Monthly Mentions... MAY

Each month, FastDirect provides a newsletter to help our schools stay on top of all things related to FastDirect. Click any of the headers below to find out more information than what was included in the most recent Monthly Mentions.

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download May

  • Coming Up This Month...

    • Opening up teacher input for 4th Quarter Report will require:
      • Confirming the quarter dates in 'Grades' then 'Report Card Input Controls'
      • Changing input for the mid-quarter report from 'Allow Input' to 'Input Complete'
      • Changing input for the 4th quarter report cards from 'Not Yet' to 'Allow Input'
      • Having teachers go through the quarter report card input process
      • Closing the input process by changing 'Allow Input' to 'Input Complete'
    • Some schools also have a ‘Semester 2’ and/or a ‘Final’ column on their report cards. If this has been set-up at your school, then you will need to open up input for those grading periods as well.
    • Summer Transition! On your Home screen, we have posted the Summer Transition steps. Here are explanations of what your school will need to complete before the end of the summer:
      • Creating a statement to appear on report cards declaring that the student will be moving forward to the next grade level
      • Marking any students who will not be moving forward as 'Not Promoted'
      • Creating any new Homeroom teacher accounts
      • Establishing the Homeroom teacher changes for next year
      • Moving the students forward to their new homerooms and grade levels
      • Assigning courses to teachers and filling those courses with students
    • HelpDesk is dedicated to helping make the Summer Transition an easy process and allow you more time to enjoy your summer break. Please contact HelpDesk to set up a time when you will be ready to go through the steps. Once these steps have been completed, please notify HelpDesk so that they can move your school forward to the new school year.
    • On the Summer Transition steps, there are a few details to note:
      • After each step is a blue question mark, which are links. When you click one, the system will pull up an FAQ which will provide more information about that step.
      • After some of the steps are links to a video tutorial. When you click one, the system will pull up an FAQ/video tutorial which will provide more information about that step.
      • There is a button underneath the Summer Transition title, which will allow you to 'hide' these steps. This is helpful if you have already completed the steps or will not start on the steps until later this summer.
      • The last and final step to ensure that your system is ready to operate for the 2013-2014 school year is to have HelpDesk move your forward. This requires you to contact HelpDesk so that we can verify everything has been completed and confirm with you that your school is ready to move forward.

  • Did You Know...for Administrators

    • As the parents are sending in money for the next school year's tuition, let HelpDesk get your 2013-2014 Tuition account created. Don't wait until August to start making deposits and charges on next year's accounts!
    • Here is the information HelpDesk needs to set up the Tuition account:
      • Default tuition rates for Child #1-5 (choose the rate that a majority of your families pay)
      • Date and Month of the first payment
      • The total number of payments
    • Once HelpDesk has applied the default rates to each family, the school can go in and make the necessary adjustments to each family. Call or send an FDmail to HelpDesk to get started!

  • Did You Know...for Teachers

    • When importing grades into a student's report card, you might find it helpful to see what report card grades that student has received earlier in the year. This feature is also helpful for viewing subcategory grades and comments. By clicking the name of the student (while in report card input), you can view their report card without having to leave the screen you are in. No distractions, no disruptions!
    • Here are the steps to view a report card while in the middle of the input process:
      • After clicking the yellow button for ReportCard input, you will click the input button for a specific course
      • The roster for that course will display, along with the column to enter in report card grades
      • Each name in the roster on the left hand side is a link - click a student's name and their report card will appear in a new window

  • Did You Know...for Parents

    • Having a parent account in FastDirect is essential for staying connected and informed of your child's education. Allowing students access to their own student account can be equally helpful.
    • Communication is one of the most essential tools in building your school community. Allowing students to log into their individual FastDirect student account encourages independence and responsibility in a secure technology environment.
    • There are several advantages to allowing students to log in to FastDirect:
      • FDmail = Independence: Allowing a student to message a teacher and attach homework or assignments encourages their involvement in their education and reinforces the school's interest in supporting their students.
      • Grades = Motivation: An overall look at a GradeBook and ReportCard grades will add perspective to a student's view of their performance and inspire them to keep up the hard work or strive to show their potential.
      • Assignment Calendar = Time Management: Keeping track of homework, tests, projects and papers can be daunting for any parent and student. When a student is given the opportunity to help track this information, everyone benefits.
      • BulletinBoards & Calendars = Accountability: Knowing when a project will be started or remembering to pack a lunch for the class field trip will be easy when students have access to their teachers' BulletinBoards and Calendars. The more information a teacher posts means students will have fewer excuses for being unprepared.
      • Links = Responsibility: There's no end to the amount of resources and references a teacher can provide their students in Links. Furthermore, the links that a teacher creates will be teacher-approved and will assure that the student is only viewing the correct and safe information.
    • If your school doesn't currently allow students to log into their own student account, please make sure to contact your school administrators to let them know you are interested in this feature.

  • What's New...

    • A new look for GradeBook! We've spent many, many months redesigning the layout of GradeBook and improving some of the functionality. After several months of beta testing, we would love for any and all teachers to give it a go!
    • On Monday, May 6, FastDirect will give any staff member with a grade book the option to work with the new format. That staff person can accept or decline the invitation, but they will also always have the opportunity to change their mind at a later time. If the staff person accepts the invitation, they will always have the option to return to the original format at any time.
    • Here are some of the changes and improvements that have been made to GradeBook:
      • New, Clean Look
      • Total grade average is easily visable
      • Clearer access to setup functions, preferences, and sort options
      • Lock and delete buttons easy to find in edit event box
    • Video Tutorial of the Month:

  • Trimester Schedules

    • Opening up teacher input for 3rd Trimester Report will require:
      • Confirming the 3rd trimester dates in 'Grades' then 'Report Card Input Controls'
      • Changing input for the 3rd trimester from 'Not Yet' to 'Allow Input'
      • Having teachers go through the trimester report card input process
      • Closing the input process by changing 'Allow Input' to 'Input Complete'
    • Summer Transition! On your Home screen, we have posted the Summer Transition steps. Here are explanations of what your school will need to complete before the end of the summer:
      • Creating a statement to appear on report cards declaring that the student will be moving forward to the next grade level
      • Marking any students who will not be moving forward as 'Not Promoted'
      • Creating any new Homeroom teacher accounts
      • Establishing the Homeroom teacher changes for next year
      • Moving the students forward to their new homerooms and grade levels
      • Assigning courses to teachers and filling those courses with students
    • HelpDesk is dedicated to helping make the Summer Transition an easy process and allow you more time to enjoy your summer break. Please contact HelpDesk to set up a time when you will be ready to go through the steps. Once these steps have been completed, please notify HelpDesk so that they can move your school forward to the new school year.
    • On the Summer Transition steps, there are a few details to note:
      • After each step is a blue question mark, which are links. When you click one, the system will pull up an FAQ which will provide more information about that step.
      • After some of the steps are links to a video tutorial. When you click one, the system will pull up an FAQ/video tutorial which will provide more information about that step.
      • There is a button underneath the Summer Transition title, which will allow you to 'hide' these steps. This is helpful if you have already completed the steps or will not start on the steps until later this summer.
      • The last and final step to ensure that your system is ready to operate for the 2013-2014 school year is to have HelpDesk move your forward. This requires you to contact HelpDesk so that we can verify everything has been completed and confirm with you that your school is ready to move forward.

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