Given the unprecedented circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic, questions have been asked about the fairness and viability of grades for the fourth quarter. While teachers districtwide are doing a remarkable job of converting their courses to online delivery with little prior preparation, many of our students and teachers continue to face challenges, including difficulties with technology and/or access to the internet. As a result, students will be provided with a choice on how the final grade is recorded in each class for the fourth quarter. Teachers will use the traditional grading scale for the fourth quarter. After the grades are submitted, however, students can choose to keep the standard grade given or request a pass/fail for each specific course. If a student selects pass/fail, the transcript will include an annotation stating, “During the fourth quarter of the 2019-2020 school, all courses were forced to be delivered online due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Given the unprecedented circumstances, some courses were marked Pass/Fail during this grading period.” It is important to note that while a pass/fail does not impact a student’s cumulative grade-point-average either positively or negatively, college admissions offices and scholarship committees may not look favorably upon pass/fail. In particular, the NCAA Clearinghouse in the past has not accepted pass/fail grades to meet eligibility requirements to participate in college athletics. Any student who has questions or concerns about the impact of pass/fail should contact a school guidance counselor before selecting this option.
New Assistant Principal
Jose Ventura has been appointed as the new Assistant Principal at Provo High School. Ventura, who is currently serving as Provo High’s Dean of Students, will assume his new position on July 1, 2020.
Ventura has worked for the Provo City School District for eleven years. Here, he has taught CTE courses and supervised the day-to-day operations of Provo High. Before he worked for Provo City School District, he worked for Jordan School District. There he taught business, manufacturing and technology at Indian Hills Middle School.
After graduating from UVSC (Utah Valley University) with an Associate of Science, Ventura received a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a bachelor’s degree in Marketing Education from Utah State University. He went on to pursue a master’s degree from Southern Utah University where he received a M.A. in Education and Administration. He also has endorsements from BYU in ESL, technology and carpentry.
We want to thank Jose for his time at Provo High and we look forward to welcoming him as the new Assistant Principal!
Advanced Placement (AP) Program – AP Updates from the College Board, March 20
- Traditional face-to-face exam administrations will not take place. Students will take a 45-minute online free-response exam at home.
- Some students may want to take the exam sooner rather than later, while the content is still fresh. Other students may want more time to practice. For each AP subject, there will be two different testing dates. College Board timeline for next steps:
- March 23 – an update will be sent to students directly from the College Board.
- March 25 – students will have access to College Board’s free, live AP review lessons, delivered by AP teachers from across the country. These optional, mobile-friendly classes are designed to be used alongside work that may be given by schools. Students can find classes online. Go to: https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/coronavirus-updates
- April 3 – the full exam schedule including the specific free-response question types that will comprise each AP exam will be published by the College Board.
AP students are encouraged to access lessons, tools and review resources provided by their teachers as well as those provided by the AP program. We request that students and parents take no immediate action specific to test registration and administration and please wait to receive 2020 AP exam administration instructions directly from the school’s AP Coordinator.
Driver Education Program Update
With the current circumstances involving COVID 19, the Driver Education program in the Provo School District will be postponed until March 30th. At that time, Provo City School District will reevaluate the situation and make a decision on what to do next with Driver Education. In the meantime, students can still participate in the online portion of the class. Please contact your school if you are interested in switching to an online version of the class.
Here are the changes for at least the next two weeks:
- NO face to face classes will be held at either of the High Schools
- NO simulators will be run
- NO driving will take place with any instructor
We understand that this is inconvenient for many families. Our main priority is keeping students as well as the community safe as we do our part at social distancing during these next few weeks. As this is an ever-changing situation for us, we will try our best to send out updates regarding the Driver Education program. We hope that things improve quickly so we can get back to serving the students in their desire to get a driver’s license.
Once students are back in school, we will work diligently to help students finish up with where they left off. Students who have finished all the phases of the Driver Education program will need to contact the DLD to obtain their license.
Cómo cuidar y limpiar su Chromebook
Por favor cuiden este dispositivo. Los estudiantes son responsables del cuidado general del Chromebook que han recibido de la escuela. Si estos Chromebooks están rotos o no funcionan correctamente deben comunicarse con el Departamento de Soporte Técnico al numero 801-373-2188 o enviar un correo electrónico (en Español) a techsupport@provo.edu Estos Chromebooks, los cuales son propiedad del distrito, nunca se deben llevar a un lugar de servicio de computadoras externo bajo ninguna circunstancia y por ningún tipo de reparación o mantenimiento.
Precauciones Generales
- Los Chromebooks no deben colocarse sobre superficies blandas o sobre las piernas durante el uso, debido a un posible sobrecalentamiento.
- No debe haber comida ni bebida al lado de los Chromebooks.
- Los cables, cordones y los dispositivos de almacenamiento extraíbles (por ejemplo, unidades de memoria USB) deben insertarse cuidadosamente en el puerto apropiado de los Chromebooks.
- Los Chromebooks no deben usarse ni almacenarse cerca de las mascotas.
- Los Chromebooks no deben usarse con el cable eléctrico enchufado cuando el cable puede causar un tropiezo.
- Los objetos pesados nunca deben colocarse sobre los Chromebooks.
- Nunca se deben prestar los Chromebooks a otros estudiantes o individuos durante el día escolar o de ninguna otra manera.
Trasporte de los Chromebooks
- Siempre transporte los Chromebooks con cuidado.
- Los estudiantes deben sostener los Chromebooks (con la tapa cerrada) con las dos manos si necesitan cargar el Chrombook
- Nunca levante un Chromebook por la pantalla.
- Nunca cargue un Chromebook con la pantalla abierta.
Abrir y cerrar el Chromebook
- Abra y cierre el Chromebook solo cuando lo descanse sobre una superficie plana, como una mesa o un escritorio.
- No intente forzar la apertura de la pantalla más allá de su limite ya que la pantalla se romperá si se fuerza.
- Antes de cerrar la pantalla, asegúrese de que no haya nada en el teclado que evite el cierre completo del dispositivo. Los obstáculos en el teclado pueden causar que se rompan las pantallas o dañe las bisagras.
- Cierre la pantalla suavemente con las dos manos, una en cada esquina de la pantalla.
Cuidado de la pantalla
La pantalla del Chromebook puede dañarse si le coloca objetos pesados, si la maltrata, si usa algunos solventes inapropiados de limpieza y otros líquidos. Las pantallas son particularmente sensibles al daño por presión excesiva.
- No ponga presión sobre la parte superior de un Chromebook cuando está cerrado.
- Asegúrese de que no haya nada en el teclado antes de cerrar la pantalla (por ejemplo, bolígrafos, lápices o discos).
- Nunca levante el Chromebook por la pantalla.
- Siga las instrucciones de limpieza en la siguiente página.
Para iniciar una sesión, los Chromebook requieren una cuenta de correo electrónico del Distrito Escolar de la Ciudad de Provo. Las direcciones de correo electrónico se crean usando la letra inicial del nombre y la del apellido y el numero de identificación del estudiante (número de almuerzo) con un cero a la izquierda si el número tiene menos de seis dígitos. Por ejemplo: si el número del estudiante John Doe es 12345 = el correo electrónico seria: jd012345@stu.provo.edu. La contraseña es el cumpleaños del estudiante sin ceros a la izquierda, con barras diagonales y el año debe tener cuatro dígitos. Por ejemplo: el 1 de enero del 2004 = seria: 1/1/2004.
Favor de monitorear la actividad en línea de sus estudiantes, ya que estos son dispositivos del Distrito Escolar de la Ciudad de Provo se monitorean activamente para el cumplimiento de CIPA (the Children’s Internet Protection Act – la Ley de Protección de Internet para los Niños)
Los Chromebooks deben devolverse cuando las clases se reanuden en el aula.
5 pasos para limpiar y desinfectar su Chromebook
Nota importante: el Chromebook que está recibiendo ya se ha limpiado y desinfectado a fondo antes de Usted recibirlo. También será limpiado y desinfectado nuevamente, una vez que lo devuelvan. Estas instrucciones son solo en caso sea necesario.
Este artículo está dirigido a la prevención de COVID-19, las técnicas de limpieza que se describen a continuación se pueden usar para limpiar y desinfectar dispositivos en general, tal como los Chromebooks al final del año escolar o durante la temporada de gripe. El mismo proceso también se puede utilizar para cualquier periférico externo como los teclados y el ratón o dispositivo apuntador o incluso su teléfono celular.
Primero, necesitará algunas toallitas desinfectantes sin blanqueador o una solución de 40 % de alcohol y 60 % de agua destilada. El uso de alcohol de alta potencia puede dañar el recubrimiento que ayuda a mantener las manchas fuera de la pantalla. También necesitará un par de paños de microfibra o paños de limpieza que no tengan lino. Por último, una lata de aire comprimido es opcional si desea eliminar el polvo que podría estar escondido en su Chromebook, pero este paso no es necesario para desinfectar.
Los productos de limpieza fuertes como el blanqueador/bleach NUNCA deben usarse en sus dispositivos electrónicos, ya que también pueden dañar la pantalla y otras partes de su Chromebook. Además, evite los cepillos de limpieza abrasivos o almohadillas de limpieza que puedan rayar las superficies de su Chromebook (esto incluye la esponja MagicEraser).
Una última precaución: NUNCA rocíe ninguna solución de limpieza directamente sobre su Chromebook o cualquier dispositivo electrónico. Siempre debe aplicar la solución de limpieza a un paño de microfibra y luego aplicarla al dispositivo para evitar que el líquido ingrese al dispositivo y cause daños. Con estas advertencias, comencemos los pasos a limpiar y desinfectar su Chromebook.
- Paso 1: Apague completamente su Chromebook o desconecte el cable electrónico si está limpiando un Chromebox. Paso 2: Desconecta todos los cables o periféricos que estén conectados a su Chromebook. Esto le permitirá acceder y limpiar cada parte del dispositivo.
- Paso 3: Use aire comprimido para eliminar piezas más grandes de suciedad o polvo que puedan estar en su teclado y los puertos. Cuando use aire comprimido, solo dele unas pocas ráfagas cortas y nunca ponga el bote boca abajo. Si tiene un paño de limpieza adicional, también puede humedecerlo con agua y limpie el dispositivo durante este paso. Asegúrese de que su paño solo esté húmedo, escurra el paño con el exceso de agua.
- Paso 4: Use una toallita desinfectante o aplique una pequeña cantidad de solución de alcohol para frotar sobre el paño y limpie por completo toda el Chromebook, incluyendo la pantalla y alrededor de cada tecla del teclado. Use una pequeña cantidad de presión para eliminar las huellas digitales o manchas en la pantalla, pero no demasiado, ya que esto podría dañar la pantalla. Si no se siente cómodo usando la solución de limpieza en la pantalla, puede comprar toallitas desinfectantes diseñadas específicamente para pantallas LCD y portátiles.
- Paso 5: Después de que todo esté seco, puede usar una microfibra seca para pulir la pantalla y eliminar cualquier neblina que pueda quedar en la pantalla del proceso de desinfección.
How to Care for and Clean Your Chromebook
Please take good care of this device. Students are responsible for the general care of the Chromebook they have been issued by the school. Students with Chromebooks that are broken or fail to work properly must contact Tech Support at 801-373-2188 or email techsupport@provo.edu.
District-owned Chromebooks should never be taken to an outside computer service for any type of repairs or maintenance.
General Precautions
- Chromebooks should not be placed on soft surfaces or laps during use due to potential overheating.
- No food or drink should be next to Chromebooks.
- Cords, cables, and removable storage devices (e.g. thumb drives) must be inserted carefully into the appropriate port on the Chromebooks.
- Chromebooks should not be used or stored near pets.
- Chromebooks should not be used with the power cord plugged in when the cord may be a tripping hazard.
- Heavy objects should never be placed on top of Chromebooks.
- Chromebooks should never be loaned to another student or individual during the school day or otherwise.
Carrying Chromebooks
- Always transport Chromebooks with care.
- Students should hold the Chromebooks (cover closed) with two hands if they need to carry the Chromebook.
- Never lift a Chromebook by the screen.
- Never carry a Chromebook with the screen open.
Opening and Closing Chromebook
- Open and close the Chromebook only when it is resting on a flat surface such as a table or desk.
- Do not attempt to force open the screen beyond its angle, as the screen will break if forced.
- Before closing the screen, make sure there is nothing on the keyboard to prevent the full closure of the device.
- Obstacles on the keyboard could cause broken screens or damaged hinges.
- Close the screen gently using two hands–one at either corner of the screen.
Screen Care
The Chromebook screen can be damaged if subjected to heavy objects, rough treatment, some cleaning solvents, and other liquids. The screens are particularly sensitive to damage from excessive pressure.
- Do not put pressure on the top of a Chromebook when it is closed.
- Make sure there is nothing on the keyboard before closing the lid (e.g. pens, pencils, or disks).
- If necessary, follow cleaning instructions on the next page.
Logging Into Chromebooks
Chromebooks require a Provo City School District email account for login. Letter of the student’s first and last given name and 6-digit student ID (lunch number) with a leading zero if the number is less than six digits.
- Example: John Doe student number 12345 = jd012345@stu.provo.edu.
- Password is the student’s birthday without leading zeros, forward slashes, and a four-digit year.
- Example: Jan 1, 2004 = 1/1/2004.
Please monitor your students’ online activity as these are PCSD devices and actively monitored for CIPA compliance.
Chromebooks must be returned to school from which they were checked out, once school resumes in the classroom.
5 Steps to Clean and Disinfect a Chromebook
Important Note: The Chromebook you are receiving has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to you receiving it. It will be cleaned and disinfected again, once it is returned. These instructions are only if necessary.
This information is geared towards the prevention of COVID-19. The cleaning techniques described below can be used to generally clean and disinfect devices, like shared Chromebooks at the end of a school year or during flu season. The same process can also be used for any external peripherals like a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse or even your phone.
Preparation
You will need some bleach-free disinfectant wipes or a solution of 40 percent rubbing alcohol and 60 percent distilled water. Using full-strength rubbing alcohol can damage the coating that helps to keep smudges off the screen. You will also need a couple of microfiber cloths or any cleaning cloths that are linen free. Finally, a can of compressed air is optional if you want to remove any dust that might be hiding in your Chromebook but this step isn’t necessary for disinfecting purposes.
Harsh cleaning supplies like bleach should NEVER be used on your electronics since they can also damage the screen and other parts of your Chromebook. Also, avoid any abrasive cleaning brushes or cleaning pads that might scratch the surfaces of your Chromebook (this includes MagicErasers).
Last precaution – NEVER spray any cleaning solution directly onto your Chromebook or any electronics for that matter. You should always apply the cleaning solution to a microfiber cloth and then apply it to the device to avoid any liquid getting into the device and causing damage. With those warnings out the way, let’s get started cleaning and disinfecting your Chromebook.
Procedure
- Step 1 – Completely power down your Chromebook or unplug the power cord if you are cleaning a Chromebox.
- Step 2 – Disconnect any cables or peripherals that are plugged into your Chromebook. This will allow you to access and clean every part of the device.
- Step 3 – Use compressed air to remove larger pieces of dirt or dust that might be in your keyboard and ports. When using compressed air, only give it a few short bursts and never turn the can upside-down. If you have an extra cleaning cloth, you can also slightly dampen it with plain water and wipe down the device during this step. Make sure your cloth is only damp by wringing out the cloth of excess water.
- Step 4 – Use the disinfectant wipe or apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol solution to the cleaning cloth and completely wipe down the entire Chromebook, including the screen and around each key of the keyboard. Use a small amount of pressure to remove any fingerprints or smudges on the screen, but not too much since this could damage the display. If you aren’t comfortable using the cleaning solution on the screen, you can buy disinfectant wipes specifically designed for LCD and laptop screens.
- Step 5 – After everything is dry, you can use a dry microfiber to buff the screen and remove any haze that might be lingering on the display from the disinfecting process.