Pleasant Plains Update for Families
April 24, 2020
We Need to Hear from You! Please Complete our Parent/Guardian Survey
To help us better understand, what's working, what's not working, and how we can help, please complete the following survey: (It's only 12 quick questions)
If you have specific questions please feel free to leave your name and number in the comment section on Question 12 and we will get back to you.
Meet Our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Support Team
We want you to know that even though our school building is closed, we are still here to support your child during these uncertain times.
If you are worried about your child, need support, or if you just need help finding food or other resources please reach out. We are here to help!
From left to right:
Trish Voegtlin - School Counselor tvoegtlin@bcps.org Office Hours: M‐F 1‐3Traci Harris - LCSW‐CSchool Social Worker tharris12@bcps.org Office Hours: M‐F 11‐ 1
John Morant- SEL Teacher (Behavior Support) jmorant@bcps.org Office Hours M‐F 10‐12
Rachel McNeive - Instructional Support rpfeifer2@bcps.org Office Hours: TTThF 1‐3
Luke Sinkler - SEL teacher (Behavior Support) lsinkler@bcps.org Office Hours: M‐F 8‐9 and 4‐5 Not pictured:
Jennifer Schleicher- School Counselor jschleicher@bcps.org Office Hours W‐F 2‐4
A Letter from Our School Counselors
Tips for Setting Up for Success While At Home Together
- Stick to a consistent routine daily. Set expectations about getting up, getting dressed, and eating breakfast. (Many schools are finding ways to set up food programs during closures.)
- Limit endless snacking. (We know this will be a tricky one for some of us who have stockpiled granola bars!)
- Create a schedule for each day with your children to break up the time. Include “class time” when they complete school work, dedicated time for play, physical exercise, and emotional and mental health activities. Though there’s no need for a rigid agenda, all family members can be soothed by a predictable structure.
- Put a limit on social media. Encourage staying connected to friends but not obsessively reading news or discussing the virus online.
- Don’t have the TV on in the background all day. The worry for children will escalate if they repeatedly hear and view adults panicking or reports of deaths.
- For children without their own phones, set up a FaceTime playdate with a friend and let them chat using your phone.
- Dedicate time every afternoon to organizing and cleaning up to keep chaos and germs at bay.
- Talk about and plan for ways in which you’ll deal with family arguments or sibling rivalry. Check out the Family Peace Rose for more.
- Make dinner together.
- Go old school! Have story time, play a board game, or try to learn a new language together during evening family time.
Create a Family “Coping Kit” To Deal with Anxiety
- This simple feelings wheel to accurately name and acknowledge emotions they may be experiencing. Remember, there are no “bad” emotions–it’s ok for them to feel whatever they feel and your job is to help them use strategies to cope.
- Calming breathing techniques and mindfulness activities to reduce stress;
- Yoga or other movement and stretching activities;
- Relaxation techniques like guided imagery or progressive muscle relaxation;
- Fun indoor physical activities and games;
- A private journal or sketchbook where they can express their emotions through writing or drawing;
- For older children, find a social cause to learn more about together and support remotely. Or cultivate compassion by encouraging them to reach out via phone or text to potentially isolated elderly family members, neighbors, or their peers who are home unsupervised; and
- Practical strategies to help maintain their physical health including: 1. Picking out a fidget bracelet, button, or other small wearable item (that can be disinfected daily) to redirect the urge to touch their face. 2. Choosing part of a song they love that is at least 20 seconds long to sing while washing their hands
Yoga for Kids
Mrs. Norton and her daughter have been practicing their yoga!
Guided Imagery
Changes announced in BCPS mobile meal distribution, effective Monday, April 20
The Baltimore County Public Schools’ Office of Food and Nutrition Services (with assistance from the BCPS Office of Transportation) is making changes to the Mobile Meal Program’s distribution times and locations effective Monday, April 20.
Beginning April 20, students will receive a breakfast, lunch, and snack on Monday through Wednesday. On Thursday, students will receive two breakfasts, two lunches, and two snacks for Thursday and Friday. Meals will no longer be distributed on Friday.
Meals will be distributed from the following locations. While students are encouraged to be present when picking up meals, accommodations will be made for students who are unable to be present.
Please note the specific distribution times for each location. Times have been changed for some locations:
Pleasant Plains Elementary School, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Halstead Academy, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Oakleigh Elementary School, from 11 – 11:50 a.m.
Parkville High School, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Maryland Meals Distribution Site Search
Food Pantries/Assistance for Central Area Families (Please bring a photo ID)
Student Support Network
Fridays, starting at 11:00 a.m. at Parkville High School
(Arrive Early)
Assistance Center of Towson Churches
120 West Pennsylvania Ave, Towson
Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m.- 2:45 p.m.
410-296-4855
Community Assistance Network (CAN)
7900 East Baltimore St., Baltimore 21224
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
410-285-4674
Jewish Community Services
5750 Park Heights Ave.
Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m. 3:00 p.m.
410-466-9200
Mt. Calvary A.M.E. Church
300 Eudowood Ln
Towson, MD 21286
410-296-9474
Towson United Methodist Church
501 Hampton Ln
Towson, MD 21286
410- 823-6511
Rock City Church
1607 Cromwell Bridge Rd
Parkville, MD 21234
410-882-2217
Babcock Presbyterian Church
Noon and 6pm seven days a week
8240 Loch Raven Blvd.
Time to Register for Towsontowne Recreation Council Online Clubs
Interested Pleasant Plains families are invited to register for online clubs through the Towsontowne Recreation Council. Club meetings will be held through Zoom.
Registration closes today, April 24th.
https://www.ttrec.org/class/spring-online-rec-clubs-2020/
The following clubs will be offered online via Zoom Video Platform and are open to all schools:
Drama Kids
Beginner Guitar
Book Worms
Karate
Sign Language
Math All-Around
Little Moon Yoga
Foreign Language: Spanish, French, and Mandarin Chinese
INFORMACIÓN IMPORTANTE EN ESPAÑOL
Actualización de noticias del coronavirus
Mensaje del superintendente de las escuelas públicas Dr. Darryl L. Williams
Estimado equipo de BCPS,
Las ultimas semanas han sido difíciles al enfrentar la pandemia del coronavirus, aprecio mucho su flexibilidad y apoyo con esta situación.
Los edificios escolares de BCPS siguen cerrados debido a la orden cierre escolar; por lo tanto, BCPS ofrece “aprendizaje continuo a distancia” comenzando el dia lunes 6 de abril. El aprendizaje a distancia se ofrecerá en dos modalidades: virtual y con materiales impresos o para imprimir, dependiendo del acceso que tengan los estudiantes a internet y a instrumentos tecnológicos. Hay más información sobre esto en Recursos de aprendizaje.
Sigan revisando la actualización de noticias en nuestro sitio web de actualizaciones donde estaremos publicando más detalles conforme vayan surgiendo. Por favor cuídense y que estén bien.