Dear CUSD#3, Fulton County Families,
As we prepare for inclement weather during the coming winter months, we wanted to provide you with information in the event we need to cancel school, have a late start, or use an e-learning day instead of canceling or delaying school.
Decisions regarding school day plans due to inclement weather will be broadcast as soon as they are made.
CUSD #3, Fulton County E-Learning Plan
Goal of E-Learning Days
In CUSD #3’s ongoing efforts to provide innovative educational opportunities for students, we have put in place guidelines for E-Learning Days. Our goal is to provide continuity of learning, as we strive for a quality experience for both students and staff. Our E-Learning day will mimic the developmental recommendations set in terms of student engagement by age. The guidance and considerations outlined in this plan are grounded in the following principles:
Safeguarding the health and safety of students and staff
Ensuring the the best possible continuity of education throughout the school year
Minimizing instructional loss due to decreased time spent inside the school building
Strong two-way communication between families, educators, and staff
Provide routines for families and students to ensure they stay connected to school and to learning.
Communication Regarding E-Learning Days
Communication regarding general expectations and provisions of the E-Learning Plan will be communicated to staff, students, and parents prior to the start of the school year as part of the school registration process. We will contact all students and parents when we will have a planned E-Learning day through:
Website push notifications including text alerts on how to find information.
We will also post updates on our website “Live Feed” as well as social media.
We will call parents as needed to stay in contact.
Teachers will use Email, Google Classrooms, Alma, and Class Dojo to stay in contact with parents about E-Learning days.
Student Technology Access
We are a 1-1 school district. All students have been assigned a school device with which they can access their teacher’s classrooms and resources.
These devices will be the responsibility of the parent until returned to the school. If a family leaves the district, all district property must be returned to the home school.
The parent will be financially responsible for any lost, damaged, or stolen devices, including the power cords.
Paper packets and/or makeup assignments will be provided as they are available to students who are unable to access the required technology on an e-Learning day.
Technology Support
Technical support will be available from school and district technology staff by accessing the Help Desk ticketing system or contacting the Technology Integration Specialist or Technology Coordinator via email. The email contact information will be posted on the E-Learning website.
E-Learning will be utilized by all students, if at any time during the school year it is determined that having students present in the building is not possible.
E-Learning will take place daily for a period of at least 5 hours of instruction.
Students receiving instruction through the E-Learning plan will follow a daily class schedule with teachers providing instruction from their classrooms, both recorded and in real time.
Google Meet will be the primary video conferencing tools used to host live class sessions in communication with students during E-Learning Days.
Teachers will live stream daily lessons for students to attend in real time. These lessons will be recorded and made available in Google Classroom and archived in Google Drive for any student to view at a later time.
On E-Learning days, all learners will be expected to attend classes through the Google Meet platform, and will be required to follow school rules and guidelines including dress code and classroom rules.
Students are expected to complete assignments daily.
Students will be required to have their device cameras turned on.
Teachers will be available each day during scheduled office hours to meet virtually with learners to address issues, questions, or concerns with material.
E-Learning will follow the same building schedules as face to face learning
Students and staff will have beginning of the year training on updated best practices and E-Learning procedures. Re-training will take place annually as part of the district’s beginning of the year procedures and classroom orientations.
Attendance
Attendance will be taken daily on E-Learning Days.
Attendance at the Middle-High School will be taken for each class period
E-Learning attendance will be recorded by teachers daily and by period through our student information system, ALMA.
If a student is going to be absent (for example: if they are sick or to go to a doctor’s appointment) parents must still call them into the school office in order for the absence to be excused on E-Learning days.
Grading
K-2: Elementary school students will continue with standards-based grading.
3-5: Elementary school students will continue with traditional grades for courses. Teachers are encouraged to work with students during extenuating circumstances and offer opportunities for students to redo assignments.
6-12: Junior high and high school students will continue with traditional grades for courses. Teachers are encouraged to work with students during extenuating circumstances and offer opportunities for students to redo assignments.
Building Schedules, Instructional Time & Online Resources
We have created an E-Learning website with resources and important materials which will be linked from our cusd3.net homepage: https://www.cusd3.net/page/e-learning-resources
This page is updated annually with resources and up to date information.
Parent Expectations
Provide students a designated work space when learning at home.
Connect as guardians to Google Classroom to stay informed.
Check the posted assignments/plans/gradebooks regularly through Alma.
Commit to regularly checking emails for communication purposes.
Keep a designated area for class codes/passwords for Google Classroom.
Keep students on a set schedule
Communicate with teachers. Please allow 24 hours for response.
Be flexible.
Allow students to work independently.
Student Expectations
Check into classes in Google Meet to attend lessons at scheduled times; make sure to mute your microphone unless you have a question or comment for class discussion.
Complete work/assignments on time.
Have a designated work space.
Use assignment planners to stay organized.
Follow all handbook expectations. E-Learning and face-to-face learning have the same expectations (i.e. dress code, language, behavior, etc.).
Students are required to have their Chromebook cameras turned on
Produce and submit your own best work possible. E-Learning is not pass/fail, and teachers will be utilizing the traditional grading policies. All work is to be your own work! Academic dishonesty is prohibited. Do not allow your work to be copied or submitted by any other student.
Be a good digital citizen.
Communicate with teachers through email. Allow for 24 hours for response if office hours have expired.
Be flexible
Stay eligible-participation in extracurricular activities will still follow IHSA eligibility rules.
Staff Expectations
Record your classes, post daily. Make sure to have Google Meet up and running during class for E-Learning students.
Check your email often (several times daily).
Be consistent with language between Google Classroom, gradebook and all forms of communication with students and parents.
Make sure to post/update grades at least weekly.
Give timely/informative feedback to students and communicate with parents often.
Teachers will respond to emails/communication within 24 hours.
Be flexible.
Make sure to have specific office hours; set up Google Meet sessions with individual students to address questions, etc.
Consistently check in with students/parents.
Remember, not all parents are free during our working hours.
E-Learning Activity / Homework - Guidelines Only
Teachers will follow these guidelines when preparing materials for the E-Learning day.
Cuba Elementary (Grades K-2) – 30 minutes
Cuba Elementary (Grades 3-5) – 1 1/2 hours
Cuba Middle School – 2 Hours (15 mins per class)
Cuba High School – 2.5 hours (15 mins per class minimum up to 30 mins maximum)
Communication to Students
Grades PreK-1: Class Dojo will be the main form of communication. All teachers will have online office hours each day where they will be checking email and communicating with students.
Grades 2-12: Email and Google Classroom will be the main form of communication. All teachers will have online office hours each day where they will be checking email and communicating with students.
Grades 2-5: Teachers might choose Class Dojo as their form of communication over email.
Google Classroom: teachers will post materials on Google Classroom which will automatically send emails to the students.
We encourage teachers to reach out to students through Google Hangouts for chat as needed.
Communication to Parents
Website push notifications including text alerts on how to find information.
We will also post updates on our website “Live Feed” as well as social media.
We will call parents as needed to stay in contact.
Teachers will use Email, Google Classrooms, Alma, and Class Dojo to stay in contact with parents.
Special Education Services
CUSD#3 Fulton County is committed to providing free and appropriate educational opportunities for students with disabilities, to the greatest extent possible in alignment with public health guidelines. Collaboration with families has always been an essential part of the special education process and continues to be during this time. To address the unique needs of students with disabilities:
Staff will continue to work with families to collaboratively identify the most essential services for each student that can be provided.
Individual Education Plans (IEPs) will be reviewed for the circumstances of the learning environment that the family selects as well as will be adjusted if the learning environment is forced to change throughout the 2025-26 school year.
Each individual student will have an individual Remote Learning plan which will align with meeting the individual needs of students.
Students who have a need for an IEP indicating a need for frequent, intense interventions based on an identified disability would be encouraged to enroll in the traditional in-person learning option when available. This option will provide the most intense intervention and services by certified educators and providers.
CUSD #3, Fulton County Late Start During Inclement Weather
Instead of cancelling school for an entire day, we may utilize a late start as an option. In the event a late start occurs, please note the following:
You will be notified of a late start in the same manner you are notified of a school cancellation.
Schools will be open to accept students at 9:40 a.m. and classes will begin at 10:00 a.m. Dismissal will occur at its regularly scheduled time.
Bus transportation will operate, but using a delayed schedule. If your student rides the bus, anticipate the bus arriving approximately 90 minutes later on late start days.
Please review the above information to plan for your child’s school attendance during inclement weather.
If you have any questions, please contact your child’s principal.
TEST ALERT
FOR E-LEARNING DAY OR LATE START DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER OR OTHER EMERGENCIES
This evening at 6:00 p.m., CUSD #3 Fulton County Schools will conduct a test of our Emergency Notification System.
This is only a test—no action is required.
If you receive this message in error, or if you know someone who does not receive it, please contact your child’s school office to ensure that contact information is current.