From the Principal's Pen
August 28, 2020
¿Necesita leer nuestro boletín en español?
¿Necesita leer nuestro boletín en español? Haga clic en cualquier parte de este correo electrónico, desplácese hasta la parte inferior y haga clic en traducir. Luego, seleccione español, y el boletín debería aparecer en español. ¡Gracias!
RETURN TO SCHOOL UPDATE
Dear Parents and Families of Julian Curtiss,
I hope you are well and enjoying the last few weeks of summer. The staff and I, along with guidance from the central office, are working hard to prepare for and welcome you and your children to the 20-21 school year.
Traditionally, you would have received your child’s class lists along with the Welcome Back to School packet by now. Given the complexity of preparing for different models, including an in-person school and a remote learning model PreK-8 and a hybrid model 9-12, school personnel are still working out the details. We want to ensure clarity as we prepare our back to school documents for parents. We appreciate your patience and hope to provide you with this information next week.
For families who have chosen Remote School for the year, detailed information will also be forthcoming, including the teacher assignment, procedures for joining the online classroom, etc.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
Sincerely,
Trish McGuire
Principal
A NOTE FROM THE PTA
Dear Parents,
On behalf of the Julian Curtiss Parent Teacher Association (JC PTA), we would like to welcome back returning families, as well extend a warm welcome to those new to our wonderful school and community. We know this summer had many families tackling the question of full return to school or remote learning but know whatever decision you chose we are here for you! The JC PTA is made up of committed parents and teachers who strive to support and enhance each child’s educational experience throughout the school year and this commitment is stronger than ever.
The JC PTA has traditionally run many wonderful programs such as United Nations Day Parade and International Food Tasting, Music Café, Movie nights, Book Fairs, Bingo night, and so much more! Whether we end up hosting these events in person or virtually, we are committed to keeping our school community connected and engaged.
Our membership campaign and many of the events that have been mentioned raise money to support field trips, staff development, after school program scholarships, and special classroom equipment. We encourage you to join the JC PTA!
The JC PTA also provides a significant contribution to the school through our volunteers. As a volunteer, you will take an active role in your child’s education and make a meaningful contribution to the school, while meeting new parents and making new friends! Families play an essential role in navigating their child’s educational experience and being connected to the school community provides access to resources and activities that support the uniqueness of your child(ren).
Throughout the year, the JC PTA will host informative virtual PTA meetings, which we encourage you to attend. We offer meetings with opportunities to better understand what your student is or will be learning, and how you can support that learning at home. We also offer meetings on various issues surrounding education that affect our school and community where you will have an opportunity to ask questions, express concerns, and offer input. Joining the PTA is the best way to get to know your child’s school, the programs it offers, and our parent/teacher community.
We look forward to welcoming you to our Julian Curtiss family. Please feel free to contact us with any questions. We hope to see you soon!
Sincerely,
Michele Tierney
PTA Co-President
Jill Ernst
PTA Co-President
PARENT RESOURCES
Making a Smooth Transition
Below is a link to an excellent article from the Harvard Graduate School of Education newsletter Usable Knowledge about preparing our young learners for the return to school.
Self Care for Parents
Everything You Want to Know About Google Classroom
See Saw: Turning In Assignments Virtually, Grades K-2 Only
Child Friendly Videos for Kids and Parents
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital has developed a series of videos for Kids and Parents about topics related to COVID-19. This includes mask wearing, social distancing, and hand washing. These videos may be helpful in preparing your child for the return to school. You can find these videos and more information by clicking here.
You may also find this article helpful: Tips to Help Kids Wear Face Masks
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Attached you will find a supply list for each grade level for in-school learning. We usually provide an opportunity for parents to buy these supplies in the spring but that opportunity was lost during our quarantine. You can purchase these supplies any store of your choice. For your convenience, Target, Staples, and TeacherLists will have a copy of our Julian Curtiss lists by using the links below.
Staples (will need to enter school information)
Target (will need to enter school information)
Teacherlists.com (link is school-specific)
You can also click on the button below to see the supply list by grade level. Within the list are links to individual items at Staples should you wish to start shopping on your own.
Please make sure ALL supplies are labeled with your child's name. In addition to the supplies on the list, we highly recommend students have a spare mask in their backpacks.
If you are able and willing to purchase a second set of supplies for a family in need please email me and let me know what grade level you will be purchasing. I will keep a list of donated supplies and make sure that they are distributed to a family who would benefit. If you would like to make a donation with a Staples or Target Gift Card those are welcome as well. You can mail them or drop them off at school and we will distribute to the appropriate families.
Thank you,
Mrs. McGuire
TOGETHER FOR SAFETY AND LEARNING
These five words say everything about what we as teachers, administrators, and families need to do for this next school year. We all need to work TOGETHER to make sure we are creating a safe environment for the wellbeing of our community and our town. Learning will also be positively impacted when we work TOGETHER. Teachers are the experts on the curriculum, but parents are the experts on their own children. Make sure that you are taking the time to make notes on how the remote learning last spring affected your child, and how his or her summer has gone as well. Whether your child is learning in the physical school building or learning remotely, your child’s teacher will need your help in getting to know your child to help them best. Be willing to share with the teacher whether they reach out with a survey or in person. Develop a relationship with your child’s teachers so that both of you can make sure that you are supporting your child and their learning in the best way possible.
Please follow Mrs. McGuire and Mrs. Brush on Twitter
@JCSPrincipal and @JCSEaglesAP
Mrs. Trish McGuire - Principal
Email: trish_mcguire@greenwich.k12.ct.us
Website: www.greenwichschools.org/jcs
Location: 180 East Elm Street, Greenwich, CT, USA
Phone: (203) 869-1896
Twitter: @jcsprincipal