Voyager Family News
April 6, 2020: Distance Learning Launch
Strand Spotlights and Info:
Dear Voyager Families,
As we get ready to launch distance learning, and discover what we as staff, students, families can and cannot do well, what's easy and not, and what's too much and not enough, and what works and doesn't, I encourage us all to be patient and kind and honest with one another. On Monday your child's teacher(s) will provide resources and opportunities for connection, practice, and academic growth. We expect that each family's unique dynamics, including work schedules, health, availability of adults in the household, and other variables will impact your approach to learning and activities. So, our THEMES FOR THE WEEK ARE CONNECTION and COMMUNICATION. We want to reassure you we are only just beginning, and that we will continue to learn and grow TOGETHER as we go. Make it your goal for your student to connect with his/her/their teacher(s) and for them to feel pride in ONE accomplishment this week!
Here's another helpful perspective to consider in a thoughtful article.
MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD: Thank you to our School Liaison Officer Mindy Hayes, who along with Youth Center staff, kicked off our Month of the Military Child celebrations by purpling up (see photo below!) and passing out tokens of appreciation for our children of service members! We will be honoring you all month for your contributions to our community and country.
Please read our District's latest Newsletter here. This newsletter includes our District-wide Distance Learning Plan, information about meals available for pickup at SSES beginning Monday, April 6, and the technology needs survey.
News and Updates:
Our teachers are excited to reconnect with their students with our launch of distance learning! Expect direct communication from teachers about their learning plans Monday morning, April 6. You will have access to resources and support from ALL of the teachers who work with your child, including PE, VAPA, Innovation, Intervention (reading and math), Special Education, and counseling. Please see the special section for tips on using Zoom and/or other online platforms below.
Ms. Moore will be on campus Monday morning and available IN THE FRONT OFFICE at 10:30 AM to provide packets and materials provided by teachers (if families did not pick up on Friday). Please use the cones in front of the office to distance yourselves and wait one at a time. District meal pick up in cars will begin at 11 AM. See section below for more information on logistics for meal pickup and special treats!
Principal Jenny Moore will be available by email should you have any questions during our closure: jennifer.moore@coronadousd.net. Please expect responses within 24 hours on weekdays.
Let's stay connected! Ms. Moore will continue to post daily fun connections and challenges on our Silver Strand Elementary School Facebook page. Stop by to check it out and send photos for us to post!
Our new after-school Enrichment Club on coding is being made available remotely for students by The Whole Child Learning Company!
1st-5th grade students welcome
Starting 03/31 each Tuesday from 3-4pm, $15.00 per hour due here: paypal.me/wholechildsd
$1.00 per enrolled student will be donated back to the Silver Strand PTO.
*Please put your child's name and grade in the comments section on PayPal. Please email kristina@wholechild.com with any questions!
All school facilities are closed during this time, including fields, playgrounds, and sports facilities. Please remind your family members that they may not access our grounds for their own health and safety and that of staff members who may need to be onsite to support distance learning.
WE STILL WANT TO PUBLISH OUR YEARBOOK and need your help with photos! Please send photos, including those of your children's activities during Quarantine, to strandyearbook@gmail.com
CUSD GRAB-AND-GO MEAL SERVICE & EASTER SURPRISE!
Grab-and-Go Meal Service at Village Elementary and Silver Strand
Beginning April 6th - Every Monday (with the exception of 4/13 'holiday' - pick up 4/14)
Location: Multi-Purpose Rooms at VES (H Street) and Silver Strand Elementary
Distribution Time: 11:00AM - 1:00PM
Beginning on April 6th, all families with children 18 and under will be able to pick up free breakfast and lunch meals via curb-side pick-up. Each child will receive one hot lunch (a slice of Papa John’s cheese pizza) and a bag that contains 5 days’ worth of meals for breakfast and lunch. Meals may consist of packaged, refrigerated, and/or frozen items (heating instructions will be provided). Children are not required to be students of Coronado Unified School District. While the original program was designed to serve families in free/reduced priced status, we are making extra meals to serve our entire school community. This is free for all children, regardless of meal status. – please spread the word.
In partnership with the City of Coronado Recreation Department, Easter Bags with treats will be distributed this Monday (4/6) to families as they pick up meals!! Thank you, City of Coronado!!
Students who are receiving meals are encouraged to be physically present at the time of pick-up. Additionally, adults may pick up meals for students not present by printing and submitting this form at the time of pick-up. All meals will be distributed curb-side to decrease the risk of exposure. Only those in cars will be served meals during this pick-up window, no walk ups or bicycles allowed in order to maintain social distancing. If you are unable to pick-up meals by car, please email Charity.Campbell@coronadousd.net on or before Friday, April 3 at noon and we will schedule an alternative window to pick-up a meal.
Tips and Etiquette for Using Online Meeting Platforms (like Zoom)
Dear Families,
You may have begun using Zoom as a way to connect with friends and family groups via video/app. Some teachers may use this feature to connect with your child.
We have some suggestions for safely/appropriately using this tool:
- Your child should not be alone with an adult in an online meetup platform. If your child benefits from one-to-one support from a teacher, counselor, or (other role), plan to be present and available throughout the session.
- Ensure your child and anyone else in the home who may appear on video is appropriately attired.
- Choose a place in the home that is relatively distraction-free and quiet. Discourage pets and other family members from participating unless it's appropriate to do so.
- Have all supplies your child may need readily available.
- If the meeting is academic in nature, please refrain from eating on screen.
- Take the opportunity to teach your child camera/video conference ettiquette--maintain attentiveness and eye contact, remain in view, refrain from entertaining/distracting others.
Minors (under 18) should not create a Zoom account. But important to know is that they don’t need a Zoom account to JOIN a meeting. Therefore, if teachers invite students to a meeting, they will provide the Zoom invite code, and if a teacher wants to hold office hours, they will provide students with the Zoom invite code.
Great video: Joining a Zoom Meeting - 1 min video link
Weekly Family Activities from our Sanford Harmony Social-Emotional Learning Program
Week 1 Family Discussion Topics:
- Mon: Rename yourself with an action or adjective in front of your name: e.g., "Marvelous Mom"
- Tues: If you could be invisible and fly anywhere, where would you go?
- Wed: Would you rather eat breakfast for dinner or dinner for breakfast? What specific meal would you choose?
- Thurs: Which outfit or clothing makes you feel most comfortable or most special?
- Fri: If you could be in the Olympics for any sport, what would you choose?
Week 1 Family Community Builders:
- Mon: Create a special handshake with each family member;
- Tues: Play a game using the alphabet. Each person says something that starts with the next letter of the alphabet (e.g, acorn, bat, cauliflower). To make it more difficult, name a category, like food!;
- Wed: draw a squiggle for someone else and then they have to make a drawing out of it; swap squiggles!
- Thurs: play charades (or use the "Heads Up" app;
- Fri: Play "this or that"--blueberries or raspberries? Soccer or lacrosse?
Other Online Learning Resources During School Closure
Our Computer Lab page on the school website has login information for your students and academic websites your students use can be found here. Military-connected students may access https://military.tutor.com/home for free K-12 education support.
Your APEX Fun Run Team has provided a FANTASTIC packet of daily activities--see the link below this section!
Distance Learning Resources and Accounts sponsored by our School District:
SSES VAPA Teacher Ms. Mirtallo has created a VAPA Google Classroom with EXTRA activities for your child: https://classroom.google.com/u/0/c/NTU2NDQ4MTc2NzZa (use code jsobtih to join)
American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge: sign your family up for 10 days of heart-healthy activities at https://www2.heart.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=khc_resources_search through our school.
Ticket to Read: www.tickettoread.com All K-2 grade students have accounts. Username format FirstL### Password: csd4700####
Compass Learning: https://www.thelearningodyssey.com/ All K-5 grade students have accounts. Username format FirstL### Password: csd4700#### The school is silver
RAZ Kids: https://www.kidsa-z.com/main/Login All K-5 grade students have accounts. The login format is different by grade level. If you need your login info, email your teacher.
Edutyping: https://www.edutyping.com/student All 2-5 grade students have accounts. The school code is corona75 and Username format FirstL### Password: csd4700####
Xtramath: https://xtramath.org/#/signin/student_other All K-5 grade students have accounts/pins.
Sumdog: https://www.sumdog.com/user/sign_in All 1-5 grade students have accounts.
Our Computer Lab page on the school website has additional login information for your students and academic websites your students use can be found here. Military-connected students may access https://military.tutor.com/home for free K-12 education support.
Here's a link to many available resources: http://www.amazingeducationalresources.com
SDCOE Distance Learning Resources/Opportunities
SDCOE Content Coordinators have developed a list of resources specific to subject matter to support distance learning. Please click the links below to view resources that have been curated for each discipline.
Content Areas
Arts: Dance, Arts Integration, Music, Theater, Visual Arts
More great resources:
PBS LearningMedia | Teaching Resources For Students And Teachers
Help Prevent the Spread of Respiratory Diseases
To help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including the coronavirus and flu, follow these important tips:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Individuals with chronic health issues and/or individuals experiencing severe symptoms should be evaluated by a medical professional.
- Get vaccinated every year.
Additionally, the California Department of Public Health does not recommend the use of face masks for general prevention and says that handwashing provides better protection from infectious diseases.
The Coronado Unified School District will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary. If you have questions about these topics, please contact CUSD Office of Student Services at 619.522.8900 x 1032. We thank you for your cooperation and support.
Sincerely,
Niamh Foley
CUSD Director, Student Services
Calendar Events
3/16-4/3: School Closure
3/30-4/3: Spring Break Holiday/No School
Mon 4/6: CUSD Distance Learning Resources Commence; Packet/Resource (makeup) pickup @10:30 AM at Front Office; Meal Pickup by car, 11-1PM.
Fri 4/10-Mon 4/13: District Holiday/No School
Fri 4/17: Friday Flagpole Assembly (medium TBD!)
TBD:
Thurs 5/7: General PTO meeting at SSES, 8:30 AM
Wed 5/13: 5th Grade Families invited to CMS Spring Faire Open House, 5:30-7 PM
Fri 5/15: CMS Orientation and Tour for 5th Graders, 9:30-11 AM
5/25: Memorial Day Holiday/No School
6/4: General PTO meeting at SSES, 8:30 AM
6/11/20: 5th Grade Promotion/Last Day of School/Early Release
Military Connections: MFLC Availability During Quarantine
Silver Strand Elementary School is SO fortunate to have the full-time services of our very own MFLC (Military Family Life Counselor), Marie Millard! Our MFLC is available to help students through the emotions and transitions associated with military life.
Beginning WEDNESDAY, April 8, 2020, MFLCs are able to provide TELEHEALTH SERVICES to our military community, during the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. These services include telephonic and video non-medical counseling in areas where face-to-face support is restricted due to COVID-19. We are pleased to announce this temporary capability to provide continuity of care in your local community.
The model of MFLC telehealth is below.
Support for Adults:
· Telephonic and video non-medical counseling
Support for Children and Youth:
· Individual video non-medical counseling sessions for minors age 13 to 17 (parent or guardian must be available at the start of each video session to give parental consent and provide line of sight requirements)
· Family video non-medical counseling for minors 6 to 12 years of age (parent or guardian must attend each session)
School MFLCs can be reached at the phone numbers below to establish a telephonic or video non-medical counseling appointment. Email is not an available option.
MARIE MILLARD
619 592-0093
SILVER STRAND ELEM
Thank you to our community advisory members, MFLC, and students who attended the Anchored4Life Club training in October! Our students learned how to help their peers who are experiencing transitions. The Anchored4Life program at our school focuses on helping new students adjust to Silver Strand, lifts up students whose loved one is leaving for or returning from deployment and sending our warm wishes with students who are relocating. The Team Leads provide care package "Kits" with a theme designed to support each of the four transitions. The kits contain comforting items, coping skills, DVDs to help kids understand that they are not alone and helpful tools for parents. If your child will be experiencing one of these transitions this year, please inform their teacher or the MFLC to receive a free transition kit. The MFLC's information is always available in the Silver Strand office with the other resource materials.
You will also see our Anchored4Life Team Leads around campus this year presenting uplifting messages, helping with service projects and growing in their leadership skills. We are excited to be partnering with Anchored4Life to provide this service to all of our students.
Military Spouse Support Meetings:
ECDC Wed. May 20 8:30-9:30 Transitions
For information about military-sponsored activities for youth, visit the Fleet and Family Services website here.
PTO News and Updates
Please order your yearbook and help our Voyager Yearbook PTO volunteers gather photos of all our students and classes! To order a book, visit this website. Yearbooks are $25 with a discount of $5 ($20) if you are a PTO member (use code SSESPTO2020). If you have photos to include in this year's yearbook, please download the "ImageShare" app, with Project number 025811. The upload code is SSE20. See more info in PTO section below.
Silver Strand Luau: We are so very sad to report that our SSES PTO and Principal Moore have made the difficult decision to cancel our Silver Strand Luau scheduled for April 24. We are so grateful for our PTO volunteers, parents, and staff who were preparing for this amazing event, along with a slate of amazing vendors and services. We fully intend to reschedule and hold our 25th Luau, but are not in the position to designate a new date at this time. Thank you for your donations and volunteerism--we look forward to mobilizing our forces in support of family togetherness and our wonderful school community SOON! We will have SO MUCH to CELEBRATE!
SSES Water bottles are on sale now! Proceeds from your purchase will help fund water filling station upgrades at Silver Strand. Link: http://bit.ly/strandwaterbottles
Put your child's Name in Lights on the Silver Strand's Marquee Sign! We now have a convenient online form to easily schedule your Birthday, Welcome or Farewell message! The cost is $20 and your donation supports the SSES PTO! Schedule online now: http://bit.ly/NAMEINLIGHTS
Silver Strand PTO Board
- President: Lori Blauert
- Vice President: Nellie Ritter
- Treasurer: Leslie Broussard
- Secretary: Leigh-Ann Williamson
- Parliamentarian: Lisa Emme
Silver Strand PTO
Email: silverstrandpto@gmail.com
Call or Text: 619-537-8782
In addition to building community, supporting curriculum, and enriching students' school experience, the Silver Strand PTO is responsible for Family Fun Nights, Holiday Shoppe, Yearbook and Luau to name a few. Our fundraising efforts provide for school field trips and enrichments clubs. We are unable to do what we do without the support of Silver Strand families, teachers and staff.
After-School Enrichment Clubs
Our SSES PTO is proud to sponsor and coordinate after-school enrichment clubs for students in grades K-5 from 3-4 PM Monday through Thursday (note that these clubs are not part of the CUSD/SSES instructional day, and clubs are run by private organizations/non-CUSD employees). SSES Teacher Karen Pierro works with our PTO as a coordinator/liaison.
Coronado SAFE Events and Activities
Coronado SAFE supports healthy families and children through workshops/"coffee talks," school programs, speakers, and counseling. See flyers below for upcoming events.
See the flyer below for resources on navigating physical distancing.
Coronado Schools Foundation Events & Updates:
Telethon Postponed: Thank you to our Voyager Band and TK/Kindergarten Team, who assembled this morning for filming of their acts. We hope to share their performances soon.
Coronado Schools Foundation is in complete alignment with all communication and directives from Coronado Unified School District, and prioritizes the health and safety of our community, and particularly our children. To that end, we have decided to postpone our annual Telethon, that had been scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, 2020 from 5-9 pm in the CHS Auditorium. Working with district officials, we will announce a rescheduled date just as soon as that has been determined.
Telethon is one of Coronado Schools Foundation’s largest fundraising events of the year, and all proceeds raised through Telethon go directly back to our schools to fund the STEM and Arts Pathways programs impacting the education of every child enrolled in our district. We ask our business partners, community members, donors, and colleagues to work strategically with us to ensure that our rescheduled Telethon is again another exceptional success for our schools. If you feel compelled to give at this time, visit csfkids.org/telethon and click on DONATE. All donations will be acknowledged LIVE on air.
Coronado Schools Foundation’s mission is to raise and manage funds to provide exceptional learning experiences for all Coronado Unified School District students. We thank you for your partnership in this time of public uncertainty and applaud each one of you for continuing your commitment to the educational enrichment of our children.
Crosswalk Safety
Dropoff/Pickup Safety
2019-20 Parent and Student Handbook
Community Agreements and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
How Does Coronado Unified School District Communicate with Families?
Stay Connected with Silver Strand Elementary School!!
Check out and "like" our Facebook page to see photos of student events and programs! https://www.facebook.com/Silver-Strand-Elementary-School-176775765849277/