Dear Parents,

I have great news to share with you regarding the opportunities we will have this year for enrichment and communication! Our class will have several online options and opportunities.

The first is our class website. The site name is Dr. Rickert’s Education Adventure. To make accessing it easier the address is simply http://www.DrRickert.com. Please note there is no period after the “Dr” and the “apostrophe s” has been dropped. I will update this site daily and weekly. I will post the daily assignments, a copy of the Rickert Report, project notes and due dates, basic information, and challenge experiences. I will have information on different educational topics and links for content related websites, as well as fun places on the Internet. I would like to develop a section where students can research topics and add content pages to our site as well. I will publish quality student products and pictures of class activities and field trips. You will be able to view and download pictures of activities you may not have been able to attend in person! This website is a wonderful way to connect our classroom with our school, our community, other classrooms, and you! Because this site is not secure and visible to anyone with Internet access no personal information or student last names will ever be posted. Per board policy, I will not include student pictures with names. No pictures or work will be published for students who have not returned the signed permission slip.

The second site is our class grade book. You can reach this site through a link at our website or directly at http://www.mygradebook.com. This site is secure. Please understand your passwords must remain private for the security of your child’s grades. This site will be updated regularly and will include all assignments and grades to date. You will be able to check specific grades, get current averages, check attendance, and link to our website. No student will receive the necessary passwords until your child has returned the permission slip. There is a separate login ID and password for each subject area. Once you have logged on these separate ID’s and passwords can be changed to one common login ID and password. The site provides instructions; however, I will also be sending home step-by-step directions to make the process easily accomplished.

The third site connects with our social studies program. You can be reach this site through a link at our class website or directly at http://www.tutorial.historyalive.com. Once in the site, students will be able to take practice tests for each chapter.

I am very excited about the possibilities for these online resources. Please read the permission slip on the next page carefully and fill in the appropriate information.

Sincerely,

Beth Rickert

I understand I must have my own Internet access in order to use these online features. I also understand use of these sites is optional. I understand the class website will never include personal information or last names, and this site will not be secure. I further understand the grade book site and the quiz sites are secure and only students in our 2005-2006 class, with proper ID will be able to access them. I understand this ID and password must remain private and Dr. Rickert will not give this password to any other person. If others learn this password through my child, or me, I will notify Dr. Rickert, so a new password can be created. I will not hold Nannie Berry Elementary or Dr. Rickert responsible for any breach of privacy that may occur as a result until the new password can be created.

I understand I must monitor my child at all times while on these sites, due to the inherent nature of the Internet. I understand Dr. Rickert may provide links to appropriate sites, however, Dr. Rickert and Nannie Berry Elementary cannot be held responsible if these third party sites change their address or locations. In addition, due to the frequent changes that take place on the Internet, I will monitor my child while using these links in the event the site has changed and inappropriate material has been placed there. I also understand while the site is secure and all information is private, due to the nature of the Internet, there is a possibility the third party owner of the website we are using could get my email address. I also understand Dr. Rickert and Nannie Berry Elementary would have no control over this breach of privacy and I would not hold them responsible.

________________________________

Parent Signature

Please initial all that apply:

______I give my permission to have my child’s work (and first name only) published on our class website.

_____ I would like to access my child’s grades online.

_____ I would like my child’s grade login information sent home with him or her. OR

_____ I would like my child’s login information sent to my email address.

_____ I would like email notifications when updates are made to the grades.

My email address is ________________________________________________

I would like this second email to be notified as well:

________________________________________________________________,

_________________________

Child’s name