Team Meadow Update
May 17th, 2020
Team Meadow-
It was wonderful to see so many of you at school on Friday. We are making progress toward being fully prepared for families to pick up student materials on Thursday and Friday. It's a busy last week for certain, so I'll get to the details. Please read carefully.
This week's "need to knows":
Student Materials: Again, thanks for taking the time and care to pack student materials for distribution on Thursday/Friday. Please note the following items:
- I included in our Community Update (aka: Friday Flyer...a couple days late) that families can return classroom items. (1) Library books can be handed to team members when they arrive to pick up their child's items (do not need bagged) & (2) classroom materials to be returned to teachers should be placed in a ziplock with the teacher name clearly marked on the bag. We will collect and store these items for classrooms. Please include message in your newsletters. Thanks.
- After gathering student items, and if time allows, please pack up your room for summer cleaning. Counters should be cleared, chairs stacked off to the side, charts and walls in good condition (cleared if needed) etc... If you are unable to complete room organization before departure, don't forget that you also have the 26th as another option.
- I've left a blue paper in your room to assist in the details. Please read carefully when you enter your room, and don't hesitate to ask questions.
Team Meadow Parade:
- We are scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, with line up to begin at 12:45 in BME front lot. I am watching the weather, and will keep you posted of any change in plans.
- If you are planning to attend, please click here and submit your name. It will help me prepare for numbers. https://forms.gle/VDRspVXxXw44ND6m7
- Don't forget to wear your new "Team Meadow" t-shirt.
- Separate email with final details to come on Monday!
See Kim Gray's email regarding Kathy Farrar's retirement message.
Fourth Grade Shout-Out videos: Please consider recording a brief message to share some well-wishes to our fourth grade students. See Donna's message below. She also sent an email last week with the information to create a FlipGrid video.
Team Meetings are canceled for this week.
Lastly, everything else is in this week's community update. Click here and please read carefully. https://www.smore.com/p617y
Grateful for you and all you do,
Tom
Fourth Grade Shout Outs!
Hello, BME family! As we prepare for the days ahead when we'll say hello again (from a distance) to our students in the parade, we have our fourth grade students who will be waving goodbye to us for a final time because they will be heading to the middle school. So, we thought many of you might want a chance to wish these kiddos good luck since they'll be missing their traditional celebrations: the cookout, the hallway salute on the way to the buses, and the multiple laps made by bus drivers in the parking lot as we all stand on the sidewalk waving goodbye.
If you'd like to share a message or special wish to the fourth graders, we've created a Flipgrid page for you to do this. Have fun, share one message, share multiple greetings, or give a shout out for a specific student. Thank you for helping us celebrate our fourth grade students.
This page will remain open through Wednesday, May 20. Click the login info below, and follow the simple directions inside Flipgrid. Feel free to contact any of us with your questions. Thank you, again, for helping us make this fourth grade send off as special as possible. ❤️
Flipgrid login/code: https://flipgrid.com/grade4shoutout
Donna, Alyssa, Nick, Lindsay
Physical Distance/No Unforced Errors Guidance
- Social distancing of 6 feet per person should be maintained to the greatest extent possible.
- Face coverings should be worn in public settings.
- If you choose to wear gloves, ensure that they are changed frequently.
- Practice good hygiene through frequent handwashing and/or use of hand sanitizer.
- Social gatherings cannot be greater than 25 people and must follow the CDC social distancing guidelines (six feet per person, at a minimum).
- If you are showing signs/symptoms or are at a higher risk, remain self-quarantined.
During this unusual time, we know that the typical distinctions between home life and school life have become more fluid. Out of necessity to teach from your home, students have now seen a little more of your life outside of the school building. However, even while students may know what your kitchen cabinets look like or the color of your couch, there are professional and physical boundaries that need to be maintained. Please reach out to Lauren or myself should you have any questions.
Technology Corner with Kyle
- Best Practices for Securing Your Virtual Classroom in Zoom
- Zoom has compiled a resource that provides information about several settings available within Zoom that you can use to secure your virtual classroom.
- Tips and Tricks for Teaching with Zoom
- Just as you began the school year developing classroom expectations, this is a good time to develop expectations for your online classroom. This document has some great ideas as well as links to additional resources.
- Canvas Web Conferencing Resources
- Canvas has also been working hard to prepare resources that will help you utilize the Canvas Conferencing Tool (Big Blue Button). This guide has resources for teachers as well as students and is a great place to visit if you are experiencing any issues with this tool.
- IDOE Continuous Learning Challenges
- The Indiana Department of Education is creating Continuous Learning Challenges that will be published each week for each grade level. Take a look at the challenges that you may want to use with your students, or as an opportunity for extension activities
- Flipgrid Updates
- Many of you have been utilizing Flipgrid with your students. This is a FREE service that students can use in Canvas or logging in with their Office 365 account. They have added some new features for your online learning including Screen Recording, 10 minute Video Responses, and Remote Learning Resources.
As always, Carly and I are here to support you with your digital lesson plans. Remember to create a CANVAS HELP TICKET for any issues you experience with Canvas. This will allow us to escalate the ticket to Canvas engineers if we are unable to assist. Create a ZCS Help Ticket with any other questions or concerns. ~ Kyle
Contact Us
Email: thundley@zcs.k12.in.us
Website: http://www.zcs.k12.in.us/bme/
Location: 5555 S Main St, Whitestown, IN, United States
Phone: 3178732226
Twitter: @ZCSBoone_Meadow