GMS Principal's Corner
October 18, 2020
Dear Galvin Families,
As we head into this next week of school, I'd like to ask each family to help us continue to keep the Galvin a safe space for students and staff. While students and staff are doing an excellent job wearing masks, staying socially distanced and washing hands, we do not have a strong participation rate in completing the district's student self screener. Completion of the self screener is the tool we have that makes us stop to think and consider our own and our children's health each day. I'm asking each family to make a plan for taking temperatures and filling out the screener each day. Personally, I keep my thermometer in my car and when I arrive at the Galvin, I take my temperature and fill out the screener before I enter the building. If you drive your child to school, could that be your routine as well? If your child walks or takes the bus, could the thermometer by the cereal box? Or by the toothbrushes with the QR code taped to the mirror? There are so many options to build this practice into your morning routine. What will yours be? If your family comes up with something creative, please take a picture and email it to me so I can highlight it (anonymously, of course) in the next Principal's Corner.
And, as you fill out the screener, we know that sometimes you will be keeping your child home and that they can still participate in school remotely. When this occurs, please reach out to our absence line and our school nurses. If your child is on the learning continuum this will not be considered an absence. Please note though that students on the learning continuum, unless sick or absent, are expected to be in school on their hybrid, in person days.
Thank you for helping to keep the Galvin students, staff and families healthy.
In community,
Sarah
Join Us! Galvin Virtual Open House
The Galvin will be hosting a Virtual Open House on Thursday, October 22. Open House is designed to provide you with an opportunity to connect with your child's team of teachers - to put faces to names, to learn more about the team approach and to hear about what to expect this year. We hope you will attend from the comfort of your own homes. Team leaders will send you specific links to their individual Zooms for that evening. The schedule for the night will be as follows:
5:30 Specials
6:00 6th grade
6:45 7th grade and 8th grade Ravens
7:30 8th grade and 6th grade Ravens
**Please note that some of the remote team times have changed to allow for teachers who teach both in person and remote to attend both sessions.
At 5:30 specialists will be available online to talk about Physical Education, Health, Art, Music and Tech Engineering.
At 6:00 all Learning Continuum 6th grade teams (Galaxy, Meteorites, Supernova) will meet virtually.
At 6:45 all 7th grade teams (Grizzlies, Mountain Lions, and Sharks) will meet virtually. Seventh grade families who are remote will join the appropriate team Zoom. In addition the 8th grade Remote Ravens will meet during this time.
At 7:30 all 8th grade teams (Green, Maroon, Silver, and 8th grade Remote Ravens) will meet virtually as well as the 6th grade Remote Ravens.
We look forward to having you join us!
Progress Reports
For this reason, we are asking that parents see this progress report as an indicator of how your child is adjusting to being back in school and to this new learning environment. This progress report should be a conversation starter between you and your child and you and your child's teacher(s). These conversations should center around questions like: What's working for you? What's not? What do we need to do differently at home? What could happen differently at school? How can we build a success plan together? No matter your child's progress report grades, this conversation is a good one to have now that we are five weeks in.
And, if your child is not finding success yet, please reach out to their teacher(s) or guidance counselor so we can help. No one should feel alone in this. We care about your child's success and are here to support them and you.
GMS On Demand Learning (ODL) Specific Survey
Thank you all for participating in the district survey regarding the conditions for learning as we re-open schools this year. Based on early data from the schedule question, specifically regarding the On Demand Learning (ODL) block at the Galvin, we are asking you to complete this additional, short 7 question survey to help inform our decision-making process.
We currently have about a 25% participation rate for this survey. Please help us increase that number. The survey will close tomorrow at 5pm.
Thank you for your continued partnership and participation.
You can find the link to the On-Demand Learning (ODL) survey here.
GMS Student/Family Handbook: Action Required
All School Reminders!
- Please remind your child to pack their Chromebook and their charger when it's their day to be in school!
- Don't have a school-issued Chromebook yet? Reach out to us at the school to get one!
- For health reasons we are keeping classroom windows open to allow fresh air in. As the weather gets cooler, students should dress in layers. Mornings can be chilly at the Galvin!
- Have your child bring a bottle of water (or two) to school. We want students to stay hydrated throughout the day.