Eagle Updates
April 13, 2020
From Mrs. Barry:
I love to read. Reading is my escape, my stress reliever, my comfort. Reading was always a part of our home. Birthday mornings started with "Happy Birthday to You" by Dr. Seuss. A favorite Easter book was "The Country Bunny and the Golden Shoes," and summers always meant reading a series - Little House on the Prairie, Nancy Drew, and so on.
My mom was an avid reader. A stay-at-home mom, she carved time out daily to read something - a chapter of a book, a magazine article, the newspaper. When I was little, this time was right after lunch. My mom always read in that "used only for company area" - the front sitting room. There was no TV, no radio, just the fancy furniture and something to read. She expected me to join her. Sometimes we read together, but more often we just read at the same time, in the same place. I'm sure we discussed what we were reading, but I really don't remember that. What I remember is that my mom created an atmosphere where reading was revered and special. It was our time together, and it helped me become a life-long reader.
Dr. Blaine's message this past week focused on the importance of literacy and numeracy. It made me think of all the quiet time I spent with my mom and a book. I have realized that my mom did this for her love of reading but also for her sanity - this was quiet time for both us!
One of our teachers said that we were diving into this pool of change without floaties on. So true! At the same time, I feel like we have come up swimming! I hope you are finding ways to stay afloat during this chaotic time. I offer up the joy of a good book and a special place to read it as an option for a "floatie." Just as I cherish this time special alone time I had with my mom, I hope you have opportunities to relish in the family time you have. These are the memories of a lifetime!
Welcome home to MWE!
Virtual Q&A Meetings with Mrs. Barry
Tuesday - April 14
1 p.m. - PK/K
https://zoom.us/j/645668041?pwd=c0VBZHhkTTFGQkR4VWRNTklsQklYQT09
2 p.m. - 1st Grade
https://zoom.us/j/673586645?pwd=QmgzZUJXRHZnbm1GNWtHMFJlN1YxQT09
Wednesday, April 15
10 a.m. - 5th Grade
https://zoom.us/j/852963487?pwd=bDBXd0lOSy9lNW9KTFMyc05HcEZPdz09
11 a.m. - 4th Grade
https://zoom.us/j/811240026?pwd=aWdzZk9rRW4wUnJHeEVtbTlqRWQ2Zz09
1 p.m. - 3rd Grade
https://zoom.us/j/232674926?pwd=WFp3aE5qdlVpQzlaY2RtY0VYTHdzQT09
2 p.m. - 2nd Grade
https://zoom.us/j/159041441?pwd=SHczeHQrSkFaOHpYeUdIdncrTFdqZz09
From the Counselors:
Maintaining Relationships during COVID 19
Since the Stay-At-Home orders, many of us are spending a lot more time with our partners, children, pets, and even grandparents and we may struggle coping with too much togetherness. The most important step is to acknowledge it and embrace strategies for coping with your relationships.
Each person in a relationship has different needs for space, communication, and attention. By communicating our needs to each other, we are creating reasonable expectations. Ask your partner or someone whom you live with:
1. What can I do to help you get through this?
2. What helps you feel better?
3. When do you need time alone?
4. What would you like to do together and with the children?
5. What do I do that irritates you?
This will create better understanding in the relationship and diffuse future arguments.
Since you are with each other 24/7 now, in many instances, it is hard to find a place where you can take some personal time. When we have our own space or some personal time, we are typically better equipped to engage in a relationship. The key is to find a balance between togetherness and personal time. When we do not have some alone time, our personal tanks can empty, and we have no energy for our family. Discussing expectations and scheduling time to read a book, listen to music, watch a movie, or play a game can help us achieve their own healthy time.
If we solely focus on the stress of the world, the cabin fever will only get worse, so try to lighten up. In times of stress, there aren’t many pleasure chemicals, like dopamine and oxytocin, moving through us. We need to actively do things to generate these chemicals and doing fun and pleasurable activities helps. Bring some humor into coronavirus discussions with your partner or someone in the home to increase your pleasure chemicals and reduce tension. Start a fun project together that you’ve been putting off, like gardening, reading a book, or fixing up a spot in your home.
Remember, communicate to create reasonable expectations and add some humor and fun into your life during this stressful time!
Math Enrichment
Ms. Unger has her math enrichment itsLearning course ready to roll for next week. She is currently in the process of adding all 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders to the course. Every school day, there will be a fun math puzzle, problem, game, or brain teaser with a discussion board for each. Each activity will be live for 48 hours. The focus is on fun and deep thinking. Depending on participation, she'll look at rolling it out to 2nd grade the following week.
A challenge from Mrs. McCracken:
Each week the Elementary Librarians are challenging students to explore and use the resources we have available in SBISD.
This week’s challenge is to get into Kids Infobits and read a topic that interest you. Share what you learned on social media with the hashtags #SBISD_readers and #SBISDlib. As always, find me on twitter @MWELibrarian.
If you need help finding the library challenges or would like makerspace ideas, please watch this short video to help you discover some GREAT ideas:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1biSVVO9-LWajOJoorCZTPJAfO4MAPaBa/view
District Information
Dear Students and Parents,
In advance of the long holiday weekend, we are pleased to share Week 4 Digital Backpack learning resources with you early.
Adjusted grading guidelines
As Dr. Blaine shared earlier this week, SBISD has developed and announced our adjusted grading guidelines for the remainder of the school year. These guidelines are effective beginning next Tuesday, April 14. The guidelines are different for elementary, middle and high school. Please take a moment to review them and let us know if you have any questions by emailing grading@springbranchisd.com.
Printed materials via mail - Survey for elementary parents
Elementary parents should anticipate future printed copies of the Digital Backpack coming to you via mail. Please complete our brief survey if you wish to opt out of receiving printed materials and plan to continue accessing online or printing at home. You may access the survey here.
Supporting SBISD newsletter
We also are pleased to share the second newsletter developed by our guidance and counseling team available here. This edition focuses on behavioral health, supports for times of stress and more. We also continue to add helpful resources on our Coronavirus Resource webpage.
Grab and Go Meals
Last, while Monday is a district holiday for students and staff, we know that hunger takes no holidays. We will continue our regular four-day schedule for Grab and Go Meals next week, including Monday, April 13, at our regular locations.
Thank you for your support and continued engagement. Have a healthy and safe four-day holiday weekend.
Sincerely,
Kristin Craft, Ed.D.
Associate Superintendent for Academics
Grading Expectations Update
Grading Guidelines have been adjusted for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, effective April 14, 2020.
To support our students, families, teachers, and leaders our system will focus on student success by:
- Balancing compassion, rigor, support, and flexibility;
- Focusing on priority skills and checks for understanding that prepare students
for the next grade level; - Allowing students to show their understanding in varied ways;
- Prioritizing meaningful feedback to students about their progress; and
- Organizing campus structures so that students who are at risk of not meeting
academic targets will be closely monitored and supported.
PK/ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
- Number grades will not be recorded for the last grading period.
- At least once a week, the teacher of record will be in contact with each student and parent to review progress (phone call, email, video conference, etc.).
- Teachers will monitor student progress on selected learning opportunities through varied means (telephone calls, video conferences, pictures of work samples, submission through email, etc.)
- Monitoring of progress each week will be designated as: demonstrated, in progress, no response.
- Student promotion to the next grade level will be based on first three nine-week grading periods, participation in this current nine weeks, and individual grade placement committee decisions.
Teachers will reach out to let you know what will be monitored each week, as well as how the progress will be monitored. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Barry or grading@springbranchisd.com!
What are the teachers doing during social distancing?
Mrs. Leonard
During social distancing I have enjoyed spending time with my family. We have been enjoying the beautiful weather outside by going on lots of bike rides and walks, blowing bubbles and drawing pictures with chalk.
Ms. Weber
During social distancing, my family and I have been
spending a lot of time outside.
Mrs. Luberger
One thing I am doing at home is Face Timing daily with my grandson, Mikey, and granddaughter, Stella. They live in Pennsylvania, and I did not get to visit them at Spring Break. It is a really fun way to keep in touch with them, watch them play, read books together and sing silly songs!
Mrs. McCracken
During my social distancing I am learning to balance ZOOM meetings/work and my girls being at home. We are filling our time with books, movies, and walks. I LOVE seeing everyone each day on morning announcements. Please email me if you need any technology support or book recommendations. Follow me on Twitter @MWElibrarian and show me all that great reading that is happening!
Ms. Waldrop
Above is a picture of my two granddaughters, Taylor and Smith. Both my son and daughter have one child each, and I get to enjoy their company since both live in Houston.
We like going to parks, taking trips to the bookstore, working with puzzles, reading books and spending time in the kitchen. Some of these things have been put on pause, but we look forward to a time when we can do them again.
Mrs. Miller
During quarantine, we having been enjoying the outdoors and going on lots of bike rides on the trail.
Ms. Mlcak
Mrs. Alexander
Picture Update
All class pictures and individual pictures were to be delivered the week after Spring Break. They are being held for us at the photography studio. We will receive them upon our return to campus! Thank you for your patience!
Morning Announcements!
We would love to start each day seeing all of you! We will have morning announcements LIVE on Zoom at 9am. Tune in daily to do pledge, birthdays, songs, read alouds and exercises. This is a great way to start your day and see your friends and teachers.
Also - please video your child saying the pledge and send to Mrs. McCracken at kathryn.mccracken@springbranchisd.com for a chance to be on morning announcements!
We look forward to seeing you!
Information from SPECIALS
HEALTH FITNESS ACTIVITIES!
Coach Hollmann has created a Facebook page where she is uploading daily videos and activities for the kiddos. She is also posting videos to help explain some of the activities being put out by the Health Fitness Department. The name of the page is --- Coach Hollmann is Here to Help: https://www.facebook.com/CoachHollmann/
She wants us to remember that the kiddos really just need to be going outside, getting some Vitamin D and working out their wiggles. She is also putting links on her itsLearning page. I hope you are able to have fun with your children as they engage in some physical fitness activities.
ART FOR EVERYONE!
Mrs. Waggenspack, our very own Art Queen, also has art ideas for you! You can access her Facebook page -- Mrs. Waggenspack's Art Room -- or check out her blog at
www.elementaryartfun.blogspot.com. On this page, you will find tons of activities, videos, links, and more!
She wants to see what amazing things our students are doing, so please share!
MUSIC AND MORE!
Join the Music at Meadow Wood Facebook page for messages from Mrs. Camey!
Important Info about Study Packets
Beginning the week of April 20, self-study paper packets will be mailed to your home
address for each child in grades PK-5, as we discontinue our drive-thru packet pickup
process. (Note the self-study guides distributed this past Friday included instructional
material for week 3 and 4.) Please be sure your address is correct in Skyward!