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.