Willow Creek Newsletter
August 28th, 2020
Welcome Back
Welcome Back Wildcat Family!
Hello Willow Creek Families! As we prepare to start school next week we have some important updates and events coming up. Please see the below information about iPad pickup, our Virtual Meet the Teacher event, music classes, and more.
See you all soon,
Andrew Kappel
Principal
Willow Creek Middle School.
iPad pickup
Students will need to know their student id# for iPad setup. If you are able to work with your student to have this number available for device pickup that would be appreciated as it will speed up the process a little. If not, we will help you out with that when you get here. Please see the schedule below for times that we are asking students to come. Depending on the grade level, there are different steps we need to take to ensure devices are set up and issued correctly. Returning 7th and 8th graders will be issued the same device they used in the past year(s). 6th graders who attended 6th grade seminar will be issued the device they set up during the Seminar. Below is the schedule for iPad pick-up.
Monday August, 31st
Tuesday September 1st
*If you have students in multiple grade levels, please come during the time of your youngest student.
Please use the directions below to set up your students' iPad.
Meet the Teacher - September 1st
Meet the Teacher will be on Tuesday, September 1st from 3-6pm. This year we will be hosting a virtual session for students to meet their teachers. A link will be sent out via email and social media for families to do a self guided meet the teacher. From 5-6pm, our staff will be available in live Google Meets to say hello. More instructions will be provided at 3pm on Sept. 1st.
Our Office staff will also be available to help if you are having difficulties accessing the site. Please don't hesitate to call if you have quesitons.
In preparation for this night, please have your student ensure they know how to log-in to their @isd535.org email address. The email address is Studentid#@isd535.org for example 55555883@isd535.org. Student passwords were not reset, so check to see if your student remembers their password. If not, no worries, please call the Main Office at (507) 328-5900 and we will help you reset it.
Attendance
Attendance will be taken for each class daily. Students are expected to log-in for each class using the Google Meets link provided through the Google Classroom.
Parents will receive a phone call notifying them if their student was absent at 5pm if an absence occurs that day.
To report a student absence due to illness, appointment, or other reason, families can either utilize the Skyward reporting system or call our attendance line at (507) 328-5910. To report an absence on Skyward, follow the directions below. If your student is ill, please give a description of the symptoms.
District Return to Learn Plan and other important documents
Please visit the Districts Website for more information on the Return to Learning this Fall.
Follow this link for answers to some of the questions you may have.
Block Scheduling for Distance Learning
The District will implement a later DL start time for secondary students of 8:25 AM - 3:10 PM, with a 45-minute lunch period. A later start time while in DL will offer benefits for our students. Given current transportation scenarios, we will not be able to continue a later start time if the District goes to in-person learning.
Students will attend periods 1-4 on one day and 5-8 on the next. (Please note that period 1 is Willow Creek's Advisory period. Students will not meet the entire hour). We will be incorporating a 4 day rotation for A and B day course offerings. Please see the calendar below for an example of the days of the week. Days of the week will also be communicated out in a weekly communication.
Schedules
Student Schedules are available in Skyward. Please log-on to Skyward to view your students schedule. You will need this information for our Virtual Meet the Teacher night. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us.
6th Grade - Jessica Olson
7th Grade - Tracy Lund
8th Grade - Dawn Johnson
Student Handbook
This years Student Handbook has been updated and published. Please click the picture below to review with your student.
Music Classes
Students who are playing a musical instrument in either Band or Orchestra will still need an instrument. Music Teaching Staff will be reaching out individually with procedures for each course. Look for more information soon.
First Day of School and Supply Lists
The first day of school for students is Wednesday September 2nd. We will be communicating more information about student expectations and times they should be online. Teachers will add students to their classes prior to our Meet the Teacher Night. We will provide instruction on how to ensure your student is ready for distance learning on that night.
We are so excited to get back to school and get to know your student this year.
Please see the supply lists for each grade attached here.
Free and Reduced Lunch Application
There is no need to fill out a paper application this year. Please click the picture below to access a digital form.
Important Dates
September
- 1 Virtual Meet the Teacher
- 2 First Day of Distance Learning
- 4 No School
- 7 No School
October
- 15-16 No School
- 16 District Decision regarding Return to Learn next phase
