Weymouth Schools Technology Team to Host Virtual Parent/Guardian Information Session on Remote Learning Devices

WEYMOUTH — Superintendent Jennifer Curtis-Whipple and Director of Technology Brett Lindholm are pleased to share that the district’s technology team will host a virtual parent information session regarding devices to support student learning in the upcoming school year. Attendance at this optional information session is highly encouraged to learn about this initiative. 

WHEN:

Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m.

WHERE:

The session will take place on Zoom. Access the session when it starts by clicking here.

WHAT:

The Weymouth Public Schools Edtech Team is currently working to provide every student with a device to take home in the coming year to support the level of remote learning that would take place as part of the district’s current proposed back-to-school plan.

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Central Office Leadership, Instructional Technology Staff, Instructional Technology Leadership and Curriculum Leadership Team, the district has been awarded a Remote Learning Technology Essentials grant award by the Baker-Polito Administration to purchase additional devices. The grant, in the amount of $217,601, will potentially allow for the district to provide a device to every Weymouth student this year for the purpose of remote learning. The Remote Learning Technology Essentials grant program is to support district efforts to ensure that every student has adequate access to technology to use for remote learning purposes due to COVID-19 during the 2020-21 school year.

The Edtech Team’s goal is to have a device individually assigned to each student in the district for the new school year. The district intends to provide an iPad to pre-K and kindergarten students and Chromebooks to students in grades 1-12. The same format and policies as the district’s ongoing 1:1 Chromebook Initiative will be followed. This 1:1 format would allow students to keep the device at home for remote learning and bring it to and from school on in-person learning days.

During the virtual information session, families will learn about: 

• Devices their students may be issued
• Proper care of the devices
• Warranty and accidental damage coverage
• Responsible use guidelines
• Internet safety resources
• Web filtering to protect students from inappropriate content 
• How parents/guardians and students can get support from the Edtech Team

A Q&A session will also take place at the conclusion of the session.

By accepting a device from Weymouth Public Schools, it is expected and required that families will abide by district technology policies.  

A recorded version of the information session will be available for parents/guardians who cannot attend the virtual session, but parents/guardians are strongly urged to join the upcoming session and participate by asking questions.

The district will also hold future parent/guardian training sessions for remote learning. The future trainings will focus on the core tools being used for remote learning, including Google Classroom and a variety of other learning management systems used by Weymouth Public Schools. 

Details regarding the distribution of devices will be be coming soon.

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