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April 1, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Yesterday we received a new update regarding school closure. Gov. Greg Abbott issued social distancing protocols through April 30 and closed schools through May 4 in an executive order announced on Tuesday to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
This brings mixed emotions for many of us I am sure. We know that we must do what keeps us all safe but we want so badly to be able to bring our students back to the school routine they know and love. When I walk down the hallways now it is a sad silent feeling. But we are strong and will persevere and grow from this experience. We will do what is right and safe.
I realize that this new closure date is bringing us closer to the end of the school year and we must take note of the important events we may miss and what we will do to ensure that we make these events special for our students and families. If the school closure extends to the end of the year, the teachers in grades 4-8 will reformat how the finals schedule will be addressed.
As the teachers gain more knowledge of their students’ needs during Google Meet times, Grades Pre-K through 3rd grade have adjusted the schedule a bit. Beginning tomorrow, Thursday, Grades Pre-K through 3rd grade will offer 30 minutes of Facetime for their students. Their meetings will still begin at the regularly scheduled time. Fifth grade Spanish will be provided with 30 minutes of Facetime on Tuesdays and Thursdays at their regularly scheduled start time.
Google Meet is a wonderful time for all students to see friends and to see their teacher and make the needed connections. However, it is also provided for the students and parents to ask questions and seek tutoring time. Please utilize this wonderful real-time opportunity.
We will continue to place the containers in front of the school this week to allow students in Pre-K, Kinder and 1st grade the opportunity to turn in any work packets they may still have outstanding. If parents missed a pick up in the last two weeks you may come to school between 8:00 and 2:00 for those packets.
To help our students stay motivated to keep reading we have opened AR reading testing for home use. Students may log on and begin testing today. We have also acquired a site, myOn from Renaissance, which holds many electronic books for students reading pleasure. Many of these books are AR. Students can look up the title of the book on their AR testing site. Ms. McPhie will be sending directions to the site today.