Summer 2022

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2022-23 School Supplies

LOWER DIVISION 1st grade 2nd grade 3rd grade 4th grade

MIDDLE DIVISION 5th grade 6th-7th-8th grade

Dear Parents,

Research shows that students require ongoing review and practice of previously taught skills for maximum retention. This is especially true for students with learning differences.  With that in mind, we have assigned summer reading to provide you and your child opportunities to engage in rich, meaningful literature together.

At Swift, we have embraced a knowledge building curriculum that provides students with grade level content, texts and vocabulary development.  This carries across all subject areas, with a direct tie to content subjects and the arts.  The books we have selected will connect to topics covered in the coming year.  Our purpose is for students to be exposed to rich texts with background knowledge that will support their learning.  We recognize that students may not be able to read these books independently.  Therefore, we encourage you to become familiar with reading strategies that are used here at Swift to support struggling readers. Some useful strategies and tools are:

● An adult first previews the text to become familiar with the content and vocabulary.
● An adult then introduces the text; student previews and shares what they notice and wonder about the book which prompts their curiosity and interest in the text.
● Together, an adult and student read the book. Students are not expected to read the text independently or work on decoding. Support students by reading aloud or using assistive technology, i.e. Learning Ally, Read and Write, Bookshare, Audio Book, etc.
● Discuss the book as you read it.  Making connections to existing knowledge and ask questions that support comprehension and new vocabulary.
● Summarize learning by visiting your local library, aquarium, science and art museums. Children can express their learning by drawing, painting, creating 3D models, timelines, and so much more. Although these are not required, should your child create something, they are welcome to bring them in and share with their new class in the fall.

Assigned books are as follows:
Rising 1st - Bats at the Library, by Brian Lies
Rising 2nd - Frog and Toad All Year, by Arnold Lobel
Rising 3rd - Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist, by Jess Keating
Rising 4th - Who Was Clara Barton?, by Stephanie Spinner

I hope you enjoy learning together. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. Have a fun filled, relaxing summer.

Sincerely,
Roni Battoglia
Lower Division Director

Dear Parents,

Over the summer, rising 5th grade students will read Niagara Falls, Or Does It? by Henry Winkler. Our purpose is to expose children to interesting texts that may spark a desire to read more than simply what is required.  Research shows that students benefit from ongoing reading and practice of previously taught skills.  This is especially true for students with learning differences.  With that in mind, we encourage students and parents to take an active role while reading this novel.  Asking questions, summarizing chapters, and predicting what might happen next all help to increase understanding and engagement.  The related assignment is due on the first day of school. We encourage you to read to your child, take turns reading, or pair the book with audio. Below are some additional reading strategies that may enrich this experience.

● With your child, before beginning, preview and predict to help spark curiosity and interest.
● Read the book together. We do not expect students to read the text independently or to work on decoding. Support your child by reading aloud or using assistive technology, i.e. Learning Ally, Bookshare, Audio Book, etc.
● Discuss the book as you go. Making connections to existing knowledge, asking questions, and predicting will increase interest and comprehension.
● Summarize the book together after finishing and before beginning the summary.

Below is the book review assignment. This is not meant to cause frustration and we would prefer students to work independently as much as possible.  We understand that some students struggle with written expression and take this into consideration when evaluating their work.

Summer 2022 Assignment 

All the Best,
Melissa Jozefov, Middle Division Director

Over the summer, students will read two books which may be paired with audio versions for comprehension support. We encourage students and parents to take an active role while reading each novel. Asking questions, summarizing chapters, discussing details, and predicting what might happen next all help to increase understanding and engagement. Assignments are due on the first day of school, either on paper or electronically. All books are available on your child’s Learning Ally account.

Book One Schedule	Book Two Schedule
Begin Reading: June 1	Begin Reading: July 1
Finish Reading: June 15	Finish Reading: July 15
Review / Plan: June 16	Review/Plan: July 16
Finish Assignment: June 30	Finish Assignment: July 30

 

1. Book One: Grade Level Novel

Rising 6th Graders: Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren (ISBN: 0140309578)

b. Rising 7th Graders: The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall

c. Rising 8th Graders: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

For book one, complete the Book Review assignment 

2. Book Two: The Middle School Big Read!

a. Book: Code Word Courage by Kirby Larson

For book two, complete the One Pager assignment

Dear Parents,

Please read the attached Responsible Use Policy, taken from the 2021-22 Family Handbook.  The complete Family Handbook is posted on Swift’s website for convenient access.

Students will be held to the same standards as the Code of Conduct when using G Suite and other web-based applications. Students should have no expectation of privacy in their use; school and service administrators have the right and ability to monitor user accounts for policy enforcement. Students are responsible for their own behavior at all times.

Parents should be aware that there are no Internet filters built into Chromebooks or iPads. Swift network filters protect students only when on campus and logged onto Swift Wifi. It is against policy to connect student devices to a personal hotspot for this reason.

Parents are strongly encouraged to install Internet filtering software or hardware on their home network for Internet safety at home. Your Internet Service Provider should be able to assist you.

Our new website offers detailed information for parents about student use of technology at Swift: https://sites.google.com/theswiftschool.org/tech/home.

Two additional sources of information about online safety are: https://Staysafeonline.org and https://www.commonsensemedia.org.

Responsible Use Policy

Taken from the 2021-22 Swift Family Handbook

• Advances in technology have opened new pathways for educators and students while introducing new challenges, most notably around appropriate use. Swift’s Responsible Use Policy explains the ethical and responsible utilization of technology by Swift students. This applies to the use of school-owned and personally-owned devices.
• The Responsible Use Policy is an extension of Swift’s Code of Conduct. Specific guidelines follow below. 
• Swift provisions G Suite for Education accounts for students including Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, Gmail, etc.
• Swift may provision additional educational accounts for students, including (but not limited to) Apple ID, Read and Write for Google Chrome, SeeSaw, Explain Everything, Learning Ally, etc.
• Swift student Gmail accounts are restricted to addresses inside the domain (@theswiftschool.org) and are intended to facilitate communication between students and teachers.
• At all times, Swift devices and accounts provisioned by Swift will be used for educational purposes only.
• While on Swift campus, students will utilize technology solely for educational purposes and in accordance with school policy. Student use of technology is to be guided by instructors for the purpose of achieving specific learning outcomes.
• The use of technology to support the educational experience is a privilege and not a right. Any violation may result in the loss of technology privileges in addition to other disciplinary action.
• Students will show respect for school property and the property of others, including computers and digital equipment. If a student causes damage to a device owned by the school or owned by another individual, the family will be charged for repairs or replacement.
• Students will respect copyright laws by properly citing works belonging to others.
• Students will not participate in video conferencing, chat rooms, instant messaging, or social networks, unless expressly permitted for an assignment.
• Students will not divulge personal information online including name, location, address, and phone number.
• To ensure proper network filters, students will use only the Swift student wireless connection when on Swift campus.  Students will not attempt to bypass the network restrictions by any alternate means.
• Students will not share their school login credentials with anyone except parents or guardians.
• Students will not access other students’ accounts.
• To ensure safety of all users, school personnel may monitor websites visited while on campus. Digital files including emails, pictures, and documents also may be monitored.
• All digital content created or stored by students must be school-appropriate.
• Consistent with the cell phone policy in this handbook, cell phone use by students is not permitted on campus during the academic day.

Personally Owned Devices

• 5th - 8th grade students are responsible for personally owned Chromebooks. Other personal devices may not be used on campus without the express permission and supervision of the instructor. In addition to the other policies in this section, the following applies to personally owned devices:
• 5th-8th grade students are responsible for bringing their Chromebook to class each day fully charged. Chromebooks are integral to classwork and necessary for full participation.
• Students will not physically share personal devices with other students.
• Students take full responsibility for their personal devices. Personal devices may not be left on campus after school hours. The School is not responsible for the security of personal technology.
• Parents are highly encouraged to purchase a case to help protect the Chromebook.
• Parents are encouraged to purchase an accidental damage plan covering personally owned devices.
• If a Chromebook is damaged or not operating properly, the student may bring it to the IT Manager for evaluation. Parents will be responsible for repairs or replacement in a timely fashion.
• If available, the student will receive a short-term loaner to be used at school.
• The family is responsible for having a device available for homework and remote learning while the damaged device is being repaired.

Swift School Owned Devices

• Swift provides an iPad for students in grades 1-3 and a Chromebook for students in grade 4 for use at school and for periods of remote learning. In addition to the other policies in this section, the following applies to Swift-owned devices which are used by students:
• Students will use Swift devices and Swift accounts for educational purposes only.
• The Swift student is the only person allowed to use the device. No family sharing.
• Students and families are responsible for damage to the device and will be charged for repair or replacement costs. If a school-owned device is damaged or not operating properly, please email the IT Manager immediately.
• If available, the student will receive a short-term loaner to be used at school.
• The family is responsible for having a device available for homework and remote learning while the damaged device is being repaired.
• When school-owned devices go home, they must accompany the student each day school is in session.

Swift School reserves the right to modify this policy without notice.

 

2022-23 Chromebook Requirements

Swift Students in 5th-8th grades participate in a bring-your-own Chromebook program.

What are the advantages of a student-owned Chromebook at Swift?

• To provide a common platform to enhance collaboration and learning
• To develop habits that strengthen executive skills and promote life-long learning
• To allow student access to the same device at home and at school

What are the specifications for a student-purchased Chromebook?

• The device must be a Chromebook - no other operating system is acceptable.
• 11”-13” screen with a full keyboard (10” is too small)
• 4-8 GB of RAM
• 7-8 hour battery
• Touchscreen display
• 32-64 GB storage space. (Chromebooks are cloud-based, and most files are not stored locally.)

What model Chromebook does Swift School recommend?

• Chromebooks for education that fit our specifications currently sell for $300-$400. We recommend the Dell Chromebook 3100 2-in-1 Education (11”). It may be available through Dell.com, Amazon or other vendors. Due to potential delays in the supply chain, we recommend that parents shop early and check shipping dates to confirm that the Chromebook will arrive before the start of school.

My son/daughter already owns a laptop. May he/she use a laptop instead of a

Chromebook?

• No. It is necessary for each student to have a Chromebook.

What if my child’s Chromebook breaks?

• If a Chromebook breaks, the student is welcome to bring the device to the Swift School IT Office for a diagnostic assessment. If hardware repairs are needed, the student’s family will be responsible for getting the Chromebook repaired in a timely manner. If available, the student will receive a short-term loaner to be used at school only.

Are students permitted to leave their Chromebooks at school overnight?

• One advantage of a student-owned program is that students are able to use the same device at home and at school. Students are expected to bring their Chromebooks to school fully charged every day and take them home every evening. Consistent with the handbook policy, the school is not responsible for personal property left in the building.

What should I do to protect my child’s device?

• Establishing routines for safely handling and storing the Chromebook will increase longevity. With care, a Chromebook could last 4+ years. We strongly recommend parents purchase a protective case designed specifically for your model. We also recommend parents consider purchasing an accidental damage plan. Please clearly label the Chromebook with your child’s first and last name.

My child’s Chromebook arrived. How do we set it up?

• Swift’s Responsible Use Policy states that Swift accounts may be used for educational purposes only. Parents will be invited to a Technology Orientation the week of July 25th while your child is being assessed. At that orientation, we will provide credentials for your child’s Swift account and will assist you in setting up the Chromebook. Chromebooks allow you to set up a Parent (supervisory) account that controls the ability to add additional accounts and manage settings. Should you choose to set up the Chromebook as a ‘Parent’, you will need your Family Link app and password in order to add your child’s Swift account at the Technology Orientation.

Need more info or to contact us? 

• Visit: https://sites.google.com/theswiftschool.org/tech.
• Contact Donna Cherry, Director of Technology and Assessment: dcherry@theswiftschool.org 
• Contact Scott Greenwald, IT Manager: sgreenwald@theswiftschool.org