Distance Learning at Morris Jeff Community School

Welcome to the 2020-21 school year!  If you are a new family to our school, we hope you feel at home in our community that supports your student’s learning in every possible way.  We have intentionally planned for this unprecedented year with your child’s health and safety, along with that of our faculty and staff, at the forefront of our thinking.   Together we will have a strong school year.  

As NOLA Public Schools, the City of NOLA, and NOLA Dept. of Health jointly announced on Tuesday, July 21, all public charter schools in our city will reopen by holding virtual schooling for all the students in our schools.  Students at Morris Jeff will start school on August 4, as is published in our 2020-2021 School Calendar

Even as we open school virtually, we will continue to adhere to the NOLA PS Roadmap to Reopening Schools and the Supplemental Guidance provided as we look towards having students back to school in person at some point. 

Attendance is taken and recorded every day and students are required to attend school regularly in any of the phases or chosen methods, according to the LA State Department of Education requirements.

Common Words and Phrases

Distance learning:  students receive instruction via technology and traditional materials without coming to the school building

Synchronous:  instruction is “live” and in real-time

Asynchronous:  instruction comes via recorded videos or written descriptions, usually in Google Classroom

Tier 1 curriculum: state-approved learning and assessment that teaches students the critical skills and concepts for their grade level

Technology 

The school utilizes Google Classroom as the learning platform to organize lessons and materials for all students.  Additional technology and tools are used to provide more engaging opportunities for students, collaboration between students, and regular feedback from teachers.

Families in need of a device and/or hotspot for a student can complete this request form. The school will message you with date, time, and location for the pickup of technology.

Required for Distance Learning

  • A school-issued Google account ending in *morrisjeffschool.org.
    – Returning students use the same as previous year(s).
    – New students are issued a login and password by the Tech Director.
  • A Chrome browser on either a Chromebook or a Windows/PC.  At this time, Apple devices will not work with our new tools but we have been assured that this is in process. If a non-Chromebook is used, the student must sign in to the Chrome browser.
  • A working microphone and webcam (can be internal or external).
  • Headphones (optional).