Hillsborough Middle School Community,
As you know, all Hillsborough Township Public Schools are implementing a distance learning model to deliver instruction starting Monday, March 16th through March 27th, and possibly longer based on developments at the local, state and national level as part of the effort to stem the spread of the novel Coronavirus.
During this time, HMS students and faculty will not meet at school for instruction, but will connect virtually, online, in accordance with the district’s flexible learning plan. Fortunately, students are already familiar with many of the online resources and communication tools in the Google Education Suite including Google Classroom and Google Sites that support student-teacher collaboration and sharing of lessons and learning on a regular basis.
Today, teachers have reviewed with students when and how they should check in daily for their lessons, how to participate with their classes, submit work, and stay in communication with teachers to ask questions and get help online. Here is a quick summary of some important aspects of the plan for HMS students:
We are encouraging all students to use the HMS Half Day Bell Schedule as a framework to organize their virtual school day. Whenever possible, students should start their day at 8:30 a.m. checking Google Classroom or Coursepages and email via their Chromebooks. While some teachers may post videos and assignments that students can work on at times of their own choosing, others may go “live” online using Nearpod or Google Chat features during their “regular” class time in line with our half day bell schedule as listed below.
Homeroom 8:30 - 8:36
Period 1 8:39 - 9:02
Period 2 9:05 - 9:28
Period 3 9:31 - 9:54
Period 4 9:57 - 10:20
Period 5 10:23 - 10:46
Period 6 10:49 - 11:12
Period 7 11:15 - 11:38
Period 8 11:41 - 12:04
Period 9 12:07 - 12:30
Teachers will provide “check-in” points to students to demonstrate that students are doing the work required for the day. These can take many forms, such as submitting work online, actually checking in electronically, participating in an activity or class chat, and so on.
Students who do not check-in as directed will be marked absent for the class that day. Absences during this time will continue to accrue and will be just as valid as any other absences. If a student is ill or has another circumstance that makes it impossible to participate in the day's learning activities - in short, making the student "absent" for the day - parents should still utilize Genesis or the attendance line to report those absences, just as they would on any other school day.
Events that have been postponed will be rescheduled as time allows. Please be patient as the school calendar is adjusted as best possible.
Remember that the purpose of this unprecedented act is to reduce the interaction between people so that COVID-19 can subside quickly. It is important that the advice for social distancing is heeded to avoid further spread of this illness. Also, this type of disruption to one’s schedule and general worry about this new illness may cause some people to be upset or anxious.
Please do not hesitate to talk about your concerns with your parents and doctors and feel free to reach out to our counseling staff during the closure who can help you process these unusual times. All of our support professionals including computer resource teachers, librarian, school nurse, counselors, child study team members, and administration will be working online as well responding to student and family needs daily. Stay connected with us.
In closing, we wish all of our families the very best as we work through this together. Be well, be safe, and let’s continue to be “together” as a learning community for each other.
Warm regards,
Joseph Trybulski, Ed.D., Principal