Grey Cloud to Go:
The Week of November 23rd-24th
Important Dates:
Please look carefully at this calendar based on recent changes. At this time Pictures are on pause until we are able to work out a plan if Jostens can offer dates in 2021.
- November 20th: VLA Material Pick up form 9:30 AM -11:30 AM\ NO SCHOOL
- November 23rd-24th: NO SCHOOL for Dial/Hybrid Students (VLA does have school.)
- November 25th, 26th, and 27th: NO SCHOOL (Includes VLA)
- November 30th: Distance Learning Begins for students on the Dial (Formally Hybrid)
- December 10th: Material Pick Up for the Dial as Needed (More information to come.)
- December 23rd- January 1st: Winter Break (Includes VLA)
- February 10th and 11th: Picture Days Rescheduled (No option for retakes.)
Important Specifically VLA Dates and Resources:
- November 20th: VLA Material Pick up form 9:30 AM-11:30 AM./ NO SCHOOL
- December 4th: NO SCHOOL
- December 18th: VLA Material Pick up form 9:30 AM-11:30 AM
- February 11th: Picture Day (No option for retakes.)
Resources:
Family Handbook LINK
Shifting to Distance Learning:
What is the good news?
1. We hope that the dial can shift sooner rather than later in 2021. Superintendent Julie Nielsen is adamant about getting our youngest students back into school whenever possible.
2. Students have their own devices.
3. We have practiced morning meetings with virtual forums and have purchased online resources such as Dreambox, Pioneer Valley and RAZ Kids so student will be more independent.
4. Students have a relationships with their teachers and classmates; they can keep learning together.
What are just a few of our considerations when planning for Distance Learning?
1. Consistency: Families need consistency and an identical schedule for all of their young children.
2. The Burden on Working Adults: Adults may be working from home or are going to work. We want students to be as independent as possible to reduce this burden on the family.
3. Student Attention and Screen Time: We know our younger children have shorter attention spans and we need to plan in a developmentally appropriate fashion and examine the amount of screen time.
4. Technology Issues: While the district technology department is hard at work making modifications and improvements, technology will fail as the global usage has increased. Large companies and internet providers are not immuned from issues nor are we. We will need to have a Plan B for these situations and patience.
What will a day look like in Distance Learning? More information will be coming in the next week, but we are committed to having a K-5 Grey Cloud schedule for Live Teaching. This will allow families of all Grey Cloud Elementary students to log on at identical times. The session lengths may vary and may increase with time, but the login times will remain. (The lessons will be recorded and posted at a later time for students who may miss a lesson occasionally.) Please see the skeleton of our K-5 Grey Cloud schedule below. For families in VLA, your teacher will communicate if your schedule is staying the same or if any modifications will happen during Trimester 2.
Thank you for being such a wonderfully supportive community! We look forward to hopeful days ahead when we can work together more in person.
Sincerely,
Laura Loshek
Principal
The Dial Schedule for Distance Learning Monday- Thursday
The Dial Flex Friday Schedule
Picture Days Cancelled for 2020/ Rescheduled for February 2021
Looking for Enrichment on Remote Days:
Free and Reduced Lunch Applications
Although meals are free through the USDA through December 31, District 833 would still like to encourage families to sign up for Free and Reduced Lunch. As of now the full price of lunches would begin again in January. Here is the information about Free and Reduced Lunch:
https://www.sowashco.org/departments/nutrition_services/free_reduced_meals
PTA
Joining the PTA: Would you like to sign up to be a PTA MEMBER? Here is how to sign up!
1. LOGIN in to https://gcepta.membershiptoolkit.com (If you haven't created an account, you will have to at this time.)
2. Click on MY ACCOUNT
3. Click PTA MEMBERSHIP
4. Select how many memberships you would like to purchase, click ADD TO CART
5. At top of page, click ITEM IN CART
6. Click PAY OFFLINE LATER
7. Confirm order and click PLACE ORDER (You should receive a confirmation email.)
8. Send a check made payable to GREY CLOUD PTA for amount due into the school office. 9525 Indian Blvd. S, Cottage Grove, MN 55016
9. YOU ARE NOW AN OFFICIAL PTA MEMBER! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Thank you again. Please have your dues into the office and signed up on https://gcepta.membershiptoolkit.com by November 24th.
Yearbook Pictures:
Do you have some awesome pictures of your students from Grey Cloud doing school like activities you would like us to consider to be added into the YEARBOOK? Please share them with us as noted below:
1. Go to this website: https://images.jostens.com/415474174
2. Click CHOOSE FILE
3. Choose all photos you would like to share.
4. Fill out information. In the description, please note if these are VLA students and who their teacher is.
5. Click UPLOAD CHOSEN IMAGES
Thank you for your submissions! Our yearbook will be a bit different this year and it is VERY helpful to have these photos.
Box Tops:
PTA wanted to send out a reminder about Box Top fundraising. It’s easier than ever with the new app! Watch this 2 minute video to learn how. We appreciate your efforts and contributions!
https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/09CmCXDX3NuOnP7Vs6DzRG?domain=youtu.be
Family Technology Support Phone Line 651-425-HELP (4357)
South Washington County Schools (SoWashCo) has started a new family technology support phone line at 651-425-HELP (4357). Standard phone line hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can leave a voicemail at any time with your child’s name, the school they attend and a call back number, and someone will return your call.
A variety of technology resources are also available on our Fall 2020 website including:
Attendance:
- Daily participation is required on all In Person and Distance Learning Days.
- If your child is unable to participate because of an excused reason such as illness or a funeral, please contact the school’s attendance office so that the absence can be excused and participation requirements may be adjusted.
- Grey Cloud's attendance line number is: (651)-425-4206
Winter Gear for Those In Need
New Family Directory Sponsored By PTA:
This has been a crazy time to say the least! Our children are missing their friends and as families you are in need of some social interaction! We as a PTA are here to help! We have created a new website through the PTA where you can access a secure directory of other Grey Cloud families who have signed up to share their info. Here is how to sign up:
Our NEW WEBSITE is up and running! Visit gcepta.membershiptoolkit.com to see everything the PTA has to offer. On our NEW site, you can see upcoming calendar events, buy memberships, sign up to volunteer and be a part of our schooldirectory and much, much more.
Here's what you need to do:
- Go to gcepta.membershiptoolkit.com
- Click on the Log In button or the Registration button.
- If you already have an account with another organization that uses Membership Toolkit you can use the same email and password to login. You can then proceed to the numbered steps below.
- Select "Create Account" and fill in the name, email, and password information.
- Click "verify my email" and then check your email for a link to complete the process. The link expires in 2 hours. If you do not receive the email, check your spam or junk folders.
- Once you have verified your email address, log back in and finish the registration process.
Once your account has been created:
- Complete the Parent/Family and Student Information forms.
- Complete the Directory/Publish Preferences.
- When you have completed the forms you will be able to access the whole site accept the directory.
- You will need to be approved by the school to have access to our directory, this should take about 24-48 hours. (It may take longer at first with the entire school choosing enrolling.)
We are excited to share this site with you and hope you can use it during this time to keep in contact with other parents and your child’s friends!
We hope everyone is doing well!
Your Grey Cloud PTA
Thank you for all you do to support Grey Cloud!