Mustang Memo
Fireside Newsletter 2/15/2021
Fireside Families:
We are looking forward to seeing Fireside students in-person and on-line tomorrow. All students should report to class at 8:45 in-person or virtually for our morning SEL check-in time. After SEL teachers may direct students learning from home to asynchronous activities as campus procedures, mitigation measures, and safety protocols are reviewed with our in-person learners.
On Wednesday, all learners in both modalities should plan to attend school in an early release schedule 8:45-12:30.
I would like to reiterate a few important points:
Every Wednesday will be an early release at 12:30pm.
We will continue to apply mitigation strategies to reduce the spread of COVID-19 within the school. This includes cloth face mask requirements, limiting visitors, and modified drop-off and pick-up routines. Please understand that we will make every effort to maintain appropriate social distancing when possible.
Teachers will continue to teach to both in-person and PVConnect students at the same time. In some cases, we may be able to restructure instruction to reduce the challenges associated with teaching to both in-person and PVConnect simultaneously.
Teachers will prepare materials for the learning option you choose for your student. If take-home materials and packets are prepared for PVConnect students, it will be necessary to pick up these materials from school on Thursdays in order for students to be fully engaged and successful in their learning.
In-person students who are absent may be able to access the online classroom when the absence is scheduled in advance with the teacher. At-home materials will not be readily available for absences, as teachers need advance notice to make take-home materials available.
While necessary absences will occur, our students will learn best when attending in a consistent learning model. If a student continues to be absent from in-person instruction for reasons other than COVID-19, we will work with the parent/guardian to assign the student to PVConnect for the remainder of the school year. Students are not permitted to switch between in-person and on-line learning modes for reasons other than COVID exposure or illness.
As always, please reach out with any questions. Have a wonderful week!
Warmly,
Danielle Else
Principal, Fireside Elementary School
Congratulations to our Regional Spelling Bee Winner!
PVUSD was the host for the Maricopa Region II Spelling Bee on Friday. The bee was held virtually on-line and had 20 participants from various regions, charter schools, and private schools.
I am very pleased to announce that the 2 winners that will advance to the State Bee are from PVUSD and with a score of 50 out of 50 includes our very own
Sai Manvik Malreddy - 6th Grade at Fireside ES
Congratulations Manvik! We are so proud of you!
Lunch Bunch
Our lunch bunch will continue every Thursday for all grade levels beginning March 2. More information to come!
Campus Happenings
February Calendar
2/15: No School - Presidents' Day
2/16: Return to in-person learning
2/22: PTO General Meeting
2/25: Family Dinner Night In - Papa John's
Volunteer Opportunity: Join the Digital Citizenship team!
Seeking 1-2 parent volunteers per grade-level classroom to instruct 1 lesson per month. Comprehensive training and all curriculum/materials will be provided.
Program Overview: The digital world is expanding at lightning speed and bringing with it amazing opportunities and complex challenges for everyone. When you teach digital citizenship to students, you help create a school culture that supports safe, positive, appropriate, responsible, and kind digital citizens and technology users. With great opportunity brings a greater responsibility to teach our students about digital citizenship. The following are the main goals for our current Fireside Elementary Digital Citizenship Program:
- Responsibility to oneself – staying safe, healthy, protecting our reputations
- Responsibility to friends and family – protecting online privacy of others
- Responsibility to larger community – communicating in a kind, respectful manner while positively contributing to appropriate online conversations
Students in grades 3-6 are taught one lesson a month from Common Sense Media’s Digital Citizenship Curriculum on 8 major topic areas: Internet Safety; Privacy & Security; Relationships & Communication; Cyberbullying & Digital Drama; Digital Footprint & Reputation; Self-image & Identify; Information Literacy; and Creative Credit & Copyright
If interested please contact Mrs. Smith, Assistant Principal, at shasmith@pvschools.net
Yearbook Spring Pictures
Spring pictures are scheduled for 2/24 in the school library.
- Students will only be photographed if they have not had a picture taken for the yearbook or if they are purchasing a spring picture package.
- Students who have not had a picture taken may do so at this time and the picture will be used for portraits in our yearbook.
- Students ordering spring picture packages will only be admitted if they bring a completed picture package.
- Students attending school will take pictures during the school day.
- Students learning from home will be able to take pictures 1:00pm-3:00pm.
- All pictures will be taken in the library, physically distanced, with doors open for increased ventilation. We will not be taking any group pictures at this time.
If your child is unable to come to campus for spring portraits, please use our upload option. Email a picture of your child to yearbook@firesidepto.com Please include the following information:
- Picture of Your Student
- First and Last Name of Student
- Homeroom Teacher
- Grade Level
Reopening Information
Office Hours
Beginning 2/16 office hours will be 7:45am-3:45pm.
Wednesday Early Release
School will begin at 8:45am and end at 12:30pm.
- Kindergarten will release at 12:15pm.
- First grade will release at 12:20pm.
Lunch will not be served.
Students will attend specials on a rotating basis.
Wednesday afternoons are reserved for teacher planning.
Tips for Our Students Learning From Home
Arrival and Departure from School
Arrival
Students in grades 1-6 can enter campus via the pedestrian gates near the bike racks and west lot
Students in kindergarten will enter campus via the gate near kindergarten playground
Students will enter the building through a designated entrance near their grade level classroom
Students line up by class in designated areas that are physically distanced
The bus will complete two runs to attempt distancing
Gates will be opened at 8:25am. Students may not arrive on campus prior to 8:25am.
Families that do not want to have their child on the playground in the AM can drop their child off at the office at 8:45. Students arriving between 8:45-8:55am will not be marked tardy.
Dismissal
Teachers will escort classes to the building exits to support physical distancing.
Students waiting for parent pick-up will practice physical distancing.
Homeroom teachers will practice procedures with their students to eliminate confusion
Staggered dismissal times:
3:00 - Kindergarten dismissal. Students who are walkers or have parents who have parked dismissed at the flagpole. Students picked up in cars dismissed at Kiss and Go. Parents not at the flagpole by 3:00 should pick up their child at Kiss and Go.
3:10 - First grade dismissal
3:15 - Grades 2-6 dismissal
Pre-K Schedule
- Arrival: 9:00am located at Kiss and Go for student sign in.
- Pick-up: 2:30pm located at Kiss and Go for student sign out.
- Early release Wednesdays: pick up 12:00pm located at Kiss and Go for student sign out.
SunKids:
- Arrival and dismissal procedures will be shared by the classroom teacher for both sessions.
Specials Schedule
Kinder 1:40-2:20
1st Grade 1:00-1:40
2nd Grade 2:20-3:00
3rd Grade 9:40-10:20
4th Grade 10:20-10:55
5th Grade 11:00-11:40
6th Grade 9:00-9:40
Students will attend specials every other Wednesday during our early release days.
Lunch and Recess
Kindergarten 10:50-11:10/11:10-11:30
1st Grade 11:10-11:30/11:30-11:50
2nd Grade 11:55-12:15/12:15-12:35
3rd Grade 12:20-12:40/12:40-1:00
4th Grade 1:05-1:25/1:25-1:45
5th Grade 12:40-1:00/1:00-1:20
6th Grade 11:35-11:55/11:55-12:15
What to do when your child is absent
- If your child is sent home due to illness, please allow the teacher two days to prepare materials for your child. Materials for your child will be available in the front office.
- If your child is absent from school for any reason, he/she will check back into school through the school nurse.
COVID Screening and Reporting
Please review the Maricopa County Symptom Screening for Schools for Detailed Information about Screening Protocols and Procedures: here
Healthy Home Check
- Students should stay home if they feel ill or are exhibiting symptoms of respiratory infection.
- Parents and guardians should assess their child’s health daily prior to heading to school or the bus stop.
- At the beginning of each day as students enter the classroom, teachers will informally screen students for respiratory symptoms. If the teacher has concerns, they will contact the school nurse prior to sending the student to the Nurse’s Office.
- Students will be reminded of proper respiratory hygiene.
Band and Strings
- Strings classes will be held on Tuesdays and Fridays.
- Band classes will be held on Mondays and Thursdays.
- Students will bring their instruments to school on band/strings days and leave their instruments in the band/strings classroom for the day.
Materials distribution
- Materials distribution will continue for all students learning from home.
- Your child’s classroom teacher will notify you via email if materials should be picked up each Thursday.
- Materials pick up will be located in the front office.
- Carts will be in the front lobby with bins for each grade level clearly labeled. Teacher folders will be housed inside each grade level bin. Pickup bins will continue to be located on the top shelf with turn in bins on the bottom shelf. Grade level and teacher names will be clearly labeled.
- The pick up will be self service from the hours of 7:00am-8:00am and 9:30am-2:00pm.
Masks
- Masks will be required at all times once on campus property (including sidewalks, common areas, buildings, etc).
- Exceptions include only designated lunch time in the cafeteria, designated snack time during second recess outside, under teacher direction during PE class outside, and under teacher direction when playing instruments during band class.
- Neck gaiters, bandanas and valve masks are not allowed as MCDPH has identified these as less effective. (See MCDPH Not All Masks Are Created Equal).
Students should bring more than one mask to campus and keep the extra(s) in their backpack
All masks should be labeled with the students first and last name
If a student is not wearing a mask or is not wearing a mask properly:
The first time, the classroom teacher will issue a disposable mask if needed to the student and email the parent. The teacher will re-teach mask expectations.
The second time, the classroom teacher will issue a disposable mask if needed to the student and email the parent. School administration and/or the school nurse will re-teach mask expectations. The school principal will email the parent addressing the concern.
The third time, the classroom teacher will issue a disposable mask if needed to the student and the student will be referred to the front office. The student may be directed to PVConnect learning from home. PVOnline will be considered upon parent request and space availability.
Parents will be asked to pick their child up from school within one hour.
Disciplinary action may be issued or the student may be directed to PVConnect learning from home. PVOnline will be considered upon parent request and space availability.
Please use the following link to access PVUSD Policy: Student Dress Code Addendum - Face Cloth Mask
This is consistent with Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) Face Covering Guidance as they are requiring face masks to be worn both inside and outside on schools campuses.
Social Emotional Learning at Fireside
Each morning teachers check in with students during morning circle time. During our morning check in, students are able to complete a “how are you feeling” form. The response to this form is forwarded to our social emotional school counselor, Megan Gilligan who will contact the parents of all students who indicate that they are having a bad day or need help. In addition, parents and students are able to refer students using this link: Social Emotional Support Request Form
Information from the Fireside PTO
Hello Fireside Families!
As much as we would love to be announcing a date for our Eat Drink Give adults only fundraiser, we are going with the flow changing it up with a Raffle Calendar! Every raffle ticket purchased provides a chance to win multiple times! We’ll be using the "Wheel of Names" website to draw a single raffle ticket number each day in March, announce the winner, and then place the winning ticket number back in the drawing pool so it can potentially be drawn again. There will be 31 drawings, so 31 chances to win per ticket!
OVER $4,300 IN PRIZES!!
$25- 1 Ticket
$90- 4 Tickets
$120- 6 Tickets
You don't need to have students at Fireside to be included. Please feel free to forward this information to friends & family so they can join in the fun! Follow the link below for more details and to purchase tickets!
"Old" News (but still valuable)
Community Ed Enrichment (Virtual)
New and Exciting Afterschool Enrichment Classes!!
The Community Education Enrichment Office has been planning new online afterschool enrichment courses to keeps kids engaged. We are so excited to share that your child can sign up for an entire month of FREE Spanish classes. We have also added classes from Science Matters, Dance Sequins, InMotion Kids, Young Rembrandts, and a few Valentine Craft Classes. Check it all out HERE!
Tips for Parenting During Virtual Learning
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any concerns or for additional support.
- Check in with your child daily about progress and feelings. One of the best ways to stay involved with your child’s progress in the classroom is by checking in. Establishing an open relationship about your child’s experience creates a healthy environment around thriving in the classroom.
- Monitor Infinite Campus: Please make sure to check your child’s Infinite Campus at least once a week for progress. You are able to view missing assignments and class scores when they are updated.
- Monitor Google Classroom with your child’s help: Parent Guide to Google Classroom
- Create a distraction free learning environment for your child.
- Ensure your child has the materials required to be successful during the school day.
- Set a routine. Consider using a visual school schedule.
- Prepare a learning environment for success: two helpful resources are Parent Tips and Tricks and Home Technical Tips for the Digital Environment
- Understand the expectations: Student Distance Learning Expectations
Fireside Reopening Plan
PV Assist
Library Books are Available for Checkout
Students are able to check out books! Here are the guidelines and a short video on how to place books on hold in Destiny.
PLEASE NOTE:
K-2nd can hold/check out one book, 3rd-6th can hold/check out 2 at a time.
We will add the books to the Teacher pick up bins.
If the book is not there on Thursday, there may be several reasons: the number of books the student has out, someone else still has the book, or it's still being quarantined (We must hold all books for 72 hours before we can check them out again).
Thank you!
Please click here to access Destiny for checkout.
Please click here to view an instructional video about the check out process.COVID Student Chromebook Replacement Costs for K-8 Students
All Fireside students are able to check out a chromebook from school.
Beginning in March of 2020, students were issued district Chromebooks and agreed to return the equipment to PVUSD in the condition that it was given. Parents/Guardians accepted responsibility for this equipment during the checkout period and agreed that they will be held personally liable if it is lost, stolen or damaged. Students will be charged the actual cost of replacement if the Chromebook and charger aren’t returned with only normal wear and tear. See below for replacement cost:
Replacement Cost for Chromebook $150
Replacement Cost for Charger (Adapter) $20
From the Nurse
PV Schools Reopening Plan
For the most up to date information from the district, please visit the PVUSD website at:
https://www.pvschools.net/reopening
This website includes the prepared plan, reopening criteria, a link to the Maricopa County Dashboard, and a summary of supports for families.
Critical Updates
Annual Update: Please Complete the Annual Update Online. Use the following link to access a smartcard with instructions: Annual Update Instructions