MYES Family Newsletter
TEAM MYES SUMMER UPDATE
Myersville Elementary School
Email: dana.austin@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/myes/
Location: 429 Main Street, Myersville, MD, USA
Phone: 240-236-1900
Twitter: @MYESFCPS
A Message from Mrs. Austin, Principal
First and foremost, I appreciate the warm welcome that I have received during my first month at Myersville Elementary. I look forward to serving you and the community. MYES is the heart of the town and it is my goal to continue the tradition of providing a strong academic program while maintaining a healthy and positive school culture.
Yesterday, the Frederick County Board of Education decided that student instruction for the first semester of the 2020-21 school year, which begins Monday, August 31, will occur in a full virtual format for students enrolled in Frederick County Public Schools as our county and state continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During this spring’s school building closure, Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) staff gathered student, parent and educator feedback and reflected on learned experiences. As a result, FCPS has adopted enhancements that will improve the virtual learning experience for students, parents and educators. These enhancements include:
Increased live digital interactions/expectations between students and educators
A single digital platform for students and parents to access instruction, communication and feedback
Virtual courses that are more rigorous and challenging
Robust professional learning opportunities for educators to increase their skill set for teaching in a virtual environment which include on-demand professional learning videos and courses for educators
New parent resources
Student training videos that will enhance their abilities to access and learning in a virtual environment
Strategies to provide a significant focus on tending to individual student needs
Continued efforts to connect each and every child digitally
In the Full Virtual Learning Model, students access learning online instead of face to face in a school building. They will engage in a combination of real-time virtual instruction, instruction on an individual schedule, and completion of assigned tasks. In addition to teachers and school counselors, online learning mentors will also support students, offering designated office hours. In the 2020-21 school year, FCPS expects more rigorous coursework with the full grading system in effect. FCPS is strongly positioned to teach students in a virtual environment and is excited to start the 2020-2021 school year.
The Board of Education has charged staff to identify targeted small groups of students to participate in face-to-face instruction to support individualized educational needs, to ensure access to virtual options, and to address specific courses requiring in person instruction. More information will be provided to parents regarding these options. Parents/guardians will ultimately reserve the right to decline these services if they have concerns regarding their child's health in a face-to-face FCPS school building. Specific health measures will be in place to protect the health of both students and staff.
In the coming weeks, we will share the student schedule for Distance Learning, planned opportunities for extra support, information about parent tutorials, general distance learning class expectations, as well as our plan for redistributing student devices. We are committed to providing the instruction our students need.
Lastly, I know this situation is not what anyone wants or had hoped for. Most definitely, though, I know this is a community built upon a system of support. We will band together and find solutions. We aren’t afraid of hard work. If any community is best positioned to succeed in Distance Learning, it is ours. It is incredibly important that we stay positive and productive as we navigate this unprecedented time together.
I am currently in the office Monday-Thursday from 8 am-4 pm. Please contact me directly by phone (240-236-1900) or e-mail (dana.austin@fcps.org) with questions and/or needs.
- Dana Austin, Proud Principal of Myersville Elementary
Want to stay MYES Summer Strong?
WAYS MUSTANGS CAN BUILD THEIR BRAIN MUSCLES-
For FCPS Supplemental Summer Resources: Click Here
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Foundational Reading Instruction
I am pleased to announce that MYES will begin to use new reading materials this school year called Phonics Suite in Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2. These materials are designed to improve students' understanding of foundational reading skills, including phonics. These materials will be used in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade, and will be one part of your child's overall reading program. Students will still have small group instruction, be exposed to literature, and build oral language skills. The Phonics Suite programs are designed to be very systematic and explicit and this will build students’ mastery of these critical reading skills.
PATHS
Frederick County Public Schools is pleased to share that we are implementing a curriculum to support social emotional learning in all elementary classes at MYES in the 2020-2021 school year. Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS) is the curriculum chosen for use in our school.
Social emotional learning (SEL) is an important part of each student’s healthy development. PATHS will teach SEL skills to help students succeed in school and life. SEL skills include handling emotions constructively, behaving responsibly, making good decisions, and developing caring, positive relationships. SEL contributes to a positive school climate, improvements in academic achievement, and reductions in bullying behavior.
The PATHS program teaches and reinforces many key aspects of SEL, shown through research to improve behavior, reduce conflict and improve academics. One FCPS elementary school used the program last year to support an overall focus on developing the whole child. It resulted in students’ increased attention in the classroom, increased ability to organize thoughts, improved behavior, and better use of conflict-resolution strategies.
FAMILY TECH TIDBIT FOR DISTANCE LEARNING
MYES Vision Statement
Myersville Elementary is a place where students and staff are engaged learners. They feel safe to take risks and all contributions are valued. Here we have fun while we learn in our school community.
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