Holland Elementary School Message
April 3, 2020
Hello HES Families,
I truly believe that this was a very successful week with regard to our distance learning. All of us are new to this type of learning, and there were bumps that we all encountered. The staff and I greatly appreciated the patience and flexibility from students and their families when we came across one of these bumps. But overall, the teachers and I feel that things went smoothly, and the feedback from the students and parents was quite similar. Hats off to the HES teachers who put in so much time, energy, and creativity to create fantastic activities for the children.
Hopefully you saw that your child was engaged in meaningful tasks and enjoying connecting with classmates and teachers. Certainly, there was no expectation for perfection with the assignments, as we were all learning and growing with using online resources.
The teachers and I have been reflecting each day on how we can improve our practices. As you reflect on this week with your child, it may be helpful to ask:
- What were you most proud of?
- What was the most challenging part of distance learning?
- What moment made you laugh or smile?
- Did you complete all assignments?
- Did you give your best effort?
- What things can you now do independently?
- Did you ask for help when you needed assistance?
Over the next few weeks, taking time to reflect after each week will provide the most growth for the children and the adults.
Frequently Asked Questions
I was contacted by many families this week with a myriad of questions. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to answer those involving when we will return to school or how this situation will impact next school year. However, there were some common questions that I received, and I have answers to those below.
What will be different after Spring Break?
The activities for this week were all review in nature. After the break, the teachers will be facilitating activities that will provide instruction on new concepts and skills. The activities will vary from teacher to teacher, as some will be recorded videos and others will be virtual lessons through Zoom or Google Meet. In addition, we will be providing additional activities for students and parents to connect. We'll introduce Spirit Days and Virtual Hawk Eyes along with opportunities for parents to share pictures from home.
What do I do if my child is giving push back on completing schoolwork?
There are some areas in which parents may lower expectations (i.e. - screen time), but it's important to set expectations. Collaborate with your child on setting up a schedule and clearly define each time of the day. And this all depends on the child and the home. Most children would benefit from having a set time in the morning in which they are dressed, brushed their teeth, had breakfast, and are ready to "go to school". During their day, establish when breaks will take place, how long they will last, and what the children may do during the breaks. Everyone needs brain breaks, and the children take them at school with their snack time and recess. Also, keep bedtimes the same as they would be on a typical school night. Children benefit so much from structure, and having clear expectations may avoid debates with parents about completing their schoolwork. I also made several calls to students this week who needed a pep talk about being safe, responsible, and kind at home. I certainly don't mind chatting with other children if needed!
How do I address the complaining from my child about schoolwork?
Your child may not love all assigned activities from his/her teachers, but the complaints may not be entirely about the assignments. Like adults, many children may be feeling anxious about the pandemic and the stresses related to not seeing friends, not participating in sports, and being in the house so much. Right now, children could be feeling emotionally uncomfortable. One of the best strategies for a parent is to validate how their child is feeling. And like most concerns for children, this situation is temporary. Remind them that they will return to seeing their friends and playing sports and going to places around the area.
What if my child is having issues with a device and can't access the online classroom?
The most important thing to know in this situation is that all teachers will understand. We've all had a moment when technology failed, and we wanted someone to understand. Simply contact your child's teacher and explain the situation. The teacher may be able to resolve the issue or find an alternative way to complete an assignment. If the issue is with regard to a Council Rock Chromebook being broken or not working, please send an email to chromesupport@crsd.org.
When will parents have a chance to submit input for next year's class lists?
This is the time of the year when I typically send families a letter that allows them to provide input regarding the optimal learning environment for their child for the next school year. This will still happen - just not right now. The teachers and I will eventually be working on creating class lists, and we will seek input from parents before this happens.
When will children have an opportunity to get their belongings from school?
After Governor Wolf recently announced that all Pennsylvania schools would be closed until at least April 30th, the district provided strict guidelines that there would be no access to the school buildings. Like so many other areas of our lives, we will have to be patient and wait to see what changes in the coming weeks.
Netiquette Tips for Students
Our distance learning is providing wonderful opportunities for children to connect with their classmates and teachers. However, the children may not be aware of the unwritten online “rules” in this digital age. The atmosphere of an online classroom is different from a normal classroom, and the children would benefit from knowing proper netiquette guidelines. Here are some areas to review with your child:
- There’s a time and a place for everything—BUT IN MOST SITUATIONS TYPING IN ALL CAPS IS INAPPROPRIATE. Typing in all caps can be interpreted the same as yelling at someone.
- What may seem like an obvious joke to one person could come across as off-putting or rude to someone else. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to avoid sarcasm altogether in an online classroom. Instead, students should lean toward being polite and direct in the way they communicate to avoid these issues.
- Chat boxes are incorporated into many online classes as a place for students to share ideas and ask questions related to the lesson. It is not an instant messenger for communicating with friends. It should be treated like the learning tool it’s meant to be, and students should avoid off-topic discussions.
- Always make an effort to use proper punctuation, spelling, and grammar.
- It’s good netiquette to use respectful greetings, full sentences and even the same old “please” and “thank you” that is used in real life.
- A passing comment spoken in class can be forgotten a few minutes later, but what is shared in an online classroom is part of a permanent digital record. A good rule to follow is think before typing.
Support from Our School Guidance Counselor
Support from the Holland Community
I believe that I'm a positive person, and I will admit some of these days have been hard as a parent, a principal, and a person. But I always have hope. Right now, I have hope that your children are staying positive. I have hope that we come back to school soon. I have hope that you and your family are healthy and taking care of one another. Please reach out to me if you ever need anything. Stay well.
Joe MacClay
Principal
Holland Elementary School
597 Beverly Road
Holland, PA 18966
Email: jmacclay@crsd.org
Website: http://www.crsd.org/Domain/1212
Phone: 215-944-1500
Twitter: @HollandElem