Whittier Weekly Newsletter
March 19, 2021
Finishing Strong- Making the Most of Our Opportunities
Dear Whittier Families,
We have another strong week of learning ahead of us before we take a spring break. Once we return, we will focus on having a very strong finish in learning and growth for our students. For this to happen, we will want to continue the close relationships and communication that we have been established, and also to strengthen and improve those that are not as successful as they need to be.
To that end, a couple of important reminders for all of us:
- Attendance at school or in virtual learning is the first and most important responsibility for all of us as parents, students, and staff. When we are present, learning can happen.
- Clear goals and focus on the learning that still needs to occur. Many are worried about learning loss and the impact of the pandemic on students and families, and rightly so. At the same time, we have opportunities daily to work on academic skills that need strengthening. Our teachers will provide updated progress information for Quarter 4 and then we have about one third of the year remaining to make a significant impact on our students' learning before the last day of school.
We will have a Yearbook this year. Mrs. Coats, Art teacher, coordinates the creation of the yearbook and will share information about this soon. In the meantime, here are a few important upcoming dates:
Lifetouch has us setup to photograph Cohort A on Tuesday, April 6th. They will also stay from 3pm-4:30pm Tuesday, April 6th to photograph our Virtual students. We will be scheduling 10-12 students every 15 mins.
They will photograph Cohort B on Friday, April 9th. If Tuesday’s Sign-up genius fills up for Virtual students, they will open up time on Friday after school (If needed). They’ll set up in the gym and use the outside gym entrance for Virtual kids.
In preparation for Quarter 4, approximately 60 parents have requested a switch to hybrid learning. We have been working to accommodate ALL of these requests with a focus on maintaining continuity where possible and avoiding any major disruptions to routines that are currently working well. We expect to communicate with all parents who have made a request by the end of next week.
This is also the time of year when staffing decisions for the coming year are made. Sometimes staff will move on to other opportunities in other schools, in other states, or maybe even other countries. We will also welcome new faces to Whittier. I hope to provide any newcomers with the same warm and kind welcome that I received myself this past summer. And truly, having been at Whittier as an assistant principal 7 years ago, the heart of Whittier never leaves those who have the good fortune to be part of this community.
Thank you, parents, for your part in that.
Lorcan OhEithir, Principal
Library Book Exchange- Special Message from Ms. Dattoli
“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” - Winnie the Pooh
Dearest Whittier family,
My heart is full of gratitude as I write this to you. I have had the immense pleasure and honor to call Whittier my home for the last 22 years. Thinking back over these years, there is not enough space to write about every memorable encounter I have had with students, families, staff members, administrators, and community members. However, I can say with much certainty that each and every connection has made me a better educator and a better human being. I will carry all of these precious moments and memories with me as I become the Library Media Specialist at Glade Elementary School in the fall.
I began my FCPS career at Glade as a Special Education Instructional Assistant and I am excited to return and share my love of reading and learning with a new school family. You have been and continue to be like my favorite books. You have made me laugh, wonder, learn, and soar and my hope is that in some small way, I have done the same for you. This is not a “Goodbye.” This is an “I’ll see you around.” It is also a “Thank you” from the bottom of my librarian heart. Happy reading!
Ms. Dattoli
Library Book Exchange News!
Virtual students:
If your child would like to check out library books, please complete the permission form and help them place up to 3 holds on books they’d like in LS2PAC by 8:00am Mon., March 22!
Book Pick Up is between 3:00-4:00pm on Wed., March 24th in the front of the school. Please pull up to return library books at the first designated area and then pull up to receive your bag of books. Masks are required. If families are unable to pick up at this day and time, they can pick up books from the front office between 8:30-4:00 on either Thurs. the 25th or Fri. the 26th. Here is the schedule for upcoming dates for holds and pick up.
Cohort A and B students:
If your child would like to check out library books, they will need to place their holds in LS2PAC by 4:00pm Wed. March 24th! Ms. Dattoli will check out the books to your child and deliver them to their classroom the week after Spring Break. Students will return their old books in their classroom bin. Here is the schedule for upcoming dates for holds and deliveries.
Questions? Email Ms. Dattoli at tina.dattoli@fcps.org.
Camp Invention is Returning to Whittier Elementary!
In partnership with the National Inventors Hall of Fame® (NIHF), Whittier Elementary is pleased to offer the nationally acclaimed Camp Invention® program to children entering first through sixth grade. This exciting, weeklong summer adventure provides opportunities for open-ended exploration of science, technology, engineering and more!
Children rotate through a variety of hands-on activities each day while collaborating with friends to think creatively and invent their own solutions to real-world challenges. The week begins on Monday, July 12th with Robin Murphy serving as Director, and the 2021 program lineup is the best yet, so whether your child is a new or returning camper, they are in for an amazing week full of new discoveries and “a-ha” moments!
This year camp will be offered both in person or at home and families have the option to choose either up until Memorial Day! Families who register early receive a $40 discount up until March 31st. See this FLYER for more information about registration.
There are also scholarships available. Contact Robin Murphy at robin.murphy@fcps.org for more information.
Whittier PTA Has all kinds of FUN planned for our students, staff, and families
Good afternoon PTA Families.
The following events have been planned to provide opportunities for our families to remain engaged and connected with our school. Distribution information and dates are below. We look forward to Bingo Night, Chick-fil-A Spirit Night, and an opportunity for a doughnut with a dad, a granddad, or an important male role model in the life our our students.
March 23rd- Cohort A will receive coupons for Krispy Kreme, and Bingo Cards in their backpacks.
March 23rd-Virtual students can pick up their packets from 6-7pm @ WHES.
March 24th-Chick Fila Spirit Night- 4-8pm. (Must say that you are with Whittier PTA). Proceeds are for a cart for Mrs. Lewis to use for Blessings in a Backpack!
March 25th- Cohort B students will receive coupons for Krispy Kreme, and Bingo Cards in their backpacks.
March 26th - 6pm- Virtual Bingo- Meet - hcw-zdta-fvf (google.com) Otherwise, to join by phone, dial +1 562-232-9154 and enter this PIN: 922 570 290#
Counselor's Corner with Mrs. Reese and Mrs. Leatherman
Counseling Lessons for March: We will be coming into your child’s classrooms - both virtually and hybrid in the next few weeks to continue our Leader in Me and Counseling lessons. For the next few weeks.
Grades K-2 Begin With The End In Mind- Decision Making. We are focusing on Goal Setting, Tolerance and Accepting Differences. Ask your student what goal they are working on and how they are going to achieve it. We will continue to work on Accepting Differences.
Grades 3-5 Diversity, Coping with Anxiety and Resilience. Sharpen the Saw! We are learning tips to manage stress and Anxiety.
Student Small Groups Schedule : Our small groups will continue to meet virtually during hybrid. The virtual schedule for groups is posted on the Counselor’s Corner Schoology Page. Mrs Leatherman’s Links and Mrs. Reese’s group times are posted there, as well. Here is an
Outline:
Mrs Leatherman’s Groups: will meet from 3:00-3:30 on Mondays (K), Tues. (1st), Thurs. (2nd) and Fridays (K-2). NEW Group on Monday’s 2:30pm- Coping Skills Group- we will learn a new coping strategy to use at home and school each week-- all K-2 students are welcome to join! Clickable links are posted on Schoology.
Mrs Reese’s Groups: Monday: 3:00 KLU, Wednesday: 1:00-1:30- 5th grade Friends Thursday: 3rd grade Thursdays’ 10.35-11:05 (during lunch) Friday: 4th grade Fridays will 12:40-1:10 (4th grade lunch)
The Meet Code for Mrs Reese’s groups is WHESREESE
Military Group: Will meet on Wednesdays at 3:00. Mrs Reese will share the links from Mrs Wynn in Schoology
KLU- Parents please check your emails for links from Mrs. Reese and Ms. Syers on Monday. Mrs Reese will share the link directly with students through Schoology Messenger.
Please feel free to message, email or call Mrs. Reese or Mrs Leatherman if you would like your child to be seen during the school day. We continue to meet with students individually and in small groups to offer counseling support for all Whittier Students. Cohort A, Cohort B and Cohort V.
Mrs Leatherman 240-236-3135 Kirsten.Leatherman@fcps.org
Mrs Reese: 240-236-3170 Lisa.Reese@fcps.org
Attendance
Communication is Key
Please provide a note if your child is not able to attend in person or virtually due to illness.
E-mail your student’s teacher AS WELL AS the Whittier Attendance email address (WHES.Attendance@fcps.org) so we can keep track of student absences.
Meals Information for Whittier Families
In addition to our 23 school locations that distribute “to-go” meals on Wednesdays and Fridays, starting Wednesday, March 3 – FCPS Food and Nutrition Services will be adding two new community meal distribution sites.
At these locations we will be distributing “to-go” breakfast, lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on WEDNESDAYS ONLY. These meals are enough for all seven days of the week.
Here are the two new distribution sites:
Discovery Shopping Center Parking Lot, 8425 Woodsboro Pike, Walkersville
Frederick Shopping Center Parking Lot, 1305 W. 7th Street, Frederick
Meals will be distributed from a school bus in the shopping center parking lots. Meals are free to all students 18 years old and younger. The recipients do not have to be FCPS students. Children do not have to be present to receive meals; a parent, guardian or other adult may pick up the food.
FCPS Food and Nutrition Services also provides meals to adults who are enrolled in an education program for people with disabilities.
Please call 301-644-5061 if you have questions or comments.
Health and Safety Information - Please Review Carefully
Daily COVID-19 Screening
FCPS is asking for your help keeping all our schools and communities safe. Please review the list of COVID-19 symptoms below with your student prior to leaving for school every day. You will be provided a weekly communication reminder of this requirement. Students who are ill or are experiencing symptoms are expected to remain at home.
Parents/Guardians are affirming and attesting to the following for their student:
(a) Your student has not tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days, or in the last 14 days had any close and prolonged contact ( * within 6 feet for 15 minutes or greater) with anyone who is either confirmed or suspected of being infected with COVID-19, AND
(b) Your student is not currently experiencing or displaying, and your student has not in the last 10 days met the criteria for a person experiencing a COVID-19-like-Illness:
Any 1 of the following: cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, new loss of taste or
smell;
OR
At least 2 of the following:
- Fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) or higher
- Chills or shaking chills
- Muscle aches
- Sore Throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting, or
- Diarrhea
If the answer is YES to any of the above statements, your student should not come to school.
Please contact your healthcare provider with any questions regarding next steps for your
student.
Thank you for your cooperation.
* 15 minutes of close contact in a cumulative 24-hour period
Safety Measures:
Mask Expectations: Everyone in the school building will wear a face covering while at school. The information linked here is intended to provide clarity about the FCPS requirements for wearing face coverings in school buildings.
Virtual Attendance in the Event of Mild Symptoms: If students are experiencing any symptoms of illness, they should stay home and parents should follow up with their child's health care provider. Students are encouraged to attend virtually any day they are not in school if they feel well enough to do so (even if it is a day for which they are scheduled to be in person).
Please provide a note if your child is not able to attend in person or virtually due to illness.
E-mail your student’s teacher AS WELL AS the Whittier Attendance email address (WHES.Attendance@fcps.org) so we can keep track of student absences.
Close Contact and Quarantine Details for Parents - What to Expect: When a positive COVID-19 case is confirmed, FCPS will conduct a case investigation to determine if there was any close contact with other individuals. Close contact means that an individual was within six feet for a prolonged period of more than a cumulative of fifteen minutes over a 24-hour period. All identified close contacts will be immediately notified and asked to quarantine for ten days and monitor for potential symptoms. If the close contact becomes symptomatic, the individual should seek assistance from their healthcare provider.
Quarantine means:
- Stay home except to obtain medical care.
- Your child may not participate in any in person school activities.
- Avoid public spaces and practice physical distancing of six feet or more from other people.
- Wear a mask at all times around other people.
Monitoring means:
- Watch for fever. Check temperature twice a day, at least 6 hours apart and record in a log.
- If your student or anyone else in the household develops symptoms such as a fever, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pains, sore throat, or a new loss of taste or smell, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
For further details, the FCPS guidance for Student Health and Safety and COVID-19 Response Plan can be found at this link.
Whittier Elementary School - Believe, Achieve, Succeed
We will also communicate through our school website
Follow me on Twitter @fcpsOhEithir where I will communicate school news and happenings
Email: lorcan.oheithir@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/whes/home
Location: 2400 Whittier Drive, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
Phone: (240) 236 3100
Twitter: @fcpsOhEithir