Whittier Weekly Newsletter
March 7, 2021
Spring is in the Air
Dear Whittier Families,
With three weeks of hybrid learning behind us, we are feeling both optimistic and cautious about the weeks ahead. It is clear that we have to remain vigilant and active in keeping our students, staff, and families safe. Your communication with us is, as ever, critical in making good decisions in a timely way. I know that I speak for my staff in saying thank you for all that you do each day to support your student and to support our school.
I am excited to share with you that we will be able to resume Library Book Exchange. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing students reading great books and continuing to learn. Details are below.
In relation to meals, please be advised that meal distribution information is also included below. For students who come into the building for instruction, we do meal distribution on Tuesdays and Fridays at dismissal. When we take lunch orders and take-home supper orders each morning, we ask students for their preferences. If you would like to opt out of receiving these meals for your student, please take a minute to let us know here: Take-home Meals Preference
For our students who are virtual, meal distribution information is included below.
I invite you to share your feedback and suggestions with me, our administrative team Mr. Migdal and Mrs. Hicks, and of course with your child's teacher. We value all of the suggestions as well as the appreciation that we so often receive.
Warm regards,
Lorcan OhEithir, Principal
Library Book Exchange is returning!
Cohort A and B and Virtual students will have the opportunity to check out library books, return them in 2 weeks, check out new books, and so on.
For schedules and directions on how to reserve books, go to: https://education.fcps.org/whes/mediacenter. Students will also have this information posted on their Schoology banner in their library media course.
In the meantime, we would like to have all library books returned as soon as possible.
For Cohort A and B students, you can return them to your teacher and they will return them to the library.
For Virtual students, please stop by the front doors of the school between 8:30-4:00 Monday-Friday. Press the button on the silver box to let the secretary know you are dropping off library books.
What does your child have checked out? There are written directions and a video to show you how to access your child’s library account to see the titles and covers of the books they still have checked out.
Questions? Email tina.dattoli@fcps.org. Thank you for your help in preparing for Library Book Exchange at Whittier once again!
Camp Invention is Returning to Whittier Elementary!
In partnership with the National Inventors Hall of Fame® (NIHF), Whittier Elementary is pleased to offer the nationally acclaimed Camp Invention® program to children entering first through sixth grade. This exciting, weeklong summer adventure provides opportunities for open-ended exploration of science, technology, engineering and more!
Children rotate through a variety of hands-on activities each day while collaborating with friends to think creatively and invent their own solutions to real-world challenges. The week begins on Monday, July 12th with Robin Murphy serving as Director, and the 2021 program lineup is the best yet, so whether your child is a new or returning camper, they are in for an amazing week full of new discoveries and “a-ha” moments!
This year camp will be offered both in person or at home and families have the option to choose either up until Memorial Day! Families who register early receive a $40 discount up until March 31st. See this FLYER for more information about registration.
There are also scholarships available. Contact Robin Murphy at robin.murphy@fcps.org for more information.
Quarter 4 Cohort Change Requests
Counselor's Corner with Mrs. Reese and Mrs. Leatherman
Counseling Lessons for March: We will be coming into your child’s classrooms - both virtually and hybrid in the next few weeks to continue our Leader in Me and Counseling lessons. This month we will be talking about Growth Mindset and the transition to Hybrid Learning and Leader in Me!
Grades K-2 Seek First to Understand! We will be focusing on being good listeners!
Grades 3-5 - Synergize! We will learn about Growth Mindset. We are all working together at Whittier (Cohorts A, B and V) to Synergize for a great transition to our Hybrid Learning Model- Mindset Matters!
Student Small Groups Updated Schedule: Our small groups will continue to meet virtually during hybrid. The virtual schedule for groups is posted on the Counselor’s Corner Schoology Page. Mrs Leatherman’s Links and Mrs. Reese’s group times are posted there, as well.
Here is an Outline:
Mrs. Leatherman’s Groups: will meet from 3:00-3:30 on Mondays (K), Tues. (1st), Thurs. (2nd) and Fridays (K-2). NEW Group starting Monday, MARCH 1st @2:30pm- Coping Skills Group- we will learn a new coping strategy to use at home and school each week-- all K-2 students are welcome to join! Link will be posted on Schoology.
Mrs. Reese’s Groups: Monday: 3:00 KLU, Wednesday: 1:00-1:30- 5thgrade Friends Thursday: ‘3rd grade Thursdays’ 10.35-11:05 (during lunch) Friday: 4th grade Fridays” will meet at 12:40 (4th grade lunch)
The Meet Code for Mrs. Reese’s groups is WHESREESE
Military Group: Will meet on Wednesdays at 3:00. Mrs. Reese will share the links from Mrs. Wynn in Schoology
Kids Like Us (KLU)- Parents please check your emails for links from Mrs. Reese and Ms. Syers on Monday. Mrs. Reese will share the link directly with students through Schoology Messenger.
We are available to meet with students Individually and in small groups. Please do not hesitate to contact us if your child needs counseling support. We have all adapted to so many changes this school year. Our commitment to your child’s well being remains constant.
Mrs. Leatherman 240-236-3135 Kirsten.Leatherman@fcps.org
Mrs. Reese: 240-236-3170 Lisa.Reese@fcps.org
Attendance
Communication is Key
Please provide a note if your child is not able to attend in person or virtually due to illness.
E-mail your student’s teacher AS WELL AS the Whittier Attendance email address (WHES.Attendance@fcps.org) so we can keep track of student absences.
Meals Information for Whittier Families
In addition to our 23 school locations that distribute “to-go” meals on Wednesdays and Fridays, starting Wednesday, March 3 – FCPS Food and Nutrition Services will be adding two new community meal distribution sites.
At these locations we will be distributing “to-go” breakfast, lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on WEDNESDAYS ONLY. These meals are enough for all seven days of the week.
Here are the two new distribution sites:
Discovery Shopping Center Parking Lot, 8425 Woodsboro Pike, Walkersville
Frederick Shopping Center Parking Lot, 1305 W. 7th Street, Frederick
Meals will be distributed from a school bus in the shopping center parking lots. Meals are free to all students 18 years old and younger. The recipients do not have to be FCPS students. Children do not have to be present to receive meals; a parent, guardian or other adult may pick up the food.
FCPS Food and Nutrition Services also provides meals to adults who are enrolled in an education program for people with disabilities.
Please call 301-644-5061 if you have questions or comments.
Health and Safety Information - Please Review Carefully
Daily COVID-19 Screening
FCPS is asking for your help keeping all our schools and communities safe. Please review the list of COVID-19 symptoms below with your student prior to leaving for school every day. You will be provided a weekly communication reminder of this requirement. Students who are ill or are experiencing symptoms are expected to remain at home.
Parents/Guardians are affirming and attesting to the following for their student:
(a) Your student has not tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days, or in the last 14 days had any close and prolonged contact ( * within 6 feet for 15 minutes or greater) with anyone who is either confirmed or suspected of being infected with COVID-19, AND
(b) Your student is not currently experiencing or displaying, and your student has not in the last 10 days met the criteria for a person experiencing a COVID-19-like-Illness:
Any 1 of the following: cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, new loss of taste or
smell;
OR
At least 2 of the following:
- Fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) or higher
- Chills or shaking chills
- Muscle aches
- Sore Throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting, or
- Diarrhea
If the answer is YES to any of the above statements, your student should not come to school.
Please contact your healthcare provider with any questions regarding next steps for your
student.
Thank you for your cooperation.
* 15 minutes of close contact in a cumulative 24-hour period
Safety Measures:
Mask Expectations: Everyone in the school building will wear a face covering while at school. The information linked here is intended to provide clarity about the FCPS requirements for wearing face coverings in school buildings.
Virtual Attendance in the Event of Mild Symptoms: If students are experiencing any symptoms of illness, they should stay home and parents should follow up with their child's health care provider. Students are encouraged to attend virtually any day they are not in school if they feel well enough to do so (even if it is a day for which they are scheduled to be in person).
Please provide a note if your child is not able to attend in person or virtually due to illness.
E-mail your student’s teacher AS WELL AS the Whittier Attendance email address (WHES.Attendance@fcps.org) so we can keep track of student absences.
Close Contact and Quarantine Details for Parents - What to Expect: When a positive COVID-19 case is confirmed, FCPS will conduct a case investigation to determine if there was any close contact with other individuals. Close contact means that an individual was within six feet for a prolonged period of more than a cumulative of fifteen minutes over a 24-hour period. All identified close contacts will be immediately notified and asked to quarantine for ten days and monitor for potential symptoms. If the close contact becomes symptomatic, the individual should seek assistance from their healthcare provider.
Quarantine means:
- Stay home except to obtain medical care.
- Your child may not participate in any in person school activities.
- Avoid public spaces and practice physical distancing of six feet or more from other people.
- Wear a mask at all times around other people.
Monitoring means:
- Watch for fever. Check temperature twice a day, at least 6 hours apart and record in a log.
- If your student or anyone else in the household develops symptoms such as a fever, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pains, sore throat, or a new loss of taste or smell, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
For further details, the FCPS guidance for Student Health and Safety and COVID-19 Response Plan can be found at this link.
Whittier Elementary School - Believe, Achieve, Succeed
We will also communicate through our school website
Follow me on Twitter @fcpsOhEithir where I will communicate school news and happenings
Email: lorcan.oheithir@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/whes/home
Location: 2400 Whittier Drive, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
Phone: (240) 236 3100
Twitter: @fcpsOhEithir