Virtual Learning at TVS

TVS recognizes that current conditions have impacted everyone, in all aspects of their lives.  We want to support you and your family in any way we can.

• Our counselors, Karen Peninger (pk-8) and Kellie McLarty (9-12), are available to discuss concerns you might have about your child or family during this unprecedented time   
• Other avenues of assistance:
  • Admissions office - Alice Pritchett, Allison Shapard, Regan Gilstrap
  • Business office - Bunny Riemitis or Kim Tooke
  • Advancement office -  Margaret Kramer
  • Division heads - Sandy McNutt, Jeff Snyder, Manish Bhatt 

If you are not certain which area to contact for your needs, any of the above sources can point you in the right direction.
Trinity Valley School is here for you, now and always.

Just for Kids: A Comic Explaining the Coronavirus for Kids

CDC Prevention and Treatment

World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 FAQs and Myth Busters

WHO Homepage and Interactive Map

Centers for Disease Control’s Coronavirus page

Advisories from the State Department

Tarrant County Disease Control and Prevention

AAP offers response and updates for members on COVID-19

7 Quick Facts You Need To Know About the Coronavirus

What you need to know about COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease

SAMHSA : Coping With Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks 

ChildMind: Talking to Kids about the Coronavirus 

Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource

Brainpop Video: Coronavirus

Video Showing How a Virus Can Spread in a Classroom

Security will be happy to retrieve any materials you may need.

Please submit this Google form: Property/Supply retrieval due to COVID -19 campus closure
If you have any issues, please email security@trinityvalleyschool.org

Thank you to our Security team for being so helpful during this time!

Many cell providers are allowing phones to be used as a hotspot and removing some data restrictions during the closures. Please check for specifics with your carrier, as offers may vary and could change.   

Our teachers are recording their classes, and they will be happy to schedule an appointment to review any questions or review material that may need clarification. Be assured that they are here to support your child. Please encourage your child to reach out as needed. Teachers can also record videos for any specific questions your child may have. That way, your child can download and watch them without having to stream them.  

Here are some additional tips and tricks that you can do that might improve your home service:

Work As Close to Your Router As Possible
The closer you are to your router, the better the signal will be.

Reboot Your Router
If you can't remember the last time you restarted your home WIFI router, now is the time to do so. A simple reboot can often improve the signal of your home system.

Turn Off "Smart Devices" That You Are Not Using.
These days all of your "smart devices" access your WIFI signal at all times. These include TVs, Gaming Systems, Digital Assistants (Amazon Echo, Google Home, etc.). Keeping these off when possible will improve overall WIFI performance. 

Make Sure Your Router is Located In a Good Location
Not all places are equally suitable for your router. Avoid placing your router close to metal objects and appliances that emit electromagnetic waves. Metal is the top disrupter of a WiFi signal, and its presence close to a WiFi router can easily create a large dead zone.

Strictly speaking, all household appliances emit electromagnetic waves to some degree, even fluorescent lightbulbs, circuit breakers, and electric razors. The biggest emitters of electromagnetic waves are typically in the kitchen, and they include stoves, microwave ovens, and dishwashers.

Other problematic appliances are washing machines, tumble dryers, televisions, cordless phones, and radiant heaters. If you have any of these appliances at home, keep your WiFi router as far away from them as possible. 

Keep Your Router Updated
If you have not been keeping your router updated with the latest firmware, follow the instructions from your router's manufacturer or your Internet Service Provider to update it. Routers with old firmware perform worse than routers that are appropriately updated and are more susceptible to malware attacks. 

Get a Stronger Antenna
Most home WIFI routers come with small, weak antennas. It's not that manufacturers want to save every cent they can, but powerful WiFi antennas tend to be hideously large. Compared to the antenna that came with your router, which probably is just a few inches tall and has around 4 dB gain, a 10-dB antenna can be anywhere between 10 to 15 inches tall. But if you don't mind the size, a new, powerful WiFi antenna is a great way how you can boost WiFi at home or office without buying a new router.

The standard "rubber duck" antenna is an excellent solution for improving a home's WIFI signal. These antennas use the same RP-SMA connector, and there are many different models available on Amazon and other online stores. Some even come with a handy extension cable that allows you to place the antenna farther away from your router to achieve optimal signal distribution.

Purchase an antenna with more gain than your current one. Most home routers come with small antennas, whose gain tends to be between 4–5 dBi. Replacing such antenna with a 9 dBi antenna should provide an excellent signal boost.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Larry Kahn, 
Chief Technology Officer
817.321.0128 
kahnl@trinityvalleyschool.org

When we first launched distance learning, the technology department increased its support hours to assist with the shift to remote learning.  Happily, the number of requests for support has reduced significantly.  Effective Tuesday, April 14, the helpdesk will be monitored from 8am to 5pm.  Please continue to email helpdesk@trinityvalleyschool.org. We are here to support you!

This link from School Library Journal https://bit.ly/2JrvKLO includes a constantly updated list of publishers who have granted special permission for teachers to read their books aloud online while schools are closed. The current list includes Abrams, Candlewick, Children’s Books, Chronicle Kids, Crabtree Publishing, Disney Publishing, HarperCollins, Holiday House, Houghton Mifflin/Harcourt, Lee and Low, Lerner, Little Brown Young Readers, Peachtree, Penguin, Random House, Scholastic, and Simon & Schuster.