Murphy Team Update
For the Week of May 4-8
Mission:
- Lapeer Community Schools is a dynamic community organization embracing our students with a quality learning environment, developing independent and confident learners for the future.
- Murphy Elementary School is united in learning for all children and focused on excellence, as we step into the future.
Vision:
To maximize the achievement of all Murphy students as they prepare for the future.
- At Murphy we're not just building things - we're building better people - in partnership with our families.
- We know that we are all strong individually but we are even stronger when we work together.
Murphy Minute (the Weekly Parent Update):
Week at a Glance:
- ELA and Math
- All Staff Optional "Happy Hour" at 3:15 (invite will go out at that time)
- ELA and Math
- All Staff Optional "Happy Hour" Meeting at 3:15 (invite will go out at that time)
Wednesday, May 6:
- Science or SS
- All Staff Optional "Happy Hour" Meeting at 3:15 (invite will go out at that time)
Thursday, May 7:
- Weekly Packet 7 in bins for parents by 3:00
- Elective grades K-2 and *Weekly Read at Home Plan homework
10:00-10:30 K-2 PLC** ("Share useful online resources that you have discovered")
11:00-11:30 3-5 PLC** ("Share useful online resources that you have discovered")
- District Grade Level PLCs
- All Staff Optional "Happy Hour" Meeting at 3:15 (invite will go out at that time)
Friday, May 8:
- Elective grades 3-5 and *Weekly Read at Home Plan homework
- All Staff Optional "Happy Hour" Meeting at 3:15 (invite will go out at that time)
*Optional Zoom "Happy Hours" are to check in, share some good news, get some feedback, provide some feedback in place of our real-life conversations in the hallway :)
building access sign ups
Please complete the Spring Staff Survey by Monday, May 11th
Student Placement Form (Replaces Pink/Blue cards): Please complete by Monday, May 11
Here is the link to access it: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QvKMn9ZyubFaq-XYQqcaU7p7-Yw2puGavKF_z9dDQ70/edit?usp=sharing
If you filter by current building, grade and teacher, you should be able to easily find your students.
You will only need to fill in the following, using the coding specified:
- Parent Volunteer: either "yes" or "no"
- Behavior: "Tier 1" (not a behavior issue), "Tier II" (minor behavior issue) or "Tier III" (major behavior issue)
Distance Learning Logistics
Some "Talking Points" for common Questions/Concerns from parents:
For parents concerned with Zoom safety: Zoom is now requiring all accounts affiliated with a school to set passwords to allow participants to access meetings. Teachers also use the waiting room feature, so they are admitting only those that should be in attendance at the Zoom meeting. Ultimately, your child is not required to participate in the Zoom meetings if you are uncomfortable. Please just let your child's teacher know that you will be opting out of that portion of the online learning. Google Classroom lessons will still be posted and available for your child, as will the print packets and the Read at Home Plan.
If families express reluctance to engage: The state is requiring all schools to provide students with distance learning in a variety of modes, both online and print. We believe all students should engage in whatever way is possible for each family. If the online platform/schedule is not feasible, please spend at least 30-60 minutes (depending on grade level) reading at home and working on the print packets each day.
When the question of grades comes up: We are tracking participation and giving participation grades only. Students will not have to repeat their current grade if they don’t participate, but students are more likely to retain what they’ve learned this year if they spend the next few months engaged in academic activities. Engaging in the activities that teachers are providing will allow students to start school next year with a higher level of readiness than they would have if they did not participate.
From the Desk of Heather Coffey...A New Message
The Tech teachers have continued to provide instructional tech support to staff, students, and parents this week. We've been collecting our how-tos in one place, so they can be easily accessed (a one-stop how-to shop!). This document is continuously being updated. If there are things that would be a beneficial addition to our resource page or that need further research, please reach out to the Tech Teacher at your building (Heather Coffey).
Please feel free to share my Google Voice phone number with parents if they need virtual learning tech support: (810) 882-1252.
Staff can find Technology resources here:
http://www.lapeerschools.org/cms/one.aspx?pageId=6857187
(From this page, you see all of the district Tech resources available. Select the link titled "Virtual Learning Tech How-Tos for Teachers")
Staff can also go directly to the organized Virtual Teaching How-Tos for Teachers at this link: http://tinyurl.com/lcsteachertech
Her's a few of the latest updates to the Virtual Learning Tech How-Tos for Teachers page
(click the links below to go directly to the How-to page for that topic):
How to safely share YouTube videos using Google Slides
This is great if you would like to share YouTube videos, but you don't want your students distracted by being on YouTube and seeing all the ads and links to other videos.
How to adjust your Google Classroom Email/App Notifications
If you didn't know, students and staff have access to Gmail with their @students.lapeerschools.org account. Default settings send out an email and/or phone notification every time something is posted or completed in Google Classroom. Students and staff can adjust those settings using these directions.
How to make a Google form to post in your Stream in Google Classroom.
Bill Spruytte created an instructional video to explain how you can create a Google Form to post in your Google Classroom Stream.