ECA News

ECA Week 7 Update

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Students, Parents and Guardians,

1. I want to remind students that each core class should take between 40-60 minutes per day. I have been reviewing the activity logs that show me how long students spend in each class/lesson. After reviewing mid progress grades it is clear that a lot of students have been putting in the extra time and effort to complete the necessary work and the grades reflect this. For students with lower grades the activity logs often show a shorter amount of time in lessons than necessary. Please don't rush through your lessons as this is causing lower quiz and test grades.

2. Each day please review your gradebook for graded assignments and look for the icons that show your teacher has posted comments. If they are asking you to meet with them you should schedule an appointment using the "Book me link" at the top of each course page. They are also available to meet when you need help or have any questions.

3. This is just a reminder from last week if you did not get to review progress and grades yet please take a moment to complete the steps below.

IMPORTANT: MID PROGRESS REPORTS: Mid progress reports will NOT be mailed or emailed . ALL parents/guardians should login to the online Pearson system and review students grades and progress. We are halfway through the first quarter. Be careful as the grades only reflect the work completed and do include the assignments that are past due. Make sure to review the grade and then the gradebook for past due assignments. Below is a video that shows what to do. If you have any questions or can't get in please contact me at 610-823-7268 or djwilchek@nullexetersd.org and will get you into your account or we can go over it together.

Review this video that shows how to review grades and work progress.

4. It is required that you mark your attendance each and every day. You will be marked absent if you failed to mark your attendance. After 3 days of unexcused absences, you will be sent a truancy letter. If you have any issues and for all attendance questions, requests, and excuses please email to cyberattendance@nullexetersd.org.

5. Students pictures times:

  • SHS: October 21, 8:00 AM -9:10 AM
  • JHS: October 18, 7:30 AM-9:30 AM
  • Reiffton: September 23 12:35 PM-1:20 PM. (if you missed this and want pictures taken, please let me know)
  • Jacksonwald: October 5 (call the front office to confirm a time (610) 779-1820)
  • Owatin- October 13 (call the front office to confirm a time (610) 406-4580)
  • Lorane- September 29 (call the front office to confirm a time (610) 582-8608)

Mid-Progresss Reports & ECA Week 6 Update

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1. Monday October 11 is a district in-service day and no work will be assigned to students for that day and it will show as "vacation" in the Pearson calendar. Enjoy the long weekend. I will be available all day Monday for meetings.

2. IMPORTANT: MID PROGRESS REPORTS: Mid progress reports will NOT be mailed or emailed . ALL parents/guardians should login to the online Pearson system and review students grades and progress. We are halfway through the first quarter. Be careful as the grades only reflect the work completed and do include the assignments that are past due. Make sure to review the grade and then the gradebook for past due assignments. Below is a video that shows what to do. If you have any questions or can't get in please contact me at 610-823-7268 or djwilchek@nullexetersd.org and will get you into your account or we can go over it together.

Review this video below that shows how to review grades and work progress.

3. 7th and 8th grade students, parents/guardians please review the email that was sent Thursday the 7th at 4pm for information about your Career Exploration Class and alternative assignments.

4. Students pictures times:

  • SHS: October 21, 8:00 AM -9:10 AM
  • JHS: October 18, 7:30 AM-9:30 AM
  • Reiffton: September 23 12:35 PM-1:20 PM. (if you missed this and want pictures taken, please let me know)
  • Jacksonwald: October 5 (call the front office to confirm a time (610) 779-1820)
  • Owatin- October 13 (call the front office to confirm a time (610) 406-4580)
  • Lorane- September 29 (call the front office to confirm a time (610) 582-8608)

5. All attendance questions, requests and excuses can be emailed directly to cyberattendance@nullexetersd.org,

This message along with past messages are posted on the Exeter Cyber academy portal page https://www.exeter.k12.pa.us/cyberstudent

Mr. Wilchek
djwilchek@nullexetersd.org
610-823-7268

Message about Career Exploration Class for 7th and 8th grade students

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7th and 8th Grade Students, Parents and Guardians,

All students in 7th and 8th grade have been working diligently to complete the Middle School Career Exploration Class. However, I am finding that many students are taking longer than anticipated to complete the amount of work. I met with our JHS guidance department to come up with an alternative option to this class, as I want students to focus on their core classes.

Mrs. Shaw has arranged for students to go into the Naviance system and complete about 2 hours worth of activities to satisfy the requirements for Careers Readiness. Below are instructions to complete the assignments by Friday October 29. Once students complete the assignments they will be removed from the online Middle School Career Exploration class assigned in Pearsons.

I assume most students will do this alternative option but if anyone wants to continue with the online Career class let me know and I will not withdraw the class.

Directions to complete the Career Assignments:

  1. Go to the JHS Student Portal Page. https://www.exeter.k12.pa.us/jhsportal
  2. Click on Naviance. (upper right)
  3. Log in w/Clever (google) (you may be automatically logged in).
  4. Click on "planner" at the top of the screen.
  5. Click on "tasks." Scroll down and you will see the necessary tasks to complete
  6. If you need help navigating the system or can't figure out how to complete a task please let me know.

I am available at 610-823-7268 if you need help or have any questions.

ECA Week 5 Update

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I hope you are all doing well and finding it is getting easier as we finish up the first full month of virtual learning. I updated the Cyber portal page a little and will continue to post all of these messages each week on the page https://www.exeter.k12.pa.us/cyberstudent.

1. IMPORTANT: Submitting assignments and Google drive files. A lot of students have been having issues submitting files to their teachers. Teachers are often not able to view the files being submitted due to sharing settings. Going forward students should NOT submit Google Drive files or Google drive links. Instead submit a PDF or Word document of the file. Instructions to convert Google drive file to PDF or Word document files: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WczA3ztxn01CIFhSfwa4mcay9xyWMSaSCWgKCoN9TZw/edit?usp=sharing

2. Attendance issues and questions- All attendance questions, requests and excuses can be emailed directly to cyberattendance@nullexetersd.org, I linked the form for family educational trips. This should be sent to the email linked above at least 5 days prior to the trip. If you don't have a printer you can just send the same information in an email. https://www.exeter.k12.pa.us/cms/lib/PA01000700/Centricity/Domain/217/educational_trip.pdf

3. Viewing grades and teacher comments: Teachers will post comments about assignment to the gradebook area. You can view these comments by going to the gradebook and you will see a speech bubble icon next to the grade. Please make sure to review these as they will ask you to reach out to your teacher if they feel you need help.

4. If virtual students would like to get their pictures taken below are the times per building:

  • SHS: October 21st 8:00 AM -9:10 AM
  • JHS: Oct 18 730AM-9:30AM
  • Reiffton: September 23 12:35PM-1:20PM. (if you missed this and want pictures taken, please let me know)
  • Jacksonwald: October 5th (call the front office to confirm a time (610) 779-1820)
  • Owatin- October 13 (call the front office to confirm a time (610) 406-4580)
  • Lorane- September 29th (call the front office to confirm a time (610) 582-8608)

Have a great weekend,
Mr. Wilchek

ECA Week 4 Update

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ECA Students, Parent and Guardians,

Some families have reported that they did not receive these weekly update emails. It does appear they are being sent out and received but may be going to your junk folder. I will post all of these message each week on the this page https://www.exeter.k12.pa.us/cyberstudent . I plan on sending a weekly update Friday afternoons so if you don't get an email check the cyber portal page for the message.

1. IMPORTANT: Check in appointments. I have met with a lot of families over the last couple of weeks. If I have not met with your family one on one yet please let me know if you would like to meet over a video conference. If you would like to meet, use this link to schedule an appointment https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0d4ba5a722a4ff2-cyber However, if these times do not work just email me or call me directly at 610-823-7268 to schedule a time. If at any time you need help or have any questions I am available at djwilchek@nullexetersd.org or direct at 610-823-7268.

2. Viewing grades and teacher comments: Teachers will post comments about assignment to the gradebook area. You can view these comments by going to the gradebook and you will see a speech bubble icon next to the grade. Please make sure to review these as they will ask you to reach out to your teacher if they feel you need help.

2. Grade weights. Each class has different grade weights based on the type of assignment. These weights should be posted at the top of each course page. For example the Quick checks may be worth 15% or only 2% over the overall grade. Please take your time when taking the tests, quizzes and portfolio projects as these account for most of the grade. I suggest going to your gradebook on a regular basis to review your grades, view all the due dates for all grades assignments, and to make sure you are not missing any grades assignment. This is also a great way to make sure you are on pace and don't have anything past due.

3. Teachers are readily available to meet with students for one on one video conferences. Each teacher will have a "You can book me" link at the top of each class. Students should use this to book one on one meetings with your teacher for any help or questions you may have. Most teachers have time every day. After selecting a time you will join the teacher using the live lesson link posted to the top of the class or the links under the Main Menu and "Live Lessons". If you need help with this please let me know. If you did not pass a test, quiz or portfolio you need to schedule a one on one meeting with your teacher to review why and how to improve your grade.

4. The supplies and art kits are finally starting to arrive.

5. There were a couple issues with Live Lessons this week due to room sizes. I met with Pearson to get this resolved. If you are having ongoing issues with this please let me know.

6. Please remember to enter attendance each day using the main menu and "Student Activity Tracker"

7. If virtual students would like to get their pictures taken below are the times per building:

  • SHS: October 21st 8:00 AM -9:10 AM
  • JHS: Oct 18 730AM-9:30AM
  • Reiffton: September 23 12:35PM-1:20PM. (if you missed this and want pictures taken, please let me know)
  • Jacksonwald: October 5th (call the front office to confirm a time (610) 779-1820)
  • Owatin- October 13 (call the front office to confirm a time (610) 406-4580)
  • Lorane- September 29th (call the front office to confirm a time (610) 582-8608)

Have a great weekend,
Mr. Wilchek

ECA Week 3 Update

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1. Grade weights. Each class has different grade weights based on the type of assignment. These weights should be posted at the top of each course page. For example the Quick checks may be worth 15% or only 2% over the overall grade. Please take your time when taking the tests, quizzes and portfolio projects as these account for most of the grade. I suggest going to your gradebook on a regular basis to review your grades, view all the due dates for all grades assignments, and to make sure you are not missing any grades assignment. This is also a great way to make sure you are on pace and don't have anything past due.

2. Teachers are readily available to meet with students for one on one video conferences. Each teacher will have a "You can book me" link at the top of each class. Students should use this to book one on one meetings with your teacher for any help or questions you may have. Most teachers have time every day. After selecting a time you will join the teacher using the live lesson link posted to the top of the class or the links under the Main Menu and "Live Lessons". If you need help with this please let me know. If you did not pass a test, quiz or portfolio you need to schedule a one on one meeting with your teacher to review why and how to improve your grade.

3. We added an additional person on staff at Exeter to help support the Cyber students. Welcome Mrs. Ericke to Exeter Cyber Academy.
Mrs. Ericke has been with Exeter for the past six year working at the Reiffton. Before that she taught computer classes at RACC and BTI. She has been an Exeter resident for 21 years, and a wife and mother of two boys (who both graduated from Exeter and Penn State ~GO LIONS! WE ARE!~) and one yellow lab named Nutmeg. She looks forward to speaking with you about your student's attendance and/or progress as they navigate their way through ECA. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to her at kaericke@nullexetersd.org or 610-779-0700 Ex1062.

4. All attendance questions, request and excuses can be emailed directly to cyberattendance@nullexetersd.org

5. We had a couple issues with live lessons this week. Some students joined the wrong session which caused the rooms to be over capacity and blocked some students from getting in. The teachers are working to get this resolved along with increasing the room capacity so this does not happen again. Please let me know if you are continuing to have issues with any live lesson.

6. Senior High School Seniors: Mr. Jones posting the following information to the Seniors Schoology Group.
In anticipation of Senior meetings starting soon. Here is the Post Secondary Planning Resource Guide for you to look at, use, and ask questions about. You will be receiving a pass from your counselor soon to meet with them individually and discuss your plans. Have a great day!! Post Secondary Planning Resource Guide

Have a great Weekend,
Mr. Wilchek