Bay Vista Bulletin
April 2020
Principal's Message-Staying Connected to Teachers and Peers on Microsoft Teams
I know this is a time of uncertainty for many of us, as these past few weeks have truly changed our lives in a way none of us could have expected. Please know that our Bay Vista Fundamental Jaguar Community remains strong and intact to support you and your children. Now more than ever, it is vital that our Jaguars maintain their continued connection to their teachers and peers. The connection to their classroom communities is valuable to their social and emotional well-being, which is equally as important as their ongoing academic growth. As we have made our transition to digital learning, I want each of you to know that the safety and learning of your child is of the utmost importance. While our school building may be closed, learning will continue and we are here to support all of our Jaguars and stay connected!
We will continue our digital learning through at least May 1st. Our first week of online learning began with some technical difficulties, but with each day those challenges diminished. As teachers and families become more familiar with Microsoft Teams, I expect a smooth transition to our new way or work.
During this time, our goal is for students and families to access grade level, academic enrichment activities, and get to know the digital platforms that are available through our Digital Learning Students and Families webpage.
Course/class specific assignments are being developed and led by our teachers utilizing the Microsoft 365 Teams (Microsoft Teams) platform. On Microsoft Teams, your student’s teacher(s) will be able to give class specific lessons and messages directly to their students.
We want to assist our families in this transition to digital learning and make this change as easy as possible. All resources for students and families, including frequently asked questions and how-to tutorials, are available on our dedicated webpage for Digital Learning for Students and Families. To prepare, students and families can:
- Review the Digital Learning Students and Families webpage and resources (https://www.pcsb.org/Page/32734)
- Ensure you know your student’s R2D2 number and password so they can log-in to digital learning environments. If you or your student do not know their R2D2 number, please contact our Digital Learning Helpline at 727-588-6060.
Please remember there is no school on Friday, April 10th.
The PCS Food and Nutrition Team will be distributing free meals at select schools for Pinellas County Schools students ages 18 and younger. From March 23 through April 15, each location will serve a Lunch and Breakfast (for the next day) together in a single bag. Child/Teen must be present to receive meals. Meals will be served as ‘Drive-Thru” at the Car/Bus circle, and for ‘Walkers,’ it will be near the main entrance of school. For available pick-up times, please see the attachment. Beginning April 13th through May 1st, schools will distribute Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; two-days-worth of meals per distribution day (2 breakfasts and 2 lunches).
Our teachers and staff have been working hard to prepare for our digital learning communities! We distributed over 200 computers to our Jaguars this month and many more obtained digital devices from one of the district's distribution sites! It has been exciting to see our students and families working so diligently as we adjust to our "new normal". Together, we will continue to grow and support one another on this journey.
Donna Hall, Principal
Teacher Office Hours
Please encourage our Jaguars to take their time and reach out to their teachers with any questions. Teachers are available online in their class chat channel for questions or clarification between 9:30-11:30 and again from 1:30-3:30.
Join Our Rainbow Drawing Initiative to Spread Hope
As the world is battling the COVID-19 outbreak that the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic, children are putting up colorful rainbow artwork on their homes to show gratitude and support amid this pandemic.
(Pictured) 5-year-old Charlie Rose places a drawing of a rainbow in her front window as schools remain closed. I hope you will join in this effort to demonstrate our thankfulness and support during this time! Please share your Jaguar's creation with your teacher!
Remaining Parent Meeting Credit Opportunities and Upcoming IAC Meetings
Considering our current health situation and for the safety and well-being of our extended Jaguar Family, I have waived all the parental meeting requirements for the month of March and April without danger of violating your Fundamental School General Membership Contract. If you have already participated in a March general membership meeting activity, I thank you.
All family engagement activities on our 2019/20 PTA Family Calendar are suspended indefinitely at this time.
All IAC meetings scheduled for March and April will be rescheduled over the coming weeks or over the summer months.
Need a Digital Device for Online Learning?
o Digital Device Needs:
o For families needing a digital device, internet access or repair support, please contact our front office at (727) 893-2335 for further assistance.
o WiFi Access: Thanks to Spectrum, free WiFi will be provided to all students. For students to enroll, they will need to call 1-844-488-8395. All installation fees will be waived for new student households. WiFi hotspots across Spectrum’s footprint will also be available for public use.
Student of the Month - Congratulations to all of our March Students of the Month
Our Commitment to Character trait for the month was Honesty
Diondre T - Begany
Quinn T - Cohn
Victoria W - Draughon
Ashton M - Moyer
Deandre R - Muehleck
Taylor B - Rothenberger
Andrew N - Baez
Alivia P - Bradley
Keiara D - Griffin
Jah'daveon N - Joseph
Dariyanah B - Michalik
Marlee C - Mullaney
Ben L - Cianca
Talula O - Denbigh
Andre S - Jennings
Christian M - LaPointe
Madison S - Ramsey
Jake T - Wooten
Colton J - Blaine
Michael H - Cullen
Owen B - Griffis
Owen M - Kaddis
Janiya W - Nicholson
Kevin P - Tackett
Damoni M - Goss
Akeira W - Randolph
Simon Z - Riley
Adrienne H - Ruffing
Max F - Strawmyer
Chase M - Bacon
Ciara W - Finch
Slade N - Flint
Devin X - Gurd
Ca'vali J - White
Raymond T - ESE
Dakota F - PE
Celiya G - PE
Arianna J - PE
Jy'air W - Music
Audrianna F - Art
Amora J - QUEST
Dean M - QUEST
Kindergarten News
It is incredible how much things can change in one week? But isn’t it inspiring to see the changes we can make happen by working together? We have gone from classrooms in buildings, to Digital Learning for 650 students in two weeks. This includes 103 five and six year old kindergartners! We would have never thought that Digital Learning for kindergarteners would work. But it is working because of the great support we are getting from our families and extended families. We can’t thank you enough for the tremendous job you are doing.
Even with parents working, we are seeing creative work from our kids and they are still enjoying learning. Parents have taken children on nature walks and shape hunts, and kids got to watch a Free Concert by Jack Hartmann. They have been able to dance and sing and do Art and Music as if they were still on our school campus.
Everyone is becoming more computer savvy each day. The kids are finding books in MyOn, taking the April ISIP test in I Station, using CODE, Dreambox, iReady, and Brain Pop, Jr. apps on their computers. In addition to all this, families are finding time to spend reading great books with their children.
Thank you for all you are doing to be so supportive of your children and their teachers. We understand that this is a stressful time for everyone and we will be there to support you too!
First Grade Frolics
A big thank you to all First grade families during this transition and new journey with student digital online learning!
During the first couple of weeks this month, we will continue to enrich lessons taught in all subject areas; reviewing some of our famous fictional authors like Ezra Jack Keats and Kevin Henkes, money/time/greater than-less than, and using your senses. The last three weeks we will introduce new content from Module F, readers thinking deeper about their books and writing realistic stories creating their own character, events, problems and solutions.
In math, we will start Unit 5, ordering objects by length.
In science, we will start basic needs and all about plants.
Remember during this new way of learning that it is just as important for our first graders to take care of their social and emotional health. Try reading outside, cooking with a new recipe, learn a dance, or do household chores together. Stay well and wash your hands!
Love,
First grade teachers.
Second Grade Updates
Who would have thought this is where we would be in April? We are sure you have heard this said repeatedly. The Second Grade teachers want you to know how much we miss our kids. We miss their sweet smiles greeting us daily, our classes filled with learning, and even the extra chatter. It’s funny how you take those little things for granted? We appreciate how much you are working to keep your children engaged in learning with this new platform of instruction. We want you to know we are working hard to plan meaningful lessons. Thank you for your patience and please reach out to your child’s teacher with any questions and concerns. We’re here for you!
Third Grade Thoughts
Math News
Third graders are starting Unit 6 – Geometry. This unit involves describing, comparing, and grouping shapes and the different quadrilaterals, by sides or angles. Students will also solve problems involving perimeter and area and divide rectangles into parts with equal area and name the shaded pars using unit fractions.
Science News-
In science we are finishing up our unit on Parts of a Plant. Next week we will begin learning about how plants respond to different stimuli to meet their basic needs and what plants need to make their own food. Take a walk outside to see the beautiful flowering plants. Stay curious and take this time to learn more about what interests you. Maybe plan an experiment and do it. There is so much at your fingertips.
ELA News
3rd graders are working on the book The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. They are working to get comfortable with our new digital platform, Microsoft Teams, so they can become independent "virtual" learners.
Some Good News From Our QUEST Students!
We are happy to share some good news especially during this time. Our annual community service efforts in the gifted program were a huge success this year! We are proud to announce that the entire program raised $4,345.69 for various charities and organizations. They also collected close to 1,300 items for donation for pet shelters, homeless services, children's organizations, and more. What we are most proud of is the hours the students spent giving their time and volunteering for these organizations that are close to their hearts. Our students spent over 920 hours for the greater good of our community! Next week, through digital learning, our students will have a chance to extend their kindness to those around them in these uncertain times. Be on the lookout for your kindness mission!
~Mrs. Webb and Mrs. Gertsch
Art Update from Mrs.Morrison
Bay Vista Virtual Art Class is going great! Students from all grade levels are starting to upload their “Found Object Geometric and Organic Shapes” in TEAMS. It has been a tricky start, but I’m glad we’ll be using TEAMS for all our communications and lesson activities. I can see where this is going to be a good system for our Way of Work.
This first ungraded assignment was a terrific practice for us to learn creative ways to make art at home. Of course, it was also a good way to get used to the new procedures for communicating and uploading our art.
We also have been celebrating Virtual Spirit Week with lots of fun photos being sent in by our students, as they dress up and participate with the theme for each day. I am so proud of the way students and families have been able to stay so positive through this challenging transition. NOW – looking forward – please save all the paper you can from mail, etc., for some future assignments which might involve drawing and collage.
According to COVID-19 Guidelines, you may want to let your mail sit for 24 hours before you bring it into the house. When you go through any mail or packages that are coming in from outside, you may want to wear gloves as well. I only know all this because my mama told me. 😊
Listen to you parents, kiddos, they know stuff!!!
Happy Arting!!
Fourth Grade Fun
In 4th grade, Digital Learning is getting smoother and smoother with each day! Our students are working so hard and are doing a fabulous job.
ELA
We began a new chapter book this month. It is called Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm.
Science
Life Science is the unit we are studying this month. It is the last unit of the school year. Currently, we are learning about flowers, plants and pollination.
Math
We are working on multiplying fractions will whole numbers. We will begin decimals soon!
P.E. has Gone Digital
The P.E. Department would like to congratulate all our Jaguars and parents for enduring the first week of virtual learning. Keep up the good work and continued learning. We miss you and hope you all are well and healthy!
And remember, don’t forget to do the three exercise videos we upload each week.
Music News
Classroom teachers will include the music assignment from Mrs. Boyce or Mrs.Thompson in their weekly newsletter. If you have any questions about music, please email Mrs. Boyce directly at boycec@pcsb.org or thompsonsara@pcsb.org.
What's Up in Fifth Grade?
Greetings parents,
We are very proud of our 5th graders and very grateful for your support at home. We know that this has been a challenging few weeks and truly appreciate your help and understanding.
We are learning right alongside our students how to navigate this new way of learning. And while the downsides are pretty evident, we feel that this way of digital learning will allow us to ‘work with’ our students at their individual levels and get them to where they want to be going into next year. The truth is that our students are going to get out of this what they put in, if they are able to embrace this way of learning and push themselves this could be a great opportunity to get ahead.
Thank you again for your help at home, stay safe and stay well,
5th Grade Team