At Highcroft, we help learners grow in a safe, caring community where ALL are valued and supported to become leaders.

April

• April 13 - April 18: Online Auction, closes Saturday 4/18/20 at 9:00 pm
• April 13 - May 22: Virtual Learning, Building Closed
• April 13 - April 24: Virtual Book Fair, access the Book Fair by going to: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/highcroftridgeelemschool
• April 16: Spirit Day - Sunglasses Day
• April 17: No eLearning School on Fridays
• April 23: Spirit Day - Backwards Day (wear your clothes backward)
• April 24: No eLearning School on Fridays
• April 30: Spirit Day - Character Day (dress like your favorite book, movie or TV character)

Greetings,

The announcement that schools would remain closed and eLearning would continue the remainder of the school year was disheartening for me. I have to admit I cried. I cried for the fifth-graders who will not have these final days at Highcroft, surrounded by their peers and teachers who care for them. I cried for the staff members who are not returning next year, missing out on making those final memories at Highcroft. Selfishly, I cried for me. I miss greeting my babies in the morning and wishing them well at night. I miss the hugs I receive when I walk down the halls and into classrooms. I miss watching amazing teachers in their element; teaching like their hair is on fire! I miss seeing parents pop in and visit as they have lunch with their child or volunteer. I miss my work wife and Highcroft family.

After I allowed myself to mourn what should have been, I did what I have always done to get myself through tough times; I started to count my blessings! My immediate and extended family are well, and for that, I am grateful. Google Meet has provided a platform for me to see and talk with students and staff. Students can still engage in learning opportunities, and when I was a little girl, none of this could happen. How lucky are we to be a part of such an amazing community, one in which we are working so hard to remain connected!

While this situation is not ideal, we are doing what we do best, coming together as a family and making the most of it! Yes, things will look different, but we will celebrate our fifth graders and our staff members who are not returning. When it is safe for us to gather, we will have a celebration together.

I leave you with the following quotes on which I have reflected over the past week. “No matter how bleak or menacing a situation may appear, it does not entirely own us. It can’t take away our freedom to respond, our power to take action.” — Ryder Carroll

“Difficult times have helped me to understand better than before, how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way, and that so many things that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever.” — Zahid Abas

While this time may feel bleak, there is so much beauty in our personal, Highcroft, and Parkway families! Please know that we are here for you. If you need us, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Be well,

Cartelia Lucas

Principal

clucas@parkwayschools.net

Cindy Beeler Grades K,1,2,4 cbeeler@parkwayschools.net

Scharma Banks Grades 3,5 sbanks@parkwayschools.net

Hello to our Highcroft family. Our hope is that you are doing well as you continue to navigate through eLearning. Please know that you can reach out to us for social/emotional resources and support. You may contact us through our emails. Students can check-in with us using this google form. Counselor Check In

Coping Tool for Children

Learning to respect the boundaries of others while spending so much time together helps to develop healthy family interactions. Hurt feelings, sibling squabbles, and frustrations are bound to happen, especially during a huge increase in shared time. Adults in the home can help facilitate “time to myself” routines that allow family members to set boundaries. Attached is a handout/visual on how to structure those conversations and set up “time to myself”, so that families can find their peaceful balance. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Pmfwh08LisRIGuJLRREmz89-1JOjSwMK/view?usp=sharing

Guidance for Parents

Many times a child's feelings, such as sadness, can be disguised as other feelings or behaviors. Below is a visual of how sadness can look in children, especially during this time that we are experiencing. Please reach out to us if we can be of assistance in helping your child(ren) process any feelings they are having.

Hello and welcome to a different kind of Art News!

I hope that you have had a chance to check out the Art Course on Schoology. I have posted a project for each week that should take between 30-45 minutes to complete. They are in the folder called, Assignments. Please send me a photo or a video so I can see all of your creative artwork.

Week 1 was Kindness Posters

Week 2 Unique Collages

Week 3 Sculpture

I have also posted some other fun activities and websites including: interactive art websites, DIY art supplies, Virtual tours of Art Museums, and some of our favorite videos.

Please check out the new folders, More Videos We Love (cake decorating, The Tiny Chef Show, and The Pink Panther) and Fun Stuff (paper airplanes and Origami instruction).

I have enjoyed the Google meets/Art Chats with each class. I loved getting to catch up with so many of you. I will be taking a break for a couple of weeks because I had to have eye surgery on Friday. It is a follow up surgery from the one I had in December and its one step closer to feeling better. I will look forward to seeing you all soon.

I will be putting weekly assignments in the Assignment folder for the next couple of weeks.

Please continue to send me photos and videos of you and your projects. I will get back to you as soon as I am able.

Stay well!

TO ALL PARENTS AND STUDENTS - If you would like to work with me on any type project, or need additional resources for anything, please let me know! I would love the opportunity to learn with you. I will do what I can to engage, support, and have fun! We are ALL in this together:-)

MATH PLUS Grades 4-5 - The Math Olympiad official rules do not allow for any of their material to be put online. We may not take the last test until we return to school. If it is too late for this school year, they will rank scores based on the four contests they do have. We will still get our trophies and other awards. As soon as we know a return date for school, we can proceed:-)

First Grade - We will resume testing when we return to school:-)

Second Grade - We are enjoying our class meetings! It is fun to see each other at home, meet pets, and show some of our projects. Students share other work in our Google Classroom.

Third Grade - I am looking forward to seeing these friends soon. Our class meeting is at 10:30 on Mondays. The link is in Schoology under the assignment, Let’s talk! If you are in MOSAICS full time, please join me as soon as you can:-)

Fourth Grade - Students are preparing a slide show to present at our next meeting! It is amazing how much we have all learned to do! We are excited about what we can do, and eager to continue eLearning and using our new skills for independent and collaborative projects.

Fifth Grade - So far, one of our favorite things to do is play 24 at our meetings! It has been great to see everyone who has been able to attend our class so far. If you have not, and are in MOSAICS full time, please join us using the link in Schoology next Tuesday at 10:30.

Closing Thought -

Conversations will not be cancelled. Relationships will not be cancelled. Love will not be cancelled. Songs will not be cancelled. Reading will not be cancelled. Hope will not be cancelled. Nothing can stop us from finding a way to be here for each other, and get through whatever comes our way together. I look forward to seeing you soon, send out my love, and pray for your safety and wellness:-)