North Notes

North Community,

The first week of school is (finally) upon us! I know you have all been inundated with emails about what to expect with distance learning and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your patience. We are excited to welcome high school students back to school virtually next week through both Distance and VirtualED modes of learning. Our teachers have been working hard to prepare for the start of school and are eager to “see” students virtually next week! We recognize that this will be a first day of school unlike any other, and we understand that there will be a learning curve as we all adjust to this new online environment. Please read over the following essential information:

Student Schedules Viewable in Student Vue – After 4 PM this afternoon

After 4pm this afternoon, students will be able to view their current schedule for the 20-21 school year. While these schedules are viewable, there is possibility that a student’s schedule may not be final. The district and BVN are still working through errors and technical issues in finalizing courses both for BVN in-person courses as well as remote learning courses through the new VirtualED program.

Due to this, please refrain from emailing your student’s counselor concerning errors in student schedules. We will begin taking schedule change requests on September 9th using our schedule change process. Please refer to the Counseling Canvas Course for specific instructions and video on how to request a schedule change. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Cyj16nDg2JvlN9_XyIgsdneSm1gcS9GtOj319kRl564/edit

Right now, you will only see your 1st semester schedule. Please keep in mind that some course selections including graduation requirement/CAPS may be scheduled in second semester.

Zoom Update

In order to help provide the best online learning experience possible, it is important that students update the Zoom application on their district-provided MacBook to the latest version of the app (at least version 5 or higher), prior to the first day of school.

To install or update the Zoom application for your MacBook, please follow these step-by-step instructions. If you are unable to complete the Zoom update through these steps, please submit a BVCARE help ticket. Once your installation is complete, you should be ready to participate in Zoom calls. Simply click the “Join a Meeting” option on the Zoom dashboard from inside of Canvas. Otherwise, when you launch the application, enter the meeting ID and/or passcode when prompted (provided by your teacher).

Attendance:

Teachers will be taking attendance each day of school no matter what model of learning we are in. Students who are learning from outside of their school building will need to be present for live Zoom connections in order to indicate they are present and following their daily schedule. The details of these expectations for our current learning modes are below.

During Distance Learning, teachers will provide a Zoom link for a live connection for each class they teach in a particular school day. During the beginning of each live connection the teacher will take daily attendance. The length of these live connections will vary based on the expectations of the students for a particular course on a particular day. Parents are asked to report to their home school any absence from Distance Learning just as would occur during a traditional school day. When a student is absent from live Zoom connections without a documented reason, the school will contact the family as in the past.

VirtualEd Students: Attendance will be taken during live Zoom synchronous lessons. When a student will be absent from a class or for a full day from VirtualEd parents are asked to report the absence to the home school just as they would during a traditional school day. When a middle or high school student has a conflict in his / her schedule and cannot, therefore, attend the live Zoom synchronous lesson it will be necessary to complete a Learning Log for attendance purposes to indicate participation in school learning activities each day.

Learning Logs:

Parents and students do not need to complete the task of a Learning Log when students have otherwise had a live connection with a teacher for a course and the teacher took attendance. A Remote Learning Log must be completed when students who are enrolled in the full VirtualEd model or who are enrolled in a selection of VIrtualEd course offerings when synchronous learning does not occur in a day for a course or courses. Elementary students will only complete a Remote Learning Log when they cannot minimally connect live once in the a.m. and once in p.m. with their assigned classroom teacher.

How is a Learning Log completed? Next week parents and students will receive more guidance about how to complete a Learning Log via StudentVue and/or ParentVue.

Please know it will take several days to build school routines just as it does every year. It will take several days to make the daily attendance processes defined above as smooth as we are accustomed to. That is okay! We are interested first and foremost in connecting with your students, establishing relationships, reintroducing them to learning with their classmates and helping everyone become familiar with the current assigned mode of learning. We are ready and excited to see our students!

FIRST DAY STUDENT CHECKLIST

Access Students Links- www.bluevalleyk12.org select Students (upper-right)

STEP 1: View your Schedule in StudentVue

· From Student Links select “StudentVue”

· Login with your username and password

· Find your course schedule

STEP 2: Login to Canvas

· From Student Links select “Canvas”

· This is where you will see your courses

· This is how you manage your dashboard

STEP 3: Access the Bell Schedule on BVN homepage

· www.bluevalleyk12.org/bvn

· Find the Bell Schedule on the homepage

Or

· Use this direct link

STEP 4:

Find your Classes in Canvas

· Customize your course list so you see only your current courses

· Click on a course

· The course homepage will show the schedule for the week. This will be updated by the end of the day on Friday prior to each week

STEP 5:

Zoom Update

• Follow these instructions to install or update zoom.
• New Mustangs or those who have never used Zoom will need to install.
• Problems Updating Zoom? Please Submit a BVCARE ticket and someone from ITS will reach out to you.

Need help?

WHEN: Wednesday (9/9) during school hours

WHERE: Connect with us via Zoom

Meeting ID: 968 5929 8106

Passcode: help

We’re looking forward to beginning the school year next week!

BVN Adminstration

We are excited to welcome high school students back to school virtually next week through both Distance and VirtualED modes of learning. Our teachers have been working hard to prepare for the start of school and are eager to “see” students virtually next week! We recognize that this will be a first day of school unlike any other, and we understand that there will be a learning curve as we all adjust to this new online environment.

In order to help provide the best online learning experience possible, it is important that students update the Zoom application on their district-provided MacBook to the latest version of the app (at least version 5 or higher), prior to the first day of school.

To install or update the Zoom application for your MacBook, please follow these step-by-step instructions. If you are unable to complete the Zoom update through these steps, please submit a BVCARE help ticket. Once your installation is complete, you should be ready to participate in Zoom calls. Simply click the “Join a Meeting” option on the Zoom dashboard from inside of Canvas. Otherwise, when you launch the application, enter the meeting ID and/or passcode when prompted (provided by your teacher).

As we gear up for the 1st day of school, we wanted to communicate some very important information regarding what school will look like for the first month. The entire BVN staff is excited to begin working with all of our students on September 9th!

In place of our orientation day and back to school night, teachers and counselors will be making introductory videos for their students and parents. These videos will be located on the teacher's/counselor's Canvas pages and made available by 1:00 p.m. on September 8th. These videos will contain all of the information that students would receive during orientation, and parents would receive during back to school night. Please take a few minutes on September 8th to sign-in to Canvas and view these videos.

Also, below is the PowerPoint presentation that was sent out on August 19th, highlighting the changes to Blue Valley North this year.

Student Course Schedules

With school starting next week, I know that you are eager to see student schedules. We’re working as quickly as possible and making every effort to make those available, and our goal is for them to appear in ParentVue/StudentVue on Friday 9/4 after 4:00 p.m., however this complex process may take us beyond that day. Please understand that we will continue making revisions throughout the weekend, balancing class sizes and creating as many opportunities as possible for students’ first-choice courses. Because of that ongoing work, what you see on Friday might change by the time classes begin next week. Be sure to check ParentVue and or StudentVue all the way up to September 9 to have the most up to date version of your schedule. And on that note, I would like to say thank you to North’s registrar and counselors, who have worked non-stop to complete a two-month process in just under two weeks. I would also like to thank YOU for your patience and understanding.

What do I do on the first day of school?

We have created a five step process that will get you going on the first day. Please see the BVN administrative letter at the top of this newsletter.

Textbook, Materials, and Supplies Distribution Days

We will provide an opportunity for students to pick up books, materials, equipment, and/or supplies they need for their courses on September 17 and 18. Until then, teachers will be engaging students in activities that don’t require these items. We’ll be sending out details for this event in an email and in North Notes at a later date.

Schedule Changes

Just like we would in a “normal” school-year, we will be allowing students to make changes to their schedules during the first five days of school. This process is limited to courses that are available. Not all changes will be possible. Details on this process will be provided by our counseling department next week.

Students! Check Your Student Email Daily

Students, it is important that you get in the habit of checking your school email frequently. Once school starts, we’re recommending checking it three times a day (morning, lunch, and the end of day).

Next week is a big week for all of us. Preparations will continue right up to the start. We are excited and eager to begin this school-year.

The Speak Up walk is virtual this year. For $15, a participant walks on their own with friends, family or pets and posts pics to #Speakupwalk2020 during the month of September. This coincides with September being suicide awareness month. If students are interested and want to be a part of TeamChad, the link is here: Team Chad. There is more information on the Team Chad Facebook page. In addition, here is Speak Up's video describing the virtual event. Thank you for your support!

Struggling with knowing how to help your kids have healthy screentime habits in the world of virtual learning? This 60-minute virtual event will help you make a game plan to manage screens at home. We'll share fresh, expert-informed concepts that can apply to all ages of kids, and give you an opportunity to exchange tips and offer support with other parents and staff in the Blue Valley North community. The content is designed for adults only; please note that some information might be disturbing for younger kids. You will walk away with practical ideas to help your child stay safe, sane and seen in an increasingly digital world. Can't join live? No worries! The event will be recorded and sent to registered parents to view at a time convenient for you. Registration is now open, click here to get started.

Blue Valley North High School now has official social media accounts, monitored by our very own BVN Administration Team. Please follow for announcements and information if you use these social media tools. Thanks for your support!

Instagram: @bvnmustangs

Twitter: @MustangsBvn

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BVNMustangs/

Sept 7 - Labor Day

Sept 8 - Teacher and Counselor Videos posted at 1:00 p.m.

Sept 9 - First Day of School

Sept 17-18 - Textbook and Material Distribution Days

Upcoming All School Events

All BVN events, activities, sporting events and additional calendar adjustments are found on the EKL calendar: www.easternkansasleague.org

Click here for the revised 2020-21 Blue Valley School District Calendar.

• Shedules posted on 9/4, after 4:00 p.m.
• Schedule Changes 9/9 - 9/15
• Freshmen zoom sessions with counselor
• Senior college application information coming soon!
• Virtual College Visits on Naviance
• Follow us on Twitter - @BVNCounseling
  

Questions? Contact Theresa Gonzalez @ (913)239-3016 or TGonzalez@bluevalleyk12.org

Blue Valley wants families to know the district is carefully following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and local health agencies on preventative measures for the Coronavirus or COVID-19. One of the most important things we can do right now is practice preventative measures and remind students of everyday actions they can take to slow the spread of germs and prevent illness. We appreciate your encouragement of these healthy habits at home.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. Blue Valley uses hospital-grade cleaning disinfectants in its schools.
• Stay home when you are sick except to get medical care. Children who are ill should remain home until they are fever-free for 24 hours without the aid of medication.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Thank you for your support to safeguard the health of our students, staff and community. More information on the Coronavirus is available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

North Notes is a newsletter for the parents and students of Blue Valley North High School. If you have questions, please contact Janet Roush, Assistant to the Principal, at JRoush@bluevalleyk12.org . Thank you!

BVN Twitter:

@MustangsBvn

@BVNOstroski

@TheKurle

@BVNCounseling

@MustangsOfBVN

@bvnnews

@BVNMustangsPBC

BVN Instagram:

@bvnmustangs

Email: BVN@bluevalleyk12.org
Website: www.bluevalleyk12.org/BVN/
Location: 12200 Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, KS, 66209
Phone: (913) 239-3000
Facebook: facebook.com/BVNMustangs/
Twitter: @bvnnews