Best practices for technology use:
After class or schoolwork each day, log out of everything and completely shut down your Chromebook (do not just close the lid while logged in).
Each morning, log back in in this order (because our accounts are tied to the Gmail account):
1. Gmail 2. Canvas 3. Zoom
GAPS Common Tech Issues for Students and Parents
If students are having trouble logging in, please email GAPS Tech Support at gaps.it@albany.k12.or.us or call 5451-967 4635.
How to login to Class Day 1 Video
In this video, you will learn about your Canvas Dashboard and Global Navigation links. You’ll also learn about navigating a course and accessing assignments.
This video is for Canvas Student app users on iOS and Android devices. The steps in this video are shown for a phone display, but unless otherwise noted, tablet displays mirror the same steps. To learn more about this topic, visit the Canvas Guides at guides.canvaslms.com. Additionally, permissions and login steps vary between users and institutions, so what you see in this video may be different from what you see in the Student app.
In this video, you will learn about observer account registration and how to link students to your account using a student pairing code.
Account Registration and Student Pairing (Observers)
In this video, you will learn about the Canvas Dashboard and Global Navigation links, and about basic course navigation to view assignment details and grades.
In this video you will learn how to use the Canvas Parent app. The steps in this video are shown for a phone display, but unless otherwise noted, tablet displays mirror the same steps. Most of this video was created using an iOS device. Any differences for Android users are noted.
We are so excited to connect with our students again this fall! We learned so much when we transitioned to distance learning last spring, and we have worked to make a plan that values our students, staff, and the entire educational process. We know how important interaction is for our students, and the plans in place will allow for consistency, interaction, and access to quality instruction. We want to ensure our parents, guardians, and students understand the class schedule for the upcoming academic school year. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact an administrator for clarification. Principal Susie Orsborn can be reached by email at Susie.Orsborn@albany.k12.or.us.
The schedule for the 2020-2021 school year will remain in place for the duration of the academic calendar year. Though we are all beginning virtually, when we transition to an in-person hybrid (or virtual from home model for those who choose this option), the class schedule will remain the same unless regulations set forth by the Governor change.
Rather than our traditional schedule of a Blue/Gold block for an 18-week semester with up to eight classes, we will be working on four 9-week quarters. This modified block will allow students to focus on a maximum of four classes at a time. Each 9 week’s worth of work will still receive a semester credit. Freshmen and sophomores are required to take four classes each quarter. Juniors and seniors are required to take three classes each quarter, but may take four if they choose or are credit deficient.
WAHS CLASS SCHEDULE for 2020-2021 (Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday)
| 8:00 - 9:25 | 1/2 |
| 9:25 - 9:40 | Break |
| 9:40 - 11:05 | 3/4 |
| 11:05 - 11:40 | Lunch |
| 11:40 - 1:05 | 5/6 |
| 1:05 - 1:20 | Break |
| 1:20 - 2:45 | 7/8 |
ADVISORY
| Wednesday | 9:00 - 9:30 |
QUARTER ROTATION
When classes begin on September 14, we will begin Quarter 1. Students will attend ONLY their Blue day classes for the first 9-week period. All quarter 1 classes will work continuously for 9 weeks before then switching to a focus on ONLY Gold day classes for the subsequent 9 weeks. Quarter 3 will be a return to Blue day classes, and Quarter 4 will finish out the year with Gold day classes.
If a student is taking a year-long course, they will either complete it in Quarters 1 & 3 or in Quarters 2 & 4, still earning the full year’s credit.
In other words, students’ schedules will work as follows:
| | Quarters 1 and 3
BLUE DAY |
Quarters 2 and 4
GOLD DAY |
| 8:00 - 9:25 | 1 | 2 |
| 9:25 - 9:40 | Break | Break |
| 9:40 - 11:05 | 3 | 4 |
| 11:05 - 11:40 | Lunch | Lunch |
| 11:40 - 1:05 | 5 | 6 |
| 1:05 - 1:20 | Break | Break |
| 1:20 - 2:45 | 7 | 8 |
COMPREHENSIVE DISTANCE LEARNING
As we begin virtually, students will attend live feed (synchronous) classes with their teachers and peers five days a week. Students will attend Advisory on Wednesdays only. Students will be engaged and actively learning all week. Staff will be participating in professional development, teacher preparatory activities, and grading on Wednesdays as well.
LIVE ENGAGEMENT DAYS (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday)
On the days students attend class, the expectation will be to have them logged into their virtual class with their teacher and peers. Classes will be live with interactive assignments, small group work, live teacher instruction, tutorials or videos to watch, supplemental reading or writing tasks, discussion boards, etc. These days will work as if we were in the school building and attendance and participation will be extremely important. Students will follow their class schedule for the day from 8:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
INDEPENDENT WORK DAY (Wednesday)
In addition to Advisory, on Wednesday students will participate in independent work in all classes. Teachers will have reviewed and explained the independent work to be done at the end of their previous live class. Assignments on these days could include recorded teacher lessons, tutorials or videos to watch, supplemental reading or writing tasks, discussion boards, group work, etc. This work will be an expectation the same as if students were in class. The balance of live and virtual learning days ensures students are actively learning and engaged each day of the week, which will allow students to receive consistent instruction in a course for a full 9 weeks in order to receive a semester credit.
ADVISORY (Wednesday)
Advisory is a small group of common-grade students whom a teacher will work with throughout the year to ensure every student is successful regardless of their learning model. The purpose of Advisory is to have consistent check-ins making sure student learning needs are being met, encouraging them to make good academic choices, and to share important information.
Students will meet in their Advisory on Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Advisory teachers will facilitate any assistance students need and reach out for connections with additional services (counseling, tutoring, FACT, Linn County Mental Health, etc.).
** When we transition to the in-person hybrid model, student schedules will hopefully stay the same depending on regulations set forth by the Governor, ODE and or OHA. Students who chose fully virtual (interactive at home learning model) will continue to log into their classes to interact with their teachers and peers. If students and families want to change their choice between hybrid and virtual when we return to school, please contact their counselor or administrator.
SPECIAL SERVICES
Special Education Support
English Language Development Support
Academic Success Support
BACK TO SCHOOL PREP DAY (previously known as Registration)
In order to complete the registration process and prepare for classes, we will host a drive through Back to School Prep Day for each class. More information will be sent, but please note the dates below:
During these times, students will be able to complete/turn in any necessary paperwork, have their picture taken for student body cards, receive textbooks (and chrome books if needed), return any textbooks or library books from the 2019-2020 school year they may still have, and receive schedules.
Administrators by Class:
Counselors by Class: (will return August 24)
We sincerely hope this information was helpful. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact an administrator for clarification. Principal Susie Orsborn can be reached by email at Susie.Orsborn@albany.k12.or.us.
WAHS GRADUATION CEREMONY 2020
Graduation ceremonies for the class of 2020 will be held at the Linn County Fairgrounds in order to meet all state COVID-19 regulations while allowing us all to be together to celebrate. Students will be in small groups to ensure we meet the Governor’s guidelines of 100 or fewer people during outdoor gatherings. All parents and families of graduates will stay in their vehicles during the ceremonies; however, the ceremony plan in place will ensure a continuous graduation that encompasses tradition and celebration.
MANDATORY GRADUATION PRACTICE
We will hold a mandatory student practice for graduation on Wednesday, August 26 at 5:00 p.m. at WAHS’s Memorial Stadium. If you have a conflict, please reach out to Mrs. Orsborn as soon as possible at Susie.Orsborn@albany.k12.or.us . At practice time, we will:
We will have four distinct groups and times for practices.
IMPORTANT: Group numbers will be assigned once we have an accurate count for participants. This information will then be sent out, so students know which practice time they need to be present for. Graduates, if you plan to attend, it is very important you go to THIS SHEET and sign up–signing this form indicates you plan to participate in the graduation ceremony. We sincerely hope all students will choose to participate. Please have this completed by Tuesday, August 18.
WAHS GRADUATION
The WAHS Graduation ceremony will occur on Thursday, August 27, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
ARRIVAL AND PARKING
Graduates will arrive in vehicles with their families and enter the south parking lot of the fairgrounds. Each graduate will also receive a pass for one other vehicle for family and friends to attend. All vehicles will be asked to enter on Price Road by Lassen Chevrolet to help with traffic flow. APD will block off the Knox Butte entrance with barricades and the fairground staff will put cones in front of all other entrances. Vehicles with a graduate will receive a program when they enter the parking lot and then park in the front rows by the security staff. Additional vehicles will park in the back. Please, in order to not block views and allow for the best experience for all, open-bed pickups with back passengers or motor homes will NOT be allowed.
The ceremony will be live streamed on YouTube. It will also be streamed into vehicles using the Shift church’s FM Radio transmitter. We will also have two jumbo screens for live video feed on each side of the stage. Pictures will be taken throughout the ceremony by a staff member.
CEREMONY LOGISTICS
Sincerely,
Susie Orsborn
August 5 update: OSAA adopts New 2020-21 School Activities Calendar
The West Albany High School 2020 Commencement Ceremony was originally scheduled for Thursday, June 4, at 7:00 p.m. Because we cannot gather in person, this video celebration of our graduating Class of 2020 will go live at that time instead.
Our in-person graduation ceremony will take place on Thursday, August 27th. Please watch our website for details as we get closer to that date.
Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog!
For ongoing news and information, be sure to follow WAHS on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram — @WestAlbanyHS
