EAGLE NEWS

• 8/19/20 - Supply Pick Up and Teacher Assignments 12:00 - 4:00
• 8/20/20 - FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL - 9:00am Start Time!
• 8/26/20 - Back to School Night via Zoom 6pm - 7pm
• 8/28/20 - Zoom Dance Party - 7pm - 8pm
• 9/7/20 - Labor Day NO SCHOOL

As I escaped the heat this weekend, I watched the sun setting and thought about summer coming to an end. A wave of emotion flowed through me as I reflected on what we've been going through these last few months. The start of this school year is looking so different for our children, our teachers, and our staff. And while I'm missing and longing for some of the old traditions usually associated with the start of school, I am excited about starting new traditions and creating lasting memories for your children.

This year more than ever, we need to be flexible and remember that we ALL (parents, teachers, staff, community members, administration) have the best intentions and want to support your children in any way we can.

I am looking forward to starting the year off with a "Rockin'" community event. The PTA along with Matt Gardner is hosting the first-ever Rancho Virtual Dance Party on August 28th!

The staff and I cannot wait to see you all on Wednesday, August 19th when you drive through the circle to pick up all your supplies!

Mrs. Nam

When you receive your supplies and teacher name on August 19th, you will get information from your teacher on how to meet them and all of your new classmates!

School starts virtually at 9:00 am this Thursday!

Each family will have a designated time frame to drive by and pick supplies and find out who your teacher is.

Please drive up through the Kiss-n-Go circle during your designated time.

• Have your child's first and last name and their grade displayed in your car window. Please do not exit your car.
• Someone will be there to run and get your supplies and let you know who your teacher is.

Pickup Times by Last Name:

A - F. 12:00 - 1:00

G - L. 1:00 - 2:00

M - R 2:00 - 3:00

S - Z. 3:00 - 4:00

All VLA students: You are picking up supplies at your home school. Please come to Rancho during your assigned time!

Please read our Family Handbook for more information about remote learning at Rancho. There is information about remote learning, school procedures, supplies, and communication.

Family Guidance Handbook - English

Family Guidance Handbook - Spanish

We will be having a virtual back to school night on Wednesday, August 26th from 6:00 - 7:00.

Your teachers will be sending out Zoom links for you to join as we get closer to the day.

Because of the generous support from the PTA, your teachers were able to purchase everything you need to start the school year. The PTA helped purchase pens, crayons, pencils, pencil boxes, paper, glue sticks, art supplies, and much much more! We are so appreciative of the support from PTA! The money earned from the membership drive and fundraisers goes directly to our students.

More information on how to join PTA and support our students is coming soon!

TK, Kindergartners, & 1st Graders will receive iPads as soon as possible - but it will be after the start of the school year. (They will be distributed in order - based on priority. The highest needs families will receive them first.)

2nd & 3rd Graders will receive Chromebooks at the supply pick up on August 19th.

4th Graders should have picked up their new Chromebook. If they haven't, please stop by the office. (Remember to bring your old one to exchange.)

5th Graders should be set with the Chromebook they have. If they need any repairs, please email help@nusd.org

You will all be receiving iPads as soon as possible, just not before the first day of school.

If you have a family device - a laptop, Chromebook, computer, iPad, or phone - thank you for using it to connect with your child's class for the time being.

Your teachers will be reaching out to connect with each of you and to support you with your individual needs.

If you DO NOT have any device or Wifi, please let me know right away. cnam@nusd.org

Below is a sample schedule. Your teacher's schedule may vary a bit within this timeframe, but you can count on students being engaged in learning activities for 4 hours per day.

In addition, our wonderful NUSD PE teachers are going to be offering NUSD in Motion before school every day. This will start on Monday, August 24th at 8:40 and I will send a link in next week's Eagle News.

Please note - The below schedule does not mean they will be on a computer for the entire time. Students will be required to be present during the synchronous (live) learning periods. These can be between 10 - 30 minutes depending on the lesson and/or grade level. Asynchronous activities are designed to be completed either within the 9-2 timeframe or throughout the day if needed. We understand how difficult it is to monitor children, work, and run a household at the same time and believe we need lots of flexibility to support your needs at home.

Your child will have a daily morning check-in meeting with his/her teacher. During the learning blocks, your child’s teacher will offer a variety of activities - both synchronous and asynchronous.

Synchronous Learning

Synchronous learning is remote learning where everyone from a given group is online at the same time using tools such as Zoom or Google Meet

What does this look like?

• Checking in with students regarding their social-emotional wellness, building community, and establishing personal connections.

• Direct instruction of standards

• Engaging students in discussions to ensure understanding of information.

• Previewing or explaining assignments or expectations of learning tasks.

• Answering student questions about one of the recorded lessons.

• Conducting small group instruction.

• Modeling or sharing examples of final products.

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Asynchronous Learning

Asynchronous learning is remote learning where students access lessons or independent learning tasks at any time during the day.

What does this look like?

• Viewing instructional videos of lessons in a content area.

• Listening to recorded read-alouds and answering questions.

• Engaging in online discussion by reading and posting responses (i.e. via SeeSaw, Padlet, Flipgrid, etc.)

• Reading posted literary selections and responding.

• Responding to and collecting student work.

• Recordings of performances submitted by students.

• Completing independent learning tasks and assignments.

Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning Document - Click Here

Are you looking for new books to read?

Starting August 27th, every Thursday from 3-5 you can pick up books for free at Hil Education Center. 720 Diablo Avenue, Novato 94947

School Fuel gave away thousands of books this summer to Novato students of all grade levels. We want to make sure that all students continue to have access to books they love. This school year, we will be funding additional books for classes, and access to online books for all students. Also, starting Thursday, August 27, we will have bags of books available for drive-up pickup on Thursdays from 3-5 pm at the Hill Education Center in front of the campus library. If you have books you would like to donate, we will also be accepting donations of new or gently used books or return of books you have picked up at one of our prior give aways. Please get in touch with us at schoolfuel@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to make an alternative arrangement.

The YMCA Child Care options are available.

See the Flyer link below.

If you have additional questions, please email Jordan James jajames@ymcasf.org

Join us for a VIRTUAL DANCE PARTY! Let's come together and dance, dance, dance!

Friday, August 28th from 7pm - 8pm (I'll send a zoom link closer to the time.)

Please see the document from Marin Public Health and MCOE

Please see the Guidance Document from NUSD

Please see COVID Related Documents on the NUSD website.