Westwood Weekly
Staff Newsletter - Week of May 18-24
This Week:
Can you believe this is our last full week of school?! I can't say enough how incredible our staff has been in supporting rigorous, engaging learning activities during the school closure! You have supported our Wildcats academically and/or emotionally, their families, your fellow teachers, and me! This experience has even deepened the connections you had already worked to build with your students and their families - this is definitely a class you will never forget! It has been such an honor to brag on you all, and how you dove right in to do whatever it takes to meet the needs of our kids! Of course you did, because that's just how we roar at Westwood!
The bags are in! We have labeled and placed the bags for students' belongings in the lounge near the mailboxes, where you will find your students' Spring Pictures. Please only take your labeled set, and do not pull from others' supplies. We were given exactly 1 per student, so please be gentle, as these are not the most sturdy bags in the world. Be sure to tie the bags closed (or seal in some other way), in order to avoid items spilling out in transition. I will be bringing plastic grocery bags in on Wednesday in case we need extra. Note that you DO have permission to bring helpers, however, these folks must remain in your classrooms. It is critical that we limit the number of people entering the different areas of campus. Please refer to the End of Year Checklist Jill for further details as to how to prepare your classroom for summer cleaning.
The wonderful Amber Barron, has provided us with the list of your students' outstanding library books by class. Please be sure to follow up with families and remind them to locate the books and bring them in during the materials exchange next week.
In celebration of our volunteers, our committee has decided to have each of us print/decorate a word that will then be assembled in a picture collage to send a quoted message. Please be sure to check your email from Jeanie (sent on Friday) to participate!
Have a wonderful week!
This Week:
-Lunch served M, W, and F at EDMS (11-12:30)
-Soul Shoppe Workshops (daily, 1:30-2:15)
Monday, 5/18:
-3rd-5th Grade Collaboration and Support Meeting (1-2pm) - link, agenda
Tuesday, 5/19:
-Mindfulness Lesson (10am)
-1st/2nd Grade Collaboration and Support Meeting (1-2pm) - Zoom link
-Annual IEP Meeting for Maya G (2:30)
-Special Ed Zoom Office Hours
Wednesday, 5/20:
-Mindfulness Lesson (10am)
-Coordinated Care Team Zoom Meeting (10:30am)
-EDMS Virtual Open House (5:00 pm) - link
Thursday, 5/21:
-Mindfulness Lesson (10am)
-SST Meeting for GC-Mirner (12:00)
-Special Topic Support Meeting (1-2pm; Topic TBD) - link to topic
-IEP Meeting for JE-Driscoll (2:30)
Friday, 5/22:
-District DHH Check-in with Amy (10:30am)
-TK/K Collaboration and Support Meeting (1-2pm)
Monday, 5/23: Memorial Day Holiday
This Week in AVID
As the end of the school approaches, many of us are wondering how we will wrap up the school year as we shelter in place. Sadly, the class parties and field days are out of the question, which leaves us wondering how to reflect and celebrate with our students. DitchThatTextbook.com recently posted 30 ways to use Flipgrid and one that stood out to us was creating a class reflection (#19 on the list). They also mention other ways to create community. In addition, AVID provides a tip sheet for Flipgird on this resource page for teachers who are new to this platform.
Jeanne Johnson - Instructional Coach for AVID, Social Studies and Secondary Literacy
Google Classroom: EAVK628
PBIS - Celebrating our Students!
Student Awards - The 3rd Trimester awards for your students can be distributed electronically. LifeTouch has provided an online portal for teachers to create these awards. I am still working with Lifetouch to get access to their portal. As soon as I have that, you will be sent an invitation via email. Once your account is created, you can start creating your certificates. Please refer to these instructions.
Please let me know which of your Zoom sessions you will be using to hold your awards 'ceremony'. I really hope to be able to join you!
End of Year Procedures
Pick-Up/Drop-Off Schedule: Although we are still working out the specific details, you can share general information with our families using this flyer.
Yearbooks
Reports of Student Progress (aka Report Cards)
- The report card window opened up the first week of May.
- Any area where a standards-based rating cannot be given, students should received a NA-Not Assessed. It is expected that most students will be receiving mostly (if not all) NAs for the 3rd trimester on any standard they were not able to assess fully during the 1st or 2nd trimesters. (District administrators are currently working with the company to add 'NA' as a drop-down option for PE/ART, etc.).
- The following comment will be added to all elementary report cards. "Schools were closed for the 3rd trimester due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Not Assessed (NA) mark was used by staff not as a reflection of student performance but of the inability to collect the student work necessary to assess accurately due to the unique distance learning situation." In order to document this time of COVID-19 and distance learning, teachers will need to select the comment from the comment bank under the category called “COVID-19” in order for the comment to appear on report cards.
- Teachers can complete their report cards early and distribute them along with the student items the last week of May (when personal items are distributed, and Chromebooks returned).
Spanish Tech Support Available
During our DELAC meeting, parents expressed their need for technical support in Spanish. Parents may contact our Spanish speaking Tech., Mr. Mario, who will be able to assist them in Spanish. Mr. Mario's number (925) 542-8073. Please include this information in your communication with families: “Durante nuestra reunión de DELAC, los padres de habla hispana expresaron la necesidad de apoyo técnico en español. Los padres pueden llamar directamente al Sr. Mario, nuestro técnico de habla hispana, que les podrá ayudar en español. Sr. Mario's number (925) 542-8073."