The Bobcat Beat
Fern Hill Elementary School, August 25, 2020
This time next week, we will be in full swing of the new school year! While different than our typical start to the year, we are so excited to get started and "see" our FHE Bobcats! We look forward to the first day on Monday, August 31st!
As you know, the district posted a Temporary Assistant Principal of Fern Hill. I am pleased to announce that we are recommending Mrs. Susan Gray for this position. Mrs. Gray has served as a reading specialist in the district for eleven years. She has been at Fern Hill for seven of those years. For the last six years, she has worked closely with me as Fern Hill's head teacher. Feel free to reach out directly to Mrs. Gray at sgray@wcasd.net if you have any questions that you feel she could answer. We will begin sharing the workload at Fern Hill.
We know there may still be questions about how Remote Learning 2.0 will be different from the spring’s emergency remote learning experience. In the Remote Learning 2.0 model, teachers will provide more synchronous (live) daily instruction and engagement. We know how important it will be to create a positive virtual learning community, build strong relationships, and get to know each child as a learner and person. Our teachers will host daily, live class meetings to foster relationships, get to know each other, and establish a strong community of learners. In addition, every day, classroom teachers will teach a live Math and ELA lesson, as well as live small group lessons to differentiate instruction and support all of our students based on their strengths and needs. Special area classes, Science, and Social Studies lessons may be live or pre-recorded. This year, we will take attendance daily, provide specific, meaningful feedback to students about their learning, and will issue standards-based report cards in K-2 and grade-based report cards in 3-5 as we typically do. See below for student and parent expectations during remote learning 2.0. Your child's teacher will spend time reviewing the specific class schedule for the upcoming year during Open House.
This year may look and feel different from years past, but I am completely confident in our school community's ability to step up to the challenge! We look forward to working alongside our families to ensure that each child's academic, social, and emotional needs are met.
SEE CHANGES IN OUR VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE TIMES BELOW AS WE HAD MANY FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDREN IN MULTIPLE GRADE LEVELS.
Virtual Open Houses
- Kindergarten Virtual Open House: Wednesday, August 26th at 7pm
- 1st Grade Virtual Open House: Wednesday, August 26th at 7:45pm
- 2nd Grade Virtual Open House: Tuesday, September 1 at 7pm
- 3rd Grade Virtual Open House: Tuesday, September 1 at 7:45pm
- 4th Grade Virtual Open House: Wednesday, September 2 at 7pm
- 5th Grade Virtual Open House: Wednesday, September 2 at 7:45pm
During the school year, teachers will post Zoom links within the password-protected walls of our digital platforms: Schoology and Seesaw. Since the K & 1st grade Open House is prior to the start of the year and families do not have access to Seesaw yet, our child's teacher will send a secure zoom link using the RSVP feature. Once you register with your name and email, you will receive a unique Zoom link for the meeting via email.
Curricular Materials Pick Up
As you know, the district will provide curricular materials, such as workbooks and certain manipulatives. Our distribution will be on Wednesday, August 26th and Thursday, August 27th from 9am-11am and 1pm-2pm. You can come any day, any time. You will share your child’s grade level(s) and we will bring out the material tool kit. This is for all FHE remote learning AND FHE cyber students. The materials pick up will occur on the side of the building at the side gym doors (where we did the end of year pick up last June).
If you did not pick up your child's iPad, you should stop at the front office for this.
Remote Learning 2.0 Student & Parent Expectations
The following expectations will be in place for elementary STUDENTS during a closure. Students will be required to:
❖ Attend synchronous sessions.
❖ Engage in class discussions, group projects, and complete all work assigned to them synchronously and/or asynchronously.
❖ Demonstrate responsible digital citizenship.
❖ Adhere to all expectations set forth in the WCASD Code of Conduct and the Student Acceptable Use of Technology Policy.
The following expectations will be in place for elementary PARENTS/GUARDIANS during a closure.
❖ Communicate with your child’s teacher and make alternative arrangements if your child is unable to log in for any reason.
❖ Notify the school if you have a change of address, phone number, or email.
❖ Read school communication and help your child get online for synchronous sessions.
❖ Respond to teachers and/or administrators in a timely manner.
❖ Attendance will be taken daily in both Remote 2.0 and Cyber. Report absences/illnesses to school personnel as usual. If your student will be absent, call the Safe Schools Line at 484 266-1610.
K-5 Applications on iPads
We are all apart together this Fall. We invite you to help us be creative in these times apart and bring us together by participating in Fern Hill Rocks!
Find a rock. Think of something happy to paint on your rock. Sign your family name and #FERNHILLROCKS on the back of your rock. Hide your rock downtown, at school, your favorite park, in your neighborhood, etc. Post your creations and findings on our Fern Hill PTO Facebook Page.
Need rocks?! Rocks will be available at Fern Hill Elementary under our Fern Hill Rocks sign Wednesday, August 26th.
YOU ROCK!!
We hope you are enjoying your last days of Summer. We know this year will certainly look a lot different than those in the past. As a PTO our role remains the same to support our students, staff, families and community. To do that given the current circumstances we are exploring new ideas to help maintain a social connection with our families and school while supporting our local community.
Keep your eye out for upcoming events!
Aug/ Sept :
August 30th Chalk It Up!
FERN HILL ROCKS!
New Pandemic Spirit Wear!
Login into our website to join, verify and update your information and use our directory to find your children’s classmates:
https://fernhillpto.membershiptoolkit.com/
Please join our Facebook Page at Fern Hill PTO to keep in the know!
If you want to get involved, have an idea or question please we would love to hear from you! Email FHPTOpresident@gmail.com
Yearbook Information
Yearbook Info/1st Day of School Pictures
Let's talk YEARBOOK!!! Our yearbook is going to need your help to capture this first marking period!! First up- BACK-TO-SCHOOL/ FIRST DAY photos!!! Please share your first day pics here---
https://yearbook.treering.com/school/231864/photos/shared-photo-folders/170644508
Below, please find a shared folder for each grade level. Please upload your photos here throughout the fall. Details of the classroom, selfies, screenshots of your Zoom class, masked teacher gatherings in the hallways, Bobcat sightings, we want it all during this first quarter!! And as always, but even more so in this reality, thank you from my whole heart. Any questions/problems, email me at fhptoyearbook158@gmail.com.
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Kindergarten:
https://yearbook.treering.com/school/231864/photos/shared-photo-folders/170644798
First grade:
https://yearbook.treering.com/school/231864/photos/shared-photo-folders/170644808
Second grade:
https://yearbook.treering.com/school/231864/photos/shared-photo-folders/170644821
Third grade:
https://yearbook.treering.com/school/231864/photos/shared-photo-folders/170644887
Fourth grade:
https://yearbook.treering.com/school/231864/photos/shared-photo-folders/170644898
Fifth grade:
https://yearbook.treering.com/school/231864/photos/shared-photo-folders/170644908
NOW THROUGH 9/30 get the yearbook for 10% off the purchase price of $21. See the attached flyer for information on logging and adding pictures of your kiddos! This year you can create 2 personal pages for your child in this year’s yearbook!
See attachments at the bottom of this newsletter.