This and That:
Budgets: Just a reminder, your budgets freeze on May 1 (unless you talk to Kelle about an exception ahead of time). For this year only, you can roll $100 of Student Body to next school year. General/ Discretionary budget is a use or lose. Talk with Sue if you want to know how much you have in both accounts. I strongly recommend using your leftover money from this year on art supplies and /or school supplies you might need next year. Remember, the school will be purchasing the items in your student kits for you – enough for the whole year. You do not need to purchase those items.
Confidentiality: A couple reminders around confidentiality:
- Vaccine: Please do not ask others if they have gotten their COVID vaccine; that is a private medical matter that some people would rather not discuss.
- Quarantine: Please do not ask other staff members why or why not they have been quarantined; that is between our nursing professionals and staff member and can lead to misunderstandings and hurt feelings. If you have any questions about quarantine decisions, I am happy to talk with you about them.
- Student/ Family Case: When you know of a student (or one of their family members) that has (or may have) COVID, that is not information to share with ANY other staff member besides our front office team – we will take it from there and determine who else with be notified. Student/ family medical information is confidential by law.
Title I Parent Night: Please be sure to encourage your parent/ guardians to attend one of our Title I presentations this week to learn about ways to support their child with reading. This will not be an evening for kids. We are using the student incentives to get our students to encourage their adult(s) to attend.
Summer iPads: It was verified this week that iPads will not be turned in this June. Due to summer learning opportunities, we will ask our students to hold on to their iPads (just like they did last spring). We will send something for you to put out in your home communications and, like last year, provide an opportunity for those families who do not want to keep their iPad to return them to school.
Staff Meeting: The staff meeting this week will be quite short. I will mostly be going over the student placement process and handing out the pink/ blue cards.
Overview of Elementary Summer Program (From Skip): Bend-LaPine Schools will be hosting a twelve-day Summer Learning Program (“Jump Start”) for students in grades 1-5. (This program is NOT open to students who will be entering kindergarten in September 2021). The program will serve students who have been determined to require additional support due to remote/hybrid learning for the 2020-2021 SY and to decrease the potential for summer learning loss.
The program will target 2021-2022 elementary students (1-5) and focus on numeracy and literacy skills. “Jump Start” will be fully “in-person”.
Teachers will be provided specialized training to better support students. The goal of the program is to build academic skills (morning) as well as provide opportunities for social development/enrichment (afternoon). We recognize that part of the program will be focused on academics, however, we also see opportunities for connection, fun and creativity as important.
In addition, breakfast and lunch will be served with staff supervising meals in the classroom. Class size will be limited to a maximum of 20:1. DATES: August 3, 2021 – August 19, 2021; TIMES: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM (mornings for academics and afternoons for enrichment opportunities. Transportation will be provided for students attending.
Locations: Elk Meadow Elementary; Lava Ridge Elementary; Rosland Elementary; Silver Rail Elementary
Dates: Summer 2021 (Staff training dates: June 21 & 22 or June 23 & 24; Prep dates July 29 & 30); School in session August 3-August 19th)
**Note from Kelle**: Several of you have asked how students will be selected for the program. I don’t have any information about this aspect of “Jump Start” at this time. However, with only 80 spots for each grade (20 in each class at four different locations), I am guessing that the district will need to look at data to determine which students will be included. I will let you know more when I hear more.
COVID/ Safety Related Information:
Questions/Concerns about COVID-19 related matters?: Please follow this flowchart. If in doubt about what to do, you can always check with Frank or Kelle. Frank is our Safety Team Lead, and Ann Hollenberg is our School Nurse. You can find our School Safety Checklist here. And here is a link to our COVID anonymous safety concerns form.
To Do:
Yearbook Photos: Please contribute photos for the yearbook by clicking this link. There is a folder for each classroom and a miscellaneous folder for any other photos. The deadline is May 7.
Art in the Meadow: Please start digitizing 2-3 pieces of art for each student and put them in your Art in the Meadow folder. A few ideas for digitizing your art: scan on the copy machine, take a photo with your phone or iPad, have a parent take the photos for you, or the office will take photos for you (art must be in the office by 5/15 for help).
Important Dates:
- Monday: Gr. 5 Camp Tamarack
- Tuesday: Gr. 5 Camp Tamarack, Gr. 4 EBISS meeting, Title I Parent Night
- Thursday: Gr. 5 Camp Tamarack, Staff meeting, Title I Parent Night
- Friday: Gr. 5 Camp Tamarack