Whittier Weekly Newsletter
February 28, 2021
Marching Ahead
Dear Whittier Families,
As we begin the month of March, it will have been almost one full calendar year since schools were disrupted due to Covid-19. It's hard to fathom. I'm want to say thank you once again to our families and staff for working so well together to navigate this situation. Let's agree that it has been far from ideal, but that we may have learned some important lessons along the way.
The most important take-away for me, as a building principal, is that the positive and clear communication between a family and their child's teacher continues to be the highest priority. It has increased significantly during the past year, and maintaining it will not be a simple task. I ask that all of us continue to work on this together and seek to understand each other's perspective always.
We have four complete weeks of learning between now and spring break. Let's make the most of the time that we have. Regular and engaged attendance in learning is often the difference-maker in a student's success in school.
I am committed to improvement on my part every day, and every day I encounter failures and successes. If you have feedback or suggestions for me about ways to improve our school, outcomes for your child, or need assistance, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Warm regards,
Lorcan OhEithir, Principal
Read Across America Spirit Week March1-5
Dr. Seuss, born Theodore Geisel, is celebrated this week in schools across across the world. He wrote many, many books for children that placed a focus on phonemic awareness and phonics skills.
A child can learn to read in many ways, and there is no one "system" of teaching reading to children. However, all readers ultimately have to crack the code of letter/symbol relationships, understand that sounds are represented by letters, and acquire a sophisticated understanding of the many ways that the 26 letters of the English language are combined to create hundreds of thousands of words.
The focus of the phonics programs Launchpad (Pre-K), Countdown (Kindergarten), Blast(1st Grade), and HDWord (2nd Grade) that we use in our school is to explicitly and systematically teach students the phonics skills that children need to become successful readers and writers. As we move to the intermediate grades, students who have acquired the decoding skills necessary to "sound out" new words, now face the task of acquiring massive amounts of new vocabulary. The Lexia program can support students in learning new vocabulary and word root analysis, but ultimately, there is no substitute for reading books to become a reader with a large vocabulary, strong comprehension, and powerful inferencing skills.
Thanks to Mrs. Foreman and Mrs. Wisnouse for putting together some read aloud books for us this week in honor of Dr. Seuss. Follow the links to hear the stories. Enjoy!
The Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel grew up to become Dr. Seuss
Monday, March 1st: And to Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street
Imagination Day
(Use your imagination to wear mismatch or write a funny story to share)
Tuesday, March 2nd: Happy Birthday to You! --- Hat Day
(Wear your favorite hat or your wildest hat)
Wednesday, March 3rd: Fox in Socks --- Wacky Socks Day
(Wear your Wackiest socks)
Thursday, March 4th: The Lorax --- Color Day (video will be added later)
(Wear your favorite color and take time to be caring to someone or something)
Friday, March 5th: Oh, The Places You’ll Go! --- Travel Day
(Wear a shirt or hat from somewhere you have been or would like to go)
Counselor's Corner with Mrs. Reese and Mrs. Leatherman
Counseling Lessons: 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 Habit # 6.
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 as we begin with the hybrid schedule next week. 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:
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 are welcome to join! Link will be posted on Schoology.
Reese’s Groups: Monday 3:00 KLU Level 2, Wednesday 1:00-1:30- 5th grade lunch, 3:00 KLU Level 1, Thursdays: “3rd grade Thursdays” 10.35-11:05 (during lunch) Friday: “ 4th grade Fridays” - will meet at 12:40 (4th grade lunch)
Peer Mentors and Safety Patrols please check your Schoology page for new meet times!
We will be sure to send Schoology messages to our students in groups to let them know of the changes!
Military Group: Will meet on Wednesdays at 3:00. Mrs. Reese will share the links from Mrs. Wynn in Schoology
KLU- Parents please check your emails for links from Mrs. Reese and Ms. Syers on KLU days, they will also be sent in Schoology Messenger.
We are here to help during this transition Do not hesitate to contact us:
Mrs Leatherman 240-236-3135 Kirsten.Leatherman@fcps.org
Mrs Reese: 240-236-3170 Lisa.Reese@fcps.org,
We will continue to be available for students to contact us through Schoology Messenger. We will continue to work with students individually as needed and in small groups.
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.
Out-of-District Transfers: Renewal or New Applications
Parents or guardians who want their child to attend a school outside their assigned attendance area should review the 2021-22 Restricted Schools List and Regulations 400-78, Restricting Schools to Out-of-District Transfers and 400-15, Assignment and Transfer of Students.
Pursuant to these regulations, the Out of District Transfer process is available for all applicants from January 2 - March 1 each year for the following school year. You can complete your request using the Out of District Transfer Request Form, available in English and Spanish through March 1.
Please Note: Your Out of District Application Form MUST be signed, either electronically or printed, signed and scanned, prior to returning to outofdistrict@fcps.org. You can also send the application via fax to 240-236-2480 or via US mail to Department of Student Services, Orchard Grove Elementary School, 5898 Hannover Drive, Frederick, MD 21703.
Please contact MaryAnn Gomez at (240) 236-2493 or maryann.gomez@fcps.org if you have any questions.
From Mrs. Lewis, Community Liaison
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