Galloping Gazette
A newsletter for the Faculty and Staff - Week of 3/30
Put Students First • Seek Growth • Be Open to Change . Do Great Work Together • Value Differences
Principal's Message
We are Christopher Farms.
This past week we have worked tirelessly to connect with families, remind our Colts that we are here for them, teach families how to help their kids at home, and find engaging activities that will help them achieve. We have collaborated with each other, helped each other find resources, with TECHNOLOGY, and supported one another in all aspects in our profession.
None of this is new. This is what we have always done. It is just different.
Keep looking out for our kids and your colleagues. Keep learning new things and sharing with each other. Keep inspiring each other as you have me. You have shown me a side of you that inspires me to step further out of my comfort zone as I have seen you, so effortlessly step out of yours. Keep being the light at the end of the tunnel for each other and for our Colts.
YOU are the reason our kids want to come back. YOU are the reason we ALL want to come back. WE are Christopher Farms.
-Robyn
Week Ahead
Monday, April 6
9:00 - All Staff Meeting - Go to Google Meet - Type CFESStaffMeeting
9:30 - 10:00 - All Grade levels will practice Google Meet within their grade level
10:00 - 10:45 - All instructional staff will have PD on Google Meet
1:00 - 3:00 - 1 on 1 to clean up your Schoology with Travis - Sign up here OR Grade level planning
Tuesday, April 7th
Continuity of Learning Day #15
School Open by Appointment Only from 8AM - 4PM
1:30 Instructional Coaches Collab via Google Meet - CFESCoaches
Wednesday, April 8th
Continuity of Learning Day #16
8:00 - Coffee Chat - Google Meet - CFESCoffee
School Open by Appointment Only from 8AM - 4PM
10:00 AM - 3rd Grade Collaboration via Google Meet - CFES3rd
10:45 AM - 4th Collaboration via Google Meet - CFES4th
11:30 AM - 1st Grade Collaboration via Google Meet - CFES1st
Thursday, April 2nd -
Continuity of Learning Day #17
10:00 AM - 2nd Grade Collaboration via Google Meet - CFES2nd
10:45 AM - K Collaboration via Google Meet - CFESK
11:30 AM - 5th Grade Collaboration via Google Meet - CFES5th
Friday, April 3rd -
Continuity of Learning Day #18
Shout Outs...
Patti Csenar - Thank you for your guidance and help creating language arts plans for first grade. - First Grade Teachers
Ann and Beth - Thanks for the moral support these past 3 months! Regardless of whether you were checking on how things were going in the classroom or the status of my deployed hubby, it always made me smile knowing you were there for me! - Amy
Shout out to the third-grade team for hosting some amazing morning meetings with their kids! So much fun! - Anne
Shout out to Travis for all of his help me build google forms and checking links in Schoology. - Liz
Stacey, Tennys, and Whitney - Thank you so much for all of the materials, plans, and advice you shared with me! I never would have survived these 3 months without all of your help and guidance! - Amy
Thank you Nicole for giving the SCA food drive food to Courthouse Community Church representatives. They were super appreciative. - Jackie, Ally and Michelle
Thank you Karen for taking care of all of the Beach Bag food from the SCA Food Drive. -Jackie, Ally, and Michelle
Berkley - I am beyond grateful for your help these past 3 months! This was not an easy class to get dropped into, but you just jumped right in and did whatever was needed to keep things moving along! Thank you for all of the help you gave me, and for all of the support you provided to the students!!- Amy
News and Notes....
- The Office of Employee Relations has published FAQs for employees regarding work locations/hours, pay, leave, FMLA, as well as the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) on the Intranet. Here is the direct link to this information: https://vbcps.sharepoint.com/sites/Intranet/Pages/COVID_19FAQs.aspx.
MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS DURING COVID-19
Although you may not be able to meet in person with young people, there are still ways for teachers and program staff to build valuable developmental relationships.
Download the free checklist, Building Developmental Relationships During the COVID-19 Crisis, for 19 ways to connect with young people during this time.
I make a difference....
Ms. Armada is always positive and hardworking in everything that she aims to accomplish, and is always supportive of her students and teachers around her. When it comes to helping her students achieve, she goes out of her way to assist her students in anyway she can, whether it is in the classroom, or through teaching virtually. She has built strong relationships with each of her students, and it shows through her ability to know what each child needs to succeed. Thank you for making a different at CFES Ms. Armada!
#SelfCare Recommendations
HULU SERIES CALLED "Little Fires Everywhere"
"Little Fires Everywhere" on Hulu, here's a preview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWGkX8ClhBI
BOOK- "BEFORE WE WERE YOURS"
In this book, "Before We Were Yours"Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their family's Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their father must rush their mother to the hospital one stormy night, Rill is left in charge—until strangers arrive in force. https://www.amazon.com/Before-We-Were-Yours-Novel-ebook/dp/B01M14UN1J
FREE WORKOUT ONLINE- BARRE3
they are offering a 15 day free workout.https://barre3.com/
Game Changer Moment
Compliance with New Federal Leave Requirements
Last week, the Department of Labor (DOL) released the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act). The FFCRA provides employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. The DOL’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) administers and enforces the new law’s paid leave requirements. The provisions of the Act will be in effect from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/posters/FFCRA_Poster_WH1422_Non-Federal.pdf
In addition, we will post the notice on vbcps.com to reach employees who are currently working remotely. To clarify the language contained in the notice, we have developed an Employee FAQ sheet that will also be available on the site within the next several days. Should you have questions regarding FFCRA compliance, please contact Edie Rogan at edie.rogan@vbschools.com.