COVID-19 & Virtual Learning

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bishop Hendricken is committed to providing students with resources to continue their education remotely via virtual learning.

The following links and information are provided to students, parents, and families for use as common resources for their virtual learning experience.

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Assignments & Educational Materials

Click the platform name to launch its website, or link to download in an app store.

PLUSPORTALS – Assignment Posts & Grading
Students will receive notification of all assignments over the virtual learning period under the “Coursework” tab on PlusPortals. Grades will continue to be input via PlusPortals, our usual grade book service, too. Students should login to PlusPortals each morning at 8:30am with a username and password, and continue to check throughout the day, to review their assignments and develop a plan to complete them.

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HENDRICKEN EMAIL (MICROSOFT OUTLOOK) Student-Teacher Communication (App available on Apple & Android)
Students’ Bishop Hendricken email address will be the primary channel of communication with teachers. All students should be actively monitoring their Bishop Hendricken email via Microsoft Outlook for assignments and other communications from teachers regarding classes. This includes enabling push notifications on their devices for correspondence.

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MICROSOFT TEAMSAssignments & Video Conferencing (Apps available on Apple & Android)
Most teachers will be utilizing Microsoft Teams to complete the assignments posted on PlusPortals, as well as to complete assessments, projects, and class discussions. Students have been added to class teams automatically by teachers, and should begin to familiarize themselves with Teams, OneNote, Sharepoint, and the rest of the Microsoft Office suite, if they aren’t already.

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Microsoft Teams’ video conferencing tool will be used by teachers to communicate face-to-face with students, provide realtime lectures, and teach lessons. We have developed a Virtual Classroom Schedule to provide structure and organization to weekly check-ins with each class period.

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Please note: All Microsoft Office applications are available to Hendricken students via web browser, or download onto their device.

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ZOOM – Video Conferencing (App available on Apple & Android)
Zoom will be used by teachers to communicate face-to-face with students, provide realtime lectures, and teach lessons. We have developed a Virtual Classroom Schedule to provide structure and organization to weekly check-ins with each class period.

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REMINDStudent-Teacher Communication (App available on Apple & Android)
Some teachers are using the Remind school messaging app for communication with students regarding assignments and other class updates. Students should check with their teachers via email to determine if their class will be communicating primarily via Remind. Teachers utilizing Remind will communicate their respective class codes to students.

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Virtual Classroom Schedule

With enhanced security features announced, Bishop Hendricken will be utilizing Zoom, as well as Microsoft Teams for video conferencing and class meetings during the virtual learning period. Teachers will inform students of which platform they will be utilizing for their classes.

All classes will meet during their designated class periods within the Virtual Classroom Schedule each week. This means that faculty will meet with their classes regularly via video conference in accordance with the designated time slots assigned to each class period. While these meetings are required and mandatory for students, it does NOT mean that classes will be using the full period each meeting. Invites will be sent to students by teachers using each platform’s enhanced security features.

[su_button url=”https://www.hendricken.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Virtual-Classroom-Schedule.pdf” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#016040″ size=”9″ center=”yes” radius=”5″ text_shadow=”0px 0px 0px #000000″]VIEW SCHEDULE[/su_button]

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Virtual Learning FAQ’s

[su_spoiler title=”+  How long will virtual learning last?” open=”no” style=”simple”]

Virtual learning will take place for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Seniors will have their final day of virtual learning on May 22nd, and underclassmen on May 29th. All final exams are cancelled.

SENIORS
Friday May 22nd: Final Day of Virtual Learning
Monday, June 1st: Last Day to Submit Work, Grades Extracted
Monday, June 8th: Q4 Report Cards Emailed

UNDERCLASSMEN
Friday, May 29th: Final Day of Virtual Learning
Monday, June 8th: Last Day to Submit Work, Grades Extracted
Thursday, June 11th: Q4 Report Cards Emailed

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[su_spoiler title=”+  Will there be final exams?” open=”no” style=”simple”]

No. Given the immense adjustment that has come with moving education online, we have made the decision to cancel all final exams for the 2019-2020 academic year. Second semester grades will be determined based on the average of third and fourth quarter marks.[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”+  What do students have to do?” open=”no” style=”simple”]

Each academic department, level, and particular course has its own unique demands and requirements. To this end, a critical part of our current virtual learning protocol is flexibility for each teacher to use several different approaches for the success of their classes.

Students should log onto PlusPortals each morning to review their assignments. Students are responsible for developing a plan for each day to complete their assignments by their due date.

Additionally, students will be required to check-in with their classes virtually each week using the Virtual Classroom Schedule. These class meetings are mandatory. To view the schedule, click here.[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”+  What platforms and apps are we using?” open=”no” style=”simple”]

PlusPortals will be the home for all assignment notifications throughout the course of our virtual learning period.

Some teachers will be utilizing Microsoft Office applications (specifically Teams) to complete the assignments posted on PlusPortals.

Students should also continually check their Hendricken email for communications from their teachers and administration throughout the virtual learning process, and enable push notifications on their device to easily receive them.

All teachers will also being using either Microsoft Teams or Zoom for video conferencing during their class periods within the Virtual Classroom Schedule.[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”+  How much time do students have to complete assignments?” open=”no” style=”simple”]

This depends on the assignment. Assignments that require a one-day turnaround of work from students will be due by 5:30pm the day after they are assigned. Multi-day assignments will have a due date that is reflective of the work required, and teachers will be clear and reasonable in their expectations for students.[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”+  When and how will teachers be available?” open=”no” style=”simple”]

All teachers and school counselors will be available to students via email from Monday-Friday from 9am-2:30pm. Additionally, teachers will be available by appointment during Virtual Classroom Office Hours on Wednesdays from 9am-12pm, in addition to any class periods they schedule within the Virtual Classroom Schedule. To view the full schedule, click here.[/su_spoiler]

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Devices & Internet Resources

Devices
Bishop Hendricken has a very limited number of Chromebooks available to students who are in need of a laptop or other device to aid in their virtual learning experience at home. To reserve one, please contact Mr. DeCiccio at mdeciccio@hendricken.com.

Internet
A number of telecommunications companies and internet service providers are offering free WiFi services to students who are in need of service hook-ups. We have aggregated a list of these providers below with links for more information. Students and families should pursue these options separately and independently from our school, if needed.

Spectrum/Charter Communications – 1-844-488-8395
Comcast/Xfinity WiFi Hotspots
Cox CommunicationsFirst month free, $9.95/month thereafter

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Questions or Concerns?

We understand that this is a stressful time, both academically and otherwise. Please know that faculty, staff, and administration are here to support you throughout this educational transition.

Talk with your teachers – If you’re having trouble, communicate challenges with your teachers and ask for help.

• Use your guidance counselor as a resource – Your guidance counselor will be available throughout this process to you via email. Feel free to reach out to them with your questions or concerns.

• Reach out to Mr. DeCiccio or Mr. Mancuso – Contact either any time with any questions or concerns you have at mdeciccio@hendricken.com, or vmancuso@hendricken.com.