The Mata Memo
September 29, 2020
Principal's Message
Dear Mata families,
We've had a successful start to the welcoming of face to face students for PreK-K and 7th grade. We are now gearing up to receive all other students who have chosen the face to face option this year on October 5th. We appreciate the grace, patience, and flexibility you've granted our staff, students, and yourselves. We are in this together!
Next week, we will be hosting Parent Conferences virtually, please be on the lookout from your child's teacher regarding signing up for a time.
Please read the memo carefully there is information regarding:
- Calendar at a Glance
- Transportation
- Bus Routes
- Return to Campus Procedures
- Parent/Teacher Conferences
- Textbook/Consumable Pick up
- Ipad Training for Parents
- Eagle Wagon (Spirit Wear)
- Book Fair
- Counselor's Needs Assessment
- Books to Go
- YMCA
- Contact Tracing
- Technology Assistance
- And much, Much More!
We look forward to another great week of teaching and learning!
Tomeka Williams
Principal
Calendar at A Glance
9/30: Show up Team Up; Wear a Sports Shirt!
9/30: Technology Trouble? See our tech specialist if your device isn't working properly.
10/2: School Custodian Appreciation Day
10/5: Face-to-face return option for grades 1-6 and grade 8
10/5-10/8: Parent Conferences will be held via Zoom by appointment with teachers
10/2-10/11: Virtual Book Fair
Transportation
The transportation department has created tools for parents and staff to access student transportation information.
If there is a change in the need for transportation, please contact our registrar Ms. Sosa who can make changes on Power School.
Once you have registered for transportation through your school's registrar, please complete the form linked below to select your child's stop from the list available for our campus.
Parents can access their students' transportation details using the following link:
Use the following tools to stay connected with Student Transportation Services.
> BUS BULLETIN A notification system that immediately informs parents of any bus delays through text messages, voice mails, and / or emails.
> E - LINK Provides parents with their student(s) transportation information including: stop time, stop location, and route number.
> MYSTOP MOBILE APP Allows parents to view student's live bus location within a ten-minute window of projected bus arrival time.
> LET'S TALK Allows our community to directly send us questions, comments, and feedback regarding Student Transportation Services.
Return to Campus Procedures for the week of October 5th
School Hours 7:45-3:15
- 1st- 6th Grade students may be dropped off at the main entrance. 1st-3rd grade students will report to the gym and 4th-6th will report to the auditorium between 7:15-7:30 AM. At 7:30 AM, all students arriving will report directly to class.
- Please drop off 7th and 8th Grade students at the entrance located on the front side of the campus Parallel to Grand Ave nearest the cafeteria.
- Please drop off Pre-K-K students on the La Vista drive nearest the library.
- Students will report directly to their homeroom class.
- If you have multiple children, you may drop off at the site for the youngest child.
Please remember to send your child to school wearing a properly fitted mask, they will be expected to wear a mask while on campus. Students must wear uniforms (white, hunter green, or navy blue polo shirt and black, navy, or khaki bottoms.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided, however, students may bring their lunch if they choose. Please send ready to eat meals. (A microwave will not be available for student use.)
After School Pick Up:
Pickup will be near the library doors on La Vista. You will be given a carpool sign to used at pick up daily. Please be patient with dismissal procedures and traffic, as we will be working to ensure the safety of all students. We will begin a staggered dismissal starting at 3:00 for our PreK-K students. 1st-3rd will join at 3:10. 4th-8th will dismiss at 3:15 PM
If riding a bus, please send information regarding your child's bus stop and location to the teacher. Bus pick up is located on the main drive parallel to Grand. Please do not park in this driveway.
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
Textbooks
Apple Ipad Office Hours for Caregivers and Parents
You may assess the training at this link.
Book Fair!
Our online Book Fair opens this week! Shop 10/2 through Sunday 10/11 to benefit our library program! Visit https://efairs.follettbookfairs.com/guest/home?classCode=MY3WE to shop online.
Mata PTA Eagle Wagon
PTA Eagle Wagon!
A big welcome back to campus to Primary and 7th grade students from the Eagle Wagon!💚 💚 The spirit shop is available online at http://matamontessori.com/eagle-wagon-spirit-wear/ and ready for your orders!
Orders placed by 7am Wednesday(9/30) by in person students will be placed in your teacher's mailbox by Thursday (10/1) so you're ready to show your Eagle spirit on Friday! All other orders will be filled asap and will receive an email with pickup instructions.
*Please be sure to specify in person- student name +teacher- or virtual learner in comment section of orders*
¡Una gran bienvenida de regreso al campus a los estudiantes de primaria y séptimo de Eagle Wagon! 💚 💚 ¡La tienda está disponible en línea en http://matamontessori.com/eagle-wagon-spirit-wear/ y lista para sus pedidos!
Los pedidos realizados antes de las 7 am del miércoles por los estudiantes en persona se colocarán en el buzón de correo de su maestro el jueves para que esté listo para mostrar su ropa de Eagle el viernes. Todos los demás pedidos se completarán lo antes posible y recibirán un correo electrónico con las instrucciones de recogida.
* Asegúrese de especificar en persona, nombre del estudiante + profesor, o alumno virtual en la sección de comentarios de los pedidos.
Mata Counselor's Needs Assessment Feedback Survey
The needs assessment is part of the counseling curriculum, letting counselors know what topics would be of the utmost benefit to students. This year due to the health guidelines they are conducting an online inquiry in order to obtain parent feedback. Please complete the following survey for Dr. Lopez and Ms. Gunter.
Parent Needs Assessment Survey
https://forms.gle/ipoekxYPs3mkPwA68
La encuesta de necesidades es parte de el currículo de los consejeros, que deja saber cuales son los temas que puedan tener mas beneficencia para los estudiantes. Este ciclo escolar debido a la pandemia tenemos la encuesta por linea. La encuesta es opcional y su voz sera muy agradecida. Gracias por su retroalimentación. Sra. Gunter y Dr. Lopez
Encuesta de Necesidades para los Padres
Update for Orchestra
ORCHESTRA -
All 4th, 5th and 6th-grade students who are continuing in orchestra this year should accept the invitation from Ms. Powers to join her Google Classroom for Orchestra. This will include all students who are currently in DSO Young Strings or played in Ms. Powers orchestra last year. Ms. Powers will be on a planned leave for a few weeks starting October 5 so students will receive information from the Google classroom but attend music with Ms. Vallejo. They will be co-teaching the students.
Students who played in orchestra last year but are not continuing will need to return the school-issued instrument to Mata the week of Sept. 28-Oct. 2. This will allow time to have the instrument repaired and made ready for a new student.
Students who are interested in joining orchestra for the first time (new beginner), classes will hopefully start in January when more guidance has been given regarding safe issuance of instruments and face to face start-up instruction.
For questions please contact Ms. Powers at JPowers@dallasisd.org
Books to Go!
Books-To-Go
We are happy to announce our new service to students: " Books-To-Go.". Books-To-Go is an opportunity for students and parents to request print books through the student's school library in an effort to support equitable access for all learner environments. Due to Covid-19, librarians want to be sure that students have access to print materials to enhance their academic learning, whether they are learning virtually or face-to-face. Dr. Douglas Fisher in his webinar stated that print is best for students who are focusing on dense or complex texts.
Students and parents of students may place requests or "holds" through the library online catalog, library.dallasisd.org
Steps include:
• Select the student's home campus in the online catalog on the sidebar. Place a "hold" on the item(s) needed.
• Use the tawk.to app on the school's library webpage or other library contact information on the school's library webpage to make arrangements with the librarian about pick-up date and time.
• Our book pick up time is Fridays from 1:30-3:30 PM. Please email Ms. Thompson at Shanthompson@dallasisd.org for questions.
School Safety and Contact Tracing Information
School safety is our number one priority in returning to campus and on-site instruction. We have worked diligently to ensure our campus has the appropriate safety materials on campus to include hand sanitizer, masks (reusable and disposable), graphics, Plexiglass, as well as individual classroom items such as disinfectant spray. As we return to campus, knowing the safety measures and practicing these measures is critical for our students, staff and community to remain safe.
Below are the steps to mitigate the spread of this virus below, with an emphasis on what to do if someone becomes ill on campus, as contact tracing will be a critical step. Please read and review these steps:
7 Steps Contact Tracing Protocol — Minimizing Spread
1.Each campus is required to have a COVID-19 Response Team. In addition, the following steps will be followed regarding contact tracing.
- 1 Screening & Prevention
- Faculty/Staff self-screen prior to reporting to campus
- Students answer screening questions daily + temperature check
- Social distancing practices implemented
- Consistent use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Cleaning and sanitizing practices conducted regularly
2. Assessment
- If symptoms develop, student or adult, reports to campus nurse for assessment and isolation
- Based on assessment findings, parent is contacted for pickup o Referral to healthcare provider, if indicated
- Nurse informs Principal
- Principal activates Campus COVID-19 Response Team
3. Sanitation
- Principal relocates the class to a temporary site
- Campus custodian disinfects impacted area(s)
4. Consultation
- Nurse documents in electronic health record for students and informs Health Services.
- Principals give seating chart copy to nurse for contact tracing, as appropriate and under advisement from the Health Services Department.
- Health Services Department evaluates and advises campus contact upon receipt of all information.
- Health Services consults Dallas County Health Department as needed.
5. Communication
- Once a positive case is confirmed, a notification letter/school messenger is sent to all those identified as close contact, protecting privacy.
- Close contact is being within 6 feet of an infected person for 15 minutes or more 2 days before symptoms develop or 2 days prior to positive test even with a mask.
- Brief interactions such as walking past someone in a hall or room is not considered close contact.
- If possible, notification letter/school messenger will be sent on the same day if all close contacts can easily be identified.
- Parents of the students who are seated within six feet will receive a notification letter and or phone call of possible exposure and advised to quarantine for 14 days from the time of their last contact with the infected individual.
6. Distance Learning
- Learning will not be interrupted as Distance or Remote Learning will initiate.
- Depending on exposure, closures may occur for a classroom, section, or building level, depending upon the extent of an outbreak and its associated contacts. In collaboration with the Dallas County Health and Human Services Department the District will; o Short-term closures of 24h or a few days may be necessary for a school to have the time to adequately identify contacts of an infected individual and exclude them from school for a 14-day quarantine period.
- A 14-day period of closure may be necessary when contacts cannot be identified and/or there is concern for widespread exposure of students and/or staff. In this case, the 14-day period allows for all students and staff to be out of the school for a full incubation period, thereby helping to stop the spread of infection throughout the school.
7. Clearance to Return
- Students and or Staff who tested positive for COVID-19 may return to school when the following 3 criteria have been met;
- 0 10 days have passed since onset of symptoms or positive test result; o No fever for 24 hours (without using fever reducing medications) and o Symptoms have improved (cough, shortness of breath, etc.)
- Students who want to return to school before 10 days must either; o Submit a medical professional's note clearing them to return to school based on an alternative diagnosis or; o Submit documentation of negative PCR test.
- Staff who want to return to school before 10 days must submit a medical professional's note clearing them to return to school based on an alternative diagnosis.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Now more than ever, it is important to learn from, celebrate, and teach our kids about the great contributions of each culture. Please think about what virtual activities will look like for Hispanic Heritage Month. In the link below are some virtual activities taking place in a virtual setting. Click Here
Welcome Back Meeting
You may find all video meetings at the link below: Click Here
Enjoy!
Q & A about Technology
- Call us at 972-749-7500 and let us know that a device has not been assigned.
What do I do if my password does not work?
- Call us request support with resetting your password
How do I make sure that my teacher counts me present for the day if I do not have a device?
- For attendance, the teacher will reach out and contact the student who has not been able to log in, via phone, numbers in the student information system, email, etc. If a student has not heard from their teacher by 2:00 p.m., we ask that the student/parent to call the school.
Where do I go when I log in to find my classes?
- Students will log into the Clever account from the district assigned device opening screen. From the Clever portal, you will go to their assigned online account(PK – 2 is Seesaw, 3 – 12 is Google or PowerSchool) and your schedule page is loaded or your can click on My Classes. Please visit the Dallas ISD Education Evolution website for assistance with step by step log on procedures.
https://sites.google.com/dallasisd.org/education-evolution/learning-management-systems
Join the Mata Remind for your child’s grade level!
PreK 3 & 4
https://www.remind.com/join/mataprek
Kinder
https://www.remind.com/join/matakinder
1st grade
https://www.remind.com/join/mata1stgr
2nd grade
https://www.remind.com/join/mata2ndgr
3rd grade
https://www.remind.com/join/mata3rdgr
4th grade
https://www.remind.com/join/mata4thgr
5th grade
https://www.remind.com/join/mata5thgr
6th grade
https://www.remind.com/join/mata6thgr
7th & 8th grade
Texas Compulsory Attendance Law
Please email it to Ms. Lorena Sosa our registrar, at Lososa@dallasisd.org
Construction Update
Construction for Mata is still underway!
Check out some of the latest updates to construction!
Display case and corridor
Elementary art room on 2nd floor
Landscaping ongoing on south side
Mata Montessori School's Vision and Mission
Vision Statement: To provide an academic foundation which allows our students to be successful life-long learners.
Mission Statement: To provide an authentic Montessori education by focusing on educating the whole child academically, socially, and emotionally for all children.
Mata Montessori School's Key Actions
- Maintain a climate and culture that fosters academic excellence.
- Improve quality of instruction and student achievement through an aligned Montessori curriculum.
- Actively engage parents in education in meaningful and relevant ways.
Eduardo Mata Montessori School
Email: matamontessori@dallasisd.org
Website: http://www.dallasisd.org/Page/2376
Location: 7420 La Vista Drive, Dallas, TX, United States
Phone: (972)749-7500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MataMontessori/?fref=ts
Twitter: @mata_school