BY MELINDA SKUTNICK
The Mooresville Graded School District will virtually kick off its fall semester with online events and welcoming activities throughout the following week.
Keeping aligned with the district’s decision to conduct remote learning for the first nine weeks of the school year – also known as Plan C – MGSD will provide open houses, teacher meet-and-greet sessions, freshman orientation and its annual convocation from a safe, distant and virtual environment.
The events begin on Monday with an internally streamed 2020 MGSD Convocation at 9 a.m. This yearly celebration begins the new year on a positive note. Additional welcoming festivities unfold throughout the week for all grade levels and learners.
The new school year officially begins on Monday, August 17.
Freshmen orientation for incoming ninth-graders at Mooresville High School is scheduled for Tuesday, August 11, but Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Instruction Todd Black noted that the mini-event will take place across August 12 and 13. Approximately 100 MHS Link Leaders – junior and senior students – were each assigned five-to-six freshmen to guide, lead and assist during this transition to high school.
“The purpose of the orientation will be to make the freshmen feel welcome and connected to the high school,” said Black. “During the orientation, freshmen will participate in getting-to-know-you activities, receive advice from their junior/senior Link Leaders, get help on accessing their online schedule, and get any of their questions answered.”
Invitation emails to orientation, including contact details to assigned Link Leaders, were sent at the latter half of last week, noted Black. The connection between student and Link Leader will continue throughout the school year, including weekly check-ins via text or social media.
“We also hope to offer informational videos or webinars made or hosted by the Link Leaders on topics like contacting their guidance counselor, joining clubs, improving their grades, etc.,” Black added.
Black noted that rising seventh-graders will have a similar orientation program as they transition to Mooresville Middle School. Virtual open houses for grades 7-12 are scheduled on Thursday, August 14.
Virtual open houses also will be hosted among all lower grade levels at designated times throughout Wednesday, August 13.
Tanae McClean, MGSD chief communications officer, said that teachers from kindergarten through sixth grade have created “welcome videos” for parents and students to view ahead of their virtual events.
“During the virtual time, parents can drop into a Google meet and say hello to the teacher. They are also welcome to schedule a time later to have a longer virtual with a teacher if they like.”
The virtual events include online open houses for students enrolled in the MGSD Online Academy (MOA).
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Information on the virtual activities, supply lists for virtual learning under Plan C and other preparedness items are available via documents posted on the district’s Facebook page, facebook.com/MooresvilleGradedSchoolDistrict.