News from our Administrator

Dear NHS Families,

Online Learning to Date: Overall, the NHS teachers and I believe that

things are going well so far this year. Most of our students are making

progress, attending their classes, turning on their cameras so that teachers

can see them/engage with them, and doing their assignments. Many are

increasing their independent work skills as well as organizing and managing

their work on Schoology. Many are also improving their ability to ask their

teachers for help when they need it by requesting 1:1 time. Aside from the

occasional technology glitch (power outage, internet disruption, or minor lap

top problem), connectivity between students and teachers has been very

good.

We know that online learning is hard, much more difficult than in person

learning. The teachers and I are continuously looking for ways to make

online learning more accessible to all of our students, and we hope that you

will join us in that effort.

Ways to Support Your Student in Online Learning: In the meantime, I

am reattaching some information that I sent to all families at the beginning

of the school year about ways you can support your student in the remote

learning model (Click Here). This excerpt was part of a document that

I sent to parents in September, titled “Parent Guide: Re-opening NHS in the

Remote Model, September, 2020”. Please let us know if you would like

another copy of the complete document.

We appreciate your partnership as we all work together to provide continuity

in educational programming.

1st Quarter Report Cards/Next Progress Reports: You should have

received your student’s 1st Quarter report card on November 12th. Please

watch for your student’s progress report, which should be sent to you this

coming Friday, December 11th. Please contact Vikki Colson (vcolson@new-horizon-school.org)

if you have any questions.

Facilities: In preparation for the day when public health officials might

allow us to resume in person learning in the Hybrid Model, we are in the

process of completing some facilities maintenance: work on our fire

sprinkler system and work on our bridge outside of the Main Building on the

upper parking lot.

Welcome a Student Visitor: Please join us in welcoming Carter

Tuckerman, who began visiting in Mr. Hines’ homeroom this week. We hope

Carter and his family will enjoy visiting New Horizon School!

Community Outreach: Thursday, December 10th, several NHS teachers

and I will be attending the Renton Chamber of Commerce’s “Ahead of the

Care” awards ceremony. We nominated two health care providers for

awards, and we hope that the Renton Chamber will recognize our nominees

for their excellent work in the community.

Winter Vacation: Winter Vacation begins on December 21st and ends on

January 1st. School resumes on January 4th with our normal online learning

schedule.

Science Club Starts in January: Science Club starts on Wednesday,

January 20th. Please contact Vikki Colson at vcolson@new-horizon-school.org

or Ms. Hillman at shillman@new-horizon-school.org  if your student is interested.

Space is limited!

Upcoming Zoom Meeting: I am planning to schedule another “Coffee with

Marla, BYO Coffee, LOL” Zoom meeting during 2nd Quarter in order to check

in with parents, provide updates, answer any general questions, and/or

listen to any general concerns that you may have. I am looking for a

weekday morning about 10 AM that might work shortly after the New Year.

I will keep you posted.

Please do not hesitate to email me at mveliz@new-horizon-school.org if I

can be of any assistance to you.

Stay healthy, and Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Marla

Marla Veliz

Administrator

Admin December 7th, 2020

Posted In: School News

How Can I Support My Child’s Success in the Remote Learning Model?

Supporting students in remote learning is a new experience for all of us, and we are learning as we go. Teachers will be focusing on teaching students how to use Schoology, our Learning Management System.

In addition:

 Identify an appropriate workspace for your student. Working in the

same space every day will help your student be ready to learn.

 Support your student in organizing his/her learning materials: books,

paper, pencils, flash drive, and NHS provided head set with

microphone, lap top with camera, and mouse.

 Support your student in posting his/her individual class schedule,

along with the school’s master schedule. Visual aids and graphic

organizers in the student’s workspace will be helpful.

 Ensure that your internet connection is adequate, that your Wi-Fi

reaches the student’s workspace, or request a mobile hotspot for your

student.

 If you are unable to provide a consistent work space for your student,

try to provide additional supports to help with focus and organization,

(such as noise cancelling headphones for independent work time, a

display board or a curtain/screen to block visual distractions, and other

portable tools to help your child if he/she needs to move from place to

place on different days or at different times).

 Establish expectations, a schedule, and routines for your student. A

regular bedtime and wake up time is helpful. Teach your student your

expectations for breaks and lunch time. Let your student know that

you will be monitoring progress and checking grades.

 If you are working and unable to monitor expectations, schedules, and

routines for your student, support him/her in taking ownership of

his/her own learning.

 Provide your student with frequent check-ins. Ask him/her about

learning topics and assignments. Log in to Schoology and view

his/her grades regularly.

 If you are working and unable to provide face-to-face check-ins with

your student, meet with him/her before you leave for work or after

you return from work, text your child during your breaks, or call your

child on his/her breaks.

 Reinforce your child’s “ready to learn” behavior. Praise him/her when

the work space is organized, materials are ready, assignments are

completed and submitted, he/she is on time and engaged in Zoom

classes, etc.

Admin December 7th, 2020

Posted In: School News

Gardening Club Begins November 4th!

Join New Horizon School’s Zoom gardening club! Interested students should contact Ms. Vikki Colson by clicking this link.

Admin October 20th, 2020

Posted In: School News