Lindsey Weekly Update
Week of April 14th
Morning Announcements (Don't miss this it is done by our creative 5th graders!!)
Mrs. Bellan's Message
I hope everyone is hanging in there. This week I admit to feeling a bit antsy. I have spoken to a few parents who have articulated feelings of stress and being overwhelmed. Please know that we understand. Know that we can only be as responsive and accommodating if we know what you need. Teachers have been instructed to teach new content, as we can not simply review for the length of time this has lasted. Therefore, it is critical that students engage in the prioritized work. For families with unique and individualized circumstances, please contact your child's teacher directly so that we can help. We have made Specials extracurricular; however, our other disciplines (Reading/Math for K-3 and Reading/Math/Science for 4-5) is not.
Most educators would agree that remote learning for our youngest learners is not the most engaging or effective way to learn. Furthermore, our teachers are spending endless hours trying to prioritize, plan, and execute only to find themselves not pleased with the outcome. The art of teaching comes when the teacher is able to eloquently deliver a lesson and change course in the moment when he or she sees the needs of their students.
Therefore, we as both parents and educators are left in a no-win situation. I keep reminding staff, parents, (and myself!) that all we can do is our very best. If we expect perfection and predictability in times like this will never succeed.
We are spending time in meetings this week to discuss some organizational things that may help reduce frustration when you are navigating multiple children's Google Classroom pages. Please check on my quick video below that helps give parents a few quick tips!
Again, we remind ourselves often that this is temporary and soon we will be able to embrace the smiling faces of your sweet children who we so desperately miss in our absence.
Please let us know what we can do to be of support. Thanks for all you are doing to support the kids we miss so much! Stay well.
Meagan Bellan
Google Classroom Reminders for Students and Parents: Watch short video below!
One School One Book
We have selected a very powerful book called Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. We had plans to get this in the hands of every family in the month of May to celebrate this story in a variety of culminating activities that will help welcome the change we will see in the 2020-2021 school year. Given the dilemma of not knowing exactly how long this may last in conjunction with our inability to do a wide-spread book distribution, we still feel an urgency to proceed. We know that you will be understanding that it will not measure up to what we could have executed when we are all together.
Therefore, the week of May 4th, we will have district administrators reading the book aloud to our students. The videos and content will all be placed in your child's Google Classroom. Certainly, if families think it would be helpful to have the book in their child's hands to follow along, I wanted to share the title of the selection for you to procure prior to the kickoff. It can be available in a variety of online retailers.
Please know that our intention of this book is to engage in rich discussions with our kids--not make busy work for families. Know we will be doing everything we can to make it meaningful, authentic, and simple!
April is Autism Awareness Month!
Autism Speaks is a great organization if you want to learn more about ways to help support this cause. We celebrate and embrace our friends and family with this condition during the month of April and throughout the year!
Books with the Bellan's
Counselor's Corner
Dear Parents,
Hopefully this finds you and your families well. It has certainly been a challenging time, but together we will help each other through this!
Our April guidance lesson will focus on Responsibility, and how we are able to help others. We are reviewing our time spent on kindness, and helping the kids to make connections between being responsible and helpful. Please look for April's lesson on your child/children's Google Classroom.
I also wanted to share this article with you regarding Family Activity Ideas to help prevent cabin fever. Hopefully you will find this both helpful and fun!
Family Activity Ideas
https://parade.com/1009774/stephanieosmanski/things-to-do-with-kids-during-coronavirus-quarantine/
Hang in there, and take care of yourselves!
Kimberly Zannetti
School Counselor
Certified Family Trauma Professional
Lindsey Elementary School
Yearbook Cover Design Contest 2019-2020
Would you like your design on the front of the school yearbook this year? If you do, then take part in our yearbook cover design contest. If your design is chosen, it will be on the front or back cover.
Requirements:
-Must be done on 8" 1/2 x 11" piece of plain white paper (NO notebook paper) Printer paper will work best.
-Must be COMPLETELY colored (DO NOT leave any white background)
-Must have “R.C. Lindsey Elementary 2019-2020” somewhere in the design. The words should be easy to read and see.
-Drawing must be neatly colored and have correct spelling.
-Use BRIGHT colors. Marker works best, but crayon and colored pencils that are colored very hard and bright work well.
How to submit:
Have an adult take a CLEAR picture of the full design. Try to get as close as possible without it blurring or cutting anything out of the design (we can crop it if need be)
Send the photo to maryann.rodin@westg.org
PLEASE DO NOT SEND ENTRIES TO CLASSROOM TEACHERS
Must be emailed by Monday, April 27 at 5pm
to Mrs. Rodin.
Due to printer deadlines, late entries will NOT be accepted.Gotcha's
The Gotcha list got OUT OF CONTROL this week! There are so many staff and students to recognize! Keep up the great work everyone!
First Grade team for their collaboration and planning.
Mrs. Gorski would like to recognize the following Fourth Graders for their hard work: Quinn Johnson, Sophia Carcioppolo, Ailsa Mancino, Finn Neary, Brandon Zajec, Mia Formichelli, Skilyr Sullivan, Colton Milnar, Riley Otto, Tyler Amans, Greyson Oswick, and Landon Wulfert.
Mrs. Gorksi wants to recognize Lisa Waxman for her collaboration and hard work in connecting with kids.
Mrs. Lachman would like to recognize the following students: Wyatt Balas, Nate Brown, Grayson Chadwick, Maria Chase, Blaire Demetro, Quinn Dolecek, Josephina Giordano, Megan Hobson, Kaylin Marx, Jayden McNabb, Trinity Milite, Piper Mruk, Dominic Nerone, Marian Nicolosi, Logan Pall, Abigail Seibert, Ben Sutton, Tyler Wierzbicki, and Juliet Zajec. She would also like to thank both Mrs. Howell and Ms. Connor for being great collaborators and colleagues!
Mrs. Ehrbar would like to recognize the following 5th graders for their consistent participation during Zoom class discussions: Matthew Murton-Huges, James Nicolosi, Connor Northup, Natalie Pascoe, Audrey Wiemer, Brady Wierzbicki, Maddie Demaske, Olivia Geraci, Saylor, Pitcock, Vito Carcioppolo and Jasmine Hockman.
Mrs. Catanese would like to recognize Marlee Clark, John Amans, Zachary Gracon, and Knox Hammond.
Mrs. Wyatt wants to recognize Owen Radak, Zakary Reynoso, Julia Gierman, Tessa Leonard, Alen Kauzlaric, Jake Zebrowski, Gabby Ohlsen, Cole Hatfield, and Colton Milnar.
Mrs. Nicolosi would like to recognize Mrs. Trentanelli for supporting fellow staff members & thanks to Joelle Ehrbar for tech support skills! She would also like to award Mary Alice Stevenson, Lyndon Sweigert, Owen Radak, and Vera Caudill for great effort with the PE activity of the week!
Mrs. Mulica would like to recognize Cameron Kieber, TJ Wiece, Collette Johnson, Jadyn Morton, Theresa Gorris, Dominic Dinardo, Bill Kinney, Gianna Jones, Vienna Lauro, Will Spivey, Julianna Bautista, Hazel Rupp, Luca Iannetta, Peter Sevastos, Matthew Grabinski, Lila Johnson, and Lincoln Shirey for continued effort and reading during this time!
Mrs. Mulica would also like to recognize Anna Laubscher for showing me how to use screen castify and taking time for me on our day off!
Mr. Petronsky wants to recognize: Paul Barras, Olivia Osborne, Gabby Ohlsen , Phin Neary, Alen Kauzlaric and Quin Mancino for excelling in their IXL progress. Bianca Katusic and Gianna Lauro earned a perfect score on the unit 7 checkpoint. WOW!
Mrs. Berardinelli and Mrs. Zannetti are appreciated for all of their direct contact with families to know we care about them and are here to support them!
Mrs. Waxman would like to recognize: Neal Malloy for cooperation and hard work with online zoom classes. Anthony Rini and Isaac Tran for making sure they have their work done and for always being in class. Lucas Damukaitis, Maria Chase, Megan Hobson and Blair Demetro for always being on time and ready to work. Great job friends!
Mrs. Trentanelli would like to recognize the following students: Ella Soder, Sula Tran, Luke Dolecek, Katelyn Fleming and Acacia Deater. Great job!
Shout out to my team!! Mrs. Trentanelli for becoming a techy teacher and Mrs. Northup for producing amazing math video lessons with her family!
Shout out to Braxton Waters and Landon Wittensoldner for working incredibly hard and being rockstar readers! I am SO proud of you boys :-)
Mrs. Schultz would like to recognize: Anthony Marino, Victoria Minnillo, Dylann Pierce, and Micah Seibert.
Two outstanding second graders who need to be recognized are Vincent Nastasi and Isaac Diaz.
I would like to recognize the 5th graders who took the initiative to make the morning announcements! They were able to generate the idea, collaboration, learn the technology, and meet the deadlines. Great job! Also, a big thank you to the parents, Mrs. Ehrbar, and Mr. Kulp for their support behind the scenes. I can't wait to see what they have planned for next week!