The district heard from families that the way attendance has been taken on Wednesdays has been more challenging than expected for both students and staff. As a part of the adjustments the district is making based on what they've learned, we will be shifting away from taking attendance for every course on Wednesdays, and instead we will take attendance based on communication with virtual mentors beginning October 28th.
Our core attendance principles will still apply:
- Attendance will be taken every school day
- Students will have until midnight to engage each school day
- Wednesdays are asynchronous instructional days
Each Wednesday morning Virtual Mentors (listed in period 10 of the student's schedule) will share a simple Google Form with their students via email or Google Classroom. It will essentially ask students 1) if they are attending that Wednesday, 2) what mode of communication will be most likely to promote a successful connection during the coming week, and 3) what they are working on and supports that may be needed. Students will need to answer the questions and submit the form.
The virtual mentor will look at the form responses Wednesday afternoon and mark absent any student who didn't yet respond. Phone calls will go out Wednesday evening to any absent students, reminding them they can still submit the form before midnight. Attendance will be updated Thursday.
