Is your student part of the Simcoe County School District (SCDSB)? As your child prepares for or is already involved in a successful school year, be it full time, hybrid based or exclusively online, parents and students alike need to be able to access and understand the Simcoe County District School Board tools.
Here at Insurdinary, we have families too, and we understand how important it is to have access to the information you need at the tips of your fingers. Let us be your resource during the busy school year.
Keep reading for the information your SCDSB student needs this year.
Simcoe County District School Board
Welcome to SCDSB! It has been a very different and very challenging couple of years for families across the country. School boards nationwide deserve a massive amount of credit for being to able to switch from in person, to strictly remote learning, and now of course to hybrid models. With Simcoe County being no exception, Insurdinary has provided a wealth of information on how to navigate the online learning platforms (of which there are many) for students and parents alike.
Parents
Parents, as you send your children off to school, you are a key partner in the academic success of your student. Parent involvement is paramount in student success.
Your student's handbook will contain a lot of information that will be helpful to you and your student. Make sure that you take the time to read this handbook.
As a parent, one of the most important things you can do is be engaged with your child's education.
One of the key things you can do to get involved is to show interest in your child's education and progress. This can include communicating with teachers, helping your child be successful with homework, encouraging your child, letting your child do their own work, and helping your child with structure.
Students
Students have the ability to access their grades, assignments, attendance, schedules, school bulletins, and more utilizing the student portal. This can help students prepare and schedule for success.
To access the student and parent portal, visit here. You can also choose to create an account from this page.
While SCDSB schools are typically open outside of school hours for non-profits to use, due to Covid, this has currently been suspended for indoor permits during the 2021-22 school year.
However, non-profits are still able to apply for outdoor permits.
D2L SCDSB
Students engaged in digital learning will utilize Desire to Learn or D2L to access their coursework. The D2L software will have all of your assignments, lessons, evaluations, and the tools your student needs to interact with classmates and their instructor.
D2L Login
For D2L SCDSB login, you will visit this site. If you do not have your login information, be sure to contact your school.
Attendance is tracked through logins during the week. Students are expected to log in daily, and at a minimum, they should be logging in once a week. Attendance is also measured through progress.
Students are expected to make progress in their courses weekly.
Brightspace Login
For Brightspace, you will follow the same steps as D2L. When it comes to D2L and Brightspace, D2L is the company. Brightspace is the learning management system or LMS.
The system was referred to as D2L until about 2015, and many still call it that.
Students struggling with logging into D2L Brightspace can contact the Desire2Learn Helpdesk at 1-877-325-7778. The helpdesk is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday to Friday, and they provide technical support only.
For assistance with your coursework, be sure to contact the appropriate teacher.
eLearning
Students engaged in eLearning have a unique opportunity to learn at a pace that works well for them. Engaging in eLearning through SCDSB allows you to earn high school credits online, but it is important that you have the ability to move forward in your coursework without the typical structure of a classroom.
There are a few traits that can indicate that eLearning may be the right choice for your student. Your student should have the ability to be self-directed, self-disciplined, and self-motivated.
If they do not possess these qualities, it is difficult to complete eLearning programs. Your student must also have the ability to use a computer with internet access and be comfortable with the technology used.
Some technology you will encounter includes email, attachments, internet research, word processing, and more. You and your student will also need to work together to set a study schedule that allows them to set goals and meet deadlines.
Realistically, your student should dedicate as much time to an eLearning course as they would spend in a regular classroom. There may still be group work in eLearning courses, and students in eLearning should have the ability to engage in the learning process alone and with a group.
Finally, it is also important that students in eLearning have the ability to communicate in writing. With digital communication, this skill is imperative.
Beyond these qualities, there are many tools you and your student can implement to ensure success.
Create a dedicated workspace. Learning requires concentration and attention; if your student's space is not conducive to that, you are not setting them up for success. Create a dedicated space that is free from distractions.
If your student struggles with attention and is likely to go browsing other websites when they should be learning, consider parental controls to monitor internet usage.
Create a calendar. Scheduling is one thing, but actually writing down your goals and deadlines can help make it real. You can utilize a planner for your student.
However, if your student needs something more visual, consider a large calendar on the wall in their workspace. On the calendar, you can break down your student's tasks into smaller steps and allow them to check them off as they accomplish what they need to get done.
Know your teacher's expectations. Whether it comes down to the quality of the work, due dates, communication style, submissions, or other factors, you need to always be clear on what the expectations of the teacher are.
When you do not know your teacher's expectations, you cannot meet them.
Set up a "school time." It is easy to say you will do your work when you get around to it. The problem with this strategy is that something will always come up.
Pick a time of the day your student can dedicate to school and implement that as their school time. You should plan to schedule any other appointments or activities around this time as much as possible. Consistency is very important in eLearning.
Know the technology. If you do not know the technology you are using, it makes school more difficult.
Take the time to explore Brightspace and Google Classroom. Know what the different functions do and how to use them. If you are struggling, reach out for help.
SCDSB Staff
SCDSB staff is committed to making sure that your student is successful in school. From teachers to maintenance, each member of the staff plays a critical role in the success and safety of your child.
If you are SCDSB staff, you can access the staff website here. As educators, it is important to support each other. The online staff room offers a space for teachers to share ideas and communicate with each other.
SCDSB Bus
SCDSB does have bus transportation for students. Currently, around 35,000 students of over the 77,000 students enrolled utilize bus transportation. To find more about the policies for SCDSB transportation, you can read this document that discusses transportation and what is allowed and not allowed.
You will not only find information about where buses can transport from, but also expectations for students' behaviour and safety information.
If your student is a first-time bus rider, you should be aware of safety precautions and rules and make sure your student is as well. The Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC) has a YouTube channel with information for parents and students.
These videos discuss parent responsibilities and rules, and safety for children while boarding, riding, and getting off the bus. You will find a parent version and student version of this video.
Beyond this, basic safety tips should be utilized when your child is riding the school bus.
Get to the bus stop early, but not too early. This ensures that your child will not miss their bus. However, arriving too early can be dangerous.
Your child should never be left standing at a bus stop by themselves for long periods of time.
Make sure you stand back. When the bus is arriving, make sure your child knows to stand at least six feet away from the curb. This is to ensure that they do not get hit by the bus and the driver can see them.
Do not walk in front of or behind the bus. You should never walk behind the bus. The only time you should walk in front of the bus is when your driver has given you permission to do so.
Stepping in front of the bus can be dangerous if the driver does not see you.
If you drop something near or under the bus, do not pick it up. If your student drops something near or under the bus, make sure they know not to try to get it.
They should either wait until the bus leaves or get the driver's attention. Once they have the attention of the driver, the driver can allow them to pick up their items. This ensures that the driver doesn't start driving because they didn't see your child trying to retrieve their items.
Walk younger children to the bus stop and stay with them. Only you as a parent know when your child is old enough to walk to the bus stop alone.
Consider how responsible your child is and any safety issues that may occur.
Implement a buddy system. As your child begins to go to the bus stop alone, consider a buddy system. Pair them up with a friend that they can walk and wait with. This helps with ensuring your child's safety.
Even if you determine your child is old enough to go to the bus stop alone, consider watching from a window until they have safely boarded the bus.
SCDSB Bus Cancellation
You can find bus delays and cancellations on the SCSTC website. These delays and cancellations are organized by the zone your student is in.
For families with androids or iPhones, there is also a new app that can get downloaded. The BusPlanner Delays app will let families know when there is a bus delay.
Even if buses are cancelled, the school will remain open. As a family, you must decide if it is safe for your child to attend school in severe weather conditions.
On these days, your student will still have the ability to access learning materials. They can do so through the digital learning platform their teacher chooses.
This may be D2L; however, teachers may also utilize Google Classroom. If your student is in the Learn@Home program, their classes will continue with the normal schedule.
SCDSB Calendar
The SCDSB Calendar will allow parents and students to see the schedule for the year. The calendar highlights the following:
- First day of school
- First day of Quadmester (secondary students)
- PA days for all students
- PA days for elementary students
- Elementary reporting schedule
- Secondary reporting schedule
- Holidays
- Elementary turn-around day
- Secondary Mid-Quadmester
- Secondary full disclosure days
- Last day of school
Knowing when your student is in and out of school will help with planning holidays and family trips. The calendar is also important to help track your student's report card timing.
You can follow SCDSB on Twitter. The SCDSB Twitter has school news, reminders, and lots of other helpful information.
Follow them on Twitter and find out more about what is happening in your child's school. Twitter is an excellent resource for parents and students alike.
Over recent years, Twitter has become more prevalent in educational settings. The Twitter platform provides unique opportunities for education and schools in the world of social media.
Have a Great School Year With SCDSB
As you and your child prepare for the year ahead, utilize the resources and tips in this article for success. Here at Insurdinary, we know how important it is for your child to be successful in their SCDSB school.
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