Hello Pilot Students and Families,

To be better prepared as we progress through the extended school closure ordered by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I thought it was imperative to prepare a frequently asked questions/Pilot Guidance document or a quick reference guide. As the COVID 19 pandemic is a fluid situation, this document will be ever changing as new information is made known. This document will be made available in our newsletter, website and email.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How long will the school closure last? We do not know this answer. We will provide students and parents/guardians with information as we receive it from the Governor’s weekly press conferences. At this time, the school closure will last through Friday, May 1, 2020. Although we are currently scheduled to go back to school on Monday, May 4, 2020 teachers will be preparing assignments/projects in the event school is closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. You can access this link for up to date information provided by the Governor’s office https://governor.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/governor/

What if I do not have internet at my residence? The District’s Technology Department is currently working on installing wireless internet access points (WiFi) on the outside of all of our district school buildings where the internet can be accessed from a designated area on the school campus. If you do not have reliable internet at your residence, but you have reliable transportation and need to access the internet for school purpose, you can go to the designated area (building closest to your residence) and access the internet from the parking lot. Please remember to remain in your vehicle at all times so we are still able to practice social distancing. *An all call will be made when internet (wifi) is available at the school buildings.

Are teachers working during the school closure? Yes, teachers are working remotely during the school closure. Teachers can be reached for assistance via their virtual classroom platform (i.e. Google Classroom) or by email. We will provide a list of teacher emails shortly, but in the meantime, you can contact your teacher by emailing them at: firstname.lastname@omeresa.net or firstname.lastname@swissohio.k12.oh.us

What if I left an essential item at school? Please call the school office (740-483-1358) and leave a message with specific details as to what you need from the school. If you have a reliable internet connection, please leave a contact email address where you can be reached for further communication. If you do not have a reliable internet connection, please leave a phone number. We will make sure you are able to pick up any essential item(s) that you may have left at school.

How do I retrieve my Josten’s order? Please call the school office and leave a detailed message regarding the material you are requesting for your order.

Do we still have a Spring Break? Yes! The district’s official spring break is April 9-13, 2020. An extension has been given on all original assignments through Friday, April 17, 2020 in which no new assignments/projects/assessments will be delivered to students. All students will have this time to spend with family and/or complete any assignments/projects/assessments he/she could not complete from the original assigned homework. Please contact your teacher via email if you need additional assistance.

What if my student(s) has/have a positive lunch account balance? You can contact the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District Central Office (740-472-5801) to inquire about refunds for your student’s lunch account balance for the 2019-2020 school year. You may also carry your positive lunch account balance over to the 2020-2021 school year. Senior students will need to have their lunch account balance reconciled (no negative balance) before the established graduation date.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES/ATHLETICS

Will we have spring sports for this school year? As of right now, the spring, sport season is set to begin on Monday, May 4, 2020 when the current school closure is set to expire. This will be an abbreviated spring sport season due to the school closure. As we approach the current school closure deadline (May 1, 2020) more information will be available and remember we are at the mercy of the orders issued by the state government in regards to if the school closure is extended beyond May 1, 2020. You can access this link for up to date information regarding athletics https://ohsaa.org/

Will my student-athlete be eligible for the 2020 Fall Sport Season? The Ohio High School Athletic Association requires a student to pass five, one credit courses during the previous grading period to be eligible during the next grading period. Also, the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District requires a student to earn a grade point average (gpa) of 1.75 during the previous grading period to be eligible. Update: The Switzerland of Ohio Local School District Board of Education voted in favor, on Thursday, April 9, 2020, to suspend the 1.75 grade point average (gpa) during the 4th grading period of the 2019-2020 school year. To summarize, a student who wants to participate in a fall sport during the 2020-2021 school year, he/she must have a passing grade in five (5), one (1) credit courses or the equivalent and there will not be a grade point average requirement. Please note, some fall sports may overlap into the 2nd grading period and the 1.75 grade point average requirement, along with passing five, one credit course or the equivalent, will apply for student-athlete eligibility during this grading period.

Will we have the National Honor Society Induction Ceremony? As of right now, The NHS Induction Ceremony has been postponed. If we are able to return to school on Monday, May 4, 2020, there may be a possibility to schedule this event. Right now we are working on having the NHS induction remotely. According to the national NHS office, there are certain parts of the NHS Induction Ceremony that must be completed for the candidates to achieve membership and we are researching ways to complete those.

Will we have our Prom? As of right now, Prom has been postponed and could be scheduled during the month of May if we are able to return to school on Monday, May 4, 2020. In the event we are able to return to school on this date, Prom will be held in the R.L Potts Gymnasium on the River High School Campus. In the event school is closed for the remainder of the academic year, we will have a plan to hold Prom at River High School when the “stay at home” and “social distancing” orders are lifted.

Will we have our Academic Awards Banquet? As of right now, the Academic Awards Banquet has been postponed and we are currently working on a creative plan to make sure all of our Academic All Stars are showcased. Please stay tuned for additional information.

Will we have Red and Gray Day? As of right now, Red and Gray Day has been postponed. If we are able to return to school on Monday, May 4, 2020, there may be a possibility to schedule this event.

Will we have our Senior Trip? As of right now, the Senior Trip has been postponed. If we are able to return to school on Monday, May 4, 2020, there may be a possibility to schedule this event.

Will we have our Spring Band Concert? As of right now, the Spring Band Concert has been postponed. If we are able to return to school on Monday, May 4, 2020, there may be a possibility to schedule this event.

Will we have our Spring Musical? The Spring Musical was scheduled to be performed in the River High School Old Gym from Thursday, April 2, 2020 through Saturday, April 4, 2020, which means the Spring Musical has been postponed. If we are able to return to school on Monday, May 4, 2020 there will be discussion on how we can still ensure our students are able to showcase their talents in the Spring Musical.

ASSIGNMENTS/COURSEWORK

How do I get my assignments/projects from my teachers? This will depend on your ability to access the internet. If you are able to access the internet, then your assignments will be delivered via Google Classroom, Progress Book, or any other electronic platform your teacher is using. If you do not have a reliable internet source, you can obtain a copy of your assignments/projects by doing the following:

1. Call the school office (740-483-1358)
2. Leave a message on the secretary’s phone
3. Your message will be delivered to the secretary’s email
4. The email will then be forwarded to me and I will create a Google Sheet to track those needing physical copies
5. Physical copies will be mailed to student addresses on file (if your address has changed, please note that in your message)

When will I receive additional assignments? You will receive new assignments/projects/assessments beginning on Monday, April 20, 2020. You will either receive new materials electronically or by regular mail (if you call the school office requesting a physical copy of the materials).

When are my assignments due? There are two answers to this question. For the first set of materials that were assigned prior to the school closure (Monday, March 16, 2020-Friday, April 3, 2020) these materials will be due by Friday, April 17, 2020. For those of you that have a reliable internet source, you can email your teacher. If you have a smartphone, you can take a screenshot of your materials and email them to your teacher. If you do not have either of the methods mentioned, please call the school office, leave a message and we will send you a self-addressed stamped envelope to return your materials to your teacher. In the event you are able to travel to the school building, there will be a drop box for any materials you are wanting to turn in to your teach beginning Monday, April 13, 2020. For the material that will be distributed beginning Monday, April 20, 2020, you will be asked to work on the material Monday-Thursday and return your assignment(s) on Friday weekly. Again, you have multiple methods of turning material in to your teacher and if you require regular mail, please call the school office and leave a message.

*KEEP IN MIND THE FOLLOWING POLICIES WHEN TURNING IN MATERIALS: 1. PROMOTION TO THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL AND 2. FALL ATHLETIC/EXTRACURRICULAR ELIGIBILITY

How does my teacher receive my work? This will depend on your ability to access the internet. If you are able to access the internet, then you can submit your assignments to your teacher’s digital platform. You may also take a screenshot of your assignment(s) with your phone and email your assignment(s) to your teacher. If you are not able to submit your material via the internet, please call there will be a drop box at school to submit your materials.

How much time should be spent on homework? This will depend on the individual student, but we are requiring teachers to give ALL students ample time to complete assignments. For example, you will be given an assignment on Monday and you will not have to turn it in until Friday of the week it was assigned. Of course you can turn it in early, but please make sure you have the material turned in by Friday of the week it was assigned.

How is work graded? We are not concerned about grades as we are more concerned about the well-being of our students and their families at this time. No student will be academically punished as a result of the extended school closure. However, we are expecting our students to engage and utilize the lessons provided to them by their teachers to continue their education. We ask that students complete and turn in their assignments given to them by their teachers. The focus is on students attempting the material and receiving feedback from their teachers. Please keep in mind, if we do not provide remote education during the extended school closure there could be a possibility of students making up time during the summer.

Grades 9-12: We ask that students complete assignments given to them by their teacher within the week they are assigned. At this time, we are working on a system to assign grades for students during the 4th grading period.

What about final grades for the quarter/semester? Again, no student will be academically punished as a result of the extended school closure. However, we are expecting our students to engage and utilize the lessons provided to them by their teacher to continue their education and this will be taken into account when determining credit, grade level promotion and semester grades. The following decisions were made by the River High School staff:

• If a student had a passing grade at the end of the 3rd grading period, that student cannot receive a failing grade for the 2nd semester. Exception: if a student fails to attempt any of the assigned work by their teacher, then this decision would not apply.
• No student shall receive a semester grade that is lower than their earned 3rd quarter grade. Exception: if a student fails to attempt any of the assigned work by their teacher, then this decision would not apply.
• Should a student perform well during the 4th quarter/extended school closure, he/she/ may earn a semester grade HIGHER than their earned 3rd quarter grade.

*The exception is AP/CCP courses will be graded as usual due to state/national guidelines.

Do we have to take final exams? Final exams have been cancelled for the 2019-2020 school year.

Commencement/Graduation

Will there be a 2020 Commencement Ceremony? As of right now, the 2020 Commencement Ceremony has been postponed. If we are able to return to school and the Governor’s orders on “large gatherings” and “social distancing” are lifted, then we plan to hold the 2020 Commencement Ceremony as scheduled on Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 2 p.m. in the R.L. Potts Gymnasium. If not, then we will make plans to hold the 2020 commencement ceremony at a later date.

College Credit Plus

What if I am enrolled in a College Credit Plus (CCP) course? You will need to contact your CCP teacher for guidance as these courses do not follow the traditional high school courses. Again, you can reach your teacher by email or through their electronic platform for guidance. If you do not have the ability to contact your CCP teacher electronically, you can call the school office and leave a detailed message for your CCP teacher. We will make sure he/she receives the message.

Who should I contact regarding College Credit Plus (CCP) for this school year or next school year? Please contact Amy Shreve by email (or phone the school office if you do not have internet capability) for information regarding College Credit Plus courses.

2020-2021 School Year

How do I register for courses for the 2020-2021 school year? We are currently working on this topic. It is important that you complete the assigned work for this school year and additional information will be delivered regarding classes for the next school year at a later date.

How do 8th grade students register for classes for the 2020-2021 school year? We are currently working on this topic. Additional information will be delivered regarding classes for the next school year at a later date.

On a personal note, I want to thank all of the students, parents/guardians/families and staff members to make sure we continue the education process during the school closure. Yes, it is not perfect and we have implemented measures to hopefully alleviate some of the stress caused by the school closure. We are asking that you complete the work to the best of your ability. Please be safe during these unprecedented times and we are hopeful that we can see all of you on Monday, May 4, 2020. Take care, Pilot the Ship and God Bless!

Sincerely,

Mr. Ed Trifonoff Principal