Mustang Memo
Fireside Newsletter 12/1/2020
Every year around this time I find myself wondering where time has gone. It is hard to believe that winter break is just a few weeks away when we will ring in 2021. During this very busy time of year I would like to encourage you to intentionally slow down and set aside time to have meaningful conversations with your children. Time goes quickly and somehow it speeds up as the years go by.
Enjoy a family meal. Connecting at the dinner table is a wonderful way to build in opportunities to talk. Additionally, regular family meals have been connected to higher grade-point averages, resilience and self-esteem in children. Family meals can improve literacy by supporting vocabulary growth and storytelling.
Get out and enjoy a walk and talk. Often children are more comfortable talking about their feelings when they are engaged in an additional activity such as exercise, games, cooking, and drawing. This time of year Arizona is the perfect place to enjoy an outdoor stroll and chat along the way.
Teach your children the art of conversation. It is common for children to provide one word answers. You may have heard "fine" or "good" when you asked about the school day. Especially when learning from home, children are not sure what to share. Have fun helping them enhance their stories by asking them questions in a different way:
- Whimsical questions that introduce a new perspective: “If I had been a bee on the chromebook, what would I have seen?”
- Different questions about your child’s experiences: “How was today’s class different from yesterday’s? What made today’s more fun?”
- Questions that prompt your child to talk about his or her success: “What did you do during school that you were proud of or that you want to remember to do again?”
- Identifying ups and downs: "What are two roses and one thorn from today?"
Enjoy your time together. Happy December!
Warmly,
Dr. Else
Proud Principal, Fireside Elementary School
December Calendar of Events
12/1 - Early release at 12:30. Teacher professional development. No afternoon small groups.
12/6- 12/14 - PTO FSES Gingerbread Man Scavenger Hunt
12/8 - PTO Family Night In with Cafe Zupas
12/21 - 1/1 Winter Break
December Virtual Lunch Bunch - Save the Dates!
We are excited to welcome Fireside students to socialize, play games, hear from guest authors, and relax in a virtual environment. Please join us for lunch bunch! All lunch bunch activities will be hosted at 1:00pm. A link and instructions will be shared with Fireside students.
This week (11-30-12/4):
12/2 - Games and relaxation with Miss Gilligan
12/3 - Kahoot with Mrs. Smith
Next week (12/7-12/11):
12/8 - Dr. Else hosts meet the author of Freddie Yeti Goes to School: Annika Jeras
12/9 - Games and relaxation with Miss Gilligan
12/10 - Dr. Else hosts meet teenage author of The Uncontrolled and A Holo World: Zachary Astrowsky
The week before winter break (12/14-12/18):
12/15 - A Fun Surprise with Miss Anna
12/16 - Games and relaxation with Miss Gilligan
12/17 - Games with Mrs. Smith
Materials distribution
- Your child’s classroom teacher will notify you via email if materials should be picked up each Thursday.
- Materials pick up will be located in the east parking lot near the front office.
- Carts for each grade level will be on the school sidewalk with a pickup bin on the top shelf and a turn in bin on the bottom shelf. Teacher names will be clearly labeled.
- The pick up will be self service from the hours 7:00am-12:00pm.
- Please call the front office if you need to pick up materials after this time.
Information from the Fireside PTO
"Old" News (but still valuable)
Tips for Parenting During Virtual Learning
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any concerns or for additional support.
- Check in with your child daily about progress and feelings. One of the best ways to stay involved with your child’s progress in the classroom is by checking in. Establishing an open relationship about your child’s experience creates a healthy environment around thriving in the classroom.
- Monitor Infinite Campus: Please make sure to check your child’s Infinite Campus at least once a week for progress. You are able to view missing assignments and class scores when they are updated.
- Monitor Google Classroom with your child’s help: Parent Guide to Google Classroom
- Create a distraction free learning environment for your child.
- Ensure your child has the materials required to be successful during the school day.
- Set a routine. Consider using a visual school schedule.
- Prepare a learning environment for success: two helpful resources are Parent Tips and Tricks and Home Technical Tips for the Digital Environment
- Understand the expectations: Student Distance Learning Expectations
Online Learning Hours
Fireside students follow a compressed schedule.
8:45 School Day Begins
12:45 - 1:30 Lunch and recess for all students
1:30 - 2:45 Individualized learning time - schedule provided by each classroom teacher
2:45 - 3:15 Office hours for teachers
Pre-K
9:00am Whole group instruction begins
11:00am Whole group instruction ends
*Please note: additional learning opportunities will be scheduled by the classroom teacher.
SunKids
Specific information is available from the classroom teacher regarding the virtual classroom
Social Emotional Learning at Fireside
Each morning teachers check in with students during morning circle time. During our morning check in, students are able to complete a “how are you feeling” form. The response to this form is forwarded to our social emotional school counselor, Megan Gilligan who will contact the parents of all students who indicate that they are having a bad day or need help. In addition, parents and students are able to refer students using this link: Social Emotional Support Request Form
PV Assist
Library Books are Available for Checkout
Students are able to check out books! Here are the guidelines and a short video on how to place books on hold in Destiny.
PLEASE NOTE:
K-2nd can hold/check out one book, 3rd-6th can hold/check out 2 at a time.
We will add the books to the Teacher pick up bins.
If the book is not there on Thursday, there may be several reasons: the number of books the student has out, someone else still has the book, or it's still being quarantined (We must hold all books for 72 hours before we can check them out again).
Thank you!
Please click here to access Destiny for checkout.
Please click here to view an instructional video about the check out process.Community Ed Enrichment (Virtual)
COVID Student Chromebook Replacement Costs for K-8 Students
All Fireside students are able to check out a chromebook from school.
Beginning in March of 2020, students were issued district Chromebooks and agreed to return the equipment to PVUSD in the condition that it was given. Parents/Guardians accepted responsibility for this equipment during the checkout period and agreed that they will be held personally liable if it is lost, stolen or damaged. Students will be charged the actual cost of replacement if the Chromebook and charger aren’t returned with only normal wear and tear. See below for replacement cost:
Replacement Cost for Chromebook $150
Replacement Cost for Charger (Adapter) $20
Portrait Make-Ups
We will offer a portrait online upload option to all families who do not attend picture day. The process will entail taking a picture of your student with a cell phone and uploading it to the Lifetouch portal (via Shutterfly). This upload option will be active during the second week of January. More info to come!
Spring pictures have been scheduled.
Order on mylifetouch.com using the Picture ID: EVTM498SM
Yearbook Orders
Please visit
The Fireside Code is: 13549021
Pricing starts at $20 and will increase in February.
Attendance
From the Nurse
PV Schools Reopening Plan
For the most up to date information from the district, please visit the PVUSD website at:
https://www.pvschools.net/reopening
This website includes the prepared plan, reopening criteria, a link to the Maricopa County Dashboard, and a summary of supports for families.
Critical Updates
Annual Update: Please Complete the Annual Update Online. Use the following link to access a smartcard with instructions: Annual Update Instructions