Monday Memo
March 23rd - March 27th
Distance Learning Week 1
From the Principal's Desk
I hope that everyone enjoyed their Spring Break the best that they could and that you and your family are healthy and happy. This week, we embark on something that is new to all of us - Distance Learning. I am extremely confident in the work that you will all do for our students and families over the next few weeks while we experiement with new ways to continue educating our students.
As we begin this new venture, there are a number of organizational items that I want us to ensure we have in place and I some general information I am going to share. Please be sure to read all of the below sections and reach out to me directly with any questions or concerns that you might have.
Respectfully,
Jackson
Staff Check-in's
Staff Meetings: We will have two whole staff check-ins each week (staff meetings). They will be as follows:
Tuesday's at 10am via Zoom (link will be sent in the calendar invite)
Fridays at 1pm via Zoom (link will be sent in the calendar invite weekly)
If, for any reason, these are canceled, they will be deleted from your calendar AND and an email will be sent. Please be sure to connect on time, and using your name for attendance purposes. Unless you have taken leave for the day these are mandatory.
The staff meetings will be as short as possible and will be mainly for sharing information to the team. As always, I will be sure to be as concise as possible.
Additional Check In's
Each week, you will hear from Ms. Offor, AP Townsend, or I to check in on you and your family as well as your students and any instructional or operational challenges that you are experiencing. Please be sure to let us know what's gonig on so we can try to assist the best that we are able.
Team/Grade Level News/Updates:
Everyone should have gotten an invite to Micrsoft Teams. Please take time today to log in. All staff and partners are on the general page. This will be used for whole staff announcements. You are also invited to individual team channels. We will use this to have grade level team meetings (check your calendar. They will be scheduled during times the whole team is working remotley). These may be able to replace one of the whole staff check in's (I am awaiting guidance from the Central Office Level).
I beleive central office is offering two web-based trainings on Teams over the comnig week. I highly suggest that you attend the training. If you are unable to (and need the training) I will schedule to offer a few sessions as well. Teams will be something we will continue to use even when Distance Learning ends.
Leadership Team Office Hours:
Ms. Offor, AP Townsend, and I are also establishing our office hours, during which you will be able to reach one of us for any assistance we can provide. Please feel free to do so via email, text message, or phone call. Hours are:
Principal Jackson - 8am-2pm (202-286-5327)
AP Townsend - 9am - 3pm (202-997-9605)
Ms. Offor - 8:30am - 2:30pm (202-480-0880)
As always, if there is an emergency outside of these hours, please reach out to us so we can assit!
Instruction
- For week 1 of Distance Learning, please plan to support students the way that you indicated on your work plan you submitted last Monday. If you are going to make changes for week 1, please email AP Townsend AND myself.
- During planning time this week, please begin to think about other ways that you can provide instruction now that we know this will continue longer - at least unti April 24th. There are a number of ways to try online learning and I encourage everyone to find the way that works best for them and their students. We will provide more information during the individual team check in's.
- Both Instructional Coaches are available daily from 9am-3pm to assist you. Please reach out to them for help with planning and delivering lessons remotley. This is new for most of us and we will work to make it work as a team.
Social Emotional Learning
- Members of the Cliamte and Culture team will be calling to check on students in addition to the touch points that you have with your students and families. If you have a student who you haven't been able to reach or that you think would benefit from a check in, please email AP Townsend and I with the details and we will pass it to the appropriate team member.
- If, through your interactions with students and families, you feel their is a social-emotional concern, please remember to reach out to Ms. Woodard and Ms. Kraemer for support.
Family Engagement
- Never has family engagement been more critical and also more difficult at the same time. If you are not having families reach out to you, please take the time to reach out to them and find out ways that we can help. As we hav been distributing packets we have heard two things from families loud and clear: 1) their students miss school a lot! 2) they are all concerned about how instruction will look and feel for their children.
- I think it goes without saying, but any and all home visits should stop at this juncture for your safety and the safety of our students.
Operations
- LEAVE REQUESTS - hello team. If you are not going to be able to work the days/times you indicated on your plan any of the days of distance learning you can still request leave. Because you will not be in the building, leave requests can be sent via email. Please send it under the email title of "Leave Request - Last Name" to Principal Jackson AND AP Townsend. Be sure to include the dates/times you will be needing leave.
Microsoft Teams Trainings
Upcoming Teacher Focused Microsoft Teams Training:
*Please share this link to your staff or forward the Calendar Invite*
Dates and TimesMon (3/23), Wed (3/25),Thurs (3/26)
@ 3PM
Click this link to join the live meeting
__________>>>>>>
+1 202-539-1291 United States, Washington DC (Toll)
Conference ID: 168 707 626#
The Week Ahead
The Week Ahead
Monday - March 23rd
Last Day of Spring Break
Tuesday -March 24th
Staff Meeting @ 10am - Via Zoom
Wednesday - March 25th
Special Team Meeting @ 10am via TEAMS
Kindergarten Team Meeting at 11am via TEAMS
First Grade Team Meeting at 1pm via TEAMS
Thursday - March 26th
2nd Grade Team Meeting @9am via TEAMS
3rd-5th GRade Team Meeting @10am via TEAMS
ECE Team Meeting @11am via TEAMS
Friday - March 27th
SPED Team Meeting at 11am via TEAMS
Resources
Miner Elementary School
Email: bruce.jackson@k12.dc.gov
Website: minerelementary.org
Location: 601 15th St NE, Washington, DC, USA
Phone: (202)-397-3960
Facebook: facebook.com/Minerdcps
Twitter: @minerelementary