Park Terrace Elementary
September 3, 2020 Newsletter
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Greetings Park Terrace Families!
This week was a busy week at Park Terrace. Teachers were back in the building for workshop week and engaged in lots of learning and preparing for students. We completed training in health and safety protocols including cleaning, physical distancing, and arrival and dismissal procedures. We also engaged in additional professional learning around our online platforms: Seesaw and Schoology. We have a few more days of professional learning before the kiddos come back to school.
We are here to partner with you and help answer your questions about the learning models, health and safety or anything else.
Here are some important updates for this week:
Overviews – What to expect: We’ve put together brief, one-page overviews to help you know what to expect for your child’s learning experiences, feedback and communication as this new year gets under way.
- Kindergarten – Grade 1: Modified Campus Schedule (Hybrid)
- Grades 2-6: Modified Campus Schedule (Hybrid)
- Grades K-6: Extended Flexible Learning (Distance Learning)
Addition to school supply list: Just a reminder to please add a pencil box to your child’s school supply list. We will not have community supplies this year, so each child will need a pencil box to store some of their supplies.
Teacher assignments: Teacher assignments were available today in Campus Parent Portal. If you need help accessing the information, please feel free to contact the front office, and we can help you.
Teacher contact: You should be receiving a communication from your child’s teacher within the next few days. The communication will include some introductory information, classroom information and an introduction video.
Meet & Greet: Our meet and greet will be virtual this year. Each family will be able to sign up for a 15-minute one-on-one meeting with your child’s teacher. This will give you an opportunity to not only meet your child’s teacher, but also let him/her know about your child. Teachers want to hear about your child’s strengths, interests, areas of need, etc., so they can create personalized learning experiences for your child. Please be on the lookout for an email with the sign-up link.
First Days of School:
- Kindergarten - Modified Campus Schedule (Hybrid): Kindergarten students will begin in the building on Thursday, September 10. They will be the only students in the building. This will give them an opportunity to ride the bus, learn the routines, etc., with extra support from staff. Kindergarteners in the modified campus schedule (hybrid) will attend school in person five days per week.
- 1st Grade – Modified Campus Schedule (Hybrid): First graders will begin school in person on Monday, September 14. First graders in modified campus will attend school in person five days per week.
- 2nd – 4th Grade in Group A (last names A-L) – Modified Campus Schedule (Hybrid): Students in 2nd – 4th grade in Group A (last names A-L) attending in modified campus schedule (hybrid) will begin school on Monday, September 14. They will attend school in the building on Mondays and Thursdays, and will be learning from home on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
- 2nd – 4th Grade in Group B (last names M-Z) – Modified Campus Schedule (Hybrid): Students in 2nd – 4th grade in Group B (last names M-Z) attending in modified campus schedule (hybrid) will begin school on Monday, September 14 online. Their first day in the building will be Tuesday, September 15. Students in Group B (last names M-Z ) will attend school in the building on Tuesdays and Fridays, and will be learning from home on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
- Kindergarten – 4th grade - Extended Flexible Learning (distance learning): All students doing extended flexible learning (distance learning) will begin school on Monday, September 14.
Despite the challenges COVID -19 has created in all our lives, we are ready and excited to get back to learning together. We can’t wait to see those sweet faces – whether they are coming through our school doors or logging on from home.
Please be sure to reach out if you have any questions. We are here for you!
Warmly,
Mona Perkins
Transportation for the 2020-2021 School Year
Getting to school and home again
Getting to and from school will be a little different as we start the school year as we continue to manage the impacts of COVID-19 in our communities.
Transportation by bus
If your student will be riding the bus, routes and confirmations were posted in Campus Parent Portal on Monday, August 31. That same day, postcards were mailed to homes. If you have questions about bussing, contact transportation@district16.org. View bus riding procedures.
Parent drop off and pick up
Many families have chosen to drive their students to school and home again this fall. In order to ease the flow of traffic and ensure we can meet social distancing guidelines, our buildings will be open earlier prior to school and later after school. Students may be dropped-off and picked-up at any time during this window.
Parents will need to stay in their vehicle and have students exit on the curbside of the vehicle. Staff will be on the curb to greet students and guide them on where to go.
Drop off starting at:
- 7:30 a.m. - Spring Lake Park High School (school starts at 8:10 a.m.)
- 7:10 a.m. - Westwood grades 7-8 (school starts at 7:45 a.m.)
- 8 a.m. - Westwood grades 5-6 (school starts at 8:40 a.m.)
- 8:30 a.m. - Woodcrest Spanish Immersion Elementary (school starts at 9:10 a.m.)
- 8:45 a.m. - Centerview, Northpoint and Park Terrace Elementary Schools (schools starts at 9:20 a.m.)
Pick up until:
- 3:30 p.m. - Spring Lake Park High School (school ends at 2:55 p.m.)
- 3 p.m. - Westwood grades 7-8 (school ends at 2:30 p.m.)
- 3:45 p.m. - Westwood grades 5-6 (school ends at 3:15 p.m.)
- 4:15 p.m. - Woodcrest Spanish Immersion Elementary (school ends at 3:45 p.m.)
- 4:30 p.m. - Centerview, Northpoint and Park Terrace Elementary Schools (schools ends at 3:55 p.m.)
When picking up students during these later times you will be asked to call the school office and staff will notify your student(s) that you have arrived.
Supervision will be provided during these times before and after school. Students will have a designated place within the building where they can quietly read, use their devices or catch up on homework. They will be socially distanced and need to wear a mask.
Make sure your child's immunization records are up-to-date
All students in Spring Lake Park Schools must comply with Minnesota Immunization Laws. All immunizations need to be up-to-date, prior to the start of the school year. Students who are not up-to-date on immunizations will receive communication from our nurses in the near future. Minnesota School Immunization Laws require ALL students enrolled in school to be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, hepatitis B, meningitis and varicella.
The only exceptions are:
- A student has had the chickenpox virus
- Medical exemption with paperwork from your provider
- Conscientious exemption with notarized exemption form
If you believe your child's records need to be updated with proof of immunizations, please bring or send these to your school nurse or call for verification. Learn more about immunizations at SLP and find a downloadable immunization form.
Share your Do's and Don'ts for learning at home
In the spring, we all learned a lot while we learned from home. We learned what we can do to learn effectively from home - set up a dedicated workspace, establish a schedule, etc. We also learned what NOT to do.
As we prepare for a fall when almost all students will be learning at home for at least a few days each week, we want to learn from each other. What ideas and insights would you like to share with other SLP students and families to make this fall - and any days we're learning at home - productive, fulfilling and joyful.
Send your tips to communications@district16.org and we'll share our collective list of learning at home do's and don'ts in next week's newsletter.
Technology Toolkit: A one-stop shop for all SLP technology tools
At Spring Lake Park Schools, students and families will utilize a variety of technology tools. Whether you are paying a lunch bill or learning on your school-issued iPad, find technology information you need. Check out the Technology Toolkit page.
SLP Mailing Arriving Soon to your Household
- Thursday, September 10 - First Day of School - Find more details here
In case you missed important information from last week's newsletter, check out the topics below and click to learn more.
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