Media Updates - Week of January 18

Need Tech Help?

Student Chromebook

• If acting "quirky" (not loading Chrome, freezing frequently, logging out randomly, etc.), have student wipe/reset the device. Instructions here - Chromebook Wipe
• If screen is broken or wipe/reset does not work, have student submit a WCPSS student heat ticket

Staff  - Device or software performance, connectivity, etc.

• Submit a help desk ticket (icon found on Rapid Identity.)

Student and staff heat tickets come to me. If I can help, I will reach out ASAP. Otherwise I will push the ticket on to WCPSS tech services. 

Access to books for remote learners

Destiny Collections

Elizabeth has put together some AMAZING resource collections that can be found on Destiny Discover. To locate, go to Follett (Destiny) on Rapid Identity. On Destiny Discover, scroll to the bottom of the page.  Click here for a tutorial.

Recent collections include Black-focused literature and award winners. Check it out and share with your students! 

Book Checkout

Continue to encourage your students to check out library books....let's keep improving our circulation numbers! For instructions - Underwood Book/eBook Checkout. Consider sharing this document in your Morning Meeting, during ELA, or on your Classroom. Elizabeth and Andrea are always willing to join you class to share the book checkout process. Email us to schedule a time.

Media Updates - Week of January 11

Student Devices - home care

Please take time this week to talk with your students about being responsible with their devices while at home. Students can keep their devices safe by doing the following:

• closing device while moving it from one place to another.
• carrying device with two hands. 
• setting device down on a flat service where it cannot easily fall (ie. not near the edge.)
• storing device and charger in a safe place away from pets, younger siblings, etc. 
• being careful about placing device in a book bag. (Device is easily broken when bag is dropped.)

We are fortunate to have replacement devices, but our supply is quickly diminishing as devices are being broken. Thanks for your help!

Student Devices - when back at school

As students come back into the building, let me know if a student needs a device to use daily at school. (This would be students who have a device at home, but cannot bring it to school.) 

If students are borrowing an Underwood device to use only at school, the device is labeled with blue tape. These devices are to stay in the classroom. If a student is no longer using a device, please turn it in to the media center. 

Destiny Collections

Elizabeth has put together some AMAZING resource collections that can be found on Destiny Discover. To locate, go to Follett (Destiny) on Rapid Identity. On Destiny Discover, scroll to the bottom of the page.  Click here for a tutorial.

Recent collections include Black-focused literature and award winners. Check it out and share with your students! 

Book Checkout

Continue to encourage your students to check out library books....let's keep improving our circulation numbers! For instructions - Underwood Book/eBook Checkout. Consider sharing this document in your Morning Meeting, during ELA, or on your Classroom. Elizabeth and Andrea are always willing to join you class to share the book checkout process. Email us to schedule a time.

Lunch and Learn  - Wednesdays 11:30 - 12:30

Lunch & Learn sessions include a mini lesson, work time with DLC assistance, and time for questions and discussion. Participate live or watch a recorded session. All session recordings and materials are posted here - https://bit.ly/3i4bcJx  

This week's topic is Student Engagement through Station Rotation. It is facilitated by Tanya Churchill, Jennifer Underhill, and  Kurt Hurelbrink.

Known Screen sharing issue in Meets

When presenter clicks on "Share this tab instead", he is being kicked out of the share screen feature completely. There are also instances where students only see the letter of the presenter's name and not the screen being shared. 

WCPSS and Google are aware of this issue, which is being caused by the latest Chrome OS update. They are working on a fix.

Media Updates - Week of December 7

Book Fair

Continue to talk about the Book Fair with your students and families. Please share the Mission Possible Book Fair 2020 website in your communications this week - bit.ly/UnderwoodBookFair2020. Also, consider showing the Book Fair intro video to your class ...this will help to build excitement.  Students will need to create an account with their families in order to browse or shop. 

It's not too late to create a wish list! For detailed information on creating your teacher wish list, participating in Moonlight Reading, and other fun activities - Mission Possible Book Fair 2020 Staff Info. 

Let's keep Moonlight Reading alive! All staff and students are invited to record themselves reading a favorite picture book or chapter from a book.   Moonlight Reading Flipgrid   A BIG shout out to Ms. McKenna for being the first person to record a read-a-loud!

Circulation

We have settled into a routine with our new "curbside pick up" circulation procedures. Books reserved by Tuesdays at noon can be picked up on Thursdays from 8:00am to 4:00pm (virtual and remote students) or will be delivered on Thursdays (to at school students).

If you would like for Andrea or Elizabeth to visit your class to help your students check out books, please reach out. 

For more information - check out books remotely  Regular books eBook instructions

Media/Tech Updates Week of October 12

 ACTION NEEDED: Wireless Update

All staff members are recommended to update the wireless driver on their laptops. This will help with internet connection and speed. Tutorial

Google Meet Updates

From WCPSS: It seems Google is rolling out updates to Meet a lot quicker than they should.  Many that some have been seeing, like breakout rooms and the attendance tracking are Early Access features.  We are two rounds after that, in Scheduled Releases.  We are not sure why we are seeing some of these, but have notified Google so it is possible some may go away again or not all staff will get them right away.

At this time, many of these are not in their final release, so options may change.  We will be communicating best practices for all these features soon.

Do you have Chromebooks in your classroom?

Please turn them into the media center ASAP. We are short on devices for in-school students, so every Chromebook counts. Thank you!

Devices for In-school students

Students will bring their WCPSS Chromebooks and chargers to and from school each day. Each classroom will have painters tape to label each student's device, as well as a cleaning kit to use as needed. There will be a limited number of Chromebooks that can be assigned to students who do not have a device to bring back and forth. 

Please copy and paste the following information into your communications with families the next two weeks:

As staff plans for the students’ return to school on October 26, we want to make sure that in-school students have devices. 

• If your student has a WCPSS device, he/she will bring the device and charger to and from school each day.

• If your student has his/her own device, he/she will bring the labeled device and labeled charger to and from school each day if possible. **This option is highly encouraged, as we have limited devices to use at school.

• If your student needs a device to use at school, please email Andrea Trowell (atrowell@wcpss.net) ASAP. Devices used at school will be rotated weekly between students; devices will be quarantined/sanitized over the weekends.

Library Books for Staff

Please continue to place holds on books through Destiny. Elizabeth will pull your books and place them on the shelf as you enter the library. She plans on being at school in the mornings, but it is helpful to give 4-5 days notice if possible. If you need a book sooner, you are welcome to go into the library to get it, but you will need to email or text Elizabeth a photo of the WCPSS (pink stripe) barcode. 

Media/Tech Updates Week of September 21

 

IMPORTANT: Student Security and Privacy

Please read this important information!  Student Security and Privacy

New Laptop Tips

Are you having issues with video freezing during Meets? Try this suggestion from WCPSS - Network Setting for IPv6    Also, be sure that you are RESTARTING (not shutting down) your laptop at least once a day. This will push out updates, including performing an automated Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter. 

Are your eyes weary from staring at the screen? Try setting your laptop to Night Light.

Zscaler message 

If your student is receiving a message about signing into a security service, please share the info below with him/her.

Zscaler fix

What is Zscaler?

Library Book Check Out is here! 

Please share this information with your students and families - Steps for Book Circulation and eBook Check Out  We will email students when their books are ready. As we begin this new process, please give us any feedback or suggestions as we'll be working to improve the process as needed. 

***Please do not take books from the library without letting us know. Now that students and staff are able to place books on hold, it will be very frustrating if someone has taken a book and it's not on the shelf. Additionally, we have a book quarantine process so we want to make sure all books stay clean. If you need books, feel free to place them on hold through Destiny OR send a text to Elizabeth or Andrea with a picture of the barcode. Thanks!

Book Check Out begins week of September 21

We are excited to share the following dates and information with you regarding book circulation for our students (and OF COURSE) staff! We miss finding books for y'all!

Please share the following information with your students:

• During supply pick up (Tuesday 9/15 & Wednesday 9/16) students are to return any UGTM books left over from this past school year.   
• Steps for Book Circulation  Students can begin to place holds on books. The first pick up day will be Sept. 24th 8:00am-4 pm
• NEEDED: donations of clean brown-paper grocery bags (not plastic grocery sacks). Plastic bin for bags will be near the office doors.

Thursday, Sept 24th:  1st Library Book Pick Up day! If students have placed holds on books, they will be checked out to them and ready for pick up between 8 am-4 pm.

Remember, we now have eBooks! For students not able to get to school for a book pick up, this is especially helpful.  eBook check out link and eBook instructions are included in the Steps for Book Circulation doc