What is the structure for e-learning?
 
Each class period for the e-learning will be 90 minutes. The frame of each period will consist of an official opening at the start of the period and a closure at the end of the period, via a live virtual meeting.  Throughout the entirety of the period, classes will be engaging and interactive, utilizing such strategies as small group discussions, direct instruction, live quizzes and polls, and collaborative technology platforms where all students can share and construct knowledge together.  A variety of strategies and technology tools will be utilized to ensure options for all student voices to be heard.
 
These expectations will be consistent across all teachers/classes. As you would expect and hope, students will have work assigned outside of class.  Regular attendance expectations will be in place and follow-up procedures.  Student progress will be closely monitored. Our Student Support Team will carefully track student progress to ensure any support and interventions take place in a timely way so that students have what they need to be successful.
 
 
How will class norms, expectations and routines be developed?
 
As we now start a new year, significant focus will be on building a strong classroom community guided by our school’s core values and norms.  Building a strong sense of belonging through relationships is central to our work--in particular during this e-learning time.  In order to ensure that classwork is interactive, students will be expected to have their cameras on during the period—I suggest simply being in front of a blank wall.  As students prepare for the year, I encourage them to find a place in their home as their home base for school.  Later this fall, Google Meet will have a backdrop option.
 
Upon starting the year, teachers will share, and collaborate with their students to develop, class norms and expectations around virtual engagement and expectations.  These norms will be guided by the MHS Student Norms and will cover a variety of topics such as the use of Google Meets (including use of chat, camera, and microphone)
 
Along the way this fall, there will be an opportunity for all stakeholders (students, staff, and parents) to provide feedback around our progress.

On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, students will take part in three classes in accordance with the daily e-learning schedule. There will be an A and B day. At class time, students will be expected to be logged in to their synchronous meetings for each scheduled class. Students that are not logged in during synchronous meetings will be marked absent. On Wednesdays, all six classes will meet. 

Download Schedule Overview (pdf)

Download the Monthly Schedule (pdf)

Academic Support

As we move forward, families should plan to report absences via Skyward Family Access. Detailed instructions are available at this link. Throughout the school closure and while we are delivering instruction through e-learning, absences will continue to be monitored by the Office of Student Affairs.

The Minnetonka Public Schools' Student Well-Being website maintains a list of well-being and mental health connections in the local community including hotline numbers that may be useful to you and your family. Click here to view Community Resources.

For county crisis lines, crisis text lines and sources for those requiring immediate assistance, you can visit the NAMI Minnesota website.

Additional Resources for Managing Stress

• Virusanxiety.com
• How to Protect Your Mental Health During a Quarantine
• Managing Stress and Anxiety - CDC
• Apps suggested by Common Sense Media to support mental health  
• Stop, Think, Breath App available in self-service on the iPad
• General Destressing as a Family
• Calm app online activities  
• Yoga and guided meditation videos on YouTube
• Log-in to Naviance on SSO to explore careers/post-high school opportunities
• Practice Digital Health & Wellness, like setting limits on screen time
• The Digital Health & Wellness website also has informative and helpful video addressing over consuming content on your phone, meditating, cleaning your space, indulging in your favorite hobbies, etc.

Is English not your family's native language? Find resources on how to translate the website, emails, pdfs and more into languages other than English.

View Translation Resources

Another great support is the MHS Writing Center. The Writing Center is open for hybrid learning! Staffed by two English teachers and 40 trained student writing coaches, the Writing Center is open to all MHS students. Students get feedback on writing of all kinds, in all subject areas, and at any stage in the writing process, from brainstorming to final revisions. All writers benefit from sharing work in progress with knowledgeable, attentive readers. We work 1:1 with students on any writing project, at any stage of development, coaching by asking questions, suggesting strategies, and helping writers clarify ideas.

Walk-in Schedule and Appointments

Online synchronous and asynchronous appointments are available Monday through Friday and in-person appointments are available on Wednesdays. Sign-up for an appointment through our OnBoard app.

To make an appointment, check out the quickstart or detailed instructions.

Will attendance be taken for a e-learning day?
Yes. Teachers will enter student attendance into Skyward. Students will be marked present by signing-in to Schoology at scheduled class times, and actively engaging in teacher or course centered learning activities.

Can students be required to be online at a particular time?
Yes. There is a daily schedule that has 3 classes per day. During this time, there should be teacher/class interaction through Schoology, Google Hangout, and/or discussion boards.

How long do students have to be in each class?
Students will be in each class period 90 minutes based on the meeting schedule, and 40-50 minutes of that will be direct instruction. Students are required to check into Schoology daily for information on each course. Teachers will communicate lesson expectations on a daily basis.

Can students check in to classes after 3:00 p.m.?
Yes, but the student will be marked absent for that school day. If a student is ill and unable to complete coursework, that student should have their parents submit an absence request via Skyward.

What flexibility do students have in their daily schedule?
Students are required to check into their first class via Schoology before 8:30 a.m. each day. Students will follow the daily A/B schedule and log in to each class on Schoology during the scheduled time.

What is the deadline for work completed on a e-learning day?

The deadline for work completion will be determined and explicitly communicated by the teacher. Teachers will provide students ample time to complete assignments which may be more time than would normally be provided in class.

How will the in-class workload transfer to the e-learning environment?

Not every assignment you do in class will be transferred to the e-learning environment. Students will complete work to demonstrate their knowledge of the course essential learning targets.

• Assignments from teachers will be posted before each learning session.  
• Minnetonka High School teachers use many digital resources to allow students to engage in and interact with course content:
  • Schoology assignments, discussions, quizzes
  • Digital Textbooks
  • Flipgrid
  • Explain Everything
  • Peardeck
  • EdPuzzle
• Assignments may look different in an e-learning environment, but students should expect to engage with content and complete assignments daily. 

How will students be tested?
Teachers for each course are preparing ways in which to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their learning. Tests should keep pace with instruction and teachers will communicate assessment criteria to students. 

What about outstanding tests or previous late and missing work? 
Teachers will communicate make up procedures for tests and missing work. Teachers understand that the make-up process will look different and will require flexibility for all. The critical point is we will work with you. 

How will students be graded?
Teachers will continue to use formative and summative work to assess student learning and assign grades. Student work will be reflective of essential learning and students are expected to continue to complete assignments. 

How can students contact teachers?
Students can contact teachers via Schoology Message or email.

When will teachers connect with MHS students about e-learning expectations?
Teachers will use the first day of remote learning as a time to set clear expectations with students via Schoology. Direction will be provided regarding expectations in this e- learning environment, pertaining but not limited to:

• Accessing resources
• Task requirements
• Deadlines
• How to ask questions
• Teacher prep time

When can students expect a response from teachers via email or Schoology?
Students can expect to connect with teachers during their scheduled class time. Students can also email or Schoology message teachers at any time from 8:00-3:00.

How can students contact their Counselor, or Social Worker?
Counselors and Social Workers are available from 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Students should initially contact them via email. Follow-up meetings will be determined together that could include Google hangout as a method for face to face interaction.

How can students contact their Special Education case manager?
Special education teachers will be available between 8:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m., and email continues to be the best way to connect with them.

What would an appointment with a student’s counselor look like?
Students and parents/guardians should request an appointment via email. From that email, the staff member in collaboration with the student(s) and parents/guardians will determine the best method for this appointment.