Zoom issues across the country impacting learning

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Please see this link to read the content below in multiple languages

Tech help evenings and hours are coming next week, please visit https://sites.google.com/swampscott.k12.ma.us/digitallearning/family-help page for the most up to date information

We have become aware of a known issue with Zoom and Google Meet and certain types of Chromebooks, many of which are in use throughout our district. We know this has been frustrating for many families and teachers today in Swampscott as well as across the country. 

When we reached out to Zoom to discuss, they responded with “While we have a team currently looking at ways to continue optimizing the existing Chrome application, Zoom’s number one goal is delivering the best possible experience for our users. To provide the highest performance and most stable Chrome application, we are focusing on the development of our new, ground-up, next-generation Chrome client. We are partnering directly with Google to ensure it is optimized for speed, features, and compatibility. In the interim, it’s important for Chrome users to ensure they are running the latest Chrome client, (SPS chromebooks are all updated), and to close all other applications and browser tabs.”

If your students experience quality problems with  Zoom on a Chromebook, please ask them to follow these steps, which should improve performance.

  • Remove any unnecessary extensions in use for Google Chrome.   
  • Limit the number of open tabs during meetings.  Additional tabs use system resources and tax a chromebook.
  • Turn off your camera if you have difficulty staying connected to meetings.

This problem, the timing of which could obviously not be worse, is affecting Chromebook users everywhere in all school districts.  We are researching other potential workarounds and best practices but a solution will ultimately have to come in the form of a Chrome software update as noted above by Zoom. Please make sure to reach out to the teacher if you have missed a meeting due to a Zoom difficulty so that we can track this data. We are also working with our staff to try out Google Meet as an alternative to Zoom.

Thank you,

SPS Technology & Digital Learning 

iPad pick up information for grades 1 & 2

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Swampscott 1:1 Chromebook Program Details

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Website to learn about the Chromebooks: https://sites.google.com/swampscott.k12.ma.us/digitallearning/student-chromebooks

Letter sent home to families on Friday, August 27th about the program

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DESE Fall Reopening Facilities and Operations Guidance

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The Department of Education Fall Reopening Facilities and Operations Guidance can be accessed by clicking on this link

 

 

Extended Closure Enrichment Activities

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SPS Extended Closure Enrichment Activities

 

At this time, the state guidance we have been provided thus far is that the suspension of school means that these are non-school days. While these will not count as school days, it is our hope that families and caregivers will encourage and support their students to continue to engage in valuable enrichment activities. To assist families in this capacity, we have worked with our teachers to create a website that will guide you to resources your students can access directly and activity ideas that you can share with your students.

We encourage students to keep practicing the skills they have been working on in their courses of study.

  • Under the “School” tab at the top of this page, you will find links to specific schools and grade levels where you can find additional advice, links, and other resources. These resources were assembled by our SPS teachers to support learning during the hiatus.

  • The “Family Project” tab links to some general resources and ideas of activities to involve the entire family. It has been compiled and shared by Worcester Public Schools.

  • The “Digital Resources” tab contains links to some sites prepared by Google with activities to engage students.

Please check this page periodically for any updates regarding the resources or expectations for learning during the closure.

Students with disabilities and English learners who normally receive specialized instruction should expect additional communications directly from their Special Education or English as a Second Language Teachers.

Swampscott Public Schools COVID-19 Updates

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https://www.swampscottps.org/coronavirus-covid-19-information/

Swampscott Public Schools’ first priority is the health and safety of our students and staff. We will use this page to continue to update families about our communications home to families and our trusted resources. At this point, there is no significant risk to the SPS community relative to COVID-19. Any district plans or responses will be developed in accordance with the latest guidance from the Swampscott Board of Health, the MA Department of Public Health, and the Center for Disease Control Prevention (CDC).

You can access up to date information about COVID-19 on the website MA DPH COVID-199. Moving forward we will continue to communicate with you regularly as new information comes available via our website and emails to families.