Park Terrace Elementary
November 4, 2020 Newsletter
Greetings, Park Terrace families!
This past week has been filled with lots of great learning, with many classrooms focusing extra attention on learning about voting. The learning was incredibly relevant with yesterday’s election. We want all of our students to have an understanding of the voting process and their civic duty to engage.
Today, the remaining uncertainty of the outcome of the election also provides an opportunity to continue learning about the election process and answer any questions students may have. It’s an important time to remember that even with so many unknowns, some things are certain: We are a learning community committed to our students and their families. We care about each and every one of our students and will continue to partner with families in each child’s educational journey.
Requests to change student’s current learning model
We are coming up on a district trimester transition. At this time, you can request a change for the second trimester (through March 11) to your student's current learning model - to or from Modified Campus (hybrid) or Extended Flexible Learning (distance).
Please communicate any request for your family to our front office by Sunday, November 15. Call the main office number, 763-600-5600 or email lcole@district16.org.
We'll review requests against current staffing plans and communicate with requesting families the week of November 30 for any transitions to begin at the start of the trimester on December 8. Please be aware that with any transition, your child would likely be learning with a different teacher and group of learners.
COVID-19 increasing in the county
We are monitoring increasing county COVID-19 case rates through a weekly report from the Minnesota Department of Health as well as daily case numbers. We want all of our families to know that it is our intent to continue with our Modified Campus (hybrid) model for grades K-6 for as long as possible and prioritize learning at school.
Working with our regional support team, which includes public health experts, we are looking at thoughtfully considering county, district and school data and trends to make decisions for health, safety AND learning for students, families and staff.
We want you to know what we are seeing and be informed should we need to make a change in the future. We recognize that any change is disruptive to families. We’ll have updated data and more information in the coming days.
Have a great week and enjoy this weather!
Mona Perkins, Principal
Extended Flex Learning Families: Requesting Changes, Picture Day, Tips
Greetings,
Today, we may have many questions about what lies ahead for our nation, our state, and our communities, and yet I feel proud and confident in where we are as a school community. Our foundation is strong. We are putting students’ learning, safety and security at the center of all we do and we have successfully implemented two models for learning during a pandemic.
For those of us in the Extended Flexible Learning (distance) model, things are going strong. Students are learning and actively engaging with teachers and each other. Teacher routines and expectations are firmly in place. Families are supporting student learning and reporting a positive student experience overall. While some things may feel uncertain today, I’m certain that we’ve got this!!
Requesting a learning model change
As we near the end of Trimester 1 and the beginning of Trimester 2 you may be considering a change for your family from the Extended Flexible Learning (distance) model to the Modified Campus (hybrid) model. If you are planning to request this change, there are some key pieces of information for you to be aware of.
- Please contact your home school’s main office to make your request by November 15, 2020.
- The switch to the new learning model would begin December 8, 2020.
- Students making a transition will likely not remain with current teachers or classmates.
School Picture Day for our Extended Flexible Learning students is November 11, 2020. Please note details shared elsewhere in the newsletter. Pictures will be taken at your student’s home school.
Tips for learning
As teachers, we have been reflecting on our experience from Trimester 1. Please consider a few suggestions to help support the routines and expectations being established in our classrooms:
- Help student(s) find a quiet space that won’t disturb their learning or people in the house.
- Prepare the learning space ahead of time so the student(s) will be ready to learn.
- If there are items that contain personal information or things you wouldn’t want other people to see, move them out of camera range.
- Remind student(s) to turn off notifications from email or social media to limit distraction.
- Shut down the cell phone to limit distraction.
- Help student(s) understand that schedules need to be somewhat flexible and might occasionally change, just as they do when we are at school. It may be helpful to compare occasional schedule or routine changes to our adult work or daily schedules. Things come up, meetings are called or cancelled, unexpected tasks come our way and we adjust “real time.”
I welcome the opportunity to hear from you. All questions, concerns and insights are encouraged. Take care… and have a great week!
Kim Fehringer
Principal on Special Assignment
K-4 Extended Flexible Learning
Picture Day for EFL Students
8:00-8:45 a.m. (K) McKenzie + (K) Korbein
8:45-9:30 a.m. (1) Erickson and (1) Gustafson
9:30-10:15 a.m. (1) Scott and (1) Gustafson
10:15-11:00 a.m. (1) Pamer and (1) Gustafson
11:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. Lunch for Photographers, no student photos at this time
12:00-12:15 p.m. (K) Reznicek, (2) Knutson and (4) Bresin
12:15-1:00 p.m. (3) Bradford + (3) Perez
1:00-1:45 p.m. (3) Plummer + (3) Perez
1:45-2:30 p.m. (4) Stewart
2:30-3:15 p.m. (4) Craigan
3:15-4:00 p.m. Open
We understand how each family's schedule may be different so if you are unable to make it to your designated time, please try and attend the "Open" session from 3:15-4 p.m. Students will need to be dropped off outside Park Terrace and will be assisted in going to the library for photographs and then returned to the parking lot.
When our picture day is complete please visit https://my.lifetouch.com/ to order photos as no paper copies will be sent home. Please note our event code is: EVTVM2MSR
Reminder: Meal services available for students learning at home
Students learning at home can pick up a daily meal pack at no cost that includes one breakfast and lunch at the Spring Lake Park High School, 1100 81st Avenue Northeast; Door #32. Meal pick up is available Monday – Friday, 9-11 a.m. and 1-2:30 p.m.
Questions? Contact the Nutrition Services Department at 763-600-5041
Preschool Registration Opportunity
Preschool has an amazing opportunity for more preschoolers to be able to attend our 4-year-old K-readiness class, this is a free class for families that qualify financially. (Student must be 4 years old by 9/1/2020)
If you know of any families that have students that could really benefit from this class, please feel free to let them know or let us know and we can reach out! The class is ½ day, either 9-12 or 1-4 Monday – Friday. Parents can register on the Preschool website.
2nd Grade Students Practice the Voting Process
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