October, 2019
Dear Parents and Guardians,
This correspondence is to inform you about our desire to incorporate E-Learning as prescribed by state statute (105 ILCS 5/10-20.56) at Fenton High School. The purpose of an E-Learning day is in the event that the District must close our school due to an emergency or inclement weather, evidence of student learning will occur. The learning will be meaningful and counted as a day of student-attendance so that a school-day will not have to be made up at the end of the school-year.
Parents/Guardians will be notified via email, phone blast, and the school’s website in the event school needs to be cancelled and an E-Learning day is scheduled. Teachers will provide instructional materials on Google classroom by 9:00 a.m. on an E-Learning day. Teachers will also be available to answer student questions via email or through Google classroom from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
All students will be required to log into Google classroom before 1:00 p.m. and record their attendance for their second period and seventh period class through a Google form. If a student is unable to do this, a parent is required to call the Attendance Line before 1:00 p.m. in order for the absence to be excused. Like any absence, the student is responsible for completing the assigned work that he or she missed.
Teachers will be reviewing these expectations with students in each of their classes. Further, if students were unable to participate during the E-Learning day, accommodations will be made to assist them in making up the missed work.
A public hearing will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 in the Fenton High School Academic Resource Center (ARC), 1000 West Green Street, Bensenville. The purpose of this hearing will be to seek input from school personnel, parents, and other community members concerning the provision of the School Code allowing for E-Learning days in lieu of closing schools and using an emergency makeup-day due to an emergency or inclement weather.
The FAQ (as seen below) provides more specific information about E-Learning days. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have additional questions. We are excited to have this new option that provides students with an opportunity to move the curriculum forward during inclement weather.
Sincerely,
Jovan Lazarevic
Frequently Asked Questions for Parents
Fenton High School E-learning Day:
1. What is my student expected to do if Fenton High School is canceled and an E-Learning day is implemented?
In the event of an E-Learning day, students are expected to log into their Chromebook and go to the Google classroom site for each of their classes. In the folder for each class, there will be a link to a Google form the students must complete as a record of their attendance for the day by 1:00 pm. Also in the folder, students will find an assignment, provided by their teacher, that they must complete.
2. When should my student log into Google Classroom?
All teachers will have their Google classroom updated by 9:00 am on an E-Learning day. Students must login and complete the Google form for attendance for their second and seventh-period classes by 1:00 pm on an E-Learning day.
3. When are my students’ E-Learning day assignments due?
Students must complete the E-Learning day assignment for each of their classes as specified by the teacher.
4. What type of assignments will my student have on an E-Learning Day?
E-Learning day assignments are meant to be a meaningful part of the current curriculum being studied in class. These assignments should move students forward in the curriculum.
5. What if my student needs help on their E-Learning day assignment?
Teachers will be available via email from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm on E-Learning days. Students should not expect teachers to be able to respond to emails immediately because they might be helping other students. If a student is stuck on an assignment and cannot continue without a teacher’s help, that student should work on another assignment until they receive an email response from the teacher. Additionally, counselors, social workers, and the librarian will be available for questions via email. Part-time teachers will have adjusted hours of availability and will communicate those hours with their students.
6. What if my student was going to be called out of school (illness, etc.) on an E-Learning day?
Students who are sick or who are unable to log into Google Classroom before 1:00 pm on an E-Learning day still need to be called in by a parent/guardian by 1:00 pm. Students who do not comply with this expectation will be marked unverified for the day. Parents/Guardians should call the attendance line to report students as “absent” for the E-Learning day, like they would on a normal school day. FHS Attendance Line: (630) 860-4948
7. What should students do about assignments if they are called out sick on an E-Learning day?
If students are “absent” for an E-Learning day AND the parent or guardian has contacted the school by calling the Attendance Line, they will be allowed to make-up work based on the school procedures.
8. What if my student does not log in to Google Classroom and has not been called out sick?
If students do not sign in to Google Classroom and complete the Google attendance forms for their appropriate classes by 1:00 pm on an E-Learning day AND they have not been called out sick by a parent or guardian, their attendance will be marked as an unverified absence.
9. What if my student does not have access to the internet at home?
If a student does not have access to the internet at home, please contact Fenton High School immediately. FHS will work on a solution with the family.