Navigating WSCA Academics for Parents/Guardians

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Technology

Support

Technology Support

WSCA Website: Counseling:

Academic: Technology

Supporting All Students Learning

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Family/School Partnership

#2 out of 162 schools

in the Sacramento area!

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Our students and families are amazing!

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Our students are able to achieve their goals due to:

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• Dedicated families and teachers who encourage, appropriate expectations, consistency and routines, positive reinforcement, growth and progress, and mental health development.
• Family/school partnerships.
• Thoughtful teaching practices.
• Student who build resiliency and lifelong communication, organization and self advocacy skills.

The Home-School Connection

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Parents and guardians play a critical role in helping students

develop and/or learn how to navigate and develop

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• Academic and organizational skills
• Self advocacy, decision making
• Navigating resources and seeking support
• Positive life and communication skills
• Recognizing needs, finding balance and awareness of self
• Circle of Control
• Evaluating when they can expand and when they need a break

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All students have times they struggle or feel overwhelmed.

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Building Executive Functioning and

Self- Management Habits

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• Positive time management and study skills?
• After school routines
• Quiet, monitored location
• Keep phone in a different room- proven that helps the brain focus
• Using planner, calendars, or other forms of organization and reminders

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• Seaking Support
• After School Tutoring
• Planning, selecting and utilizing ELTs
• Communicating with teachers and parents

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• Utilizing Resources
• Checking syllabus for grading information and expectations
• Utilizing ELT
• Checking PowerSchool
• Checking Google Classroom
• Look for teacher feedback in Google Classroom

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• How is the student doing mentally/emotionally?
• Physical activity helpful for mental health and executive functioning
• Utilize healthy strategies to improve well-being
• Reach out for help

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Routines

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• All students should have an organizational strategy for time management in order to plan for assignments and assessments.

• Students and parents should check PowerSchool on a weekly basis to monitor classwork completion, grades, and view/plan for ELTs.

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• Students must check Google Classroom daily. Assignment, materials, resources and announcements will be posted here.

Key Terms

&

Understand Grading Policies

Key Terms

Mastery Learning

• Encourages growth mindset and ensures that students master each course's essential skills and concepts.
• Opportunity to “extend” or “re-perform” on assessments
• All assessments must be passed to pass a course

Assessments (Betas) vs Assignments

Betas/Assessments

• Shows as “Assessment” in gradebook
• Demonstrates mastery of standards
• All Betas must be passed to earn credits for a course.
• Betas may be a cumulative assessment, project or essay.
• Must earn a 70% or higher on the assessment, and pass all essential skills/concepts/mastery learning targets in order to pass a Beta.

Assignments (Practice)

• Work leading up to assessment (alphas, classwork, and homework assignments)
• Alphas - practice test or to determine if student has feedback and knows the material and what they need to further study before beta
• Count towards a student’s grade- but percentage of the grade may vary based on the course
• Students cannot re-perform "practice assignments" for a higher grade.
• See your teacher’s policies on turning in late assignments.
• Practice work is important- it will smaller pieces leading up to a beta.
• Students who do not turn in their practice assignments on time are much less likely to pass the beta.

Key Terms

Extention vs Re-Performance

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Extensions

• Opportunity to improve grade on an assessment they have passed, but would like to work towards a higher score.
• To extend on an assessment, students must meet specific requirements, such as high homework completion, completing corrections, and meeting deadlines.
• Each teacher/subject may have different requirements for the extension processes.
• Refer to each course syllabus for details, and ask the teacher if further explanation is needed.

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Re-Performance.

• Students will need to follow a "reperformance" process if they don't pass on an assessment (lower than 70%). Reperforming includes a re-teaching or correction process.

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Mastery Learning/

Grading Flow Chart

• Explains process for Extensions and Reperformances

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• Have your student show their grading flow-chart

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What is an “I”? “I” means Incomplete

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It is very common for any student get have an I at some point of the semester. Context is what is important.

Grading- Assignments

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Work Completion

Assignments (homework/classwork) & Alpha Assessments Prepare Students for the Beta

• Support learning or chunked pieces to the lead to Betas

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Examples:

• Large essays will be broken down into pieces such as- Thesis, outline, intro paragraph, drafts, supporting paragraphs, drafts, etc
• Assignments may be practice work to reinforce concepts. The Alpha is practice test for Beta, so students know what they need to refine before beta.

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Late Assignments

• If students turn in assignments late, this delays feedback- may not get in time for next assignments or assessments.
• Teachers may have different rules for turning in assignments late- check syllabus.

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If your student is turning in all assignments on time, and not doing well on assessments, this is important for us to know!

• Parents reach out to teacher, counselor, academic support class teachers.
• Teachers will reach out to counselors as well.

Betas contributes to a majors of the student’s grade for a course (see syllabus for %).

• However assignments are critical to complete (and on time),

ELT- Extended Learning Time

Approximately 4 additional hours per week, outside of class time, for teacher support, homework and assignments, and test corrections, extensions and reperformances.

• Primary intervention time for ALL students
• Extra help to understand concepts with their teachers
• Time for re-performances or extensions
• Parents can view what ELTs their students have been attending

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Help with ELT- Adaptive Scheduler

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ELT- Extended Learning Time

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• Each day during Pack Time students check to see if they were pulled by a teacher. If not, they choose which ELT to attend.
• Tutorial: Students can request to see a teacher
• Workshop: Smaller group- selected by their teacher. Or student can ask teacher to “pull” them for their workshop
• Enrichment: Descriptions will explain what they are doing
• Clubs, study hall, activities
• Students should only choose this if they are caught up and doesn't need additional help.
• Plan ahead!
• Not every teacher has ELT every day
• Students should email teacher if they need more ELT support
• Can give teacher a heads up on something they need more help or clarification
• ELTs are busy between alpha and beta, or after Beta grades released.
• Be proactive and get in early before if there are concepts they don’t understand.

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Need to report ELT absences same as all other classes

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EOP

Provides students the option of not attending their ELT classes.

• To qualify, students must meet specific grade criteria and apply, deadlines.
• Process, deadlines and qualifications linked in the WSCA Newsletter.
• Grades are pulled monthly.
• Parent permission form required.

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• EOP Dismissal- Helps with afternoon traffic congestion!
• 2:30pm Monday,Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
• 2:40pm Wednesdays
• No EOP on some days (testing/rally days)

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• If a student is “Pulled” by a teacher for a workshop, or if they need help in a subject, they still need to stay for ELT even if they have EOP.
• Students will know if they have to stay for ELT when they log into PowerSchool to select their ELT during Pack Time.
• If they CANNOT make an ELT when pulled- they need to email the teacher since they will need to find another time to meet.

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EOP

Students must meet the following criteria:

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• Have a current GPA (defined as current grades for the current term) of no less than 3.0.
• Must not be carrying an incomplete in any class.
• Must have no behavioral incidents during the preceding time period as determined by administration.
• See the WSCA Newsletter for upcoming dates and deadlines on EOP and the Registrar’s Page for more information.

PowerSchool

Grading Communication:

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PowerSchool is the main parent/teacher/student communication tool for grades, work completion progress and attendance.

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• Teachers use PowerSchool Gradebook to communicate grade outcomes, assignment completion and timeliness.

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• It is also how students will see if they have been pulled for an ELT and/or choose their ELT (EVERY day during Pack Time)

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See Website: Technology Support

Parent PowerSchool Login

• Parent PowerSchool Login
• See email from district for Login

Parents can also have their student login and look at PowerSchool with them.

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Students may see a little more information than parents can.

Log in

Start Here

ELT= will show the Mr. Crosson as the teacher for ELT for all students.

This is just the placeholder as ELT teachers will change daily based on who the student selects.

Click on the grade in the S1 column during 1st semester, and the S2 during 2nd semester.

• P1, Q1, etc grades are just point in time grades, not current.

Assessment = beta- must be passed to pass a class

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Click “View” for details on assignments/assessments

• teachers will also include here notes on deadlines, or information on the student’s attempts and results of those attempts

If a Score Comment shows,

Assignment/assessment information

that is unique to your student.

Under “View”

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Assignment Description

Assignment or assessment

information that applies to all students

-- means the teacher has not graded.

Note the “late” or “missing” assignment icons

If you are noticing several of these, it’s time for a conversation with your student.

ELT Viewing & Selecting:

My Schedule

In the toolbar, choose Adaptive Scheduler

Defaults to current week.

Choose week to view

Switch between

My Schedule and Session Schedule

ELT- Adaptive ScheduleSession Schedule

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Check

See Session Schedule for what is being offered each day

PowerSchool App

Dashboard-

then click on each

course for details

always look at the CURRENT semester (s1 or s2), NOT P1, Q1,etc

See attendance details

See the calendar for past assignment dates

Google Classroom

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What is Google Classroom?

• Used to communicate assignments, resources, and turn in work.
• Assignments and syllabi posted here
• Helps students manage classwork on a calendar
• Can be used to turn in digital assignments (teacher will specify how assignments are submitted).

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Your student should check every day for homework, classwork, etc.

• If your student says they do not have homework:
• Have them open up their google classroom and look together.
• When students are absent:
• Unless the student is extremely ill, and CANNOT get on the computer, they should check Google Classroom and compete/submit any work possible.

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Google Classroom- Strategies

From the Student’s Access

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Google Classroom Strategies- Student Access

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Use the To-Do List

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Click on the To-Do tab for missing work

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or Done for completed work

Google Classroom Strategies- Student Access

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See missing work

Look for due dates

Google Classroom Strategies- Student Access

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Use Google Calendar

Google Classroom Strategies- Student Access

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Click on the assignment to link to Google Classroom

• Different colors for different classes

Q: I see that my student has “submitted” his work on Google Classroom, so why does it shows as missing in PowerSchool?

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A: “Submitting” does not actually mean that an assignment was attached, or that there was any content on what was submitted

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If you are finding a discrepancy between Google Classroom and PowerSchool:

• Watch your student submit their work to verify it has been submitted.
• Make sure the work has content.
• Clarify with teacher via email.

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Google Classroom Strategies-Frequent Question

Google Classroom- Strategies

Guardian Access

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Google Classroom Strategies-

Accessing Guardian Google Classroom Summaries

Guardians can elect to receive Guardian Summaries from Google Classroom for all of their child’s classes.

• Guardians will not be able to see the full Google Classroom sites, such as submissions and grades, this is only viewable with student logins.
• In order for parents to view the Guardian Summaries, students must first accept their invitation to the google classroom
• Students receive a Google Classroom invite to their school email account, or they can will add themselves to the Google Classroom via the teacher provided class specific add code.
• Then parents can be added through the parent email. Check your inbox and accept the invitation to view as a guardian.
• Don’t forget to check your Spam / Junk folder.
• Once a parent is added to one google classroom, they should be able to see the guardian summaries for all of the Google Classrooms their student is enrolled in.

Look for the email from Google Classroom “Joining Google Classroom as a guardian to…”

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Google Classroom Strategies-

Accessing Guardian Google Classroom Summaries

Accept the invite

Set your frequency

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Google Classroom Strategies-

Accessing Guardian Google Classroom Summaries

Guardians will receive a summary at the

frequency the guardian chose:

Click on a hyperlinked class

If you see this page when you click on the class,

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it means the teacher has not yet changed the settings for their class to allow guardian access.

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You can email the teacher and refer to this slide so they are reminded how to set to allow guardian access.

Setting view for teacher reminder

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Google Classroom Strategies-

Accessing Guardian Google Classroom Summaries

Click on the assignment to see the expanded instructions

Guardians will not be able access links or attachments that have access only for students.

Guardians will see the posted assignments, materials, etc

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Google Classroom Strategies-

Accessing Guardian Google Classroom Summaries

“Missing” is not always actually missing. It just means the teacher may have posted material with a default deadline that has passed, but doesnt necessary mean the student needed to submit work for it through Google Classroom.

Questions?

If you know you have not received an invitation to Google Classroom, please contact your child’s teacher.

ParentSquare

ParentSquare

This is how parents AND students access:

• Important school notifications
• School and events calendars
• The WSCA & CCC Newsletters

(updated weekly)

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See our resource on ParentSquare

Make sure to see each tab

• Activating account
• Setting notifications
• Sending messages to staff

Students should have

the parentsquare app too, or at least have email notifications set to instant!

ParentSquare

The “Links” tab in ParentSquare is especially useful

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What to do if

your student is struggling

with academics

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1. Attendance

• There is no substitute for attendance.
• We do not have online school, however planning in advance helps.
• It is stressful for kids to miss school! Students will miss important concepts and it can be difficult to catch up. Only miss school if necessary.
• Unless they are very ill, EVERY day students are absent, students should:
• Check Google Classroom
• Complete all possible assignments
• Email teachers or clarification.

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What to do if your student is struggling with academics

• Notify Attendance and teachers in advance if students will be absent..
• Parents of middle school students will receive ISP forms to complete in PowerSchool for every day absent.
• Mr. Crosson, assistant principal, will set up Independent Study Plan for extended periods of time.

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What to do if your student is struggling with academics

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Student- Teacher Communication

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Examples:

• Students can ask teachers to pull them into an upcoming workshop.
• Request clarification on assignment or assessments, navigating resources, tc.
• Specify what they may need more help with in class, etc.
• Any questions about the class.

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Tip: Parents, help your students draft a professional email to their teacher, and CC you.

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Parent-Teacher Communication

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Examples:

• How is your student using class and ELT time?
• What do you see as their challenges for success?
• What has been working?
• What can we try at home?
• If your student is having consistent challenges in a class, and your student has tried communicating with the teacher and it hasn't resolved, or if there is not enough clarity.
• Ex/ If you and your student have looked at Google Classroom together and there is not much in Google Classroom, and your student has already initiated the communication.

6. Reach out to teachers

What to do if your student is struggling with academics

4. After School Tutoring

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• Ms. Crawford-Kleyn oversees after-school tutoring
• Monday- Thursday after school
• Students can add themselves to the AST Google Classroom
• Add code: s2szhtge
• Sign up in advance so Ms. Crawford can coordinate specific need-based plan for tutors
• Ok to show up too

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5. Consider Mental

Health Support

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• Mental health highly correlated with academic outcomes.
• Connect with a mental health provider
• The law requires commercial health plans and insurers to provide full coverage for the treatment of all mental health conditions and substance use disorders?
• See resources on our website

What to do if your student is struggling with academics

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Student- Teacher

Communication

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Examples:

• Students can ask teachers to pull them into an upcoming workshop
• Request clarification on assignment or assessments
• Specify what they may need more help with in class, etc

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Tip: Parents, help your students draft an email to their teacher, and CC you.

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Parent-Teacher

Communication

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Examples:

• How is the student using class and ELT time?
• What do you see as their challenges for success?
• What has been working?
• What can we try at home?

6. Reach out to teachers

What to do if your student is struggling with academics

6. Reach out to support teacher

(if applicable).

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If your student has a support class:

• Academic Seminar- gen ed students
• Academic Support (aka AC)- students with an IEP

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If pervasive or multi-course academic questions or concerns:

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• Parents should reach out to that subject area teachers AND Seminar or AC teacher.
• Seminar or AC teacher provides academic support and facilitates communication between teacher, parents and students.
• Loop support teachers in via CC: on emails to subject area teachers.

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What to do if your student is struggling with academics

8. Reach Out to Counselor

We are here to support our students! Problem solving, consider what other support may be needed, help navigating courses or communication with teachers, etc.

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• Students:
• Come to counseling any time outside of class time.
• Students can come to counting during class only if emergency/very urgent situation.
• No appointment needed!

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• Parents
• Send email to counselor.
• Please also send a ParentSquare message to counselor alerting to the email.
• Alerts counselor faster of message, as we get hundreds of emails a day.

Mental Health & Wellness

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• Please keep counselors informed if your student has, or needs, mental health support.
• Important that we know of concerns so we can help support at school, Especially important if your student had a risk assessment/ mental health assessment,

or in-patient or outpatient evaluations.

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• Confidentiality
• We get your approval and messaging input before communicating with teachers.
• However, can be really helpful for teachers to have context of struggles and be able to support your students- they see them every day!

• We can help families navigate Mental Health Resources
• See resources on website and reach out to their grade level counselor.
• Grade level counselors have limited capacity for individual one-on-one counseling support, however we can work with parents and students about strategies for support at school.
• New! Part time intervention counselor!
• Sees students by referral from Tier 2/MTSS Team only