Online & Distance Learning

Harbor Country Day School is monitoring the COVID-19 situation carefully and is taking proactive and prudent measures to ensure the health and safety of every member of the community in accordance with the guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health officials.

For convenient access to reliable information resources regarding the coronavirus in general, as well as timely updates specific to the School’s response and planning efforts, please visit HERE.

 

Part of Harbor's Distance Learning plan will utilize Zoom, a web-based video conferencing tool which can be accesses by computer or tablet. Detail instructions on how to use Zoom are below.

How to Join a Zoom Meeting

Using a Mac, Windows or Chromebook computer:

1. You should be getting a Zoom link in either your email, calendar or google classroom. The link will look something like this: https://zoom.us/j/123456789.
2. When you click on the link it should open up the browser and launch the zoom meeting.
3. If this is the first time you are joining a zoom meeting on the computer you will need to download and install the ‘Zoom Client’, otherwise skip to step #7.
4. After the ‘Zoom Client’ downloads, click on the downloaded file to start the install process and follow the instructions until the process is complete.
5. After the install is complete if it does not ask you to join the meeting then you will have to close all windows and start again but this should only happen the first time you install the client.
6. If you are asked to enter your name type in your first name.
7. Click on the Join Meeting button. You might be asked if you would like to join with or without video and you will select Join with video. If prompted you should always Join with computer audio as well.
8. You should then be brought into the meeting. If you try to join the meeting before the teacher starts the meeting you will be asked to ‘Please wait for the host to start this meeting’. Once the teacher starts the meeting you will be brought into it.

Using a tablet or smartphone:

1. Before you can join a Zoom meeting you will need to install the Zoom App and create an account with Zoom. You can use your school Google account to login to Zoom.
2. You should be getting a link in either your email, calendar or google classroom. The link will look something like this: https://zoom.us/j/123456789.
3. When you click on the link it should open up the app and launch the zoom meeting.
4. If it prompts you to Call using Internet Audio be sure to select that option and you should be in the meeting.
5. You should then be brought into the meeting. If you try to join the meeting before the teacher starts the meeting you will be asked to ‘Please wait for the host to start this meeting’. Once the teacher starts the meeting you will be brought into it.

INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO ON HOW TO JOIN A ZOOM MEETING

See what Parents have to say about Distance Learning at Harbor...

There is so much uncertainty surrounding every ounce of “normal life” and in just a matter of days our world has been turned upside down.

Today, as the children began virtual learning, I was reminded Harbor is made up of dedicated, professional, and supportive teachers and staff.

Working alongside my son at the kitchen table, which we have transformed into our work-from-home space, I wanted to pass along kudos to the teachers for getting us through Day 1...

The teachers navigated this uncharted world of virtual learning with ease. They reassured the children together things would be worked out and, eventually, as the days go on it will get better.

Thank you to the entire Harbor Staff. Together we will get through this one day at a time.

-Maria Silva
5th Grade Parent

I wanted to let you know that the online classes are going great! My daughter loves them. I hear her in her room participating and it sounds like the class is all together. It really worked seamlessly. I had figured there was going to be some glitches but there doesn't seem to be any right now, fingers crossed! What a great alternative to regular school.

-Tara Deconigilio
6th Grade Parent

I just wanted to let you know that the kindergarten powerpoint for distance learning was excellent! It was well thought out, fun and just the right amount of work. I loved that it included the normal start to the day with the songs and routine. My son and I enjoyed doing the months of the year Macarena lol.

Great job with the 4th grade as well. You can tell that the teachers really put a lot of thought and work into it. My older son was working in his "office" with the door closed so I didn't get to spy on the session!

We are so lucky that you all put this in place most schools don't have any plans yet!

-Kerry Phelan
Kindergarten & 4th Grade Parent

Harbor Country Day provides access to its computers and the Internet as educational resources. The purpose and uses for these particular resources are not different from any other type of resource, and as such, the school is in charge of how these resources are used. The purpose of this contract is to make sure that users recognize the limitations that the school imposes on their use of technological resources and to establish an Acceptable Use Policy for the users. In addition, this contract requires that anyone using these resources agrees to abide by local, state, national, and international regulations regarding these resources.

In signing this contract, I recognize that use of the computers and access to the Internet at Harbor is a privilege that can be immediately and permanently taken away. I understand that the rules listed below are guidelines, and I will follow these rules while at Harbor Country Day School.

I agree to use the computers, laptops, iPads, and Internet access to help me with my work in school.

I agree to not look for unacceptable or inappropriate things on the Internet while at school.

I agree not to change or attempt to change the configuration of any computers or the software on them.

I agree not to participate in any Internet "chat groups," “virtual worlds,” or social networking sites such as Minecraft, Instagram or Facebook in school, unless instructed to do so by a staff or faculty member.

I agree not to install anything that could harm or damage the computers.

I agree not to create a pretend account for any website that I use in the school.

I agree to use only my password to access any accounts and will never share my password with anyone except my parents or legal guardians.

I agree to never attempt to find out any-one's password or attempt to access any-one’s accounts. If I ever accidentally learn any-one’s password I agree to tell a teacher or staff member.

I agree to respect all work done by others, and I will not access or change others' work in any way.

I agree not to use bad words or make fun of anyone while using the computers, iPads or Chromebooks.

I agree not to make personal attacks on anyone using these resources, and I will report any personal attacks made by others to a member of the faculty or administration.

I agree to make available for inspection any device in Harbor, school issued or personal, when any administrator or teacher deems there to be cause.

I agree not to send any of my personal information over the Internet.

I understand that not all websites are real.

I understand that, should I fail to honor all the terms of this document, the school administration will be informed, and that they may take actions that they deem appropriate.

(FOR REFERENCE ONLY - CONTRACTS WILL BE SIGNED BY ALL STUDENTS AT SCHOOL)

For the full document on Zoom's Privacy Policy please visit:

https://zoom.us/docs/en-us/childrens-privacy.html

Last updated: March 18, 2020

Zoom partners with schools to provide video communications to support traditional, virtual, and hybrid classrooms, distance learning, educational office hours, guest lectures, and more. As part of the services we provide to K-12 schools, Zoom may be used by students, including students under the age of 16. We are particularly committed to protecting the privacy of K-12 users, and Zoom’s K-12 Schools & Districts Privacy Policy is designed to reflect our compliance with the requirements of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”), the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”), and other applicable law.