Duveneck Connections
Home of the Dragons - August 12, 2020
Dear Duveneck Dragon Families,
Dear Duveneck Dragon Community,
Welcome to the first edition of Duveneck Connections! Every Wednesday evening you will receive this newsletter from our school packed with useful information.
Our first day of school is Monday, August 17 and school starts promptly at 8:30 AM. Your child’s teacher will send out an email to you soon explaining how to begin school on Monday. Please have your child’s device ready to go early so when 8:30 comes, they are ready to begin the new school year! The main focus of the first week of school will be on building community, helping you and your child understand the teacher’s instructional schedule, and how to use Schoology and Seesaw and other online tools that will be part of the learning program. Do not hesitate to ask questions during this first week of school. We want to ensure that you understand and are comfortable with your child’s school routine.
CHANGES IN CLASS CONFIGURATION AND TEACHER RETIREMENT
Late last week, we learned that we had declining enrollment in Kindergarten. Based on this news, we needed to create a Kindergarten/first grade combination class. I want to acknowledge that hearing this information for the first time can make some families feel uncomfortable and upset. I want to assure you that the Kindergarten team, first grade team and I have been working closely to make this an amazing class for the children who will be in it. Ms. Jennifer Rabanal, who was supposed to teach first grade will now be the K/1 combination teacher. She has the support of both grade level teams and has hit the ground running. She is creating a program that ensures that both grade levels meet their essential standards while providing activities and learning experiences that overlap in the grade levels when possible. She will have an instructional aide to help her. Each grade level will benefit from more targeted attention and our Kinders will be able to participate in our specials - music, PE and library starting the first week of school. I also want to let you know one of the main reasons for setting up a combination class was to keep all our Duveneck families at Duveneck this year. As a side note, both of my boys were in combination classes when they were in elementary school. Wyatt was a first grader in a first/second combination class and Carter was a fifth grader in a fourth/fifth combination class. They thrived being in these classes and as a parent, I was extremely pleased with their educational experience.
We have another change on staff that I need to announce. After many wonderful years of teaching, supporting and serving Duveneck Elementary, Mrs. Barbara Susco has decided to retire. This was not an easy decision for Barbara as she loved her students and our school deeply. On behalf of the entire staff, we wish her all the best in her retirement.
REMINDER: DISTRIBUTION OF SUPPLIES & MATERIALS PROCESS
On Friday, August 14, we will be holding our Distribution of Supplies & Materials at our school. This is where we give you the materials your child will need for their first few weeks of school,
as well as distribute computers to children who signed up for them previously. Here is our process:
8:00AM-12:00 PM: Families with the last name of A-K
1:00-5:00 PM: Families with the last name of L-Z
Sometime during your designated time, please enter the school grounds in your car through the parking lot off of Alester Road and pull up through the gate behind the library. Continue behind the school to the back of the MP room. At that time, we will ask you to hold up a piece of paper with your child’s name (last name first) and grade (so you don’t have to open your window), and open your trunk. PLease write the names large enough so that we can read them from outside the car. We will place your child’s or children’s supplies and a device, if you ordered one, into the trunk. After you have received your materials, you can exit campus through the Channing Gate.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR OUR DISTRIBUTION!
For our distribution of supplies and materials, we need some volunteer parents to help out. This is a rare opportunity to safely volunteer on campus in person! Please wear a mask. We will be practicing social distancing. If you are interested, please sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/y5lfwfbd
CLASS PLACEMENT NOTIFICATION
Due to technical difficulties that we experienced tonight, a class placement letter will be sent out to all families, tomorrow, Thursday, August 13. This letter will inform you about your child’s teacher for next year. If you want to learn your child’s classmates, a class list will be included in the materials distribution on Friday.
As the old saying goes, the only constant thing in life we can depend on is change. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we do our work to make the 20/21 school year the best it can be for your children.
Warm Regards,
Leslie Crane
Principal
Duveneck School
About Us
Principal
Email: lcrane@pausd.org
Website: https://duveneck.pausd.org/
Location: 705 Alester Avenue, Palo Alto, CA, USA
Phone: 650-322-5946