Remote Learning Experience

Children whose families elect the RLE option will be enrolled in a new school - the WHPS Remote Learning School for their age group. This new school will be staffed by teachers, support staff, and administrators from across the district. The examples below are offered to highlight the enrollment structure for this option.

In the case that the State of Connecticut would close schools due to public health concerns as they did in the spring of 2020, students enrolled in the RLE  will remain in their WHPS Remote Learning School with the same RLE teacher(s) assigned at the start of the school year.

Students opting for the RLE are expected to attend remote classes each day school is in session and be on time to class. In the case of an illness or family emergency, the child’s caregiver should contact the RLE administrator at 860-561-6609 to register the absence as excused. If there is a reason that students cannot turn the camera on, caregivers should contact the child’s teacher. Teachers will take attendance in PowerSchool each day in the elementary school and in each period for the secondary school students. Caregivers will receive a phone call if their child is marked unverified. WHPS expects parents/guardians to support student attendance and engagement during remote learning.

The main phone number for the RLE School is 860-561-6609.
This RLE schools website is: www.whps.org/remotelearning

In a remote learning environment, a strong home-school partnership is more critical than ever. Teachers in the WHPS RLE will seek to build strong relationships with families to best serve students’ needs. This partnership will include weekly learning outlines, translated communication, website, and email updates.

Students will be asked to have their cameras on during class to promote a positive learning environment where students and teachers can benefit from the connections made through smiling, facial expressions, and visual representation. Students are asked to present themselves on screen as they would if attending school in-person. Similarly, students are expected to interact with their instructors and their classmates in a respectful manner (see WHPS Responsible Use Guidelines). WHPS teachers will be posting the learning target, agenda, and assignments for each of their classes on a weekly basis. As such, RLE program students are expected to login to each teacher’s Google Classroom page (Grades 3-12) or SeeSaw page (Grades PreK-2) to access and submit assignments and resources prescribed by the teacher. 

Grading approaches and policies used in the RLE will be the same as those used for students attending in-school.

Elementary- Students will receive three progress reports per year. Parent conferences will be held in the fall (November) and in the spring (March) through an online platform (video-conference).

Secondary - Grading systems and practices will remain the same as if students were in school. Teachers will record student grades in PowerSchool. The RLE schools will provide notice to families to check the parent portal for students’ progress reports, quarterly and semester grades. Parent conferences will occur in the fall (November) and in the spring (March) through an online platform (video-conference). Secondary students and parents can regularly review student progress by logging into the PowerSchool portal. 

Parents who opt for the voluntary RLE may not elect to have their child(ren) attend some classes in-person and others remote. Children participating in voluntary RLE will be required to remain in such a program for the duration of the current marking period. Should parents wish to return their child(ren) to in-person classes for a subsequent marking period, the parents will be required to provide notice to WHPS prior to the start of that marking period. Additional information about what notice is required will be provided.

Each student enrolled in the WHPS RLE will be issued either a Chromebook or a laptop on an ‘as needed’ basis. Communication about the device distribution plan is forthcoming. Please be sure to note the day and time for pick-up of student-assigned computers and follow the instructions. Students are responsible to return the device in the same condition in which it was received at the end of the school year.

Should students need technical assistance for their device or for a replacement device, caregivers should call the remote school at 860-561-6609 or email Angela Tokarz at angela_tokarz@whps.org.

Core Curriculum: Teachers will create and deliver lessons that align to prioritized learning standards for each grade level. In the elementary schools, the focus of direct synchronous instruction will be the development of math and literacy skills. Social-emotional and civic learning will be a focus during morning meetings each day while independent reading, ongoing math concept and skill development, writing, and science enrichment will be the focus for asynchronous learning posted to SeeSaw (Gr. PreK-2) or Google Classroom (Gr. 3-5).

Teachers in the secondary level will develop and deliver coherent units of instruction focused on priority learning standards in each subject area. Each week teachers will post weekly learning objectives, offer appropriately challenging learning experiences, provide student support and aligned assessments. Middle and high school courses offered through the RLE are listed in the appendices of this handbook.

Elementary Specials: Students will participate in specials (art, music, PE) synchronously and asynchronously. Specials classes will rotate every two weeks so that students will have opportunities to engage in learning in all areas. Certain programming (e.g. instrumental lessons, ensembles, etc.) are not guaranteed offerings in the RLE.

Middle School Unified Arts: At the middle school level, students are enrolled in two Unified Arts (UA) classes (PE/ Health, music, art, technical education) for a 36-day rotation (approximately 7 school weeks). 

High School Electives: Given the complexities of the high school schedule and the smaller number of students electing remote learning (vs in-school), WHPS will not be able to offer the full array of elective courses through the RLE. While we anticipate being able to offer at least one course in most if not all of our elective areas, we cannot guarantee the same variety as in-school. Certain courses (e.g. Sculpture, Automotive Technology, PE Strategies, etc.) cannot be offered based on equipment constraints. Classes may offer leveled curriculum (vs separate leveled classes) with differentiated assignments. Advanced Placement may be an option for some classes using the AP Classroom and AP Daily features available from the College Board.

QUEST, Math QUEST, and Art QUEST: Students identified for participation in the QUEST, Math QUEST, and Art QUEST programs will join with their peers in the District Distance Learning Platform. The Action Learning provided by QUEST teachers will provide synchronous learning for identified students in school or online. QUEST will continue the program's foundation based on providing the academic, social, and emotional, cognitive growth, and self-fulfillment through the development and expression of a combination of best practices, strategies, mindset, and beliefs that continue the growth and development of these habits of mind.

Advanced Placement: WHPS RLE will include AP courses where course enrollments allow for a full section of students. In AP courses with low-enrollments, students will be offered the opportunity to select a different AP course or other high school elective. For students in low enrollment courses that are not running, they have the option of registering for the AP tests and can study for the test from a variety of resources including AP Classroom and AP Daily. A list of available AP courses can be found here.

Early College Experience (ECE): Based on requirements and constraints from the University of Connecticut, we will not be able to offer ECE credits in any remote classes.

The RLE features important differences from the online model used in the spring of 2020. Most importantly, the RLE will offer a greater portion of the learning experience synchronously. Using this approach students will have real time, direct instruction with teachers and classmates during an online session. Asynchronous learning (assignments that students can complete at any time) will continue to be an important part of the students’ experience.  

It is important to note that the schedule for the remote school is subject to change if the West Hartford Public Schools and public health data indicates that the traditional school schedule with all students in physical buildings will replace the hybrid model. In that case, the hours of remote learning will change to align with the in-person program so that shared staff are available to support all students.

The main delivery platforms for assignments and resources will be Google Classroom (or SeeSaw in PreK-2) and Google Meet for instruction and face-to-face communication. RLE teachers will deliver prioritized learning standards aligned to WHPS core curriculum through weekly learning plans posted in Google Classroom and delivered in Google Meet. Students across grade level bands (elementary, middle, high school) will utilize additional technology tools to access and demonstrate their learning.  

RLE elementary schools will offer learning activities within small groups for shorter periods of time based on the developmental appropriateness of screen time and student online stamina.  

Small groups of elementary students will attend synchronous RLE school at different times of the day (see group schedules for Grades 2-5 and Grades PreK-1 below). The schedule would remain consistent for each group to provide a stable block of time four days per week. This approach is designed to promote healthy routines. The Wednesday group schedule will be adjusted to accommodate a whole class Morning Meeting from 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. and teacher professional learning time from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.  

The sample student schedule below illustrates a typical schedule for an elementary classroom.

Primary Technology Tools for Elementary Students (Grades PK-1)

Tool: SeeSaw
Grades: PreK-2
Purpose: online learning platform

Tool: Google Classroom
Grades: 3-5
Purpose: online learning platform

Tool: Google Meet
Grades: K-5
Purpose: video-conference

Tool: Dreambox
Grades: K-5
Purpose: math practice / support

At the secondary level, the RLE schedule will align to the in-school schedule at the middle and high school levels respectively. Middle school will follow a rotating A/B block while high schools will follow an A/B/C/D rotating block schedule to accommodate science labs and PE/Health. Instructional blocks will be roughly one hour in duration and teachers are directed to use the majority of that time (at least 45 min) for direct instruction and activities (whole group or small group). Up to 15 minutes may be reserved in order to provide individual or small group support. Classes also have a flexible small group instruction block appended to the end of the day in order to provide individual or small group support and informal check ins. Middle school sessions will be for 20 minutes and high school sessions will be for 30 minutes. Teachers will direct the use of this time and may also dedicate time for collaboration, student or parent meetings, etc. Both middle and high schools will offer an Advisory or Community period which features lessons and activities to advance students’ social emotional development while promoting anti-racism education goals. Wednesday afternoons are reserved for teacher professional learning.

Primary Technology Tools for Elementary Students (Grades 6-12)

Tool: Google Classroom
Grades: 6-12
Purpose: Online classroom repository listing course assignments and resources

Tool: Google Meet
Grades: 6-12
Purpose: Online video conferencing for classroom instruction

Tool: Nearpod
Grades: 6-12
Purpose: Resource to make lessons interactive, and formally assess students

Tool: iReady and Ready Math
Grades: 6-8
Purpose: Online math text resources and lessons.

Tool: IXL
Grades: 6-8
Purpose: Online math practice 

Tool: AP Classroom
Grades: 9-12
Purpose: Flexible online resources and question banks that support AP students.

Tool: AP Daily Videos
Grades: 9-12
Purpose: Short targeted videos that support student instruction in AP courses.

Elementary Small Group Schedule - The elementary RLE is designed around a small group instructional model with approximately 4-8 students in each group. Students will be assigned to meet online with their teacher during one of the synchronous small group learning blocks every day. This model will enable teachers to differentiate for student needs within the small group environment. Thirty minute blocks between or after each group (except Wednesdays) are flexible times for teachers to meet with individual students, parents, or colleagues to support student needs. Further differentiation is possible through asynchronous learning materials posted to Google Classroom/SeeSaw or other digital platforms (e.g. Dreambox, Lexia). 

Secondary Block Schedule and Small Group Instruction Blocks - Sixty minute instruction blocks provide at least 45 minutes of direct instruction to include whole group, small group or independent practice time. Up to an additional 15 minutes per class period is designed for small group and one-on-one student support. In addition, supplementary small group instruction blocks of between 20-30 minutes provide time for support, reinforcement, application of skills and content or enrichment. Teachers will identify small groups of students to meet during these blocks which meet in the afternoons on the same rotation with classes.

WHPS will provide access to educational opportunities to all of its students, regardless of the mode of instruction. The RLE option may present some unavoidable and unforeseen limitations. For example, the nature of the voluntary RLE may not result in matching instructional hours 1:1 with an in-person learning model. Accordingly, there will be an expectation for parents to support student attendance and engagement with asynchronous learning platforms during the RLE.

All students in WHPS whether attending school in person or choosing the RLE option will participate in required state and federal assessments. State assessments for students in grades 3-8 and 11 are given in the months of March-May each year. In accordance with state guidelines, students participating in the RLE schools will be expected to access statewide assessments in person, unless the assessments are made available remotely.  

Staff will work with families to model effective strategies that can be used to support student development at home. Outreach to families will be provided through check-in calls, emails, and video-conferencing

Case Management for Students with IEPs: The RLE schools special education staff will serve as case managers for students with IEPs. 

Strategies for Students with IEPs - In accordance with their Individualized Education, students will participate with their peers in the RLE to the greatest extent possible with support services. On-line Case Managers will develop an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) which will outline times for synchronous services with special education teachers and related service providers. Direct services will be provided through individual, and small group virtual meetings. Special Education and related service hours will correlate with IEP requirements. Individual modifications will be provided as necessary to maximize engagement. PPTs meetings will be held online with students’ planning and placement teams.

Case Management for Students with 504 Plans: Home school personnel will retain their 504 case management responsibilities. In grade 6 and 9 , grades in which students transition to a new school and for students new to West Hartford Public Schools, 504 case management will be the responsibility of the remote school counselor. At the elementary schools, case management will be retained by the home- school curriculum specialists.

Strategies for Students with 504 Plans - Case Managers will arrange check-ins with students, and their families where appropriate, to determine if their plan is meeting their needs in the online environment. Virtual 504 meetings will be scheduled for students who need a change to their plan. Yearly plan review meetings will continue at the regularly scheduled times in the spring of 2021. These meetings will be offered online.

Coordination for English Learners (ELs) - The coordination for students and programs is managed through the district office. This includes ESOL testing, identification, exiting, etc. Please reach out to your ESOL teacher or Chalise Ross for assistance at 860.561.6644 or chalise_ross@whps.org.  

Strategies for English Learners (EL) - English as a Second Language (ESOL) teachers will support EL students. EL students at the elementary level will access these services in addition to the two-hour daily block students meet with their teachers. Secondary students will have ESOL instruction as a scheduled class as they do during in-person school. ESOL teachers will also have access to the Google Classrooms for their teachers in English and other general education courses so they are knowledgeable about the content of these courses. Families of EL students will receive school information translated into their home language. Translators are available to support families and students for conferences and as needs arise.

Intervention teachers and tutors will support students who are identified through school-based student success teams (SST) process as needing additional intervention support in literacy or mathematics. Students at the elementary level will access math or literacy intervention services in addition to the two-hour daily block of instruction with their teachers. Secondary students may access these services during content support/learning lab, within the academic support periods, or in lieu of an elective. We anticipate beginning intervention support services after remote learning (RLE) school schedules and routines are established during the first weeks of school.

Students who need to complete assessments as part of an triennial IEP review or special education referral/identification processes or intervention diagnostic assessment process may be expected to complete those assessments in person, unless the assessments are available remotely. More information will be available in consultation with Pupil Services and RLE program administrators.

Social and emotional learning is the process of developing skills so that students can recognize their emotions and understand how their emotions influence their thinking and actions. In SEL lessons, students are taught how to to use problem solving skills that support responsible decision making.  Students who understand their feelings can apply solutions to navigate difficult situations and can relate well to others. They are also more likely to exhibit confidence in themselves and have a positive self image. SEL has been a feature of WHPS lessons at every level for many years. School closures and a global pandemic is causing major disruptions for students. Students are experiencing a loss of reliable routines many of which come from being a member of a school community where students see peers, teachers and other caring adults each day. As such, a program to support students as they find new ways to cope with a changing world is a crucial part of their education.

Elementary - Teachers will intentionally include social and emotional learning opportunities through synchronous and asynchronous learning activities. These may include student reflection on their Second Step lesson learning, self-care strategies, and connections with fellow students and teachers. As a key element, morning or afternoon meetings (based on small group schedules) will provide a dedicated time each day for SEL, civics and social justice education.

Secondary Schools- The block schedule allows teachers time for students to apply their new learning, reflect, and make connections between what they learned and their personal and civic lives. Teachers will embed SEL lessons and social justice opportunities within each academic block where appropriate. The Advisory (middle school) and weekly Community (high school) blocks will focus on SEL and social justice issues.

In accordance with CSDE guidance, the Board of Education reserves the right to limit extra activities to students attending school in-person. Clubs and activities that operate in a virtual environment will be available to students in the RLE. For additional information, parents can contact the student activities coordinator from your home school.

WHPS will apply its model of continuous improvement to the RLE schools. This strategic approach to district and school improvement, in its recursive nature, is driven by multiple forms of data, feedback, performance measures and indicators that inform the cycle of improvement. WHPS RLE will measure:

Category: Student and caregiver satisfaction
Measurement: Caregiver Surveys, Student Survey, Monthly family coffee hours

Category: Staff satisfaction
Measurement: Staff Survey, Staff meeting, Professional Learning Evaluations

Category: Student engagement and ownership
Measurement: Attendance, participation, review of student work, assessment results, virtual classroom walkthroughs, and student grades (where appropriate)

Category: Student learning
Measurement: Formative and summative assessments and review of student work samples

Category: Social Emotional Well Being
Measurement: Virtual walkthrough of morning meetings, advisory and community groups, Student Forum

Elementary (Grades PreK-5)

Kerry Jones
Elementary (Grades PreK-5) Remote Learning Principal, Director of Elementary Education
(860) 561-6609
kerry_jones@whps.org

Administrative Assistant Grisselle_Alvarez@whps.org

Sarah Falvey
Elementary Remote Learning Office Support
(860) 561-6671
sarah_falvey@whps.org
 

Secondary (Grades 6-12)

Tim Kessler
Secondary Remote Learning Principal
(860) 561-6609
timothy_kessler@whps.org

Angela Tokarz
Secondary Remote Learning Office Support/Administrative Assistance
(860) 561-6609
angela_tokarz@whps.org

Ashley Carlson
School Counselor
860-670-6751
ashley_carlson@whps.org

All Grades (PreK-12)

IT Support
WHPS Helpdesk
(860) 561-6609
angela_tokarz@whps.org

WHPS 504 Coordinator
Ed D'Addio
(860) 929-5269
ed_daddio@whps.org

Special Education Staff
Please contact your student's assigned school case manager

ESOL Townwide Coordinator
Chalise Ross
(860) 561-6644
chalise_ross@whps.org

English Courses: 

• English 6
• English 7/7H
• English 8/8H

Math Courses: 

• Math 6/6H

• Math 7/7H

• Math 8

• Honors Algebra I

• Developmental Math I, II, III 

• Honors Geometry

Social Studies Courses: 

• Social Studies 6
• Social Studies 7
• Social Studies 8

Science Courses: 

• Science 6
• Science 7
• Science 8

World Language Courses: 

• Beginning Chinese-Grade 6
• Chinese IA-Grade 7
• Chinese IB-Grade 8
• French IA-Grade 6
• French IB-Grade 7
• French II-Grade 8
• Spanish IA-Grade6
• Spanish IB-Grade 7
• Spanish II-Grade 8

Unified Arts

• Art
• Technology Education 
• General Music
• PE and Health

*as of 9/4/2020

Arts

• 2D Studio Art
• 3D Studio Art

Business

• Sports & Entertainment Marketing

• Financial Literacy

• Advanced Finance

• Entrepreneurship: Intro to Business

English

• English 9

• Honor English 9

• English 10

• Honors English 10

• Advanced Literature (AP Lit by contract)

• American Literature

• Writing: Multiple Genres

• World Literature 

• AP: Language and Composition

Family Consumer Science

• Intro to Early Childhood
• Human Relations
• Early Childhood Careers and Education

Math

• Pre-Algebra

• Algebra I (L2, L3)

• Geometry (Honors, L2,L3)

• Algebra II (Honors, L2, L3)

• Pre-Calculus

• Honors Pre-Calculus

• AP Calculus AB/BC

• Discrete Math 

• Probability and Statistics (AP Statistics by contract)

Music

• Virtual Choir

• Virtual Orchestra/Chamber Orchestra

• Chamber Orchestra

• Virtual Band

• Guitar

PE/Health

• Wellness 9

• Wellness 10

• Lifetime Activities

• Fitness

Science

• Biology (Honors /Standard) 

• Earth Science (Honors/Standard) 

• Chemistry 

• Chemistry & Physical Science

• Anatomy and Physiology

• AP Biology

• AP Chemistry

• Physics (AP Physics by contract)

• Catastrophic Events

Social Studies

• Modern World History

• US History

• AP US History

• US History African American Experience

• American Government

• AP US Govt and Politics

• AP Psychology

• Introduction to Psychology

• Introduction to Sociology

Technical Education

• Graphic Design and Photography I
• Graphic Design and Photography II
• Intro to Computer Science

Student Support/Special Ed

• Content Support

• Activities of Daily Living

• Reading Decoding

• Executive Function Study Skills

• Language Arts Content Support

• Reading Comprehension

World Language

• Spanish I/II

• Spanish III/Honors 

• Spanish IV/Honors

• Spanish V/Honors

• Spanish VI

• AP Spanish Language

• Chinese II/III

• Honors Chinese III

• Chinese IV/Honors 

• Chinese V

• AP Chinese V

• French III/Honors 

• French IV/Honors 

• French V/Honors