WFES Newsletter
April 10th, 2020
Online Learning for WFES Students
Latest Update from Superintendent Dr. Welsh
Dear PVSchools Family,
I continue to be impressed with the work being done by everyone in our PVSchools community. As we navigate through these unprecedented times, we have collectively overcome obstacles and developed solutions to best meet the needs of our students and families.
There are a few updates I would like to provide:
- Although Friday, April 10, is a K-12 recess day, we will continue to provide free meals at all of our 12 sites. Please visit the district website, www.pvschools.net/covid19 for details regarding locations and times for meal pickup.
- Beginning Monday, April 13, hours for our meal distribution sites will change to 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in order to help our families balance distance learning schedules.
- Additionally, based on changes from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), starting Monday, April 13, families will be able to pick-up free meals without having children accompany them. Families will need to present student school-issued IDs, report cards, or answer verifying questions such as student’s name, date of birth, or student ID number.
- As a reminder, printed educational resource packets for K-6 and middle school students will be available on Monday, April 13, for students who may not have the ability to participate in online learning. Packets continue to be available every two weeks on Mondays during our free meal distribution times and locations. Visit distancing.pvschools.net to find details regarding the pick-up locations or to print the packets.
- As you may be aware, while easy to use, Zoom has experienced various security issues. The platform does not ensure the safe communications we seek with our students and families. WebEx and Google Hangouts Meet are the District-approved and supported platforms for video conferencing communication with our PreK-12 students, employees, and families.
Visit the PVSchools website at www.pvschools.net/covid19 as updated information continues to be added.
Please continue to check your email for communication from your child’s school and our weekly Wednesday communications.
Sincerely,
Jesse Welsh, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Field Trip Reimbursement Information
We know that many families are interested in and have reached out about receiving a refund for field trips, activities, and other fees for programs that were canceled as a result of school closure due to COVID-19. While we want to support families with these requests, this is a complex process that will take time to manage. In many cases, money was paid to the vendor or in the form of salaries, so the funds may not be available to refund. We also have legal questions to clear regarding tax credit funds and other issues. Given these questions and the volume of families potentially eligible for a refund, it will likely take a few months before it is determined what can be refunded and to issue refunds that are possible. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Student Personal Item Collection
STUGO Elections
2020-2021 Student Government Elections - ATTENTION 5TH-GRADE STUDENTS AND PARENTS
We are looking for our next student leaders at WFES! If you are a 5th-grade student (or the parent of one) who is interested in being elected to the Student Government Executive Board (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Chief of Communications), the following information is for you!
- Monday, April 13th: Google Meets information meeting at12:00 PM for students to ask questions about the application process - a link will be sent to all 5th-grade students.
- Friday, April 17th: Online Applications Due
- Monday, April 20th: Google Meets meeting at 12:30 PM for students who applied - a link will be sent to all students that apply
- Friday, April 24th: Speeches and videos due to Mrs. Sanborn and Ms. Shoenhair
- Tuesday, April 28th: Election Day
Technology Needs
Chromebook Check Out
Enrollment Information
How to Enroll at WFES for the 2020-2021 School Year During the School Closure
We are still accepting enrollments for the 2020-2021 school year.
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.
Class Rosters for the 2020-2021 School
We are currently working on creating our class rosters for the 2020-2021 school year. Information provided by parents will help our placement teams create class rosters. Please know our placement teams strive and work hard to create balanced classes that give all students an environment where they can thrive and class rosters are created prior to being assigned to a specific teacher. Parent input is just one of many factors used to determine a student's class placement. We respectfully request that parents do not specify a certain teacher or request to not have a certain teacher, as those requests cannot be honored.
We also ask that parents do not contact the teachers directly with placement requests.
Move-Up Day
Online Learning Resources
Online Learning Resources
The Paradise Valley School District and Wildfire Elementary Schools provides supplemental and instructional resources, for students, parents, and teachers. Online instruction will primarily use the following resources of GSuite (Google tools), Google Classroom, WebEx, and Infinite Campus. Teachers will also contact you regarding supplemental tools they will be using to support learning.
What you need to know.
Due to the statewide closure of all schools, learning must be moved to online and distance learning models. This site provides the starting point for students, parents, and teachers to work together to continue learning.
Stay safe by:
Practicing good hygiene, including washing hands frequently, coughing and sneezing into your elbow
Practicing social distancing by staying at least 6 feet from others
Practicing good online hygiene by guarding your password
We can't be physically with you, but by using technology and providing delivery of physical resources where needed, ALL students can continue to learn. ALL teachers can continue to teach. ALL schools can continue to function.
What PVSchools is doing about it.
PV is providing both online and paper supplemental resources (at select drop locations) beginning the week of March 30.
PV will be providing online instruction for most students, and paper resources for some students as needed.
What you need to do about it.
Students can securely get to their online communication (Gmail, Google Classroom) and curricular resources at auth.pvschools.net.
Teachers and students can then connect online.
Some Special Education students and very young children may need help if online resources require authentication.
Teachers and parents have access to student grades, usernames, and passwords. Login into the Infinite Campus parent portal at portal.pvschools.net and select more from the menu to see your students’ passwords.
Helpful Online Resources
Social and Emotional Resources
- Read the Arizona Department of Child Safety's top 10 tips for parents (PDF).
- View contacts and resources for Social Workers (PDF).
- View links and resources for social and emotional learning (SEL) during COVID-19 (PDF).
- View the United Parent Council's resource list (PDF).
View the CDC's Talking with Children about Coronavirus guide.
- Browse the National Association of School Psychologists' health crisis resources.
- Explore resources from Teen Lifeline.
Math Resources For Help At Home
Math Family Resource Website: https://sites.google.com/pvlearners.net/family-resources/home
Homework Helper: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8GkYGS888IicU5JVzFLRnhIcWlqY1lvOThXZXdQRl9taXJF/view
Meals
Paradise Valley has developed a plan to ensure our students who participate in our nutrition program will continue to be able to access meals: PVSchools Nutrition & Wellness will provide free meals to any child 18 years of age or younger, regardless of application status or school enrollment. Per USDA regulations, children must be present at the time of pick-up for meals to be provided.
Also: Beginning Monday, April 13, hours for our meal distribution sites will change to 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in order to help our families balance distance learning schedules.
Locations and details can be found in the following document.
UPC Webinar Event: Your Home Climate During the COVID-19 Outbreak
The United Parent Council is excited to announce an interactive program you can participate in from the comfort of your home! We know these are difficult times for all and our hope is that this program will provide you with some tools and support to create a positive "home climate" for you and your family. Upon registration, you will also have the opportunity to send questions to the presenter in advance. Please feel free to share with friends who may be interested.
In this Webinar, we will address how to create a positive "home climate" to promote learning, prevent stress, and protect your children against cyberbullying during the COVID-19 outbreak. What is a "home climate"? Based on research about "school climates," a "home climate" is the safety, interpersonal relationships, teaching and learning practices, and surroundings of the home learning environment. A positive home climate is crucial for emotional and mental well-being, achievement and satisfaction.
Please register in advance to receive your access code for the webinar:
Human Growth and Development Curriculum
2020 Census
Please be sure to fill out your census and help our state and schools receive the funding we need.
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!
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