SPEAR Program Highlight: Attendance in Virtual Learning

SPEAR Families,

Now that students are through the initial course orientation period, we are beginning our regular weekly progress routine.

Some families have shared that they were not always aware of missing assignments or declining grades, and others have reported not seeing ParentSquare messages. Beginning this week, SPEAR will add an end-of-week progress report when academic concerns need attention.

This report is another layer of communication and does not replace Buzz notifications, Observer access, ParentSquare, or the student’s weekly Homeroom progress check.

By the end of each school week, students should have no assignments that were due that week remaining missing.

As part of the weekly Homeroom Progress Check, your child should sit down with you and show you that they have:

Pearson provides several quick indicators.

A completed assignment should show the appropriate check mark.

Work that has not been completed will not have the check mark and may remain on the student’s To-Do List.

Incomplete assignments receive a temporary zero until completed, which means several missing assignments can quickly have a significant impact on the course grade.

 

Families should receive daily Buzz emails for courses below the 70% grade threshold. If you are not receiving them, please check your Junk or Spam folder.

Parents and Learning Coaches should also use their Observer account to monitor grades, missing work, due dates, teacher feedback, and course progress throughout the week.

ParentSquare uses the contact information the school has on file. Direct Messages can be received through ParentSquare and the notification methods connected to your account.

Families with an activated account can also reply directly and Direct Message the Director of Virtual Learning for quicker assistance.

If you are not seeing messages, please check your Junk/Spam folder, verify that the school has your current contact information, and review your ParentSquare settings.

Attendance in virtual learning is more than logging into Pearson Connexus. Students must actively complete the learning scheduled for each school day.

SPEAR attendance will be updated in ParentVUE each Tuesday for the previous school week. Families should make checking ParentVUE part of their Tuesday routine.

Missing or incomplete required coursework can create an attendance concern. Work that remains incomplete after the allowed make-up opportunity may result in days absent being recorded under SPEAR attendance procedures.

Please contact SPEAR as soon as possible if illness, internet problems, device issues, login problems, Pearson access, or another barrier prevents your child from participating.

Do not wait until the end of the week. Reporting the problem promptly allows us to document the issue, provide assistance, and address potential attendance concerns.

The weekly Wellness Check, daily attendance, and Homeroom academic progress check are separate requirements.

Completing schoolwork does not replace the Wellness Check, and completing the Wellness Check does not automatically satisfy daily attendance.

Students should use the current Wellness Check assignment located in their SPEAR Homeroom for meeting links, times, and makeup directions.

Students who are falling behind are encouraged to attend the SPEAR VLA Learning Center.

Please contact SPEAR early if assignments are missing, grades are declining, technology is preventing participation, you have an attendance concern, or you would like to schedule a progress review.

(570) 509-2870

Our goal is simple: students, families, and SPEAR should identify problems early not after weeks of missing work have accumulated. If you would like to schedule an in person meeting and or virtual please let me know.