Dolphin Newsletter
August 27, 2021
Message from Mr. Noyes
I am so proud to be the principal of Clifford School. The students and staff amaze me everyday. Students are the kindest most thoughtful and our staff are the most dedicated! Our families have been a wonderful support and have been nothing but patient and understanding. When walking through classrooms I see children being educated and CARED for.
Thank you for hanging in there with us through these first two weeks of school. We know there have been challenges and we appreciate your feedback and your patience as we work diligently to make all of our processes as streamlined as possible for you and your children.
I have asked that teachers and/or grade level teams to communicate via newsletter/email/website with families twice monthly. We recognize that "face time" with teachers during the last year and a half have cut off the ability to look inside the classroom at the learning and has in some ways created a "empty space" that was once filled with walking up to your child's classroom door to chat with their teacher and/or see all of the wonderful things going on in and around the school. So, with increased communication directly from staff about the learning, what's upcoming, what to be on the lookout for and so on, this will help fill the "empty space" in some way.
As always, we are here for you, our Clifford families and students. Thanks for a great first two weeks!
Jude Noyes
Principal
Virtual Back to School Night- August 31, 2021
We do wish we could host a typical on campus back to school night, but unfortunately, we are not able to at this time. However, our teachers are gearing up for a virtual live session with families. Teachers will be communicating with you the link to the meeting and any other information/directions to navigate their sessions. Please note that time is very limited and extended Q&A's will not be able to be facilitated. However there will be time for specific classroom/grade level/content level questions. For questions about Covid testing, safe return to school protocols, please review the links in this newsletter to help you learn more about the framework set out by the county health department.You are also welcome to email myself or Tiffany Parrish our assistant principal.
B2SN Schedule
TK-3 6pm
4-8 7pm
Middle School Schedule for B2SN. Please be on the lookout for Links from teachers!
Upcoming...
Sun 8/29: Clifford Middle School students, friends and families BBQ at Stafford Park 11-1
Tues 8/31: Minimum Day (Thursday Schedule)
Tues 8/31: Virtual Back to School Night TK-3 6:00 PM | 4-5 7-8 | 6-8 6-7 (Teachers will send links)
Fri 9/3: Virtual PTO Coffee 8:30 AM | Link |
Mon 9/6: Labor Day Holiday, No School
Tues 9/7: PE+ Begins for K-5 Students!
Mon 9/13-9/17: Puberty Talk Lessons 5th Grade (5th grade parents will get info letters on Monday)
Thur 9/23: School Site Council Meeting 5:00PM-6:30PM | Link |
Fri 9/24: Fall Picture Day TK-8 /Pre order Link
Mon 9/27-10/1: Scholastic Book Fair (Links to store will be shared soon)
October 2021- The Dolphin Depot Student Store will be opened with modifications. Stay Tuned
School Lunch Menus- All students eat free lunch and snacks this year
TK Drop Off/Pick Up
Lockers for Middle School
Roadmap to Learning Safely During My New School Year
Families have had many questions, so I am adding two links which may help answer those questions.
Here is the link to learning safely on campus
https://www.rcsdk8.net/Page/10476
Here is the link about independent study
https://www.rcsdk8.net/Page/10515
SMCOE Current COVID-19 Guidance
Please take the time to read and explore. You will find that most if not all of your questions can be answered. If you still have questions, you may email me at jnoyes@rcsdk8.net
What happens if my child needs to quarantine?
According to the Pandemic Recovery Framework, if all parties were wearing a mask in an indoor or outdoor school setting or school bus, students who are unvaccinated and are identified as close contacts, may undergo a modified 10-day quarantine, which includes being able to attend school for in-person learning.
If a student is at home on quarantine they will be not pivoting to "distance learning" but rather will be able to take work at home learning materials. Items will be put together by the staff development team or by the child's teacher.
This is the process RCSD is following in 2021-22 per public health guidelines. The students can continue to attend school if:
- They are asymptomatic;
- They continue to appropriately mask, as required;
- They undergo at least twice weekly testing during the 10-day quarantine; and
- They continue to quarantine for all extracurricular activities at school, including sports, and activities within the community setting.
This public health protocol is very different from last year’s process in which RCSD would move the entire class, including students and adults, from in-person learning to full distance learning.
This school year, public health experts stress the importance of students being on their school campuses learning together with their classmates and teachers for their overall well-being. Experts believe students are safe at school when other mitigation factors, such as masking and ventilation protocols, are in place and especially when transmission typically takes place in the community.
Contact tracing...
The school district will continue with its contact tracking and tracing system first implemented in 2020-21. This public health practice is used to identify and notify individuals who have been exposed to someone with an infectious disease such as COVID-19. Led by the district’s Department of Student Services, the contact tracers will:
- Notify students and/or staff exposed and provide possible next steps.
- Ask about symptoms, vaccination record, and history with COVID-19.
- Provide families with support to help get tested or vaccinated.
Offer supplies, resources, or other support for individuals to quarantine or self-isolate.
COVID Screening Testing
The school district is partnering with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to offer rapid antigen testing to students and employees twice a week at two specific sites--Hoover and Kennedy schools. This is in addition to the community testing available throughout San Mateo County. Student participation is based on parent consent, and fully vaccinated employees participate voluntarily.
All RCSD students and staff from any RCSD school can visit either school for testing.
Hoover and Kennedy
Mondays: 3-5 p.m.
Thursdays: 2:15-4 p.m.
Hoover Community School on Stambaugh St. Outside the gym.
701 Charter St. in Redwood City
Kennedy Middle School on Connecticut Dr.
2521 Goodwin Ave. in Redwood City
One-time registration:
- Students: my.primary.health/r/redwoodcity
- Staff: my.primary.health/l/redwoodcitystaff
i-Ready Testing
i-Ready Testing Windows for Clifford School 2021-2022
September: 09/13 - 09/24
Make-up session: 09/27 - 10/01
December: 11/29 - 12/10
Make-up session: 12/13 - 12/17
March: 03/07 - 03/18
Make-up session: 03/21 - 03/25
What is i-Ready?
i-Ready is an online program for reading and/or mathematics that will help your student’s teacher(s) determine your student’s needs, personalize their learning, and monitor progress throughout the school year. i-Ready allows your teacher(s) to meet your student exactly where they are and provides data to increase your student’s learning gains. i-Ready consists of two parts: Diagnostic and Personalized Instruction.
Learn more about i-Ready by watching this video!
The i-Ready Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment that adjusts its questions to suit your student’s needs. Each item a student sees is individualized based on their answer to the previous question. For example, a series of correct answers will result in slightly harder questions, while a series of incorrect answers will yield slightly easier questions. The purpose of this is not to give your student a score or grade, but instead to determine how best to support your student’s learning.
i-Ready Personalized Instruction provides students with lessons based on their individual skill level and needs, so your student can learn at a pace that is just right for them. These lessons are fun and interactive to keep your student engaged as they learn.
Learn more at the i-Ready Family Center
2020-2021 i-Ready Results will be sent home with your child within the next week or two. Be on the lookout!
Float
Clifford's TK-8th Grade Community Circles and Safe Zones & Peace Corners!
Each classroom at Clifford School is now doing classroom community circle meetings. With consultation of our own Clifford staff experts, our NUA coach, and our mental health therapist!
Learn more about Community Circles!
Safe Zones! Students may see stickers on teachers' doors/windows that state "This is a safe zone". Learn more about safe zones here!
Clifford has peace corners in EVERY classroom! The creation of “peace corners” has been used in some schools to provide a safe, quiet place for students who are stressed or affected by trauma to meditate, reflect and self-regulate their emotions. Learn more about peace corners here! & Here!
National Urban Alliance- Partnership with Clifford School!
Clifford School has had a two year partnership with the National Urban Alliance (NUA). We believe ALL students are gifted and have a voice in their education. We are teaching through the lens of equity and building student and teacher leaders along the way. Our very own teachers, Shannon Cody and Stefanie Eaton and myself presented at the NUA national conference this summer. Thank you to our PTO for the financial support and our teachers for their commitment and leadership. Learn more about NUA here. RCSD Blog W/NUA Summer NUA Conference w/Clifford Teachers!
Building equity consciousness together!
Clifford School
Jude Noyes- Principal
Tiffany Parrish- Assistant Principal
We ARE the most incredible school in the Inner-Planetary Galactic Solar System...
Email: jnoyes@rcsdk8.net
Website: https://www.rcsdk8.net/clifford
Location: 225 Clifford Avenue, Redwood City, CA, USA
Phone: 650.482.2402
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CliffordElementary