The Buzz

Parent-teacher conferences will be held on Wednesday, November 4, 2020, from 1:00-7:00 pm. These conferences will be held virtually or over the phone.

Parent-teacher conferences are an outstanding time to strengthen the home and school partnership. We are a team, so this is the perfect time to discuss your child's progress. This connection is critical. I have bolded the word discuss because we do not want this to be a one-way conversation. We need to hear your voice so we can better educate your student. We look forward to having you participate.

Elementary: If you have not already scheduled your appointment, call the elementary office and you can set up an appointment to speak with your child's teacher either over the phone or in a virtual meeting.

Middle School: The conferences will occur virtually this fall. Parents can speak with the teachers by joining the zoom meetings during the scheduled time. When you click on the link, you will enter a virtual waiting room. When the teachers are available, they will open your request, and you will be able to speak with all of the teachers at once. If you prefer to talk to individual teachers by phone please email that teacher individually and they will set up a phone conference.

Here are the links and times for each Zoom meeting.

6th grade 1-3pm https://jcisd-org.zoom.us/j/86853680826?pwd=TU1jZnN3R1l5cmpiUityM1dKYlhaZz09

7th grade 3-5pm https://jcisd-org.zoom.us/j/81932837295?pwd=MThzZ083T3hyUWVWMmFWS2tPVXJNUT09

8th grade 5-7pm

https://jcisd-org.zoom.us/j/89358307093?pwd=NjZyaG9BSlIyai9TVExwRzhrM04rUT09

High School: The high school meeting will also occur virtually, via email, or phone call. To meet with the high school teachers, you will use the following links (also on our website) to schedule your own conference time. When you have registered for your time slot, a confirmation email will be sent. After the notification is sent to the teacher, the teacher will send a second email to the parent that contains the Zoom meeting link, email update, or the phone number to call on the conference day and time. At your scheduled appointment time, you will click the meeting link or call the teacher. If you have questions, please call the high school office.

The district is working to support our families that are struggling with the internet at home. Whether it is spotty service or limited data, sometimes in Concord, we just do not have good access to the internet.

The installation of WiFi antennas on the outside of both the ES/MS and HS buildings has been completed. We now have WIFI PARKING LOTS!!!! Families can access free WiFi 24 - 7 in almost every spot in both parking lots and the ES/MS drive and drop loop. We are beyond excited about the completion of the project. We will continue to look for ways to support our families and this is a big step to making digital more accessible for everyone.

Plus, we will keep sending hot spots out into our district on Wednesday. If you are in need of WiFi access, you can go to the location listed below at the scheduled time and access the internet. This will give families the opportunity to download or upload an assignment, easily attend a zoom meeting for additional support, and watch videos that are tough to stream and/or download at home.

Burger King Parma, 12301 W Michigan Ave 11 am-12 pm

Tractor Supply, Albion 12:20pm-1:20pm

Pulaski Free Methodist Church 1:50pm-2:50pm

Additionally, the Jackson District Library offers access to WiFi and computers. The WiFi is available outside the library 24-7. Computers and the internet can be accessed anytime during open hours Hours:

Monday and Wednesday 10-6
Tuesday and Friday 1-6
Saturday 10-2

Implementing new protocols for cleaning and movement in our K-12 buildings and has changed the way students are able to access the library. The new safety precautions have not slowed our librarians down. They have rolled with the change and took the opportunity to innovate how the kids can access books.

In elementary and middle school, kids can check out e-books/audiobooks. They can read or listen right from their Chromebooks. The students simply need to use the online library link and log in. The list of books available is starting out small, but Becci Clark and Chrisy Gill are working to expand the selection available to our students.

In high school, students can access an online catalog to see the books available for checkout. After viewing what is available, they can fill out a Google Form and request which books they would like to check out. Once the request is received, the books are delivered to the student. It is another opportunity for our YellowJackets to access books.

Students can also work with the Jackson District Library to access books in their online library. The Concord branch is fantastic and has done a wonderful job helping to support our students become readers. Reading is one of the greatest predictors of success in school. Whether we are reading to or reading with students, the more words they hear and see the better their language skills will be. Knowing how important it is for students to read, it is such great news that all of our students have a lot of options to access books.

Friday, October 30, the boys and girls cross county teams are heading to Ella Sharp Park for regionals. The races will start at 4:30 pm. Both teams are coming off a successful conference season. The girl's team finished second in the conference. The boy's team won the conference title for their 30th in 47 years. They are looking forward to a strong performance at regionals and a spot in the State Finals on Saturday, November 7th.

The varsity football team is playing in an 8-man football tournament beginning this evening. Concord will take on Bridgman High School at Bridgman at 7:00 p.m. The game will be live-streamed. The links are below. If the YellowJackets pull off the win they will advance in the tournament and play again next week.

The YouTube stream link:

https://www.youtube.com/cha.../UCByYmTL8L6nXJmLva0-toaw/live

The Facebook link:

https://www.facebook.com/Bridgmanpublicschools/live/

The varsity volleyball team will begin districts at home on Monday against Reading. The volleyball team finished third in the conference. The girls will be bringing their A-game and are looking to stun the conference champs. Concord fans looking to attend the match will need to purchase tickets online. The match will begin at 6:00 p.m. The mandate to purchase tickets online came from MHSAA. You may purchase the tickets at https://gofan.co/app/events/132034 You will present the online ticket on your phone. Money WILL NOT be accepted at the door.

The YellowJackets are off to a hot start with self-management! The elementary worked on self-control this week. They learned how to identify things that trigger negative reactions and how to copy the strong feelings connected to those negative reactions.

The middle school students celebrated the first-round winners of the "Good Humans" challenge today. Section 7a got to enjoy some tasty pizza for their efforts. The second round of self-awareness also kicked off this week and the students have put in a great effort towards being able to control their emotions and behaviors.

Have you liked the Elementary/Middle School Facebook Page?

If you have not yet, this week is a great time to start. The Elementary and Middle School use the Facebook page to post many updates and announcements. This Friday was the first-ever Facebook live-streamed morning announcements. Don't miss the news - like the page today.

https://www.facebook.com/Concord-ElementaryMiddle-School-593772624020990/

Jackson Early College will be hosting virtual informational meetings for Parents of 8th, 9th & 10th Graders. At the meeting, parents will learn how your child could earn a certificate, an Associate’s degree, or up to 60 transferable credits at little-to-no cost to families. The meetings will take place on October 26, November 4, November 24, and December 3 at 6 p.m. If you are interested in taking advantage of this unique educational opportunity and have questions prior to the parent meetings, speak to your child’s high school counselor or contact Jean Logan, JCEC administrator — info@jxncec.org or (517) 581-2003.

PLEASE RSVP: info@jxncec.org In your response, please indicate your child’s name & school district. A link on how to join the virtual meeting will be sent to you.

11/4 Parent-Teacher Conferences 1:00-7:00 p.m.

11/17 Picture Retakes

11/25 -11/27 No School for Staff and Students - Thanksgiving Break

12/ 14 End of the 2nd Quarter/Semester

12/18 Half Day for Students and Staff

12/21- 1/1 No School for Students and Staff - Christmas Break

Email: rebecca.hutchinson@concordschools.net
Website: www.concordschools.net
Location: 405 South Main Street, Concord, MI, USA
Phone: (517)524-8850