Content and Text for 4th Quarter

After the spring of 2020, Sidney Schools have moved to a Google Platform for all electronics. Please make sure your student can access their SPS Google email. The email should be studentnumber@sidneyps.com. If they cannot, please have them call their school.

Academic Misconduct Video = Academic Misconduct (also visit the link to Netiquette tips below for the link to Grammarly & Purdue Owl MLA Citation Tips)

Bullying, Harassment & Netiquette = Netiquette tips

August 10, 2020

Dear Students and Parents,

            This is a very daunting and trying time for all due to the quick spread of the Coronavirus. At this time, Sidney schools are planning on attending school as normal as possible, with the exception of masks being worn when proper social distancing cannot take place. It is important to note that my classroom, on average, has well over 20 students, therefore the social distancing requirement cannot be maintained safely within the classroom. In order to protect myself and my loved ones I will be wearing a mask (and potentially a face shield), and hope that your student (and you if you visit) will also adhere to safety measures and wear a mask. I know there are many studies in regards to mask wearing, pointing out the negatives and positives, but following guidelines of health professionals in our area I personally will be doing what I can to make a difference, and provide a safe learning environment, for not only myself but for my students. With the hope of eliminating the passing of the virus as much as possible, I am also setting up an online platform for my classroom versus touching and passing along (well over 100) papers on a daily basis. We will be using the platform: Google Classroom. Within this platform students will be able to watch videos, read documents/stories, and submit assignments. Each student will receive a Google email through Sidney Schools. Using this email, they will have access to my classroom (and others), which we will be using regularly throughout the school year.   

            Since the first semester of CA-10 and BE-10 involves Greek origins, I wanted to take a look at etymology, better known as the study of the origin of words. Two words that many have most likely heard due to the outbreak of COVID-19 are epidemic and pandemic, both deriving from ancient Greek roots. They share the common root demos, which means “people.” Epi means “upon” or “over,” so epidemic (epi + demos) means “upon the people,” or as we’ve seen: a sickness that has fallen upon the people of a certain region or territory. Pan means “all” or “of everything,” leaving pandemic (pan + demos) as “all of the people.” In other words, a sickness that has fallen upon ALL the people. The difference between an epidemic and a pandemic is the extent of the spread. When the Coronavirus was contained to one region in China, affecting a ‘smaller’ group of people, it was categorized as an epidemic; now that it has spread all over the world, and has begun to affect ALL the people, it is a pandemic.

            Another term is per capita which is Latin (Roman) meaning “by head” or “for each head.” For example, if I have a class of 28, my classroom would need to have at minimum 28 desks. Therefore, there would be a per capita: an equal number of desks per students in the room. This term has been used frequently in the media as of recent due to the concern of hospitals not having enough beds per capita in the United States. In plainer terms, it means there are not enough hospital beds for all the people within the U.S. This is what has led to many social distancing procedures and ‘quarantines.’

            On that note, I hope you are taking care of yourselves as individuals, and in concern for those you may come in to contact with, by washing your hands frequently, and following government issues procedures as best as possible. I urge you to continue educating yourself, not only on what is going on in your day-to-day life but all around you: watch some documentaries (not just TikTok and Snap Chat), research (do not believe every MEME you see), journal, read and remain active – take a walk, following the social distancing procedures of course, and learn about yourself, your desires, needs, and want in life. I look foward to teaching you and working with you in a safe and sound environment, whether in person or online.

            Sincerely,

            Mrs. Weltikol