WFES Newsletter
July 23rd, 2020
Paradise Valley Unified School District Reopening Plan
Click here to learn more about Paradise Valley's School Re-Opening Plan
PV Connect at Wildfire Elementary School
PV Connect is a virtual classroom where students will participate in full, online learning with scheduled, real-time virtual instruction from a Wildfire Elementary School teacher and interact with their WFES peers. All students will be expected to attend each day and submit assignments and participate as they would if they were attending in-person. Students will be expected to attend their classes, participate, ask questions, and try their best.
A student's daily schedule will mimic a day similar to a traditional in-person classroom learning experience. Students will have a daily schedule with set math, reading, writing, social studies, science, and special areas times. Much like in a traditional in-person classroom, the learning activities will be different day-to-day. Students will participate in whole group, small group, and individual learning activities. All Wildfire students/grade levels will have Lunch/recess from 12:30 - 1:30 pm. Other break times vary depending upon the grade level and will be communicated by the classroom teacher.
A student that receives Special Education, gifted, and other provided services will have these services built into their daily schedule. For example, if they receive special education reading services, their reading block will be taught by a Wildfire Special Education teacher. Speech and other services will be scheduled for specific times in the day by the service provider.
Example Wildfire PV Connect Schedule
8:45 - 9:00: Morning Meeting
9:00 - 9:30: Phonics/Intervention
9:30 - 10:00: Reading
10:00 - 10:30: Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
10:30 - 11:00: Special Areas (Rotation Schedule to include Art, Music, PE, STEM))
11:00 - 11:30: Social Studies/Science
11:30 - 12:00: Math
12:00 - 12:30: Writing
12:30 - 1:30: Lunch/Recess
1:30 - 3:15: Small group / Independent Work / Intervention / Teacher Office Hours
The time after lunch will be used by teachers in all grade levels to facilitate learning in small groups and to allow independent learning time away from the computer screen. Teachers will communicate with parents about if/when they would like to have students participate in a small group or individualized learning session. All teachers will be available for questions and help until the end of the school day at 3:15 pm.
Each grade level in K-6 will have a similar schedule as outlined above. The day will start at 8:45 AM and all direct, whole group instruction will be completed by 12:30 PM. While the day-to-day lesson in each subject area will determine how long students will need to be online for each subject, students will not be expected to be online in front of the screen for the entire period. For example, on Monday the reading lesson may require 20 minutes of teacher-led direct instruction, and then on Tuesday, it may only require 10 minutes of teacher-led direct instruction.
Grade level teachers will provide a class schedule to families in their communications prior to the start of the first day of school.
All students will be enrolled in PVConnect unless families elected to enroll their child in PVOnline.
Withdraw Intent for PVOnline: If for any reason you already submitted an intent form for PVOnline and you would prefer to participate in PVConnect instead, please email andmaestas@pvschools.net to have your child removed from the initial enrollment process.
Does Your Student Need a Chromebook for PVConnect or PVOnline?
Wildfire Elementary School has scheduled Chromebook pick-up dates for Monday, August 3rd & Tuesday, August 4th from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. It will be a drive-through service and there will be no need to get out of your vehicle. You will also be able to pick-up any learning materials and/or supplies outlined by your student's teacher during this time. Please see the map for the directions below.
Help us plan and prepare for the number of needed Chromebooks by completing the Chromebook request form by clicking the button below.
Tech Support For PV Connect & PV Online
All 2020 - 2021 enrolled students, including new kinder students and new to PV students, will have access to their pvlearners accounts and all things PV on Monday, July 27. You will not have to wait until the start date of August 5th. Keep in mind, you will not be able to see teachers/schedules within Infinite Campus or access Google Classrooms until July 31st.
Also, the Paradise Valley IT Department is planning to roll out a support site and resources for families that will include how-tos for passwords, devices, and MUCH MUCH more. Further information about the support site will be communicated via the district's family communication on Wednesday, July 29th, 2020. The links to the support site and other information will also be found on the WFES Website.
Class Rosters Will Be Released On July 30th!
On July 30th, Parents/students will receive a welcome email and other information from their new classroom teacher. Teachers will communicate with parents and students their daily class schedule as well as any supplies or materials the will need for online learning and if there are supplies or resources that need to be picked up from the school.
Parents will be able to access their students 2020-2021 Infinite Campus Account on July 31st, 2020. We know that parents are working at creating learning and support groups for students but we do ask to continue to not to request a change in a class assignment.
Greet the Teacher Back to School Event!
Links to the virtual classrooms will be sent in the welcome communication from your teacher.
Enrollment Information
How to Enroll at WFES for the 2020-2021 School Year
If you or anyone you know needs to enroll a student for the 2020-2021 school year, please know we are still accepting enrollments during summer vacation.
If Wildfire Elementary School is your home school, download the PVSchools Student Registration Form, and email the completed forms and other required documents to jeolsen@pvschools.net.
Required Documents for Enrollment
- A certified copy of your child's birth certificate
- Your child's immunization records
- Proof of Arizona residency (e.g., utility bill, house payment, lease/purchase agreement)
- IEP/504 forms (if applicable)
Please note, to register for kindergarten, your student must be 5 years old PRIOR to September 1st, 2020.
You will also be required to fill in a Student Emergency Card upon registration.
Registration packets may also be brought into the school office. Please note, that when on the school campus, you must wear a mask, and please be sure to respect social distancing guidelines.
Supply Lists for the 2020 - 2021 School Year
School Supply Lists for the 2020-2021 school year can be found and printed from the following links. These supplies can be found at any major retail store (Target, Wal-Mart, etc.) and brands can be substituted. The list will also be sent to local Target and Wal-Mart stores so they have them on-site. The list is also be posted on our school Webpage.
Edukit Pick-Up
If you purchased an Edukit for the upcoming school year, these are scheduled to be delivered to the school at the end of July and may also be picked up on August 3rd or 4th during our Chromebook pick-up times. More information to come.
Textbooks and Other Materials
Some grade level teachers may require or encourage certain textbooks, workbooks, novels, and other materials that are normally provided to students at school to help with online learning. Your student's teacher will notify you of any materials or resources that will be needed and how/when to get them from the school.
2019 - 2020 Yearbook Update from Life Touch
July 2020
Dear Wildfire Elementary Families,
We hope this finds you doing well and continuing to stay healthy. We wanted to follow up with
each of you that ordered a yearbook, so that we could provide you with another update on your
order.
As of right now, your yearbook is still moving through the production process, so it has not yet
shipped, however, we GUARANTEE you will receive your yearbook. It is just taking us a bit
longer to ship them out because of the mandatory social distancing and intense cleaning
protocol that must be adhered to, due to COVID-19. In addition, we had added delays because
of the curfews that were required in some locations earlier in the summer. Usually our printing
facilities run continuously (three shifts a day), but with the mandatory curfews, we had to close
our production facilities overnight, reducing to one shift a day. A fall delivery is possible, given
these circumstances as well as the increase in COVID-19 cases currently in Arizona. However,
we are hopeful that your yearbooks will ship sooner than that.
.
We thank you for your continued patience and understanding.Wildfire Elementary will
communicate with you once the yearbooks have arrived at school and will let you know how to
go about getting your yearbook.
We value the trust you and your school place in us to capture and preserve your important
school memories.
Sincerely,
Your local Lifetouch Office
4925 W. Bell Road
Suite C-10
Glendale, AZ 85308 July 2020
Student Personal Items from 2019-2020
Checked Out Library Books?
News from the Nurse's Office
Immunization Clinic
To prevent outbreaks of vaccine preventable disease, the CDC recommends continuing to vaccinate while following social distancing and cleaning measures related to the COVID-19 control guidelines. We are excited to collaborate with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health to ensure our students are protected from vaccine preventable diseases and ready to start school when school resumes.
Immunization Clinic for ALL Students - Preschool through Grade 12
(Students with private insurance, without insurance or on AHCCCS)
DATES/TIMES: Monday, July 20, 2020 - 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Saturday, July 25, 2020 - 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Location: Greenway Middle School
3002 East Nisbet Road, Phoenix, AZ 85032
To ensure safety, we will:
● Practice social distancing and monitoring the amount of people in the building at one time
● Ask only the person/s needing vaccine(s) and only one parent/guardian to accompany children. Everyone else is asked to remain outside of the building while practicing social distancing.
● Ask families to maintain social distancing while waiting.
● Will clean the area and items between families.
● Ask families to avoid coming to the immunization clinic when you or your child is sick with COVID-19 symptoms, which may include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.
Families will be asked to:
● Bring their own pen
● Wear a mask, if possible
● Bring the immunization record for the person being vaccinated**
● Bring the insurance card if available
● Complete the consent form prior to visit if possible
Questions are directed to Contact Maricopa County Public Health at 602-506-6767
Immunizations:
Now, more than ever, we can see the importance of immunizations and protecting ourselves and our children. Returning students needing immunization(s) for compliance purposes must provide proof of immunization prior to or on Wednesday, August 5, 2020 (the first day of school). In accordance with AZ state law and PV District guidelines, students not in compliance on the first day of school will be allowed to attend but will be excluded beginning the second day until proof is received.
Please note that:
Tdap and Meningococcal immunizations are due at age 11. If your child has turned 11 years old and has not yet received these immunizations, or will be turning 11 years old over the summer, he/she will need them before the first day of school. I know that many doctors’ offices may have restricted hours now but as soon as you are able to get an appointment, please do so. You can email proof of immunization to me, have your doctor fax a copy to me at (602) 449-4305, or bring to school.
If you received a previous notice or email from me regarding any other immunizations, for example Hep B or Polio, those immunizations are due asap.
Chronic Conditions
If your child has a chronic health condition (life-threatening allergy, asthma, diabetes, seizure) and will need specific care or medications while at school, please be sure to see me when we return to school so you may complete the necessary forms and drop of any medications. These forms must be completed annually. I cannot yet forward the forms to you as they are all being revised/updated. Please check back with me closer to the first day of school if you would like to “get a jump” on completing the forms. I will be happy to email them to you and I will also post them on my website as soon as I can.
Over-the-Counter Medications
I will continue to offer ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), acetaminophen (Tylenol), Benadryl, and cough drops; however, you must annually sign an over-the-counter medication consent form.
If you have any questions about any of the above, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Looking forward to seeing everyone when we return to school! Stay healthy, stay safe, and if your child develops any new medical issues over the summer, please be sure to inform me.
Nurse Royce
Royce Hirsh, BSN, RN
(602) 449-4303 phone
(602) 449-4305 fax
Virtual Forum and Presentation
Frequently Asked Questions
You are welcome to exchange your previously checkout Chromebook to the school for a replacement. You may return it and pick up a new one during our August 3rd & 4th pick-up dates. If you have further questions or needs, please contact our media specialist, Kelli Mineo at kmineo@pvschools.net
What school supplies are needed for PV Connect?
Our teachers recognize that not all students may have the supplies at home they normally would have during an in-person school setting and will plan lessons taking this into account. Students will need basic supplies such as paper, pencils, crayons, rulers, etc. Any supplies that are outlined in the school supply lists would be preferred and can be brought to school when in-person classes resume. Teachers will notify parents and students if they will be needing to pick up textbooks, novels, or other resources from the school.
What is "intervention" and "social-emotional learning" time"
"Intervention" time blocks are a set time where the teacher decides the subject and focus of the lesson and it will generally vary from day-to-day. For example, If the teacher feels students need more time to review and learn a concept they have been working on in math class, that will be their focus for the class period.
The "Social-emotional learning" block is a time dedicated to building a classroom community and allow time for students to get to know one another and their teacher. It is a focus on the social and mental well being of our students. This is facilitated by our classroom teachers in conjunction with our new school counselor with district-provided resources.
Will the classes in each grade follow the same classwork/schedule?
Yes, each grade level will have a specific schedule where they will have their math, reading, writing, etc. blocks each day. All students at WFES will have lunch/recess time from 12:30 - 1:30 each day. The afternoon time block will be dedicated to small group and individualized learning opportunities that will be scheduled by your student's teacher.
Will there be substitute teachers available for teachers during online learning?
Yes. In the event that a teacher is unable to be present during their online classes, Wildfire Elementary School (and all PV schools) have plans in place to allow students to continue their online learning.
Will printables and other work be available online or prior to the week of work?
Yes. Some grade levels will be sending homework and have it available to print online and will make it available at the earliest possible time. Your student's teacher will communicate information about any packets or print materials needed.
How will disruptive behavior be handled?
Just as an in-person school setting, we have the expectation that all students will be respectful, courteous, and not interfere with the learning or safety of others. Teachers do have the ability to mute students and participants. If a student is continuously disruptive teachers will communicate those concerns and work with parents to end the disruption.
How will attendance be taken?
The finalized details of how attendance will be taken is still being developed but the expectation is that students attend their classes as they would in an in-person school setting. The school knows that internet problems, appointments, illnesses, etc. happen and will be flexible. If you know your student will be unable to attend all or some of the school day, we ask that you please notify your teacher and/or call the school attendance line at 602-449-4301.
Will breakfast or lunches be available for students?
Beginning August 5, our meal distribution sites during distance learning will resume at 20 school sites. Details, site locations, dates, and times can be found on the district’s website, www.pvschools.net/reopening as well as the flyer attached below.
For other frequently asked questions regarding health, safety, and other logistical concerns, please visit the PV District FAQ website at: https://www.pvschools.net/reopening/reopening-faq
Amazon Smile
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way to support our school.
The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases. Click on the picture above to learn how to donate.BOX TOP$ for Education
Box Top$ for Education is now digital! No more cutting and collecting box tops.
Click here to see how it works and how to contribute.
Fry's Community Rewards
If you are a Fry's VIP member you can link your card to Wildfire PTO and effortlessly earn money for our school simply by doing your normal shopping. You just have to signup once and the school will reap the benefits all year!
Important Upcoming Dates:
- August 3rd, 2020: Chromebook Check-out from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- August 4th, 2020: Chromebook Check-out from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- August 4th, 2020: Greet Your Teacher from 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
- August 5th, 2020: First Day of School!
- August 10th, 2020: Virtual Curriculum Night
Wildfire Elementary School Firebirds
Email: wfes@pvschools.net
Website: https://www.pvschools.net/wfes
Location: 3997 East Lockwood Drive, Phoenix, AZ, USA
Phone: (602) 449-4300
Facebook: facebook.com/WFESFirebirds
Twitter: @WFESFirebirds