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VIRTUAL

Bloomfield

An optional choice for the 2020-2021 school year for students in grades K-5

Bloomfield Virtual provides an equitable, caring, and safe learning environment where students are encouraged to be intellectually curious and academically ambitious. Leveraging the power of technology and community,  Bloomfield Virtual learning promotes student agency for all learners to achieve their highest aspirations.

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Is Virtual Learning Right for my child?

  • Students will need adult or older sibling support for initial virtual navigation and continual time management support.
     

  • Expectations will mirror our in-person teaching and learning expectations.
     

  • BHS teachers will create lessons and activities that engage the student in the virtual school environment utilizing innovative practices that differ from in-class instruction and the Continuous Learning Plan 2.0.
     

  • Bloomfield Hills Schools will provide a device (iPad for K-1, Chromebook for 2-5) to every student upon enrollment and completion of the Technology Agreement. 
     

  • Students enrolled in Bloomfield Virtual will still have access to participate in extracurricular activities that happen outside of the classroom day including clubs and student organizations.

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Virtual

does not mean "alone"

Learner-Centered
Each student's strengths, needs, and interests are assets in fostering a passion for intellectual pursuit and teachers serve as mentors to facilitate learning that is meaningful.

 

Sense of Belonging

Relationships are critical both in the classroom and in the community. Students create authentic work that is meaningful to the community beyond school. Students can engage in real-world action through personal experience.


Place-Based Learning

Bloomfield Hills Schools - both virtual and in-person - will utilize the Bowers School Farm and Johnson Nature Center for learning expeditions when appropriate and permissible.  Students enrolled in the virtual school will have the opportunity to enhance their learning through designed experiences similar to their in-person peers at these district gems.

Portrait of a Learner

The dispositions and skills described in the BHS Portrait of a Learner are always important and should influence the design and experiences across all learning models and grade levels. 

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Homework Help
  • Students will have the opportunity to develop strong relationships and a sense of belonging with dedicated teachers and a consistent cohort of students.
     

  • Students will need adult or older sibling support for initial virtual navigation and continual time management support.
     

  • Engaging literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies lessons connected with BHS curriculum.
     

  • Students will have opportunities in special academic areas such as art, music, physical education, and Spanish.
     

  • Bloomfield VIRTUAL also offers meaningful experiential learning opportunities connected to the farm and nature center both in-person and virtual.
     

  • Opportunities for purposeful play and inquiry approaches to learning will be utilized with appropriate grade level developmental skills reinforced (i.e. social, self-management, fine motor skills, etc.)
     

  • All courses will utilize Google Classroom and Zoom for ease of use. 
     

  • Daily schedule will mirror the in-person grade level schedule.
     

  • Bloomfield VIRTUAL teachers receive professional development in the best practices for delivering content in a virtual classroom setting.
     

  • All students with a disability who enroll in BHS Blueprint will receive program, services and accommodations according to their individual IEP or 504 plan, understanding that some IEPs and 504s may need to be adjusted based on individual needs.

Grades K-5

Learning Design

Frequently asked questions

Why select Bloomfield Virtual?


For some families, returning to school in-person in the fall is an impossibility or not desired. If this is the case for your family, selecting Bloomfield Virtual will enable your child to continue learning alongside their peers, with the teachers they know, and the Bloomfield Hills Schools curriculum you trust.




Can my child start with Bloomfield Virtual and later transition to in-person teaching and learning?


Yes! At the semester breark. We encourage families to examine their comfort level before each semester begins, to determine if the semester will be in-person or virtual. The district will be in contact with all virtual families well before a decision must be made for the second semester of the 2020-2021 school year.




Will my child receive direct instruction along with peers or will the learning all be recorded videos?


Your child will have a mixture of both live instruction and recorded materials with a particular emphasis on live instruction for new concepts and support. Other tools, such as packets, may be utilized as well. The mix will support students, while ensuring an appropriate amount of time is spent on devices and engaging in personal academic discovery.




What if I have more questions? What if I'm not sure if this option is right for my child?


Parents, guardians, and students can submit questions about Bloomfield VIRTUAL using this link. Please attend the virtual parent meeting on August 12 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be online at: www.bloomfield.org/livestream If you are interested in Bloomfield Virtual, indicate your preference here. Please bookmark https://www.bhsblueprint.com for up-to-date information. Using this platform provides a single site for the BHS community with correct and up-to-date information.




Will special education and 504 services be provided as part of Virtual Learning?


We anticipate all IEPs and 504s will be followed as written, including accommodations, programs and services, understanding that some IEPs and 504s may need to be adjusted based on individual needs. Based upon enrollment, a virtual special education teacher will be assigned to support students with IEPs in the general education curriculum utilizing small group instruction. Students who receive special education programs and services within ARP/FRP/DHH/SEED/PREP or Wing Lake will have their instruction delivered directly by a special education teacher. Ancillary services will also be provided virtually by Bloomfield Hills staff including speech, OT, PT, Social Work and ASL.




Will virtual elementary students be assigned to a class for the year?


Yes. One teacher and one class will be assigned for the elementary grades.




Will virtual and in-person curriculum be consistent across the district?


Yes. The curriculum is the BHS curriculum. Virtual, in-person, and distance learning will all cover the same material. As is the nature of different instructional methods, students may not be on the same lesson or approach the content exactly the same way.




Back to School Tips when preparing for virtual learning


A new year is often full of optimism and new opportunities. This year, the transition back to school may present different types of challenges. These are unprecedented times. Students may be feeling eager, anxious, confused, or scared because school will look different this fall. Here are a few suggestions to consider in the weeks to come that may help you and your child feel more prepared for the transition back to school.
Create a Learning Space

  • This is a great time to start creating a designated learning space for the start of the school year.
  • Choose a quiet location with good lighting, easy access to an electrical outlet, comfortable seating, and remember to think about whether or not you have any wifi “dead zones” in your home.
  • Consider letting your child help you to set up his/her learning space to get them excited for the new school year and remember that it should be a comfortable spot where they can focus.
  • Be sure to have basic school supplies easily accessible and ready to go.
  • You may want to consider getting binders, folders, dividers, cubbies, etc. to help your child to keep their school work and supplies organized.
  • For families with multiple children, think about whether their learning spaces should be close together or apart.
Technology Preparation
  • This might be a good time to go through your child’s learning device (iPad, chromebook, etc.) and get it ready for the upcoming school year.
  • Apps should be organized in folders, so students can easily access learning apps and they are separated from other distractions like gaming/recreational apps.
  • Browsers should be set up with bookmarks to important learning links.
  • There should be a place where student login info (username, passwords, etc.) and BHS Tech Support contact info can be easily accessed/displayed.
  • Review basic internet safety and talk about your own family’s tech rules including the BHS tech user agreement and student code of conduct.
  • If applicable, consider checking the parental/security settings on your child’s learning device.
  • This is a good time to check if your child’s device/apps/operating system need updating.
  • Be sure that your child has all of the tech accessories needed for remote learning. (Chargers, headphones or speakers, data plan, etc.)
Establishing School-like Routines:
  • Although your child will not physically be attending school they may still benefit from a school-like schedule, routine, or set of expectations to help them to get into “school mode” each day.
  • Students who need structure may benefit from learning how to use an alarm clock/timer and should be encouraged to get dressed for school each morning, instead of sleeping in and staying in their PJs.
  • Try setting some family “home school rules” together or setting some personal learning goals to help your child to shift from a summer mindset into a remote school mindset.




Physical, Social & Emotional Health for all Learners


SLEEP SCHEDULE
As we approach the beginning of the school year, you may want to slowly get your child back on a proper wake/sleep schedule. It takes a week or two for children to adjust to earlier bed and wake times.
CHECKING-IN
Have an open and honest conversation with your child about these unprecedented times. Ask them how they are feeling about the upcoming school year, so you can address their fears and answer their questions. Reassure them and explain that although the precautions may be frustrating or even annoying, they were put in place for a good reason. Prepare them by telling them that school may not look/feel like it normally does. Regular check-ins with your child will help you to address their social/emotional needs both before their first day and once the school year begins. ACADEMIC WARM-UP
Although we can assure you that teachers will adjust to meet your child’s specific academic level/needs when school resumes, giving your child a little academic warm-up in the weeks leading up to the start of school may be helpful and could build confidence as they start the new school year. If you haven’t already, try some pages from the summer bridge book and/or writing packet that was provided by the district. Encourage your child to read and write daily, if they aren’t already doing so. SET THE TONE
Remember that you help determine your child’s attitude towards school this year. Try to discuss your frustrations and worries away from your child. Modeling a positive attitude and teaching perseverance and flexibility will help to set your child up for success this school year.




When will families select the Bloomfield Virtual option?


The registration window is from August 11 at 6 PM to August 18, 2020 at midnight. This will be done through Student Services. To assist families in getting the information in a timely manner, you are encouraged to indicate your preference or potential preference for Bloomfield VIRTUAL here.




Can my student be placed with other students from our home school?


Our placement process will follow the same process that we would use in a school context. We welcome any additional information a parent might want to provide, but we will follow a similar process at the building level. We will have similar class ratios to traditional classroom sizes. As Bloomfiedl VIRTUAL is it’s own campus or school, students will be placed by grade level.




Can we create a learning pod for our neighborhood?


Our placement process will follow the same process that we would use in a school context. We welcome any additional information a parent might want to provide, but we will follow a similar process at the building level. We will have similar class ratios to traditional classroom sizes. As Bloomfiedl VIRTUAL is it’s own campus or school, students will be placed by grade level.




How will teachers be selected to teach in Bloomfield Virtual?


All of these staff members are highly qualified and well versed in digital instruction techniques. Class assignments will be announced in conjunction with our buildings. Bloomfield Hills Schools staff members will be teaching in the virtual school.
Teachers will join Bloomfield VIRTUAL from different buildings across the district.




Will my student see the same teacher all day?


Yes. As a Bloomfield Virtual student, your child will see the same teacher every day. If you choose just one semester, your child will most likely have a new teacher if they move into in-person (Option 1) learning. The student will be placed in their home school.




What does Virtual Learning on Zoom look like for my child?


Teachers will utilize Zoom which will create a single login into the classroom every morning. Teachers will be able to provide direct instruction for the whole class, move students into pairs or small groups as well as provide independent practice time much like we do in the school setting. The teacher will then be able to move students into breakout rooms back into the full group for the next piece of instruction or following breaks. Please refer to the synchronous time in the sample schedule to reference times in which students will be live with a teacher.




How will teachers and students engage in learning together?


Learning experiences will be both synchronous and asynchronous and, at the discretion of the teacher, are designed to be completed independently and in collaboration with other students in the virtual classroom.
Please see the sample schedule for K-2 & 3-5. While the schedule may vary a little, depending on the teacher or grade level, the instruction will mirror a school day. In each subject, students will attend a short lesson, have time to work independently, meet with other students in small breakout rooms for collaboration, reflection time and sharing. Of course the teacher will move through these decisions based on the learning needs of the particular group of students and the content at hand. Children will have access to the teacher throughout the school day, but not necessarily participating in an active meetings at all times. More details will come from your child’s virtual teacher during curriculum night.




What instructional approaches will be used?


All Bloomfield Hills Schools classrooms follow the Michigan Academic Standards, our curriculum in BV will also follow our BHS curriculum. To be specific: Reading and Writing instruction will occur within a workshop model. This entails a short, direct lesson given by the teacher that explains the learning focus followed by guided and independent practice. The learning is reinforced with small groups concluded by a share or reflection time. Students and teachers will engage in 1 on 1 meetings as needed. Similar to reading and writing, our district’s math approach involves a direct lesson, guided practice, independent student practice and some group work. One to one student help will also be available as needed. In Science & SS, the units follow a common district curriculum schedule. Curriculum between BV and IP will be closely aligned as far as the units taught with the result being all the same units will have been taught by semester end.




How will a student with an IEP and receives support have needs met in Bloomfield Virtual?


We anticipate all IEPs and 504s will be followed as written, including accommodations, programs and services, understanding that some IEPs and 504s may need to be adjusted based on individual needs. This includes our DHH community. Students who receive resource room support will have direct general education instruction synchronously with peers and academic support during the independent and asynchronous learning times (eg; previously recorded lessons).
Students in a self-contained environment will be assigned and participate in general education classes as they would be when in an in-person setting. Academic support will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Students that require academic support within a special education setting will receive direct instruction from a special education teacher. Virtual services will also be provided for students who have ancillary services (speech, OT, PT, SSW) written into their IEP.




Will the curriculum for in person be the same so that all students are on the same track?


Just to reiterate, curriculum between BV and IN-PERSON will be closely aligned as far as the units being taught each semester. This alignment will provide opportunities for a shared grade level experience at both the end of semester one and at the end of the school yea




Will students be restricted from jumping ahead and completing future work to rush through assignments?


BV teachers will provide instruction for students with both content and relationships in mind. By building relationships and monitoring student progress, teachers will be able to guide students through learning experiences at a pace that makes sense for each learner. Students will check-in daily with their teacher, this is to maintain the routine of school, the sense of community and to monitor progress as instruction moves forward. This process will help keep students from rushing through work while allowing them to work at their own pace. Remember, this will be different from our CLP in the spring, so we will be able to provide student to student connections across the classroom, guide learners with feedback, and create a community that enjoys learning all while keeping student motivation high.




What materials will be utilized?


The distinct will be providing Kindergarten and first grade students iPads & chromebooks will be provided for students in grades 2-5. Additionally a grade level suggested supply list will be made available so our virtual students can get ready for their upcoming school year, just as they might any other school year. Please note that resources are likely to vary by class and lesson...you can expect live instruction, links to videos, graphic organizers, scanned materials to read and engage with, reading materials including books and ebooks, math journals, as well as teacher-created and/or curated resources. Our goal is to keep at-home printing to a minimum. BV students will have access to school-provided materials like their Envision Math workbooks, Handwriting without Tears books, as well as any additional texts that may be used to support instruction. Families will receive information about accessing those materials at the BV Orientation. In an attempt to provide the most comprehensive learning experiences and flexibility, we may need to make arrangements for an adult to pick up materials from the child’s home school.




How will students receive feedback related to their learning?  How will assignments be communicated?


Communication with students will take place in many different ways. Daily class meetings and lessons where teachers and kids can speak directly to one another along with digital websites like Google Classroom and Gmail (when age appropriate), are useful tools for students and teachers to communicate with one another. Students will be expected to actively participate each day in the virtual classroom. The interactions between teacher and student will be one way feedback is shared. Some of the learning experiences will be more formally submitted for feedback while others will be ongoing pieces of work. Students will use Google classroom, shared Google documents or slides, and pictures or video projects as possible submissions.. Teachers will establish these routines and the ‘how to’s” with their individual classes.




How will student work be assessed to check for understanding?


Quizzes and tests can be given using our Google suite apps and are one way to check for understanding. Projects and quick checks (exit tickets, sticky note padlet parking lot) are also forms of ongoing assessment. Students’ reading and writing will receive teacher feedback through the use of student Zoom conferences during daily independent reading and writing workshop as well as in written comments.

The enVision math program has digital student work, with accessible tools to support learners, as well as online assessments. The math journal pages provide immediate feedback for students.




How will parents and teachers communicate about student progress?


For teacher communication with parents, Google Classroom, Remind & email will be used. Other forms may also be used based on individual teacher and family needs.

A parent-teacher conference schedule for virtual school will follow the district calendar with September input conferences, November Conferences and Spring conferences. Report cards will be at the end of each semester. Also, remember that, just like in-person school, teacher and parent interactions are not limited to scheduled conference/report card times. Teachers are always available during school hours to connect and partner with parents.