support and counseling support, even if a student has not used those services before, is available to students, and consultations will be available to families, using Google Meet (academic support) and Doxy.me (counseling).
• Please reach out to Jill MacDougall about learning support and Frederick Pratt about counseling support.Students and families who regularly work with Jill MacDougall, Heather Tomes, Frederick Pratt, or one of our counseling interns can set up virtual sessions. Instructions for accessing the virtual meeting will be provided.
• All students and families are welcome and encouraged to contact our Student Support Team with questions, or if additional strategies are needed to support students working at home. Please see our contact information below.
• Consultations with our nurse, Penny Rosenblum, will also be available using the Doxy.me platform. Families who would like to consult with Penny should email her to set up an appointment.

• If students need any help with technology, please reach out to the tech department (helpdesk@friendscentral.org) or visit their support portal (fcit.freshservice.com).
• Please reach out with any tech-related concerns. We are ready to provide full support to all students and families so students can continue to learn.
• Before school closed, students learned how to do a “hard reset” of their Chromebook, if needed.

Students: Tips to Support Your Learning:

• Maintain an organized, clean learning space.
• Plan a daily schedule.
• Stay connected with friends from school in healthy ways.
• Make a daily plan for movement, exercise, and fresh air.
• Limit electronic distractions and manage screen time. We do not allow you to access your cell phones during the school day or to have your Chromebooks out during recess, lunch or athletics. We encourage you to come up with reasonable, manageable ways to do this at home.
• Remember our Responsible Use Policy and practice good etiquette with your online posts, comments, chat and video behavior. Our expectations for respectful interaction, behavior and citizenship remain in place for Virtual FCS.
• Talk with your trusted adults about what you are thinking and feeling. Let them know what is going well and not going well. Let them know how they can help you.
• Don’t hesitate to reach out to a teacher if you have questions or concerns. We want to stay connected with you and support you.
• Contact Mrs. Quinn, Mr. Terrell, Mrs. MacDougall, or Mr. Pratt if you need additional support. We are all happy to help.

Students: Checklist for Remote Learning

• Check email between 9 and 9:30 am.
• Check Veracross between 9 and 9:30 am for your assignments.
• Attend Advisory from 9:15-9:30 am and scheduled classes for the day.
• Based on your assignments, make a plan for the day. What will you do first? How will you take care of yourself today? See the sample student schedule for a guide.
• With each assignment you complete, make sure you submit your work via Google Classroom or according to what the assignment asks.

Sample Student Schedule

• Click here for a sample student schedule.

Netiquette and Behavior Expectations (to come)

Getting Help

Please do not hesitate to ask for help. We are available to support your learning at any time. 

• Alexa Quinn, Principal: aquinn@friendscentral.org
• Keino Terrell, Assistant Principal: kterrell@friendscentral.org
• Jill MacDougall, Learning Specialist: jmacdougall@friendscentral.org
• Frederick Pratt, Counselor: fpratt@friendscentral.org
• Heather Tomes, Counselor: htomes@friendscentral.org
• Penny Rosenblum, Nurse: prosenblum@friendscentral.org

Tips for Supporting Your Child:

• Work with your child to create a learning space.
• Talk with your child to outline a daily schedule that allows them time to do work and take breaks. Please click here for a sample schedule. This daily schedule should include staying on a somewhat normal sleep schedule.
• Help your child to stay connected with friends from school remotely but in healthy ways.
• Make a daily plan for movement, exercise, and fresh air.
• Help your child to limit electronic distractions and manage screen time. We do not allow Middle School students to access their cell phones during the school day. I encourage you to consider restricting cell phone access while students are at home and to ensure they are breaking up the day by interspersing activities that do not require a device.
• Your child will likely have more time and more of a desire to engage in group phone chats or social media. As always, we highly encourage you to monitor this activity.
• Talk with your child about what they are thinking and feeling. 
• Support your child in self-advocating and maintaining communication with their teachers. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a teacher if you have questions about your child’s work or learning.
• Contact Alexa Quinn, Keino Terrell, Jill MacDougall, or Frederick Pratt if you need additional support to help your child.

Related Parenting Articles:

• 5 Ways to Help Teens Manage Anxiety About the Coronavirus
• Talking to Teens and Tweens About Coronavirus
• Tips for Managing the Stress of Social Distancing as a Family
• Handling Your Kid's Disappointment When Everything is Canceled
• Parents Need Stress Relief Too
• Quaranteenagers: Strategies for Parenting in Close Quarters

Name & Title	Phone	Email
Alexa Quinn, Principal	610-645-5108	aquinn@friendscentral.org
Keino Terrell, Assistant Principal	610-645-5128	kterrell@friendscentral.org
Jill MacDougall, Learning Specialist	610-645-5088	jmacdougall@friendscentral.org
Frederick Pratt, Counselor	610-645-5134	fpratt@friendscentral.org
Heather Tomes, Counselor	610-645-5102	htomes@friendscentral.org
Penny Rosenblum, Nurse	610-645-5084	prosenblum@friendscentral.org

 

Click here for an Athletics & Wellness message for Middle and Upper School families from Michelle Crowley, Director of Athletics and Wellness.