POQUESSING MS FAMILY FOCUS
from Principal Joann Holland April 1, 2020
I hope you are all doing well given the unusual circumstances we currently face. I am finding it very difficult to be away from school, and especially from students and faculty. Hopefully, you are staying up-to-date with the district website and Dr. McGee's emails. If so, then some of this information maybe redundant. My purpose is to ensure that you have the updates and remain connected to Poquessing. I will continue a weekly newsletter throughout the closure.
At the moment, school remains closed indefinitely but Poquessing staff are hard at work! Teachers have updated enrichment resources online via Learning Opportunities. Most recently, we have been meeting in the virtual world planning for Phase 3 of online learning. Please bare with us and know that we are collectively pouring tremendous team POQ energy, heart and soul into this new endeavor. I consider our district to be fortunate to have had in place the 1:1 Chromebooks, Canvas LMS and a vast array of educational extensions used daily! Our students are technologically savvy and most are in a good place to transition to online learning.
However, with that said, nothing can replicate the human connection. I am a firm believer in the importance of the human touch and the need for the social interactions of faculty and students. This can only occur in a brick and mortar school. Nonetheless, we are working diligently to deliver meaningful instruction. Zoom video conferences day and night!
We realize that each Poquessing family household presents a unique circumstance . Some of you are caring for little ones, aging parents, working at home, away from home or all of the above. Others of you may find yourself ill, caring for ill family members or facing recent financial hardships. We recognize that our families have varying capabilities to "do school" at home.The Poquessing community does not intend to add any burdens. We are here to help. Please reach-out as you see appropriate.
Please take advantage of the information, complete, the links below, complete the survey below and stay healthy!
All my best,
Mrs. Joann Holland
Important Dates: Neshaminy's Plan for Online Instruction
Phase 1: Week of March 16
--- Broad Exploratory Learning Opportunities at www.neshaminy.org/hslearning
Phase 2: Week of March 23 through April 12
--- Grade Level & Content/Course Specific Learning Opportunities
Hundreds of well-designed activities in Canvas
Phase 3: Week of April 13 and beyond
--- Individual Class Instructional Activities, mandatory, graded and teacher supervised, in Canvas. Students will have lessons of approximately 30 minutes per class Monday through Thursday. Teachers will be available for scheduled office hours(video-conferencing, emails, or phone calls). This information will be communicated via Canvas.
Please review the SOAR Distance Learning Poster.
Neshaminy's online learning will be Asynchronous Learning see the graphic below for a better understanding.
3rd Marking Period ENDED as of MARCH 12th
The third marking period was scheduled to end March 31st, but was ended early due to current circumstances.
- Teachers have been asked to close Marking Period 3 as of March 12 making all necessary accommodations and adjustments to make certain each student is given a grade that is not negatively impacted by the sudden school closure on March 13.
- Grades will be available in Home Access by Friday, April 3.
- PLEASE BE CONFIDENT that we have the best interest of your children, our students in mind. Teachers are working with their students to make every effort to resolve missing assignments/make-up work.
- Parents & students please wait your grades posted Friday, April 3 before emailing teachers about questions/concerns.
- After April 3, please contact the teacher and school principal with your questions/concerns.
ONLINE LEARNING: HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD?
- Review the SOAR SAFE DISTANCE LEARNING poster with your child. (link above)
- Make a learning space. If one doesn't already exist, create a space in your home for your child to work. This space should be comfortable, free from distractions and different from where your child normally plays or watches television.
- Make sure your child has school supplies. Your child will need a charged Chromebook and other basic learning materials.
- Limit distractions. Consider limiting the use of the school issued Chromebook to school related learning, independent reading and review activities.
- Maintain breaks such as snacks, lunch and "recess". Routines and schedules are important for all of us and this is no different for children when they are at-home school. They will function best if they can maintain a routine as close to normal as possible(with some flexibility of course). Encourage exercise and outside time, too!
- Allow kids to interact with friends via supervised video chats. Your children are used to social contact at school. They may be feeling the effects of social isolation after only a few weeks of being distanced from school and friends. Beyond texting and social media, video chats are a great way to connect and "see" their friends. Parents can reach out to one another and setup these chats for our younger students.
- Mix-it up! That is mix-up screen time with traditional materials. Print out materials if your child does better with paper and pencil. Have your child read a print book, rather than the online version.
- Keep in touch with other parents. While social distancing is important at this time, so is staying in touch with others virtually. Check-in with other parents and see what they have found effective and if they need any assistance.
- Do not let your child treat this as a vacation. Time at home is so important, but please stress to your children that their education is a priority. Obligations for learning and their future are still the priority.
- Make time for fun. This time will go down in history. So why not create some simple family memories. Have a game-board tournament, karaoke night, baking competition, create art, music or go on a hike. Don't forget to that making time for fun can reduce the stress we may be experiencing.
Free Grab and Go Bags for ALL CHILDREN...
Changes to breakfast & lunch distribution
ALL Families are now eligible...
We have added meals for the weekends which can be picked up on Fridays.
Meal distribution schedule is now 3 times per week:
- Monday from 11am - 1pm to pick up meals for Monday & Tuesday
- Wednesday from 11am - 1pm to pick up meals for Wednesday & Thursday
- Fridays from 11am - 1pm to pick up meals for Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Expanded social distancing procedures will be in effect at all pick-up locations:
Poquessing, Sandburg, Miller, Buck, Tawanka, and Hoover