Distance Learning Underway at Hinton Public Schools

Hinton School Superintendent Marcy Derryberry has issued the district’s distance learning plan. The entire plan in complete detail is available at the school’s website. It includes requiring up to date contact information such as telephone numbers, email and addresses for students and notifying the school about access to technology and internet service at home or nearby.

“A change of this magnitude will not occur without bumps in the road; however, with your help, I am confident we can offer the best services possible for our students,” Derryberry wrote.

The school has added two hotspot for accessing the internet in its parking lots and XStreme Services has added one at the pavilion area of the walking trail. Students can sit in vehicles and use the signal without coming into contact with others as they complete their work.

Students or parents can call the child’s school between 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Thursday for additional help or email their teachers. For information about meals to go, parents can check the website at hintonschools.org.

Derryberry noted the website will contain important school information as it becomes available and the staff will update the social media pages as well.

For pre-K through fourth grade, packets of materials, supplies and instructions have been prepared for each student. Support will be provided by email, class apps and phone calls as needed. Once the work has been completed, parents send a picture of it and a picture of a completed checklist to the teacher rather than return it to the school. Packets are available on Mondays.

Middle school students may access their weekly assignments and lesson plan or be mailed printed versions of their work packets and teachers will regularly contact students to provide support. Like the elementary students, parents will send in photos of the completed checklists. The work will be review or enrichment work on lessons previously taught. Beyond this, the teachers have also given a list of interactivities, labs, and extra practice websites/pages for students to practice beyond what is assigned. The teachers are available via email, phone or text as needed for support purposes.

High school students, grades 8-12 have been divided into two groups, those with internet and those without.

Students with internet can use district-issued Chromebooks or personal devices to access all class work via Canvas, a learning management system. The state requires math and English four days a week, Monday-Thursday, and science and history two days a week, Tuesday and Thursday. Electives are two days per week, Monday and Wednesday. Teachers will be available to guide students through the lessons by email or chat on Canvas.

Students without internet can use the same system or they may use a teacher created packet of work equal to the lessons on the computer. Those packets will include checklists to be sent back to the teacher by text or email. If parents or students cannot pickup the packets curbside, they can be mailed and will be available on Mondays.

“Schools are at their best when the community works together, and now is the perfect time for us to shine. Parents are and continue to be your child’s first and most important teacher. While our faculty and staff will be leading the way, we know you will be encouraging, supporting and teaching your child side-by-side with us. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child(s) teachers during their office hours,” Derryberry wrote in a letter to the parents, students and community. The entire letter is available on the school’s website at hintonschools.org.

Connie Burcham can be reached at Editor@WatongaRepublican.com