Bethel Springs Elementary School
March 30, 2020
Just in case you missed it earlier . . .
Thank you!
Mr. Piasecki and Mrs. Allen
Online Learning
Parents can check if Seesaw and/or Schoology is experiencing issues by clicking links below:
Due to the increased usage around the world, both of these platforms may experience issues from time to time. GVSD personnel will work from our end to keep online learning going as smoothly as possible. Let's continue to communicate with one another.
Please be mindful that this is a new learning forum for most--kids, parents, teachers, and principals! We will work our way through it together with patience, kindness, and understanding toward all! We will find our groove in the new normal!
Our teachers will be available during regular school hours to communicate with parents through e-mail (use Gmail). Teachers will try to answer parent e-mails within 24 hours. We ask for your patience and understanding. Teachers' priority is the communication with their students about their learning, but we also want to help our parents through this process.
During the school day each of our grade level team of teachers will need time to collaborate and plan with one another. Each grade level has chosen a time to engage in this collaboration:
Grade 1 11:30-12:30
Grade 2 11:00-12:00
Grade 3 10:00-11:00
Grade 4 12:30-1:30
Grade 5 12;30-1:30
So, especially for your child's understanding, teachers may not be responding to questions or concerns at this time of day because they are trying to plan and organize instruction with their colleagues. They will respond as soon as they can when their collaboration time is finished.
All assignments issued by teachers, including our special area teachers (PE, Health, Art, Music, Library Skills, Developmental Guidance, Book Smarts) are required to be completed. Students will have extended time to complete assignments. For example, assignments issued for the week of 3/30 to 4/3 will be due by noon on Friday, April 10th.
Independent reading should be a part of every student's day. Below are minimum expectations for daily reading:
Grade 1: 20 minutes
Grade 2: 20 minutes
Grade 3: 20-30 minutes
Grade 4: 30 minutes
Grade 5: 30 minutes
If students finish assignments and you are looking for more learning resources, click link below:
https://www.garnetvalleycurriculum.com/instructional-resources
Thank you for your help in getting online learning off the ground. Now, more than ever, parents are key partners in their children's success!
Current Schedule for On-line Learning
Latest Update from Dr. Bertrando (Friday 3/27/20)
Dear Parents,
Please take the time to watch this five minute video by clicking here. Also, after watching the video, we suggest that you read through the Parent Checklist below as we get ready to “go live” with online learning on Monday.
Parent Checklist for Online Learning:
- Complete the Web Conference Permission Form. Completion of this form is mandatory for parents with students in grades 1 to 12. If you have not already, please click here to complete the form. Parents of Kindergarten children are not required to complete the form at this time as most of their teachers are not currently using electronic platforms. If that changes, we will reach out to those parents directly.
- Read the Online Instruction FAQs for Students and Parents by clicking here. It’s five pages long, but it’s important that you read it. The document will give you all of the information that you will need to assist your children.
- Conduct a family meeting to create a schedule of when learning will take place and designate an “at home office/classroom” that is quiet but accessible to parents–especially for younger children.
- As a first family learning activity, ask your children to show you how they access Schoology and/or Seesaw. Have them show you how they navigate through the learning management systems to access their learning.
As we prepare to hit restart on the 2019-20 school year, let’s continue to work together respectfully, empathically, and inclusively as we advocate for our children during these complex times.
Finally, remember there are folks in our community that need our support. You can help by using the GV-CTC Venmo account: @GVCTC. If you are asked, the 4 digit code is 3706. Jennifer Tront, GV-CTC Treasurer, owns the account, so you will see her name appear. Donations can also be made through MySchoolBucks by clicking here or by signing into your Myschoolbucks account and selecting the GVCTC donation item in the school store menu.
Sincerely,
Dr. Marc Bertrando, Superintendent
Technology Assistance for Students and Parents
This is taken directly from communications from Dr. Bertrando:
Q. If I have a technical problem or question, who should I contact?
For all technical problems or questions, click (HERE) to fill out the tech support form. A member of our tech team will contact you after you submit the form.
Attendance during Online Learning
This information is contained in communication sent from Dr. Bertrando, but, again, we want to delineate it here for emphasis.
Attendance will be reported on a weekly basis. A student in grades K-5 will be considered present when a completed parental verification of attendance is received. The form will be emailed on a weekly basis to parents. The first form will be emailed to you on Monday, April 6th to confirm attendance for the week of March 30th to April 3rd. This verification form includes a space for you to indicate a reason for missed days of “school.”
Again, the form will be emailed from Mr. Piasecki or Mrs. Allen each week. They, along with our secretary Mrs. Sheehan, will keep track of attendance. Thank you for your assistance!
Important Information From Our School Nurse
Attention Parents of 2nd and 5th Grade Students
The School Health Act of Pennsylvania requires a dental examination for all third grade students and a physical exam for all sixth grade students.
It is recommended that this examination be done by your family dentist/doctor since he/she can best evaluate your child’s needs and assist you in obtaining necessary treatment.
If your child has had a dental/physical exam as recently as September of 2019, please have the attached form completed for that visit. If not, please take the appropriate form when you go for your next scheduled appointment and return the completed form to school by September 30th of the upcoming school year.
Thank you in advance for your assistance and cooperation in completing this requirement.
Below is the link to the Physical Examination form:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ii4MDmpi7FBSTrQHCDK0KiABZkCOcOkR/view?usp=sharing
Below is the link to the Dental Examination form:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mC80AEwod7uI4uxDUwLzUGiDcpPyRIUh/view?usp=sharing
Adjustments to School Calendar
As we gain a better idea of when we might return to school, we will decide which events/programs will remain, be canceled, or be postponed. Stay tuned.
New Tentative Dates for Shrek, Jr.
With the possibility of our time out of school being extended, we are setting new tentative dates for the performance of our school play. Fingers crossed!
Tuesday June 2
1:30 School Performance; 7:00 Evening Performance
Wednesday, June 3
7:00 Evening Performance
Important Updates From Our Home and School Association
IMPORTANT 2019-2020 YEARBOOK INFO FOR ALL STUDENTS AND PARENTS: In this time of uncertainty, we're not 100% sure how the yearbook, let alone the school year, will shake out. Each year we have worked to make the yearbook a true snapshot of what was happening at that time, and this year should be no different, regardless of the circumstances.
So let's forge ahead and capture this super weird time in the 2019-2020 Yearbook! It is likely that we will be missing some of our usual events, but YOU CAN HELP! Please take pictures of your kids working from home on their GVSD devices, practicing good social distancing by Facetiming with friends, staying active, and playing outside (outside pictures are the best!). Send your favorite and best pictures to bsesyearbook@gmail.com, and please email the same address with any questions.
Look for more details coming soon about how the yearbook ordering process will work this year!
CALLING ALL 5TH GRADE STUDENTS AND PARENTS: You may or may not have received this LETTER before school closed, but it is chock full of information about all things 5th Grade for the Yearbook and the Video including the following details with some changes based on the current sitch:
Yearbook Cover Contest: All 5th graders are invited to enter the Yearbook Cover Contest to create the cover for the 2019-2020 BSES Yearbook. Two winners will be selected (front and back covers), and each will receive a free yearbook!! Check out all the deets in the Submission Form. (Please note that the deadline on the form is Friday, March 27th, but we just confirmed an extension with Barksdale to Friday, April 3rd!)
**HOW TO SUBMIT AN ENTRY: Since obviously sending the entries to school isn't going to work any time soon, you can choose between these two options:
Electronically: If you have access to a scanner, scan your child's submission as a jpg or pdf, and send it via email to bsesyearbook@gmail.com.
Hard Copy: No scanner, no problem! If you would like to submit a hard copy of your child's entry, please email bsesyearbook@gmail.com, and we will work out the logistics.
**NOTE: If your child already sent an entry to school, please email bsesyearbook@gmail.com with your information.
5th Grade Questionnaire: Looking for something for your 5th grader to do? Make sure your 5th grader has filled out their QUESTIONNAIRE for the yearbook!
Baby/Group Picture Submissions: And then if YOU need something to do too, check out the BABY/GROUP PICTURE SUBMISSION FORM in order to complete these submissions to the yearbook. If you are unable to submit your photos electronically, please email bsesyearbook@gmail.com, and we'll work out the logistics.
This information and more can be found on the 5th Grade Events and Submissions Page of the BSES HSA Website.
For the most up to date information, check out the BSES HSA Website!
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