For the 2020-2021 school year, you will have two options for how your child can be educated this year. You can only choose one for the first semester. If the option you choose isn't the best form of instruction for your child, you may choose the other form of learning in January 2021. The options are 1.) Traditional with remote learning OR 2.) Virtual.
1.) Traditional with remote learning is for your child to go 1-4 days a week to school getting in-person instruction from fabulous teachers whose mission is to give each child the highest quality of instruction, love them, and keep them as safe as they possibly can with remote instruction incorporated. They will also do remote learning with this. On days the student is no physically at school, the teacher will send lessons via Google Classroom, iReady, IXL, and other online platforms. If the student does not have internet access at home, the guardian can still check out a Chromebook and the student's teachers will all load their lessons on a thumb drive for them to complete at home. These lessons are checked by SCMS teachers, feedback given, and grades taken. If none of the above works for that student, hard copy packets are prepared for the student. The teacher still gives the student instruction, checks their work, feedback given, and grades taken. Our goal is to have all students to school by Labor Day back to a regular schedule. Students will come Monday-Thursday and Remote learning on Fridays. This would keep everyone ready at all times for any future quarantines or state mandates.
2.)Virtual - The other option for the student is Virtual Learning. This will be all online. The program used for virtual learning is called Odysseyware. You must have internet availability to have this program. There are previous posts explaining this program. The guardian signs a Virtual Learning Contract (which can be found on the SCBOE website). The student may still check out a Chromebook but no longer physically attends SCMS. The teacher assigned to help your child when working on this program will probably NOT be a SCMS teacher but an Odysseyware tutor. The Virtual Contract must be signed and submitted to the school by July 24. The student may still participate in SCMS activities while doing Virtual learning.
Attendance is taken by the required work completed at a proficient level. If the student does not submit work on a daily basis with passing grades, the student is considered absent.
SCMS Proposed Beginning of School Year Schedule:
August 5 8:00-10:00 am. - All students 1/2 day (This is a great day for you and your child to check out a Chromebook if your child does not have access to laptop, desktop, or Chromebook at home.) If your child has access to a desktop, laptop, or Chromebook at home, please use your own so we may make sure those who do not can check one out from us. The guardian of the student must be present at SCMS to sign the Chromebook checkout agreement.
August 7 - Remote learning (students on Chromebooks, packets, thumb drives, Google Classroom, etc)
August 10 - Students with last names beginning A - F
August 11 - Students with last names beginning with G - M
August 12 - Students with last names beginning with N - R
August 13 - Students with last names beginning with S - Z
August 14 - Remote learning for all students (students on Chromebooks, packets, thumb drives, Google Classroom, etc)
August 17 - Students with last names beginning with A - M
August 18 - Students with last names beginning with N - Z
August 19 - Students with last names beginning with A - M
August 20 - Students with last names beginning with N - Z
August 21 - Remote learning for all students (students on Chromebooks, packets, thumb drives, Google Classroom, etc)
August 24-28 - Same as the previous week
Our goal is to be at full capacity by Labor Day.
**Notifications will immediately be posted on Smith Middle Facebook and SCMS website as any changes occur.
Smith County Schools are implementing preventive measures in regards to the Coronavirus. We want our staff, students, and parents to know we are taking the recommended CDC and TDOE prevention guidelines. Our staff is sanitizing schools and buses daily and thoroughly cleaning frequently touched surfaces and stocking schools with extra soap, paper towels, and disinfectant wipes. Teachers will be allowing more time for hand-washing and the school system has provided guidance to principals to help support them in making the best possible decisions for their students, school, and community.
We are excited to announce our new website! The Live Feed is where you can find important updates and fun stories about what's happening in school. We hope you enjoy the new site and find it easy to navigate!