Dear Lowell Families,
I hope this communication finds you all safe and well, and you are adjusting to these changes in all our lives. Today is the first day of Spring or Vernal Equinox, and I bet some of you may have missed this fact because it wasn't a very spring-like day. Perhaps because it is the earliest it's been in 124 years or maybe because there's so much more on your mind these days. Well, it is the first day of spring, and tomorrow's forecast looks spectacular. On this day, the daylight hours equal the night hours. It's a day when we have the full balance of day and night, or at least it should be. Hopefully, we'll all regain a sense of balance. I know it's hard but we are here as a school community to help you through it.
Last night you should have received an email from our Superintendent, Dede Galdston where she unveiled our new Extended Learning Opportunites website. This site was created to help facilitate and connect you with valuable resources to engage children during their time away from school. For those of you who don't have access to a computer or if you'd like a hard copy of iReady math and reading packets for grades k-5, these materials have been placed outside the school's main entrance in Rubbermaid bins labeled by grade. Additionally, you should expect to hear from your child's teacher by tomorrow if you haven't already been contacted today.
Our classroom teachers are eager to help you find fun and exciting ways to bring learning into your home. Teachers will first contact you with a brief letter, followed by a few critical questions. These questions will help guide and shape our support. You should expect to be asked:
1. How are you doing?
2. Can you access the internet at home?
3. Do you have a device that you can use at home to access online resources, such as a desktop computer, laptop, Chromebook, IPad, Kindle Fire, etc.?
Your answers will help us figure out if there are any resources we can get to you during this time. We want to know how you and your child are doing. We are looking to see if we can find a way to get you internet access if you don't already have it. Finally, we want to know if the school department can help you borrow a laptop to access resources and materials. We understand a lot of families are struggling to share devices. Many parents are working from home and need to prioritize their computers for work use. If that's the case, please let your teacher know, and we will get you a Chromebook. You can also email me directly, and I will pass on your name and email address to the tech department. Make sure to tell me your name and quantity.
Our plan currently covers the period from March 23 through April 6. We are providing resources and materials to you to use at home with your child. They, however, do not take the place of classroom instruction. During this period, we are not offering online classes or new learning. Our goal is to support students' social and emotional health while learning and staying engaged.
Classroom teachers will be providing additional grade level resources weekly. You will receive a weekly communication outlining how your child can stay connected to the school and standards-based content and activities. You can also expect teachers to offer a weekly community meeting. This weekly meeting will give students a chance to connect with their teachers and friends.
Our student support team is comprised of our guidance counselor, school psychologist, social worker, behavior specialist, and team chair who are here to support families during this time. You may contact them directly or speak with your child's teacher.
Our students/families who receive special education services should expect to be contacted weekly as a check-in. During this closure, special education services remain on hold. Our calendar year is paused during this school shut down. Individual Educational Plans which expire during this closure are considered in Stay Put status. Testing and meetings will resume when we return to school. If you have specific questions, you may contact your child's special educator, our team chair, or Elementary Special Education Coordinator. I've linked all their emails below.
As always, Candice and I are here to answer questions. We are available every day Monday-Friday. I also have been given a mobile phone to speak to parents directly. I've listed all the contact information below.
Candice and I will continue to send the weekly newsletters and offer parents the opportunity to connect. I plan on holding my first parent coffee via Zoom next Friday at 8:30 am.
Parent-Teacher Conferences are currently on hold until we decide how to move forward. Activities and events that were planned during this closure are canceled. We will wait to hear when we will be returning to school before announcing any other schedule changes.
Remember to be kind to yourself and others, love your family and do your best every day. Sometimes you need to stream a movie and eat some popcorn.
Stay safe and be well,
Stacy
