Pleasant Lake Pleasantries
April 20, 2020
Together We Learn, Together We Lead!
EVERY CHILD, EVERY DAY!
Every Child, Every Day is our intentional commitment to creating a safe and inclusive culture and community where we:
- Prioritize instruction
- Foster meaningful relationships
- Value and empower each learner
- Create growth opportunities for all
WHAT IS NEW?
A Message from Elementary Principals
We appreciate your patience and understanding on Thursday and Friday when our staff was engaged in professional development about our Continuity of Learning Plan. We also appreciate the hard work of our staff over these two days. They continue to respond to difficult circumstances with resilience, creativity, and teamwork.
On Friday, you received an email from Judy Evola on behalf of Superintendent Gutman. This email introduced our district’s Continuity of Learning (COL) plan. This plan ensures a comprehensive approach to teaching and learning throughout the district during the mandated school closure. We encourage you to:
- Watch this video overview from Superintendent Gutman,
- Review the district’s COL plan, this elementary FAQ document and the resources on our website.
- After you’ve reviewed these documents, you may submit additional questions to info@wlcsd.org
You might be wondering, how will this plan be different than what we’ve been doing?
- We will continue to focus on literacy and math and will introduce new learning about essential skills and concepts in these areas. Science and social studies will be integrated into literacy and math, as appropriate.
- Our PE, Music, Media, and Art teachers will continue to provide learning opportunities for students.
- Our plan addresses the diverse needs of learners including special education services and English learners.
- You may find that there are adjustments to the weekly routine that you’ve gotten used to. We understand that a predictable routine is important to families. A sample routine is available in the above links and routines will be clearly communicated by teachers.
- Our plan also utilizes guidance from the Michigan Department of Education with regards to time allocations for online learning. It is important to recognize that virtual learning at home cannot substitute for daily, in-person instruction. Much of what occurs in our classrooms with the guidance of our highly effective teachers simply cannot be replicated in a virtual setting. Our Continuity of Learning plan details developmentally appropriate time allocations for at-home learning at all levels.
- Elementary students will receive a final report card with narrative feedback regarding their engagement with math and ELA standards over the remaining eight weeks of instruction.
We ask for your continued partnership through the next 8 weeks as we take steps forward during this unprecedented time. Student participation in Google Classroom is highly important as students WILL be exposed to new learning. With that said, we are here to help you and your student every step of the way. Please know that you can continue to count on us to approach this crisis with creativity, connection, and compassion. We will seek creative solutions and prioritize our children’s social-emotional needs. We understand the importance of connection during this difficult time.
Lastly, we understand that our families and staff are juggling many priorities like working from home, caring for family members, and/or financial difficulties. Many of our families are serving our community as healthcare workers, first responders, and essential workers. We promise to be flexible and compassionate with ALL our families. We ask that you extend the same compassion and grace to our staff as they juggle many priorities at home, too.
As Mr. Gutman stated in the above video, “Together we will continue learning, taking care of each other, and supporting every child, every day.”
Virtual Kindergarten Orientation 2020 - 2021
Welcome to Kindergarten!
Parents will have the opportunity to view a Virtual Kindergarten Orientation and enroll their child beginning on Monday, April 27, 2020.
Parents will be emailed the link to this important Virtual Kindergarten Orientation and it will also be linked on the WLCSD webpage on April 27, 2020.
During the week of May 11 - 15, you will be invited by your school's Principal for a Kindergarten Zoom Meet & Greet. Kindergarten teachers and other staff members will be present in the ZOOM meeting to answer your questions and get to know you (this meeting is designed for parents).
ZOOM MEETING - How to Fix if You Can't ZOOM
We are learning that when teachers and students are using Zoom for meetings, some students are not able to participate using their District Chromebooks. We have also learned that the teachers need to adjust some of their settings and parents/students need to also adjust their settings. Below are directions to help fix this at home.
LOON LAKE ELEMENTARY ADDED A FOOD PANTRY
Outside Food Pantry Available
Please stop by Loon Lake Elementary, Mary Helen Guest Elementary, Walled Lake Elementary and/or Wixom Elementary and help yourself to the food/supplies in the Outdoor Food Pantries. The pantries were filled by many other families from across the WLCSD. On behalf of all elementary schools, we cannot thank you enough for your generosity.
Please take what you need. If you would like to help fill the pantry, you can do that as well. We are all committed to taking good care of each other.
We need your help in keeping Food Pantries full. Please click on the link below if you can help!
SHORT SWEET VIDEO
Supportive Strategies for Parents, Teachers, and Leaders
Short and sweet video : Sense of Safety First.
Episode one in a series of 3 minute videos offering strategies to assist leaders, staff and parents during the COVID pandemic.
First Aid For Feelings
Denise Daniels, a leading child development expert, has teamed up with Scholastic and the Yale Child Study Center to help children, families, and educators cope during this pandemic.
First Aid for Feelings: A Workbook to Help Kids Cope During the Coronavirus Pandemic is a free 16-page downloadable workbook available in English and Spanish.
Please click HERE to visit the website and see the PDF below for the workbook.
VITAL RESOURCES FOR HUMAN WELL-BEING
- Building Connectedness and Belonging for Students While School Buildings are Closed:
use tomorrow” strategies, as well as virtual systems that can help you to maintain and foster meaningful relationships virtually (Panorama Ed) - CASEL: SEL resources during COVID Pandemic
- Comprehensive COVID Resources for Schools: Curated by educators all over Oakland County for the Teaching and Learning Council.
- EDUCATOR’S GUIDE TO SUPPORTING THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF STUDENTS: Michigan Department of Education and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services April 2020
- Guidance on Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Remote Education guidance /answers to questions/concerns related to high-leverage teaching and learning practices for equity-based remote education. (New York University Metro Center)
- Helping Students Cope: Gathered resources to help staff and parents support their children during the pandemic. National Association of School Psychologists
- Mental and Behavioral Health Resources in Oakland County: Local resources gathered by a variety of Oakland Schools consultants.
- Michigan Model for Health : Digital curriculum, include modules around SEL
- Moving Beyond the Packet: Creating More Culturally Responsive Distance Learning Experiences: Click on link to access webinar
School SEL Resources: Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence is committed to helping all leaders, educators, students, and families in their effort to build and sustain positive emotional climates.
Tools to Address Trauma Here you will find a number of recommendations for trauma screening and assessment tools and trauma-specific interventions (from Michigan Department of Health and Human Services).
JOIN PRINCIPAL NAYAL MAKTARI'S GOOGLE CLASSROOM
Please join my Google Classroom.
Class Code: 72angg3
I've really enjoyed engaging our students and posting videos for students and parents! Please have your child join today!
RESOURCES-UPDATED EACH WEEK
UPDATED-FOOD DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION
WLCSD Food Distribution
Distribution Date(s) & Time: Mondays 1:45 - 3:00 p.m. or when all the food is distributed.
Where:
- Walled Lake Western High School, 600 Beck Road, Walled Lake
- Walled Lake Central High School, 1600 Oakley Park Road, Walled Lake
Children will receive 7 days of breakfast and 7 days of lunch for all children 18 and under, and adults with disabilities 26 and under.
The meals distributed are provided by the Unanticipated School Closure Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), are available to all children at no cost.
FOOD & FAMILY SUPPORT RESOURCES
IREADY RESOURCES
iREADY FAMILY CENTRAL DURING THIS CLOSURE
Please be sure you visit i-Ready Family Center to learn how you can support your student during the school closure. Family Guides are available in different languages.
GOOGLE CLASSROOM & TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
LITERACY RESOURCES
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL RESOURCES
PLEASANT LAKE ELEMENTARY CONTACT INFORMATION
Nayal Maktari
Principal nayalmaktari@wlcsd.org
Missy Mergner
Principal's Secretary melissamergner@wlcsd.org
Julie Smith
Building Secretary juliesmith@wlcsd.org
Teach The Leader in Me Habits At Home!
Enjoy!
Know What's Going On At Pleasant Lake Elementary!
SKYWARD FAMILY ACCESS
It is critical that parents keep an updated email address and let us know if it changes as soon as possible. Parents may update this information for us on Skyward Family Access. All teachers at Pleasant Lake utilize Skyward Family Access to communicate with parents. Report cards, lunch account information, progress reports, attendance and other important information will always be posted on Skyward Family Access. If you are a new family to Walled Lake Schools or have misplaced or lost your Family Access ID and password, please click HERE to get connected.
PLEASANT LAKE PLEASANTRIES AND SCHOOL WEBSITE
Our school newsletter will be sent electronically to parents once a week. An archive of newsletters is also posted to our school website under the For Parents tab. Our school website can be found HERE. Please visit this page often for information about our school. You will find links to important documents, websites from your child's classroom, PTA forms and information, and important updates and forms that you will need to access.
Please follow us on Twitter @PleasantLakeEl to be updated regularly on important events at our school and fun pictures of student events and learning!
REMIND 101
We also offer Remind 101 to all PLE parents. How does it work? If you would like to receive a quick text message on your cell phone or device, just sign up with us and you receive a quick text to remind you of important school events, deadlines, time frames, etc. at PLE. You can unsubscribe at any time.
To join, send a text to (586) 649-3482 and enter the message @mrmakt
You can opt-out of messages at anytime by replying, 'unsubscribe @mrmakt'.