August 2020 News

CMCSS K-12 Virtual Families:
If you have not yet completed Learning Mentor training, please be sure to complete that no later than September 1, 2020.

Traditional Families: 
If you would like to understand how the online learning platforms work, some of this information may be useful to understand. Not all requirements will be applicable to traditional students.

Learning Mentor training and a Learning Mentor website is available for mentors and parents! It is important for all Learning Mentors and parents/guardians of CMCSS K-12 Virtual students to complete the training by clicking the link below.  At the end of the training, you will be asked to complete an acknowledgment form. This will include verification that you have completed the training as well as a request to read, review, and provide a signature for the CMCSS Privacy Release, Consent, and Agreement for Virtual Classes/Groups.

REMINDER:

As soon as possible, please have your student turn on his or her computer and make sure it is working and they are able to login with the username and password.  This will help you make sure you are ready for Monday! If you have experienced technical problems, read through the troubleshooting guide here.

CMCSS K-12 VIRTUAL FAMILY REQUIREMENTS:

• One form is to be completed for each student.
• Learning Mentor training is to be completed by September 1, 2020.

LINKS:

• CMCSS K-12 Learning Mentor Training
• CMCSS K-12 Learning Mentor Website

If you need assistance, you can visit one of our Live Assistance Zoom Rooms by clicking one of the links below.  If you do not have access to the internet, you may call our helpline at 931-920-7779.  Our help hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00-11:30, and 12:30-4:00.

LIVE ASSISTANCE:

• K-2 Assistance
• 3-5 Assistance
• 6-8 Assistance
• 9-12 Assistance

Every CMCSS K-12 student will have a laptop assigned for the 2020-2021 school year, which starts Monday, August 31. The following information will assist with login information and general troubleshooting.  Please review the information below prior to the start of the school year.

Password Retrieval and Login Information

Information for your student’s login can be found through the link provided in your email. Each link is specific to your student.  This link will expire shortly after the start of the school year, so please retain this login information in a secure spot for future reference.

QuickCards

Quick Cards are a scan card that includes a QR code unique to your student. These cards are only provided for Kindergarten through second-grade. This should have been taped to your student’s laptop or included in their materials during laptop pick up. If you did not receive a QuickCard you must contact your student’s enrolled school. Third grade and above should use the password retrieval process indicated above.

Required Updates

If your CMCSS K-12 Virtual School student was issued a laptop last year and kept that laptop over the summer, they will need to have updates installed prior to the first day of school.  This will allow connectivity to the CMCSS network and access to required online resources.  This process takes only a few minutes, but must be done while near a CMCSS school building to ensure the computer can connect to the school’s network.

For details be sure to read the instructions here:

Please visit https://www.cmcss.net/installing-required-updates-on-your-cmcss-student-laptop/ which includes the necessary steps for these updates to be installed.   We would recommend these steps be followed prior to the afternoon of Friday, August 28, so that the student can contact the CMCSS Support Network for further assistance at https://sites.google.com/cmcss.net/cmcssk-12virtualstudents/live-assistance.

Traditional Students are welcome to follow these same steps in advance of the first day of school, or wait until the first day of school when they return to the classroom.

Troubleshooting Internet Connection Issues

Please have your CMCSS K-12 Virtual student attempt to log in prior to the first day of school.  If he or she can sign in successfully but cannot access the internet, a fix is available to address this issue.  This process takes only a few minutes, but must be done while near a CMCSS school building to ensure the computer can connect to the school’s network. For details be sure to read the instructions here.  Please visit https://www.cmcss.net/installing-required-updates-on-your-cmcss-student-laptop/ to view the necessary steps for this update to be installed.  Traditional Students are welcome to follow these same steps in advance of the first day of school, or wait until the first day of school when they return to the classroom.  We would recommend these steps be followed prior to Friday afternoon, so that the student can contact the CMCSS Support Network for further assistance at https://sites.google.com/cmcss.net/cmcssk-12virtualstudents/live-assistance.

Traditional Students are welcome to follow these same steps in advance of the first day of school, or wait until the first day of school when they return to the classroom.

Continued Laptop and Hotspot Distribution

Students who have not yet received their laptop should watch from communication from their enrolled school. The district will be communicating directly to families who have not yet received their device.

Attendance Concerns Regarding Laptop Connection Issues

CMCSS K-12 Virtual students who are still experiencing known connection issues, and have a work order submitted, that limits them from accessing their computer on August 31 will not be considered absent. The Technology Department is actively working to resolve connection issues. All CMCSS K-12 Virtual families are strongly encouraged to try the troubleshooting techniques above prior to submitting a work order. Traditional students should bring their device to school on August 31 to confirm all technology concerns are addressed while in the school’s network.

Additional Laptop or Hotspot Assistance

If your student needs additional assistance with their student laptop or hotspot, please have them submit a work order at http://techhelp.cmcss.net/secure/Dashboard.jspa or call (931) 920-7779.  Instructions on submitting a technology work order can be found at http://ior.ad/74bR