Parent 411- Weekly Update 4/8/20
The Walt Disney Magnet STEAM School
Remote Learning - Spring Break ???
As most of you may already know " Spring Break" has been cancelled and Remote Learning will be taking place. But wait... We have changed the script just a little bit. During April 9th - April 17th our remote learning classrooms will be slightly different.
Ms. Baker has decided that our work during this week will be more exploratory, innovative, hands on and virtually fun for our students and families.
As you enter our classrooms starting April 9th, there are 2 things that remain the same for our students:
1) Daily attendance- Please log in your attendance by 9 am
2) Students Do Your Best!
April 9th - April 17th will be Spring "STEAM Family Learning Week", in most classrooms there will be choice boards for our homerooms and cluster classes. Choice Boards for your child's classroom will be STEAM related and should be in their Science classroom. You will be given several choices to choose as activities during the week. Some examples: virtual trips, scavenger hunts, physical challenges etc.
Parents check under the Stream tab or the Classwork tab to view the class "Choice Board"
Teachers will have their "Office Hours" posted for the week. Their "Office Hours" are the times that they will be online to assist students. Please make note of these times.
As always, we understand that for some of our parents that scheduling is a concern but flexibility with getting assignments or activities done is built in .
To those who celebrate, Happy Easter and/or Passover & To Everyone Be Healthy and Safe!
Google Classroom Student Work Parents, thank you for getting your children on line everyday! Into our 3rd week of remote learning and we are averaging at about 89% of students working online. Which is pretty good, but now that we are navigating our way around Google Classrooms let's take it up a notch! Thank you for your responses to our Parent Remote Learning Feedback Survey. The majority of you shared that you feel our students are getting the right amount of work. Great! Now, we need our students to make sure they are doing the following: 1) Trying their best! 2) Completing and submitting assignments. You have to hit that TURNED IN button so that teachers are able to see the completed assignments. There are some assignments that have to be done offline and then uploaded. That can be a little time consuming but we are working on that. Teachers need to see what their students are capable of doing. So, as parents we can teach, guide and assist but the work must be authentically done by our students. PARENTS -please if possible, review your child's work before they hit submit. 3)Students working on iReady - Reminder, iReady is self adaptive to the student's needs. iReady assesses a child's strengths and areas that are in need of improvement. It is very important for students to do their iReady work without parental assistance, so that there is a true assessment of the student's abilities. Just A Reminder- The work that is being done remotely is what our teachers have to assess for our student's 3rd grade marking period. | Parent Access Codes for our website... Teachers are posting grades on our website http://www.thewaltdisneyschool.org . In order for you to view your child's grades you need your Parent Access Code. If you do not have your parent access code please contact Ms. Gray @kgray6@schools.nyc.gov or send a message via our REMIND TEXT messaging system. | NYC Schools AccountDid you know that you can track your child’s education on any computer, phone, or tablet? The NYC Schools Account (NYCSA) is an app that lets you see your student’s grades, attendance, fitness results, schedule, and more from anywhere and in all DOE languages: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu.
Some parents have already set up their NYC Schools accounts but if you have not you can click on the link above to do so. You will need an Account Creation Code which Ms. Gray, the Parent Coordinator has access to. Please contact her at kgray6@schools.nyc.gov for any assistance or send her a text via our REMIND Text messaging system. |
Google Classroom Student Work
Thank you for your responses to our Parent Remote Learning Feedback Survey. The majority of you shared that you feel our students are getting the right amount of work. Great!
Now, we need our students to make sure they are doing the following:
1) Trying their best!
2) Completing and submitting assignments. You have to hit that TURNED IN button so that teachers are able to see the completed assignments. There are some assignments that have to be done offline and then uploaded. That can be a little time consuming but we are working on that.
Teachers need to see what their students are capable of doing. So, as parents we can teach, guide and assist but the work must be authentically done by our students.
PARENTS -please if possible, review your child's work before they hit submit.
3)Students working on iReady - Reminder, iReady is self adaptive to the student's needs. iReady assesses a child's strengths and areas that are in need of improvement. It is very important for students to do their iReady work without parental assistance, so that there is a true assessment of the student's abilities.
Just A Reminder- The work that is being done remotely is what our teachers have to assess for our student's 3rd grade marking period.
Parent Access Codes for our website...
NYC Schools Account
Did you know that you can track your child’s education on any computer, phone, or tablet? The NYC Schools Account (NYCSA) is an app that lets you see your student’s grades, attendance, fitness results, schedule, and more from anywhere and in all DOE languages: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu.
Some parents have already set up their NYC Schools accounts but if you have not you can click on the link above to do so.
You will need an Account Creation Code which Ms. Gray, the Parent Coordinator has access to.
Please contact her at kgray6@schools.nyc.gov for any assistance or send her a text via our REMIND Text messaging system.
OFFICE HOURS & TEACHER EMAILS
Teacher Access During "STEAM Family Learning Week"
Click link below to view office hours and teachers' DOE emails:
A Wonderful Opportunity To Celebrate The Arts During Our "STEAM FAMILY WEEK"
Dear Parents & Families,
After such an overwhelming response to Hatched online, we heard from many families who would like more, and something for older children too!
Please Join Treehouse Shakers in our Virtual Theater from
April 9-23, 2020 to see our awarded production of
Under the Tangle
Tickets are purely donation based, pay what you like.
Visually vibrant, Under the Tangle, is a wonderfully rich piece suitable for 7+. This dance-play explores the unknown world, filled with an enchanted labyrinth, strange birds, A Queen of the lost, daunting guards, and so much more, as one brave heroine navigates her way through life's unexpected turns.
Under the Tangle is the perfect story for our children's now.
Under the Tangle Promo:
"I would say Under the Tangle is about life's obstacles and how to best overcome them."
--Student P.S. 10, 4th grade
To See Under the Tangle
A password will be mailed to you with the video link to stream on any device on the date of your choice.
We will also send you activities and discussion materials that you can use with your child, on issues that are most relevant right now.
Treehouse Shakers is partnering with schools across New York to provide arts in education programming, virtually. From storytelling, dance, creative drama, to live music jams, Treehouse Shakers is here for you. If you know of a school looking for more online content, have them reach out to us at contactus@treehouseshakers.com.
Over the last several weeks you answered our call to raise funds to pay our artists, tech crew and staff. Because of your generosity, we were able to pay our company's lost fees for this month.
THANK YOU!
Our goal is to continue to pay our artists through the Spring. As a a small non-profit, we work on a tight budget and have lost nearly all of our touring, in-school and performance work for the year.
You can make a tax-deductible donation directly to Treehouse Shakers through our secure
Wishing each of you health, wellness and kindness during these uncertain times.
Sincerely,
Mara McEwin
Artistic Director
STAY CONNECTED:

Health & Wellness.... From Our NYC EPA (NYC Employee Assistance Program)
During the weeks ahead, many of us may experience higher-than-usual anxiety and stress stemming from our concern over the COVID-19 virus. While these feeling are completely understandable, there are steps we can take to manage them and minimize the disruption to our daily lives.
Focus on what you can control, let go of what you can’t
Take steps recommended to protect your health such as frequently washing your hands and avoid touching your face. Follow CDC recommendations on distancing from others.
Be cautious of over exposing yourself to news coverage
If news related to the crisis makes you anxious, don’t be afraid to take a break from it. It’s OK to pace yourself with the information.
Don’t forget to laugh!
Call a friend or loved one, watch a funny movie or television show, or get lost in a novel.
Give yourself space and time to relax
Utilize relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing and yoga.
Do the things that you usually do to take care of yourself
Practice good sleep hygiene, eat healthy, and exercise.