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Henry Ford School Newsletter, April 19, 2021
Principal's Message
Dear Henry Ford Families,
I want to extend my appreciation for everyone's cooperation, patience, and help during our morning check in for In-Person Teaching. It seems that everyone has the routines down, and we are experiencing a smoother drop off and pick up of students. One thing that helps is arriving at the designated times for the start of the day. Also, picking up students on time and not earlier helps alleviate congestion during the 11:00 AM or 11:15 AM release times. With the additional amount of students who start in the afternoon arriving as early as 11:30 AM to have lunch, it helps to alleviate traffic when folks don't arrive earlier. Unless the student is eating lunch at school before class, students should arrive between 11:45 AM - 11:55 AM for a 12 noon start time.
If your child has returned to In-Person Teaching, don't forget that your child may be tested free for COVID. The Curative Test is a non-invasive mouth swab. Parents of K-1 students should help to administer the tests here at school. Parents of students in 2-3 grades should administer the first test to be sure their child understands the process and to feel comfortable. For students of 4-5 grades, they are able to administer the test themselves after the parents watch a video with their child. Nurses do not administered the Curative COVID Test. We also have the COVID Rapid Test that is administer by our nurses here on campus to both staff and students.
If you choose to have your child tested, please click on the links below to authorize testing. Please print, sign, and bring the form to the first appointment. Curative testing by parents is on Mondays or Tuesdays Please call the office to make an appointment: 650-482-2404.
Before your appointment, please watch the following video so that you can help your child with their test.
Also, you may be aware that our teachers were able to adjust their schedules based on the feedback we received from families regarding their desire for their child to return to In-Person Teaching. Each grade level's offering may look different. Some teachers are only providing In-Person Teaching, others are only doing Distance Teaching for their grade level, while still others were able to offer both In-Person and Distance Teaching. A few of our teachers have opted to do simultaneous instruction of In-Person and Distance. This is more challenging, and some of your children may have experienced some of the issues associated with this type of instruction.
Our teachers had an opportunity to learn some of the teaching strategies for simultaneous instruction through a recent Professional Development training offered by Doug Fisher. He shared helpful techniques to maximize this type of instruction when teachers are delivering instruction to both groups of students at the same time. Concurrent Hybrid Teaching as it is also known, can be a powerful way to engage the whole class. Students in this teaching scenario are referred to by Mr. Fisher as "Zoomie" and "Roomies." Again, since it is challenging, we appreciate your patience with some of our upper-grade teachers who are fine tuning this instructional methodology to benefit all their students.
On another note, everyone is probably aware that San Mateo County moved into a less restricted Orange Tier of COVID 19 cases. They have also announced that social distances in the classroom may be scaled back to 3-feet. As a result, some of our classrooms may adopt the 3-feet rule to allow more students in the classroom or to allow some classrooms to offer a more extended school day for their students. However, the 3-feet rule doesn't apply when students are eating. Because their masks must be removed for eating, students must continue to adhere to the 6-feet rule during snack and lunch times.
Again, my appreciation for everyone's continual help and support as we move forward through the last eight weeks of school.
Sincerely,
Al Rosell, Ed.D., Principal
Note — For additional information, visit our school's website, the PTA webpage! and our Facebook
— APRIL EVENTS —
21, Wednesday, Writing Challenge Winners - Assembly, 9:00 AM
21, Wednesday, RCSD Board Meeting, 7:00 PM
23, Friday, Spirit Day - Wear your Mustang shirts/ sweatshirts or School royal blue
27, Tuesday, School Site Council, 4:00 PM
28, Wednesday, Super Citizen - Student of the Month - Assembly
30, Friday, Principal's Virtual Coffee Meeting with Parents, 9:00 AM
30, Friday, First Day of Spring Fundraiser
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -SPIRIT DAYS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Student Council Announces Spirit Days starting this Friday
Friday, April 23, — Mustang Day. Wear your Mustang Shirts, Sweatshirts, or School Royal Blue
Friday, April 30, — Favorite Color Day, wear your favorite color
APRIL SUPER CITIZENS . . . . . . . . . . . . . STUDENTS OF THE MONTH
FIRST Graders. . . SECOND Graders . . . . THIRD Graders
Owen M. . . . . . . . .Elisabeth L . . . . . . . . . . Reese R.
Cameron P. . . . . . .Kenia C . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chrisangel T.
Bella P. . . . . . . . . . Louie O. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lyla L.
Quin B. . . . . . . . . . Brittany P. . . . . . . . . . . .Jaskamalpreet K.
Emiliano N. . . . . . .Brianna . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jolina U.
Jose N. . . . . . . . . . Mia A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Max J.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Makai P.
FOURTH Graders . . . . . . . . . FIFTH Graders
Athan H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Emily R.
Daniel L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Yoshart C.
Gianna C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Noel C.
Bryan T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gisela S.
Cristopher M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Valeria G
Camilia V. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Katrina B.
Anthony M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Anthony S.
Principal Advisory Committee (PAC) Update
We want to thank all the members of the PAC who met for the first time last week. We had a lively and productive first meeting. After formal introductions, norms were established and data about the school was shared. Afterwards, several questions were presented including: what are some School attributes and what is working well? Then the question was asked, "what has been the biggest challenge the School has faced since closing in March 2020?"
One interesting item that surfaced was that PAC members felt that many new families who joined Henry Ford last year when their School closed didn't have a complete and smooth merger. School ended so abruptly last March, and when school started of this year, it was all Distance Learning. Students and families haven't had the chance to get to know each other. As of today, families are still not allowed on campus. These opportunities to interact, get acquainted, and become involved like in the past, haven't happened.
The consensus at the end of the first meeting was to place this item on the agenda and to address the issue at the next meeting. It was acknowledged that because many important events and activities that take place the last third of the year didn't transpire, families lost these great opportunities that help unite, and build community and a sense of belonging. The committee will meet again next week, and this will be one of the main topics they will address. Use this form if you have suggestions for the committee.
PTA CORNER
- We need YOU! Open PTA positions for the 2021-22 school year. Be the new PTA President, Vice President, or Treasurer! Current officers have spent rewarding years guiding the PTA and are now looking for some new voices. Whether you have been involved with the PTA or are new to volunteering, we welcome all. Training and support is provided. The President and VP positions, in particular, can be a shared team effort. Drive up responsibilities for a fun, manageable experience. If you and a fellow parent would like to join together, then this is the perfect opportunity! New officers will be voted in during the last PTA meeting of the school year on Tuesday, May 18th. Please contact officers@henryfordpta.org if you are interested and would like more information.
- Spring Fundraiser, our largest event every year is coming up at the end of the week. See below . . .
Spring into Auction! Henry Ford’s annual Spring Fundraiser is coming April 30th - May 14th! Enjoy the online festivities:
Auction - including a vacation home rental, custom chalk art, magic show, behind the scenes tour with the mayor, couture jewelry, personal training, ceramic lessons, evening cruise, art, and so much more. Highest bid wins!
Themed Class Baskets - with tons of cool items procured by classroom parents. The more tickets you buy, the greater chance you have of winning, starting at $3 per ticket!
Wine Wall - $25 per ticket, every ticket wins a bottle of wine! If you would like to donate wine (value $20 or more) please contact us at auction@henryfordpta.org.
FAMILIES UNITED
Click on the youtube video below to see what some of our students have been learning at home with their parents. We are appreciative of our families who are part of this family educational endeavor to support academic learning at home and beyond. Keep up the good work, and thank you!