North Glendale Family Update
December 6, 2020
Good afternoon!
Hoping your family had a relaxing Saturday after a hectic week! I know that the two virtual days, two in person days, followed by the Friday virtual was a lot to ask of kids and their teachers! Thanks for hanging in there with us. Hoping those two extra days of virtual will help reduce any post-Thanksgiving Covid related issues at school. Fingers crossed!
Please reach out anytime!
Jennifer
What we are noticing at school....
This can look like withdrawing, breaking down in tears, being extra "clingy," not wanting to sleep alone etc!
As Mr. Leonard and I were talking this week, we realized that while we typically do see kids struggling before we go on extended school breaks, this year is different (we have both been in this rodeo a long time!).
We have more kids expressing that they don't know why they are sad, but they are sad.
They don't know why they are worried, but they are worried and so on. Kids breaking down in tears over an unsharpened pencil, or withdrawing to sit in a corner of the classroom over a forgotten snack are typically rare and far between....not this year. My guess is that these incidents are not isolated to school. We have heard from many that this is happening at home as well.
Just as we are, our kids are carrying the weight of the pandemic on their little shoulders. Changes in routine, overhearing the adults talking, not being able to do what they usually do are impacting them. As adults, however, we have bigger shoulders, years of developing our coping skills and the language needed to seek help or express ourselves.
Keith and I want to reach out and offer quick parent PSA's to support you at home. Volume 1 is below ~ 4 minutes with Mr. Leonard! Your kids will be jealous!
I hope this is helpful and please, please reach out for conversation with Keith, myself, Ms Spencer, your classroom teacher....whomever you need to talk through anything your kids may be expressing.
Early Check Outs: Progress ~ thanks so much!
Thanks for your consideration scheduling for your kids.
We have noticed fewer kids being checked out during the school day.
Each time we have to call into a classroom to notify a student they are leaving, we have disrupted the learning environment, the teacher inevitably has to scramble to pull things together for the student, and instructional time is lost. If a child is coming back to school, we are faced with another set of disruptions.
While it may be unavoidable at times, we ask that during the day check outs are few and far between.
Additionally, because all of our staff are involved in our dismissal routines, beginning in 3rd quarter (January) there will be no dismissals from the office after 3:00 pm.
Yearbook Time!
North Glendale PTO is purchasing one yearbook per family for free. If you would like any additional yearbooks for your household, please fill out and submit this Google Form, and send payment to North Glendale PTO. Payment can be sent via Paypal or check. Each additional yearbook is $11.
Order form: https://forms.gle/C622GKMeXBfhDrU98
To pay with Paypal, log in to your account and search @northglendalepto or DONATE NOW and select “Standard Transfer” (not “Instant Transfer”) so a fee is not applied. If you do not use Paypal, you can send a check payable to "North Glendale PTO" to school with your student.
Covid Exposure and Testing: These measures should be followed even if your child is in the At Home Learning Program.
- If your child has been exposed to someone who has tested positive, PLEASE notify school right away.
- If your child is getting tested, you need to notify us of the testing and send a copy of the results to us.
- If your child is living in the household with someone who is awaiting test results because that person is either symptomatic or has been exposed to someone who tested positive, your child should stay at home until the test results are in and negative.
You may also self-report by completing an online form and a nurse from the school will contact you.
Virtual Fridays are FOR REAL Fridays!
I know that it can be easy to log off early on a virtual day but please, please do all you can to ensure your kiddo is with us all day on Fridays. We do not modify curriculum for Fridays ~ we keep on cooking through curriculum in our classrooms, interventions, and special areas. Kids who aren't zooming with us on Fridays are missing out on some key pieces. Thanks for your support with this!
Digital Citizenship: Bullying and Digital Drama
All digital citizenship lessons come from Common Sense Education and are aligned with CASEL and ISTE Standards for Students.
Talk About It Tuesday: Rewind!
North Glendale PTO “Give Back” Restaurant Nights
This year North Glendale PTO is supporting local restaurants that have been generous to our Superstars throughout the years. It's our time to give back support to these local businesses who have helped us:
Wednesday, December 16th – J Greene's Pub
Saturday, January 9th – Hanneke's Westwood Grocery
Wednesday, February 17th – Mike Duffy’s Restaurant
Saturday, March 20th – The Daily Bread
Wednesday, April 21st – Billy G's Kirkwood
Saturday, May 15th – Nathaniel Reid Bakery
There are MANY other local restaurants and businesses who have supported our Superstars. While we don’t have days/nights set aside to visit them, we still encourage you to support them when you can:
- (Kirkwood/Glendale) Amigos Cantina, Andy's Frozen Custard Kirkwood, Grapevine Wines & Spirits, SymBowl, Mission Taco, and Sugar Shack
- (Webster/Rockhill/Des Peres/STL) Cyrano’s Cafe, Olive + Oak, Robust Wine Bar, The Art of Entertaining, The Frisco Barroom, Hollyberry, Circle 7 Ranch, Parker’s Table, A'mis, Anheuser Busch, Big Sky Cafe, Charleville Brewing, Chaumette Winery, Nacho Mama’s, Cookies By Design, Cooper’s Hawk, Crestwood Bowl, Scout & Cellar, PRP Wines, Duckhorn Wines, Major Brand’s Wine, Eckerts, Flemings, J. Gilberts, Kolache Factory, Lolli and Pop’s, McCormick and Schmick’s, Narwhal’s, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Pretzel Boy's, Smoothie King, Straubs, Sweetology, Modern Brewery, The Shack, Time for Dinner, Total Wine, and Urban Chestnut
Help us thank these businesses for their support over the years!
Virtual Art Fair ~ going on NOW!
Click HERE to be amazed!
KSD Covid Dashboard
SPIRIT SHOP CLOSES DEC. 11
KSD At-Home Webside
Check out the Kirkwood At Home webpage whether you are opting for virtual OR in person learning.
Tech Chat ~ Real Time Tech Support
The Tech Help Chat online is open from 8a-4p.
A Favorite Author is Coming Soon!
Upcoming Dates: Please see our website calendar for up to date info
- Picture Day!
- Kirkwood At Home Picture: 4:00-6:00
December 11
- Last day for NG Spirit Store (see link above!)
December 16
NG PTO "Gives Back" Restaurant Night - J Greene's Pub
December 22
- End of First Semester
December 23
- Winter Break begins
January 6
- Kids return to school!
Week of January 11
- Parent/Teacher conferences held via Zoom
January 15
- Early Dismissal at lunchtime for all NG kids ~ in person and KAH
January 18
- No School: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday