We are offering times this week for students to come into Barclay to complete our Fountas and Pinnell Benchmarking in reading. We typically do this with every student three times a year, and we would appreciate the opportunity to work with remote students this week. Our reading teachers have scheduled one hour sessions in their rooms to work individually with students throughout the week Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. To participate in the benchmarking click on the link below through sign up genius. You will pick one, one hour session during the week for each child in your house who is learning entirely remotely. Hybrid students will work with reading teachers during their in-person instruction.

Please have students complete the health screening at home before arriving at the building for the appointment. Parents will not have to complete the health screen before arriving on campus as we will meet students in our foyer. Please be prepared to walk students to and from our foyer at the main entrance of the building. The link to the health screen is found under the community tab on our district website. I will also provide the link in this bulletin.

I know this past week was not easy to manage for remote learning. I also know it will get better as the week progresses. There were bumps created with technology not working the way we envisioned as well as the difficulties brought on by doing everything differently in the schools. Teachers also had limited time to get prepared for both the in person hybrid students and the remote learners on their classroom rosters. Across the district we rostered elementary students in classrooms so that they would have a consistent teacher no matter what happens with our overall health and ability to continue teaching throughout the school year. In Spring teachers focused on instruction that was designed to keep students engaged initially, then shifted to new instruction. There were no grades associated with the instruction, and attendance was more flexible. Teachers were also able to balance their schedules to meet the needs of all learners at a variety of times because everything was shut down.

Teaching has resumed this Fall with the typical expectations around curriculum and instruction, attendance, and grading. Teachers are preparing lesson that may be taught synchronously (live) or asynchronously (through videos or other visuals). They have the flexibility to present the curriculum in a variety of methods, but to do it well will take extreme commitment to knowing the students and technology. Every teacher in Barclay attended professional development in the summer around different methods of producing lessons for our students who are at home. They will be moving toward high quality remote lessons, but this process will take time. I equate it with learning how to drive. You read instruction manuals and then you spend time practicing the skill with others present until you pass your driver's test. At that point you can drive independently, but it will take time to master the skills and become proficient. Imagine taking that young driver and then putting them behind the wheel of a school bus with limited practice. They might be able to make some progress, but it will take additional time and instruction to become proficient behind the wheel of that vehicle.

Every teacher has a different learning curve, and we continue to provide additional supports and work through our program glitches (which can occur with the number of devices that are now implemented across the district). Know that the first few days of school are working students through routines and procedures. Teachers will communicate their expectations around the instruction for students who are not in school (in either hybrid or remote models). If you have not heard specifically from the classroom teacher you may wish to send an email asking what they envision for instruction and connecting with the school. They may want specific times to engage in live lessons (especially our social emotional lessons). The lessons should be archived in a method that will allow students to join in later if they were not able to join live.

We also added information about recording attendance through Infinite Campus last minute. I apologize for the difficulties that caused. There are hints on the Barclay School 20-21 facebook page if you are still struggling with that process. I have not used the Infinite Campus portal, but the biggest block appeared to be the activation code - which you get by clicking on the hyperlink above the activation code box when signing up. It looks like you can log the students as present between 7 am and 4 pm. If that should change I will let you know.

I know there were families very frustrated by the start of the school year regarding remote learning. Our goal continues to be putting quality work on our platforms. We're not there yet, but we will be. The first two days brought many smiles for our in-person students, and the connections will come for the students who are learning from home. We will be communicating the times for fully remote student help at the beginning of the week. Our reading teachers and a special education teacher will be available at set times to provide support for students who need it.

Reading teachers are ready to check in with Fully Remote Learners starting Monday. The purpose for these check ins is to offer some support with their classroom assignments during a consistent scheduled time. Students should access these meetings by using their Teams Calendar. 2nd grade check ins will be Monday and Friday 2:40 – 3:15 Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 – 10:00. 3rd grade checks ins will be Monday and Friday 9:30 – 10:00 and Tuesday and Thursdays 2:40 – 3:15.

Monday

3rd 9:30 -10:00

2nd 2:40 – 3:15

Tuesday

2nd 9:30 – 10:00

3rd 2:40 – 3:15

Thursday

2nd 9:30 – 10:00

3rd 2:40 – 3:15

Friday

3rd 9:30 – 10:00

2nd 2:40 – 3:15

We cleaned up our end of the day student pick up from Thursday to Friday. We were expecting notes from families if they were picking up students at the end of the day. Friday I passed out the Student Pick Up Letter to vehicles as they waited to drop students off. If you plan to pick up students from school it will help for us to have this on file so we know to have the students sent to the cafeteria at the end of the day. I have a link to this note below. If you filled this out on Friday we will anticipate students being picked up from school on the days you indicated. If you plan to change this, please contact the office at the phone number or email barclay.elementary@bcs1.org

If you dropped off on Thursday and gave us a note for pick ups that will be recorded unless you change it with our office. If you did not fill out a note please print the one attached and send it in Monday, or create your own note. We want to make the process go as quickly as possibly and it will happen if every student is in the cafeteria.

Friday we had every student picked up by 3:17. Lines in the parking lot are now shifted to the front of the building for check in, and the traffic line will snake around the parking lot. Once that lot fills, we will stage you across the street to wait until spots open. Keep those Pick-Up Pal cards handy.