Weekly Update #32

Inspirational Quote:

"You have the power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find your strengths."                                    -Marcus Aurelius

                                                                 This Week                                                                           

Monday, April 27, 2020                                                              Working from Home 

Tuesday, April 28, 2020                                                              Working From Home                                                                                      

Wednesday, April 29, 2020                                                         Working From Home                           

Thursday, April 30, 2020                                                             Working From Home                               
Friday, May 1, 2020                                                                     Working From Home           

                                       Things to Be Aware of and Keep in Mind                                                

• Updates for SY 2021 - Let's all come together to congratulate Cyndi McCleary who will serve as the new K-2 Reading CIT for next year.
• Congrats Cyndi, we are excited to continue to have your support at Connery!
• Change for Next Round of Packets - The packets will now be distributed at Connery on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of next week. They will then, be available at the lunch sites from April 29-May 5.
• Liz and Glenda will have a clear plan for running this smoothly at Connery.  There will be a drive up location (which will be encouraged) and a walking location.
• VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED - masks and gloves will be available for all volunteers.
• An additional 4 people per day would be helpful.
• Please contact Glenda and Liz immediately if you are willing to support this effort.
• A similar procedure will occur on May 18 for the Adaptation Packets.
• Please look out for the packets.  PDF's will be sent Zadmin by the end of the week. Use these packets and activities as an opportunity to engage in theme based learning and feedback.  
• 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.
• Class Dojo Expectations - Some parents shared concerns about Class Dojo across LPS.  As a result, we are working on a clear expectation of the process and this will be emailed by the end of the week.
• Team Planning - Please ensure that lessons are going into a 2020-2021 folder.
• 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.
• Technology - Special Ed is currently working on getting laptops into the hands of high school seniors.  The department will work on giving special ed students laptops shortly.  Unfortunately, the roll out is taking a longer time than expected.  
• Communication - We have changed the name of the No Contact Tracker to Limited Contact Tracker.  If all other forms of communication are failing, please send a letter. We need to be able to get in contact with all families and ensure that engagement in learning is still happening under the circumstances.  
• 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 aloud 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.

                                                           Looking Ahead                                                                         

May 4 - Possible return to school.

Weekly Update #31

Inspirational Quote:

"Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging" 
-Joseph Campbell

                                                                 This Week                                                                           

Monday, April 20, 2020                                                              State Holiday   

Tuesday, April 21, 2020                                                              Working From Home                                                                                      

Wednesday, April 22, 2020                                                         Working From Home                             
Thursday, April 23, 2020                                                             Working From Home                                 
Friday, April 24, 2020                                                                  Working From Home             

                                       Things to Be Aware of and Keep in Mind                                                

• Team Planning - please keep in mind that planning is meant to be used as a time where you revise lesson plans for next year using the guidance that has been given to you by Rita and Nicole (Blooms and Questioning) and Katie (new math lesson structure).
• It may be helpful for your team to have an agenda for your meetings in order to ensure that you are able to stay on task and organize efficient ways of planning while online.  
• Please make sure to create a folder within your Grade Level folder for your 2020-2021 ELA and Math lessons.
• Also, please make sure that Rita, Nicole, and/or Katie are invited to your planning sessions.
• Zoom Tips
1. Having a plan prior to your zoom lessons is helpful in keeping a large number of people organized.
1. For example, plan questions for readings or math lessons ahead of time. 
2. Keep students/adults muted unless you would like them to respond. (It keeps people focused and eliminates static.)
1. Sometimes its helpful to stay muted, and use the chat box feature.
3. Providing students with a prompt or information prior to your zoom lesson allows students to feel confident and prepared for their learning.
1. For example, "We will work on a math task together.  Please bring a pencil and a piece of paper to your zoom."  "Tomorrow, we will discuss the them community, come prepared to discuss who is in your community."
• Report Cards - While many of you have already completed your report cards, the district has set a due date for all report cards and Special Ed Progress Reports to be due on Friday, April 24, 2020. 
• When you are finished please complete the following form so that we can inform the district of when our school's completion: Report Card.
• April Vacation - April vacation is cancelled and is now a work week.  Please remind families.
• Class Dojo Feedback - We would love to hear the positive things that have worked for families on Class Dojo, and what has been a challenge.
• If you have had success showing parents how to navigate ClassDojo, and wouldn't mind recording a video on zoom, please let Glenda and Liz!
• If you have heard of feedback from families on what is challenging, please let Glenda and Liz know.
• Next Steps for Curriculum / Content - Please let families know that new content will be available at lunch sites on April 27th.
• If you plan to align your content with the themes the Choice Boards will be focused on, they are:
• Community/Family, Adaptation (ending with reflection)
• Technology - Special Ed is currently working on getting laptops into the hands of high school seniors.  The department will work on giving special ed students laptops shortly.  If families inquire, please let them know that it could take up to two weeks.
• Communication - There are still some classrooms that have not yet reached 50% participation on Class Dojo.  Please share any difficulties in contacting families on the a No Contact Tracker, so that we can support and aim for the goal of having 100% of our families connected.
• Part-time Work - all stipend work will be prorated.
• Benefits - all benefits including buyback will still proceed as planned this year.
• Reminder about Hours - 15 hours is a minimum requirement, and unfortunately PD that is not internal PD cannot be considered part of this time.  Webinars are still considered outside of the school day.
• Communication Log - Folders have been created in our SharePoint where your communication logs will be uploaded. The folder is named .Connery - HomeSchoolLearning 2020
• The log is also posted in that folder.  Please DO NOT write directly into the log in our shared folder.  Make a COPY and RENAME.
• CITs, Math Teachers, Parent Liaisons, and Clerks - logs will be completed about the communication between teachers and/or students (when communication is requested and needed for students). 
• 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.

                                                           Looking Ahead                                                                         

May 4 - Possible return to school.

Weekly Update #30

Inspirational Quote:

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the COURAGE TO CONTINUE that counts." – Winston Churchill

                                                                 This Week                                                                           

Monday, April 13, 2020                                                              Working From Home     

Tuesday, April 14, 2020                                                              Working From Home                                                                                      

Wednesday, April 15, 2020                                                         Working From Home                               
Thursday, April 16, 2020                                                             Working From Home                                   
Friday, April 17, 2020                                                                  Working From Home               

                                       Things to Be Aware of and Keep in Mind                                                

• Next Steps for Curriculum / Content - We have heard from most teams about content being uploaded to the webmasters page.  Please make sure that we receive your team's confirmation for submitting the additional weeks.
• Additional work will become available starting on April 27th.  These will be in the form of choice boards, and will become available at lunch sites for families beginning April 27th.  Please make sure that families are aware of this. 
• This is the primary source that students can draw from.  However, we are NOT asking people to stop their regular check-ins and zoom meetings or Class Dojo posts with students.  This is important supplemental work and a very important part of the connection and regular contact with families that we will continue to expect throughout the year.
• If you plan to align your content with the themes the Choice Boards will be focused on, they are:
• Community/Family, Adaptation (ending with reflection)
• These themes will run 3 and 4 weeks.
• This is not a confirmation about school closure, but rather a plan for the possibility that we will be out for the remainder of the year.
• Technology - Computer loans were approved at the recent school committee meeting for a group of students.
• Currently all seniors, AP students, and early college students will receive laptops.
• In addition, Special Ed students with a special attention to DD and II classrooms will receive laptops.
• These laptops will both be purchased and pulled from our schools.
• The logistics of how this will be distributed are currently in the works.
• Part-time Work - all hourly part time work must be put in immediately.  If you have not put in all of your hours, please put them in now.
• All extra curricula work that is completed (Basketball and Talent Show is complete) must be entered immediately.  
• All incomplete work will be pro-rated.  I will create a form to gather the information of how many hours you worked in your program and pass it along to our budget team.  Everyone will be paid for all the work that they have done to date.
• These need to filled out ASAP because leftover/unused funds may go into the purchase of student materials and laptops.
• Benefits - all benefits including buyback will still proceed as planned this year.
• Reminder about Hours - 15 hours is a minimum requirement, and unfortunately PD that is not internal PD cannot be considered part of this time.  Webinars are still considered outside of the school day.
• Communication Log - Folders have been created in our SharePoint where your communication logs will be uploaded. The folder is named .Connery - HomeSchoolLearning 2020
• The log is also posted in that folder.  Please DO NOT write directly into the log in our shared folder.  Make a COPY and RENAME.
• CITs, Math Teachers, Parent Liaisons, and Clerks - logs will be completed about the communication between teachers and/or students (when communication is requested and needed for students). Though, a quick initial check in, video, or picture would be great to add to our school story on School Dojo for students.
• Thank you for those already using Class Dojo!
• Connery Facebook Page - If you haven't already checked it out, please check out the Connery Elementary Facebook page.  
• Please note that we have added some new administrators and editors to the page.
• You may now share resources with Eileen, Pam, and Cynthia.
• We are still looking for additional editors on our page.  So, if you are willing to help, please let Glenda know.
• Special Ed, ESL , Reading, Support Staff, and Specialist - logs will be uploaded in SharePoint.
• Next Steps on Communication - There are many families that we notice we are not able to reach.  We have created a No Contact Tracker, so that we can support and aim for the goal of having 100% of our families on School Dojo. 
• If a contact is made, you may make a note of that on the side and/or gray out their name.  Please do not remove it, so we can keep track of the numbers and changes that need to be made in e-schools.
• District FAQ Sheet - Here is a link to the district FAQ sheet.  This is also locate on the district website.
• MCAS - This is currently postponed, but we are waiting to hear if legislature has given the okay to postpone the accountability measures for this year.  If this is agreed (and the state believes it will be approved), MCAS will be officially postponed.  For now, it is still TBD.
• Guided Reading Documents - Here!
• Recess - recess resource (Please use this resource, so that your students can have a successful and fun time at recess!) This is a great opportunity to build community with your students. 
• Please ensure that you are in a location where you can see your whole class.  
• Connery School Year Calendar
• Food Pantry Flyer
• LPS CORE VALUES - Inclusiveness, Shared Responsibility, High Expectations, and Inspiring Life Long Learning.

                                                           Looking Ahead                                                                         

May 4 - Possible return to school.

Weekly Update #29

Inspirational Quote:

"With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts." – Eleanor Roosevelt

                                                                 This Week                                                                           

Monday, April 6, 2020                                                              Working From Home       

Tuesday, April 7, 2020                                                              Working From Home                                                                                      

Wednesday, April 8, 2020                                                         Working From Home                                 
Thursday, April 9, 2020                                                             Working From Home                                     
Friday, April 10, 2020                                                                Working From Home                 

                                       Things to Be Aware of and Keep in Mind                                                

• Communication Log - Folders have been created in our SharePoint where your communication logs will be uploaded. The folder is named .Connery - HomeSchoolLearning 2020
• The log is also posted in that folder.  Please DO NOT write directly into the log in our shared folder.  Make a COPY and RENAME.
• CITs, Math Teachers, Parent Liaisons, and Clerks - logs will be completed about the communication between teachers and/or students (when communication is requested and needed for students). Though, a quick initial check in, video, or picture would be great to add to our school story on School Dojo for students.
• Thank you for those already using Class Dojo!
• Emails - Thank you for all of the emails that have been coming in.  Liz and Glenda do appreciate being informed of the concerns popping up.  If you have a quick ask of Glenda or Liz, texting is a better way of communicating at the moment.  
• There are a large number of emails coming in from LPS departments and admin, so it will help increase response time, and help filter the needs of our team.
•  If you have a specific question regarding System 44/Read 180, ESL, or Special Ed content, please reach out directly to the leads in those content areas.  Liz and Glenda do not need to be included.  If this same issue is consistent across teachers, the leads will inform the whole school, and therefore Liz and Glenda will be informed.
• Please minimize replying all to staff if it is not necessary.  Many of us are overwhelmed with email at the moment since it is the best form of communication, so please remember to streamline it.
• Connery Facebook Page - If you haven't already checked it out, please check out the Connery Elementary Facebook page.  
• Please note that we have added some new administrators and editors to the page.
• You may now share resources with Eileen, Pam, and Cynthia.
• We are still looking for additional editors on our page.  So, if you are willing to help, please let Glenda know.
• Special Ed, ESL , Support Staff and Specialist - logs will be uploaded in our SharePoint drive, however, you will be asked to share your log with your department heads.
• Feel free to share your team folder and rename it with Connery (i.e. Connery ESL).
• Next Steps on Communication - There are many families that we notice we are not able to reach.  We have created a No Contact Tracker, so that we can support and aim for the goal of having 100% of our families on School Dojo. 
• Please fill in the names of students that you have not been able to communicate with, so that we can follow up appropriately. 
• The document, No Contact - Updated Student Lists, can be found at the bottom of the .Connery-HomeSchoolLearning 2020 Sharepoint file. Please click on the appropriate grade level tab at the bottom and fill out all the information in the columns. Glenda and Liz will be checking this document a couple of times per week and following up with families.
• The clinical team came up with a few steps that we can complete in order to try to connect with families, and will be checked off once completed.  If you have already completed a step toward communication and connection, feel free to check it off. We will follow these steps in order to try to connect with families.
• Too Many Logs! - Agreed!  Some team members were working from another log before the Communication Logs were shared.  We are going to stop the use of all other logs aside from the Communication Log and the No Contact Tracker.
• We do ask that if a need arises that you please communicate directly with Candice, Lisa, Sarah, Danielle, LCHC, Liz, or Glenda directly about these concerns.
• The only other tool that we are using is the No Contact Tracker above for families that we cannot make contact with.
• Next Steps for Curriculum / Content - Admin has reached out to inform us that we will soon be approaching that 4 week window.  As part of our 15 hours of work, they would like each grade level team to create another 2 weeks of work.
• Curriculum currently being created will be launched on the date of April 24.  
• For now, please meet with your team and create Week 5 and Week 6 work.  Please do not separate it into content, admin would like it to be as easy as possible for families.  
• ESL - newcomer work for each of the different grade levels. Reading,Special Ed, CITs, Math - work with grade level teams, and support ideas on differentiation for varying levels in the classroom.  
• (Remember DESE is only asking us to review prior content, and engage students in learning.  Please do not introduce new content.)
• Last Step - 1 person from the team should email the webmaster, and CC' Glenda and Liz.
• Homeless Families - all shelter applications are being accepted over the phone.  If you know of any families in need of support have them call 1-866-584-0653.
• Report Cards - The distribution of report cards is unknown at this time, and will be communicated by the admin team in the near future.
• District FAQ Sheet - Here is a link to the district FAQ sheet.  This is also locate on the district website.
• MCAS - This is currently postponed, but we are waiting to hear if legislature has given the okay to postpone the accountability measures for this year.  If this is agreed (and the state believes it will be approved), MCAS will be officially postponed.  For now, it is still TBD.
• Guided Reading Documents - Here!
• Recess - recess resource (Please use this resource, so that your students can have a successful and fun time at recess!) This is a great opportunity to build community with your students. 
• Please ensure that you are in a location where you can see your whole class.  
• Connery School Year Calendar
• Food Pantry Flyer
• LPS CORE VALUES - Inclusiveness, Shared Responsibility, High Expectations, and Inspiring Life Long Learning.

                                                           Looking Ahead                                                                         

May 4 - Possible return to school.