TCGIS E-Learning Plan

What is an e-learning day?

​e-Learning days are opportunities for student learning to continue despite school cancellation. In the event of a school cancellation, e-Learning days are days in which students engage in learning activities while at home. State statute 120A.414 outlines how Minnesota schools can use e-Learning days to continue education on canceled school days to count toward state-mandated instructional-minute totals. The state allows for up to five e-Learning days each year.

What is an e-learning day NOT?

E-learning days are not the same as distance learning days were during the pandemic.  One big difference is that after an e-learning day—or two—the teachers will always be able to connect with the students to collect work or give feedback on assigned work.  We will not be requiring synchronous learning (live learning on devices while teachers interact with a live group of students).

When will e-learning days be called?

In general, e-learning days will be called when we are expecting:

  • 6-8 inches of snow within 24 hours
  • ​More than 8 inches of snow within 48 hours
  • Wind chill below -35 degrees at 6:30 a.m.
  • Heat index above 105 degrees for 3 hours for 2 consecutive days
  • Electricity or internet outages expected to last multiple hours due to inclement weather

What is our e-learning day plan?

  • Families will be notified a minimum of 2 hours before the start of school that the school will be having an e-Learning day.

  • K-6 teachers will provide a choice board of activities for students to choose from to complete. These boards will be sent home with students on the first day of school and will be posted on the TCGIS website. Students will Return the completed choice board the next in-person school day. K-4th grade students return the choice board to their classroom teacher. 5th and 6th grade students return the choice board to their 1st hour teacher.

  • 7-8th grade teachers will post assignments to Google Classroom no later than 10 a.m. Students in 7th and 8th grade are expected to bring their Chromebook home every night and charge their Chromebook at home. If e-Learning days are required before 7th and 8th grade Chromebooks have been handed out, they should complete choice boards for their grade level on the website.
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  • Teachers will be available for support between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. via email. If the question necessitates a virtual meeting, the teacher will send families a Google Meets link. If families are unable to interface via email, call the school’s main line at 651.492.7106 and leave a voicemail with your phone number and stating which teacher you are trying to reach.  We  will connect with the teacher and the teacher will call the family. Teachers may use *67 to keep their personal number anonymous by hiding the caller id.

  • Internet service at home is expected for 7th or 8th-grade students. If a family does not have internet access, consider:
    • ​The Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), a low-cost program to help households pay for internet service and get a discount on a device.
    • Contacting the school about alternative internet options such as a hotspot. TCGIS has limited hotspot availability, so other options should be explored first.

  • Attendance will be taken on e-Learning days:
    • ​If students are ill and unable to complete the learning activities, parent/guardians should follow normal attendance procedures and contact the front office to report the absence.
    • Students whose family chooses not to participate should contact the front office to report the absence. It is up to the school to decide whether this is an excused absence (MN Statute 120A.22, subdivision 12).
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  • Special Education Teachers
    • ​Communicate to the General Education teachers any modification / accommodations for students on their caseload.
    • Communicate with the parents / guardians and students verbally or virtually.
    • Case Managers will be available for support between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. via email.
    • Any intervention sessions (skills and academics) should be provided to the student asynchronously.

  • ADSIS Interventionists
    • ​Communicate with parents /guardians and students to provide a connection point and / or optional supportive activity.
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  • Social Workers and School Psychologists
    • ​Provide asynchronous connection with students or families where reasonable and feasible.
    • ​Connect with supervising administrator(s) to determine the work to be completed that day.

eLearning Choice Boards