Inspirational Quote:
Friday, December 18, 2020
Friday, December 11, 2020
Weekly Update #15
Inspirational Quote:
"Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness. " Anne Frank
Friday, December 4, 2020
Weekly Update #14
Inspirational Quote:
"To bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try." ~ Rosa Parks
Friday, November 20, 2020
Weekly Update #13
Inspirational Quote:
“No one who achieves success does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.” ―Alfred North Whitehead
Friday, November 13, 2020
Week #12
Inspirational Quote:
Friday, November 6, 2020
Weekly Update #11
Inspirational Quote:
Friday, October 30, 2020
Weekly Update #10
Inspirational Quote:
Thursday, October 22, 2020
Weekly Update #9
Inspirational Quote:
Friday, October 16, 2020
Weekly Update #8
Inspirational Quote:
Friday, October 9, 2020
Weekly Update #7
Inspirational Quote:
Friday, October 2, 2020
Weekly Update #6
Inspirational Quote:
“Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.”Friday, September 25, 2020
Week #5: First Full Week of Remote Learning
Inspirational Quote:
"A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.”- Amelia Earhart
Friday, September 18, 2020
Week 4: End of Orientation and Official Start of Remote Learning
Inspirational Quote:
"The more you feed your mind with positive thoughts, the more you can attract great things into your life.”- Roy T. Bennett
Saturday, September 12, 2020
Week 3: Orientation Week
Inspirational Quote:
"You're off to great places. Today is your first day! Your mountain is waiting so get on your way!"
- Dr. Seuss
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
Connery: Summer Retreat Week 2
Inspirational Quote:
"Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day" - Dalai Lama
Thursday, August 27, 2020
Summer Edition: Shool Year 2021
Inspirational Quote:
"In chaos is where learning happens the most." - Tarun Sharma
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Weekly Update #39
“ How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."
Monday, June 15, 2020 Working from Home
Staff Meeting @2:00
Tuesday, June 16 , 2020 Working From Home
Thursday, June 18, 2020 Working From Home
Last Day of School
- Limited Contact List - We are working with our attendance officer to support and gather more information about the students on the limited contact list. Please make sure to take a look at the list one last time and ensure that it is up to date.
- Request from Dr. Tutwiler - I will be posting this parent survey on Class Dojo, and Dr. Tutwiler is asking for support from all of us. This is a survey to gather more information from families as we await guidance from DESE about our re-opening. If you are a parent at LPS, please respond: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/lpsparentsurvey2
- ST Math - please remember to encourage families to use this, and let them know that their child's username and password will also be in the materials they pick up.
- For your reference: Elizabeth Birie, Mass Math Initiative Program Manager, is our primary contact. You may also request assistance from our Support Team at support@mindresearch.org or 1-888-491-6603.
- Here are some reminders about our ST Math launch with rostering:
- Resources for families: Please share the following resources with families.
- ST Math Parent Kit
- Please send home the attached document with instructions for:
- Readying devices for ST Math.
- Log in instructions.
- Family Webinars
- Make Time for JiJi
- Celebration Calendar
- JiJi Coloring Page
- How to Exit ST Math
- Rostering: All student and teacher accounts shared with ST Math will be processed and automation set. For technical assistance with accounts contact our Support Team at support@mindresearch.org or 1-888-491-6603.
- Staff Login: Teachers will receive their ST Math account information via email with a link to login at stmath.com.
- Summer Reading Books - Unfortunately, there was a problem encountered with the orders, and the summer reading books will not be available next week. Fortunately, Ms. Fitzgerald got us some more books and we have books to distribute.
- Feel free to let families know the name of the book that we will be using.
- They will be available at our lunch sites over the summer, but families can certainly purchase them or borrow them from libraries if they want to get started early.
- It's important for children to know that this reading is expected of them, and will be part of their first week of school next year.
- SEL Information - Summer PD
- Modules are two hours long
- Modules are set up by grade span (K-1 and 2-5)
- Multiple dates will be offered
- PD sessions are two hours long
- One session provides overview to CSC resource
- We are very excited about this opportunity and feel providing the PD directly to the teachers while supporting SEL Leadership teams is the most supportive approach. As always, we will be continuously assessing the roll out and are open to feedback.
- Please "Save the Dates" below: 7/30/2020, 8/5/2020, 8/13/2020
- Volunteer and Student Material Schedule - please click here for schedules.
- Technology - Pick up for Connery is on June 24th from 8-2 at LVTI.
- Re-Opening Plans - Please refer to Dr. Tutwiler's letter.
- Communication Logs - Here is a visual of the submission dates for logs:
- April 17, May 1, May 15, May 29, June 12, and again on June 18.
- Connery ACCESS Scores - You must be logged into your LPS email to open (Here is the link: ACCESS 2020)
- Team Planning - Please ensure that lessons are going into a 2020-2021 folder.
- Communication - We have updated the tracker to include students from the meeting that we held Limited Contact Tracker. Please go back and clean up the tracker with the information below.
- Connery Facebook Page - If you haven't already checked it out, please check out the Connery Elementary Facebook page.
- District FAQ Sheet - Here is a link to the district FAQ sheet. This is also locate on the district website.
- Guided Reading Documents - Here!
- Recess - recess resource
- Connery School Year Calendar
- Food Pantry Flyer
- LPS CORE VALUES - Inclusiveness, Shared Responsibility, High Expectations, and Inspiring Life Long Learning.
- Grade K Moving On Ceremony - June 15th (various times)
- Student Material Distribution - June 16th, 17th, and 18th
- Grade 5 Moving On Ceremony - June 17th @5:30
Thursday, June 4, 2020
Weekly Update #38
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
― Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday, June 8, 2020 Working from Home
Tuesday, June 9 , 2020 Working From Home
Thursday, June 11, 2020 Working From Home
Wellness Meeting @ 9
Friday, June 12, 2020 Working From Home
- Volunteer and Student Material Schedule - please click here for schedules.
- Resources for Cum Folders - remember that you must be logged into your email in order to open the files - Homeroom List and Sibling Report.
- Technology - Please look out for an email from Tim Roach. I will forward it as soon as it comes in. Distribution sites will be at Marshall, LVTI, Classical, and English. A series of dates will be provided to families with windows of time for pick-up.
- Re-Opening Plans - DESE is putting forth a more prescriptive model. This plan is scheduled for release on June 15th.
- Communication Logs - Here is a visual of the submission dates for logs:
- April 17, May 1, May 15, May 29, June 12, and again on June 18.
- 2nd Request from Dr. Tutwiler - Don't forget the Census Lessons link: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sis/2020census/2020-resources/k-12.Grades_9-12.html
- Connery ACCESS Scores - You must be logged into your LPS email to open (Here is the link: ACCESS 2020)
- Student Materials - Ms. Powers follow up message on End of Year Closing Procedures.
- Absence Reminder -email the HR department, email payroll, complete Aesop, and email Glenda, Liz, and your CIT.
- Team Planning - Please ensure that lessons are going into a 2020-2021 folder.
- Communication - We have updated the tracker to include students from the meeting that we held Limited Contact Tracker. Please go back and clean up the tracker with the information below.
- Connery Facebook Page - If you haven't already checked it out, please check out the Connery Elementary Facebook page.
- District FAQ Sheet - Here is a link to the district FAQ sheet. This is also locate on the district website.
- Guided Reading Documents - Here!
- Recess - recess resource
- Connery School Year Calendar
- Food Pantry Flyer
- LPS CORE VALUES - Inclusiveness, Shared Responsibility, High Expectations, and Inspiring Life Long Learning.
- Materials Packing and Cum Completion - June 8th - 12th
- Grade K Moving On Ceremony - June 15th
- Student Material Distribution - June 16th, 17th, and 18th
- Grade 5 Moving On Ceremony - June 17th
Thursday, May 28, 2020
Weekly Post #37
“Every child deserves a champion- an adult who will never give up on them, who understands he power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.”
― Rita Pierson
Monday, June 1, 2020 Working from Home
Tuesday, June 2 , 2020 Working From Home
Thursday, June 4, 2020 Working From Home
Friday, June 5, 2020 Working From Home
- Staff Meeting for EOY closing - Tuesday, June 2nd @ 2:30 Zoom invite:
- Glenda Colon is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
- Topic: Staff Meeting - All Staff Please
- Time: Jun 2, 2020 02:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
- Join Zoom Meeting
- https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86877187684?pwd=M1UvUlZCWFljTWxBZEtoSU0vL1VsQT09
- Meeting ID: 868 7718 7684
- Password: 6vjZH3
- There will be important updates and helpful information to share at the meeting! This is for all staff.
- Staff Appreciation Raffles - Congrats to all the winners this month!
- Communication Logs - Here is a visual of the submission dates for logs:
- April 17, May 1, May 15, May 29, June 12, and again on June 18.
- 2nd Request from Dr. Tutwiler - Don't forget the Census Lessons link: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sis/2020census/2020-resources/k-12.Grades_9-12.html
- Connery ACCESS Scores - You must be logged into your LPS email to open (Here is the link: ACCESS 2020)
- Student Materials - Ms. Powers follow up message on End of Year Closing Procedures.
- Absence Reminder -email the HR department, email payroll, complete Aesop, and email Glenda, Liz, and your CIT.
- Team Planning - Please ensure that lessons are going into a 2020-2021 folder.
- Technology - Laptops for special ed students were handed out last week.
- Communication - We have updated the tracker to include students from the meeting that we held Limited Contact Tracker. Please go back and clean up the tracker with the information below.
- Connery Facebook Page - If you haven't already checked it out, please check out the Connery Elementary Facebook page.
- District FAQ Sheet - Here is a link to the district FAQ sheet. This is also locate on the district website.
- Guided Reading Documents - Here!
- Recess - recess resource
- Connery School Year Calendar
- Food Pantry Flyer
- LPS CORE VALUES - Inclusiveness, Shared Responsibility, High Expectations, and Inspiring Life Long Learning.
School has been officially designated to be remote learning until the end of the year.
Thursday, May 21, 2020
Weekly Post #36
“The only way that we can live is if we grow. The only way we can grow is if we change. The only way we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we are exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open.”
― C. Joybell
Monday, May 25, 2020 No School/ Memorial Day
Tuesday, May 26, 2020 Working From Home
Thursday, May 28, 2020 Working From Home
Friday, May 29, 2020 Working From Home
Thank you, thank you to all the volunteers that helped us give out packets this week. We couldn't have done it without you!
- Quick family check in and survey on packets: Please ask your families if they picked up the second packet. This can be a quick survey on Dojo or text. Please let them know where they can locate the packets if they were not able to pick them up at Connery this week. Then, complete the following survey about the number of students that received the packets.
- Staff Appreciation Raffles - Check in daily to see if you are a winner!
- Communication Logs - Here is a visual of the submission dates for logs: April 17, May 1st, May 15th, and May 29th.
- Everyone should have at least 3 log submissions, with a 4th coming up.
- I know that everyone is connecting with families, but please do not forget to upload your logs.
- 2nd Request from Dr. Tutwiler - Below is the same link I sent in March. These activities are not designed for virtual delivery per se, but can be reshaped for that platform. I am hopeful that one lesson or some discussion/interaction on the topic can happen for K-5 classes by June 16th. Census Lessons link: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sis/2020census/2020-resources/k-12.Grades_9-12.html
- Connery ACCESS Scores - You must be logged into your LPS email to open (Here is the link: ACCESS 2020)
- Student Materials - Ms. Powers follow up message on End of Year Closing Procedures.
- Zoom Session Procedures - Please remember to share procedures on Zoom.
- Aesop Reminder - If you are not available during a workday, you need to complete the following expectations:
- email the HR department, email payroll, complete Aesop, and email Glenda, Liz, and your CIT.
- Ways to support families with new packets: Do a Zoom Meeting specifically about the new packet, choose one of the activities to do for a Zoom Meeting, Post a sample
- Parent Communication Document - This document is from the SEL department and is meant to support communication with families having a difficult time with social isolation.
- Class Dojo Expectations - Expectations for Class DoJo have been thoughtfully put together and can be found here. Please read this as there are changes to postings that were recommended to us by admin after a recent School Committee Meeting.
- Team Planning - Please ensure that lessons are going into a 2020-2021 folder.
- Technology - Laptops for special ed students were handed out last week.
- Communication - We have updated the tracker to include students from the meeting that we held Limited Contact Tracker. Please go back and clean up the tracker with the information below.
- Connery Facebook Page - If you haven't already checked it out, please check out the Connery Elementary Facebook page.
- District FAQ Sheet - Here is a link to the district FAQ sheet. This is also locate on the district website.
- Guided Reading Documents - Here!
- Recess - recess resource
- Connery School Year Calendar
- Food Pantry Flyer
- LPS CORE VALUES - Inclusiveness, Shared Responsibility, High Expectations, and Inspiring Life Long Learning.
School has been officially designated to be remote learning until the end of the year.
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Weekly Update #35
“My mama always said, Life was like a box of chocolates. You never
know what you"ll get.”
― Forrest Gump
Monday, May 18, 2020 Working from Home
Tuesday, May 19, 2020 Working From Home
Thursday, May 21, 2020 Working From Home
Friday, May 22, 2020 Working From Home
- Staff Appreciation Raffles - Check in daily to see if you are a winner!
- Request from Dr. Tutwiler - Please share the following information:
- We need as many people as possible to fill out the census, it is going to impact our future educational funding. Please share the following flyer with families:
- Dr. Tutwiler shared, "I am asking for family feedback on the potential early start to the school the school year. The survey is posted and an all call and text went out yesterday afternoon. We have about 2,000 respondent thus far. Hoping you can share through your platforms as well." - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/sy2021earlyopening
- Expectations for ESL in SY21 - Please see ESL Expectations. We will use these guidelines to create a schedule that meets the needs of our students and these guidelines. We are fortunate to have made a shift this year, as there will be little impact to our school as a result.
- ACCESS test will be in dropbox on May 15th and then on Ellevation.
- Student Materials - Ms. Powers has instructed us to wait for her communication before we pack up our classrooms. This will most likely be the week of June 8th. This will be in agreement with Dr. Tutwiler and Joe Smart.
- Those who wanted to pack up next week will have to wait.
- Moving On Ceremonies
- Grade 5 will occur on June 17th district wide
- Certificate presentations on Zoom and/or a slideshow presentation.
- Grade K will occur on June 15th district wide
- This will be classroom specific and led by the classroom teachers.
- Glenda and Liz are willing to support.
- Parents are welcome to attend on Zoom.
- Zoom Session Procedures - Please share rules and procedures with families in order to have the best possible sessions on Zoom. This will avoid concerning behaviors or incidents. Here is an example:
- When I attend class online, I will...
- Look at the screen.
- Mute as soon as entering. I can give a wave to my friends/teachers. Keep my microphone on mute until my teacher asks me to turn it on.
- Talk only when it is my turn to speak.
- Do what my teacher tells me to do.
- Stay in one spot/area while on Zoom, preferably at a spot you can sit up straight and do your best work (like you’re at your desk at school). We will do our best not to lay down, lounge or move around
- Refrain from eating any food or drinking any beverages.
- Material & Packet Information - Please see Class Dojo post.
- Volunteers Schedule:
- Monday - Su, Candice, Bill
- Tuesday - Candice, Jen
- Wednesday - Bill, Rosemary
- We are also looking for a volunteers to help with instrument collection as well. Please let me know if you are available.
- Aesop - If you are not available on a work day or plan to take a personal day, please post your absence. This is also the case for medical appointments or procedures. If your appointment is for a short time, connect with Glenda. In most cases, shifting hours of work is not a problem. However, you should be communicating this information. If you are not available, you need to complete the following expectations:
- email the HR department, email payroll, complete Aesop, and email Glenda, Liz, and your CIT.
- EBT - Please share this with families: If anyone receives EBT benefits, they will begin to receive an additional $28 per child.
- Ways to support families with new packets: Do a Zoom Meeting specifically about the new packet, choose one of the activities to do for a Zoom Meeting, Post a sample
- New Packets - Available at schools from May 18th-May 20th from 9 am - 12 pm.
- We need volunteers for this round as well. If you are available, please let Glenda and Liz know. Thank you!
- Parent Communication Document - This document is from the SEL department and is meant to support communication with families having a difficult time with social isolation.
- Class Dojo Expectations - Expectations for Class DoJo have been thoughtfully put together and can be found here. Please read this as there are changes to postings that were recommended to us by admin after a recent School Committee Meeting.
- Zoom - Always have a clear plan for zoom events. Feel free to invite support staff to present a lesson too! This can be a fun shared experience.
- Team Planning - Please ensure that lessons are going into a 2020-2021 folder.
- Technology - Laptops for special ed students were handed out last week.
- Communication - We have updated the tracker to include students from the meeting that we held Limited Contact Tracker. Please go back and clean up the tracker with the information below.
- Important Information about Tracker - Please do not add any additional information or unnecessary lines in the document.
- When regular contact is maintained, please highlight the whole line red (see sample in document).
- Notes are allowed under the Contact Made section.
- If you documented something on the log, please update it to meet the expectations in this update.
- Communication Log - Please make sure that you are completing your logs regularly.
- Liz and Glenda will be checking in with teachers about communication, so that we can support you and our families as best as we can.
- Connery Facebook Page - If you haven't already checked it out, please check out the Connery Elementary Facebook page.
- District FAQ Sheet - Here is a link to the district FAQ sheet. This is also locate on the district website.
- MCAS - MCAS is officially postponed.
- Guided Reading Documents - Here!
- Recess - recess resource
- Connery School Year Calendar
- Food Pantry Flyer
- LPS CORE VALUES - Inclusiveness, Shared Responsibility, High Expectations, and Inspiring Life Long Learning.
School has been officially designated to be remote learning until the end of the year.
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Weekly Update #34
“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”
― Neil Gaiman, Coraline
Monday, May 11, 2020 Working from Home
Tuesday, May 12, 2020 Working From Home
Thursday, May 14, 2020 Working From Home
Friday, May 15, 2020 Working From Home
- Staff Appreciation Raffles - Check in daily to see if you are a winner!
- Special Ed Updates - Please make sure that you ask and have all the information that you need at this Friday's meeting about IEP meetings and Special Ed cases.
- Letters to Support Parent Communication - In support of our parent communication, here are some sample letters with Spanish translation that we created in hopes of targeting some of our hard to reach families, and those that now seem to have disconnected numbers.
- Stipend Part Time Positions - Ms. Powers has instructed us to inform you to complete your forms with the following information so that they can be prorated:
- For extra curricular stipends please have teachers note description of work completed in the following manner:
- name of program: Art Club
- the expected number of sessions for the program: 10
- the number of sessions completed: 5
- Exact dates of sessions held: 2/5, 2/12, 2/26, 3/3,3/10
- (Please do not add any other information or it will get denied.)
- If you did not put in any hours for your club, please email Glenda immediately.
- Aesop - Aesop is running. If you are not available on a work day or plan to take a personal day, please complete the following expectations:
- email the HR department, email payroll, complete Aesop, and email Glenda, Liz, and your CIT.
- Sorry for the extra communication, but payroll is completed a bit differently these days. You can email our admin team and CC others, so it is all in one email.
- Continue to fill out your class Promotional Meeting Steps for Grouping document. This completed form can be found on SharePoint in the CIT folder/End of Year Procedures/SY 2019-2020/ Grade & class. Please meet with Support staff that are in your room to collaborate after you have completed this document. These completed documents will be used during our grade-level Promotional Meetings beginning on May 12.
- EBT - Please share this with families: If anyone receives EBT benefits, they will begin to receive an additional $28 per child.
- Ways to support families with new packets: Do a Zoom Meeting specifically about the new packet, choose one of the activities to do for a Zoom Meeting, Post a sample
- New Packets - Available at schools from May 18th-May 20th from 9 am - 12 pm.
- We need volunteers for this round as well. If you are available, please let Glenda and Liz know. Thank you!
- Parent Communication Document - This document is from the SEL department and is meant to support communication with families having a difficult time with social isolation.
- Report Cards - Due on Friday, April 24 were the last grades for the year. Please note that admin will not mail these to families until the end of the year. Dr. Tutwiler will be sending families and staff a guidance on grades and other end of year expectations, with a clear message to ensure that families understand that engagement in school communication and activities is an expectation.
- Student Materials will be packed and distributed during this time. We will need volunteers to support desk clean out and material packing. If anyone is willing to come in to help do material packing for student materials, please let Glenda and Liz know! If this was already done during the classroom closing, also let Glenda and Liz know.
- Class Dojo Expectations - Expectations for Class DoJo have been thoughtfully put together and can be found here. Please read this as there are changes to postings that were recommended to us by admin after a recent School Committee Meeting.
- Zoom - Always have a clear plan for zoom events. Feel free to invite support staff to present a lesson too! This can be a fun shared experience.
- Team Planning - Please ensure that lessons are going into a 2020-2021 folder.
- Technology - Laptops for special ed students were handed out last week.
- Communication - We have updated the tracker to include students from the meeting that we held Limited Contact Tracker. Please go back and clean up the tracker with the information below.
- Important Information about Tracker - Please do not add any additional information or unnecessary lines in the document.
- When regular contact is maintained, please highlight the whole line red (see sample in document).
- Notes are allowed under the Contact Made section.
- If you documented something on the log, please update it to meet the expectations in this update.
- Communication Log - Please make sure that you are completing your logs regularly.
- Liz and Glenda will be checking in with teachers about communication, so that we can support you and our families as best as we can.
- Connery Facebook Page - If you haven't already checked it out, please check out the Connery Elementary Facebook page.
- District FAQ Sheet - Here is a link to the district FAQ sheet. This is also locate on the district website.
- MCAS - MCAS is officially postponed.
- Guided Reading Documents - Here!
- Recess - recess resource
- Connery School Year Calendar
- Food Pantry Flyer
- LPS CORE VALUES - Inclusiveness, Shared Responsibility, High Expectations, and Inspiring Life Long Learning.
School has been officially designated to be remote learning until the end of the year.