Many Hands, One Mason!!
April 19, 2020
Mason Elementary School
If not us, who? If not now, when? -John F. Kennedy
Email: bishopr@gpschools.org
Website: https://mi01000971.schoolwires.net/Domain/1501
Location: 1640 Vernier Road, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, USA
Phone: 313-432-4400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/masonparents/
Twitter: @MasonelemGP
Dear Mason Families,
Happy Sunday! I am very excited for everyone to see our new learning plans for our students. The Mason Staff has worked extremely hard and I can't wait for you to see the finished products. Teachers will be sending out their weekly plans this afternoon to all their families. Grade level plans will include information from Specials Teachers and Student Support Services (Reading Club, Title I, ELL and Social Work). Our goal was to have one central location for everything related to that grade level. Before you receive the grade level plans, I would like to ask you to consider a couple of items...
1. Our staff is doing their absolute best to support your child at home. Some families will want more and some will want less. The district has given our staff time allocations (see below) for student learning based on grade level and our staff is following them. Your social and emotional health comes first so please do whatever you need to as it relates to making the plans work for your household.
Pre-K- 20-60 minutes a day
K- 30-90 minutes a day
1st and 2nd- 45-90 minutes a day
3rd-5th - 60-120 minutes a day
2. We would love to see all the wonderful things you are learning at home. Feel free to document your learning on our Mason social media sites with the hashtag #MasonLearners. We would love to use some of the pictures in our future videos and publications!
3. During this time, we are committed to leading from a place of empathy, flexibility and grace. Although the format of our grade level lessons are very similar in structure some of the details will vary across grade levels. Please know, our staff has been very intentional about taking into consideration the needs of your child while balancing their own personal needs. With that being said, please respect the differences and similarities. Mason is full of professionals who are doing their very best.
We have a saying at Mason that I think applies very well to our current situation; Do your best and forget the rest! Let's continue to strive to do our best everyday and have empathy for ourselves and others! Together, we get through this.
Thanks for your support,
Roy Bishop, Jr.
Principal
P.S. Here is a cute reminder from Sesame Street! Don't forget to take some time for yourself! Click Here
Support for the Gambrell/McCray/Hartman/Fowler Family:
Dear Mason Families,
I am sure some of you have heard by now that the Gambrell/McCray/Hartman/Fowler Family have been greatly impacted by Covid-19. I spoke with Mr. Gambrell and Ms. McCray this morning and they were thankful that we were including their family in our thoughts. We will continue to be in contact with the family in the near future to see how we can best support them during their time of need. If any requests are made, I will surely pass them onto the Mason Family so we can offer assistance. Thanks for being an awesome community and for always rallying around our families in need.
Thanks for your thoughts for the Gambrell/McCray/Hartman/Fowler Family,
GPPSS Spirit Week April 20-24
We'd love for you to pick a day or an activity a day and play along!
Monday: Health Care Worker Appreciation
- Head outside to clap for essential workers at change of shift (6:50 p.m.)
- Consider donating to a cause
- Write a letter to essential workers and place in the dropbox behind the Administration Building 389 St. Clair
Tuesday: Class of 2020
- Decorate your front door with activities your student loves (a concert outfit, a jersey, a piece of artwork - bonus points for reusing materials at no cost as it is Earth Week)
- Wear your school spirit
- Post a picture with the hashtag #OneGP @GPPSS @GPSchools
Wednesday: Earth Day
- Review your city's recycling guidelines as a family
- Photo Scavenger Hunt (unique rock, flower, 5 leaves, something you love to play, an essential worker you want to thank, something that starts with the letter G or P or H or W, something you will recycle, an animal)
- Post a picture of your family re-using something creatively
- What can you turn off or unplug safely to save energy?
Thursday: Neighbor Kindness
- Send a card to a friend, family member, senior or veteran (addresses on web www.gpschools.org or deliver to dropbox behind 389 St. Clair and GPPSS will distribute to The Helm, hospitals and veteran centers)
- Set up lawn chairs on your driveway or front yard and socialize maintaining 6 feet distance (6 p.m.)
- Facetime, Zoom, Google Meet with a family member or friend
Friday: Self Care
- Think about what you do to practice mental health - coloring, music, exercise, quiet time - and do it!