From the Principal's Pen
May 3, 2020
Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
As we begin Week 8 of Distance Learning, I just want to let you know that you are doing an amazing job! The partnership between school and home has always been important but never has it been more important than now. We thank you for your patience, your optimism, and your participation. Many of our staff members are also working parents and we completely understand the difficult situation you face each day. Hang in there! You actually have seven weeks of experience now! You are really getting good at this :)
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. I have personally developed a newly found appreciation for our staff and I would not have asked to travel with any other staff on this distance learning journey. It is truly a journey and it hasn’t all been smooth sailing, but we have supported one another through the sunshine and the storms. Mrs. Brush, all of our certified teachers, all of our professional assistants, and office staff have stepped up to the plate again and again and again. They are working morning, noon, and night to deliver good instruction, provide written feedback, and make personal contacts with our students. They have served our students as teachers, social workers, therapists, and friends. We are now seven weeks strong and can say that Distance Learning has improved each and every week.
If you have an opportunity this week, please make sure you or your child writes a personal note and/or visits our Flipgrid to send our teachers and the staff at our school a positive message. There is nothing more important than a few kind words from our students and our parents. We all miss the children very much and would like nothing more than to greet them at the classroom door, but for now, we will continue to rise each morning and meet them at the virtual gateway we have available for now.
In-person or online, thank you for being our partners in this distance learning journey with us!
With sincere appreciation,
Mrs. Trish McGuire
We Love Our JC Teachers!
World Language Week!
Office Hours
During the typical school year, students frequently stop in the office to touch base with me and/or Mrs. Brush. They come to talk, ask for help, suggest new ideas, or show off their great work. We miss those interactions. We are holding open office hours for our students to stop in and meet with us for any reason at all. We will begin with one day a week and expand it if need be!
Office hours for students will be every Tuesday from 9:00 - 10:00 am.
Sign up using this link. Students can sign up individually or with a sibling.
When it's your time, simply click this link to be connected to us in a Google Meet!
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) for Distance Learning
At Julian Curtiss, and as a district, we focus a great deal on social-emotional learning with the understanding that it is a crucial part of student success. Children need social-emotional skills to thrive both in the classroom and in life. Social-emotional learning (SEL) curricula teach children techniques to:
Gain confidence
Set goals
Make better decisions
Collaborate with others in work and play
Navigate the world more effectively
In GPS, we address SEL through the use of our district norms and related activities, as well as through the Second Step program. In order to continue this focus while we are in Distance Learning, the following resources have been developed to help support our norms with activities that can easily be done at home. This week's norm is Be Here.
Please note that these are optional activities that can be done on Flex Friday or when your child has completed other work.
If you do complete any of these activities, please send photos to either Mrs. Brush or myself - we would love to see them!
The links to activities for each grade level are below:
Linked below is a presentation for parents about SEL and Distance Learning.
Art Supply Deliveries
GPS is currently providing breakfast and lunch to students at various pick-up points around town from Monday to Friday. With these meals and with the help of the Greenwich Alliance and parent volunteers, art supplies will be delivered next week to elementary students. There will also be school supplies (paper and pencils) for middle and high school students. If you are in need of art supplies or school supplies, please stop by. We will be delivering as follows:
Lunch Route 1 - Tuesday, May 5th
Lunch Route 2 - Wednesday, May 6th
Lunch Route 3 - Thursday, May 7th
Route 1
Central Middle School front circle: 8:45 a.m. for breakfast and 10:45 a.m.
Julian Curtiss School, front circle: 9:05 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
Town Hall, main visitor lot, by deliveries: 9:20 a.m. and 11:40 a.m.
Wilbur Peck front parking lot: 9:35 a.m. and 12:05 p.m.
Route 2
Glenville Elementary School, front circle: 8:20 a.m. for breakfast and 11 a.m. for lunch
Hamilton Avenue, parking lot: 8:40 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Armstrong Court, in front of the handicapped parking spaces: 9:05 a.m. and noon
New Lebanon School, parking lot: 9:20 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Western Middle School, front circle: 9:35 a.m. and 12:55 p.m.
Route 3
Eastern Middle School, front parking lot: 8:20 a.m. for breakfast and 11 a.m. for lunch
Adams Garden, in front of the Community Building: 8:35 a.m. and 11:25 a.m.
Old Greenwich School parking lot: 8:50 a.m. and 11:50 a.m.
There is a safety plan in place when making deliveries - social distancing is being followed, gloves and masks are being used by those delivering the supplies, display of goods are laid out and procedures are in place to avoid direct handling by students and parents. All supplies will be handled with gloves. Thank you to the Greenwich Alliance for Education’s generous donation of art supplies!
Please follow Mrs. McGuire and Mrs. Brush on Twitter
@JCSPrincipal and @JCSEaglesAP
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Mrs. Trish McGuire - Principal
Email: trish_mcguire@greenwich.k12.ct.us
Website: www.greenwichschools.org/jcs
Location: 180 East Elm Street, Greenwich, CT, USA
Phone: (203) 869-1896
Twitter: @jcsprincipal