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Helping Your Explorer Succeed!

Helping Your Explorer Succeed!

Welcome to NOVA!

We know that parents play an integral part in student success and we want to provide as much information as possible to give you the opportunity to help and see your student(s) succeed!

Below you will find different sections on important information about NOVA. There will be video explanations, video tutorials and other resources to help you along your journey.

Follow this link for some other quick tips on Getting Started!
ATTENDANCE

Synchronous (at the same time) and Asynchronous (at different times) participation are valid at NOVA.

  • Synchronous participation
    • Attending meetings (The student is expected to open the camera and microphone at appropriate times during class meetings)
    • Office hours/one-on-one meetings with teachers 
  • Asynchronous participation 
  • Finishing assigned learning tasks 
  • Completing assessments (tests, quizzes, presentations)
  • Continued interaction with the teacher
  • Email from the student to the teacher
  • Teams messaging about coursework or class discussions
  • Discussion board participation
  • Class chat participation in Teams
  • Phone conversations between the teacher and the student 

  • What is ClassLink?

     

     

    How to find ClassLink (app/desktop, webpage) 

     

  • FOR NOVA CLASSES:

    • Students will meet as a class in a live session three times per week (this will be referred to as 'synchronous').
    • These synchronous classes will be held using Microsoft Teams.
    • High School synchronous classes will be on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays (Wednesday is a teacher and student work day – no live classes).  It is also referred to as Blast.
    • The days students do NOT have live class sessions (this will be referred to as 'asynchronous'). Students will be completing school work, potentially meeting in small groups, or requesting extra help during their teachers' specified office hours.  Usually, asynchronous days only happen when a teacher is gone or on Blast days.
    • Wednesdays are BLAST days. Students can attend in person or online for academic support.  Students must check in on Wednesdays, whether it be online or in the building.
    • If a student misses one of the synchronous classes, these classes will be recorded and made available on the class Teams channel.
    • Each week, parents will receive communication from teachers.

     
    ADVANCED OPPORTUNITIES:

    • There will be some advanced opportunities for high school students. 
    • Please contact the office at 208-468-2808 or Mary Dowski at mdowski@nsd131.org if you have any questions.

     
    IDLA COURSES:

    • Additional online courses are available through IDLA (but NOVA will help students get started).
    • Please contact our counselor, Mary Dowski at mdowski@nsd131.org if you have questions about IDLA.

     
    BRICK AND MORTAR COURSES:

    • There will also be opportunities for high school students to take courses that are not offered at NOVA at one of our brick-and-mortar schools (Nampa High, Skyview High, Columbia High).
    • Students in these courses will attend ON CAMPUS at the appropriate times.
    • Assignments for these classes are to be turned in to that teacher, based on that teacher's requirements.

  • FOR NOVA CLASSES:

    • Students will meet as a class in a live session three times per week (this will be referred to as 'synchronous').
    • These synchronous classes will be held using Microsoft Teams.
    • Middle School synchronous classes will be on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays (Wednesday is a teacher and student work day – no live classes).  It is also referred to as Blast.
    • The days students do NOT have live class sessions (this will be referred to as 'asynchronous'). Students will be completing school work, potentially meeting in small groups, or requesting extra help during their teachers' specified office hours.  Usually, asynchronous days only happen when a teacher is gone or on Blast days.
    • Wednesdays are BLAST days. Students can attend in person or online for academic support.  Students must check in on Wednesdays, whether it be online or in the building.
    • If a student misses one of the synchronous classes, these classes will be recorded and made available on the class Teams channel.
    • Each week, parents will receive communication from teachers.

     
    ADVANCED OPPORTUNITIES:

    • There will be some advanced opportunities for grades 7 and 8 
    • Please contact the office at 208-468-2808 or Mary Dowski at mdowski@nsd131.org if you have any questions.

  • Parent portal login- Powerschool website
    If you have trouble acccessing your parent account, please contact the NOVA office at 208-468-2808. From your parent account, you can:

    • View your student's grades, attendance, assignments (scores, missing work, detailed instructions on assignment). These are updated every two weeks, but are not final until the end of the semester.
    • To check grades: click on the letter grade you want to check. This will open all assignments
    • Email teachers.
    • Pay student fees for VDP, field trips, etc.
    • View historical report cards, test scores, etc.

    • Each grade level will have a slightly different schedule based on the learning needs of the age group. 
    • Playlist model for assignments and assessments 
    • Participation in Teams
    • Weekly parent communication 

  • Otus is the main hub for all school work, and as parents/guardians, you can create an account to monitor and track your student's progress
     
    If you would like to set up an account, please call the office at 208-468-2808.

  • TECH SUPPORT
    Contact the help desk for any computer related issues at helpdesk@nsd131.org or (208) 468-4777
    Hours: 7 am - 4 pm 
     
    IMPORTANT! Run computer updates weekly!  To run updates, from the Home Menu/Start button at the bottom of the screen, choose Settings/System/Windows Update. Run updates for BOTH required and optional (optional updates are under Advanced Options).
     
    Voluntary Device Protection (VDP) can be paid through your Power School parent account August-September. After September, bring the device into school for inspection and pay VDP with cash or card. VDP coverage lasts August to July of one school year and covers complete repair for accidental damage for the first occurrence of damage.