DUNNING NOTES FROM the OFFICE
Sunday, February 7th, 2021
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All previous Notes From the Office are available by using this LINK.
Dear Dunning Community,
This week we welcomed back students in Phases I and II across the district. It was so nice to have all staff and some students back in the building. We are looking forward to welcoming more students back.
FPS is asking all families to follow the daily wellness checks outlined here.
What's New This Week:
- Return to School Update from Dr. Tremblay - 2/5
- Navigating the Cyber World
- Travel Advisory
- And the State Dinosaur Is...
- Vacation STEAM Activities
- Suketu Kamdar - Audio Engineering Project Manager - Apple
Please let us know if you have any question or concerns! We are ALWAYS available! Please call us or email us.
Sincerely,
Michele & Kathie
mschecter@framingham.k12.ma.us
Navigating the Cyber World
When: Wednesday, Feb. 10th, 7:00 - 8:30pm
Workshop Description
This workshop reviews the challenges and dangerous situations that may arise through use of the internet, social media, and smart phones. It is important for school staff and parents to be aware of the popular apps, social media sites, and programs used by youth online. This workshop explains the issues and possible consequences of cyber bullying, sexting, and revealing identifying information to strangers.
Presenter
Cory Mashburn from MPY (Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth).
Portuguese and Spanish Interpretation provided.
Please email Kathie Lasky (klasky@framingham.k12.ma.us) if you require interpretation by Tuesday, February 9th.
You can join the workshop by using the following meeting link:
https://fpsed-org.zoom.us/j/82015327274?pwd=VmliL0tDYmU4T2U3aU9hTWtQekJ6UT09
This workshop will NOT be recorded.
Travel Advisory
This is a reminder that, in most instances, travel outside of Massachusetts will require COVID PCR testing and quarantine until a negative PCR test is received. Read the communication from today (Friday, February 5th) for answers to some common questions on this topic: Travel Advisory Reminder and Questions.
And the State Dinosaur Is...
Podokesaurus holyokensis
Thanks to everyone who voted! The first dinosaur described by a female geoscientist, Mignon Talbot, has been proposed as our official state dinosaur. Now we need to ask our representatives to co sponsor bill numbers HD1392 & SD698 to make our dream come true. This is a great way to teach our kids about the legislative process and how laws get made!
Click here to find your representative and sample letters you can send!Vacation STEAM Activities
Keep your eyes open this week for the FPS STEAM Vacation Opportunities Newsletter from our K-12 STEAM Coach, PJ Feynman. One highlight? The Backyard Birdcount Feb 12-15. Scientists from Cornell University call citizen scientists to help them collect data on birds every winter. You can do it in as little as 15 minutes! Watch this video to learn more. You can participate on your own, or join PJ and King Elementary School Vice Principal Jennifer Herring for a guided bird counting Zoom call.
What? Guided Bird Count Zoom Call
When? Monday, Feb 15 at 10:00 AM
How? Fill out this registration form
Family Childcare Needs - Spring 2021
Suketu Kamdar - Audio Engineering Project Manager - Apple
Dates to Remember
FEBRUARY
Wednesday, 10th
- Navigating the Cyber World, 7:00 - 8:30pm
Friday, 12th
- Community Meeting, 2:30 – 3:30pm
Monday, 15th
- No School - President's Day
- No School - February Recess
- School Council Meeting, 4:00 – 5:00pm
- Virtual Pasta Dinner
Reminder for Families with Incoming Kindergarteners
If you have or know a child that will be five years old by August 31, 2021, online pre-registration for incoming Kindergarteners for the 2021-2022 school year is open at https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/kindergarten2021.
All new incoming Kindergarteners must be registered.
Please see below for video presentation playlists in English, Spanish, and Portuguese containing helpful information from the Parent Information Center and several of our departments including: Community Resource Development (CRD), Health and Wellness, the Office of Multilingual Education (OME), and Special Education.
Virtual Pasta Dinner
Hey there, Dunning Pandas! Save the Date of 2/27/21 for a family- friendly virtual Pasta Dinner! Although this year the 5th graders are not able to be your in person wait staff, we can still gather together virtually as a school community. Similar to the in person event, there will be different time slots available for families to sign up and share a meal. Sign up links will be coming soon.
If any families need food assistance please contact Ms. Schecter.
Thank you to Andrea, Ted, and Hannah Geller for organizing this.
Bon Appetit!
Coping groups bring together people who are going or who have gone through similar life experiences. In MassSupport's new free and confidential COVID-19 coping groups, we'll be talking about how to handle feelings of isolation and stress in a supportive space to enhance coping skills and foster a sense of connection.
Groups will last about 90 minutes and participants do the vast majority of the talking. A brief educational component is included. While our trained, caring counselors and clinicians facilitate, these groups are not therapy.
Our coping groups are completely free, and you can sign up for multiple groups. Register below:
Coping group for COVID-19 survivors
Coping group for healthcare and mental health providers
Key Terms
Phase I: Students and staff who attended school, in-person, starting in October.
Phase II: Students and staff who attended school, in-person, starting in November.
Phase III: Students and staff who were scheduled to return to school in December, but who did not return due to the shift to remote in consideration of the community public health conditions.
Phase IV: All remaining FPS students and staff not included in Phases I, II, and III.
In Person (Schedule): A schedule where students are receiving instruction in person in a classroom setting from the school.
Remote (Schedule): A schedule where students are receiving instruction from a location outside the school setting via the computer (virtually).
Hybrid (Schedule): A schedule where students are receiving instruction on a rotating schedule that includes both in person and remote experiences.
Concurrent Classroom Model: A model in which students attend class in person and others attend virtually. The teacher in a concurrent classroom attempts to meet the needs of the students in class and online simultaneously.
Synchronous Instruction (live):
Synchronous Instruction
Occurs in real-time, with participants doing something together or “in sync” with others;
May include Zoom/Google Meets meetings or be streamed; live video is not required for synchronous learning;
May include scheduled learning experiences, assessments, or collaboration to be completed at the same time as others; and/or
May provide additional structure, accountability, and opportunities to engage with others in the learning community.
Asynchronous Instruction (not live):
Asynchronous Instruction
Occurs on one’s own time or pace, with no requirements to be in lock-step with others;
Allows students to work independently, or potentially with others, at a flexible pace that meets their individual needs;
May include experiences, assessments, or collaboration to be completed within a window of time, but not necessarily in real-time with others; and/or
Allows teachers to work synchronously with one or more students while others are engaged in asynchronous learning tasks.
Asynchronous instruction does NOT mean that a student is “offline”, as in not engaging virtually with content.
Food Services Information
District Calendars
Dunning Directory
Click on the link below to input information and sign up for the Dunning Directory,
School Hours
Early Release Days
- 12:00pm dismissal for remote students
- 1:05pm dismissal in person students,
- Lunch IS served for in person students
- Early Release Thursdays: 9/18/20, 12/3/20, 12/10/20, 12/17/20, 1/7/21, 1/14/21, 3/11/21, 4/29/21, 5/6/21, 5/13/21, 5/20/21, 5/27/21
Half Days
- Students are dismissed at 12:00pm.
- Lunch IS NOT served.
- Half Days: 11/25 and the last day of school.
Rental Assistance Program
Here is an updated application link to apply for the rental assistance program
https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/FRAMINGHAMMA/Participant. Please note that due to the influx of applications, applying through this site would be the quickest way.
If you are submitting a paper application, use the same link to email it.
It’s Just Not the Same: Managing Logistics and Behaviors During Remote Learning
ESL Writing Assessment Information
ESL Teachers will be administering the biannual ESL Writing Assessment to students (remote and in-person) to students identified as English Learners in grades 3-12, during the following testing windows:
Final Interim Assessment Testing Window:
March 29-April 30
Housing Help
The state Department of Housing and Community Development has centralized information about resources for families struggling to make rent or mortgage payments due to COVID-19. For information, go this this WEBSITE.
Resources if You Are Struggling to Make Rent or Mortgage Payments
Community Resources
Visit the Dunning Website
Join the Dunning PTO FB Page
If you are not already a member, please join the PTO FB page. It is a great way to stay connected with the Dunning Community! www.facebook.com/groups/228212977304928/?ref=bookmarks