wildCAT Communicator
July 30, 2020
"The best view comes after the hardest climb."
Summer Update #2
Due to the timing of our Board's decision, master schedules are just now being finalized. In most cases, staff are already aware of grade level assignments, and more detailed schedules and instructional expectations will be forthcoming in the next two weeks. Our SIP Leadership team will be meeting on Tuesday, August 4th. We will spend the morning together to establish our team structures and protocols, discuss leadership values, finalize the master schedule, review the fall distance learning plans, and discuss how we might best serve our intervention and special education students. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. Please see the letter I've sent to our school community below. You're an important part of our Wolfsville Elementary community. We are excited for our start to the 2020-21 school year!
We got this!
Principal's Message
Dear Wolfsville Families,
First and foremost, I want to share how excited I am to be starting my first year as principal of Wolfsville Elementary School. Our school community has been more than welcoming during my transition that commenced on July 1. We have an amazing staff, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you and your children. I hope you are all healthy and enjoying the summer months. These past several months have been challenging and stressful for many of us. Please be sure to attend to your emotional needs and those of your children. Let us know if you are in need of any resources.
Yesterday, the FCPS Board of Education made the decision to reopen schools with a virtual learning model to preserve the safety and well-being of our students and staff. During this spring’s school building closure, Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) staff gathered student, parent and educator feedback and reflected on learned experiences. As a result, FCPS has adopted enhancements that will improve the virtual learning experience for students, parents and educators. These enhancements include:
Increased live digital interactions/expectations between students and educators
A single digital platform for students and parents to access instruction, communication and feedback
Virtual courses that are more rigorous and challenging
Robust professional learning opportunities for educators to increase their skill set for teaching in a virtual environment which include on-demand professional learning videos and courses for educators
New parent resources
Student training videos that will enhance their abilities to access learning in a virtual environment
Strategies to provide a significant focus on tending to individual student needs
Continued efforts to connect each and every child digitally
The Board of Education has charged staff to identify targeted small groups of students to participate in face-to-face instruction to support individualized educational needs, to ensure access to virtual options, and to address specific courses requiring in person instruction. More information will be provided to parents regarding these options. Parents/guardians will ultimately reserve the right to decline these services if they have concerns regarding their child's health in a face-to-face FCPS school building. Specific health measures will be in place to protect the health of both students and staff.
FCPS is strongly positioned to teach students in a virtual environment and is excited to start the 2020/2021 school year. We have been working all summer to create a fall Distance Learning plan that looks much different than what you experienced in the spring. We have considered student, parent, and teacher feedback and studied research informed strategies to build a plan that, while not ideal, will provide effective instruction and learning experiences for the students who participate. As much as possible, we will be replicating the opportunities of face-to-face learning, relationship building, and student recognition through Schoology, our Distance Learning platform. Although we realize that our school opening will be very different from what we are accustomed, we are confident that together we can provide quality learning experiences for our students.
In the coming weeks, you will be receiving information about supply lists, distance learning schedules, planned opportunities for extra support, information about parent tutorials, plans for redistributing student devices, and general distance learning class expectations. The WFES staff is committed to providing our students with the best instruction possible. Your children will be engaged in learning activities and experiences each day. Please support us by developing plans in your household that prioritize participation in this instruction. We look forward to our students' first day of school on August 31, 2020!
I know this situation is not what anyone was hoping for. I have heard that Wolfsville is a community built upon a system of support, and I am honored to be joining this wonderful community. We are well positioned to succeed in distance learning! It is incredibly important that we stay positive and productive as we navigate this new online territory together. We do it all for our kids!
Please feel free to contact me by phone (240-236-2250) or e-mail (linda.stuart@fcps.org) with any questions you may have.
I hope you all enjoy the remaining weeks of summer.
Yours in Education,
Linda Stuart
Wolfsville Elementary School
Linda Stuart, Principal
Website: https://education.fcps.org/wfes/home
Location: 12520 Wolfsville Road, Myersville, MD 21773, USA
Phone: 240-236-2250
Twitter: @fcps_wfes