Jurassic Journal
Friday, October 16th
Letter from the Principal
We have pictures coming up on Tuesday. Students came home with forms last week. There is also a link below to order online. Students will be able to socially distance and take pictures without their masks. We really appreciate all of your efforts on coaching students to wear masks, stay six feet apart and work extra hard on following directions. This guidance shows daily as I walk through the halls. Students are doing a fantastic job. In the next few weeks, teachers will be reaching out to check in with families to get a sense of how it is going at home and what we can do to support students while in person at school. Once again we appreciate all of your support. We have made it through another week!
Steggie Love
Sara Olson
Pictures on OCTOBER 20th!
Order online at https://ios.mydorian.com
Access Code: NUSJ8A7R
How can we work together to keep our school open?
- STAY HOME when sick, CDC recommends that a family stay in for about 48 hours to determine if the student or family member is sick or has Covid
- If the illness is other than Covid, students still need to stay home for 24 hours AFTER the fever is gone
- Please get a test, they are free at WATER WORLD, HERE is the website
- If you are unable to test, but believe that you have Covid, please stay home for 10 days
No Halloween-related activities this year unfortunately, Please read below
Dear Families,
With an abundance of caution, and in acknowledgement of
current virus transmission rates within our broader community
Governor Polis’ emphasis that everyone continue to wear masks, stay physically distanced and avoid large group gatherings
Adams 12 Five Star Schools will not be sponsoring any type of Halloween-related activities before, during or after school during October. This includes Trunk-or-Treat, parties, parades, costumes and treats.
I encourage families to, instead, spend Saturday, Oct. 31, celebrating Halloween in alignment with individual family traditions and values.
The safety of our students, families and staff continue to drive such decisions.
Please contact me if you have questions.
Sincerely,
Sara Olson
NO TREATS IN CLASS PLEASE
Beginning Monday October 19th: Ms. Christina Bise to 3rd grade to relieve Ms. Wahab
Information about Ms. Bise:
Her last name rhymes with Spice
She moved from Florida to Colorado last summer
She is married
She has one dog and one cat
Her favorite colors are blue, purple and green
She was a cheerleader all through high school and college
She loves living in Colorado and loves to go hiking
She is currently trying to ski
The most exciting part about coming to work at McElwain is being a dinosaur
Food For Hope
Dear Parents/Guardians:
If your family qualifies for free and reduced lunch you are invited to participate in the Food for Hope program. We are an independently funded, non-profit organization with a mission to empower and nourish the future of our community by providing nutritious food to local children.
If you choose to have your family participate, your child will bring home a bag of healthy, kid-friendly foods every weekend. These foods are planned to provide your child with weekend meals and snacks. This is a free program, there is no cost to you or to the school. If you have multiple children at the school then each child is welcome to sign up and receive a free bag.
If your child is allergic to any foods, we suggest that you tell the child to let a parent/guardian check the food before he or she eats any of it.
We look forward to having your child participate in this program. Please fill out the online form below or use the QR code below. Please fill this online form by October 26th, 2020.
Download the Infinite Campus App
This Weeks Updates:
- 10/20/20 School Picture Day (see schedule above)
- 10/24/20 Cocoa and Coats
- Ongoing: Steggie Spirit Days: Wednesdays-McElwain colors or attire and Fridays-Sports Teams or College colors or attire
COCOA AND COATS NEXT SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24th!
Tardies began Monday, October 5th
Apply to be a Classroom Monitor at McElwain Elementary
Dear MCE Parents,
We want to thank you for your support as we have transitioned to our new learning model. One of the unique challenges we have encountered is the need for additional staffing support as we work to:
Diligently maintain defined cohorts of students
Clean and sanitize materials and equipment on a regular basis
Provide enough lunch/recess supervision to ensure that we have enough people to be either in classrooms, the playground, or the cafeteria.
In order for schools to maintain an optimum environment for our students, we simply need more people.To that end, we are looking for interested parents and community members with a few extra hours of time each day to apply to be a Classroom Monitor.
Classroom Monitors, similar to our Learning Pod Leaders from the start of this school year, would be tasked with roles such as supervising an in-person classroom while a teacher is teaching remotely or providing lunch and/or recess supervision.
Apply to be a Classroom Monitor (Classified Substitute)
The process is simple:
Start by clicking the link above to submit an application
You will need to pass a CBI/FBI criminal fingerprint background check
Pre-Employment physical
The district will provide online training in topics such as classroom management and COVID health and safety precautions
For those who are interested, we are also in need of substitute support to cover classes due to a teacher absence and will work with interested applicants to become a licensed district substitute.
Apply to be a Substitute (Guest Teacher)
I would encourage you to click on the link above to start your application process. Thank you for your commitment to supporting the learning of our students. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 720-972-5502
Sincerely,
Sara Olson
School Principal
Healthy Buildings, Healthy McElwain
We know that, as you and your child prepare for this return, you may have questions about important health and safety measures. Here is an overview of what families and students can expect when they return to their school for in-person learning:
All families and students must:
Complete your student’s self-health screening, including a temperature check before arriving at school each day.
Wear face coverings when on school property and in all common areas (hallways, classrooms, bus, main office, cafeteria, etc.), during all transition times (passing periods), and during student arrival and pick-up.
Practice frequent hand washing and use of hand sanitizer. Students and staff will be reminded to wash/sanitize hands multiple times throughout the day, especially during transitions (i.e. before and after recess and meals.)
Below are key guidelines in place to minimize the risk of transmission and allow all students, staff and families to return to in-person learning safely:
Sickness protocols: Students who become symptomatic during the school day will move to a dedicated space in the building until picked up by their parents/guardians to go home. Staff will be sent home if they are symptomatic.
Classroom setup: Classrooms will maximize space by removing unnecessary furniture and rearranging desks/tables. Desks will all face one direction.
Enhanced cleaning protocols: Custodians and school staff will increase daily cleaning of frequently touched objects (i.e. door knobs, desks and faucet handles, etc.) and restrooms based on usage and need.
Increased ventilation: Buildings will double air exchanges every hour (up to six times per hour) to bring in more fresh outdoor air. This increase of fresh air into the building will impact building temperatures especially as cooler weather arrives. Students should consider dressing in layers.
Visitor management: Building access will be restricted for visitors and only permitted for a student in need of medical or social-emotional support, or on an emergency basis.
Signage: General health and safety signs will be visible in multiple locations around buildings.
Tech Corner
PLEASE USE the new TECH ISSUES form to communicate ANY tech complications
IMPORTANT CHROMEBOOK UPDATE: PLEASE READ
We are excited that each student has access to a Chromebook for learning this school year! Each student will be responsible for caring for their own device. At school, they are learning to safely clean, carry, and use their Chromebook. ALL STUDENTS K-5th expected to transport their Chromebook to and from school. This is so students can use their Chromebook at home and ensures students have access to technology in case we have to return to remote learning for reasons related to the pandemic. This is a new skill for some students, so please support your student by helping them care for their Chromebook at home. Please help them remember to bring their Chromebook, charger, and headphones to school each morning.
Click on this link to see the expectations that students will go over with their classroom teachers: Adams 12 Student Chromebook Contract - 2020/2021 School Year. Each student will sign a Chromebook Contract so that everyone is following the same expectations.
The Chromebooks will be checked out to each student in the same system we use for library books. Students and families will be responsible for paying for any damage to the Chromebooks. Fines will be issued at the following amounts for the following reasons:
Total damage - Chromebook needs to be replaced
$250.00
Missing or broken charger
$45.00
Keyboard damage
$30.00
Screen damage
$40.00
Please feel free to contact Ms. Snider at sni024831@adams12.org or (720)972-8555 if you have any questions about this. Thank you for your partnership!
Computer Info
Contact US
Administration
Principal: Sara Olson Email: Sara.K.Olson@adams12.orgAssistant Principal:Brooke Tolmachoff Email: Brooke.Tolmachoff@adams12.org
Website: https://mcelwain.adams12.org/welcome-mcelwain-elementary
Location: 1020 Dawson Drive, Denver, CO, USA
Phone: 720-972-5500
Facebook: facebook.com/McElwainElementary
Twitter: @NA