Dear Mead School K-8 Families,

The Mead School faculty and administration are excitedly anticipating tomorrow's launch of Distance Learning, "Mead Learns On". As we begin this new phase of learning together, I am happy to announce the addition of our Distance Learning Information Hub located on our website. This page will be a vital link and resource in the weeks ahead so please bookmark it! CLICK HERE to visit the page, and to see and hear a special message from me waiting for you!

Before we embark on this journey together, there are a few logistics that I would like to address with respect to the use of technology. First and foremost, the technology policy that you and your child signed at the beginning of the school year is to be adhered to at home, just as we enforce it while students are learning on campus.

In keeping with our commitment to transparency and safety, below is additional information that has been added, effective immediately, to Mead's Technology Policy. We strongly suggest you read through the below information before tomorrow's "eLearning" launch:

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)

As mentioned in previous communications to you, we have been in close consultation with the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools with respect to many topics in response to COVID-19, as well as logistics surrounding Distance Learning. We have discussed the need to address The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Congress passed The COPPA in 1998 and the Federal Trade Commission wrote a rule implementing the law, which was revised in 2012. Congress and the FTC have taken special steps to assure that children under 13 years of age don't share their personal information on the Internet without the express approval of their parents. The FTC has taken law enforcement actions against companies that have failed to comply with the provisions of the law, which gives parents control over what information websites can collect from their kids.

As you know, in support of our instruction we will be leaning into online tools such as Google's G Suite to communicate and collaborate, and continuing the use of tools that our Altitude Learning Platform provides during this time. Other web resources will be used, some of which our students are already familiar with as part of their curriculum. You will be notified of any new apps and online services which will be used, and we will provide you with links to those services. We strongly encourage you, as parents, to review any privacy policies on these websites and to reach out to us if you have questions. Unless we hear from you otherwise, we will assume that you give your consent for use of apps and online services used to support instruction of curricula.

For your reference, attached HERE is a link to Google's G Suite for Education: Legislation & Certification. Altitude Learning's Privacy Policy can be found HERE.

Zoom Recordings

Zoom meetings will only be recorded by the teachers as a reference for students who miss a "class". ONLY Mead School teachers may record or capture images of Zoom classes. Students are NOT permitted to do so under any circumstances. Please discuss this with your child(ren) today.

Google Calendar

We have enabled Google Calendar access for students, as they will receive invitations to meetings, such as Zoom, which will provide access links and information. They may also want to use their Google Calendar to store their schedules as shared by their Home Center Director.

IMPORTANT: Students are NOT permitted to request visibility to other students' calendars. If they receive such a request, they should contact their Home Center Director immediately.

As we move through this first Distance Learning week together and beyond, we are bound to come upon many new learnings that will help support us all during this process. We may also need to institute further guidelines to ensure that we are teaching and learning safely and respectfully. We will continue to keep you informed throughout this time.

My sincere and kind regards,

Stephanie Whitney

Head of School