Continuity of Learning
LEARNING FROM A DISTANCE
During this unprecedented time, the Novi Community School District (NCSD) is working with our staff to ensure that all learners are able to access learning opportunities, focusing on providing an equity of opportunity.
Under the guidelines set forth in Executive Order 2020-35, the Novi Community School District will build upon its existing framework of providing students weekly Opportunities for Learning. This phase two will move into the area of new instruction, with teachers focusing on the most important areas left to be covered this school year. These Opportunities for Learning will be ungraded, students will be provided with formative feedback on work submitted. The goal for this new phase is to provide instruction on the most important subjects yet to be covered and mitigate as much knowledge loss as possible.
Below you will find sample grade level specific Continuity of Learning Plan weekly schedules (Grades K-12). The actual weekly schedules will be provided by your child’s teacher(s).
If you have questions about the activities or need support with any suggested work, please reach out to your child’s classroom teacher.
-The Office of Academics
Continuity of Learning Plan Application Template
Parent Concern Communication Flowchart
Approved Continuity of Learning Plan Letter from Oakland Intermediate School District
- Approved Continuity of Learning Plan
- Continuity of Learning Plans
- How to Join A Zoom Meeting
- Distance Learning Checklist for Grades 7-12
- K-12 Grading and Credits related to the Continuity of Learning Plan
- Optional Tuition-based Summer School, Virtual and Audit Opportunities
- Serving our EL community
- Serving students IFSP/IEP/504
- NCSD Counselors and Social Workers
- Mental Health Resources
- Social and Emotional Support for students
- NCSD Social/Emotional Helpline
- Oakland Schools Technical Help Desk
Approved Continuity of Learning Plan
Office of Academics Continuity of Learning Communication Letter
April 17, 2020
To Novi Community School District Parents and Students:
We hope that this letter finds you and your families safe and healthy during such a difficult and unprecedented time. We will get through this together and will be stronger as a result.
Phase 2 of our remote learning program will begin on Monday, April 20, 2020. Much time and energy has been put into creating this Continuity of Learning Plan by our teachers, administrators, and Board of Education members. The goal of this program is to build upon the existing course framework and focus on the most important areas of study left to be covered this school year. In addition, The Continuity of Learning Plan was submitted and approved this week by the Oakland Intermediate School District. No grades will be given for instruction/learning during this Phase 2 timeframe.
Because we are providing new learning using an entirely different method than in-person classroom learning, we ask for patience and flexibility from all parents and families. It is extremely important to allow time and offer grace for students to learn in such circumstances. We appreciate your understanding.
Teachers will be expected to check their school email daily and respond as needed. If a parent has a question, it is best for them to reach out directly to their child’s teacher first.
Listed below is an overview of what you can expect over the next eight weeks for the various grade levels and programs:
Grades K-4
On Monday, April 20th, the Continuity of Learning Plan weekly schedule will come out at 8am, via the Seesaw Class App. Please see the NCSD website for a sample Continuity of Learning Plan weekly schedule. All students across the district will be receiving the same activities according to their grade level.
Your child’s teacher will be offering a 30 minute session to virtually connect with your child’s class each Monday and Friday through either Zoom or Google Meets (the links for these meetings will come from your child’s teacher). On Mondays, your child’s teacher will provide an overview of the learning plan for the week during this meeting. On Fridays, teachers will use their time together to maintain social-emotional connections they have worked so hard to develop thus far this year. Also on Fridays, our Interventionists, English Language Development teachers, Specials area teachers, and Principals will be joining some of these sessions as special guests.
Grades 5-6
On Monday, April 20th, the Continuity of Learning Plan weekly schedule will come out at 8am, via Seesaw or Google Classroom. Teachers will review the weekly learning plan via Zoom or recorded message on Monday. Teachers who post recorded messages on Monday will connect with students via Zoom during open office hours later in the week. Zoom meetings are intended to help teachers connect socially and emotionally with their students. Zoom meeting links will be shared via Seesaw or Google Classroom. Links for these meetings will come from your child’s teachers. Please see the NCSD website for a sample Continuity of Learning Plan weekly schedule. Teachers will also hold two separate office hour sessions (60 min in length) or four separate office hour sessions (30 min in length) throughout the week to provide academic support to students as needed. These sessions will be scheduled by each homeroom teacher and communicated to the students in the weekly learning plan.
The weekly Opportunity for Learning will consist of subject area lessons provided in following way:
- Math/ ELA - 1 to 2 hours to complete per week (Additional learning opportunities for students who would like more are provided in the learning plan)
- Science/Social Studies - 1 hour or less to complete per week (Additional learning opportunities for students who would like more are provided in the learning plan)
- Specials - Daily activities provided for each special (Art, Music, World Language, Physical Education, Band and Orchestra, and Robotics (6th grade only))
Grade 7-12
On Friday, April 17th, at 4pm, Grades 7-12 student Opportunities for Learning for the following week will be available to students and parents, via the Schoology platform. This will continue each Friday for the following week. Office hours will be set by the building and teacher well ahead of time so students and parents can plan ahead. Please see the NCSD website for a sample Continuity of Learning Plan weekly schedule.
Students in these grade levels currently have six periods a day in school and so will have six different teachers preparing content for them. Each subject/period will create 90 to 120 minutes of student learning tasks per week leading to approximately 10 hours of new instruction in total each week. Teachers will build online lessons consisting of activities that can be done online or offline. These lessons will be developed collaboratively by teachers to ensure every child has the same opportunities for learning within a course. Examples include, videos of lectures, how-to., prepared documents, links to online resources such as videos, pictures, etc., reading materials, research projects, reviews of activities, choice board, slideshows, student-led activities, etc.
Teachers will be available “live” to students, via Schoology and email, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, according to the corresponding class period. Mondays and Thursdays will be student work days. Fridays will be used for students to receive feedback about the week’s work.
English Learners
The English Language Development Program will continue to provide English language instruction and support to English Learners.
To ensure parents who speak a language other than English also have access to district communication, all plans will be also sent to families who have students in the ELD program using a newsletter format that can be automatically translated to different languages. The ELD team will also plan to be available to EL families and utilize our community liaison to continue to communicate our district plans and answer any questions they may have.
Students with IEPs/504s
Our NCSD students with IEPs and 504s will be supported through the school closure via our staff who are committed to their success.
We are currently working to determine additional technology devices and academic material supply needs. A district technology survey was conducted in March and additional devices were distributed. Please look for and complete a hard copy technology and materials survey, to be mailed to your home via the United States Postal Service.
Thank you for your understanding, care, and focus on making your child’s education within the Novi Community School District a success.
Be Well,
Dr. RJ Webber
Continuity of Learning Plans
As set forth in Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-35, a model template for a Continuity of Learning Plan is to be created by each school district. This plan documents how schools will provide instruction at a distance using a variety of methods.
The Novi Community School District’s Continuity of Learning Plan was submitted to the Oakland County Intermediate School District and proved.
- K-4 Continuity of Learning Plan
- 5-6 Continuity of Learning Plan
- 7-8 Continuity of Learning Plan
- 9-12 Continuity of Learning Plan
K-4 Continuity of Learning Plan
5-6 Continuity of Learning Plan
7-8 Continuity of Learning Plan
How to access the learning platforms
Schoology at Novi Middle School
Novi Middle School uses Schoology as its learning management system. If you are a new student, it takes approximately 24 hours to get your information into the system. Each teacher has a Schoology page to which your child has been added. To access your student’s Schoology classes, please follow the directions below. You will need a Parent Access Code, which has been specifically added for your student. You may contact any of your child’s teachers for this code as the one code works for all classes. Please be sure your child also joins the library media center and counseling Schoology pages as well.
Parents: Register to view your child’s Schoology pages
- Go to www.schoology.com
- Click Sign Up at the top of the page and select Parent
- Enter your Parent Access Code. This Is a 12-digit code in xxxx-xxxx-xxxx format that you receive from one of your child’s teachers
- Fill out the form with your information
- Click Register to complete
- You can add additional children to your account using by clicking the down-facing arrow in the top right of your Schoology account, select the Add Child button and enter the Parent Access Code of your other child/children
Parent Video on How to Use Schoology
For more Schoology support, view the Parent Guide in the Schoology Help Center:
Students: Register to view the Novi Middle School Library Media Center and Counseling Schoology Pages
Please remember to join the library media center and counseling Schoology pages. (novi.schoology.com) and please join Mrs. Wesner’s Schoology Media Center page. You are automatically enrolled in your other classes.
- Go to novi.schoology.com
- Go to Courses
- Click My Courses
- Click Join Course
- For library media center:
- 7th Grade: BXS8-T57D-8SZCW
- 8th Grade: RJCM-NMH2-293PD
- Activate your account for the 1st time from a desktop.
- Download the Schoology app from the App Store, Google Play, or Amazon Store
- Select Log In Using Your School
- Type in Novi Middle School
- Select the Novi Middle School with the Blue Dot next to its name
- Log in with your School Google email and password
- Approve Schoology’s permissions
- Click the Menu bars in the upper left
- Select Account Settings
- Click on the Notifications tab
- Decide which types of Notifications you would like emailed to you
- Go into your Notification Settings on your iphone and allow Schoology Notifications on your phone
9-12 Continuity of Learning Plan
How to access the learning platforms
Schoology at Novi High School
Novi High School uses Schoology as their learning management system. If you are a new student, it takes approximately 24 hours to get your information into the system. Each teacher has a Schoology page to which your child has been added. To access your student’s Schoology classes, please follow the directions below. You will need a Parent Access Code, which has been specifically added for your student. You may contact any of your child’s teachers for this code as the one code works for all classes. Please be sure your child also joins the library media center and counseling Schoology pages as well.
Parents: Register to view your child’s Schoology pages
- Go to www.schoology.com
- Click Sign Up at the top of the page and select Parent
- Enter your Parent Access Code. This Is a 12-digit code in xxxx-xxxx-xxxx format that you receive from one of your child’s teachers
- Fill out the form with your information
- Click Register to complete
- You can add additional children to your account using by clicking the down-facing arrow in the top right of your Schoology account, select the Add Child button and enter the Parent Access Code of your other child/children
Parent Video on How to Use Schoology
For more Schoology support, view the Parent Guide in the Schoology Help Center:
- Activate your account for the 1st time from a desktop.
- Download the Schoology app from the App Store, Google Play, or Amazon Store
- Select Log In Using Your School
- Type in Novi High School
- Select the Novi High School with the Blue Dot next to its name
- Log in with your School Google email and password
- Approve Schoology’s permissions
- Click the Menu bars in the upper left
- Select Account Settings
- Click on the Notifications tab
- Decide which types of Notifications you would like emailed to you
- Go into your Notification Settings on your iphone and allow Schoology Notifications on your phone
How to Join A Zoom Meeting
Distance Learning Checklist for Grades 7-12
K-12 Grading and Credits related to the Continuity of Learning Plan
Optional Tuition-based Summer School, Virtual and Audit Opportunities
Serving our EL community
Using Translate Option on the Website
Video on how to use Translate Option on NCSD Website
Online Learning
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The English Language Development (ELD) team will continue to provide instructional support to students who receive direct support.
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ELD teachers will follow the District teacher expectations.
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The ELD team is working collaboratively to create scaffolded and differentiated lessons that are vertically aligned to serve multiple grade levels and proficiency levels.
K-4th Grade
K-4 ELD teachers will post lessons following the format below in order to provide additional support.
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Monday: ELD writing lesson
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Tuesday: Posting and presenting work
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Wednesday: ELD writing lesson
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Thursday: Posting and presenting work
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Friday: Independent reading on Raz-Kids and/or finishing activities
ELs are expected to work for 30 minutes a day on ELD activities. ELD teachers will focus on informational writing in the activities provided to ELs.
The K-4 team will continue to hone our approach to monitoring ELs through the next 8 weeks.
5th-6th Grade
Kristy Hubenschmidt will continue to follow the ELA plans provided by Meadows CALs and differentiate those plans to support the students she is teaching in her ELA for ELs class. Kristy will collaborate with ELA/Social Studies CALs.
Samantha Huebler and Cynthia (Cindy) Stiff will collaborate with the ELD team to support the students receiving ELD intervention.
Sample Meadows/ELD Continuity of Learning Plan Weekly Schedule
7th-12th Grade
The 7-12 ELD team -- Shannon Hadley, Samantha Huebler, and Andrea Kohls -- will collaborate to create new learning for ELs focusing on Informational writing. They will provide ELs with differentiated texts and create modeling videos to support the various proficiency levels of their students.
The 7th-12th ELD teachers have created a Schoology roster to reach out to all ELs who are currently in the ELD program but may not be receiving direct support in order to ensure they have access to instructional support as needed .
Sample 7-12 Continuity of Learning Plan Weekly Schedule
K-6 ELD Intervention Support
Supporting ELs with Disabilities
ELD teachers will continue to participate in IEPs. ELD teachers will support the individual contingency learning plans together with the Special Education team.
Exiting EL Students
The WIDA ACCESS test that ELs took this February-March will be scored for students in grades 4-12 who completed the assessment, and the NCSD expects to receive proficiency scores sometime in the fall. For ELs in K-3, Michigan Department of Education is allowing NCSD to ship paper booklets at a later date for scoring, and will share proficiency scores as they come in.
The exit criteria has been updated and more information will be shared out during the summer months to families and staff.
Parent Communication
The ELD team is working with George Sipple, the NCSD Marketing/Public Relations Specialist, and the tech team to provide translated information to ELD parents across the district.
Currently, the ELD team is also working on developing an ELD parent-survey to assess how best to support our parents during this time.
Serving students IFSP/IEP/504
Our NCSD students with an IFSP, IEP, or 504 will be supported through the school closure via our staff, who are committed to their success.
Novi Community School District Special Education Department Letter to Parents
Novi CommunitySchool District Student Support Services Department Letter to Parents
NCSD Counselors and Social Workers
Counselors
Social Workers
Mental Health Resources
NCSD Health Page with COVID-19 resources
Michigan Department of Education COVID-19 Educators Guide
Michigan Association of School Psychologists COVID-19 Resources
National Association of School Psychologists COVID-19 Resources
Oakland Schools School-Wide SEL Smore Newsletter 2020
Coping/Grieving resources
Childmind.org Guide to helping Children Cope with Grief
Grief/Loss Books (elementary) book recommendations
- The Invisible String by Patrice Karst and illustrated by Geoff Stevenson
- When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understandinig Death (Dino Tales: Life Guides for Families) by Laurie Krasny Brown and Mark Brown.
Other resources
MDHHS MIChild Online Information
MDHHS Mental Health “Warm Line” 888-PEER-753 (888-733-7753)
Social and Emotional Support for students
Proactive Social Emotional Learning Approach
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K-4 teachers will hold weekly Friday meetings with students via Zoom to focus on social/emotional needs. Teachers will be available one hour each Wednesday to provide academic support.
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Meadows teachers will hold weekly Zoom meetings to stay socially and emotionally connected to students. Teachers will be available one hour each week to provide academic support to students.
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Middle School teachers will be available for live support to students during specific hours Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Teachers will reach out to students who have not responded to learning activities during “Feedback Friday”
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High School teachers will be available for live support to students during specific hours Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Teachers will reach out to students who have not responded to learning activities during “Feedback Friday”.
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High school counselors will hold weekly office hours to support students on their caseload. Teachers may refer students who are not participating in learning activities to counselors and the counselors will reach out to students/parents/guardians.
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Students with social work services on 504s and IEPs will continue to receive direct services per service times stated on their plans.
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Mental Health and COVID19 resources are shared with parents via school newsletters and available on the NCSD website.
SEL Resources
NCSD Social/Emotional Helpline
NCSD Social/Emotional Helpline
Phone number: 248-429-7422
Novi Community School District strives to be supportive of our student’s social and emotional needs during this COVID-19 Crisis. NCSD has created a helpline to assist with the social and emotional needs of students during this mandatory school building closure.
A student or parent/guardian may call the helpline to speak with a District Counselor, Social Worker or Psychologist from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. The goal of the service is problem identification and providing solution-focused assistance.
If a caller prefers not to speak with a staff member, they can leave a message for their building’s Counselor or Social Worker and will receive a call back within 24 hours.
Before or after the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, students or parents/guardians may call the helpline and leave a message with their building principal. You will be contacted within 24 hours of your message.
The NCSD helpline is not intended to be a crisis line.
If your child is experiencing suicidal ideation or significant mental health concerns, please call 911.
Oakland Schools Technical Help Desk
The Oakland Schools Technology Services would like to make the Novi Community School District aware that they are available to support the technology needs of NCSD families. The Service Desk will not be taking calls directly from students, however, but only from parents and guardians.
Families may find the need to contact the OS service desk for login assistance pertaining to Clever, Seesaw, Google Classroom, or iReady.
If a middle school or high school student is having an issue with Schoology, please do not contact the Service Desk. If a parent/guardian is looking for their Parent Access Code, they can email any of their student's teachers or counselors. If any further Schoology support is needed, please contact the proper Schoology contact person below:
Middle School Schoology: Ms. Wesner
High School Schoology - Ms. Ader
If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact the Oakland Schools Service by the information below:
Oakland Schools Service Desk
Phone: 248-209-2060
Email: osservicedesk@oakland.k12.mi.
Online Ticket submission/LiveChat: Create service ticket