Lowell Updates January 4, 2022
(Haga clic en el siguiente enlace para leer esta carta en español.)
Dear Families,
Thank you for your patience as we navigate this challenging time. Our staff is back at Lowell: collaborating, setting up, and making plans to ensure that the transition to virtual learning is a positive one. As a reminder, instruction will be virtual this Thursday, January 6th and Friday, January 7th. A decision about the week of January 10th has not yet been made; MMSD will announce that decision later this week.
By now, you have hopefully connected with your student’s classroom teacher and/or Special Education case manager. If not, please reach out to the office at 204-6613 and we will help get you connected.
Here are a few notes to help you anticipate virtual learning:
Communication: Before noon on Wednesday, you will receive an email from your child’s teacher with Zoom links and a schedule.
School Day: For this week, the day will continue with our normal hours of 7:30am-2:27pm. Students will move between live instruction and independent work throughout that time, so they will not be on the computer the whole day. All students will have a lunch break from 11:15-11:45. Kindergarten will have a recess break from 10:45-11:15, and 1st-5th grades will have a recess break from 11:45-12:15.
Virtual Learning Platforms: Students will be using Zoom and Seesaw for virtual instruction.
Synchronous Vs. Asynchronous Instruction: Teachers will try to keep whole-group lessons to 15-20 minutes per MMSD virtual learning guidance. They will have periods of synchronous (live) instruction and asynchronous instruction (e.g., independent work like Lexia, DreamBox, Seesaw assignments, drawing/writing, etc.). There will be a detailed schedule posted every day on Seesaw.
Essential Arts Classes: PE, Music, Art, and Reach will be provided at regularly scheduled times via Zoom.
Special Education: Case managers will be connecting with families about services for their students. If virtual learning is extended beyond January 7th, an IEP team will decide if a student requires in-person services.
Services for Students Learning English: ELL support will continue to be provided by staff within virtual classrooms and/or small groups.
Attendance: Students will be considered present if they participate in any synchronous (live) instruction, if they complete any assignment, or if they engage in any two-way communication with their teacher. Families should access instruction in the way that works best for them. Some lessons will be recorded and posted for students to access if they are not able to join the live Zooms. If a student is unable to meet virtual attendance expectations, their parent/guardian should report the reason for this absence to their child’s school as soon as possible by calling Lowell’s attendance line at (608) 204-6602 or using the online attendance reporting app.
Food service: Meals are available for any MMSD student. You can pick up a box of food that contains five breakfasts and five lunches. See the pick up schedule at www.madison.k12.wi.us.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. I know that this situation is challenging in many different ways. As new information becomes available from MMSD, we will be sure to communicate with you.
Thank you again for your patience. We look forward to seeing your students’ smiles on Zoom this Thursday, and hope to see their (masked!) faces back at Lowell very soon.
Warmly,
Ellen
Staff Contact Information
You are welcome to contact our staff if you have specific questions:
Ellen Franzone, Principal - (608) 204-6613 or (608) 561-8958
Mandy Kuse, School Secretary - (608) 204-6613
Cristina Bravo, Bilingual Resource Specialist - (608) 516-5883
Health Office - (608) 204-6655
Mindy Trudell, Social Worker - (608) 285-2770
Megan Martin, School Psychologist - (608) 509-4769
Pam Brandt, Instructional Coach - (608) 515-8365
Vaccine Clinic at Nuestro Mundo Jan 7th
Our vaccine clinic is ON for this Friday, 1/7, from 7:30-10:30 am! Appointments are still available here: tinyurl.com/vacunasNM (If your child came to our clinic for their first dose on 12/17, they already have an appointment at the same time this Friday!)
Do you need help making an appointment or with transportation? Call/text Maestra Katie, 571-5601.
Questions about the vaccine? Contact Nurse Guisella Medrano, 442-2514.
Nuestra clínica de vacunación será ABIERTA este viernes, 7 de enero, de las 7:30-10:30 am! Hay citas disponibles aca: tinyurl.com/vacunasNM (Si su hijo/a/e vino a nuestra clínica por su primera dosis el 17 de diciembre, ¡ya tiene su cita a la misma hora este viernes!)
¿Necesita ayuda para fijar una cita o para conseguir transporte? Puede mandar un texto o llamar a Maestra Katie, 571-5601.
¿Tiene preguntas sobre la vacuna? Puede contactar a Enfermera Guisella Medrano, 442-2514.
Vaccine Clinics at Kennedy (Jan 11th) and Hawthorne (Jan 20th)
MMSD Vaccine Clinics for 5-11 year Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine
Kennedy and Hawthorne Elementary Schools will be offering the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine for children 5 to 11 years old.
If your child has already received a 1st dose, they are welcome to attend one of our clinics for their 2nd dose provided that a minimum of 21 days have passed since the 1st dose.
There are two action items for you and some points of information to share.
Action Item
- Consent Form. If you are able, please read the Fact Sheet (Espanol) (Hmong), complete the attached Pfizer Consent Form (Espanol) and bring it with you. This will help the clinic move faster.
- Vaccination Card. Please bring your COVID-19 vaccination card if this is your child's 2nd dose.
Information
Schedule your appointment using the Sign-up Genius for your preferred school location:
Kennedy Elementary School, Tuesday, January 11th from 3 to 7 pm: Kennedy Sign-up Genius
Hawthorne Elementary School, Thursday, January 20th from 3 to 7 pm: Hawthorne Sign-up Genius
- Illness/Change of Plans. If you are not able to attend your appointment due to illness or other reason, that is just fine. There is no need to notify us. If you are unable to attend any of the MMSD clinics, click here to schedule a vaccine at another local clinic.
- Arrival Time: Please arrive no earlier than 5 minutes before your appointment time. This will help the clinic move faster and make parking easier.
- Parking. Parking is available on the street during school hours and in the school parking lot after hours.
- What To Bring/Dress. There is no privacy in the clinic, so we recommend you wear a short-sleeved shirt, and bring a jacket or sweatshirt for warmth, as the temperature in the school can fluctuate. Your time in the clinic will be about 30 minutes, so you may want to bring something to keep busy as well as any comfort toys for your child.
- Face Coverings. Face coverings are required for anyone in our building ages 2 and older per Public Health Madison & Dane County.
COVID Testing at Lowell
Here is the link to register for the clinic: https://register.covidconnect.wi.gov/en-US/.
When asked where to test, we are a "Non-Public Testing Site."
Once completed, we test out of Door 5 on Ludington Ave. You can call the COVID Clinic at 608-695-0917 when you arrive.
Hours:
Monday-Friday
7:30am-2:30pm