COVID-19 Update: Day 10 Home Schooling Continues..

Family,

As predicted, we will be out longer than expected. Governor Baker made the decision last night to keep up out of school until May 4th. I can not say this enough, WE ARE IN GREAT SHAPE! More and more of you are logging in and doing some work. As pleased as I am to see more of you doing work, the amount of work and the time online NEEDS TO IMPROVE!! A reminder, starting Monday we are expecting to spend 1 hour each day per class that you are in. If you are having difficulty meeting this, email me and we can work something out. 

Mrs. Murray & Mr. T have been AWESOME and are working really hard to make sure things are going to be okay regarding academics. If you have not checked your email, please do ASAP. Mrs. Murray and Mr T, wrote you emails outlining how the next month is going to work. I will also attach the content of the email at the end of this blog post. Besides academics here is some other helpful information:

1. If anyone needs anything from the Academy, I will open the School on Monday from 10 am -12 pm. If you need anything, make sure you visit
2. If your family need food, there are some great resources. Mr. Hochman from the School Committee oversees a program in town called No-Child Goes Hungry. Please take a look at the information Here . I have worked with Mr. Canty from the Community High School with delivering food to many families. It is a great program if you are in need. 
3. I have been putting up extra credit assignments on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter. I have a few people taking advantage. I will eliminate some sections from Edgenuity for anyone that completes every assignment. They are fun and should only take you 10 minutes each to complete. 
4. If you need anything and I mean ANYTHING we are here for you. Always keep that in mind. We are just an email away.

I will be in touch with you early next week. Please be safe and try to enjoy the nice weather.

Mr. B

A Message from Mr. Tanglis:

Hey guys

Hope all of you guys are doing well and staying at home - listen to the scientists! I just wanted to check in with everyone and make myself available if you guys need anything.  While this is definitely not the best situation for all of us we are really lucky that as long as you guys have internet access you should be able to get your work done.  I have been checking edgenuity and some of you guys have been doing a lot of work - and some have not.  People who haven't been working (you know who you are) especially seniors you really need to step it up.

Anyone who was planning to graduate this year should still be able to - do NOT use this as an excuse! The only legitimate excuse would be lack of internet or computer - and if this is an issue contact Mr. B and he will find a way to help you out.

As far as work completed here is what I am expecting you guys to complete:

Science/Sociology/Math Edgenuity courses

• I am expecting you guys to complete 4 quizzes or 3 quizzes and 1 test per week. (very reasonable right?)
• Keep taking notes as you normally would (use enotes if you don't have your notebook)

Blended Geometry class

• I placed everyone in edgenuity geometry 
• Right now you are to complete the current chapter I assigned by next Friday
• For the chapter tests any grade 64 or higher will be accepted after 2 attempts - you don't need an 80
• I will add the next chapter sometime next week

I would recommend working on one class each day. In other words, pick a day to work on your science or sociology and just bang it out - get through 4 sections (or 3 sections plus a Test) and you will be done for the week! Just a suggestion that I think would work for a lot of you guys. Please email me if you guys have any questions about anything - I am here to help! Miss all of you guys and please do your schoolwork!!!! 

Mr T.

A Message to Seniors from Mrs. Murray:

Hello, Seniors!

Well, I bet you didn't think you'd be finishing up school QUITE so much earlier than your underclassmen peers. In case you are living under a rock, or are on a Fortnite binge to end all Fortnite binges, or have been napping all afternoon and are just joining us (Good Evening, Nick!), Governor Baker ordered all schools in Massachusetts to stay closed through May 4th. That's right, April vacation is now like, 6 weeks long.

Not to worry, though! I know you were all thinking, "But what about that super interesting lesson on euthanasia and that poem 'Shawn' that Ms. Murray had just started teaching us...now I'll never get to see what happened to Shawn! And I have to know!!"  It's okay, you guys. I would never leave you hanging like that. We are going...to the internet! 

I am setting up a Google Classroom as we speak (err, as I type) where I will post lessons and questions and quizzes and anything else your curious little minds need to know to complete this class and reach self-actualization (hopefully! Maslow would be so proud!). I know I seem so youthful in class, but I'm actually an old lady, so bear with me while I tackle getting everything up and running. You'll get an invite from me to join that group soon. But FOR NOW, I would love for you to get your hands/ears on a copy of the book, Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman. I don't care if you are listening to an audiobook versus reading the "real" thing. Either works. But please do so by this weekend as the assignments for this book are going to start coming in hot next Monday. To get the book, you have a few options:

1. If you have a Kindle or Audible account (or if someone in your family does) and you can get the book for free, go this route. It's definitely the path of least resistance. 

2. Sign up for a free Boston Public Library eCard here: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4197886/eCard-Registration and then you can use it sign-in here: https://bpl.overdrive.com/  They have a few audiobooks available and a few eBooks available for this title. There's enough that everyone could go the eBook route if they wanted.

3. I have so many hard copies of this book at school. If this is what you prefer, email me directly, and I can bring a copy to your house. I promise I will spray it down in Lysol or something first. 

I miss you guys! Please stay safe and healthy!

Best,

Ms. Murray

A Message to all Juniors from Mrs. Murray:

Hello my junior cherubs!

So, it looks like it'll be several weeks longer before we get back to the brick and mortar PLA. In case you missed it, Governor Baker announced today that we will be out of school until at least May 4th. So we are going to switch our Blended Learning class to an online learning class via Google Classroom. Bear with me while I inevitably make some techie mistakes for the next few weeks.

First and foremost, please accept my invitation to the Google Classroom group. I'll be posting all of your classwork and materials there while we are out and communicating primarily via email. I have already uploaded all of our materials from our "This is America" lesson, and we will jump off from there with new assignments starting Monday. Check in early and often. I'll be putting up new assignments every couple of days, and I don't want you to miss anything. There's an assignment up already that you can start doing asap if you'd like! It isn't technically due until Wednesday because we aren't technically "starting" online until Monday, but head over and check it out.  It'd be great if you could get an online discussion happening (you should be able to comment on each other's submissions).

Miss you guys! I hope everyone is doing okay stuck at home. 

COVID-19 Update: Day 6 & What to Expect Next Week!

Family,

I hope you all are well. I wanted to thank all of you for being patient and getting through last week. This has been extremely difficult for everyone. I did see that 18 of our 28 students did some work last week. That needs to get better. If you need a laptop or internet service I can help you. You all have smartphones and have the ability to email me. Please do!

 Superintendent, Dr. Kerble sent out a notice yesterday indicating that he believes ( as do I ) that this may last longer than three weeks already planned. I have spent countless hours working with him as well as all of the District Leaders and we are finalizing a plan that will begin next Monday, March 30th. Beginning on Monday, student expectation are a follows:

1). Students will be expected to log on and complete work each day. Daily attendance will be taken through ASPEN & Edgenuity. You will be expected to complete 1 hour of work each day in your Edgenuity class. Failure to do so will count as an absence from the class and will effect your grade. 

2). Students in Ms. Murray's Blended class will work with Ms. Murray to meet daily requirements. This may include attending virtual class via Google Hangout, passing in your Independent Reading Assignment Virtually, etc.  She will follow up with an email outlining her daily expectations.

3). 4th Quarter grades will be of Pass/Fail. Teachers will outline what this means for their Blended Class. 

4). Your 3rd quarter grades will include all work up until the last time we meet 

(3/13). If you owe Mr. T and/or Mrs. Murray any work you need to email them and make it up before Monday.

I understand that that this is not ideal. However, you are all better prepared for this than anyone at PVMHS. You all have phones and have the ability to reach out to any of us and complete the required work. If you need a Chromebook or internet, just email me and I will get it taken care of. Please, if anyone has any questions please feel free to email me. Be safe and I look forward to seeing you all real soon.

Mr. B

COVID-19 Update: Day 3, Mr. T's Geometry & a Message from Ms. Murray

Students & Families,
It was really nice talking to some of you over the last few days. If you have not heard from me, I will be calling over the next few days checking in on everyone. I hope everyone is hanging in there the best that they can. I have an update for anyone taking Mr. T's Geometry class. If you were in his blended Geometry class, Mr. T created a special Geometry class on Edgenuity. Just log in and jump right into the class. If you have any issues, just email him at Tanglisk@peabody.k12.ma.us. He can make arrangements to help you via email or through Google Hangouts. Again, I expect that everyone is working each and every day! My recommendation is that each students spends at least 4 hours online working. I would also recommend reading at least 1 hour each night if you need to complete Ms. Murray's reading assignment. If you have not looked at your email, Ms. Murray sent out a fantastic email last night that I am including as part of this update. Please take a minute and read through. Again, please reach out if you have any questions. Be safe!
-Mr. B
From Ms. Murray:

Hello All!

Well, Alek was right...schools actually closed! Alek, I am sorry for doubting you! I will spend these next three weeks getting better at the internet.

All joking aside, I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. I wanted to reach out to make sure you all were comfortable with our academic goals for you in the next few weeks, and also make sure that everyone has everything they need (both academically and otherwise) for our time off.

1. We are in a better position than most schools in the state. You can already complete most of your work online at home! Please be signing into Edgenuity to stay on track in your classes (especially you, seniors!). I know many of you have already been doing this. Bravo! If you do not have internet at home, I do know that Comcast is offering free wifi during this pandemic if you haven't looked into it already. Details about that here.

2. If you are in my Blended English classes, you have an independent reading assignment that you can be working on. Mr. B sent out a link to that assignment over the weekend, but in case you missed it, you can find it here. Many of you have picked books already, but if not, check out the Peabody Public Library website for resources. The library is closed but you can still check out audiobooks! I'm finishing up a book I loved called Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I'll try to put together a book talk demo video to give you guys an idea of what you should be preparing for this assignment. 

3. Mr. B is giving out extra credit! Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Insta; he is posting one extra credit assignment each day, and if you complete it, you can get either 3 extra points on a final class grade, skip three assignments in a class, or makeup three absences! 

4. Lastly, I know some of the students at our school get free or reduced lunch (and probably other qualify). If you are feeling food insecure during this time out of school, please shoot me an email. There are a lot of resources for those who qualify for free or reduced lunch during this time out of school, and you do NOT need to go without a meal. I know as of Monday, breakfasts/lunches were being delivered all over the city. Other cities and towns are doing pickup points. Just let us know if you aren't sure who to ask!

5. Did I miss anything?

Whew! Thanks for sticking with me through that wall of text. I guess I miss you, my cherubs! Please be well, and I'll see you all in a few weeks.

Best, 

Ms. Murray

COVID-19 Update: Day 2

Students & Families,

Hope everyone is well. I just attended a virtual meeting with the Districts Leadership Team and City Officials. Other than everyone being upset that Tom Brady will no longer be playing with the Patriots ( Bummer), I have no new news to report. I would like to update you regarding students learning. Thus far, we have a small number of students logging onto Edgenuity to do work. THIS MUST IMPROVE! If a student has a computer and internet access, we are expecting them to spend a few hours a day completing work. I will be making phone calls this week updating each parent of their child's participation. Our students are in an ideal situation in which they can continue to learn and complete school work even though we are not meeting daily. Collectively, we need to do a better job of taking advantage of the situation. Please reach out if there are any concerns.  Also, I am posting extra credit activities for all students on social media. This is a great way for students to make up unexcused absences, make up missing work, and boost their grades. It does not get any easier than this! Hope you are all safe and healthy. I will follow up with more news in the coming days. Be well.

Mr. B

COVID-19 Update: Day 1

Academy Students & Families,

I hope everyone is starting to find some normalcy during day 1 of what is now are 3 week hiatus. I wanted to give you a brief update to what is happening. Governor Baker announced a mandatory closing of all schools for three weeks. We will now be expected back to school on Tuesday, April 7th. We did not know or expect any decision from Governor Baker until he made the announcement last night. Information is coming fast and is constantly changing. I ask that you please be patient during this time. I will pass along any information as soon as I receive it.  I plan on meeting with Mayor Bettencourt, city officials and all school personnel tomorrow morning. I will relay any news to you immediately after my meeting. As for now, I would recommend trying to help your child structure the day the best you can. Here is an example of how you may want to structure your child's day:

8-9 am	Wake up	Eat, get dressed
9-11 am	School Work	Log onto Edgenuity & work
11-12 pm	Lunch	Eat Lunch, Take a walk, Look at your phone
12-2 pm	Back to Work!!	Log onto Edgenuity & get some more work done!!
2-3 pm	Break Time	Take some time away from school work. Go outside and get some fresh air!
3-4 pm	Read	Spend time reading your Independent Reading Book for Ms. Murray.
4-7 pm	Dinner & Family Time	Eat dinner and spend time with your family.
7-8 pm	Extra Credit	Take a look at the Academy Facebook page, Twitter feed, or Instagram Account. Mr. B will assign extra credit assignments daily that could be used to make up absences, eliminate some school work when we get back, or boost your overall grade in any subject!
8-10 pm	TV Time	TV, Video games, phone, etc
10 pm	Bed Time	Lights out! Big day tomorrow!!!

I have 2 kids of my own and my wife and I are using a template similar to this. Granted, I have little kids and it will be easier to implement, it is always good to try and organize their school day. I will be at the school until 2 if you or your child needs to pick anything up. Also, I will be posting extra credit assignments for the students to complete. These assignments will be found on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter. If a student completes each of my assignments, I will allow students to use the credits towards making up an absence, eliminating some school work from Edgenuity, or boosting their grade in a certain class. Please be safe and feel free to email if you have any questions.

Mr. B 

Lets Do This!!!

Academy Students & Families,

Good evening. As you all now know, school will not be is session for the next 2 weeks. Fortunately, our students are in the best situation of anyone in the state! Because we already utilize digital learning, we have the ability to continue working at home. Although we will not be meeting daily, I am asking students that have a computer and access to the internet to log on to Edgenuity daily and complete school work. Ms. Murray, Mr. Tanglis, and myself will be logged in and available throughout the school day. If a student needs to be reset, just email any of us and we will take care of it immediately. 

Normally, we do not allow students to take tests at home. However, under the circumstances, we will unlock tests so students can do them at home.  In doing so, we are trusting that students will NOT USE GOOGLE OR ANY OTHER SEARCH ENGINE TO LOOK UP TEST ANSWERS. If a student is having issues passing test, simply email any of the teachers and we will do our best to help you via email. 

Students that are in Ms. Murray's blended English classes will be expected to read and complete their quarterly Independent Reading Assignment. If students left their book at the Academy, they can pick it up on Monday between 10-2. If they are unable to pick it up, please email me and I will make arrangements to bring it to them.  Students are expected to read their book and complete this form . All of Ms. Murray's Blended English students will report on their book on Monday, March 30th ( the day we report back to school).  We are currently working on emailing Mr. Tanglis' math videos out to students so they can continue working as well. I will send out more information early next week. Any student in need of a chrome book please reach out to me ASAP and I will work with our IT department to obtain a device so you can use it over the next 2 weeks. 

As I said, our students are in the best possible position to succeed during this situation. Now, it is up to all of us, students, teachers, and families to be sure students are taking advantage of this opportunity to get their work done. I am always available for questions or concerns so please do not hesitate to contact me at any time. Please, all be safe and smart in the coming days. I wish everyone good health and I look forward to seeing you all very soon. 

Mr. B

It's Almost Spring!!!

I hope everyone has has been able to get back into the swing of things after February break. We have a lot happening around here and I want to make sure everyone is caught up. 

Parents Night:

Parents night is on, Thursday March 12th from 6-8 pm at the Academy. This is a great opportunity to speak to your child's teacher. We hope to see you there! 

Grades:
As we begin to countdown the end of the school year, many of our students are in the process of trying to finish up all of their classes in order to participate in graduation in June. If you have any questions, please log into the ASPEN portal or call Mr. Bedard if you have any questions. Students need to accumulate 115 credits along with passing 4 years of English, 3 years of History & Math, 2 Years of Science, 3 semesters of Gym and 40 hours of community service. Please to come in on parents night if you have any great concerns. 

North Shore Community College:

Back in January, a representative from North Shore Community College came to the Academy and conducted on site admissions to the college. Students that attended that session were admitted into the college during the meeting. We will follow up with a field trip to the campus on Thursday, March 19th for placement testing. It is important that all students expecting to go to NSCC come on this trip and perform well on this test. Our teachers will begin preparing the students for this test over the next few weeks.

Community Service:

Reminder that all seniors are required to complete 40 hours of community service in order to graduate. We have completed well over 50 this year alone. However, there are few new students that have not been here to begin the year that need to make sure this is complete. This is a GRADUATION REQUIREMENT AND MUST BE COMPETE IN ORDER TO GRADUATE.

We are in the process of scheduling several other trips before the year is over .

Academy Graduation: 

The Academy graduation will be held on Friday, June 12th at 10 am. This is a great event and I hope to see you all there. 

I hope you all stay warm over the next few weeks. Spring is right around the corner!!

Mr. Bedard