Students need to be registered in online system

By Lynsi Musselman

Families and students are anxiously awaiting the first day of school, while staff and administrators are preparing to welcome students back to school either in person or in a virtual classroom.

Registration

Whether they plan to attend physically or remotely, students at both campuses need to be registered for the 2020-2021 school year using the new online -ASCENDER system.

Albany Independent School District director of student services Leigh Lowe said the initial deadline to register online and in person has already passed, but there are still some online “no shows.”

“Returning and new students can still register online,” said Lowe. “Our office staff plans to start calling parents of those students that we know about, but who have yet to register. We need to get everyone enrolled before school starts.” 

Lowe reported that most of the high school students are registered, with four new students at the secondary campus and 21 new students so far at the elementary school, including preschool and kindergarten ages who haven’t attended NSES in the past.

“We only know of six students not returning to the district,” Lowe added.

She said many families of students in third grade and under have not set up a Parent Portal identification before now, because they typically stay in close contact with homeroom teachers through Bloomz and other means.

“The office is happy to help parents create an account,” Lowe said. “E-mail gets the quickest response, and it is easiest to troubleshoot questions by email.”

She explained that once students are registered and enrolled they can choose at-school classes or remote learning.

Both options offer instruction by qualified and certified AISD teachers, as well as district and state assessments to document growth.

Additional support to students and staff will be available for emotional and social needs. 

According to AISD administrators, students will have the option of changing their mode of instruction during the year, at the end of each six weeks grading period.

If school buildings close to the public again for any reason, AISD will immediately move all students to an online remote learning platform to avoid a lapse in instruction.

At-School Instruction

Full-time in-person instruction on campus will include heightened cleaning and disinfection protocols.

The at-school model will have teachers deliver instruction in person with students working in a traditional classroom setting on campus.

Students who attend in person will have the option of extracurricular activities.

The district will follow Texas Education Agency (TEA) guidelines as well as local health and state guidelines.

Remote Learning

The remote learning model will be full-time with district-provided technology.

Live instruction will use Zoom or Google Meet to connect students to the classroom.

Students will follow a schedule as if they were on campus, with attendance being required and taken at the beginning of each period.

Online assignments will be accessed through Google Classroom or Moodle, with virtual teacher availability.

 Students who choose to attend remotely will not be able to participate in extracurricular activities.

Laptops

All fifth and sixth graders and students attending Albany Junior Senior High School, regardless of mode of instruction, will receive a laptop or Chromebook to use during the school year. 

Those will be passed out the first week of school since fifth and sixth grade student computers are left at school during the year.

If they haven’t already, secondary students need to go online and sign up for a time to pick up a laptop at albanyisd.net/laptop-pickup.html.

Meet-the-Teacher

Lowe reported there will not be a meet-the-teacher meeting on campus this year.

Elementary teachers will be contacting each student who will be in their class to welcome them to school.

Students should receive a call sometime during the week before school begins.

Staff Preparation

AISD superintendent Jonathan Scott said there will be no traditional teacher breakfast this year.

Staff members will meet for separate campus meetings Aug. 12, 13, and 17.

“We felt that it would be best to not have the whole district staff together as a group,” Scott said.

The first day of school for students is Wednesday, Aug. 19.

NSES will begin each day at 7:55 a.m., and the AJ/SH starts at 8:00 a.m.

For registration questions or to create a Parent Portal account, -e-mail Lowe at llowe@albany.esc.14.net or Lillian Wheeler at lgwheele@albany.esc14.net. 

For all other inquiries about back to school protocol, contact the district office at 325-762-2823.