Wrightstown Ravens' News
September 19, 2020
The weather truly couldn't be better today! I hope you are enjoying some time outdoors. I want to thank all of the WES families for hanging in there with us for another week of virtual teaching and learning. I was happy to stop in some classrooms this week to say hello and to see the students. Along with our teachers, I am so proud of the students' efforts to do their best work and adapt to their new learning reality!
It won't be long before September 29th arrives and the hybrid model begins. As we go through this transition it is fair to say that we will all experience another learning curve. This is ok and expected as is normal with any change. Communication, transparency, support, and flexibility will continue to be necessary as we navigate this new environment. I am in the process of creating a Q & A document regarding the hybrid program of some questions you may be thinking about. I will share this document sometime later next week. Please take a few minutes to review the important information included in this communication.
Thank you for your continued support,
Beth
Change to Practice - Birthday Treats
Beginning the 2020-2021 school year, we will celebrate birthdays in school ONLY in ways that do not include food while in school. We have chosen to move in this direction due to the safety of all of our students. With 1 in 18 of our children having at least one food allergy, anyone serving food to children needs to be aware of food allergies and the potential for a life-threatening allergic reaction. The safety and welfare of all students is our top priority and accommodations for students’ medical and food allergy needs must be considered.
We can still mark these special occasions with non-food items such as stickers, pencils, themed erasers, or other small trinkets rather than food. Such items can be sent in with the student or will be accepted in the Main Office.
Please note that any food birthday treats sent in with students, for distribution, in grades K-6 will be sent back home. We need to ensure that we are consistent with this policy and therefore exceptions will not be considered. We thank you, in advance, for your compliance and understanding of this needed change.
Medication Drop Off
As we are scheduled to start hybrid classes on Tuesday September 29, arrangements can be made for medication/medical supply drop of on Tuesday 9/22 during school hours.
This school year parents must make an appointment with the nurse to bring in any new medication. There will not be any drop offs in Main Office or walk ins per our safety plan. If you have medications or supplies that your son/ daughter will need during the school day please contact the nurse via email to make an appointment. (smallee@crsd.org )
o Medication will not be accepted without proper physician orders/action plans and in accordance with our medication policy.
- All forms may be found on our district website under special services
· https://www.crsd.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=237
o We will be following health and safety plan guidelines ( please wear a mask and remain in your vehicle)
- Nurse will be in vestibule at the main entrance at your scheduled appointment time
- No parents/students will be allowed access to the building.
Wednesday, September 23rd
Next Wednesday, September 23rd, will be a full day of asynchronous virtual learning (with teachers also providing two hours of online office hours that day). Teachers will create independent work for the students to complete that is meaningful and flows from what they've been taught the previous two days and flows into what they will be taught the final two days of next week. The reason for this asynchronous day is so our teachers may properly train for interactive livestreaming, which is yet another new set of technology and teaching techniques for our teachers to master during this unprecedented time.
Picture Day Postponed
CRSD is postponing all K-8 student photographs until the Spring.
More information will be forthcoming.
Covid Awareness and Prevention Posters
This week, all Council Rock schools received COVID awareness and prevention posters that will be displayed throughout our buildings. Additionally, schools received floor decals to reinforce social distancing measures and directional arrows that will indicate traffic flow. Below are samples of some of the posters that will be visible at WES when we move into our hybrid learning stage on September 29th.
Self Symptom Assessment
Below is guidance regarding a self-symptom assessment, which we are all students to complete prior to entering the building each day.
This assessment is also completed each day by our CR staff.
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a disease capable of rapidly spreading to other persons with whom you come in contact. If you have been infected, you are capable of exposing other people to COVID-19, even if your symptoms are mild, such as a cough. Symptoms of COVID-19 may include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Early symptoms may also include chills, body aches, sore throat, headache, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, and runny nose. Given that COVID-19 is a threat to the public’s health, staff members are asked to perform the following self-symptom assessment prior to entering school. Similarly, guardians are asked to conduct symptom assessment of children each morning prior to the students entering school.
Symptom assessment:
Do you (staff) or your child (student) have any of the following?
- Fever (body temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or 38.0 degrees Celsius)
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- New loss of/altered taste or smell
- Fatigue
- Chills
- Body aches
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Nausea/vomiting
- Runny nose
If you answered yes and do not have another explanation for that symptom (e.g., allergies), please remain home until symptoms improve or medical documentation for alternative diagnosis is provided and notify the school nurse of the reason for remaining at home. If you have any questions or concerns, contact your primary care physician and/or school nurse.
Thank you for helping to keep our entire Council Rock community healthy and safe!
WES Spirit Wear! Orders are being accepted until 10/4!
Thank you for choosing Kampus Klothes for your online store. You can view your store and shop at this link:
https://wrightstownelementaryfall2020.itemorder.com/
Please note a few reminders about your sale:
1 - Please ensure that all who are planning to order from your store are aware of the store closing date. If a deadline is missed and someone would still like to order, there will be a $25 late fee added to their order. - I will email you the Group Access to your website so you can see how the sale is doing, keep track of the orders, etc.
2 - Order carefully. We do not accept returns on any decorated items. There are sizing charts available here:
http://www.kampusklothes.com/sizing-charts
3 - All orders will be fulfilled 3 weeks after the closing date of your store.
4 - Please note our procedure for backordered items. There are times when the manufacturers stock for items offered on our online stores may become unavailable or backordered. If that should occur, the individuals who purchased that item will be contacted and offered an alternative product or a refund. Once contacted about a backorder, if we don’t hear back from you within 24 hours, your order will be cancelled and we will refund your money.
Should you or anyone ordering from your online store have any questions, please contact onlinesales@kampusklothes.com
Expectations for Virtual Learning
Across the district, there were several situations in which students did not make the best electronic choices (Memes, Photoshop, screen shots, Tic Tok, etc.) during their virtual instruction. As a result, all schools are sending a reminder to families about expectations for children as outlined in the Mobile Device-Virtual Instruction Interactive Live Streaming Agreement and Board Policy 816 (https://go.boarddocs.com/pa/coun/Board.nsf/vpublic?open#). At WES, we have behavioral expectations for children to Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Safe and these are maintained during our virtual learning, as well.
Workspace Tips from Mrs. Keen
Setting up good work habits at home is important! Check out this LINK for tips to create a functional space.
Student Art Kits
All of our students received a large ziplock bag containing Art Supplies. This is your child’s Art Kit. The Art Kit includes a special Sketchbook, a Tagboard portfolio folder, some white drawing paper, a box of crayons and a pencil.
This Art Kit is only to be used for Art Projects. Students should wait for instructions from Ms. Miguelez, our Art teacher, and not draw anything in the Sketchbook yet. Please keep everything in the big Ziplock plastic bag, all year. Students should bring their Art Kit to every Art class (virtual and hybrid).
For Parents of our 3rd Grade Students from the CR Music Department
Dear Parents/Guardians of Third Grade Students:
Welcome back to a new school year! Third grade is an exciting year for students in the Council Rock School District because this is the grade level when students first have the opportunity to begin the study of one of four string instruments: violin, viola, cello, or bass. These instruments are offered to third grade students because they come in different sizes. To determine your child’s size, please refer to the attached sizing guide.
This year we have created an interactive website to introduce the instruments. Click this link to visit the interactive website. This will be a great way for you and your child to listen to the instruments together before your child makes their instrument choice. Please note that even though you may view the band instruments Council Rock does not offer lessons on band instruments until 4th grade.
Students who enroll in the string program will receive a virtual small group lesson once a week during the school day. All instrumental students, both hybrid and 100% virtual students, will have synchronous virtual lessons. The lesson time will rotate on the schedule so that the same time slot is not affected each week. Lessons will begin the second week of October, and students will receive a schedule before the first lesson. Instrument classes will remain virtual for all students until further guidance is given by the district.
If interested in playing a string instrument, please click here to fill out the Lesson Registration Form by Monday, September 28th. After registering your child for lessons, please view the attachment “String Instrument and Supply Information.”
I look forward to teaching your child this year!
Musically Yours,
John Burns
jburns@crsd.org
For Parents of our 4th - 6th Graders from the CR Music Department
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Welcome back to a new school year! This year your child will be eligible to participate in the Instrumental Music Program in Council Rock. The music department offers instruction in woodwind, brass, string and percussion instruments. For students entering grade 4 this is the first year you may start a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. Students will be able to choose from the following instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, baritone, and snare drum. Students in 4th grade are also still allowed to start a string instrument. For students in grades 5 and 6 it is never too late to start an instrument and you may choose from both band and strings.
This year we have created an interactive website to introduce the instruments. Here is the link https://www.crsd.org/Page/59846. This will be a great way for you and your child to listen to all the instruments together before your child makes their instrument choice.
Students who enroll in the instrumental program will receive a virtual small group lesson once a week during the school day. All instrumental students, both hybrid and 100% virtual students, will have synchronous virtual lessons. The lesson time is rotated on the schedule so that the same time slot is not affected each week. Lessons will begin the second week of October, and students will receive a schedule before the first lesson. Instrument classes will remain virtual for all students until further guidance is given by the district.
If interested in playing an instrument, please click here to fill out the Lesson Registration Form by Monday, September 28th.
Once you have signed up your child for lessons, you need to obtain an instrument and book. Please see the attachment for instructions for more information.
If your child is new to Council Rock and they played an instrument at their previous school please contact the appropriate instrumental music teacher.
Mr. Benjamin Basalik is the band & advanced orchestra director. Please contact her with any questions about the band program. His email is benjamin.basalik@crsd.org.
Mr. John Burns is the beginning orchestra director. Please contact her with any questions about the orchestra program. His email is jburns@crsd.org.
Musically yours,
Mr. Basalik - Band & Advanced Orchestra Director
Mr. Burns - Beginner Orchestra Director
Welcome Back from the WES PTO
Dear WES families,
We would like to welcome all of our new families and welcome back all of our returning families to a new year at Wrightstown Elementary School! We hope that the first few days of virtual learning have gone well for your family and that you are starting to get settled into this new routine.
Thank you to the WES teachers and staff for all of the hard work, long hours, and dedication they have put in to create this fantastic new virtual learning environment for our students. You are amazing!
This will certainly be a year to remember and one like no year before. Even with all of these changes, the PTO is determined to do everything we can to support the WES community through it all. Please feel free to reach out to us at any time with questions, ideas, or offers to help!
We will be in touch soon with more information about our school directory, homeroom parents, PTO meetings for the year, and more. Please stay tuned!
All the best for a great school year!
The WES PTO
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, September 23rd - Asynchronous Learning Day
Monday, September 28th - No School
Tuesday, September 29th - First Day of Hybrid Learning
Wednesday, October 14th - Early Dismissal at 12:15pm; AM Kindergarten Attends
Share your Back to School Photos
Although we are starting the school year virtually, we won’t let that dampen our WES spirit! Be sure to capture photos of our awesome students in action during their first few weeks of virtual learning in the new school year! You can upload your photos at the following link
Home Access Center (HAC) Transportation Information
IT Support
WiFi Issues: Contact your provider (Comcast, Verizon, Xfinity, etc)
Password Issues: Contact our Librarian Assistant, Kristi Marino at kristi.marino@crsd.org
Tech Issue: Contact chromesupport@crsd.org
If you are having issues with your Chromebook that was issued to you or if you are in need of a Chromebook, please email chromesupport@crsd.org
Free and Reduced Lunch
Attached is the 2020-21 Free and Reduced lunch application.
Council Rock Attendance Policy
As we begin the 2020-2021 school year, we want to inform you of our policies regarding attendance. You can read the district attendance guidelines in a letter found at the following LINK.
From the CR Transportation Department
The Council Rock Transportation Department has been hard at work adapting, inventing, and planning. We have coordinated with our software provider to create a unique filtering process for routing the hybrid schedule. The process we developed allows us to keep stops consistent and bus routes generally similar to where we left off in March. While uncertainty looms large in many aspects of school this year, we expect that in the vast majority of cases, the stops and general routes you remember from March will be the same as they were last year. Our goal in routing this year is to provide safe, consistent, and efficient routes that encourage a predictably high service level while minimizing double backs and other disruptions as much as possible.
Given the extremely unique nature of the 2020-2021 school year, there are challenges we will face. Hopefully, these scenarios will be minimal, but in the spirit of open and honest communication, we believe they can and will happen at times. The pandemic will hurt our overall driver count. Fewer drivers will be comfortable returning to work, as is the case with any profession. Should a positive case occur in the driver population, fear may spark mass call-outs to the point where we cannot provide transportation that day. As the hybrid schedule is brand new and untested, every day we will be in uncharted waters. While we are planning to mitigate problems, there will likely be timing issues, delays, and double backs on a frequent basis.
What can you do to stay informed and be ready?
Expect the unexpected, be patient, and flexible
Make sure to sign up for CR Text & Email Alerts
Download and use FirstView
Have a backup plan if we cannot provide transportation
For more information please visit the CR Transportation Webpage and Reopening Hub FAQs under the Transportation heading.
District Calendar
WRIGHTSTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Principal
Email: bfox@crsd.org
Website: https://www.crsd.org/wrightstownes
Location: 729 Penns Park Road, Newtown, PA, USA
Phone: 215-944-2300
Twitter: @BethFox_WES