August 14, 2024
Dear Families,
I am extremely excited to welcome you to the 2024-25 School Year with Garfield Online School. As we begin the school year, there is some important information that I need to relay to you.
As a faculty and staff, we are aware that many of you are in various stages of registration. Please rest assured that if you are committed to attending Garfield Online School, we are committed to welcoming you with open arms. Please be patient, but proactive, during this time and check for emails and updates to ensure things are being completed on your end as we process things through Harmony and Garfield Online. This process can take more than 10 business days. If you need help with things to do until you receive complete access, do not hesitate to contact me.
Next, I would like to clarify a couple of items from the Acknowledgements and Agreements that you entered with Harmony and Garfield Online.
- Your student(s) will be assigned a Harmony mentor and a Garfield Online certified teacher. Their roles are similar; to help you and your student. However, their responsibilities are different. Your Harmony mentor is there to help you with issues related to ordering curriculum, funding, login issues, or other technical issues. Your Garfield Online teacher is there to grade, tutor, progress, monitor, ensure attendance, and any other tasks related to your child’s success. You will receive regular email communication from your Garfield Online teacher. Please make sure to read it carefully and keep in contact with your child’s teacher. Your student’s assigned teacher will contact you by Friday, August 23, 2024.
- Your student(s) are enrolled as public school students in a virtual, distance learning program through Garfield County School District. As such, they must fulfill attendance, grade-level progress and testing, and other school requirements. Attendance is tracked weekly. Your child is required to respond to weekly attendance questions in their Homeroom course in Canvas each week before 11:59 pm on Fridays. Weekly attendance questions provide Garfield Online School teachers with evidence of active learning and participation.
- You are required to have a back-up plan in the event of technical difficulties. Submitting assignments or weekly attendance late due to technical difficulties will not be excused unless prior arrangements and accommodations have been made with your assigned Garfield Online teacher. Additionally, Harmony recommends students use a desktop or laptop computer to access curriculum. Tablets are not intended to be used for, and will not work with, most curricula.
- You are responsible for selecting official grade-level courses for your student(s) in a timely manner, once the course registration becomes available.
- Your student(s) are expected to make regular and consistent progress in grade-level coursework, based on provided pacing guides and submission schedules. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this, your child’s Garfield Online teacher can assist you in ensuring adequate progress is made.
- The requirements set by Garfield Online may change, and Harmony may be asked to help implement such changes. If any changes are made, you will be notified prior to implementation.
We have an amazing team at Garfield Online School that stands ready, willing, and able to help you and your student(s) in their academic endeavors this school year. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Here is to an amazing year! Go Geckos!
Sincerely,
Mr. Rowdy Miller
Principal
