JSE Tracks May 18th
Principal's Weekly News
This week's Special Activity: Virtual Field Day
We are here for you!
Greetings, JSE Families,
It's crazy to think we have reached our final week of this school year! It sure has been a memorable one for us all and for us as a school family, it has made us that much stronger together! This week we will have the same eLearning schedule on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to support your structure and schedule for the week. And of course to keep our Lil' Bearcats engaged in learning all week long! Please make sure your children watch the news for daily announcements and check their Canvas page for exciting happenings to celebrate their accomplishments this year in their classrooms.
None of us would choose this way to end the school year and we so dearly want to give high-fives and hugs to each of our kids as they usually leave on the last day for the summer. However, this year we hope to keep in touch all summer through your child's canvas page and technology learning resources. Now that your children have become pros at remote learning they can continue, with your direction, all summer long! More ideas will be shared for you in next week's newsletter.
Below please be reminded of several communications that were sent out last week regarding the school year coming to an end. Next school year is still a question on all of our minds, please know we will continue to communicate 20-21 school year information with you in a timely fashion through the summer months.
I believe you can never say thank you or highlight people's hard-work enough SOOO one huge THANK YOU to our STUDENTS, to YOU, and to our TEACHERS for taking care of one another, sticking with eLearning, and sharing the positive! Take care of one another, and continue to spread joy and kindness wherever you can. Please keep in touch over the summer, I am only an email away if you need support or have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.
To our 5th graders, always remember "YOU are loved at JSE!" We are so very proud of you and will miss you. We can't wait to celebrate you next week!
Very Sincerely,
Leigh Barnes
Thank you to our PTO Board and Parent Volunteers!
We hope to see all of you next year!
New Information:
- Next School Year is still a question in all of our minds, please know we will continue to communicate 20-21 school year information with you in a timely fashion through the summer months.
- Student Belongings Pick-Up, Library Book, Textbook, and Chromebook Return scheduled for May 28th in the JSE Gymnasium. Information and Guidelines emailed and See Parent Link and LINK to What is Needed by Grade Level Also below.
- 5th Grade Recognition: May 26th Information emailed and at this 26th 5th grade graduation 5PM Info LINK
- Summer School Information: Registration is due tomorrow. Information was emailed out to those recommended for our virtual summer school program. Registration LINK
- May 19 and 21 Last Day for UTSC Grab-n-Go Breakfast/Lunch Program, please access a list of other resources https://www.unitedwaypc.org/coronavirus-resources and let us know if we can help you!
Textbook Rental Fees Due, please pay through the Harmony Online Portal or send a check to the UTSC Central Office at 599 W 300 N SUITE A | VALPARAISO, IN 46385 If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Rittel or Mrs. Barnes.
Virtual Field Day Information: Share your pictures!
One example below, go to Mr. Smith's Canvas Course for more at-home stations!
The "we need something new" techie highlight for this week:
Make your own Avatar in Mrs. Reed's Canvas Computer Course. See her course for directions and more ways to have fun with your avatar.
Or have your child create a bitmoji bedroom or house like Mrs. Koch's Science Lab Below!
We celebrate our 5th graders this week! The 5th grade avatar class is almost complete...
Important Dates:
All events canceled, building and playground facilities closed for the safety of our school community.
May 18-22 Virtual Field Day, see Mr. Smith's PE Course in Canvas
May 18,20,22 eLearning Days
May 19 and 21 Last Days of Grab and Go UTSC Breakfast/Lunch Program
May 22 Last eLearning Day of the school year
May 26th 5PM 5th Grade Recognition Drive-Thru at JSE
May 27 Report Card Available in Harmony
May 28 Student Belonging Pick-up and Library Book, Textbook, and Chromebook Return at JSE
Have a wonderful safe summer!
ARCHIVED:
Be Well INDIANA resource for you!
Mental Health Month Resources Available
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Throughout the month, IDOE will be sharing resources to help maintain and support mental health. Family and Social Services Association just released Be Well Indiana. This website provides information supporting wellness for all Hoosiers. Check out the free mental health tips, video library, COVID-19 specific resources, and much more.
UTSC Elementary Virtual Art Show, Find your child's Master Piece!
Go to this LINK (link below also) and find your art or share a piece of art with Mr. Dickey to enter the show.
Thank you Mr. Dickey and our JSE and UCE students!!
Boys and Girls Club Resources:
Kindergarten Virtual Round-Up Information: Please share!
Kindergarten Information Presentation LINK: Please click the link to meet our Kindergarten Teachers, Office Staff, Reading Teacher and Principal. The presentation will also include needed August registration information, the daily Kindergarten routine for our students, and other pertinent information for you to support your child preparation for Kindergarten.
Complete the Kindergarten Pre-Registration Form at the LINK.This will save you time during the 2020-21 school-wide online registration in August and allow us to communicate with you via email and text message regarding upcoming school events.
Looking forward to meeting our new class of Lil' Bearcats!
A message from Mrs. Morton: I am here for you too!
As Mrs. Barnes said, "As a schoolhouse, we want to be a source of strength, kindness, understanding, and assistance to you. We are committed to being there for you and your children. If there are any essential needs we can support you with or any questions or concerns that have not been addressed," please contact us directly via email, lbarnes@union.k12.in.us and Lisa Morton, lmorton@union.k12.in.us.
Parent Resources:
- IDOE List of well-being Resources for Families
- Valparaiso and Surrounding Area Resources: https://www.unitedwaypc.org/coronavirus-resources
- 2020 COVID-19 IDOE list of Remote Learning Resources
Talking to Children About COVID-19: A Parent Resource - National Association of School Psychologists and National Association of School Nurses
Talking with Children about Coronavirus 2019: Messages for Parents, School Staff, and Others Working with Children - Center for Disease Control
HealthyChildren.org - American Academy of Pediatrics
LAST WEEK: Grab and Go Breakfast/Lunch Meals for UTSC families in need: Window Pick-Up Time Updated to 11am-12, Tuesday and Thursday only.
Union Township Schools will be providing breakfast and lunch to Union Township students on Tuesday and Thursday. You will be provided enough meal bags to last through the week. The pick-up for any child 18 or younger will be from 11:00-12:00 at the Circle Drive at Wheeler High School. May 21st will be the last day of our breakfast/lunch program.
Other Resources Available: https://www.unitedwaypc.org/coronavirus-resources
Elementary Attendance, Curriculum, Assignments, Grading, and Summer School with extended eLearning
eLearning Curriculum: Our goal is to provide meaningful, connected learning experiences for your children focused on the most essential standards and foundation skills of each grade and subject area. We fully realize there is no way to replicate a full school day and the direct instruction your child would typically receive. With that being said, please be assured that next school year, we will prepare to adjust our classroom curriculum at each grade level to meet the needs of our students in regards to the missed direct instruction as a result of this pandemic. JSE will support students' successful transition back to in-person instruction.
Grades: Kindergarten is already utilizing a skills based report card and Kindergarten teachers will support families in accessing student 4th quarter benchmark skills, more information will be communicated. Students in 1st through 5th grade will continue to receive "grades" for their elearning assignments. We recognize the many factors that affect a student's performance during eLearning, therefore, we are focused on your child doing their personal best in completing their eLearning. Our teachers will continue to work with you and your child to reteach and support your child to achieve passing grades. In 1st through 5th grade, children have a broad range of independence and we understand and encourage you to help your child as much as needed in their learning. We all know that "grades" may not be an accurate level of your child's understanding of the skill or standard assessed and that is okay. We are more focused on your child's learning activity, exposure, and experience with the elearning activities and assignments. Our overall goal is for your child to be engaged in learning, thinking, and applying their knowledge at their level. Our goal is also for elearning not to create a high level of stress for your child or you. Again, please reach out to your child's teacher or Mrs. Barnes for support.
Assignments: Your child has the week and weekend to complete their eLearning work for that week. We know that your support is needed for your child to be successful depending on their grade level and ability, and we encourage you to help your child as much as needed. With that being said, we realize you didn't sign up to be a teacher and many of our families continue to work. If your child has difficulty or is unable to complete an assignment, please work with your child's teacher to make adjustments whenever needed. We are committed to partnering with you!
Progress Reports and Report Cards: Progress reports and report cards will occur through eLearning via Harmony, and your child's teacher will communicate this to you when they are available. You can always check Harmony weekly for grades and assignment completion checks and reach out to your child's teacher regarding their grades.For the 4th quarter, we want to ensure we provide you with a short summary of your child's strengths, areas of progress, and areas of growth. This will assist us all in concluding the school year.
MOST IMPORTANTLY: You know your child best and how they are responding to the added stress and unusual situation we are all in. Please be patient and understanding with them. As parents, it is a healthy balance of holding them accountable, challenging them, nurturing and guiding them and also allowing them to pause. Online learning is hard on everyone: It's hard for our students to concentrate when feeling stressed, it's hard for students to stay focused on a screen for periods of time, and it's hard for learning to be engaging without the social interaction we have in classrooms.We are aware of the incredible stress that elearning can have on our students, staff and families. You and your child's emotional health comes first, we all have to do what is best for our family at a given time and on a given day. Each day is new and this situation is ever changing. I can't emphasize enough that we are stronger together and together we will get through this! We are here for you! Thank you for being our partners for your kids!
You are always welcome at JSE!
Please let us know how we can strengthen our partnership with you!
Leigh Barnes, Principal ext 3001 lbarnes@union.k12.in.us
Barb Rittel, Secretary ext 3000 brittel@union.k12.in.us
Lisa Morton, Home School Advisor ext 3003 lmorton@union.k12.in.us
Kathy Maniszko, School Nurse ext 3002 kmaniszko@union.k12.in.us
Email: lbarnes@union.k12.in.us
Website: http://jsimatovich.union.k12.in.us/
Location: 424 West 500 North, Valparaiso, IN, United States
Phone: (219)759-2508
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/JSEPTO/
Twitter: @JSimatovichElem