Betsy's Bits
March 22, 2020
Remember: Patience and Grace
In Case You Missed It:
I cannot tell you how proud I am of our SLMS Family. Thank you for continuing to support each other, our children, and their families through all the uncertainties. I know I will not be able to recall or know all you have done over the past week. I appreciate each and everyone of you! PLEASE make sure you take time to unplug and recharge. Just because you are working at home does not mean you must work every minute you are at home.
Katherine Allmond will be remotely answering our school phone Monday-Friday 8-4. If she gets a message for a specific person, she will email you. Katherine started doing this on Friday after lunch and said several were surprised and happy to hear her voice. I think this will be a huge help for families.
We started meal distribution on Friday, too, and gave out around 280 meals at SLMS. This is for any child in Lee County ages 1-18 and will be done on M,W,F. Most picked up more than one plate and several picked up for other families. I enjoyed waving and smiling at the children. CUOC of Sanford will also be giving out food bags on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the community. So, our kids do have opportunities to get food all week. LCS will be monitoring the needs in our community and is open to doing it more often if it is needed.
I have heard many of you have reached out to share information with students and families through your online learning platforms and through Remind. Jo started a spreadsheet asking for information on our most vulnerable students so we can continue to ensure they are supported. Please update and reach out via a phone call this week if you have not heard from them since Friday, March 13. We have plans to begin more phone calls using our classified staff for any child you have not heard from by Wednesday/Thursday of this week, but PLEASE try all avenues with our radar list kids Monday and Tuesday. If you get up with any before noon on Monday, please tell them about the laptop pickup.
Our custodians have been given permission to come back into the building on Monday to do a deep clean like what they would do in the summer (except for waxing the floor). I have been asked if anyone else can come in the building. At this time, the answer has to be no. If you have anything that you left in your classroom and need at home, please let me know what it is. I will retrieve it and leave it for your in a secure spot. If/when we are told we can allow others in, I will let you know.
Our counselors had a Google Meet with kids that wanted to join them on Friday. They had 60+ on the chat. They plan to do this each week. Please see their email for the code and information to post for students.
If you haven't filled out the survey from Amy Thomas about instructional time and office hours, please click here and do so NOW. I must turn in a school wide schedule tomorrow to CO.
Coming Up:
Mark Your Calendar:
Virtual Leadership Team Meeting @2:00 pm (Please reach out to your leadership rep with questions or issues you want addressed)
*Grade Level reps will be setting up a virtual meeting to go over info from our meeting.
M,W,F - Food distribution at SLMS
T & Th - CUOC food drop off
CUOC Food Drop Off Sites
Who ya gonna call?
So, beginning immediately, we will divide the responsibilities as follows:
Roush
Supporting classified staff with obtaining hours
Food distribution schedule
Custodian schedules
Jo
Supporting certified staff
Online instruction
PLC's
Amy Thomas
Questions, issues, problems with online platforms and programs
PD
Shannon Johnson
Questions, issues, problems with LCS technology/equipment, school email, or school phone
Leadership Team Members
Communication of information to team members
Support team members by helping problem solve, offering ideas, and reaching out to appropriate person for help if needed.
Stay in contact and check on team members/set up regular virtual meetings
B
Communication to/from Central Office
Sharing information which pertains to all SLMS Staff
Sharing mass communication through social media, Blackboard Connect, webpage
SLMS Leadership Team
Setting up interviews/hiring for open positions
You can always contact any of us at anytime, but if you have questions or need assistance in the areas listed, the person assigned should and will know the most in that area or will be able to find the answer for you. Hopefully, this will help us with moving forward efficiently and effectively in these uncharted waters.