Northpoint Elementary
November 18, 2020 Newsletter
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Northpoint families:
Hello Northpoint Families,
As you are aware, last Friday, due to the escalating COVID-19 impacts in our community, we made the difficult decision to begin the transition of grades K-6 to distance learning, known in Spring Lake Park Schools as Extended Flexible Learning. Please refer to the message all families received on Friday.
This transition primarily impacts families of students who are currently attending school in the Modified Campus (hybrid) model. This week, we continue to follow the Modified Campus (hybrid) schedule for at-school learning days. Teachers are helping prepare students to be successful during EFL, including teaching use of key learning platforms and applications. In addition, this week children will be bringing home necessary learning resources.
Here are key dates for all of our families to be aware of:
- November 23-27: There is no school for all students, including students currently in Extended Flexible Learning. This includes center-based students. Early childhood and preschool families have heard directly from their program with the plan for next week. All of our teachers will be working together to prepare for the transition for Extended Flexible Learning. Teachers currently teaching in the Extended Flexible Learning model will be helping support their colleagues. There is a previously scheduled break on November 26-27 and no school for all students.
- November 24-25: We will contact families whose students may meet specific criteria for at-school support based on identified interventions to meet their learning needs.
- November 30: School resumes in the SLP Extended Flexible Learning (distance) model.
- December 3: We will begin bringing identified students in for at-school learning opportunities as determined by their individual plan.
- December 4: End of Tri 1 - School is in session this day for students.
- December 7: No school for students. Teachers use this day for end of trimester reporting.
If you submitted a request for a change in learning model – to or from Modified Campus (hybrid) or Extended Flexible Learning (distance), we are maintaining a list of those requests. As we are able to return to a Modified Campus (hybrid) model, we’ll work to honor your requests.
For those who celebrate Thanksgiving, all of us at Northpoint extend our best wishes for a safe holiday. We will see you online Monday, November 30, with times and instructions to be shared by individual teachers. Please continue to reach out to your child’s teacher or our office with your questions. Thank you for your continued support. We are thankful for your partnership!
Judi Kahoun
Principal
Extended Flex Learning Families: No School Nov. 23-27
Greetings,
Last Friday, Spring Lake Park Schools shared a message about the transition of all K-6 students to Extended Flexible Learning. This transition does not affect the students currently enrolled in SLP Extended Flexible Learning (distance learning). Your child(ren) will keep their current teacher and class schedule.
This transition will impact school schedules next week. There is no school for ALL K-6 students next week – November 23-27. Teachers currently teaching in the Extended Flexible Learning model will be helping support their colleagues with this transition. There also is a previously scheduled break on November 26-27 for all K-12 students. School will resume Monday, November 30.
If you have submitted a request to change from your current learning model it will be addressed as we are able to return to a Modified Campus (hybrid) model.
Please note the information for learning at home and technology support included in this week’s newsletter. Also, if you didn’t have an opportunity to read this article, Experiences from distance learning, please take a minute to do so. I think it will leave you with a smile.
Enjoy this late fall break with your family. We will miss you next week and look forward to being back with our students on Monday, November 30.
Take care,
Kim Fehringer
Principal on Assignment
K-4 Extended Flexible Learning
Preparing students for career and college despite a pandemic
For many of our SLP students, career explorations start long before they enter high school. Between Learner Maps, Learner Profiles, community visits to talk about various occupations and more, students at all ages are exposed to different areas that will help them prepare for career and college.
Follow SLPHS students Sanober, Tossy and Eleanor on their journey through the SLP career and college process and discover how even in an unusual year, students are given the supports, tools and resources to be successful in any option they choose after graduation. Read the full story: https://bit.ly/2ILoRrA
Meal distribution moving to Tuesdays and Thursdays, community sites coming next week
As all students grades K-12 transition to Extended Flexible Learning (distance), Spring Lake Park Schools will continue to support students’ nutritional needs at no cost.
Beginning tomorrow, Thursday, November 19, meal distribution will now occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Tuesdays, families will receive two-days' worth of meals. On Thursdays, families will receive three-days' worth of meals.
Because there is no school on Thursday, November 26, families will receive five-days' worth of meals on Tuesday, November 24.
Meals can be picked up at Spring Lake Park High School from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 1100 81st Avenue Northeast; Door #32. Beginning Tuesday, November 24, we also will be adding community distribution sites. Locations are being finalized. More information about community distribution will be available before Tuesday.
Questions? Please contact the Nutrition Services Department at 763-600-5041.
Continue to report COVID-19 positive cases to school
Please continue to call your school’s health line, 763-600-5709, to report COVID-19 positive cases. The district will continue to report on district health as students are in Extended Flexible Learning (distance).
Free COVID-19 Saliva Testing Site
There is free COVID-19 saliva testing available to our community offered by the state of Minnesota. See below for more information for this specific site:
- Location: Anoka Armory, 408 East Main St., Anoka, MN 55303
- Dates: November 16-20, 23-24, December 1-4, 8-11, 15-19, 21-22, 28-30
- Time: 12-6 p.m.
- Pre-Register: Schedule Appointment with Vault Health
- Video: What to expect visiting a testing site
Tips for Successful Learning at Home
Here's our SLP Top Tips for Successful Learning at Home:
- Establish a routine to be ready to learn.
- Designate a quiet learning space for students where they can be productive, preferably not where they sleep.
- Make WebEx, Seesaw, Schoology and other tech resources easy to access. Write down codes and passwords for the work area.
- Take a break. Build exercise or refueling into the break.
- Use a bucket or a box to store daily learning supplies.
- Limit distractions by turning off cell phone and notifications.
- Keep iPads charged.
- Move items containing personal info or things you wouldn’t want others to see out of the camera range.
- Complete school work during the week; not on weekends.
- Check in with the student, academically and emotionally.
- Communicate with teachers. Connect on any questions.
- Join an online study group for students to work together.
- Remind student that schedules might occasionally change, same as how we remain flexible when at school.
Technology Support
The SLP Tech Department is here to support students and families.
If you need technology support, please email techsupport@district16.org. Make sure to include your name, contact information and a brief description of your request. If you are unable to email, call 763-600-5555.
Mrs. Wenum's Opinion Writers!
Mrs. Wenum’s 2nd grade students recently had an assignment working on opinion writing. They chose a topic and brainstormed ideas about different learning models. Their goal was to convince Mrs. Kahoun that a specific learning model was the best! They demonstrated collaboration and hard work during this interesting assignment.
November 26-27 – No School, Thanksgiving Break
- This is the end of the trimester. We adjusted the academic calendar at the beginning of the year to move two additional days up to the front of the year for planning. This means Dec. 4 – which was originally a day off school – is now a school day. See the updated 2020-2021 academic calendar
In case you missed important information from last week's newsletter, check out the topics below and click to learn more.
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