The Wolves Den
April 2020 Digital Learning Edition
Some fun up and coming days to celebrate at home...
April 4 National Love your Children Day
April 5 National Deep Dish Pizza Day- Enjoy a Deep Dish
April 9 National Unicorn Day- Find your sparkle today
April 10 No School
April 10 National Siblings Day- Celebrate your siblings
April 11 National Pet Day- Hug your pet today
April 12 National Grilled Cheese Day- Enjoy your favorite grilled cheese
April 13 No School
April 14 National Gardening Day- Plant your favorite veggies or flowers
April 16 National Pajamas to Work Day- Stay in your PJs all day
April 19 National Bicycle Day- Get out and ride your bike around the block
April 22 Earth Day
April 23 National Picnic Day- if the weather is great eat lunch outside today
April 26 National Pretzel Day- enjoy some pretzels today
April 28 National Superhero Day- Dress up as your favorite superhero
Please follow/ like Washington Middle School Facebook Page. We are sharing lots of information, challenges, fun ideas, and pictures with you all.
We want your feedback!
The Principal Pack
Hello Fellow Wolves Families,
Distance Learning?! I Might Be Losing My Mind
Change is difficult even on a normal day, however, ever since COVID-19 hit our lives, nothing seems normal for us. This is definitely a first for all of us. We are navigating through a pandemic, held up in our houses, and helping our children through a new model of schooling- distance learning. If your households are anything like mine, you may feel as though you are riding an emotional roller coaster. This is perfectly normal. It is important to acknowledge this is totally new, you and your children have a right to how you're feeling, and our lives will look different for awhile. Take some time to set some new expectations for you and your loved ones. Above all give everyone a little extra grace. We will get through this together. Reach out to your child's teachers, counselors, specialists, and administrators. We are all in this together and we are all here for you and your children.
Here is a link of online resources we put together for you. If you need more or have questions, again please just contact us.
Lance Masters mastersl@mpsd.k12.wi.us
Vicki Ritchie ritchiev@mpsd.k12.wi.us
Lisa Delsman delsmanl@mpsd.k12.wi.us
Distance Learning: What we need to know!
What in the World is Distance Learning?
Prior to spring break we moved to the Google Classroom platform to help us continue to teach your children from home. Check in with your child to make sure they have accepted all of their Google Classrooms.New classrooms may have been added over spring break (Warhawk News is a new one). To get started check out this resource, Distance Learning: How To Get Started.
All resources and assignments will come through their Google Classrooms. Each morning, they should take a look at each classroom to find out what they will be working on and to see if they have any Google Meet sessions with teachers that day. Google Meet is used to have discussions virtually while being able to see one another. It is amazing and the kids (and adults) love seeing each other!
Once kids check out what they have in store for their day, they can create a plan for their day. What are they going to work on first, and so on. It is important for your children to take breaks.
Remember this is a totally new way of doing things. Our children are use to having their teachers in front of them live for a full 45-60 + minutes. They could ask questions at any moment during class and get an instant answer. Now they can ask questions, but may have to wait for an email response. They also are use to having teachers give directions, explain examples, etc. all in front of them and if students didn't understand something, teachers could re-explain on the spot and maybe even draw a visual to help. We will need to be patient as we work through the changes of being in the classroom to being online. Students will have more written directions rather than oral directions. We will need to encourage our children to read the directions carefully and ask questions if they don't understand something. Online learning is definitely different from what they are use to. Be patient and know that there will be set backs, but you can always reach out to our staff for help and advice.
Are There Going to Be Grades 4th Quarter?
Just like our distance learning model is different, the methods of feedback will be different as well. We will not be giving out report cards for fourth quarter, instead your children and you will be getting frequent, ongoing feedback from all of their teachers. This feedback will come in a variety of forms. Some possibilities may include videos, Google Meet sessions, individual written feedback, and personal phone calls. Feedback should be seen as a way to communicate how our children are doing, what's going well and what they can do to make their work even better, rather than simply an act of compliance.
We encourage you to check out your child's classrooms often to see the work they are completing and the feedback they are getting from their teachers. If you have questions or concerns about your child's work, please reach out to the teacher. '
Connecting to others, our learning, and our future--- Virtually
Working from home
The "NEW" spring break
Coronavirus Model
I feel very inspired right now because I know there are a lot of people out there who are really scared but I feel this great sense of togetherness and people coming together and saying, "I got your back." --Jessica Chastain
Tips For Distance Learning
- Create a schedule for your children. Keeping a routine and schedule can help to bring some normalcy in an ever changing world around us. It brings comfort to know there is something that is consistent and something we can control in our lives. Maybe even have your children help create the daily schedule. A sample can be found in the "Getting Started" document from earlier in this newsletter.
- Turn off the News and Talk. The news can be upsetting, especially to our children. Continue to let your children know it is okay to feel however they are feeling. Empathize with them, listen to them and just be there for them. Many of them are frustrated because they can't be with their friends and to be honest- their friends/peers are highly valued for this age group. Be vulnerable with them as well, share how you are feeling too. What are you struggling with? What helps you?
- Stay Connected. It is important to continue to talk with teachers, counselors, administrators, and other parents. Join our Facebook page if you haven't already. We are trying to post daily videos. Join in the conversations. Post comments and send in photos of your kids working from home. Together we are stronger. Together we will get through this.
- Enjoy the family time. Take time to just enjoy the downtime. Embrace not having to run around to a million extracurriculars, appointments, etc. Play a game, talk, go for walks, cook together, play cards, look at old photos, tell stories about favorite memories, get crazy and have a dance off. The possibilities are endless.
- Be patient & give each other grace. There are going to be bumps in the road. We are all going to have bad days. Talk to each other about how you are doing daily. Check in and if it's a bad day, take more breaks. Ask for help. Rely on others.
Counseling Center
Hello Washington Family-
It’s hard to believe that it is already spring! The counseling department at Washington is still hard at work, even though that work looks a little different now from before.
Mrs. Johannes and Ms Gleason are still available to each and every student via email, phone, and at times, video chat. The small groups that were taking place are now re-formatted for online with Google Classroom pages.
The counselors have been doing their best to ensure all students can access their e-learning materials for all content areas.
In the midst of some uncertainty, we hope you can find your “rainbow,” your source of joy. Though some feelings of nervousness is normal, we encourage you all to demonstrate care in new ways: Building a blanket fort together, making Lego cities, going on an outdoor scavenger hunt, connecting with distant friends or relatives, etc.
When you need a little extra support, the counselors are still around to help (most typically between the hours of 9am and 6pm).
Take care!
We are excited to be connecting with students, learning goals, and future plans. Please feel free to reach out to our counselors if you have any questions.
Mrs. Johannes johannesc@mpsd.k12.wi.us
Ms. Gleason gleasonm@mpsd.k12.wi.us
Washington Middle School
Email: delsmanl@mpsd.k12.wi.us
Website: washington.manitowocpublicschools.org
Location: 2101 Division Street, Manitowoc, WI, USA
Phone: 920.663.9570
Facebook: facebook.com/WashingtonMiddleSchool