DUNNING NOTES FROM the OFFICE
Sunday 11/29/20
ENGLISH:
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ESPAÑOL:
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PORTUGUÊS
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All previous Notes From the Office are available by using this LINK.
Dear Dunning Community,
We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving break!
What's New This Week:
- Thursday December 3 Is An Early Release Day
- PE Update
- Scholastic Bookfair - Online
- Commitment Form Will Be Sent To FPS Families This Week
- Community Connections Input (not exactly new news, but we would still like your input)
Please let us know if you have any question or concerns! We are ALWAYS available! Please call us or email us.
Sincerely,
Michele & Kathie
PE Update
Hi everyone,
Mr. Greenhouse here! PE while different virtually has been a blast so far this year! We’re moving into a new unit starting in December that involves throwing, juggling and catching. This unit would need some “equipment.” Please have your students prepared to have any of the following during PE if possible: a ball, a stuffed animal, a pillow, a pair of socks, a crumpled piece of paper, a t-shirt or anything they can throw and catch. They do not need access to all of these, just one if possible no matter what it is. Thank you all so much! I hope you all have a happy holiday and a great break!
Best,
Mr. Greenhouse
Scholastic Bookfair - Online
Dear Parents and Families:
While 2020 definitely looks different, we know there are some things that are still important. We are happy to still have our Scholastic Book Fair - online.
There are two ways to shop in the link below - you can shop the different categories online OR You can shop the virtual book fair where you can click on different cases just like the book fairs we have had at school.
Some of the benefits with an online fair is you have access to over 6,000 items on the website, all orders ship directly to your home, FREE SHIPPING on book-only orders over $25 and your purchases support our school.
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/dunningelementary
If you have any questions about the book fair or ordering please contact Beth Last (bethlast@ymail.com).
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Queridos pais e famílias:
Embora 2020 definitivamente pareça diferente, sabemos que algumas coisas ainda são importantes. Estamos felizes por ainda termos nossa Feira do Livro Escolar - online.
Existem duas maneiras de comprar no link abaixo - você pode comprar as diferentes categorias online OU pode comprar na feira do livro virtual, onde pode clicar em diferentes caixas, assim como nas feiras do livro que tivemos na escola.
Alguns dos benefícios de uma feira online é que você tem acesso a mais de 6.000 itens no site, todos os pedidos são enviados diretamente para sua casa, ENVIO GRATUITO em pedidos somente de livros acima de $ 25 e suas compras dão suporte à nossa escola.
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/dunningelementary
Se você tiver alguma dúvida sobre a feira do livro ou pedidos, entre em contato com Beth Last (bethlast@ymail.com).
______________________________________________________________________________
Estimados padres y familias:
Aunque 2020 definitivamente se ve diferente, sabemos que algunas cosas siguen siendo importantes. Estamos felices de tener nuestra Feria del Libro Escolar en línea.
Hay dos formas de comprar en el enlace a continuación: puede comprar las diferentes categorías en línea O puede comprar en la feria virtual del libro donde puede hacer clic en diferentes casos al igual que las ferias del libro que hemos tenido en la escuela.
Algunos de los beneficios de una feria en línea es que tiene acceso a más de 6,000 artículos en el sitio web, todos los pedidos se envían directamente a su hogar, ENVÍO GRATIS en pedidos de libros de más de $ 25 y sus compras respaldan a nuestra escuela.
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/dunningelementary
Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre la feria del libro o el pedido, comuníquese con Beth Last (bethlast@ymail.com).
Commitment Form Will Be Sent To FPS Families This Week
Dear Families:
In anticipation of the Return-to-Learn Commitment Form, we are providing additional information to help your family make a decision about whether your student should continue to learn remotely or whether they wish to return for in-person learning, in school, beginning in mid-January. We also understand that public health conditions will likely change between now and mid-January, so we will have to work with the information that we know today as we continue our forward-planning efforts.
Let’s start with some working definitions of terms:
- Remote Learning: Students engage with their classmates and teacher through virtual means (e.g., Chromebooks) from a location other than school.
- Hybrid Learning: Students engage with their classmates and teacher through a combination of in-person and remote learning. In a hybrid model, students who are attending school in-person may still use their Chromebooks to engage with their peers who are learning remotely.
Note: At this time, a full return of ALL students to school, in-person, five days each week (essentially what school was, pre-COVID) is not possible given the required physical distancing of 6-feet.
Q. I have more than one student in my household. Must my decision be the same for each student?
A: No. You will submit a Commitment Form for each student in your household.
Q: What will remote instruction look like after more students return to school?
A: No matter what choice your family makes, all students will engage in real-time learning that is aligned with the school schedule, each day. While the amount of face-to-face instruction will vary by grade and from class-to-class, remote students can expect to engage with their teachers directly throughout the day. Remote learning will NOT look like it did last spring.
Q: Will my student’s teacher change?
A: There may be instances where reassignment is necessary. The scheduling of students and cohorts is a more challenging question to answer at this time. It will really depend on how many students choose in-person learning over remote learning. Our goal is to create the best educational experience for every student, but we first need to know which learning model each family has chosen.
Q: Will this in-person learning be full-time or hybrid? If it’s hybrid, will the schedule be alternating weeks of in-person and remote?
A: While some families are eager to have their student(s) return regardless of the public health conditions, there are families who would prefer to stay remote for the remainder of the school year. This is the first data point that we need to know and will help us determine the learning model. Whether students are scheduled for in-person learning five full days each week or in an alternating week schedule or some other variation largely depends on the interest among students to return, in-person. Once the number is determined, we will look to configure space needs and adhere to the safety measures including six foot distancing in each of our educational spaces. At that time we will be able to determine the hybrid schedule.
Q: What if we change our minds about the learning model?
A: Families may wish to change their selected learning model as public health conditions change. Such requests will be accommodated to the best of our ability. The FPS Back-to-School Plan provides several checkpoints from now through the remainder of the school year where those decisions can be evaluated in consideration of available space and staffing.
Q: When will extracurricular activities begin (e.g., athletics, arts) and will my decision about which model impact my student’s ability to participate?
A: It is our goal to offer extracurricular activities, including out-of-school time programming, in mid-January, provided that there is evidence of public health improvement with the number of COVID cases trending downward and with no evidence of in-school transmission. Extracurricular activities will be available to all students, regardless of which learning model is selected.
Q: Will staff and students be tested for COVID on a regular basis?
A: We are working with the City’s Department of Public Health to provide weekly, voluntary testing for staff who are working in our school buildings. At this time we are not planning to test students. The City offers free COVID testing at several sites for interested families. You can visit their website for locations and times.
Community Connections Input
We cannot be in physical space all together right now, but we can still build community and cultivate helpful conversations for our Dunning families. The Dunning School Council is considering organizing a series of all-school or grade-level virtual gatherings that will allow families to get to know one another and hear from experts on topics that are meaningful to you.
We’d like your feedback on the following:
Dates to Remember
DECEMBER
Wednesday, 2nd
- Grade One Virtual Field Trip, Explore The Ocean World
Thursday, 3rd
- Early Release: Professional Development,
- 12:00 dismissal for remote studants
- 1:05 dismissal in person students, Lunch IS served.
Thursday, 10th
- Early Release: Parent Conferences
- 12:00 dismissal for remote studants
- 1:05 dismissal in person students, Lunch IS served.
- Early Release: Parent Conferences
Monday, 14th
- Kindergarten Force and Motion Workshop, Discovery Museum, 9:45am – 1:45pm
- Fifth Grade Virtual Field Trip- Art Quest, 12:05 – 3:30pm
School Council Meeting, 4:00 – 5:00pm
Thursday, 17th
- Virtual Community Meeting, 9:30 – 10:30am
- Early Release: Parent Conferences
- 12:00 dismissal for remote studants
- 1:05 dismissal in person students, Lunch IS served.
Fifth Grade Virtual Field Trip- Art Quest, 12:05 – 3:30pm
- No School Winter Recess
JANUARY
Friday, 1st
- No School: New Year's Day
Thursday, 7th
- Early Release: Parent Conferences
- 12:00 dismissal for remote studants
- 1:05 dismissal in person students, Lunch IS served.
Thursday, 14th
- Early Release: Parent Conferences
- 12:00 dismissal for remote studants
- 1:05 dismissal in person students, Lunch IS served.
- No School: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- No School: Professional Development
Food Services Information
District Calendars
Dunning Directory
Click on the link below to input information and sign up for the Dunning Directory,
School Hours
Early Release Days
- Students are dismissed at 1:05pm.
- Lunch IS served.
- Early Release Thursdays: 9/18/20, 12/3/20, 12/10/20, 12/17/20, 1/7/21, 1/14/21, 3/11/21, 4/29/21, 5/6/21, 5/13/21, 5/20/21, 5/27/21
Half Days
- Students are dismissed at 12:00pm.
- Lunch IS NOT served.
- Half Days: 11/25 and the last day of school.
Universal Lunch & Recess Hour for Remote Learning Kindergarten through Grade 5
The district-wide lunch/recess hour from 12:00PM-1:00PM each day at all nine elementary schools is starting tomorrow, Monday, November 16, 2020. This shift will allow us to provide a coordinated and consistent lunch/recess time for all remote students
Our hope is that this universal lunch/recess hour affords all students with a greater amount of uninterrupted instruction in the classroom and supports all students and families during this challenging time.
Thank you for being outstanding educational partners in this work as we navigate these uncharted waters together.
ESL Writing Assessment Information
ESL Teachers will be administering the biannual ESL Writing Assessment to students (remote and in-person) to students identified as English Learners in grades 3-12, during the following testing windows:
First Interim Assessment Testing Window
November 9-December 4
Final Interim Assessment Testing Window:
March 29-April 30
Framingham Public Schools Opens Online Pre-Registration for the Class of 2034
Parents / Guardians can begin the registration process for the incoming Kindergarteners for the 2021-2022 school year.
Families who have a child or children that will be five years old by August 31, 2021 are invited to pre-register their incoming Kindergarteners online. The Parent Information Center, located at 31 Flagg Drive – Door # 4A, has just opened the process that all families must go through before a child can begin their academic career in Framingham Public Schools.
Please visit https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/kindergarten2021 to begin registration and for additional information including detailed steps and timing. Here is a snapshot of the Kindergarten registration process.
Online pre-registration (Now - April 2, 2021)
Schedule a phone appointment with the Parent Information Center (December 7, 2020 - April 2, 2021)
Attend Virtual Kindergarten Information Event(s) (Details are still TBD)
School Tours (March 2021)
Receive school assignment form by May 14, 2021
Confirm your school placement with the Parent Information Center by May 21, 2021
Kindergarten Orientation on June 1, 2021
Housing Help
The state Department of Housing and Community Development has centralized information about resources for families struggling to make rent or mortgage payments due to COVID-19. For information, go this this WEBSITE.
Resources if You Are Struggling to Make Rent or Mortgage Payments
Framingham Public Schools Expands Food Distribution to All School Sites
Framingham Public Schools (FPS) is proud to announce an expansion to the current food distribution operation from four school sites to all school buildings. Framingham Public Schools has been offering free grab-and-go lunch and breakfast at Cameron Middle School, Fuller Middle School, Barbieri Elementary School and Wilson Elementary School since Wednesday, March 18th.
Beginning Monday, November 2nd, families can drive-by or walk-up to any Framingham Public School between 10am and 1pm Monday through Friday to receive meals.
Food is offered by the School Department to ALL families. If a family is having difficulty getting to a distribution site, they can contact the Food Service Department at 508-626-9109. Anyone who approaches the food pick-up area should wear a mask / face covering and follow physical distancing protocols established by Food Services staff. The specific pick-up locations and traffic routes have been posted to the Food Services Website.
Food is provided at no cost to families. Anyone can pick up meals at any of the locations and children do not need to be present to receive food. Families who are eligible for free or reduced meals or those who attend the following Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools including Brophy Elementary School, Fuller Middle School, FHS Thayer Campus, and Woodrow Wilson Elementary School have received or will be receiving a Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Card.
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) means that all students at the designated schools receive free meals.
P-EBT is a federal program created in Spring 2020 to provide additional funds for families to buy food while schools were closed due to COVID-19. For more information on P-EBT, please visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/pandemic-ebt-p-ebt.
FPS Food Distribution: Starting November 2nd
- Food pick-up time: 10:00am - 1:00pm
- Locations: All Schools (BLOCKS at Juniper Hill, Barbieri, Brophy, Cameron, Dunning, FHS, FHS Thayer Campus, Fuller, Hemenway, King, McCarthy, Potter Road, Stapleton, Walsh, Woodrow Wilson)
- Is there a cost for families? No
- Which families can pick up meals? All families. Meals are not limited to Free & Reduced families. Any family can get food! (Meals are for school age children between the ages of 5 years old to 18 years old)
- Do students have to be in the vehicle when families pick up meals? No
- Can families pick up multiple meals? Yes
- Do families have to pick up meals from the school their child attends? No
Covid-19 Testing
FREE DRIVE-THROUGH TESTING AT THE TJX COMPANIES, INC.
MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY
- Location: 770 Cochituate Road, Framingham, MA 01701 (entrance to the testing site is on Speen Street near the Mass Pike exit ramp overpass)
- Dates: Starting Monday, November 2, 2020
- Days/Time: Monday to Saturday– 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Eligibility: Open to everyone; symptomatic and asymptomatic
- Appointment: No appointment required
- Format: Drive-through only
- Cost: FREE; no health insurance required
- Test Results: People will receive results in approximately 72 hours from Fallon Ambulance, who is conducting the tests.
FREE, WALK-UP COVID-19 TESTING AT THE
SOUTH MIDDLESEX OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL (SMOC)
- Location: South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC), 7 Bishop Street, Framingham
- Dates: Starting, Monday, August 31
- Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 3-6 p.m.
- Eligibility: Open to everyone; symptomatic and asymptomatic
- Appointment: No appointment required
- Format: Walk-up (limited parking available on-site)
- Cost: FREE; no health insurance required
- Test Results: People will receive results in approximately 72 hours from Fallon Ambulance, who is conducting the tests.
FREE, WALK-UP COVID-19 TESTING AT AMAZING THINGS ART CENTER
(WALK-UP TESTING ONLY, NO PARKING AVAILABLE)
- Location: Amazing Things Arts Center - 160 Hollis St., Framingham, MA 01702
- Dates: Starting Tuesday, August 18,
- Hours: Tuesday and Thursday – 3-6 p.m.
- Eligibility: Open to everyone; symptomatic and asymptomatic
- Appointment: No appointment required
- Format: Walk-up testing only
- Cost: FREE; no health insurance required
- Test Results: People will receive results in approximately 72 hours from Fallon Ambulance, who is conducting the tests
If you do not receive your test results, after 72 hours, please call the Fallon Hotline at 617-765-0176
For additional information CLICK HERE.
School Health Services Updates - October 2, 2020
- FPS Interventions and Strategies for a Safe Return to School
- Massachusetts (MA) Immunization Requirements
- MA Physical Examination Requirements During COVID-19
- Flu Vaccine Requirements for All Students
- Emergency Contact Information
- Children with Special Health Care Need
Technology and Learning Platforms for Remote Learning
Google Classroom: Students and educators will be using Google Classroom in all grade levels as their "remote classroom". Educators are busy creating these virtual classrooms now and will share classroom codes with families shortly.
Google Meets: Students and educators will be using Google Meets for video conferences throughout the school day.
In addition, there are consistent instructional programs being used by our students and educators this year. Here is a complete list for your reference.
Click HERE for FPS Family Tech Support
Community Resources
Visit the Dunning Website
Join the Dunning PTO FB Page
If you are not already a member, please join the PTO FB page. It is a great way to stay connected with the Dunning Community! www.facebook.com/groups/228212977304928/?ref=bookmarks
Follow Us on Twitter
Thursday December 3 Is An Early Release Day
- 12:00 dismissal for remote students
- 1:05 dismissal in person students, lunch will be served