Chalmers Chronicle
News From Radio Hill - August 4, 2020
New Start Times for Chalmers
New Start Times as we Return To Learn
Chalmers Elementary has new start and end times and these times apply to both Virtual Learners and At-School Learners.
School will start promptly at 7:30 a.m. This is 15 minutes earlier than last year. Tardy slips apply to any student not in class at 7:35. Please plan accordingly. Virtual Learners must be logged in and ready to start class at 7:30 as well. Virtual learning will take place with face-to-face, online interaction with the teacher. This means that the teacher will be visible to his or her class of virtual/online learners and that the students will be visible to the teacher via Google Classroom or Google Meet site. They will interact via the device camera and microphone similar to the way at school learners interact, it will just be virtual/online. There will be opportunities for students to ask questions, receive new instruction, and work with the teacher online for 45 minutes per core content area. Electives/specials will be taught online as well for virtual learners, but only require 30 minutes of online, face-to face instruction. Textbooks will be accessed online for virtual learners. Students must be appropriately dressed, awake, and ready to learn at 7:30 in either format.
The virtual student will have a schedule to which he or she must adhere. This is completely different from the way instruction was given in the spring when students were learning from home. Students at home must be available for instruction at 7:30 a.m. Virtual students will not be able just to work after school once parents come home. They must have internet access during the school day to be able to complete the virtual/online learning and will remain on their individual schedules for the rest of the day . Attendance will be taken each period, and attendance requirements will apply to both types of learning daily. Breakfast will be adjusted to be served earlier as well, and will be available to all students.
Students who chose At-School Learning will attend in person at Chalmers. They will follow a normal bell schedule like they did last year. They are expected to follow all new safety protocols (more details can be found at: Return To Learn). School will end at 3:25 p.m.
In both formats of learning (Virtual or At-School), attendance matters. A student must be present for 90% of the time or they risk losing credit, truancy, or being retained. (Education Code 25.093/25.0851). It is the parents responsibility to monitor and ensure that the student is attending their chosen format every day.
NOTICE: The conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic are continually evolving, and Gainesville ISD’s Return to Learn plans will be constantly evaluated to adapt to the continuing trends of the COVID-19 virus in Texas and specifically in Cooke County.
School will end for Virtual and at school learners at 3:25 p.m. This is 10 minutes later than last year. Buses will run at that time, and car riders will be released at that time as well.
I know these are significant changes, but we are required to comply based on District and State requirements. Given these requirements, please consider seriously the choice of learning you prefer for your student. See further information on the Return to Learn section below, or on the GISD website (https://www.gainesvilleisd.org ).
Parent Portal
Please make sure you update your information and register your student for the upcoming school year in parent portal.
Parent Portal is also where you will monitor your student's progress and view their report cards, so please make sure your email addresses are accurate. Accurate phone numbers are critical as well in case we need to reach you concerning your child. Thank you all so much for your support, involvement, and flexibility as we return to learning. We are extremely concerned about every aspect of your child's safety and educational experience, and welcome your input in these unprecedented times. Please call the office between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily with any questions or concerns at 940-665-4147.
Mobile APP - Easy Access From Your Phone
Do you have the Gainesville ISD mobile app? Did you know you can easily access parent portal, breakfast and lunch menus, the district website, calendar of events, athletics schedules, and more....all from one place! You can also add parent portal to your home screen. Or you can do both!
Parent portal is where you completed the online registration, but also is where you can access all of your child's grades, absences, attendance, discipline referrals, and more. You can also subscribe to alerts by email and/or text message for things such as a grade below 90, and average below 80, missing assignments, etc. This helps prevent surprises at progress report and report card time!
Gainesville ISD app on itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gainesville-isd/id557969838…
Gainesville ISD app on google play: http://play.google.com/store/apps/details…
Link to mobile site for parent portal (to save to your home screen): https://txcnt03.esc11.net/gvillemobile/Login.aspx
Safety First!
In order to keep everyone safe. All staff, and visitors (which will be very limited to the office) are required to wear a mask and have their temperature taken when entering the building. You can find more information about the other steps we are taking as district on the Return to Learn page on the GISD website (https://www.gainesvilleisd.org/).
Meet The Teacher
Meet the Teacher will be a drive through meet & greet, and supply drop off.
Teachers will call their homeroom list of students introducing themselves so parents and students will know which teacher to drive up to the day of the drive through.
Teachers will have trash bags with printed labels for their homeroom class. As students drop off supplies, teachers will place students’ supplies in the bag, label the bag w/ that student’s name/grade level and take it to their classrooms where they will sit until the first day of school.
2nd grade - Tuesday, August 11th from 6:30 -7:30pm
3rd Grade - Wednesday, Auguyst 12th from 6:30 -7:30pm
4th grade - Thursday, August 13th from 6:30-7:30pm
Note From The Principal
Wow! So many changes in the world and our district since the last time we talked. It is a very interesting time we are living in, but I can promise you that the Chalmers family is ready and willing to provide top quality instruction this school year. We are excited to see the kids and find out what has been going on with them these past 5 months. We are offering online instruction for those that desire. You can learn more about that in the article located above in this newsletter. I am very happy to see the staff back and laughing and enjoying one another. This virus has certainly done terrible things to many people. On the bright side, it has made us appreciate each other more. I sure hope that feeling lasts. School will be here in a few weeks. We are counting the days and I am sure you are too!
Chalmers Elementary
Email: bwhiten@gainesvilleisd.org
Website: https://www.gainesvilleisd.org/Domain/139
Phone: (940)665-4147
Facebook: facebook.com/WEChalmersElementary