WEEKLY WONDERS
Charles Ellis Montessori Academy, January 18, 2020
To Educate The Whole Child for a Whole World
The Beloved Community
What objectives are we setting in front of our children each day? How do we build "The Beloved Community"? My answer one child at a time.
Important Dates
January 18- MLK Jr. Day- No School!
January 20- Virtual Boosterthon DanceFit Event
January 26- 8th Grade Parent Meeting (6pm)
January 26- PTA Members Meeting (6:30pm)
February 15- Staff Planning Day- No School for Students!
i-Ready Information
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I am excited to share that SCCPSS is implementing an online instructional program called i-Ready, to support students in the acquisition and enhancement of Math and Reading skills. To prepare and implement this program students in Grades K through 5th will engage in diagnostic assessments during the timeframe of January 13th through February 5th. Below, you will find information about the program and how we will be using it in the classroom.
Your testing week(s) are as follows:
Upper El - week of 1/19
Lower El - 1/25 - 2/5
Primary - 1/14 - 2/5
Your student's teacher will give you the exact date/time that your child will take the assessment.
What is i-Ready?
i-Ready is an online program that will help us determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth, personalize their learning, and monitor their progress throughout the school year. i-Ready allows us to meet your child where they are and provides us with data to inform instruction.
The i-Ready Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment that adjusts its questions to suit your child’s needs. Each item a student receives is based on their answer to the previous question. For example, a series of correct answers will result in slightly harder questions, while a series of incorrect answers will yield slightly easier ones. The purpose of this is not to give your child a score or grade but to determine how to best support their learning.
i-Ready Instruction provides students with lessons based on their individual strengths and areas for growth. These lessons are interactive and provide strategic support, to keep your child engaged as they learn.
Thank you for your continued support and for being a partner in your child’s learning! I look forward to sharing i-Ready information with you throughout the year. If you have any questions about i-Ready, please do not hesitate to contact me or the school.
You can learn more about i-Ready by visiting i-ReadyCentral.com/FamilyCenter as well as the What is i-Ready document. This information will also be posted on the school website.
Sincerely,
Tanya Melville
Principal
Attention Parents of 8th Grade Students!
SCCPSS Choice School Lottery
2021/2022 Choice Program Information Sheet
2021/2022 Choice Program Guide
Visit the SCCPSS Choice Program Website for a site list, application, and more information.
Counselor's Corner
This week, we have continued our theme on our goals for 2021 and reflections from 2020. Erdkinder students have received instruction on High School 101 and were encouraged regarding the Choice School process. To learn more about the Choice School application, which opens February 1, go to http://choice.sccpss.com. In addition, all 8th graders and their families can learn more about high schools by viewing this video and attending the 8th Grade Parent Info Session on Tuesday, January 26.
Lessons, read-alouds, and resources are posted on the school counseling website. If you need anything, please reach out.
PTA Boosterthon Update
We only have a few more days to reach our school goal and we still have a ways to go!
Register your student at www.funrun.com and share your page link with family and friends.
The program is virtual this year. Boosterthon has partnered with Just Dance to bring a Dance Fit event which will take place on January 20, 2021. Students will meet virtually with their favorite Booster teammates, earn prizes for pledges, and have lots of fun dancing!
The PTA's goal is $15,000 to help fund teacher grants, student experiences, and school materials to enhance the Montessori learning environment at Ellis.
If you do not have a student to support, but you still would like to donate to this fundraising effort, you can use this link to submit a donation.
View the teacher challenge videos at this link.
Thank you for your support!
Educational Opportunities for Students
School-Wide Grace & Courtesy Focus
The Language for Identifying/Naming the Qualities of Self-Discipline from the "Self- Awakened Child" series by Jonathan Wolff:
- When I do what is right for me to do--not just what I want to do-- I am acting with Self-Discipline.
- When I do what is good for me and other people--not just what is good for me--I am acting with Self-Discipline.
- When I stop my hurtful thoughts, feelings, words, and actions from hurting myself or hurting someone else, I am acting with Self-Discipline.
News From SCCPSS
Dear SCCPSS families:
Due to rising rates of COVID-19 in Chatham County, students will not return to in-person instruction on January 11 as initially planned. The COVID transmission data does not support a return to in-person instruction at this time and all students will remain in virtual learning. All staff will continue to report to their assigned worksite unless approved for remote work by medical exemption. Teachers will continue to teach from their classrooms while students are learning virtually from home.
When the District recessed for winter break, it was our hope that metrics would stabilize following the increase after the Thanksgiving break. Unfortunately, that has not proven to be the case. Instead, all three of the indicators that are monitored - Community Transmission Index, Percentage of Positive Tests, and Daily Case Rate per 100,000 – are in the RED ZONE and rising. Chatham County data can be found by accessing this web link: https://covid19.gachd.org/covid-19-data-and-charts/.
CHATHAM COUNTY TRANSMISSION DATA AS OF 1/06/2021
Community Transmission Index – 408 = RED
Daily Case Rate Per 100,000 – 34.6 = RED
Percentage of Positive Tests – 13.8% = RED
Based on the November 4, 2020, Board action that set the thresholds for a return to virtual instruction, students will remain in virtual learning until at least one of the indicators exits the red zone for 14 days. District officials will continue to monitor key metrics daily and will make an announcement regarding a return to in-person instruction through established communication channels, the District website, and social media channels.
Given what we see happening in the news reports on increasing COVID-19 case numbers across the world and in our own communities and the advent of a new strain of the virus, the public health conditions will continue to be of concern to us all. Everyone is encouraged to stay the course on public health practices. District officials continue to work closely with the Department of Public Health to monitor the spread of the virus through the community.
Please continue to wear masks over your nose and mouth, maintain proper social distance (at least 6 feet), wash your hands frequently, be mindful of group settings, and seek medical attention if you are not feeling well. Remember, COVID-19 testing is available if needed.
Please monitor SCCPSS.com for the most current information. We appreciate your continued support.
2nd Semester Device Distribution
If you are in need of a SCCPSS device for your student, please fill out this form. Ms. Lisa will contact you as soon as possible to schedule pick up of the device from the school.
If you have received a device from the District and you plan on purchasing the Technology Protection Plan provided by the District, please pay for that through School Cash Online and send the signed paperwork to Ms. Lisa through email.
If you have any questions, email Ms. Lisa (lisa.odonnell@sccpss.com).
Clearing the Chrome Browser Cache/Cookies
If your student's SCCPSS Chromebook is running slow, it may be helpful to clear the cache/cookies every once in awhile. See the link below for instructions.
From the Clinic
Please read the attached flyer with health and safety information.
Covid-19 Parent at Home Screening
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me.
Thank you,
Nurse Chris
912-395-5470 Ext. 71213
Join the Ellis PTA and Support Our Community!
Please consider joining the PTA to support our Ellis community. Membership is only $7/person.
So far this school year, the PTA has done the following:
- Held a school supply drive for our Ellis families
- Funded the purchase of individual Montessori materials for our Primary students
- Sponsored teachers to attend an Anti-Racist, Anti-Bias Teaching in the Montessori Classroom seminar.
- Organized the Fall Festival Parade
- Organized the PTA Reflections contest
- Accepted teacher grant applications
- Funded improvements to the playground and multi-purpose room
- Sponsored the Read-A-Thon
- Organized the Angel Tree for families in our Ellis community
- Donated non-perishable food items to Emmaus House
- Purchased Medify HEPA Air Purifier/replacement filters for classrooms
- Supplied Nurse Chris with needed health and wellness supplies
- And so much more!
The PTA cannot do all this without your help and support. The easiest way to show your support is simply by joining the Ellis PTA.
Visit the PTA Website.
Contact US!
Ms. Ja'Dayia Coleman-Kennedy
jadayia.coleman-kennedy@sccpss.com
Information Specialist Clerk
Ms. Lucy Holloway
School Secretary
Ms. Patricia Solomon-Brown
patricia.solomon-brown@sccpss.com
Email: Tanya.Melville@sccpss.com
Website: http://internet.savannah.chatham.k12.ga.us/schools/Ellis/default.aspx
Location: 220 East 49th Street, Savannah, GA, USA
Phone: (912) 395-5470
Ellis Montessori Academy Website
Click here to view the new Charles Ellis Montessori Academy website.
SCCPSS Website
Please visit this website regularly for the most up-to-date SCCPSS District information.