Pocono Mountain West Junior High School

Emergency Instructional Days (FID) Guidelines for Pocono Mountain School District

         Students/Parents/Guardians

 

During the 2024-2025 School Year, Pocono Mountain School District will be utilizing Flexible Instructional Days (FID) which may be used in place of a school day that would be canceled because of inclement weather or another emergency. On an FID, students will follow their in-person instructional schedule, complete in each class the daily attendance question, attend all live sessions, and complete all learning activities/assignments provided by their teachers at home.

 

What's the benefit of an FID?

Implementing an FID will not require additional make-up days when school is canceled. These make-up days could shorten the spring break or extend the school year. FIDs are considered a school day and count toward the number of instructional days/hours required under Section 520.1 of the Public-School Code.

 

If the District calls for an FID, how will I know?

Students and parents/guardians will be informed of an FID through the District's automated notification system via phone and email (the same way that school closings and delays are currently announced). Notification will be posted on the school district website, www.pmsd.org, social media, and local news/radio stations.

 

Will every school day that is canceled because of inclement weather be considered an FID?

No, make-up dates will continue to be built into the district calendar. An FID is an option that may be used in place of a school day that would be canceled because of inclement weather or another emergency.

What will be expected of my child during an FID (grades K-12)?

Students who attend Pocono Mountain School District, grades K-12, will have access to instruction on emergency instruction days through synchronous and asynchronous learning activities. Students will have access to all of their classes that are typically scheduled for that day. This will include related arts at the elementary, intermediate, and junior high school levels.

Google Classroom will be utilized for grades K-12. Google Classroom consists of Gmail, Meet, Chat, Hangouts, Calendar; Drive for storage; Docs, Sheets, Slides for productivity and collaboration.

Please note:

PMSD Cyber students will utilize the learning management system (LMS), Edgenuity, to complete on-line courses as well as credit recovery courses.

How does student attendance work?    

Student attendance will be determined by verification in each class completion of the daily attendance question, participation in the live-stream lesson, and completing all FID activities/assignments. Students should not report to their physical building on a FID.

What if a student is absent on an FID?

All absence excuses must be turned in to the school within three days of a student’s return to school.

 

How is a student expected to complete the activities if they go to daycare when school is canceled?

If the student cannot access the internet or take a paper-copy of the learning activities and assignments to the daycare to complete that day, please contact their teacher(s)/building administrator(s) and the student would have three days to complete the activities.

 

How much time is my student expected to take to complete the assignments?

Teachers have designed learning activities and assignments that are equivalent to time spent on a similar activity on a regularly scheduled class period. Students working independently on an assignment will likely take less time to complete the assignment compared to a large group setting. Teachers will make every effort to assign an approximate time to each activity or assignment.

 

How can I contact a teacher or staff member during an FID?

All teachers and professional staff members will be available via their Google Classroom or district email during an FID. This includes special area teachers such as music, art, library, physical education, special education, teachers in specialized programs, reading specialists, and school counselors, nurses, social workers, speech therapists, interventionists, and principals, unless the individual is ill that day.

 

What if my child needs help with a lesson/assignment on an FID, will teachers be available to answer questions?

Yes, all teachers and professional staff members will be live-streaming during their assigned instructional periods and will be available to answer questions on an FID via their Google Classroom or district email during the hours below.

• Secondary (Grades 7-12):

 8:10 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. (The student instructional day will begin at 8:10 a.m.)

 

• Elementary/Intermediate (Grades K-6):

 9:40 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. (The student instructional day will begin at 9:40 a.m.)

 

 

What if a student does not have access to a computer and/or internet to access the lesson or complete activities?

The teacher may provide students with an offline version of the learning activities and assignments prior to the FID. Or, the student can obtain the assignment in a hard copy version during the next regular school day. Either way, students will have three days to complete the required learning activities and assignments.

How long will my child have to complete FID lessons and/or assignments?

On the FID students must complete in each class their daily attendance question, be present in its entirety for all of their live-stream lessons, as well as complete all activities/assignments.

 

What happens if my child fails to complete his/her assignment(s)?

Teachers will check their daily attendance question as well as the FID activities/assignments for completion or may count the activities/assignment as a graded assignment. Any student who fails to complete in each class their daily attendance question and FID activities/assignments will be marked as absent and will receive a zero on any graded activity/assignment that was not submitted.

 

 

My child has an IEP, will his/her lesson be modified appropriately?

The FID lesson will be designed for students with special needs utilizing their program modifications, specially designed instruction and supplementary aids and services identified in their individualized education plans. Upon return from an FID, teachers of students with special needs will meet with their students to review work submitted, checking for completion and understanding. Any related services (Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech, etc.) scheduled during the FID will be rescheduled according to the frequency requirements of the students’ individualized education plan.

 

Will after school activities be canceled on an FID?

PMSD will notify parents/students if after school activities will be canceled during a FID.

 

Will virtual tutoring be available on an FID?

Yes, PMSD will have virtual tutoring on a FID.

 

West Junior High School 2024-2025 Remote  Instruction Schedule