WHAT IS IT?
A Weekly Wellness Check is a brief, live online check-in between a SPEAR staff member and the student. It confirms the student’s well-being and participation and gives the student an opportunity to ask questions or request help.
WHO REQUIRES IT?
Pennsylvania law requires school districts operating full-time virtual programs to visibly see and communicate with every full-time virtual student in real time at least once during each instructional week containing three or more instructional days.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
1. Log in to Pearson Connexus.
2. Open the student’s grade-level SPEAR Homeroom.
3. Select Assignments and open the current Weekly Wellness Check.
4. Click the green “Join Tuesday Wellness Check” button.
5. Type in the meeting message box to let staff know you have arrived.
6. Keep the camera and microphone off while waiting.
7. When staff calls the student’s name, turn on the camera and microphone.
8. The student responds live and may ask questions. When staff confirms completion, the student is dismissed from the wellness-check meeting.
WHO SHOULD BE ON CAMERA?
The student must be seen and communicate directly with SPEAR staff. Parents and Learning Coaches may help a younger student enter the meeting, but should then remain off camera and outside the camera view. Please do not answer for the student unless staff asks for assistance.
WHEN IS IT?
Every Tuesday:
• Grades K–6: 8:00–9:00 a.m.
• Grades 7–8: 9:00–10:00 a.m.
• Grades 9–12: 10:00–11:00 a.m.
WHAT IF IT IS MISSED?
Contact SPEAR promptly at (570) 509-2870.
• Wednesday makeup: 10:00–11:00 a.m. for now
• Thursday makeup: by appointment only
SPEAR will announce changes for shortened weeks or school closures.
WELLNESS CHECKS AND ATTENDANCE ARE SEPARATE
• An absence excuse does not exempt a student from the wellness check or complete it.
• Completing the wellness check does not automatically mark a student present.
• Daily attendance is recorded through SPEAR’s separate attendance process.
• Being dismissed from the wellness-check meeting does not dismiss a student from classes or daily coursework.
Opening the assignment, clicking the meeting link, completing classwork, emailing, submitting an absence excuse, or completing Friday’s Academic Progress Checklist does not replace the required live interaction.
Click the green Wellness Check image to read Pennsylvania’s official requirement.
