Pleasant Hill-Memo from Ms. Robbins
Updates for Beginning of the 2020-2021 School Year
Hello Husky Nation!
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work together in new and different ways to support our students academically, socially, and emotionally. We are so thankful for our faculty, staff, families, and PTA who continually partner with us to think STUDENTS FIRST. Leander ISD will be sending out an email very soon for you to select which option you would like to pursue for your child after September 8th.
If you need more details about the 3 options that LISD will be offering when buildings re-open to families, please read the descriptions below carefully. Enrollment information will be sent by LISD, after the School Board meeting tonight.
In-Person Empowered Learning Option:
Students and teachers will attend class in-person, five days a week, with additional safety measures in alignment with state and federal guidelines and recommendations. (see Covid-19 Health Response Handbook)
In this setting, teachers will provide in-person instruction, learning resources, and support utilizing SeeSaw (Prek-2) or Google Classroom (3-12).
Teachers will plan instruction that is quickly and easily transferable from in-person to virtual in the event of temporary school closure due to COVID-19 spread.
District-directed and campus-designed safety procedures will be implemented.
Gr. Pre-K-5 students will follow a schedule similar to a traditional school year.
Virtual Empowered Learning Option:
Newly designed 100% “Virtual Empowered Learning” experience: District and campus staff have collaborated to research and develop a completely new design for virtual learning that incorporates feedback and input provided in survey responses from over 12,000 students, parents, and teachers. Essential components of the model include:
TEKS-aligned LISD curriculum, pacing, and assessments
Consistent “school day” schedule and routines mirroring in-person
Substantial live “face-to-face” (synchronous) learning with teacher and classmates: Whole group, small group, individual conferences
Independent activities, projects, practice and assignments
Numerical grading system (4th & 5th) aligned to “in-person” learning; skills-based reporting (K-3)
Facilitated by qualified teachers who have attended LISD Virtual Teaching Academy
Utilization of learning management platforms that are user-friendly- streamlining log-in, access to resources and submission of assignments.
Daily Schedule drafts
Hybrid Option: 50% ON CAMPUS and 50% learning VIRTUALLY:
This Hybrid Option would allow children to receive direct instruction at the campus with a certified teacher, 50% of the time, and complete their independent work, virtually, 50% of the time. In addition, the hybrid option would provide a smaller group of students in the classroom, on a daily basis. A hybrid option could also provide flexibility to families who are looking for a balance of in-person and home learning. The 5 days of the week would likely be assigned as 2 days in-person, 2 days virtual, and every other week, alternating, for the 3rd day. Hybrid will not be an option unless we have enough enrollment in this option to support the needs of our community.
Please let us know if you have any questions about the options listed above!
Save the Dates for our Virtual Back-to-School Events:
- Tuesday, August 4th- New Family Orientation via Zoom webinar at 6:30 pm. This webinar is encouraged for any new families to PHE, including parents of our pre-kindergarten and kinder students starting school. You will see a “virtual tour” of the school and meet the administrators, office staff, and counselors.
- Monday, August 10th- Who is my student's teacher?- You will receive an email with a “virtual postcard” and/or phone call from your child’s teacher. You will receive their contact information and learn about how to "meet the teacher" the following night!
- Monday, August 10th- Pre-K Meet the Teacher Night and Virtual Empowered Learning Parent Orientation via Zoom at 6:00 pm. This will be a virtual introduction to all things pre-kindergarten! You will meet the pre-kinder teachers and instructional assistant.
- Tuesday, August 11th- K-5th Meet the Teacher Night and Virtual Empowered Learning Parent Orientation via Zoom (times to be announced and will be spaced out for families with children in multiple grade levels to be able to join)
- Thursday, August 13th- First day of school -All students will start school with Virtual Empowered Learning.
Communication at PHE:
We work each year to improve on our systems and procedures to communicate with our families. We have so many ways to connect with you and want to share the most up-to-date information as soon as possible. Below are ways that we will continue to communicate daily/weekly/monthly:
- Phone Calls/Messages (from teachers and/or administrators)
- Weekly Updates (from your classroom teacher)
- Monthly Updates (from the principal)
- News from the Hill (front office email each Sunday)
- Twitter (follow us @PHEHuskies and @hrobbinsPHE; use the hashtag #get2PHE)
- Facebook (Pleasant Hill Elementary -Leander ISD)
- School Website (http://phe.leanderisd.org)
- Teacher Website (accessible through PHE website)
- District Website (www.leanderisd.org)
- Wednesday Folders (come home in backpacks each week when in-person)
- Emails (sent via Insider when needed or from teachers)
- Teacher Remind 101 accounts (see teacher)
- Classroom Apps (teacher directed- See Saw K-2nd and Google Classroom 3-5th)
Please let us know if you are having difficulty with any of the above-listed modes of communication. We want to make sure you have access and the information needed for your Husky! Please note that the phone numbers/emails on file with us will be used when necessary to communicate.
Thank you for taking the time to read through this LONG memo! We are here for you. Let us know if you have any questions! Another memo will be coming next week with more detailed information about staff and school specifics!
Heather Robbins
Principal
Pleasant Hill Elementary