Akin News 05/07/20
From the Desk of Beckie Webster
Thank you for keeping the focus on student learning:
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!
It truly takes a village, and all of you go above and beyond to serve and support every student at our school, every day. Our students are so fortunate to have you provide quality instruction from dedicated and passionate teachers. Our staff understands the power of building meaningful relationships with our students and provide opportunities that include things like homework help, library book clubs, chess, basketball, Gaming club, theater, music, sewing and so much more!
We truly have some of the most amazing educators at Akin Elementary!
THANK YOU for the tireless hours you spend in planning, supporting and creating engaging and relevant lessons for our students. Our staff is dedicated to continuously improving our craft through PLC's, Professional Development, and your growth mindset! We can now add that we are Rock Stars at student ownership of learning through Technology!!!!
YOU ARE APPRECIATED-Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Beckie, Wendy & Yvette
Thank you for your Leadership
Student Pick-Up of Items at Akin
After reading the student items pick-up procedures above, please sign-up to volunteer with us as we bag 930 student items in the classrooms and get it ready for this adventure. This is voluntary only, and we have many guidelines/procedures to keep you safe and healthy from both the district and the CDC.
Bagging of items: May 13th & May 14th
Parent Pick-up of items: May 20th & May 21st
RTI Updates
Updates:
Teams: Please make sure you update your newsletter for 5/8
Mon., 5/11
- Prepare 5/18-5/22 Learning Plans, due 5/13 at noon
- Support the needs of your students and parents
- Required Faculty Meeting at 3:00 on Zoom for all staff (EOY Check Procedures)
- We will not have Academic Coalition meeting at 2:15 due to the Faculty Meeting
Tues., 5/12
- Prepare 5/18-5/22 Learning Plans, due Wed., 5/13 at Noon
- PLC for all teams
More Updates
Wed., 5/13
- Continue preparing 5/18-5/22 Learning Plans, due at noon today
- Grade Level Master Schedule is due
Thurs., 5/14
- Sped. will begin planning for learning plans
Friday, 5/15
- Email Learning Plans 5/18-5/22 to all students at 3:00pm (Sped. & General Education Teachers)
- Join us for our Teacher Huddle at 3:00pm
Please continue to reach out to Wendy, Yvette, Darby, Beth and I if you or your families need anything. We are here for you all!!!
Technology
Use to support students & parents
Video Conferencing, Facetime, Google Meets, Zoom Updates:
1. No one-on-one calls with students, yet.
2. Don't record
3. Use a password, use a waiting room and have students id with their names
4. Schedule your Zoom/Video Conferencing Meetings on Campus Schedule (New Expectations for classroom teachers based on survey results: At least 2 Zoom calls each week to students k-5th grade)
5. Use short (15 min.) videos to support skills and post (this allows parents the flex. to use this info. when it is convenient for students/parents)
6. Let us know how we can help with a special circumstance
Field Day-Below is going out tomorrow in the parent link
Dear Akin Families,
We’re excited to announce that our school community will be participating in a Virtual
Field Day.
Field Day is an important tradition at our school. It is a significant day for our students and our staff, and we feel that in these incredibly challenging times this national event is a unique way that we can stay connected as a community and support one another in a fun and meaningful way. All our field day events are designed to be done indoors or outdoors using common household items. You won’t be asked to purchase any specialized equipment or supplies.
Here’s how it will work:
The event will be on our Weekly Learning Plans starting the Week of May 11th.
Your family will be asked to choose a minimum of 4 events to complete on Field Day. However, you may complete as many events as you would like.
After the event, your student can submit their scorecard via Google Drive (or other school approved method) to their physical education teacher if you want to.
Stay well,
Coach Steve
Ms. Anna
Coach Ashley
Technology Support Needed...
Counselor Corner
With so much change and uncertainty, many of us are struggling with coping with the unexpected. Add in having to stay away from friends and family we love, well the world could use a little kindness!
Try the connection challenge! Instead of thinking of it as social distancing, try changing your mindset to "physically distancing together.”
For the next week, try to connect with someone (same person or seven different people) every day virtually through texting, email, or social media. Check-in and ask them how they are feeling and share how you are feeling, then challenge them to do the same!
School Closure Social Emotional Learning Resources
If your student would like to request a check-in call with me, please submit your info HERE.
Special Education Updates
- Please be communicating with your tracking teachers on how they would like to collect student data (It will look different for all students based on their goals)
- Please continue to keep tracking teachers in the loop if students are leaving Akin. This could potentially change our class placements and groupings of students
Akin Aviators' Planning Time
Planning Time/Daily Office Hours:
Grade Level Specials Time (k-5th)
ESL - 10-11
SRP - 10-11
Resource - (Melissa & Shelby) - 10-11
Dys. - 10-11
SLE - 10-11
Resource - (Heidi) - 1-2
Quest - 10-11
Specials - 1-2 (changed)
Email: beckie.webster@leanderisd.org
Website: akin.leanderisd.org
Location: 3261 Barley Road, Leander, TX, USA
Phone: 512-570-8000
Facebook: facebook.com/montajaneakinelementary
Twitter: @MJAkinElem