Panther Corporation Newsletter
March 2020 Edition 2
Griffith Public Schools Office Hours Update
Griffith Public Schools encourages parents and community members to make all inquiries either by email or telephone call. This will help our staff remain healthy and safe during this time in order for our offices to remain open. We do appreciate your help and patience!
No one is permitted within our facilities at any time unless approved by the superintendent or until further notice. Griffith Public Schools is taking a proactive approach and deep cleaning all classrooms, buses, cafeterias, etc...so that when we are able to have students and staff attend school that we are ready for them! Thank you for your understanding with this matter!
Griffith Public Schools Closure...How much longer?
As we all know Gov. Holcomb has closed ALL schools until May 1st. This was not a shock to many of us; however, it does present many challenges not only to GPS staff but to our families. I have taken some time this week to gather information with fellow superintendents across the state and Lake County but also from some of my staff. I presented my plan to the board last night, and this is Griffith Public Schools plan of action moving forward.
March 23 - 27: Spring Break - Griffith Public Schools is closed. Central office and all school offices will be closed. Some staff will be working remotely, such as myself.
March 30 - April 3: Griffith Public Schools will utilize 5 waiver days. Griffith Public Schools will remain closed. Central office and all school offices will be closed. Some staff will be working remotely, such as myself. Students will NOT have eLearning. Enjoy the time with your family!
These two weeks away will allow for the 14 days of “quarantine” from each other and to help with the spread of the COVID-19 virus as Gov. Holcomb alluded to in his speech yesterday. This also allows our families time to decompress after the four days of eLearning, as well as our staff to gear up and plan for the next round of eLearning Days.
NO ONE IS TO BE IN OUR BUILDINGS WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT! Facilities are shut down until further notice!
April 6 - 9: Griffith Public Schools will be eLearning this week.
April 10: Good Friday - NO SCHOOL! Griffith Public Schools will be closed as planned.
April 13: Monday following Easter - NO SCHOOL! Griffith Public Schools will be closed as planned.
April 14 - 17: Griffith Public Schools will utilize 5 waiver days. Griffith Public Schools will remain closed and limited staff working. Students will NOT have eLearning.
April 20 - 24: Griffith Public Schools will be eLearning this week.
April 27 - May 1: Griffith Public Schools will utilize 5 waiver days. Griffith Public Schools will remain closed and limited staff working. Students will NOT have eLearning.
Here is my plan if Gov. Holcomb decides to extend the closure for the remainder of the school year:
May 4 - 8: Griffith Public Schools will be eLearning this week.
May 11- 15: Griffith Public Schools will utilize 5 waiver days. Griffith Public Schools will remain closed and limited staff working. Students will NOT have eLearning.
May 18 - 22: Griffith Public Schools will be eLearning this week.
May 25: NO SCHOOL - Griffith Public Schools will be closed as planned.
May 26 - 29: We have utilized all 20 waiver days; however, I am hoping that Gov. Holcomb provides more. We will utilize these last four days as waiver days for students if Gov. Holcomb provides for more wavered days. If this plan is permissible, the teachers will come to the school to finalize grades, clean rooms, meet with admin, etc… If more days are not provided, then we would utilize eLearning for the last four days while the teachers are to be present in their respective buildings.
PLEASE REMEMBER...The best way to reach any staff member, including administration, is through email. We are committed to checking our emails daily. Thank you for your understanding with this matter!
Unified Classroom/PowerSchool
We appreciate your patience as PowerSchool works to accommodate the vast amount of usage as the COVID-19 has hit the nation. We discovered through several posts that parents and students who utilize the Unified Classroom in the mornings are having no to little difficulties, while as the time nears 11am, the usage of PowerSchool has drastically increased and there are issues with it. Remember to take a deep breath, read a book, and come back to it at a later time. We are not wanting families and students to stress over eLearning work. We realize that families have enough on their plates! If issues continue, please do reach out to us. We are here to assist all of you!
Grab and Go Lunches from Griffith Public Schools
Grab and go meals will consist of a sandwich, fruit, vegetable and milk.
Meals will be served on a drive-up basis at door C at Griffith Middle/High School. Individuals will be required to drive up to door C at Griffith Middle/High School, and the meal will be brought to your car. In addition, these meals will be delivered by bus at the locations listed on the attached flyer.
If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact the Director of Food Services.
Reminder from Griffith Christian Church...Grab and Go Lunches
GFCC wants to help families in need at this time of unprecedented crisis. We know that the schools being closed for the next 20 school days will place a burden on some members of our community. We want to help everyone we can during this time. We will be providing sack lunches daily. Below are the guidelines/information.
- Pick up time will be 11:30 AM -12:30 PM each day until supplies
run out. Please be mindful of the traffic around the church
building.
- Food prep time will be from 9:00-12:30 each day. Volunteers 18
and over and in good health needed.
- Supplies Needed:
- White Bread
- Creamy Peanut Butter & Grape Jelly
- American Cheese Slices
- Juice Boxes
- Fruit Snacks
- Granola Bars
- Cuties/Halos (Mandarin Oranges)
- Yogurt Tubes
- Monetary Donations
Food and monetary donations can be dropped off at Griffith First Christian Church (GFCC) between the hours of 9:00 and 3:00 Monday through Friday. GFCC is located at 202 W Pine St in Griffith. Call the church office at 219.924.6840 if you want to make a donation of any kind. Go to the church building between 9:00 and 12:30 to make a donation or to the church office between 9:00 and 3:00 to donate. The office is located on the east side of the GFCC parking lot. Please email the church office at office@gfcc.net with questions you may have.
- Donations can also be made at gfcc.net/give. Set up an account.
Choose one time gift and use the fund “Hope Chest Special
Offering.”
- Following the lead of the School City of Hammond, children 18
years and younger must be present to receive a sack lunch.
We are so incredibly grateful for all of those who have generously donated already. We look forward to seeing how God will bring good out of crisis.
State Assessment Update from Governor Holcomb Released 3/19/2020
Kindergarten Registration
We will still require the following once our elementary offices are open to the public:
- Bring child's original birth certificate and immunization records.
- To be eligible for kindergarten, child must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2019.
- If child is 5 by October 1, 2019 for the 2020/21 school year, parent/legal guardian can write a letter of appeal to the building principal by August 2020. Superintendent has the final decision on the enrollment of child into kindergarten.
- Enrollment is open to only Griffith residents. Please make sure to bring proof of residency!
Look for the Online Registration Portal to open on April 1st!
Students with Limited English Needs Reminder...
Dear Parents and Guardians:
As your child’s Teacher of Record for English Language Services, I want you to know that we are here to support the needs of your child during this time. For your convenience, I will be available from 12:00-7:00 p.m. this week. Please feel free to reach out via email. I am here to help guide you, provide accommodations, and best meet the needs and services outlined in your student’s ILP. If you or your child are overwhelmed at any time, please send me an email and I will make myself available through the Zoom App to assist you and your child through the eLearning experience. Please be patient and know that we will get through this together.
Kindest regards,
Mrs. Scheeringa ascheeringa@griffith.12.in.us
Mrs. Martin cmartin@griffith.k12.in.us
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Драги родитељи и старатељи:
Као учитељ евиденције вашег детета за услуге енглеског језика, желим да знате да смо овде да подржимо потребе вашег детета за то време. Ради ваше удобности, бит ћу вам на располагању од 12: 00-7: 00 х. ове недеље. Слободно се обратите е-поштом. Овде сам да вам помогнем да водим вас, да вам пружимо смештај и најбоље испуним потребе и услуге наведене у ИЛП вашег студента. Ако сте у било којем тренутку преплављени ви или ваше дете, пошаљите ми е-пошту и ставићу вам се на располагање путем апликације Зоом како бих вам и вашем детету помогао кроз е-учење. Будите стрпљиви и знајте да ћемо то пребродити заједно.
С поштовањем
Amy Scheeringa
ascheeringa@griffith.k12.in.us
Mrs. Martin cmartin@griffith.k12.in.us
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Queridos padres y guardianes:
Como maestro de registro de su hijo para los servicios del idioma inglés, quiero que sepa que estamos aquí para apoyar las necesidades de su hijo durante este tiempo. Para su comodidad, estaré disponible de 12: 00-7: 00 p.m. esta semana. No dude en comunicarse por correo electrónico. Estoy aquí para ayudarlo a guiarlo, brindarle alojamiento y satisfacer mejor las necesidades y servicios descritos en el ILP de su estudiante. Si usted o su hijo están abrumados en algún momento, envíeme un correo electrónico y estaré disponible a través de la aplicación Zoom para ayudarlo a usted y a su hijo a través de la experiencia de eLearning. Tenga paciencia y sepa que lo superaremos juntos.
Gracias,
Amy Scheeringa
ascheeringa@griffith.k12.in.us
Mrs. Martin cmartin@griffith.k12.in.us
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Drodzy Rodzice i Opiekunowie:
Jako nauczycielka Twojego dziecka w zakresie usług języka angielskiego chcę, abyś wiedział, że jesteśmy tutaj, aby w tym czasie wspierać potrzeby Twojego dziecka. Dla Twojej wygody będę dostępny od 12:00 do 19:00. w tym tygodniu. Skontaktuj się z nami przez e-mail. Jestem tutaj, aby pomóc Ci poprowadzić Cię, zapewnić zakwaterowanie i jak najlepiej zaspokoić potrzeby i usługi przedstawione w ILP Twojego ucznia. Jeśli ty lub twoje dziecko jesteście przytłoczeni w dowolnym momencie, proszę wysłać mi e-mail, a ja udostępnię się za pośrednictwem aplikacji Zoom, aby pomóc tobie i dziecku podczas korzystania z e-learningu. Bądź cierpliwy i wiedz, że razem to przeżyjemy.
Z wyrazami szacunku
Amy Scheeringa
ascheeringa@griffith.k12.in.us
Mrs. Martin cmartin@griffith.k12.in.us
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亲爱的父母和监护人:
作为您孩子的英语服务记录老师,我希望您知道我们在此期间为您孩子的需求提供支持。 为方便起见,我将于下午12:00-7:00上班。 本星期。 请随时通过电子邮件与我们联系。 我在这里为您提供指导,提供住宿,并最好地满足您学生的ILP中概述的需求和服务。 如果您或您的孩子在任何时候不知所措,请给我发送电子邮件,我将通过Zoom App向我提供帮助,以帮助您和您的孩子通过电子学习体验。 请耐心等待,并知道我们将共同解决这个问题。
最亲切的问候
Amy Scheeringa
ascheeringa@griffith.k12.in.us
Mrs. Martin cmartin@griffith.k12.in.us
Students with Special Education Needs Reminder...
Leah Dumezich
Director of Special Education
Grants Manager
Title 1 and EL Learners
High Ability Coordinator
Mckinney Vento Liaison
Griffith Public Schools
ldumezich@griffith.k12.in.us
219-924-4250
Students with Title Services Reminder...
If your child is receiving support through Title services at an elementary school, I want you to know that we are here to support the needs of your child during this time. For your convenience, Title teachers will be available to support your child this week from 12:00-7:00 p.m. Please feel free to reach out via email. We are here to help guide you, provide accommodations, and foster success for your child. If you or your child are overwhelmed at any time, please send me an email and I will make myself available through the Zoom App to assist you and your child through the eLearning experience. Please be patient and know that we will get through this together.
Ready Elementary Mrs. Carver dcarver@griffith.k12.in.us
Wadsworth Elementary Mrs. Massey amassey@griffith.k12.in.us
Beiriger Elementary Mrs. Phillips mphillips@griffith.k12.in.us
Sports/Extra-Curricular Events and Activities
Community Use of Facilities
All school facilities, including sports courts/fields, will remain closed to the public during the school closure. All facility rentals are cancelled or postponed until school reopens. Re-scheduling of all events and activities will be determined on a case-by-case basis. No one is permitted in our buildings at this time without approval from superintendent. Thank you for your understanding!
Indiana Department of Education Resource
What To Do If You Are Sick
Child Mind Website for Parents
Here is a great website for parents to use during elearning days:
Child Mind — This article offers ways to give support to kids and to structure time at home during the COVID-19 outbreak.