Admiral's Log Oct 26, 2020
Admiral Strong - Honor, Courage, and Steadfastness
Car Riders Arrival
Virtual families - RTI2 Intervention Materials and Individual Pictures
If you still need to pick up individual pictures, RTI2 intervention materials, or coupon book prizes, you may stop by any day and simply buzz the office. Our office staff will bring the items outside to you.
National Bully Prevention Month
October is National Bully Prevention Month. At Farragut Intermediate School, we strive to create an environment that promotes the safety, well-being, and success of all students. Classes have been using the Captain Compassion resources to facilitate important conversations surrounding the topic of bullying. We want to also share resources for you as parents. Here is the Part Two article. If you missed Part One, you can find a link from this article.
PTA Corner
PTA Contests: Deadline TOMORROW, October 27th!!
The PTA Reflections Program provides students from across the state the opportunity to be creative in developing artwork in any and all of six art categories including dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts. The PTA Arts in Education Theme Search focuses on a theme for the citizenship essay and a safety poster contest. Right now there are two upcoming contest deadlines for Theme Searches for these two programs:
- Tennessee PTA Reflections Theme Search for 2022-2023
- PTA Arts in Education Theme Search for 2021-2022
The entry forms for these two theme search contests are attached and include additional information about each contest. These entry forms can be filled out and submitted by email to reflections@fispta.org or printed and turned into your child’s teacher or the FIS front office by tomorrow, October 27, 2020. More information will be forthcoming about the Reflections, Citizenship Essay, and Safety Poster submissions.
Volunteer Opportunities
The PTA still has some volunteer opportunities! Please fill out this form if you are interested in volunteering to help! https://forms.gle/k1FyNAYq4pQ4NKzo7
School Coupon Books Update - We Met Our Goal!!!
Congratulations to _________
FIS Money Grab
Tech Tip
Social Distancing has created some challenges for teachers and students in the classroom. At FIS we have been looking for ways our students and teachers can maintain their distance, but still provide personalized, small group, and whole group feedback to our students. One of the tools that our teachers at FIS use to bridge the social distancing gap is Nearpod. Nearpod is an interactive tool that allows teachers to create interactive instructional pieces such as, presentations, quiz’s, polls, videos, tests, and collaborative boards. The students will access the teachers presentation through a code the teacher provides, which enables the students to interact with what the teachers has created. Nearpod also gives the teacher immediate feedback, so that they can provide prompt feedback. Here are a few ways that Nearpod can be used in the classroom:
- Interactive presentation delivery (replaces using Powerpoint or Slides)
- Personalized support for students as needed
- Live assessment for checking student understanding of the instructional target
- Whiteboard feature that can be shared by the teacher of student work or teacher modeling
- Self-assessment by the students so that they can express to the teacher how they feel their learning is on the presented topic
Important Message from Superintendent Thomas
Dear KCS Families,
For more than three weeks we have been providing you with information about the opportunity to change your child’s learning model for the spring semester. That day is almost here! Beginning on Monday, Oct. 26 until 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6, you will be able to request a change for your student’s learning from virtual to in-person or in-person to virtual. This change would go into effect on Jan. 5, when we return from winter break.
You will be receiving an email on Monday with a link to the request-to-change form for each student. If you are happy with your current learning model, you do not need to take any action. However, if you would like to make a change, click the link in the email and complete the online form. A paper form will also be available at each school.
We recognize that the virtual learning program has been an important option for families who are concerned about COVID-19 or who have specific health-related risk factors. At the same time, please keep in mind that KCS has taken significant steps to address health and safety within our school buildings. One thing we have learned this year is that students who have the greatest success in the virtual program are those who benefit from a strong support structure at home, and who are also highly disciplined and self-motivated. If you are considering the virtual program this spring, please keep in mind these factors that are important for student success.
Additionally, I would encourage you to review the information about the spring semester found in our FAQ document, which is available in English and Spanish.
I also want you to know that we will be sending you an email in November with information about your current Chromebook insurance status and the deadline to purchase insurance. Please note that we do not make phone calls asking for insurance payments. These payments should be made at your student’s school or via www.knoxschools.org/chromebooks but never over the phone.
Finally, I want to thank our community partners, students, families, and school employees for their support of the annual Coupon Book campaign, which ended this week. This fundraiser is an essential resource for our schools, and I’m always impressed by the enthusiasm and school spirit that are reflected in the campaign. As always, I’m grateful for your support of Knox County Schools and I hope you have a restful weekend!
Sincerely,
Bob Thomas
Superintendent
Knox County Schools
Dates to Remember
Oct. 30 - Reports Card Go Home
Nov 2 - Makeup Day for Individual Student Pictures (Makeup for Virtual Students at 4:00 pm)
Nov. 3 - Election Day (In-service Day for Teachers and No School for Students)
Nov. 21 - School Grounds Cleanup
Nov. 25-Nov. 27 - Thanksgiving Break
FIS Office Hours
Office Phone: 865-966-6703