Norwin SD Update - Ideas for Sharing Technology in the Home, Elementary School Videos, and More

Update from Norwin School District

Superintendent Dr. Jeff Taylor

March 30, 2020

Dear Norwin Families and Community Members,

I am pleased to report that our first day of online instruction went very smoothly for students and teachers, with an overwhelming majority of students logging in and receiving lessons. From all accounts, teachers and principals reported a great deal of engagement and interaction with the lessons delivered through Google Classroom. This is good news and is a credit to families and teachers working so well together to make the best of this challenging situation. Together We Can!

Additionally, today we learned that Governor Tom Wolf has announced that all Pennsylvania schools will remain closed until further notice. This announcement came as COVID-19 cases continue to grow and the state continues to seek relief to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19. Additional details will be shared through Norwin eBlasts to families in the coming days about how this will impact the district’s schedule .

As we become acclimated to an online learning environment, there will be many new challenges for our families and teachers. Today, I share with you a resource from our Guidance Department Head, Mr. Doug Colcombe. He has written a short article to help families navigate the challenges of sharing devices in the household. I hope that your family finds it helpful.

Stay safe, healthy, and #NorwinStrong.

Best regards,

Dr. Jeff Taylor

Superintendent

Negotiating Devices Within the Family

During this time, it may become increasingly taxing on families as they negotiate the needs of each family member to use the devices available within the home. If this is a situation you find yourself in, the following is a suggestion to assist you to deal with this issue.

Begin with the tasks being asked of each person. You may consider assigning devices for different purposes. For example, students may need to use their smart phone to check in for the day and to find out what is required for their classes – using “old school” techniques, they can write a list of what they must do for the day. Parents can be online managing their work requirements at the same time.

Families can then have a “meeting” (great opportunity to have a breakfast “meeting” together) to prioritize tasks and plan a device use schedule for the day.

School Counselors understand the challenges online learning presents in your daily life. We encourage all parents and students to stay #NorwinStrong! and to contact your child’s counselor if you have a specific concern.

- Shared by Mr. Doug Colcombe, Guidance Department Head

Technology Update

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES NEEDING ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY

As a follow-up to our earlier eBlast today, another distribution is being planned for Tuesday, March 31, 2020 for those families who need access to technology.

HOWEVER : Please note that you will be contacted when your equipment is ready for pickup. Families who have registered for Tuesday's distribution will be contacted by the Norwin Technology Department tonight.

Please do not come to the middle school Tuesday if you have not heard back from us that your equipment is ready.

Video Messages: Norwin Elementary Schools Care

Faculty and staff from several Norwin elementary schools had wished to hold parades through neighborhoods to share well wishes with students and families. However, the new stay-at-home order from the governor prevented them from doing so. Therefore, they made short videos. Below are the elementary school videos, which I invite you to watch by clicking directly on each of the photos.

UPDATE: Norwin Students on Hometown High Q Has Been Rescheduled to April 4th

Seniors Emily Jumba and Tegan Lochner along with junior Lily Jarosz have advanced to the next round of the Hometown High Q competition. Please tune in to watch our students participate in the Hometown High Q at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 4th on KDKA-TV.

The Norwin team had been scheduled to be broadcast this past Saturday, but the station needed to delay the broadcast by one week.

Resources

Preparing for Online Instruction

Online Learning Resources for Families, a new Google site, has been created as a comprehensive site to help Norwin families prepare for online learning.

Norwin School District Daily Attendance Form

Beginning on March 30, 2020, and continuing each day during online instruction, families will be asked to complete a daily attendance form for each child in the family. The link to the attendance form will be included on the STREAM on each Google Classroom and can also be found here. We appreciate your assistance in completing this form for each child daily so that attendance can be entered and maintained into Skyward.

Norwin Lunches for Students in the Free and Reduced Lunch Program

Every Monday and Wednesday through the shutdown, the District will serve a bagged lunch from 11am - 1pm from the Norwin High School Auditorium doors (Door No. 6). The lunch program on Mondays will supply enough food for Monday and Tuesday, and the lunch program on Wednesdays will supply enough food for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Screen-Free Activities for Families