The Burchett Banner
Be In the Know!
Parent Newsletter- Week of September 14th
Please read through to the bottom of the newsletter. Many important pieces of information are presented throughout!
Thanks!
Spring ISD and Burchett Prepare to Welcome our Bobcats for In-Person Instruction
On Monday, Sept. 14th the district will welcome back CASE and Early Childhood Special Education students, as well as any students in prekindergarten through grade 2 whose families chose the Safety-First In-Person option.
The next group of students to return to Burchett, on Monday, Sept. 21st, will be scholars in grades 3-5.
All Burchett scholars who are returning to campus will follow a Monday-Friday daily schedule.
The district will continue to provide remote instruction through Empowered Learning At-Home to all families who prefer to continue learning remotely. The district projects that about 50 percent of its 35,000 students will opt for a return to in-person school, with the rest choosing to continue learning from home.
However, if families change their minds, the district is offering more flexibility to move from remote to in-person instruction. Rather than having to wait until the end of a grading period, parents will be able to make the switch at any time, keeping in mind that campuses may need up to two weeks to adjust staffing and arrange bus transportation. Students always have the option to move from in-person to remote learning.
Spring ISD has also unveiled a new website that will give families information about COVID-19 cases in the district at www.springisd.org/covidtracker. This dashboard, which includes data starting Aug. 17th, will be updated nightly so that staff and families have real-time data.
Please ensure that you complete the Parent Attestation Form located at the bottom of this newsletter prior to your scholar coming to campus on Monday.
Doors Open at 8:05 AM Monday- No Early Arrivals Permitted
We understand the later time may conflict with work schedules. We are pleased to announce we will have Koala Kare Services for Before and After School. If you would like more information, you can email the Koala Kare representative at koala.kare@yahoo.com.
Also in order to minimize contact, we will not be opening car doors. We will however escort scholars to their classrooms.
Car Rider Dismissal - Please Read
If your scholar is a new car rider this year, please stop by Burchett on Monday between 9 am and 11 am to pick up your car rider tags. Also, parents are not able to park in the parking lot and walk into the school to pick up their child. We ask that you please remain in your car in the car rider line.
We are going digital this year as it relates to the way we call numbers so your patience during this transition is greatly appreciated.
1st Day of In-Person Learning Checklist-
Before Departing your Home
1. Pre-Screen your child for common symptoms of Covid-19.
2. If your students will bring lunch from home, be sure to pack that prior to leaving as lunch deliveries won't be permitted.
3. Pack all distributed supplies- Chromebooks, Workbooks and general supplies. Label all items with your child's name and teacher. You may also pack extra masks and personal hand sanitizer.
4. Pack your child a pre-filled water bottle for personal use throughout the day as water fountains are closed. Be sure to label this with your scholar's name as well.
Once on Campus
1. Scholars may enter the building at 8:05 am.
2. Scholars will be screened and administered hand sanitizer prior to entering.
3. Scholars will report directly to their classrooms for breakfast.
4. Scholars are expected to wear their masks throughout the day.
Please read the attachments below for more information on returning to campus.
Updated Schedules for All Scholars
PACE Schedule
With the phase in for in-person students beginning this week, we are also preparing for our PACE classes as well. Beginning this week- PACE classes for PK - 2nd grade virtual scholars will be asynchronous. Teachers are preparing lessons. Scholars should access their PACE course in Schoology during their PACE time each day.
Scholars in grades 3-5 will continue Synchronous sessions for this week.
Save the Date(s) Virtual Open House Information Coming Soon
Our Virtual Open House will take place the week of September 28th.
Resources for Parents
How to Create a Learning Space at Home
Spring ISD has kicked off the 2020-21 academic year virtually as we work to keep our students and staff safe from COVID-19.
Learning from home can pose challenges for the entire family, especially as parents juggle work responsibilities and class schedules for multiple children who all need to be online. There’s no magic solution but there are some tips and strategies to help create a calm and positive environment for everyone:
1. Have a dedicated learning space for each student. This space can be the kitchen table, the corner of a room or a desk area, if available. The key is designating a quiet area.
2.Have your student personalize the space with their school supplies or a special name,
such as “Watson Learning Academy” or “Smith School Space."
3.Make certain that the learning space includes a flat surface for writing, and a power
outlet nearby in order to charge your student’s device.
4. Stay flexible. Find ways to make your space mobile if needed, such as using a folding dinner tray, ironing board, or a lap tray.
5. If limited on space, keep a basket with learning materials. This way, the kitchen table or some other area in your home can be converted into a learning space.
Cups can be used to sort out items such as pencils, crayons and markers.
Use bins or containers to store art supplies.
6.Get rid of distractions. This includes television, cell phones and video games. Use a
prop up tri-fold board, DIY out of a cardboard box, or tabletop screens to eliminate
interruptions.
7. Does your child get restless easily? You can fill a bowl with fidget toys your child can
grab when they feel restless. Add things like a smooth stone, gummy erasers, a stress
ball, spinner or a few LEGO pieces.
8.Make sure your child is supported in their seat. Use a pillow to give back support and/or
place a box on the floor to support your child’s feet.
9. If possible, invest in a pair of headphones for your student so they can have better
audio over the computer and minimize the distraction of background noises.
No one solution will work best for every student, so figure out the strategies that work for your child and family. The key is creating some calm and consistency so your student can stay focused on learning!
How to Access Schoology
The only way for students and parents to access Schoology is to log into the mySringISD portal from the district’s website using their district-issued username and password and then clicking on the Schoology icon.
Families who have been trying to log in through the Schoology mobile app or through the Schoology website will be unable to do so because the district is using single sign on, which makes it easier to access all instructional resources.
We know some parents and students downloaded the Schoology mobile app in the spring but we would urge everyone to delete that from your phone and log into the portal directly from the district website.
Stay Updated on District COVID Plans
District News
Attendance Matters So Make Sure Your Student is Marked Present
With online learning, we know there are some questions on attendance and how to ensure students are marked present for the day. Here’s what families need to know:
Log in and attend class in real-time with your teacher during the morning and the afternoon.
If you were unable to attend a session because of a technology issue, don’t panic. Students attending either the morning or afternoon session will be counted present for the day.
If your scholar for some reason misses both the morning and afternoon live instruction with their teachers, they can still make up the work by logging into Schoology and completing the day's assignment. For that effort to count; however, scholars must do this before 11:59 pm each day to be counted present.
Even with all the challenges of online learning, attendance is still being tracked and still counts. Attendance matters, and we want our students in class and learning every day, 100 percent of the time. At a minimum, state standards require students to attend school at least 90 percent of the time the class is in session to receive credit.
If your family is struggling with attendance, let us know now so we can help!
Please read the attachment below for more information on returning to campus
If you have chosen the Safety-First In-Person learning option, please click the button below.
If your scholar is in grades PK - 2, then please complete the form before Monday, September 14th.