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CONTENTS DELIVERING A 4D EDUCATION REMOTELY
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CONTACT INFORMATION
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REMOTE LEARNING TERMS
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TECHNOLOGY AND TOOLS
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REMOTE LEARNING SCHEDULE
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ATTENDANCE AND GRADES
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EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENTS
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ACADEMIC COACHING
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SERVICE LEARNING
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COLLEGE COUNSELING AND STANDARDIZED TESTING
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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DELIVERING A 4D EDUCATION REMOTELY Kents Hill School has always viewed academics as preparation for the future. Our 4D curriculum combines a knowledge-rich education with extensive training in skills, character, and reflection because we believe these components prepare students to thrive in the complex and unpredictable world they will inherit. Yet, as the past several weeks have made clear, the future is here. The COVID-19 crisis has placed new demands on our time and new barriers around our experiences. It has made us feel afraid for ourselves and our families, and with “social distancing” now the norm across much of the world, it has separated us from our friends. Instead of merely studying global problems, as we do in our classes, we find ourselves confronting one. In the next month, Kents Hill will join schools all over the country in moving its academic program online for the newest chapter of its nearly 200-year history: remote learning. However, as we gear up for this adventure, our teachers, advisors, and administrators remain firmly committed to delivering a high-quality academic experience and, just as importantly, to maximizing the opportunities for connection and community that make Kents Hill special. Our modified schedule places a premium on interactions between students and their teachers, and we will hold daily advisory meetings to discuss the challenges and opportunities of remote learning. Regular wellness periods and all-school meetings will allow us to move, meditate, and just have fun. While remote learning will force all of us to try new things in the weeks ahead, we invite students and families to remember the “all in” mindset that often guides our community and view the next month as a unique learning opportunity that will make us smarter, wiser, and kinder. In the long run, we might discover that this experience was invaluable precisely because it forced us to rethink the meaning of education in the middle of an emergency. Dr. Benjamin Priest Dean of Academics bpriest@kentshill.org
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CONTACT INFORMATION Christopher S. Cheney Head of School ccheney@kentshill.org
For Questions Related to Health Services:
For Questions Related to the Student Experience at Kents Hill:
For Questions Related to Residential Life and Student Activities:
Meadow Davis Associate Head of School mdavis@kentshill.org For Questions Related to Academics:
Dr. Ben Priest Dean of Academics bpriest@kentshill.org For Questions Related to Accommodations, Academic Coaching, or Student Learning:
Mary Keeley Director of Student Learning Director of Akin Learning Center makeeley@kentshill.org For Questions Related to College Counseling and Standardized Testing:
Cathleen Samborski Health Center Director csamborski@kentshill.org Erica Chute Dean of Residential Life echute@kentshill.org
For Questions Related to Finance:
Andy May CFO; Business Office amay@kentshill.org
For Questions Related to Technology:
Mike DeLisle Director of Information Technology mdelisle@kentshill.org OR Technology Help helpdesk@kentshill.org
Gretchen Bergill Director of College Counseling gbergill@kentshill.org
For any general questions regarding your child’s remote learning experience at Kents Hill, or to share information that you feel will be helpful in supporting your child, please don’t hesitate to reach out to their advisor directly.
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REMOTE LEARNING TERMS There are two types of remote learning: synchronous and asynchronous. Synchronous learning happens when the teacher and the students are online together, engaging and learning with one another at the same time. This is what happens during our traditional academic schedule. Now, synchronous learning will be happening when we are all online together with our classes during their scheduled meeting times. Asynchronous learning happens when students are participating in activities, assessments, reflection, and receiving feedback within a certain time frame, but students and teachers are not all online together. Students could be assigned a video to watch and then asked to complete an activity or respond in another way prior to the next class meeting. Our remote learning plan incorporates a mix of synchronous and asynchronous learning and flexibility for small-group work and individual check-ins. This is intentional: by offering different ways to teach and learn, we will be able to best meet the unique needs of our diverse body of student learners.
TECHNOLOGY AND TOOLS While many elements of remote learning will be new for our students and faculty, the majority of technology and tools required are ones that Kents Hill has used throughout the academic year. As always, our Information Technology Help Desk (helpdesk@kentshill.org) is available to assist parents and students with any technology-related questions, including WiFi access, preferred devices, and platform access. A school representative will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible and always within 24-hours during business hours.
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Kents Hill Email Email will be used for all announcements from the school, including the Head of School. Faculty and staff will continue to use email to communicate with students and families. Students should continue to check their Kents Hill email (@kentshill.org) multiple times a day. Husky Portal Faculty and students will primarily use the Husky Portal (www.kentshill.org) as an organized, central hub for all remote learning. All faculty will post a weekly class plan to the Husky Portal by 8 a.m. EDT on Monday and use the platform to distribute materials, post assignments, post virtual office hours, provide information regarding live and recorded Zoom sessions, and take attendance. Google Suite We will continue to use the Google Suite (Google Docs, Google Slides, etc.) to create, collaborate, and share files. Zoom All courses and virtual interactions will use Zoom (kentshill.zoom.us) for synchronous learning. Faculty will schedule each Zoom class through Google Calendar and invite students as attendees. All sessions will be recorded (including one-on-one engagement). Class sessions will be recorded and made available on the Husky Portal. To access Zoom (kentshill.zoom.us), students should use their Kents Hill email and select the “Sign-In through Google” feature. If Zoom is not available for any reason, faculty will communicate directly with students around what their alternative platform will be. Teachers will communicate expectations (including session links and calendar invitations) prior to the session.
REMOTE LEARNING SCHEDULE Synchronous Learning Students will attend two synchronous blocks for each academic class during a typical week. Faculty will start and end each session with students present together and will use other time to have students working in small groups or independently.
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Asynchronous Learning Wednesday will be an asynchronous learning day for all students to complete work and assignments independently. Virtual Office Hours There will be multiple opportunities each day for students to connect one-on-one with their teachers, specifically scheduled to allow students in multiple time zones to have access to Kents Hill faculty. Advisory Staying connected with each other, and with faculty, is the cornerstone of the Kents Hill education. Students and families alike identified regular times to connect with advisory groups as one of the most important things to them and therefore, advisory groups will connect four days a week.. Advisors will send weekly emails to families with updates on how their children are adjusting to remote learning and will respond to family questions within 24 hours during business hours. If you have questions or concerns, advisors are a great place to start! Wellness and Activities Learning at Kents Hill has never been purely in academic classrooms and our remote learning will not be either! Each day of the week has time built-in for “wellness activities” where students will have the opportunity to practice meditation and mindfulness through activities guided by our school counselors, jump into basic fitness workouts designed by their spring sport coaches, and practice no-equipment bodyweight workouts designed by the Kents Hill strength and conditioning coaches. In addition, our athletic teams will be providing sport-specific learning opportunities through videos, articles, and/or websites as well as more general apps and fitness challenges. Time Zones The daily schedule has been created to accommodate as many of the students in the ten different time zones as possible. It is our expectation that students are present whenever possible. However, we do understand the challenges that time mismatches create and will, therefore, make exceptions for our students who are unable to participate in our synchronous classes due to the time differences. Our video conferencing platform does have the ability to record classes and all synchronous classes will be recorded. This will allow students unable to attend online classes to access course content. If you are
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not able to participate in the synchronous classes live, please communicate directly with your teacher and they will work with you to develop an asynchronous learning plan for those classes. The below schedule will be used through Friday, April 10. We will email all students and families each Friday with the schedule for the following week. All times are in EDT.
WEEK 1 MONDAY APRIL 6 9 - 9:20
Advisory
9:30 - 10
All School Meeting
10:10 - 10:40
A Block
10:50 - 11:20
B Block
11:30 - 12
C Block
12:10 - 12:40
D Block
12:40 - 1:40
Lunch/Break
1:40 - 2:40
Virtual Office Hours
TUESDAY APRIL 7
8 - 9
Virtual Office Hours
9 - 9:20
Advisory
9:30 - 10
E Block
10:10 - 10:40
F Block
10:50 - 11:20
G Block
12:30 - 1:20
Lunch/Break
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1:30 - 2:30
Virtual Office Hours
2:40 - 3:40
Department Meetings (Faculty)
WEDNESDAY APRIL 8 8 - 9
AP/College Classes Extra Review Time
9 - 9:20
Advisory
9:30 - 11:30
Virtual Office Hours
11:30 - 12:20
Group Meetings
12:30 - 1:20
Lunch/Break
2:30 - 3:30
Virtual Office Hours
3:45 - 4:45
Faculty Meeting
THURSDAY APRIL 9 8 - 9
Virtual Office Hours
9 - 9:20
Advisory
9:30 - 10:20
C Block
10:30 - 11:20
D Block
11:30 - 12:20
A Block
12:30 - 1:20
Lunch/Break
1:30 - 2:20
B Block
2:30 - 3:30
Wellness
3:45 - 4:45
Virtual Office Hours
FRIDAY APRIL 10
8 - 9
Virtual Office Hours
9 - 9:50
G Block
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10 - 10:50
E Block
11 - 11:50
F Block
12 - 12:15
All-School Meeting
ATTENDANCE AND GRADES All students are expected to actively participate in remote learning, recognizing that due to time differences, for some students this will be primarily asynchronous. Attendance will be taken for each class and, unless they have made asynchronous plans with their teacher, students not attending the class will be marked absent. Attendance consequences will remain the same throughout our remote learning time. For more information on those policies, please visit www.kentshill.org. Families wishing to excuse their child due to illness should contact Addie Michaud, Assistant to the Dean of Students, at amichaud@kentshill.org. Kents Hill educators recognize that student access to web-based technology will vary from household to household, making remote learning a challenging prospect for many families. We also know that the COVID-19 crisis has left everyone feeling more anxious and stressed than usual. As a result, we have created a modified grading policy for this spring's remote learning that reflects variation in student access to technology and Kents Hill's unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of our students. The policy includes: 1. The stipulation that all Kents Hill teachers enter weekly participation grades for online learning that are based on a common participation rubric, which will be posted on the Husky Portal for each academic class. We see weekly participation grades as a way of rewarding our students for trying something new and making a good faith effort to remain focused on academics despite challenging circumstances. 2. The stipulation that teachers give no grade lower than 75 for assessments submitted on time and completed in accordance with the directions published to the student portal. This guideline reflects the
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novelty and potential difficulty of remote learning. Please note that there are exceptions to this policy: students who turn in late or incomplete assignments (or who fail to submit assignments at all) may still earn grades lower than 75 per their teachers' discretion.
EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENTS The following guidelines were created to support all Kents Hill students in their understanding of and engagement with remote learning. Arrive on time to each “virtual” class, be present and respectful ● Students should abide by “casual dress” code at Kents Hill, which stipulates that community members will wear attire that is clean, in good repair, and free from rips or tears. Clothes, jewelry, or other accessories should not have messages that advocate drugs, alcohol, tobacco, or have language that is racist, sexist or has otherwise offensive messages, symbols, or pictures. Any visible tattoos must adhere to the same standards mentioned above. Clothing will fit well and cover torsos, hips, upper thighs, and underclothes at all times. ● When interfacing online via Zoom, ensure that you have chosen an appropriate backdrop, free from distractions and other individuals, and silence all device notifications. ● Be on time for all classes and stay engaged and present during the synchronous components of class time. ● Keep in mind that during a Zoom call, anything that is done, said or viewed is public, is recorded and will be seen by your teachers and administration. ● All of Kents Hill’s academic integrity rules, expectations, and standards are in effect during remote learning. All students are expected to do their own work. Students may work together when invited or instructed to do so by a teacher; however, all work that students submit should be entirely the student’s own work or, as provided by the teacher, the work of a group of students.
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Establish a daily routine for your school day ● Go to sleep at a reasonable hour so that you are able to wake up in time to be on your computer and ready to engage with all scheduled classes and activities. ● Schedule breaks and time for exercise or other off-screen activities. ● Make sure you have all materials you need with you before you begin your school day. If possible, find a distraction-free place in your home where you can work ● Remember to find a place where your backdrop is appropriate for all your classmates and teachers to view. ● Distraction-free is important, so please make sure that you disconnect from other technology while engaged in remote learning. Stay in regular contact with your teachers, advisors and classmates ● Check your Kents Hill email and Husky Portal every day. ● Take advantage of virtual office hours if you need help or support. ● Establish a way to monitor assignments (to-do lists, planner). ● Ask questions if you need clarification. ● Find creative ways to connect with your friends, advisor, dorm parents, and coaches. Be kind to yourself ● The switch to remote learning will have its bumps for all of us. Be patient with yourself, and with your teachers and classmates, as we all work to figure this out together. ● Ask for help and support immediately if you are struggling with anything related to remote learning. Your advisor or your teachers will be able to help you figure out a plan for addressing whatever challenges you may be facing. ● Be both respectful and compassionate. Remember that the current public health situation may be impacting families within our community in a variety of different ways. Understand that not all homes are equally conducive to online learning and assume that everyone is trying their best. ● Remember to practice understanding and flexibility. Don’t assume that you know what is going on for other people or how remote learning may or may not challenge them. Be curious about new ways of doing things. Be compassionate to everyone around you as they do the same.
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EXPECTATIONS FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS
● Help establish a daily routine for the school day. ● Define a distraction-free space in your home for your child to work that has access to WiFi. ● Encourage breaks and time for exercise or other off-screen activities. ● Monitor communications from your child’s advisor and teachers. ● Check-in regularly regarding the schedule, assignments, and priorities. ● Encourage social contact with peers and classmates. ● Be patient and flexible as we navigate a new way of learning. ● Approach challenges with compassion and curiosity.
ACADEMIC COACHING Those students enrolled in our Academic Coaching program will meet virtually with their Academic Coach three days per week to work on skills related to learning remotely, such as time management, organization, communication, and advocacy. These one-on-one sessions will use Zoom, Google Drive, and new apps that allow real-time interaction for subjects such as math. Students will continue to receive the accommodations, modifications, and support they need during this transition to remote learning. Academic Coaches will reflect with students on their successes and challenges and make adjustments accordingly, as well as communicate with parents regarding progress.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SERVICE LEARNING We are isolated, but we are not alone. All over the world communities who are needing to be physically distanced from each other in order to curb the spread of Covid-19, are finding ways of coming together. One of the most meaningful ways to fulfill our need for human connection is to help and
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support others. People with food insecurity, the homeless, first responders, healthcare professionals, the elderly, immigrants, people struggling with addiction, and others who are already challenged in their lives need extra support during times of crisis and economic instability. Culled from many sources, here is a list of things you might consider doing when you need to find meaning, make a difference, burn a little energy and step away from your academics. Things you can do if you have been instructed to stay at home: 1. If you have siblings, odds are that they are home working on school assignments as well. Help them with their homework! 2. If you can Zoom, Google chat, or find another communication method, volunteer to tutor a neighbor’s children. 3. Send a note to a person living in an assisted living facility. Most visitation hours from facilities have been stopped and a card or a letter of encouragement from anyone would be appreciated. Especially if you have a friend or a relative currently in a hospital or other facility. 4. Make an expression of gratitude and stick it in a window of your home. Current trends are large cardboard hearts with notes of thanks for first responders, big signs, and even sticking teddy bears in windows. 5. Related to #5 above, order a bouquet of flowers with a thank you note and have it delivered to your local hospital’s ICU nursing station and just say “Thank you for all that you are doing right now.” 6. Consider monetary donations to organizations that are currently working to feed those with food insecurity, and particularly those who are working to feed students who receive meals through their schools while they are out of session. If you are unsure of where you might donate, contact your local United Way or contact the school through the email below. Beware of scammers who are using this particularly vulnerable time to solicit funds. 7. Order takeout/delivery! Got a favorite restaurant? See if they are doing takeout and support them during this time of economic struggle so that they can be in a position to reopen when the crisis has subsided. 8. Practice Zoom (or any other social platform that will allow for group video chat) with your roommate, your dorm friends, your lunch table group, your teammates, your grandparents, that aunt that always gives you socks on holidays, or any other group that would really appreciate
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hearing from you. Sometimes the greatest gift you can give anybody is the gift of your time. Things you can do when stay-at-home or shelter-in-place restrictions are relaxed: 1. Take a walk and pick up some trash! Grab a trash bag and head out along that pathway or road and pick up litter - just maintain good social distancing practices! 2. Give blood. The need is great and many local blood drives have been canceled, but in the United States, the American Red Cross offers a safe, secure and friendly place to give blood at their donation centers. You must be at least 17 years old in most states (16 years old with parental consent in some states). Additional height and weight requirements apply for donors 18 years old and younger and all high school student donors. For more information, visit www.redcrossblood.org. If you live outside of the United States, please check your local blood donation centers for more information. 3. Volunteer to work at a food bank. Many food banks and pantries are still packaging food for delivery to people who need them and are in need of people to work in their warehouses. They provide a safe environment for volunteers, screening them as they arrive and maintaining separation while working. If you are local to Kents Hill School, the Good Shepherd Food Bank in Auburn is accepting volunteers and has good safety protocols in place. Learn more at www.gsfb.org/get-involved/volunteer/ 4. Check your local humane society or pet shelter and see if they need assistance with animal care - feeding, cleaning pens, and walking dogs. 5. Do you have an elderly neighbor or know someone who generally needs physical assistance? Offer to pick up groceries or run small errands for them. 6. Perform random acts of kindness. Mow a neighbor’s lawn or shovel their snow. Stack some wood, rake some leaves, clean up a yard. Come up with your own ideas and share them! Google “virtual volunteer opportunities” and you will be directed to a plethora of opportunities available. The list is always growing as the situation around the world changes.
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Please forward questions, ideas, stories of your community engagement, and pictures to workforgood@kentshill.org so that we can share your ideas and accomplishments with others.
COLLEGE COUNSELING AND STANDARDIZED TESTING Our college counseling team is committed to ensuring continuity of support as students look to and plan for the future. If students or parents have any questions, please contact Gretchen Bergill, Director of College Counseling, directly at gbergill@kentshill.org. Guidance for Senior and Academic Gap Year Students ● Members of the Class of 2020 will have an opportunity to schedule appointments with their college counselor (via Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, or phone) to discuss college decisions, financial aid packages, scholarship applications, athletic recruitment, NCAA compliance, waitlist offers, AP testing, or anything else that requires assistance. Please check your school email regularly for updates and information about setting up virtual appointments. ● Please use your SCOIR account to log college admissions decisions as you receive them. Almost all decisions should be received by April 1. Please let your college counselor know if you are missing any decisions after that date. ● If you receive a waitlist offer and you would like to pursue it, please email your college counselor to set up a time to discuss your strategy and be sure to follow all college instructions - look for links to “accept” your WL spot or other steps you may need to complete. Time can be of the essence here so answer these invitations immediately. ● If you have applied for financial aid, check your applicant portals for financial aid package information and set up a time to speak with your college counselor if you and your family have questions. ● Check all acceptance letters/packets for information about online admitted student opportunities, webinars, chatrooms, and other opportunities to learn more about the college. ● Schedule a time to speak with your college counselor before you finalize your college choice. Use your SCOIR account to indicate your
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final college choice. The College Counseling Office will need this information to submit your Final Transcript by July 1. International students, be sure you have submitted all required documents. Schedule a time to speak with your college counselor. Update your SCOIR college list, choosing one college or university and indicating your intention to enroll by the required response date. Kents Hill will be transferring your I-20 to your college and will need your matriculation information as soon as it is finalized. Reminders for student-athletes, if you plan to compete at the Division I or II level, you will need to arrange to have your official test scores and your final high school transcript sent to the NCAA. Check with your college counselor if you have questions. If you receive an offer of admission from a waitlist after you have already indicated your intent to enroll at another college, please let your college counselor know so that they can help you withdraw from the first college and enroll at the second. Taking AP Exams at Kents Hill School this year will be encouraged but not required. The College Counseling Office will offer help with sending score reports as needed.
Guidance for Junior Students ● Juniors will continue to have their previously planned spring college counseling appointments via Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, or phone. Please check your email for information on how and when to schedule these meetings. ● Remember, each junior is expected to schedule two individual appointments during the spring. ○ The first meeting is to discuss among other topics important to you, the prospective college list you were asked to research and build on your SCOIR page over the break and to review your likely course selections for senior year. ○ The second appointment, which can be booked in June if it is most convenient for you, will be used to discuss among other topics important to you, your new standardized test schedule, summer plans, and possible college visits. ● Juniors will continue with their bi-weekly college counseling seminar using Zoom. Depending on how the rest of the semester unfolds, the Common Application workshop, essay writing exercise, and Mock Admissions workshop will either happen in-person or online. You will
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receive invitations for specific meeting times soon. Please watch for these Zoom invitations and be in touch if you have a conflict with your assigned time/section. Please refer to the email that was sent to you in mid-March for information about using your SCOIR account effectively and add prospective colleges to your SCOIR list as you identify them. Prospective student-athletes should be in touch with their coach and college counselor to coordinate college outreach. SAT and ACT testing has been canceled for April and May. The Kents Hill testing coordinator will be in touch with updated information as it is released by the College Board and the ACT. Please note that many colleges are moving to a “test-optional” admissions policy and more are expressing their willingness to be “test flexible” next year so you do not need to worry about standardized testing negatively impacting your college applications at this time. Taking AP Exams at Kents Hill this year will be encouraged but not required. The College Counseling Office will help with sending score reports as needed. Questions regarding 2020-21 course selection can be emailed to your college counselor or discussed during individual counseling appointments. Transcript requests in support of athletic recruitment, automobile insurance, or summer programs should be emailed directly to Tammy Birtwell, School Registrar, at tbirtwell@kentshill.org.
Guidance for Sophomore Students ● Sophomores will not be taking the practice PSAT on campus in April. We will be in touch to offer an online alternative. The Class of 2022 has been emailed links to set up both their SCOIR accounts and their Method Test Prep accounts. Access to these two programs will allow you to do some academic and personal exploration as well as to begin practicing for future standardized testing including the October 2020 PSAT. Sophomore parents have also been emailed a link to set up the parent account on SCOIR. ● Prospective student-athletes are invited to contact the college counselors to discuss their possible recruitment process. ● Prospective artists and musicians are encouraged to keep practicing their art and saving their work for future portfolios.
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● Sophomores with questions about their junior course load are encouraged to reach out to the college counselors for advice. ● Sophomores interested in sitting for the June SAT Subject Tests (if they are offered) should reach out to the college counselors and their subject teachers for advice. Guidance for First-Year Students ● Breathe! You have time to get started in the college search and application process. Your academic advisor will be helping you schedule your classes for next year. You do not need to take any standardized tests this year. ● Think about how you can use your summer wisely. Look for work; consider volunteering; practice your sport(s), art, or music; and read!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Academic Integrity All of Kents Hill’s academic integrity rules, expectations, and standards are in effect during remote learning. All students are expected to do their own work. Students may work together when invited or instructed to do so by a teacher; however, all work that students submit should be entirely the student’s own work or, as provided by the teacher, the work of a group of students. Advisory Multiple times for advisory groups to connect have been built-in to the remote learning schedule. During these times, advisors will meet with their advisees via Zoom, Google Hangouts, phone, etc., to check in on them, get a sense of how this new approach is working, and troubleshoot any questions or challenges. Athletics and Extracurricular Activities We believe that remote learning is much more than sitting in front of a screen, and have designed the daily schedule to incorporate dedicated time for wellness activities as well as the opportunity for students to connect with interest groups such as clubs, teams, and dorms.
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AP Exams In response to the current health precautions in place around the world, traditional face-to-face AP exam administrations will not take place. The College Board has made the following changes: ● For the 2019–20 exam administration only, students can take a 45-minute online free-response exam at home. ● To be fair to all students, some of whom have lost more instructional time than others, the exam will only include topics and skills most AP teachers and students had already covered in class by early March. ● For each AP subject, there will be two different testing dates. The full exam schedule, specific free-response question types that will be on each AP Exam, and additional testing details will be available by April 3. ● The exam questions are designed and administered in ways that prevent cheating, and will use a range of digital security tools and techniques, including plagiarism detection software, to protect the integrity of the exams. ● Students will be able to take these streamlined exams on any device they have access to - computer, tablet, or smartphone. Taking a photo of handwritten work will also be an option. ● The College Board recognizes that the digital divide could prevent some low-income and rural students from participating. If students need mobile tools or connectivity, they can contact the College Board directly. The College Board is assuring schools impacted that colleges support this solution and are committed to ensuring that AP students receive the credit they have worked this year to earn. For decades, colleges have accepted a shortened AP Exam for college credit when groups of students have experienced emergencies. After much deliberation, Kents Hill will approach the AP exams differently this year. Kents Hill students in AP courses will be encouraged, but not required, to sit for AP exams this Spring 2020. All students registered for AP courses will receive the AP designation on their transcripts whether they take the exams or not. Please reach out to your AP teachers with any questions or concerns about the changes to this year's exams. Students are encouraged to wait until closer to the test date to decide whether or not to take the online
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test. Students already registered for an exam can choose to cancel at no charge. Communication The transition to remote learning will be an adjustment for all students and teachers at Kents Hill. It is important that students and teachers check their Kents Hill email (@kentshill.org) multiple times a day to ensure that they are up-to-date with any schedule adjustments or school information. We will also be communicating regularly with parents and guardians to share information and gather feedback regarding the remote learning experience. Dress Code While our traditional dress code will not be in effect during remote learning, community members should remember that if they can’t wear it on a dress-down day, they shouldn’t wear it during an online class. Dual-Enrollment Courses Students who are currently enrolled in a dual-enrollment course will continue the course remotely with a Kents Hill faculty member and will earn credit(s) for which they are registered. Exams Students will not take final exams at the end of the second semester. Faculty will create assessments that take into account the unique challenges and opportunities related to remote learning. Health and Wellness While on campus, students develop relationships with counselors and nurses in our Health Center and often lean on these adults for emotional support and wellness. Our school counselors are available to provide support to Kents Hill students during the remote learning period by email, phone, and Zoom. Unfortunately, due to licensing restrictions, counselors are limited to providing support and check-in services rather than remote mental health counseling. This includes providing guidance to students and families and connecting them with appropriate providers in their communities. If you have concerns about medical or mental health issues, please contact your primary care physician and/or community mental health provider. Please reach out to Cathleen Samborski RN BSN, Health Center Director, at
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csamborski@kentshill.org with any questions or concerns and/or for additional resources regarding health and wellness. If your concerns are urgent and need an immediate response in the case of a serious mental health or medical emergency please: ● Call 9-1-1 for Emergency Services (U.S. only) ● Text the Crisis Text line “Talk” or “HOME” to 741741 ● Call 2-1-1 for Crisis Services available in your state ● Call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 ● Call the Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor We fully realize that we have all been impacted in ways that we could have never before imagined. We hope you find these online resources helpful. ● Coping During COVID-19: A Resource For Parents ● A Teen Guide To Navigating Coronavirus ● Podcast: "Coronavirus BONUS: Beat Your Isolation Loneliness" by Dr. Laurie Santos ● Helping Children Cope With Changes Resulting From COVID-19 Library Most of our library’s databases and newspapers can be accessed off-campus. There are a host of resources available to all Kents Hill students and staff during this period of remote learning. Here are just a few: ● Audible: Free Audiobooks available to Stream with Audible ● Maine’s Digital Library: Digital Maine Library Maine’s digital library remains the most extensive database of journals and online books available to teachers and students. Follow the link above and at the bottom of the page, type in a few keywords related to the subject of your inquiry (e.g. immigration, youth). You will instantly gain access to a host of journals and online publications related to your search. ● Google Scholar: Google Scholar
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Peer-reviewed journals, case law, and publications by reliable sources. Google scholar is an inexhaustible source of academic-related journals and publications. Use keywords separated by commas (e.g. cultural competency, Angola) to narrow your search. If students or faculty need assistance accessing library resources or other research databases, please contact Wilson Onu, Associate Dean of Academics, at wonu@kentshill.org. Student Support A student’s advisor and teachers are a great resource if they face learning difficulties and will provide one-on-one support via Zoom or phone. If students begin to struggle with learning, please reach out to their advisor so we can put additional support in place. Mary Keeley, Director of Student Learning and Director of the Akin Learning Center, can also be a resource to provide strategies for online learning, including time management, organization, and participation. She can be reached at makeeley@kentshill.org. Technology Support Contact the Information Technology Help Desk at helpdesk@kentshill.org if you need any assistance troubleshooting technology (including having adequate access to WiFi and devices), have trouble logging in to or using any of the online learning platforms (Zoom, Google Hangouts, Kents Hill Website), or have any general questions or concerns. Zoom Etiquette For the first few synchronous meetings on Zoom, students should log on 5-10 minutes early so that they can make adjustments to technology and are ready to begin the session on time. Best practices include: ● Work in a quiet location and use headphones. ● Use a clean background without visual distractions. ● Mute your microphone before you join to limit background noise and distractions. ● Be mindful of your actions, chat messages, and comments; remember all Zoom classes will be recorded.
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● Make sure your actions reflect Kents Hill’s core values and honor code. In Zoom, you may get an intimate glimpse of community members’ lives that you don’t normally see: their families, homes, and communities. Practice respect and kindness to everyone.