Washington Elementary
November 16, 2020
Principal's Message
Dear Families:
The final day for the Hybrid Learning Plan this fall is Friday, November 20th. Teachers will have a preparation day on Monday, November 23rd. There is no school for students on Monday, November 23rd, but teachers will finish the final day of conferences that afternoon and evening. The Washington staff has appreciated all of your efforts to support the implementation of the Hybrid Learning Plan. The shift to distance learning will include many challenges for all of us, but we will do everything we can to make distance learning a success. We learned from last spring and have planned for this shift this fall during the Wednesday Professional Development Days. Please reach out to me at 345-3059 if I can be of any assistance to you. The office will remain open daily from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm Monday-Friday. A return date to the Hybrid Learning Plan is unknown. The decision to return to the Hybrid Learning Plan will be made using a similar process that got us here.
On Friday, November 20th, all student personal items and learning materials needed for distance learning, including a device if you had requested one, will be sent home with students. We do not have enough devices for every child. Please use your home devices if you have one for distance learning. If you are not comfortable with us sending the requested device home with your child, please plan to pick up between 10:30 am and 2:30 pm on Monday, November 23rd.
If your child is not at school on Friday this week, parent pick up of student materials, including a device if you had requested one, will be Monday, November 23rd from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm. You will simply come to the front door and we will have things labeled with your child’s name.
Please read on for more specific information about the upcoming shift to distance learning.
Technology Support/Information:
For device support/repair etc. please contact familytechhelp@isd77.org
Linked here is some information for families interested in purchasing their own devices.
If you have borrowed a school issued device, here are some district device care pointers.
Distance Learning Resources
Visit the Distance Learning Website for resources to support you and your child in distance learning.
Student Attendance
Teachers will take attendance by the end of each school day. Students will be marked present for online engagement or direct interaction on a given day, such as:
Participation in a group meeting (online meetings)
Accessed Seesaw or Google Classroom during the day
Completion of assignments
Phone call or text message exchange between teacher and student or parent if a student is unable to do school work during 8:00 am - 2:30 pm on a particular day.
Student Responsibilities:
Teachers will share out a schedule of instruction with each student. Students are expected to participate in the daily, synchronous learning schedule and complete all assignments by the following day. Parents/care providers may reach out to teachers via school email, SeeSaw, Google Classroom or phone to ask questions or get feedback on assignments from 8 am - 2:30 pm.
Teacher Responsibilities:
Teachers will share out the synchronous (live) schedule with each family. Asynchronous (self-paced lessons using Seesaw in K-2 or Google Classroom in 3-5) activities will be posted by 8:00 am each day. Teachers will be responsible for following the synchronous learning schedule, providing content via Seesaw/Google Classroom, and responding to student & parents’ needs via phone, email, and Google Meets during identified office hours. Teachers will make reasonable means to respond to students within 24 hours. In the event of illness of the teacher, the teacher will notify families that synchronous lessons will not take place on that day, but activities will still be posted on Seesaw/Google Classroom for that day.
Synchronous (Live) and Asynchronous (Self-paced lessons)
Students should receive live instruction daily (morning meetings, whole group, small group and/or individual instruction).
Teachers will be available online daily from 8:00-2:30 with the exception of prep (50 min from 1:40-2:30) and 30 minute lunch and additional 30 minute prep within the hours of 11:40-1:10. Please view your child’s schedule for specific times.
Teachers will provide homework help or office hour time during the week for students and families. This could be done a number of ways, including after a live morning meeting to clarify or answer questions.
Teachers will provide a combination of paper/pencil and technology learning opportunities.
Teaching of core content (reading, math, writing, and/or content) will be done daily, with at least one live lesson per week in each area.
Fridays will be used to stretch and catch all learners.
Students with special needs, English learners, 504 students, and Talent Development students will continue to receive services during distance learning
Live lessons will not be able to be recorded due to COPPA laws.
Important Dates:
November 16-20 -- Students will remain in their current learning model
November 16-20-- Report Cards Come Home with Students
November 17, 19, & 23-- Evening Conferences (scheduled and occur via Google Meets/phone call)
November 23 -- No School (Teacher Transition Day)
November 24-25 -- No School (Conferences)
November 30 -- Distance Learning Begins
Educational Benefits forms are typically known as the annual "Free and Reduced Lunch Forms". Did you know that by filling out this form, you help provide additional funding and resources that benefit students in other ways. These funds help to provide our students access to counselors, social workers, as well as additional reading and math support. It also helps provide necessary instructional supplies and can offset the cost of student activities fees.
We have been fortunate to be able to access funding to provide free breakfast and lunch to all of our students during this pandemic. We are so thankful for this much needed financial reprieve for families! One result of free breakfasts and lunches is that many families have not completed the annual form as they typically would have. Unfortunately, this means that funding for other programs is affected.
We need your help! If you typically fill out the educational benefits form and have not yet done so this year, please do so. If you are not sure if you would qualify, please take a moment and fill out the form. If your family circumstances have recently changed due to loss of employment or other financial burden, you may also qualify.
CLICK HERE for a link to the image below. All applications are confidential!
CLICK HERE for a link to the Educational Benefits Form
CLICK HERE for a letter explaining the educational benefits form.
Developing a schedule with flexible times for kid choice is key to harmony in home learning
Mankato Area Public Schools to provide no-cost meals during distance learning
Mankato Area Public Schools to provide no-cost meals during distance learning
To best provide service, pick-up schedule changes have been made to Mankato Area Public Schools (MAPS) nutrition services program, which will continue to provide breakfast and lunch at no cost to all youth age 18 years and under during and after the transition to a distance learning model. Meals consist of lunch and breakfast for each day. Youth do not need to be enrolled in MAPS nor do they need to qualify for free or reduced lunch. Participants must pre-order meals online for pick-up on the following days and locations: November 16 - 20, 11 a.m - 1 p.m. Daily meal pick-up. Pre-order by 8 a.m. the day of pick-up. East High School, 2600 Hoffman Road West High School, 1351 S. Riverfront Drive November 23, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Five-day meal pick-up. Pre-order by November 20. East High School, 2600 Hoffman Road West High School, 1351 S. Riverfront Drive November 30 - December 4, 11 a.m - 1 p.m. Daily meal pick-up. Pre-order by 8 a.m. the day of pick-up. Eagle Lake Elementary School, 500 LeSueur Ave., Eagle Lake East High School, 2600 Hoffman Road Franklin Elementary School, 100 N. Broad St. Hoover Elementary School, 1524 Hoover Drive, North Mankato Rosa Parks Elementary School, 1001 Heron Drive West High School, 1351 S. Riverfront Drive December 7, 11 a.m - 1 p.m. Daily meal pick-up. Pre-order by 8 a.m. the day of pick-up. Eagle Lake Elementary School, 500 LeSueur Ave., Eagle Lake East High School, 2600 Hoffman Road Franklin Elementary School, 100 N. Broad St. Hoover Elementary School, 1524 Hoover Drive, North Mankato Rosa Parks Elementary School, 1001 Heron Drive West High School, 1351 S. Riverfront Drive December 8, 11 a.m - 1 p.m. Two-day meal pick-up. Pre-order by 8 a.m. the day of pick-up. Eagle Lake Elementary School, 500 LeSueur Ave., Eagle Lake East High School, 2600 Hoffman Road Franklin Elementary School, 100 N. Broad St. Hoover Elementary School, 1524 Hoover Drive, North Mankato Rosa Parks Elementary School, 1001 Heron Drive West High School, 1351 S. Riverfront Drive December 9, 4 p.m - 6 p.m. Seven-day meal pick-up. Pre-order by December 2. East High School, 2600 Hoffman Road Dakota Meadows Middle School, 1900 Howard Drive W, North Mankato December 16, 4 p.m - 6 p.m. Seven-day meal pick-up. Pre-order by December 9. East High School, 2600 Hoffman Road Dakota Meadows Middle School, 1900 Howard Drive W, North Mankato December 22, 4 p.m - 6 p.m. Seven-day meal pick-up. Pre-order by December 16. East High School, 2600 Hoffman Road Dakota Meadows Middle School, 1900 Howard Drive W, North Mankato January pick-up information will be released in December. The service is part of the extended Food Service Program approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Provided service will be available on school days following MAPS’ school calendar through June 30, 2021. For more information contact food services staff at 507-388-7442. ------------------------------ In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: This institution is an equal opportunity provider.