February 17

Dear colleagues,

We want to first thank you for the great work you have done providing Virtual School to the youngest learners in our school.  Thank you for all of your efforts to deliver high quality learning experiences in a virtual setting!

As we move into a mode of extended virtual school, we have started to receive some feedback from parents through a variety of channels.  As parents become partners in the delivery of curriculum, we need to consider strategies that set up our parents for success, such as: 

-Simplify: Simplify activities and directions to activities

-Video: Videos from teachers (messages, read alouds) and video conferencing with teachers

-Off-Screen: Increase traditional paper activities (worksheets, handwriting, computation) and encourage outdoor play

Thinking of it another way…

1. a) increase resources that children can easily do on their own (example: listening to a teacher’s daily read-aloud of a book) and
2. b) increase resources that look familiar to parents (example: worksheets, workbooks, etc.)

My message is not intended to say ‘change everything you are doing.’  Rather, the message is ‘we are now in this for the long haul, and we need to adjust based on parent feedback, so they can help us deliver Virtual School at home.’

We will be arranging an additional pick-up of learning resources on Wednesday, February 19 from 09:00 – 14:00 near the security turnstiles near the Plaza.  The question was asked during Elementary Leadership Team if teachers can encourage students to come to the pick-up of learning resources. This was discussed in the School Leadership Team meeting this morning and the answer was “we should not be encouraging students to come to pick-up of learning resources.”  Parents can choose on their own if they will be bringing their children.

On a final note, this week is a good time for teachers to start making individual phone calls with parents to find out how Virtual School is going and what supports parents might need.  The personal touch of a direct phone call can make all the difference.

Thanks for your hard work,

Dan and Donna

Weekly Snapshot:

Monday, February 17

Tuesday, February 18

Wednesday, February 19

• Happy Birthday, Regina
• Happy Birthday, Donna
• Parent pick up of learning resources (Plaza) 9:00am-2:00pm

Thursday, February 20

• TA meeting in regarding classroom library project- 10:00am (in Library)
• EC, K, 1 Check-in meeting- 1:00pm (Library)
• Grades 2,3, 4 Check-in meeting- 2:15pm (Library_

Friday, February 21

• Grade 5 and Specialist Check-in meeting- 12:30pm (Library)