Hollymead Buzz
A Newsletter for Parents
September 3, 2020
Ready for School
Dear Hollymead Families,
We are finishing up our final preparations, and we are ready to begin learning on Tuesday! We have missed all the students, and can't wait to see them soon.
This newsletter is pretty full of information to help make sure you are ready for Tuesday as well. I'd like to thank you for all of your support; it is overwhelming and uplifting to the entire staff and community.
Please contact me if for any questions or concerns. You can reach me by phone, 434 973-8301; by email at cdommer@k12albemarle.org; or in person at school.
Craig Dommer
Principal, Hollymead Elementary School
Back to School Parade
Hollymead Virtual Student Learning Handbook
Seesaw and Zoom
Zoom for Computers (school laptops in particular)
If there are technology hardware or software issues with your device, please call the school, and we can work to get a repair ticket started for you.
In-person attendance in Stage 2
School Supplies
K - Monday 8/31, 1-3
1- Friday 9/4, 8:30-10
2 - Friday 9/4 10-12
3 - Friday 9/4 10-12
4 - Friday 9/4 12-2
5 - Friday 9/4 12-2
Siblings can pick up together in one of the time slots. We will also have some supplies available if you would like them. We don't have enough for everyone, but are very happy to supply them to anyone who needs them for any reason, including the difficulty shopping for anything during these times. The items we have available are starred on the attached list.
Virtual Schedule and Specials
I wanted to speak to Specials (Art, Music, PE, Library) classes, as I know there are a lot of questions about whether they are required/optional. This confusion exists due to a few factors, but doesn't change our outlook on the classes. Here are the key points:
- School Attendance in virtual learning for Virginia Dept. of Education and Albemarle County purposes is based on students attending a section of the day, or completing work. This is to provide flexibility to parents, and to not try to be overly harsh on attendance during this time.
- Hollymead is an Arts Integration school. Our specialists and teachers work collaboratively to integrate academic and arts standards into the student's total learning experience.
- This sets up a situation that makes it difficult to answer the question of "Are specials required?" From and attendance standpoint, they are not. From an instructional standpoint, the teachers work hard to design a learning program of the standards over a school year, including one that may start virtually. Student participation in those classes virtually will make for a more seamless year, should we transition back to the building, and a complete grade-level experience, even if we don't. From that standpoint, we are expecting students to participate.
So in summary, we are planning for, and expecting students to participate in specials. If they don't, we will be following up to see what we can do to help, because we want them to participate and we plan to report out on the standards covered. But no student or family will have any formal attendance or truancy action taken for not attending specials.
Specials classes will be offered during your student's asynchronous block, and each student should attend 1 art, 1 music, and 3 PE classes. The 3 PE classes should be taken one on Monday or Tuesday in your grade level, one on Wednesday or Thursday in your grade level, and one in the Open Gym class. Here is the specials schedule. Library times will be published in the class Seesaw page.
Library Check Out
Technology
K-2
All students in K-2 will be distributed an IPAD as soon as possible. We are awaiting shipment on the rest.
Any 1st or 2nd grader who needs a loaner laptop until IPADS are ready should let their teacher know, and we will have one ready for supply pick up on September 4th.
3rd - 5th Grade
All 3rd - 5th grade students can be issued a school laptop.
If you still need a laptop, please contact the school, and we will arrange one for pick up on
Sept 4.
Student Meals - 2020-21
To register, please follow this link:
https://survey.k12insight.com/survey.aspx?k=SsUTPVsQQTXsPsPsP&lang=0&data=
Help Wanted!
As we gear up for virtual learning, we will be in need of volunteers in both a virtual environment - to help with Zoom meetings, or provide additional support to students, and in a physical one - gathering supplies, distributing materials, monitoring bathrooms or providing teacher breaks once we are back in a hybrid model.
I know many of you are beyond busy, but if you were wondering how you could volunteer this year, those are some examples. Teachers and the school will send out specific requests as we need them.