News from the Nest
Dear 4th Grade Families,
We are so excited about our 4th grade trip coming up quickly on Thursday, April 13th. Our students are sure to have an amazing time together! Please take a minute to read my expectations about devices on the field trip:
- Students will not be allowed to have devices (phones, ipads, ipods). We want students engaged with each other and the trip activities. Smartwatches are ok, but we are not responsible for lost or stolen items.
- If there is an emergency, all 4th grade teachers have phones and Ms. Benfield will be on the trip as well. If a student is ill or needs to call home, our staff can use their phones to communicate.
- If a student wants to bring a camera, we recommend disposable cameras.
- If a student brings a digital camera, please know we can't be responsible for it if it's stolen or lost.
I know that having your child on a trip without their phone can feel stressful. As an educator for 19 years, I have gone on many day-long and overnight field trips with elementary and middle school students. I have seen such positive outcomes from having students leave their devices at home during school trips. The purpose of the trip is both educational and social, and we know that our students' interactions with the world around them will be greatly limited if they have the option to be on their devices. I hope you can support me in this request as you prepare your child for the trip. It will be a fun day and many memories are sure to be made.
Thank you for your support with this request,
Mary Nichols
Thank you for taking time to read the BCS letter that was sent this past week about inclement weather closures and what happens for student learning on those days when the school building is closed. In order to prepare for those kinds of days, our teachers are being proactive and we want you to know how to access information about remote learning if the need arises.
Let your child’s teacher know if you need a hot spot. We depend on you letting us know this information. I encourage you to do this sooner rather than later.
Make sure your child knows how to sign onto the internet at your home, using your child’s school issued device. Teachers have been sending devices home to make sure students know how to log on from home.
Read your child’s teacher’s emails about where to find information like the schedule and other remote learning resources. Teachers will be sending this information home by December 9th.
- Take care of your child's device. Please read this letter from Buncombe County Schools about the importance of taking care of school-issued devices. Our school must pay for all damage to devices, and in some circumstances, if damage results from neglect or inappropriate use, we will send a bill to parents.
To keep us all prepared, I’ve put together all the remote learning information in one place.
Use this link to find information about remote learning at WvES.
Thank you for taking the time to be prepared for remote learning days!
Don't forget that our students, staff, and visitors have access to masks all day long. We have regular 3-ply masks and KN95 masks available. Masks are available in the front office, and we have reminders at hand-sanitizing stations that you can get a mask in the front office.
If a student requests a KN95 mask, we must have parent permission since it is considered a respirator. Parents must complete the Voluntary Respirator Use Form and sign and return. Here is a link to the form. If a student requests a KN95 mask, and we do not already have the form on file, we will email it to parent/guardians for you to sign.
