Online School Update

Online School Update
Posted on 01/17/2022
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January 17, 2022 Update:

Dr. Gresham's newsletter for the week can be found here.

January 10, 2022 Update:

Dr. Gresham's newsletter for the week can be found here.

January 6, 2022 Update:

Dr. Gresham's first newsletter for the new year can be found here.

Winter Break Update:

Dr. Gresham's newsletter for Winter Break can be found here.

December 13, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's newsletter for the week can be found here.

December 6, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's newsletter for the week can be found here.

November 29, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's newsletter for the week can be found here.

November 22, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's newsletter for the week can be found here.

November 15, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's newsletter for the week can be found here.

November 8, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's newsletter for the week can be found here.

November 1, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's newsletter for the week can be found here.

October 25, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's newsletter for the week can be found here.

October 18, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's newsletter for the week can be found here.

 October 11, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's newsletter for the week can be found here.

October 4, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's newsletter for the week can be found here.

September 27, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's newsletter for the week can be found here.

 September 20, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's newsletter for the week can be found here.

September 13, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's newsletter for the week can be found here.

 August 19, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's back-to-school information newsletter can be found here.

July 29, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's community welcome letter for the 2021-22 school year can be found here.

June 14, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

June 7, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

June 1, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

May 24, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

May 17, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

May 10, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

May 3, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

April 26, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

April 19, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

April 12, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

March 30, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

March 22, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

March 15, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

March 8, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

March 1, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

February 22, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

February 15, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

 February 8, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

February 1, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

January 25, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

January 18, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

January 11, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

 January 4, 2021 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

December 14, 2020 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

 December 7, 2020 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

November 30, 2020 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

November 23, 2020 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

November 16, 2020 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

November 9, 2020 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

November 2, 2020 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

October 26, 2020 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.


October 19, 2020 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.


October 12, 2020 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.


October 5, 2020 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.


September 28, 2020 Update:

Dr. Gresham's weekly message can be found here.

Important resources

School Phone Numbers

- General Questions and Information: 365-8069
- Please keep in mind that the leadership team, faculty, and staff of Online School are working in MANY different locations. Therefore, if you call we may not be able to immediately connect you with the person you are calling. Please know, however, that there is a process in place to get all of us our messages. You are encouraged to use email as the main mode of communication, even if it’s to request a phone or Zoom conversation.

Attendance

Please use the following forms to report excused absences. These forms may be completed prior to an absence. All absences must be reported within three days of the student returning to school. If you are unable to submit an attendance form, please report the absence by calling (804) 365-4746.

- Elementary School Form: http://bit.ly/OWLElementaryAttendance
- Middle School Form: http://bit.ly/OWLMiddleAttendance
- High School Form: http://bit.ly/OWLHighAttendance

Here are schedules for all levels.

Hanover Online School Parent/Student Handbook

Learning Coach Information

Learning Coach Handbook
- Site for Support Documents: HCPS Online Learning Help Hub. This site is designed to help you find resources that enable you to assist your child.

PowerSchool/Schoology Information

Who to Contact? (Leadership Team)

Assistance with Chromebook Issues

Portal to enter help tickets.
- Or call 368-8945. The hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Website

Our school website is still under construction. Until then, information about Online School, including all emails, can be found at this page.

School Counselors

Counselors will support students in being their best selves at school, in the investigation of jobs and careers, and in developing skills to support social and emotional health.

Online School is being directly served by several amazing elementary and secondary counselors. 

- Christina Freeman (K-2) - [email protected]
- Jennifer Gray (3-5) - [email protected]
- Kathryn Shapiro ([email protected]

Secondary students will still be served directly by their homeschool counselors. Click here for a list of secondary home school counselors.

To reach our counselors, students can use the messaging feature in Schoology or complete the following Google form: bit.ly/OWLSchoolCounselor

Information for Everyone

OWLs Are on Facebook!!!

We’re super excited that Hanover Online School is now on Facebook! Please follow us to receive future announcements, highlights and all things OWL (Online While Learning)!

Early Release Schedules

Our first early release day is October 12th. The early release schedule for all levels can be found here.

School Pictures and Yearbooks

Online students will have the opportunity to have school pictures taken at their home schools. Once homeschools have an opportunity to develop these plans with their picture vendors, specific dates and times will be shared.

Online students will be included in their home school yearbooks.

Fees

The online fee system is now open for fee payment. Please see the following documents for information about fees and how to use the online fee system. Please note a change- Only class obligations will still be paid to the Online School. Other fees that aren’t associated with a specific class should be paid to the home school. Please see the below documentation for additional information.

http://bit.ly/OWLFeeInfoUpdate
https://bit.ly/OSPFeeHelp

Information for Elementary OWLs

Elementary Schedules

This week you will notice elementary teachers continue to make adjustments to their instructional routines, particularly related to literacy and math instruction. We anticipate making some changes to our overall schedule beginning on October 13th. Please be aware that this week fall reading assessments (see below) will also
impact the schedule.

Fall Reading Assessments

Also this week, students in grades 1-5 will be participating in individual reading assessments with their teachers. Click here for additional information on these assessments.

Materials Packet Pickup

If you have not yet picked up your elementary students’ material packets, they are available at the front desk at the School Board Office at 200 Berkley Street, Ashland, Va 23005, Mon-Fri, 8:00-4:00.

Elementary Back-to-School Activities

Please put October 8th on your calendars for Elementary Online
Back-to-School activities. More information to come!

Information for Middle School OWLs

Middle School Back-to-School Activities 

Please put October 15th on your calendars for Middle School Online Back-to-School activities. More information to come!

Information for High School OWLs

High School Back-to-School Activities 

Please put October 13th on your calendars for Online High School Back-to-School activities. More information to come!

Virtual College Visits

Virtual college visits will take place from 12:30pm - 1:00pm. Following each visit, we will send out a pre-recorded presentation on your home school’s Schoology site about the college for those that were unable to attend the live session. All students who registered for a college event will receive a Zoom Meeting Link at the email provided when registering. Students are asked to register at least 48 hours in advance of the virtual event. Please communicate with your third block teacher if you plan to participate in a virtual college visit, as it will impact class time. Sign up for Virtual College Visits: http://bit.ly/VirtualCollegeVisits2020 

Upcoming Virtual College Visits: 

- James Madison University- Monday, September 28, 2020
- University of South Carolina-Columbia- Tuesday, September 29, 2020
- The University of Tennessee-Knoxville- Wednesday, September 30, 2020
- Richard Bland College of William and Mary- Thursday, October 1, 2020
- Christopher Newport University- Friday, October 2, 2020

2020-2021 Senior Scholarship Application/Scholarship Opportunities

Attention Seniors, the 2020-21 Senior Scholarship Application is now open for you to access! Completing this application will qualify you to be considered for scholarships provided by several area businesses. The deadline to complete the application is Thursday, December 31, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. See the following links to access the Senior Scholarship Application, a checklist of information you will need to complete your application and the Scholarship Opportunities Spreadsheet, a listing of local, national and community scholarships that you can start searching and applying for today! Please contact your home school’s Career Counselor with any questions. Thank you!

AHS and PHHS - Contact Ms. Edwards ([email protected])
HHS and HCPSHS - Contact Ms. Corbin ([email protected])

https://bit.ly/HCPSSeniorScholarshipApp2021
- http://bit.ly/SeniorScholarshipAppChecklist_2020-21
- http://bit.ly/SeniorScholarshipAppChecklist_2020-21

Home School Connections

Remember to make sure you are signed up to receive email messages from both Online School as well as your home school. Email subscriptions can be managed here.

Secondary students will see updates from their schools in their Schoology courses. Please make sure to check these frequently to stay up to date on activities, events, and important dates from your home schools.

September 21, 2020 Update:


Here is this week's Online School update:

Important resources

School Phone Numbers

- General Questions and Information: 365-8069
- Please keep in mind that the leadership team, faculty, and staff of Online School are working in MANY different locations. Therefore, if you call we may not be able to immediately connect you with the person you are calling. Please know, however, that there is a process in place to get all of us our messages. You are encouraged to use email as the main mode of communication, even if it’s to request a phone or Zoom conversation.

Attendance

Please use the following forms to report excused absences. These forms may be completed prior to an absence. All absences must be reported within three days of the student returning to school. If you are unable to submit an attendance form, please report the absence by calling (804) 365-4746.

- Elementary School Form: http://bit.ly/OWLElementaryAttendance
- Middle School Form: http://bit.ly/OWLMiddleAttendance
- High School Form: http://bit.ly/OWLHighAttendance

Here are schedules for all levels.

Parent/Student Handbook

Learning Coach Information
- Learning Coach Handbook
- *NEW* Site for Support Documents: HCPS Online Learning Help Hub. This site is designed to help you find resources that enable you to assist your child.

PowerSchool/Schoology Information

Who to Contact? (Leadership Team)

Assistance with Chromebook Issues
- Portal to enter help tickets.
- Or call 368-8945. The hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Website

Our school website is still under construction. Until then, information about Online School, including all emails, can be found at this site.

School Counselors

Counselors will support students in being their best selves at school, in the investigation of jobs and careers, and in developing skills to support social and emotional health.

Online School is being directly served by several amazing elementary and secondary counselors.

- Christina Freeman (K-2) - [email protected]
- Jennifer Gray (3-5) - [email protected]
- Kathryn Shapiro ([email protected])

Secondary students will still be served directly by their homeschool counselors. Click here for a list of secondary home school counselors.

To reach our counselors, students can use the messaging feature in Schoology or complete the following Google form: bit.ly/OWLSchoolCounselor

Here is the process for submitting a secondary schedule change request or concern.

Information for Everyone

Early Release Schedules

Our first early release day is October 12th. We are working to align our Online early release schedules with the face-to-face schools, and will have those schedules to you in the near future.

Fees

The online fee system is now open for fee payment. Please see the following documents for information about fees and how to use the online fee system. Please note a change- Only class obligations will still be paid to the Online School. Other fees that aren’t associated with a specific class should be paid to the home school. Please see the below documentation for additional information.

- http://bit.ly/OWLFeeInfoUpdate
- https://bit.ly/OSPFeeHelp

Information for Elementary OWLs

Elementary Schedules

Our elementary teachers are working hard to structure their literacy and math blocks to best meet the needs of their students in the online environment. You may have noticed them trying different structures for small groups and student responses. As with any school year, teachers will make adjustments throughout the year based upon student needs and development. Please be aware that we may make changes to the overall elementary school schedule with more specific details coming next week.

Materials Packet Pickup

If you were not able to pick up your elementary students’ materials packets last week, there will be an additional opportunity to do so next Tuesday, 9/22/2020, between 5:00 and 6:30 at Oak Knoll Middle School.

You may pick up for multiple children or children from other families. However, please keep in mind that we only have enough supplies for one per child. Please ensure that duplicates are not being picked up for the same child.

These packets contain items such as math manipulatives. They are not the paper packets you may remember from last spring.

Social distancing will be in place at the distributions and face coverings are required.

Elementary Back-to-School Activities

Please put October 8th on your calendars for Elementary Online Back-to-School activities. More information to come!

Information for Middle School OWLs

The Middle School team would like to commend students for their enthusiasm and willingness to try new things alongside their peers in classes this week. As we solidify our learning communities and work on content materials, students and parents are encouraged to reach out to teachers should they have any questions or concerns at any time!

Middle School Back-to-School Activities

Please put October 15th on your calendars for MIddle School Online Back-to-School activities. More information to come!

Information for High School OWLs

High School Back-to-School Activities

Please put October 13th on your calendars for Online High School Back-to-School activities. More information to come!

PSAT

We are excited to offer the PSAT test to our students this year. Please review this document for detailed testing information and how to sign up! Remember that you must be logged into your school Google account when signing up.

Virtual College Visits

Virtual college visits will take place from 12:30pm - 1:00pm. Following each visit, we will send out a pre-recorded presentation on your home school’s Schoology site about the college for those that were unable to attend the live session. All students who registered for a college event will receive a Zoom Meeting Link at the email provided when registering. Students are asked to register at least 48 hours in advance of the virtual event. Please communicate with your third block teacher if you plan to participate in a virtual college visit, as it will impact class time. Sign up for Virtual College Visits: http://bit.ly/VirtualCollegeVisits2020

Upcoming Virtual College Visits:

- Loyola University Maryland- Monday, September 21, 2020
- Hampden-Sydney College- Wednesday, September 23, 2020
- Meredith College (NC)- Thursday, September 24, 2020
- James Madison University- Monday, September 28, 2020
- University of South Carolina-Columbia- Tuesday, September 29, 2020
- The University of Tennessee-Knoxville- Wednesday, September 30, 2020
- Richard Bland College of William and Mary- Thursday, October 1, 2020
- Christopher Newport University- Friday, October 2, 2020

All of our teachers have been excited to work with our online students! We wanted to remind students that as they are on video in each of their classes, please be mindful of surroundings. Students should be in a well-lit area, free of distractions. 


September 17, 2020 Update:

The redesigned Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT) is a test of reading, math, and writing and language skills developed by the College Board in preparation for the redesigned SAT, which began in March 2016. Taking the PSAT before the SAT test gives students the advantage of knowing the kinds of questions to expect and the thought processes that are required to answer these questions successfully. Many students who are thinking about going to college take the SAT late in their junior year or early in their senior year. 

In preparation for the SAT, Hanover County Public Schools will again offer the PSAT 8/9 to ninth grade students and the PSAT/NMSQT to eleventh grade students this school year. As an added benefit, students who participate in the PSAT/NMSQT during their junior year are automatically considered for the National Merit Scholarship Program and are better prepared for the SAT. The PSAT/NMSQT and the PSAT 8/9 will be administered on Saturday, October 17 at 8 a.m. These assessments must be done on-site and will be administered by school staff. A face covering must be worn for the duration of testing and, prior to entry, students must confirm that they do not have COVID-19 symptoms. 

Additional Information:

  • There are no testing fees for ninth and eleventh grade students.

  • Tenth grade students may opt-in to participate in the PSAT/NMSQT at a cost of $17.00.  You may pay online through the OSMS system (https://osp.osmsinc.com/HanoverVA/) or send in a check to your child’s home school, made payable to the home school. The deadline for tenth grade students to register is Wednesday, September 23. 

  • Detailed score reports will be available in January 2020. Students are encouraged to review their score reports using their College Board account (https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org) and to utilize the free personalized study and SAT preparation resources provided by Khan Academy (https://www.khanacademy.org/sat).  

  • Those 9th, 10th, & 11th grade students who wish to sign up to take either the PSAT 8/9 or the PSAT/NMSQT MUST complete the registration form at this link: https://forms.gle/aBUtyUev5WMErGWP9 and pay the registration fee online by Wednesday, September 23. Late registrations will not be accepted and there are no refunds for missed tests. 

Students need to bring the following supplies on test day:  

You may find additional information about the PSAT and SAT assessments at https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Nicolle Currie at 365-4504 or [email protected] or Matt Vuiller at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Matt Vuiller, Assistant Principal, Hanover Online School

Nicolle Currie, Coordinator of Division Assessment and Analysis, Hanover County Public Schools


September 14, 2020 Update:
Dear Online School Community,

This weekend I found myself reflecting on the fact that it has been exactly 6 months since our schools closed last March. It seems like a lifetime ago! So many things have changed. Typically a new school has an entire year to prepare to open. But the Online leadership team, faculty and staff have accomplished this feat in just a couple of months. I can’t possibly put into words how proud I am of the Assistant Principals, teachers and staff of the Online Staff for the selflessness they have demonstrated as we have moved forward in this endeavor.

I also want to acknowledge the hard work of our division level colleagues and leaders. This has been a team effort! Additionally, thanks to all of our Online families. I know there have been frustrations and that there are still areas we need to work on. However, I am humbled by the multitude of kind words the faculty and I have received. Thank you so much for recognizing the hard work and dedication of our teachers. Your words mean the world to us! And, of course, thanks to our students!! I am so happy to have all of you as OWLs!

Important resources

School Phone Numbers:

- General Questions and Information: 365-8069
- Attendance: 365-4746
- Please keep in mind that the leadership team, faculty, and staff of Online School are working in MANY different locations. Therefore, if you call we may not be able to immediately connect you with the person you are calling. Please know, however, that there is a process in place to get all of us our messages. You are encouraged to use email as the main mode of communication, even if it’s to request a phone or Zoom conversation.

Here are schedules for all levels.

Parent/Student Handbook

Learning Coach Information:

- Learning Coach Handbook
- *NEW* Site for Support Documents: HCPS Online Learning Help Hub. This site is designed to help you find resources that enable you to assist your child.

Powerschool/Schoology Information

Who to Contact? (Leadership Team)

Assistance with Chromebook Issues:

- Portal to enter help tickets.
- Or call 368-8945. Through 9/18 the hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thereafter, the hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Website:

Our school website is still under construction. Until then, information about Online School, including all emails, can be found at this site.

School Counselors:

- Online School is being directly served by several elementary and secondary counselors. However, secondary students will still be served directly by their home school counselors. Click here for a list of secondary home school counselors.
- Here is the process for submitting a secondary schedule change request or concern.

Information for Everyone

Learning Coach/Parent Involvement In Lessons

Parents and Learning Coaches: We greatly appreciate your efforts to support our students as they get acclimated to online learning, and we understand that students will require different levels of support based upon age and other individual characteristics. Just a reminder, parents and coaches do not participate in lessons themselves. Teachers will focus instructional time on students and not parent/instructional coach conversations, but they are available to meet with you during planning time or during office hours. We ask that you contact teachers directly with questions outside of instructional time.

Material Packet Distribution

We know some of you have not yet gotten your packets. Information will be forthcoming about additional pick up dates/times.

Curbside Grab-and-Go Meals

Hanover County Public Schools is offering curbside grab-and-go breakfast and lunches for Online School families at no charge on Mondays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The service starts September 8, the first day of school.

Meals can be picked up from the following locations:

- Battlefield Park Elementary School, 5501 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville, VA 23111
- Beaverdam Elementary School, 15485 Beaverdam School Road, Beaverdam, VA 23015
- John M. Gandy Elementary School, 201 Archie Cannon Drive, Ashland, VA 23005
- Mechanicsville Elementary School, 7425 Mechanicsville Elementary Drive, Mechanicsville, VA 23111
- South Anna Elementary School, 13122 Walton’s Tavern Road, Montpelier, VA 23192

If there is no school on a Monday, meals will be served the next day of school.

The meals provided will be the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

For more information about this program, please contact HCPS Food Services at (804) 365-4566.

Information for Elementary School OWLs

The elementary team wants to say a huge thank you to our students and parents for a successful first week! We realize that it has been a big adjustment learning to be online learners, and want you to know that we learned a lot last week, too! We know that learning to navigate Schoology and Zoom was a lot, and - especially for our younger learners - working with your teachers for chunks of time is a lot to get used to.

Therefore, over the next week, our teachers will be working with some different strategies and organizational structures to find what works best for our students. The goal will be to find ways to allow teachers to work with smaller numbers of students, and for students to have less time at the computer. As in any school year, our small groups will change throughout the school year based upon student needs and skill levels. Thanks for supporting us as we learn!

Information for Middle School OWLs

The middle school team would like families to know that we are all impressed with our students’ abilities to manage an A /B day schedule virtually. Last week we focused on building community and establishing routines. In the upcoming week, we will be working to strengthen skills related to online learning and getting to know one another as we build towards introduction of content.

Knowing that our students have a variety of preferred styles and strengths when it comes to learning, we are focused on getting to know our learners so we can help them reach their potential. Thank you for supporting your children and our teachers as we learn!

Information for High School OWLs

The high school team was excited to welcome back students this past week. Overall it was a successful first week of school! We recognize that some students are still having technology issues and our teachers are prepared to support students to get them caught up on missed material. We look forward to serving our high school families as we go through this online adventure together!

Home School Connections

Remember to make sure you are signed up to receive email messages from both Online School as well as your home school. Email subscriptions can be managed here.

Sincerely,

Dr. Dana Gresham

Director of Professional Learning, Leadership & Federal Programs/Principal - Hanover Online School


September 10, 2020 Update:

Just like last year, for the 2020-2021 school year, you will be able to access Interim Reports electronically through your student’s PowerSchool account. This will be the primary method that Hanover County Public Schools will use to transmit Interim Reports to improve convenience and efficiency. High school students taking courses on the 4x4 schedule will receive report cards instead of interim reports. On Interim Report days, we will send an electronic notification alerting you to check your child’s PowerSchool portal. To access PowerSchool, please visit: https://hanover.powerschool.com/public/

Please note, if you prefer to continue receiving a paper copy of your student’s Interim Report, please complete this form, take a picture of it and email it to your child’s A1 teacher by September 22, 2020. A Spanish version of the form can be found here.

For parents and guardians of students receiving special education and related services through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), IEP progress reports will only be sent home should the parent select to “opt-in.”

Interim Reports are prepared and issued to all students/parents four times per year, at the midpoint of each nine-week grading period. The Interim Reports reflect the standard of work the student has achieved, his/her attitudes, and his/her work habits. The purpose of Interim Reports is to provide parents a snapshot of the student’s progress at the midpoint of each grading period.


September 9, 2020 Update:

Hanover Online School has been set up in OSMS to receive fee payment. Fee payment will begin on Monday, September 14, 2020 using this link.

Once you click on the link, you may click on the appropriate level school to pay fees (elementary, middle or high). You will select your student and pay fees for classes with associated fees. (ie; Art) This will be indicated in the system.

Please see the following notes for fees not associated with specific classes:

The following products will be available at the Online School:

- Dual Enrollment/ACA
- PSAT, AP and IB Exams
- Other exams related to courses
- Senior Dues
- Instrument Rental
- Honor Societies
- National Honor, Art, Latin, French, German, Sociedad, Honoraria Hispanica (Spanish), Computer Science
- Beta Club
- DECA Dues

The following products will not be available at the Online School. Parents/students have the option to purchase items at the home school.

- Behind the Wheel
- Yearbook
- PTA/PTO/Boosters

Information about items that can be purchased from home schools will be sent out throughout the year through E-Connect. Please make sure you are signed up to receive E-Connects from both Hanover Online School and your home school. You may do that using the following link: https://hanover.bbcportal.com/.

Thank you.


September 8, 2020 Update:

Good Morning OWL Families,

We understand that several of you still do not have a device, WiFi, or are having problems with your schedule. Know that we are working very hard to fix those things for you. This week, our teachers will be working hard to get to know your students and better understand and support them while they access and learn the technology. The focus is this and not content as we get all of our students on the same page.

To get your passwords reset or to report hardware issues with your Chromebook, please submit a ticket to the Student Support Portal or call 804-368-8945.

If you don't have a Chromebook:

Do you have another device that you can use? If so, go to:
- Navigate to hcps.schoology.com (The .com is important or you may end up in Henrico’s instance of Schoology)
- Log in using your HCPS Google credentials (if you have not logged in yet, your password is your 8-digit birthday mmddyyyy).
- Look for your Zoom link either at the top of your course or in the course syllabus inside a “Course Material” folder.

If you don’t have access to the internet at home (Mi-Fi has not arrived etc.):

Our suggestions for the time being are to try and use:
- a school parking lot (here's a document with school access sites)
- your own hotspot
- venture to a place of business to use their WiFi

If a student can’t login to PowerSchool to see their schedule:
- Log in to Schoology instead with your HCPS Google account to view your courses.
- Find the course that says “Homebase” for Elementary or 1(A) or 1(A-B) for Secondary in the title. Click inside that course and you should see the Zoom join link at the top. (High School Students: you may see two 1(A-B) courses. Your Semester 1 course will contain course materials.

Here are a few other helpful documents:

- OWL Tech Support Document for Community - Great FAQs for parents and learning coaches.
- Student Tech Onboarding Document - This is how students login to the Chromebooks.

Thank you!


September 7, 2020 Update:

Dear Online School Families,

Welcome to the First Day of School!!! The big day is here! OWL teachers have been working non-stop to prepare their online classrooms and are excited to welcome their students!! Please know that they are very aware that there are still some schedules and technology challenges being sorted out. They are prepared to be flexible these first couple of weeks as these issues are resolved. They will take care of their students (and parents!) and make sure everybody is moving forward.

Information for Everyone

Communication

The leadership team and counselors are striving to respond to parent questions and concerns. The sheer volume of the messages we have been receiving, though, means we have not been as timely in our responses as we would have liked. We are truly sorry for this and are working to put systems into place that will support communication in the future. Here are several pieces of information that will support Online School communication:

- Email is the most direct way to get messages to us. Here is a list of the leadership team members with some basic areas of responsibility.
- Please check here for information about Online School. We are still waiting on our vendor to build our website, but until then all emails that are being sent are being housed at this link. These emails contain a great deal of useful information.
- Please click here for information from the Technology Department about Chromebooks and hotspot devices.
- Please click here for Schoology/Powerschool information.
For secondary students, if you have a schedule question or concern, here is the process for submitting them.
- Here are schedules for all levels.
- Here is the modified elementary schedule for week 1.

First Day Reminders

As our students make final preparations for the first day of school, here are a couple of things to think about:

- Make sure your work space is organized and free of distractions. Do you have a comfortable seat or do you prefer to stand while you’re learning?
- Have basic materials handy such as pens, pencils, and paper.
- Have a plan for putting away other technology during class time.
- We all love pets, but it’s best that they not join in on Zoom meetings.
- Have snacks and water handy to keep your brain fueled and ready to learn.
- Remember that Zoom links for class meetings are available in Schoology (Schoology> Courses> Class (Homeroom for Elementary)).
- Here is the modified schedule for the first week of elementary.
- Here are the regular schedules for all levels.

Student Holiday

Remember that Monday, September 14, is a student holiday.

Curbside Grab-and-Go Meals

Hanover County Public Schools is offering curbside grab-and-go breakfast and lunches for Online School families at no charge on Mondays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The service starts September 8, the first day of school.

Meals can be picked up from the following locations:

- Battlefield Park Elementary School, 5501 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville, VA 23111
- Beaverdam Elementary School, 15485 Beaverdam School Road, Beaverdam, VA 23015
- John M. Gandy Elementary School, 201 Archie Cannon Drive, Ashland, VA 23005
- Mechanicsville Elementary School, 7425 Mechanicsville Elementary Drive, Mechanicsville, VA 23111
- South Anna Elementary School, 13122 Walton’s Tavern Road, Montpelier, VA 23192

If there is no school on a Monday, meals will be served the next day of school.

The meals provided will be the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

For more information about this program, please contact HCPS Food Services at (804) 365-4566.

Information for Elementary OWLs

Material Packet Distribution

We are excited to announce that we have material packets ready for pickup! These materials may be picked up on the following dates and times at either John M. Gandy Elementary School or Oak Knoll Middle School:

- Tuesday, September 8, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Wednesday, September 9, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

You may pick up for multiple children or children from other families. However, please keep in mind that we only have enough supplies for one per child. Please ensure that duplicates are not being picked up for the same child.

These packets contain items such as math manipulatives. They are not the paper packets you may remember from last spring.

Social distancing will be in place at the distributions and face coverings are required.

Information for Middle School OWLs

Material Pickup for Secondary Art Classes

We are excited to announce that we have secondary art class material packets ready for pickup! (Please note that this does not include photography or graphic arts classes.) These materials may be picked up on the following dates and times at either John M. Gandy Elementary School or Oak Knoll Middle School:

- Tuesday, September 8, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Wednesday, September 9, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

You may pick up for multiple children or children from other families. However, please keep in mind that we only have enough supplies for one per student. Please ensure that duplicates are not being picked up for the same child.

Social distancing will be in place at the distributions and face coverings are required.

Information for High School OWLs

Study Halls

Study halls in Online School are independent study time. You do not need to log onto Zoom. This is a great time to review assignments, do independent reading, or arrange to work virtually with classmates on projects.

Classes with Face-to-Face Teachers

In some cases, Online students will be taking classes that are being taught by teachers in Face-to-Face schools. This means that there may be slight differences in starting/ending times. Teachers will be working throughout the first few weeks of school to help work through these issues. Students will not be penalized for arriving late to these classes in Zoom.

Performing Arts and JROTC

Students in PA and ROTC - we are continuing to make schedule adjustments and hope to have them completed by Tuesday PM. Your teachers will give more information when it is available.

Material Pickup for Secondary Art Classes

We are excited to announce that we have secondary art class material packets ready for pickup! (Please note that this does not include photography or graphic arts classes.) These materials may be picked up on the following dates and times at either John M. Gandy Elementary School or Oak Knoll Middle School:

- Tuesday, September 8, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Wednesday, September 9, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

You may pick up for multiple children or children from other families. However, please keep in mind that we only have enough supplies for one per student. Please ensure that duplicates are not being picked up for the same child.

Social distancing will be in place at the distributions and face coverings are required.

Home School Connections

Remember to make sure you are signed up to receive email messages from both Online School as well as your home school. Email subscriptions can be managed here. If you continue to have issues receiving messages, please email [email protected].

Thank you.


September 5, 2020 Update:

Hanover County Public Schools is offering curbside grab-and-go breakfast and lunches for Online School families at no charge on Mondays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The service starts September 8, the first day of school.

Meals can be picked up from the following locations:

- Battlefield Park Elementary School, 5501 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville, VA 23111
- Beaverdam Elementary School, 15485 Beaverdam School Road, Beaverdam, VA 23015
- John M. Gandy Elementary School, 201 Archie Cannon Drive, Ashland, VA 23005
- Mechanicsville Elementary School, 7425 Mechanicsville Elementary Drive, Mechanicsville, VA 23111
- South Anna Elementary School, 13122 Walton’s Tavern Road, Montpelier, VA 23192

If there is no school on a Monday, meals will be served the next day of school.

The meals provided will be the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

For more information about this program, please contact HCPS Food Services at (804) 365-4566.


September 4, 2020 Update on Middle and High School Schedules:

Today is the day for the release of student schedules for the first semester. Schedules will be available in PowerSchool by 1 p.m.

Please note that some schedules may be incomplete or may be changed over the weekend. Please check again on Monday to make sure that your child’s schedule has not changed. We appreciate your patience and grace during these times.

Students attending our Online School, links to class meetings and welcome messages can be found in Schoology.

Please review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on our website for general information about the face-to-face and online learning environments. Additional information about our Online School is available here.

If you are an Online High School student taking a performing arts class or JROTC, you may notice that this class has scheduled in the “PM” block. We will be making additional adjustments over the next week to schedule this during one of the four regular school day blocks. Your director or JROTC instructor will follow up with you next week with more information about what this will look like.

Once you review your schedule, please use this form for assistance with any concerns after you review your schedule.

Thank you for your flexibility and understanding as we finalize student schedules. Please contact your school counselor or program coordinator if you have any questions.

Please check out the resources below for additional help or information.

How do I access the PowerSchool portal with a parent account?

Once you have a code, you can access directions here.

How can I stay connected to what my child is doing in Schoology?

You can create a parent Schoology account if you don’t already have one. Access directions here.

I have a Schoology parent account, but I have no idea how to use it. Can you help?

Take a peek at this how-to resource.

My child says they can’t login to Schoology on a computer. What do I do?

Ensure that your student is logging in to Hanover’s Schoology site by completely typing the following web address: hcps.schoology.com. If your child still can’t log in, complete this form.

My child is trying to access Schoology on their phone and they can’t. What do I do?

Take a peek at this how-to resource.

Thank you.


September 4, 2020 Update on Material Pickup:

Dear Online School Families,

This announcement is for ALL elementary students and also for secondary students taking semester or full-year art classes. This does not include graphic arts or photography classes.

We are excited to announce that we have material packets ready for pickup! These materials may be picked up on the following dates and times at either John M. Gandy Elementary School or Oak Knoll Middle School:

- Tuesday, September 8, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Wednesday, September 9, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.


Social distancing will be in place at the distributions and face coverings are required.

Thank you!


September 3, 2020 Update:

Orientation Open House for Hanover Online School

The leadership team, faculty, and staff are excited to welcome you to Online School - Home of the Owls!

The links in this message will take you to clips you can view as your schedules allow throughout the day. The goal of these clips is to welcome you to Online School as well as provide you with support information as you begin to access PowerSchool and Schoology. Please keep in mind that you may access these links at your convenience at any point from 9:00 a.m. moving forward through the weekend.

These links will include the following:

- Welcome Message from the OWL Leadership Team
- Welcome Message from Elementary Team
- Welcome Message from Middle School Team
- Welcome Message from High School Team
- Information about PowerSchool and Schoology

Assistance with Chromebooks: Please contact [email protected] or call (804) 368-8945. Beginning 8/31, the help desk will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Beginning 9/18, the hours will be 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Assistance with Schedule Concerns: Please click here to be directed to a schedule change request information document.


September 2, 2020 Update:

Dear Secondary Online Parents,

A division level message was just released indicating that secondary student schedules will not be released until Friday at 1:00 p.m. This will necessitate some changes to our secondary orientation plan for tomorrow.

We will still release links to introductory videos as well as other information at 9:00 as planned. (You will find the links in this document.) After 1:00 on Friday your children will be able to access welcome messages from their teachers in Schoology. There will also be a process for requesting assistance with schedule concerns.

Please know that we are eager to welcome our students, and we know the waiting is difficult! Thank you for your patience!

Dana Gresham

Principal, Hanover Online School


September 1, 2020 Message:

Dear Online School Families,

We can't wait to start the school year next week! As we continue preparing, we want to keep you updated on several important topics related to the Online School.

Information for Everyone

Faculty and Staff Contact Information (Updated)

Here is information about the Online School Leadership Team and some of their main areas of responsibility.

School Phone Number

Our school phone number is (804) 365-8069. Please keep in mind that the leadership team, faculty, and staff of Online School are working in MANY different locations. Therefore, we may not be able to immediately connect you with the person you are calling. Please know, however, that there is a process in place to get all of us our messages. You are encouraged to use email as the main mode of communication, even if it’s to request a phone or Zoom conversation.

School Schedules

The schedules for each level may be found here. Please note that there has been an adjustment to the middle and high school schedules.

Orientation

Please click here for REVISED information about Elementary Online Orientation.
Please click here for REVISED information about Middle/High School Orientation.

We are looking forward to welcoming you!

Parent/Student Handbook

We are pleased to share with you the Hanover Online Parent/Student Handbook. This document is intended to help our students and families find information in one location. As we continue to refine our processes, we predict that information will be added over the first several weeks of school, so please check back frequently.

Technology

We are going to focus on answering your technology related questions today. Please know that we will be working with students over the first few weeks of school to help them navigate through their online tools. We recognize that we all have a learning curve in this area. So please explore the information below, but remember that you aren’t in this alone, and you don’t need to have it all figured out today.

HelpDesk

- Hours: Starting on August 31, support staff will be staffing a help desk with extended hours that you can access from 7:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. each evening. After September 18, they will be running the desk from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Contact: [email protected] or (804) 368-8945.

PowerSchool

How do I get my PowerSchool account set up?

Once your Chromebook arrives in the mail, you will be able to access Schoology and Powerschool. Directions will be included in the packaging.

How do I find out my student’s teacher/class schedule?

Once your Chromebook arrives in the mail, you will be able to access Schoology and Powerschool. Directions will be included in the packaging. However, the information regarding schedules and teachers will not be correct until 4:30 p.m. on September 3. You may see information from last school year. Or, if you do see information for the 2020-2021 school year, this information will not necessarily be correct until 4:30 p.m. because of updates and syncs occurring in our scheduling system.

Schoology

How does my child get into Schoology?

When students open their Chromebooks, they will log in with their Google account. Ex. [email protected] and password: set to birthday mmddyyyy. They will see a default page to Classlink. Schoology is an icon on the page. Click that and you are in!

How do I get into Schoology as a parent?

Your Schoology code for each child is located in your PowerSchool account. The parent access URL is app.schoology.com.

How do I get help with Schoology?

Once you are in Schoology, parents can join our Schoology Help Hub course: HFQF-VPFQ-CXK3C

Zoom Links

How do I find the Zoom links for my classes?

When in Schoology you will see your classes. Click the class that you want to see and your Zoom link should be readily viewable in the materials section.

Chromebooks


Where is my Chromebook?

If you have not received your Chromebook by September 4, please send an email to [email protected] for us to investigate.

What if I don’t have it on the first day?

We understand that the device may have been delayed or you may not have been home. If you have another device that can go to Schoology (students: hcps.schoology.com) then we would love to still have you try to join us as you can. If the tech is just not coming together for you, please know that we will be patient and work with you to get you up and running as quickly as we can.

Why should I use the HCPS Chromebook rather than my personal computer?

The HCPS devices include our strong internet filtering and all necessary programs. Additionally, HCPS technology support will be geared to Chromebook settings and software.

Information for Elementary OWLs

Student Class Assignments

You will receive an email from your student’s teacher by Thursday morning. If for some reason you have not received your email by Thursday morning, please call the school office at (804) 365-8069.

Questions about elementary class assignments should be directed to the Online Assistant Principal for the student’s grade level. (Ms. Pike, grades 4-5; Ms. Whaley, grades 2-3; Ms. Townes, grades K-1)

Learning Coaches

Here is some information for Learning Coaches.

School Schedules

Here are schedules for Online School for all levels.

The schedule for the Elementary Online School will be adjusted for the first three days of school to allow our youngest learners and their parents/families to get to know their teachers and to adjust to online learning. The adjusted schedule can be found here. We will begin with a full schedule on Friday, September 11.

Specific day-to-day schedules, including both time at and away from the computer, will be shared by individual teachers.

Information for Middle School OWLs

Student Schedules

Please click here for the process to follow for schedule concerns.

School Schedules

Here are schedules for Online School for all levels.

You may have heard that only certain grades will attend the first day of school at face-to-face schools. This is not the case at Online School. All secondary Online students, grades 6-12, will attend class on the first day of school on a regular schedule.

Specific schedules of activities for each block, including both time at and away from the computer, will be shared by individual teachers.

TDAP

All students entering seventh grade are required by law to have a Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap) booster dose of vaccine. Documentation that this booster shot has been administered must be sent to your child’s HOME school nurse or front office staff. The documentation must have your child’s full name, date of birth, the date the vaccine was given, and be signed by your healthcare provider. The school must have proof of this vaccination by the start of the 2020-2021 school year in order for your child to attend classes on the first day of school. Please call your home school nurse if you have questions.

Information for High School OWLs

Student Schedules

Please click here for the process to follow for schedule concerns.

School Schedules

Here are schedules for Online School for all levels.

You may have heard that only certain grades will attend the first day of school at face-to-face schools. This is not the case at Online School. All secondary Online students, grades 6-12, will attend class on the first day of school on a regular schedule.

Specific schedules of activities for each block, including both time at and away from the computer, will be shared by individual teachers.

First Day of Classes - THCTT and The Specialty Center at HHS

Because of the adjusted first day schedule for face-to-face schools, students in grades 10-12 who are taking courses at The Hanover Center for Trades and Technology or The Specialty Center at HHS will NOT attend those classes on Tuesday, September 8. They should attend online courses as scheduled.

Home School Connections

Remember to make sure you are signed up to receive email messages from both Online School as well as your home school. Email subscriptions can be managed here.

Thank you.


August 25, 2020 Message: 

Dear Online School Families,

We are all getting very excited about welcoming our students! Here is some information we hope will be helpful to you.

Information for Everyone

Faculty and Staff Contact Information

Here is information about the Online School Leadership Team and some of their main areas of responsibility.

Chromebook Distribution

We will begin shipping Chromebooks on Wednesday, August 26. For more information on Chromebook distribution, go here.

Schoology Information

We know that many parents and students have questions regarding Schoology, which is Hanover County’s learning management system. This is the system in which your student will access Zoom links for classes as well as all other class information. A Schoology Parent Support Plan will be released on Monday, August 31, in the email update. It will include information on “How to Join Schoology?”, “How to navigate Schoology?”, “ How to add other children to my account?”, and “How do I join the Parent Help Hub?”.

Blackboard Connect

Remember to make sure you are signed up to receive email messages from both Online School as well as your home school. Email subscriptions can be managed here. If you are having issues receiving messages, please email Justin Mattingly at [email protected].

Orientation Open House

Please see September 1, 2020 message for updated information.

School Phone Number


Our school phone number is (804) 365-8069, and we are excited to share that Mrs. Naumann will be answering our main line and helping to keep us all connected! Please keep in mind that the leadership team, faculty, and staff of Online School are working in MANY different locations. Therefore, Mrs. Naumann may not be able to immediately connect you with the person you are calling. Please know, however, that there is a process in place to get all of us our messages. You are encouraged to use email as the main mode of communication, even if it’s to request a phone or Zoom conversation.

Website and Social Media Sites

- Our website is under construction by our vendor, but probably won’t be ready until the first week of school. We can’t wait to unveil it and will let you know the link as soon as it’s available!
- We’re close to having our social media sites ready to go. Keep an eye out for them!

Special Education Services

Special education staff members throughout the division are working hard to ensure that our students have a successful online experience. You should be contacted by your home school within the next two weeks regarding IEP addendum meetings. Any adjustments to schedules will be handled at the home school. Students with IEPs will have a case manager assigned to them from the Online School.

Monday, September 14

Please remember that Monday, September 14, is a student holiday. The faculty and staff of all HCPS schools will be hard at work on this day making any necessary adjustments based upon our first week of school.

Information for Elementary OWLs

Student Class Assignments

- Class assignments will be shared via Schoology on September 3 at Orientation Open House.
- Questions about elementary class assignments should be directed to the Online Assistant Principal for the student’s grade level. (Ms. Pike, grades 4-5; Ms. Whaley, grades 2-3; Ms. Townes, grades K-1)

Learning Coaches

- A learning coach guide is under development and will be released in next Monday’s (8/31) update.

School Schedules

Here are schedules for Online School for all levels.

The schedule for the Elementary Online School will be adjusted for the first three days of school to allow our youngest learners and their parents/families to get to know their teachers and to adjust to online learning. The adjusted schedule can be found here. We will begin with a full schedule on Friday, 9/11.

Specific day-to-day schedules, including both time at and away from the computer, will be shared by individual teachers.

Information for Middle School OWLs

Student Schedule Request Questions

The final day for schedule changes division wide was August 6. Currently course requests are only being changed if the student is enrolled in a course that has already been passed or if there was a mistake made in the courses entered last spring.

Middle school students will be enrolled in one of the two electives for which they registered last spring. If for some reason neither of the electives is available, the student’s home school counselor will reach out to you over the next two weeks. The same is true for both middle and high school students if there are any conflicts in their schedules.
Questions about middle or high school course requests or schedules should be directed to the student’s home school counselor.

School Schedules

Here are schedules for Online School for all levels.

You may have heard that only certain grades will attend the first day of school at face-to-face schools. This is not the case at Online School. All secondary Online students, grades 6-12, will attend class on the first day of school on a regular schedule.

Specific schedules of activities for each block, including both time at and away from the computer, will be shared by individual teachers.

TDAP

All students entering seventh grade are required by law to have a Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap) booster dose of vaccine. Documentation that this booster shot has been administered must be sent to your child’s HOME school nurse or front office staff. The documentation must have your child’s full name, date of birth, the date the vaccine was given, and be signed by your healthcare provider. The school must have proof of this vaccination by the start of the 2020-2021 school year in order for your child to attend classes on the first day of school. Please call your home school nurse if you have questions.

Information for High School OWLs

Student Schedule Request Questions

The final day for schedule changes division wide was August 6th. Currently course requests are only being changed if the students is enrolled in a course that has already been passed or if there was a mistake made in the courses entered last spring.

Questions about middle or high school course requests or schedules should be directed to the student’s home school counselor.

School Schedules

Here are schedules for Online School for all levels.

You may have heard that only certain grades will attend the first day of school at face-to-face schools. This is not the case at Online School. All secondary Online students, grades 6-12, should be prepared to attend class on the first day of school on a regular schedule.
Specific schedules of activities for each block, including both time at and away from the computer, will be shared by individual teachers.
Thank you,

Dr. Dana Gresham
Director of Professional Learning, Leadership & Federal Programs/Principal - Hanover Online School


August 18, 2020 Message:

Dear Online School Community,

It is my honor to welcome you to Hanover Online School - Home of the OWLs (Online While Learning)!  While we are not in a physical school building together, please know that I am eager to work with you to build our Online community as we learn together!

This introductory message will address four key things:

1) The Chromebooks are coming! We expect to have one for every online student before school starts. We will communicate pick up dates and locations as soon as we have that worked out. If you are a family that needs internet access assistance, please fill out the Mi-Fi Request Form.

2) Many of you are already familiar with Blackboard Connect and getting messages from your school in this fashion. We ask that you log in to your account (https://hanover.bbcportal.com/) and update your school to include the Hanover Online School as well as your home school.

3) Save the Date: September 3. Hanover Online School will welcome all students and families with a Zoom session at 9 a.m. and a repeat at 7 p.m. See linked flyer for more information about times to save for meeting your teachers. We will be sending more information about this as it gets closer but wanted to get the date on your schedule.

4) Finally, I will be working alongside a highly skilled leadership team this year. Please see this page for their names as well as some information about their responsibilities. They are eager to get to know you!

Looking forward to working with you,

Dr. Dana Gresham

Director of Professional Learning, Leadership & Federal Programs/Principal - Hanover Online School

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