Weekly Post #37

Inspirational Quote:

“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

                                                                 This Week                                                                           

Monday, June 1, 2020                                                              Working from Home

Tuesday, June 2 , 2020                                                              Working From Home                                                                                      

Wednesday, June 3, 2020                                                         Working From Home                 

Thursday, June 4, 2020                                                            Working From Home
                     
Friday, June 5, 2020                                                                 Working From Home 

                                       Things to Be Aware of and Keep in Mind                                                `

• 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.
• Connery Closing Schedule 
• 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.

                                                           Looking Ahead                                                                         

School has been officially designated to be remote learning until the end of the year.

Weekly Post #36

Inspirational Quote:

“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

                                                                 This Week                                                                           

Monday, May 25, 2020                                                              No School/ Memorial Day

Tuesday, May 26, 2020                                                              Working From Home                                                                                      

Wednesday, May 27, 2020                                                         Working From Home                   

Thursday, May 28, 2020                                                            Working From Home
                       
Friday, May 29, 2020                                                                 Working From Home   

                                       Things to Be Aware of and Keep in Mind                                                
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 16^th.   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.
• Connery Closing Schedule 
• 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.

                                                           Looking Ahead                                                                         

School has been officially designated to be remote learning until the end of the year.

Weekly Update #35

Inspirational Quote:

“My mama always said, Life was like a box of chocolates. You never 
know what you"ll get.”
                                                                                                            ― Forrest Gump

                                                                 This Week                                                                           

Monday, May 18, 2020                                                              Working from Home 

Tuesday, May 19, 2020                                                              Working From Home                                                                                      

Wednesday, May 20, 2020                                                         Working From Home                     

Thursday, May 21, 2020                                                            Working From Home
                         
Friday, May 22, 2020                                                                 Working From Home     

                                       Things to Be Aware of and Keep in Mind                                                

• 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:
• Census Flyer
• 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.

                                                           Looking Ahead                                                                         

School has been officially designated to be remote learning until the end of the year.

Weekly Update #34

Inspirational Quote:

“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

                                                                 This Week                                                                           

Monday, May 11, 2020                                                              Working from Home 

Tuesday, May 12, 2020                                                              Working From Home                                                                                      

Wednesday, May 13, 2020                                                         Working From Home                       

Thursday, May 14, 2020                                                            Working From Home
                           
Friday, May 15, 2020                                                                 Working From Home       

                                       Things to Be Aware of and Keep in Mind                                                

• 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.
• English and Spanish Letters
• 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.

                                                           Looking Ahead                                                                         

School has been officially designated to be remote learning until the end of the year.

Weekly Update #33

Inspirational Quote:

"In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity"                                                         -Sun Tsu

                                                                 This Week                                                                           

Monday, May 4, 2020                                                              Working from Home 

Tuesday, May 5, 2020                                                              Working From Home                                                                                      

Wednesday, May 6, 2020                                                         Working From Home                         

Thursday, May 7, 2020                                                             Working From Home
                             
Friday, May 8, 2020                                                                 Working From Home         

                                       Things to Be Aware of and Keep in Mind                                                
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!  You are amazing, and we wish that we could celebrate you in person.  We are grateful that our students have you in their lives.  Thank you for all that you do!

• 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.
•  Packets -  They are now available at the lunch sites from April 29-May 5
• Thank you to all the Volunteers that gave out packets this week. We had hundreds of parents/families pick up packets. 
• A similar procedure will occur on May 18 for the Adaptation Packets.
• 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 - 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 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 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.

                                                           Looking Ahead                                                                         

School has been officially designated to be remote learning until the end of the year.