Hello, Toppers and families.

Parents, please make sure your son/daughter receives this message.  If they haven't done the things in the first couple steps, they won't see this. :)

Students, in case you didn't grab one of Mrs. Fricke's info sheets at registration (or in case you haven't looked at it), you MUST do these things before the first day of school to avoid technical glitches at school:

1) Find your new email address and login in the Notes app on your iPad.  We are now a Google school, which means all teachers will post announcements and assignments in Google Classroom.  No more eBackpack, Showbie, etc.  It also means that we'll use Docs instead of Pages, Slides instead of Keynote, Meet instead of Zoom, etc.  DON'T WORRY THOUGH!  We'll take plenty of time in class to get to know these programs.  Most students prefer them to the Apple versions.

2) Open your gmail and read any emails you haven't seen yet.  

3) Check for a software update and run it if needed.

4) Open Google Classroom and check out your classes.  Make sure you have a little video camera icon in the top right of each one.  This is how you'll join a Google Meet.  If you don't have one, first try opening the Meet app and then returning to Classroom.  Sometimes this is all it takes.  If that doesn't work, go to your Self-Service app and reinstall Google Meet.  Then try Classroom and see if you have a video camera.  If you still don't have it, you probably didn't install the software update completely.  If you've done ALL of these things, email your teacher.

5) Go to your "iPad Maintenance" classroom on Google Classroom.  This isn't an actual class, but it's how you can communicate with Mrs. Fricke and how she will send you info about iPad/technology issues.  Read the announcements in the stream (that's what it will be on when you open it).  Then click on "classwork" at the bottom, and read or watch all of the short how-to videos and instructions.

 

Sorry to give you homework before school starts, but having done all of this in advance will make your first day WAAAAYYY easier and less stressful!  I'm really looking forward to seeing you all next week!