Woodcrest Spanish Immersion
August 26, 2020 Newsletter
See translation information below / Consulte la información de traducción a continuación.
Hello Woodcrest Elementary Spanish Immersion Families:
I am excited to have had the opportunity to work with Sra. Linares and the Woodcrest Spanish Immersion School Leadership Team to prepare for your students to join us for their first day of school - whether that is online or in person.
As we start this school year, I want to express my gratitude to the welcoming staff and family community here at Woodcrest Spanish Immersion School. Thank you to all who have reached out with questions and words of encouragement. Your support and flexibility is deeply appreciated as we navigate an exciting start to the 2020-2021 school year. After meeting with our leadership team over the last two weeks, I am confident in our preparations.
This week we welcomed new teachers and staff for orientation. After meeting our new staff, I am confident in saying that they are as excited to get back to school as many of our students are. Each has expressed their commitment to capitalizing on the moment to personalize learning to meet the needs of each student.
I look forward to welcoming all of our teachers back to the building on August 31 for professional learning and planning to prepare for the school year. During that time, one of the things our teachers will focus their energies on is health and safety protocols in their classrooms. It is important that we all take to heart and implement these health and safety practices in order to keep our students and staff as safe and healthy as possible. To see specifics on these protocols, they are available on the website.
First days of school and Meet and Greets
We will use the first two days of school – September 10 and 11 – to orient our students and families, creatively connect for meet and greet opportunities and carefully manage transitions for our youngest students. The first day of instruction for all grade levels in both models will be Monday, September 14.
For the Modified Campus Schedule (Hybrid) Model, our approach to September 10 and 11 is similar to other years and provides a higher level of support for our youngest students transitioning to school. It also provides an opportunity for us to practice transportation, arrival and dismissal procedures and other critical aspects of our operations with smaller group sizes.
On these days:
Kindergarten students come to school for their first days on September 10 and 11.
Grades 1-4 students will participate in online meet and greet activities with teachers on September 10 and 11
For the Extended Flexible Learning (Distance Learning) Model, September 10 and 11 will be dedicated to students participating in online meet and greet activities with teachers to build relationships. This will also provide an opportunity to ensure technology is set up to support learning.
Teachers and Class Lists
Class lists and teacher assignments are still evolving. All final class lists and teacher assignment schedules for both Modified Campus Schedule (Hybrid) Model and Extended Flexible Learning (Distance Learning) Model will be shared with you on Thursday, September 3.
School start and end times
For students attending school in the Modified Campus Schedules (Hybrid) Model, our school schedule is the same as last year. The day begins at 9:10 a.m. and ends at 3:45 p.m. for all learning at school days.
I’d like to extend a special welcome to our new families. We hope you are looking forward to the exciting days ahead. We look forward to seeing you all at the end of this month and wish you the best for the remainder of the summer!
Lastly, I cannot thank the team here at Woodcrest Spanish Immersion School enough for their partnership as I transition into this new role. I give a special thanks to Sra. Linares for her dedication to the school and its community. Again, I am very excited and humbled to be joining this great community as your Interim Principal.
John Franke
Interim Principal
Woodcrest Elementary Spanish Immersion School
Summer Meal Program: Meals Provided Through September 4
The last day for the school-sponsored summer meals program is August 31. Thanks to the generous support of the Panther Foundation and Spring Lake Park Lions Club, a bag lunch will be available for pick up at the High School at the regular summer distribution time Tuesday, September 1 – Friday, September 4. Next week, we’ll have more information about meal services that begin the week of September 8.
One-page 2020-2021 School Calendar
The first day of school for all grades is Thursday, September 10, 2020. View a downloadable Calendar PDF.
Watch for Bus Route Information August 31
Families who indicated they needed district transportation for this fall will receive bus route information beginning August 31. Routes will be posted in Campus Parent Portal on August 31 and a postcard will be mailed out that same day. For general information and bus routing, contact Spring Lake Park Schools transportation services at 763-600-5590 or visit the Transportation page.
Face masks, self-screening and water bottle information
Face Masks
For many students beginning the year in the Modified Campus Schedule (hybrid) model, wearing a mask throughout the entire school day will be one of the biggest adjustments. All students and staff are expected to wear face masks indoors per the state executive order and these expectations will be reinforced.
One way to help make the transition easier at the start of the school year, is for students to pick out a mask and start practicing wearing it now. Families can also help students understand the importance of wearing a mask.
Here are some helpful face mask resources to help students prepare:
- How to make face masks more comfortable for kids
- Masks, Face Shields and Gloves, Oh My!
- Wearing a Mask - coloring book
Health Self-Screening
For learning at school days, staff and students (with help from family members as needed) must self-screen for symptoms at home daily before coming to school. This is called passive screening. If a person is sick or exhibits symptoms of COVID-19, they may not come to school.
Symptoms Checklist:
- New onset cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fever of 100 degrees without fever reducing medication
- Chills
- Muscle pain or body aches
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste and smell
- Diarrhea
- Congestion or vomiting
- Headache
Close contact checklist: Have you had close contact (within 6 ft for 15 minutes or more) with anyone who is positive for COVID-19, OR do you have a household member waiting for COVID-19 test results?
If you answer “YES” to any of the above (symptoms or close contact)’
- Please stay home when sick; DO NOT come to school or work
- Contact your school’s attendance line
- Consider contacting your health care provider
View and download a Daily Self-Screen for COVID-19 Symptoms document.
Water Bottles Not Drinking Fountains
Water bottles have been added to school supply lists this year as students will not be allowed to use drinking fountains for health and safety reasons. Please send a water bottle to school each day with your student. Water bottle fill stations will be available, and many classrooms have sinks to fill water bottles.
In case you missed important information from last week's newsletter, check out the topics below and click to learn more.
- Need Care for Your School Age Child? Note, if you need any child care in the fall, now is the time to sign up!
- View School Supply Lists
- iPads: Get Your Tech Ready for a New School Year
- Apply now for Free or Reduced-Priced Meal Benefits for the 2020-2021 School Year
- Make a Plan for Internet Access
Translate This Newsletter / Traducir Este Boletín
To translate this newsletter information to another language, please click anywhere on the newsletter to open it in a web browser and at the top of the page, select your language from the dropdown menu.
Para traducir este boletín de noticias a otro idioma, por favor presionen en cualquier lugar del boletín para abrir el boletín en un navegador web y en la parte superior de la página seleccione su idioma del menú.