Shamrock News
A Weekly Look at Grant Elementary School & the Grant PTA
Week of April 7, 2020
A Message From Principal Grey
How Long Will Schools Be Closed?
*State Schools Superintendent, Tony Thurmond, says schools "may be" closed for the rest of this academic year and that we must act as if they are.
With all the information floating around on this issue, we think it's important to note that Grant is following the policies of the Petaluma City School District. That policy was emailed to families last week and we post it here for reference. The short version is, "PCS will follow our academic calendars for the end of the school year under distance learning conditions. Should the governor’s order end earlier than anticipated, we will be flexible and consider resuming classes under the direction of the County Health Officer."
The chance that Grant could reopen before the end of May is very slim and unexpected, but it's still there. If PCS changes it's message on this matter, we will make sure to publicize it.
Here is the full message:
Dear Petaluma City Schools Community,
To reduce the spread of COVID 19, Governor Gavin Newsom and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond advised Wednesday that school should continue to take place via distance learning rather than on school campuses throughout the remainder of the 2019-20 school year in California. Petaluma City Schools (PCS) is responding to this guidance by working extremely hard to ensure quality learning opportunities for students via distance learning through the end of the 2019-20 school year.
These measures are necessary to help Petaluma and Sonoma County “flatten the curve” and slow the spread of COVID-19 so that emergency medical responders have as much time as possible to prepare for an influx of patients and save lives. While children generally are not severely sickened by the illness, they can still spread it to older or immuno-compromised staff or family members.
Petaluma City Schools will follow our academic calendars for the end of the school year under distance learning conditions. Should the governor’s order end earlier than anticipated, we will be flexible and consider resuming classes under the direction of the County Health Officer.
We have been hard at work building robust distance learning programs from the ground up. PCS and SCOE have supported these efforts with virtual trainings for educators and individualized support.
“We want to reassure families that school is not over,” emphasized Dr. Steve Herrington, Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools. “School districts are deemed an essential community service and will continue to provide distance learning, free meals for students, and many other services.”
As classes remain suspended, we are continuing to offer a "grab-and-go" meal service to any child age 18 and under. A map of Sonoma County grab-and-go lunch locations is available at scoe.org/covid.
Schools and high school seniors also received reassuring news Wednesday when the University of California announced that it will greatly ease some admission requirements for fall 2020, including suspending the letter grade requirement for A-G courses completed in winter/spring/summer 2020 for all students and suspending the standardized test requirement for students applying for fall 2021 freshman admission. We will continue to provide you with information on this.
In-person graduation events and activities are suspended until the social distancing order is lifted. We will provide more information on this at a later date.
Petaluma City Schools recognizes the immense challenges parents and families face in educating children from home. News, information, and resources for families are available and being regularly updated at petalumacityschools.org/distancelearning.
Thank you
Grant Outdoor Facilities are Currently Closed
This is a friendly reminder that, due to state and county orders, all school playgrounds, parks, and other outdoor facilities (e.g. tennis courts, tracks, etc.) are closed until further notice. We need to ask people not to congregate at Grant School and to follow the orders. Thank you.
Support our Grant Families
We know that it's rough owning a business right now and we want to rally our Grant school community to help. We are keeping a running list of Grant family owned businesses that could use some support. If you're going to spend your money, you might as well spend it where it will do some good close to home. Here are some of the businesses we'd love to support:
Annabskitchen.com (Home delivery)
Luma Fitness https://www.lumafitness.net/
Jeremy King, realtor http://pegking.com/
Brewsters - doing take out and curbside pick up http://brewstersbeergarden.com/
Traxx Bar & Grill - http://traxxbarandgrill.com/
Glaholt Construction, 707-835-4403, www.glaholtconstruction.com
Artisan Home Construction - http://www.artisanhomeconstruction.com/
______________________
Cucina Paradiso (donated to our Grant auction) doing take out
Sugo (donated to our Grant auction) doing take out
(Know of other Grant businesses we should have on the list, please email kimmccallister@gmail.com)
And...if you're a Grant family finding yourself in financial trouble with layoffs and uncertain income, we'd like to help. Please contact Principal Grey agrey@petk12.org
Grant Birthday Brigade
Mindfulness Sessions with Ozlem- Reserve your Spot!
Join our wonderful school mindfulness instructor, Ozlem, for a 15-minute mindfulness check-in. She will connect with our students 1:1 online, and practice mindfulness with some
simple movement. There is no cost. Here is the link to book a session!
Calendly link:
https://calendly.com/ozlemozdener/15min
What to Expect:
+ Fun and interactive activities for kids such as mindful movement,
breathing and more
+ 15 minutes of mindfulness and a restful break from the business of daily life
+ Best for all grades, siblings, and parents are welcome.
Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our
thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment –
with openness and curiosity. It has a variety of research-backed
impacts, including a reduction in stress, and improvements in
emotional regulation, and focus. It is a great way to create a
positive daily routine.
Yearbook - Pictures Desperately Needed
With the massive disruptions and closures of schools this spring, we think this will be the most looked at yearbook ever with how much time many students have spent apart from their friends.
We have some helpful guides so your students will still have the ability to get their yearbooks and share signatures even if your signing days are canceled or your school is closed.
First - Our Grant Yearbook Coordinator is desperate for pictures. With end of year events canceled, we need your photos more than ever. Please log on to treering.com and upload shots of your class parties, jogathon, whatever. Thank you so much for pitching in.
TreeRing will help guide you through:
Shipping books to home (we can do it!)
Signing Yearbooks (can be done online!)
You can still purchase a yearbook (log on and begin your purchase and utilize the 2 free custom pages)
If your school will be closed for the rest of the school year, or your local social distancing mandates will keep you from being able to distribute yearbooks to your families, we have an available Ship-to-Home option. Please be sure you have your mailing address in your account information.
Signing Yearbooks (can be done online!)
With school closures and shelter-in-place directives becoming the new normal, yearbook signing days at your school may not happen this year. Not to worry! TreeRing has had the Signatures feature available for a while now which allows students to e-sign each other's books. The instructions are easy and you can work with your parents and students to have them sign each other's books!
ON OUR WEBSITE LOOK FOR THE SIGNATURE TAB:
Sending & Requesting Signatures
Adding Signatures to Custom Pages
The Yearbook Cover Contest continues. Students can send their artwork by taking a photo of it and uploading it to treering.com. Deadline for submissions is now April 17th.
In the Thank You Column:
- Many thanks to everyone who is commenting on the Grant School & PTA Facebook page on birthday greetings for the kids. Thank you for helping spread joy.
- Big thanks to Alice Crysdale for organizing birthday car parades as part of the Grant Birthday Brigade effort to celebrate kids during the Coronavirus Quarantine. Thank you to all who come out to participate!
At A Glance
April
April 17 & 18 - Mary Poppins in the Shamrock Theater (Multi) - Potentially Being Made Via Video
April 30-Band and Chorus Music Concerts-On Hold
May
May 1 - Volunteer Breakfast - On Hold
May 14 - Grant Open House - Canceled
May 18-22 - Spring Book Fair - May be done online - more information coming
May 27 - 6th Grade Celebration - Old Hold
May 29 - Last Day of School