COVID-19 Updates

March 24, 2020

Dear TRA Families & Students,

We hope that you are managing your time and learning as well as can be expected.  These are certainly unprecedented times and we recognize that the unknown in and of itself can be stressful.  We just want to share with you some things that we do know, and what we have been working on.

ACT Aspire testing is postponed, for now, and new testing dates will be evaluated in a couple of weeks.  It is difficult to forecast very far into the future at this time, so we will make determinations based on smaller checkpoints along the way.

With so much still unknown, with respect to how long distancing measures will be necessary, it is difficult to know how to plan for important events such as prom and graduation.  For that reason, TRA’s Prom is not being canceled at this time.  Ms. Kuykendall has communicated with the venue, and they have agreed to allow us to reschedule our date, as we are able to make that decision.  We would like to follow the same plan for graduation, if necessary.  TRA’s graduation date is not as soon as prom, so we have a little more time to see how things develop over the next couple of weeks.  However, if the situation calls for continued social distancing, nearer to the date of graduation, we will be working with First Baptist Millington to secure a later alternative date.  Additionally, TRA will follow the same plan regarding Kindergarten Graduation.  These events are such important milestones in the lives of our students, we sincerely desire, to still be able to hold those events.

We feel it is important for the health and safety of our students, and their families, to comply with the recommendations of our leaders.  Therefore, we will be extending the closure of our campus through April 24, 2020.  According to the state government Website, the Governor will give guidance to schools across the state, as to whether that date remains acceptable to reopen school campuses.

As educators, naturally we believe that the continuity of learning is vital to academic growth and development.  Our faculty and staff, have been working tirelessly to ensure our families are being provided with the best academic instruction possible, during this time.  Please know that we are still here to serve you, and to help you with anything you need during this time of uncertainty.

Serving Him,

TRA Administration

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN LEARNING REMOTELY

• If you can, set up a dedicated work/study area.
• Schedule regular times to complete your schoolwork.
• Check your email and the communication channel your teachers set up with you at least once a day.
• Have a question? Ask, don’t guess! Contact your teacher using the communication channel they established.
• Use a calendar to keep track of deadlines. Stay on schedule.
• Stay engaged with your classmates in an online environment. 
• Remember, you are not alone!

Tipton Rosemark Academy's Essential Agreements for Online Learning

Platforms for Daily Use:

• Elementary grades 2K-5 will use various forms of online platforms for their daily learning engagements and parent interactions. 

• Grades 6-12 will use Google Classroom and/or Google Hangouts for their daily learning engagements and enable the parent and/or guardian access to Google Classroom.

• All teachers will use various online platforms such as Google Classroom, Google Hangouts, YouTube, IXL, Quizlet, Reminders, Zoom and/or provide one daily video or conference opportunity for up to 20 minutes. Specific information will be coming from classroom teachers and/or the division director. 

• Email, GroupMe, and Google Chat groups may be used for communications between staff.

• Email, GroupMe or other platforms will be used to communicate formally with parents.

• For Lower School students/families, teacher web pages will be considered home base for information regarding instruction. For Upper School students/families, Google Classroom and student issued rebelmail accounts will be considered home base for information regarding instruction. Upper School students should access Google Classroom and e-mail daily.

• Ideally, these platforms should already be familiar to our students. However, there may be new platforms used. We will be patient with each other as we navigate new or unfamiliar territory. Students will continue to use these platforms for all daily lessons. 

Expectations for Teaching and Learning:

• Teachers will supply daily lessons for students. Each lesson may be expected to take up to 15 minutes for students in K-1, up to 30 minutes for students in 2-3, and up to 45 minutes for students in 4-5. Students in 6-8 may begin on research projects that are broken down by steps to simplify the process for students. Students in 9-12 may engage in more detailed research, as long as an initial template and rubric is given. Quality is more important than quantity.

• Specialists, librarians, counselors, and other teachers will work out a schedule for each grade level. They may offer no more than one lesson each day from one teacher from this team, e.g., if wellness/physical education is on Monday, music is on Tuesday, library is on Wednesday, etc. 

• Grade level teachers of the same subject will offer consistency within reason. Teams may lesson share to assist in workload.

• Teachers will create information and lessons daily to the main learning platform. Include any other teachers’ lessons on this checklist.

• Lessons should capitalize on the home environment. Reduce screen time and include physical activity as much as possible.

• Teams will determine a consistent method for collaboration and include administrative teams in a diligent effort to collaborate often to ensure a smooth roll out.

• Teachers will track student progress to ensure participation and check-in with students if students are struggling or non-participatory. Grace and understanding should always govern decisions.

• Feedback to students will be given on every assignment, even if it is just a thumbs up. Voice and video feedback is extremely valuable to your students when possible.

• At least once a week, teachers will communicate a general update to our parents.

• Teachers in K-5 will include one video that students can look forward to daily. This may be a “Good Morning!” video or an instructional video. Video is encouraged as much as possible. Please do not make video lectures that exceed the length of a mini-lesson.

• Monitor the morale of your class and the workload of the students carefully. You have the latitude to make good decisions for the well being of your students.

• General education teachers will create a weekly schedule that will be shared with families and students. Each session should not be more than 20 minutes.

• Only one session a day, unless special circumstances occur. Send your weekly schedule home in your weekly communication, and publish your schedule with your online link on your platform for grades 3-12. 

• Please report student concerns via Google Classroom and/or Power School. If needed, discuss these concerns with administrators or the counselor. Remember to lead with understanding and an open mind

• Please maintain a healthy work/life balance. Keep lines of communication open between all departments and consult your administrator if you are having any difficulty in this new frontier of learning. We are here to support you!

Expectations For TRA’s Academic Honor Code

• According to TRA’s Honor Code Policy, signed by students and parents each year, our expectation is for students to be individuals of personal integrity in all activities of their lives. 

• Any videos or recorded materials are for instructional use by our TRA families. Videos or recordings should not be shared with others or on social media.  

Partnership Agreement Between TRA, Parents, and Students

• In an effort to maintain quality instruction during these extreme times, the parties above agree to commit to work together to ensure the success of each student. We agree to keep the lines of communication open and strive to work together diligently on a daily basis. 

• Thank you for your tremendous support of your children, our faculty, and our stakeholders. Continue to pray for discernment and guidance. 

Dear TRA Parents,
In response to the rapidly evolving situation with the COVID-19 virus, TRA will be closed until Monday, March 30. This will include all extracurricular activities, including athletic events and practices. 

No student should be on campus during this two week period, which begins Monday, March 16.

Students and parents will receive additional details by email regarding how TRA will transition to online distance learning in the coming days. 

Distance learning will begin Monday, March 23. If you have items at the school that you will need for learning, please contact the business office at 829-6500 on Monday, March 16 between the hours of 9:00 am and noon. You will be given instructions on how to pick up your materials.

As always, the health and safety of our families, faculty and staff are of utmost importance to us. Thank you for your support, patience and understanding as we navigate this unprecedented health situation. 

Please consult the CDC website and your local health department for advice on how to keep your family safe from this outbreak.

Please continue to pray for all of our students and their families. Please keep an eye on communications via email and our school’s social media as we are committed to keeping our families informed of any changes or new developments.