Chartwell School: The Bulldog Bark
From: Jodi Amaditz and Alyse LeValley
January 28, 2021
Message from the Head: Next Phase of the Transition to On Campus Learning
Dear Chartwell Families,
I cannot thank you enough for your flexibility and support this week as we all navigated a major weather system, flooding in the burn areas, internet and power outages at the homes of many teachers and families, and a global pandemic. Let's put this week in our rearview mirror as soon as possible and look ahead to next week, which begins a new month and the NEXT PHASE of Chartwell School’s winter reopening plan:
Lower School - Grades 2-6
Beginning Monday, February 1, our Lower School students will be On Campus for a LONGER DAY with a morning start time of 8:30 am and an afternoon pick-up time at 2:30 pm, Monday through Thursday. They will continue to have Distance Learning on Fridays with programming from 8:30 am - 12:20 pm.
Middle School - Chavez, Postadan, Cahill and Bredes Homerooms
Beginning Monday, February 1, our Middle School students will be On Campus for a FULL DAY with a morning start time of 8:30 am and an afternoon pick-up time at 3:15 pm, Monday through Thursday. They will continue to have Distance Learning on Fridays with programming from 8:30 am - 12:20 pm. (If you have a Middle School student and a Lower School student, see the special notes below.)*
It will seem like a VERY long day and a long week for our Middle School students and teachers at first, but it will get easier with time. I promise. For this reason, we will not be starting any after school activities this first week back. Stay tuned for future announcements regarding after-school options which will start the week of February 8th for Middle School. Get excited BULLDOGS!
High School - All Students 9-12
On Friday, February 5, we will have our NEW High School Cohorts join us on campus. Students will get the detailed schedule from their advisors. We will order pizza and salads for lunch for all students and faculty; students are to be picked up after lunch, between 12:40 pm -1:00 pm. Starting February 5 there are optional afternoon clubs for High School Students from 12:45 pm - 2:00 pm:
Basketball Fitness Training and Skills Building Camp with Coach Patterson. This will take place outdoors and cohorts will be separated in color-groups for skills training.
Mountain Biking on the Chartwell Trails with Coach Lukin. You can bring your own bike or use one of ours. Helmets and safety vests will be required.
Please email jlukin@chartwell.org or rpatterson@chartwell.org if you have any questions or are interested in these options.
We are also having a COVID Testing event on campus on February 5. We will be inviting ALL High School students to be tested. This is the first step toward a broader reopening for High School according to the expectations set forth by the Department of Health and our Covid School Safety Plan requirements. If you will allow your student to be tested, you will need to sign a release and provide a copy of your insurance card. Katia Stornetta in the Business Office will send hard copies of this paperwork to High School families tomorrow.
All Chartwell families will receive an email tomorrow with the link to sign up for this testing event as well as digital versions of this paperwork. You must sign up by Tuesday, February 2.
Special Notes
* Jodi Amaditz and/or Billy Swift will reach out to families of LS students who will need to wait for a 3:15 pm pick-up to accommodate a Middle School sibling. We will have alternate programming for them from 2:30 pm - 3:15 pm.
**ALL students, including HS must be in their color-coded shirts while on campus. This is very important in order to help us with our strict cohorting guidelines. HS students who have switched to a “New” cohort will get a new cohort color shirt on Friday, February 5.
Thank you. As always, please email us with questions.
Kate
IMPORTANT UPDATES
Updated Schedules for On Campus Learning
Sign Up for Lower and Middle School Conferences
Lower and middle school conferences will be held February 10-12, 2021. Report Cards and CEP Progress Reports will be sent prior to conferences for your review. We look forward to meeting with you.
Note:
- There will be a 12:20 pm dismissal from campus on Wednesday, February 10 and Thursday, February 11.
- Friday, February 12 was originally marked on the school calendar as a Professional Development Day for teachers; students will not be attending classes that day.
Click on the links below to sign up:
Lower School Conference Sign Up Link for Bark
Middle and High School Music
High School College Fair
High school students are encouraged to register for free at virtualcollegefairs.org.
More than 500 colleges and universities will present more than 1,500 Zoom sessions for high school students on January 31. It's a great day to explore, ask questions, and demonstrate interest... all without leaving home.
Tip of the Week from Ms. Benjamin: OT and Ergonomics to Support Academic Performance.
Help the Chartwell Robotics Team Collect Data
UPCOMING EVENTS
Learn More about the Child Find Act
Join Jodi Amaditz and Danielle Patterson as they share information about the Child Find Act and how it impacts your child while they are attending Chartwell School. If your child currently has SPED services or you would like to maintain an up to date IEP, this will help you understand that process.
Wednesday, February 3
5:00 p.m.
Zoom link will be sent the morning of the event.
The Child Find Act is a legal requirement that school districts find all children who have disabilities and who may be entitled to special education services within their geographical boundaries. Child Find covers every child from birth through age 21. The school district must evaluate any child that it knows or suspects may have a disability and provide the services under an Individual Service Plan if found appropriate.
CLASSROOM SNAPSHOTS
Artist of the Week: Brianna Boyd
Brianna Boyd
Painting: Bouquet of Roses
Medium: Acrylic
Robotics - Away They Go! (Virtually)
Our two robotics teams, the Hypershock Bulldogs and the CyberDogs, will compete virtually this weekend in an event hosted by Google at Sunnyvale. They will meet virtually with judges to show their projects and robot game on Saturday with a full day of presentations. Wish them luck!
(Logo credits: CyberDogs by Matthew V., Hypershock Bulldogs by Paige S.)
Color a Masterpiece
Mr. Santos and Ms. Maras are using the Google Art Coloring Book in their homeroom to engage students in conversations around some of the world's most famous paintings.
https://artsandculture.google.com/experiment/art-coloring-book/1QGsh6vSfAQBgQ
This image is "Under the Wave off Kanagawa", a woodblock print by the Japanese ukiyo-e artist Hokusai, colorized by Emily W.
Taking on Multi-Digit Multiplication
In Ms. McClelland's math class, students are reasoning through multi-digit multiplication with manipulatives.
Before the Rain
Our Lower School got two full days of play in this week before the clouds rolled in. Basketball, tag, catch, and tree climbing topped the charts as favorites.
LEGO Club Goes Animals
High School to Explore Science Fiction
Take a Breath
More Explosions in STEAM Class
3D Designing with CAD
PARENT RESOURCES
Recommit to the Chartwell Family Pledge
Returning to live school is not without risk. As a community, we must work together to foster the safety of our students, parents, faculty and staff. In light of the current statistics and increase in cases in California, we are asking our families to review and recommit to following specific community guidelines while we slowly and safely return to campus. Please review the below “pledge” and, for the safety of our faculty, students, parents, and community, uphold the following commitments on a daily basis:
Conduct a health and symptom screening before your child leaves home each day. Keep your child home when they are sick or exhibiting symptoms of general illness. If the temperature reads 100.4 or above, keep your child at home for the day. A temperature check will be done upon arrival at school, and students with temperatures in this range will be sent home.
Wear a mask or cloth face covering to minimize risks to others when out in public, and clean and sanitize them often.
Come to school directly from home, and return home after school, minimizing stops to essential errands when possible.
Limit your child’s outside of school engagement to only immediate family or students in the same cohort.
Wash hands frequently.
Avoid unnecessary travel this includes visits to or from family and friends in other parts of California, out of state, or out of the country. We will not accommodate students who miss school due to unnecessary travel.
If travel is necessary you must notify us and self-isolate for 10 days after traveling. Your child cannot come to school during this time.
Avoid all gatherings and events - especially those where people are not adhering to state and local safety guidance.
Self-report to Chartwell immediately if your child or a member of your household has been exposed to COVID-19.
Wear masks (adults and children) when carpooling, with windows open if possible. Masks are required to be double layered and cover the nose and mouth,
Abstain from the practice of providing fever reducing medicines for the purpose of sending your child to school.
Not following the guidelines of the Chartwell Family Pledge may put others at considerable risk. We ask all members of our community to embrace with positivity and an open mind the changes required this school year, understanding that because of COVID-19, our learning spaces, activities, and other events may look and feel different than in other school years.
If you do not feel you can follow these guidelines, we encourage you to continue with the online learning model. Thank you for being part of our community and working with us to bring our students back together, where they learn and grow best.
Chartwell Support Site
We encourage everyone to visit this site created by our STEAM Director, Topher Mueller. He is the mastermind behind the creation of our Distance Learning Platform. You will find the most up to date information regarding the 2020-2021 school year, answers to frequently asked questions, and technology tutorials to support distance learning from home.
Important Dates for the 20-21 School Year
School Calendar 2020-2021: Link
2021
February 1: Transition to on-campus learning continues (see Message from Kate above)
February 5: COVID Testing Day (At Chartwell)
February 12-16: In-Service for Teachers and President’s Day Holiday. NO CLASSES for students.
April 2: Tentative date for Grandparent and Special Friends Day (LS/MS)
April 5-12: Spring Break - No Classes
April 13: Students return to campus and classes resume
May 31: Memorial Day - No Classes
June 10: Last day of school and closing ceremonies for LS/MS
June 11: Last day of school and Graduation for High School
JUST FOR FUN
Zoom Conference Activity!
Some of the Cahill and Bredes class members stayed after class to attempt the wave on Zoom... it's not easy! Give this a try in your next Zoom meeting.
Questions?
If you have questions for us, please contact one of the following Chartwell Team Members:
Head of School, Kate Mulligan: kmulligan@chartwell.org
Director of Lower and Middle Schools, Jodi Amaditz: jamaditz@chartwell.org
Director of High School, Alyse LeValley: alevalley@chartwell.org
Director of Outreach and Family Engagement, Danielle Patterson: dpatterson@chartwell.org
Director of Campus Management and Safety, John Langrill: jlangrill@chartwell.org
Director of Advancement and Communications, Elena Mueller: emueller@chartwell.org
Technical Support: John Langrill at jlangrill@chartwell.org or Topher Mueller at tmueller@chartwell.org