Holland Elementary School Message
May 29, 2020
Hello HES Families,
I hope that this message finds all of you doing well. I’d like to communicate a change in the plan for families coming to school to pick up their child’s personal belongings. Pennsylvania schools are officially closed as we remain under restrictions placed by the Governor. Until we are in the Green Phase of the Governor’s Reopening Plan, schools will remain closed to visitors and families. As a result, the new protocol from the school district will be that teachers will pack up student belongings in bags and distribute them to families in a “curbside” pickup on Friday, June 12th.
Teachers will pack up students’ personal belongings (including musical instruments) from students’ desks and cubbies. The teachers will be coming into the building to gather these items on Wednesday, June 10th and Thursday, June 11th. They will place belongings into a labeled bag and we will have the bags organized in the cafeteria in alphabetical order by student last name.
I’m requesting that families follow the schedule below for the pick-up of these items:
- 8:00-900 – Last Names A – B – C
- 9:00-10:00 – Last Names D – E – F
- 10:00-11:00 – Last Names G – H – I – J
- 12:00-1:00 – Last Names K – L
- 1:00-2:00 – Last Names M – N – O – P
- 2:00-3:00 – Last Names Q – R – S
- 3:00-4:00 – Last Names T – Z
To the essential workers that won’t have the ability to get to Holland on June 12th or during their designated time frame, feel free to show up at any time between 8:00am and 4:00pm. If June 12th simply doesn’t work, email me directly (jmacclay@crsd.org), and I’ll try to coordinate another date and time. Thank YOU for all of your service during these difficult times!
This is new for all of us so there may be questions. Please be sure to read the following items before you come to school on June 12th:
- As you enter Holland’s parking lot, please drive around counter-clockwise to the cafeteria. Traffic cones will be set up to assist. We will follow the procedures we utilize during the school year for car rider pick up.
- On a piece of paper, write down your child(ren)’s first and last names in LARGE print. This will allow us to visibly see everything we need to retrieve the students’ items.
- Please stay in your vehicle. Social distancing guidelines will be practiced during the distribution to families.
- Bags will remain closed and placed in vehicles with minimal (if any) contact, as the staff would like to place the bag(s) in an open trunk.
- Unfortunately, this won’t be a time to socialize with the staff. The staff that will be assisting with the retrieval of student items will be working quickly to keep the flow of traffic moving.
- This will not be a time for dropping off items to the school such as library books, text books, or Chromebooks. These items will be kept by families until school reopens.
The materials that will be returned to your child(ren) will be the belongings in their desk and cubby. Items not retrieved on June 12th and items that have no identification will be stored in the school until school reopens.
Families can also request that another family pick up items. This will be done only with an email sent to me prior to June 12th.
Thank you to the HES community for your level of support with this plan. The staff and I appreciate your flexibility during this challenging time.
Chalk the Hawk Pictures!
Weekly Video Message!
Your children will enjoy seeing the newest video. It encourages them to be engaged without electronic devices to create something really cool! Check out the video HERE.
Virtual Hawkeyes!
Students can also be recognized by an adult at home or by a staff member for meeting expectations for being Safe, Responsible or Kind through their distance learning activities or home activities.
An adult can give a child a Virtual Hawkeye by completing the form found at the following LINK. Students who are recognized with a Hawkeye will have their name posted on the Distance Learning Hub of our website.
Here is a list of this week's recipients of Virtual Hawkeyes:
Caleb Bellman - RESPONSIBLE: Caleb helped around the house, cleaned the pool, did laundry, vacuumed, emptied trash.
Sebastian Soares - RESPONSIBLE: Sebastian has been doing well in completing his math assignments.
Rowan Cole - RESPONSIBLE: Rowan has done a nice job completing her assignments.
Reading Club Kiddos - RESPONSIBLE: 1st-4th graders in Mrs. Gittelman's reading club have read over 300 books on Epic Books!
PM K Reading Buddies - RESPONSIBLE: PM Kindergarten Reading Buddies have read more than 20 books on Epic Books!
Joseph Mendola - RESPONSIBLE: Joseph is doing a great job working on his Lalilo reading assignments.
Evan Perreault - RESPONSIBLE: Evan is doing a great job working on his Lalilo reading assignments.
Collin Hannigan - RESPONSIBLE: Collin was a superstar working with Mrs. Gittelman on his reading activities.
Abigail Hannigan - KIND: Abigail was helpful to her brother when he was doing a Zoom lesson.
Aiden McGee - RESPONSIBLE: Aiden emailed Mrs. Gittelmaan to let her know he had trouble with her online lesson.
Dan Kulak - KIND: Dan finds ways to help his classmates laugh with a kind message or video in our Google classroom.
Callista Kurian - KIND: Callista finds ways to help her classmates feel happy with a kind message or video.
Abralyn Kelly - KIND: Abralyn finds ways to help classmates feel happy with a kind message or video.
Elle Morgan - KIND: Elle always finds a way to help her classmates on the Google Classroom when they need it.
Braxton Oczkowski - KIND: Braxton always finds a way to help his classmates on the Google Classroom when they need it.
Ben Eisele - KIND: Ben always finds ways to help his classmates on the Google Classroom when they need it.
Kris Ortman - RESPONSIBLE: Kris consistently completes his online assignments and does them well.
Kai Klocek - RESPONSIBLE: Kai consistently completes his online assignments and does them well.
Noah Smith - KIND: Noah is kind to his 3-year old sister, playing with her and taking her outside when Mom is busy.
Sandro Uturgaidze - RESPONSIBLE: Sandro goes above and beyond each day to do ALL of his distance learning work.
Kristopher Lehmann - RESPONSIBLE: Kristopher is showing improvement and getting his work done without being told.
Charleigh Lohin - KIND: Charliegh has been a great big sister, helping her little sister with many things.
Bryan Lavin - RESPONSIBLE: Bryan wakes up early, starts the day with a positive attitude, & gets his work done.
Brody Lavin - KIND: Brody offered to teach his little sister sight words so she will know them next year in kindergarten.
Landon Akva - RESPONSIBLE: Landon does his work independently and makes his bed each day.
Anna Haggerty - KIND: Anna is sending notes, letters, and small gifts to friends to let them know she is thinking of them.
Aidan Haggerty - RESPONSIBLE: Aidan is giving his best effort to do his work and is turning it in on time.
Delilah Kennedy - RESPONSIBLE: Delilah is going above & beyond to write great responses to books she reads on EPIC.
Aiden McGee - RESPONSIBLE: Aiden has been doing a great job completing his reading assignments.
Hannabelle Thompson - KIND: Hannabelle is always so kind and respectful during virtual lessons.
Summer Scarborough - RESPONSIBLE: Summer is doing a great job working on her Read Theory assignments.
Josh Lapides - KIND: Josh is always so kind and respectful during virtual lessons.
Sandro Uturgaidze - RESPONSIBLE: Sandro is making so much progress in the Lalilo reading program.
Vlad Parkhimovich - RESPONSIBLE: Vlad has been completing all of his reading assignments in Lalilo.
Alex Kubala - RESPONSIBLE: Alex has worked hard to complete all of his school work.
Ellie Sedam - RESPONSIBLE: Ellie has been completing all of her school work, even while being out of town.
Gabby Sosna - RESPONSIBLE: Gabby has shown responsibility in completing her daily distance learning work.
Diana Kravets - RESPONSIBLE: Diana always does her best and turns in high quality 3rd grade work!
Patrick Sweeney - RESPONSIBLE: Patrick cleaned up garbage along the paths at Churchville Nature Center.
Stella Schondelmeyer - RESPONSIBLE: Stella cleaned up garbage along the paths at Churchville Nature Center.
Important Message from Dr. Fraser
Please be advised that the last day of “new” learning for K-11 students will be Tuesday, June 9th. CR teachers will generally be available to provide student make-up work and to assist with extra help on June 10th-12th and June 15th-16th. Please know, however, that during this period of time our teachers will return to school on a rotating basis to close out their classrooms while adhering to social distancing guidelines, and thus will not be available at all times during these days to provide immediate assistance. I thank you in advance for accommodating our need to close out the school year in ways that are quite different from how we are accustomed to doing so.
Additionally, please know that any K-11 student who has borrowed a Chromebook should keep that Chromebook at home over the summer. These Chromebooks will be returned to school when schools reopen.
Weekly Schedule of Spirit Days - Week of June 1st
- Monday, June 1st: Camo Day: Sport the cool print that goes from military to trend-setting.
- Tuesday, June 2nd: Movie Madness!: Dress as your favorite movie character or theme.
- Wednesday, June 3rd: HES Loves: Wear hearts, red and/or pink and show your love.
- Thursday, June 4th: Lucky to be a Hawk: Any and all shades of green, please! We are lucky to be part of the HES!
Student Wellness Activities
In order to help promote student wellness, the district is providing optional activities for all grade levels that can be completed individually or with families on Fridays. The activities address the physical health, mental health, and social connectedness of our students. Please click the following link for this week’s student wellness activities: https://www.smore.com/83gqu
Student Registration
Be sure to remember that there is a June 1st deadline for applications to be submitted to guarantee a spot in your child’s home school. For current HES families, this is a specific reminder to those who still need to register their first grader for next year.
Please go to the CRSD site at www.crsd.org and click on the Student Registration tab. If you have any questions please reach out to our registration department at registration@crsd.org.
Free and Reduced Lunch
To apply for free lunch during the COVID-19 school closure, you may:
- Download the Free and Reduced Lunch Application, fill it out, and email back to Karen Moody kmoody@crsd.org. DO NOT send your application via US mail to the district office as there is no mail being delivered to our buildings during this time.
- Apply online by visiting: https://www.compass.state.pa.us/compass.web/Public/CMPHome (website offers language options other than English)
You will only need to submit one application per household, even if your children attend more than one school in Council Rock School District. Eligibility determination is made using federal income eligibility guidelines and applicants will be informed of a decision within two business days of submission.
Throughout the duration of the COVID-19 school closure, Council Rock School District is offering a “grab and go” food service. If your family qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, you will be given instructions as to how to access these meals when you are notified your child is eligible.
For questions, please email kmoody@crsd.org
Bucks County Library - WiFi
Library WiFi access in branch parking lots and outside of buildings – BCFL’s WiFi network is on and can be accessed for free in the branch parking lots and areas outside of the buildings. The library reminds users that it is a public network and asks that they practice social distancing while using the WiFi. To see the best areas to access the WiFi, visit https://buckslib.org/you-can-access-our-wifi-in-our-branch-parking-lots/.
Brain Break Board - Updated Each Week with New Activities!
Young, growing brains need lots of breaks during the day to let the learning sink in! Children should take time once or twice an hour to rest their busy brains. Click HERE to find links to some new ideas to keep your child's brain breaks fresh!
Fun 4 Recess Crew (New Activities Added!)
The teachers of Recess and Lunch have been going through websites to find some neat activities that will make the children laugh or get them moving. Each week, these activities will be updated to provide fresh ideas for getting the children to "at home" recess opportunities.
For next week, activities include:
- Milk Jug Bird Feeder
- Balloon Blowing Bottle
- My Backyard Biodiversity
- Spring Walk Bingo
Click on the following LINK or go to the HES Distance Learning Hub for more details on each activity.
Updated Resources and Activities from Our School Guidance Counselor
During our distance learning, there may still be times in which students may need the support of our guidance counselor, Mrs. O'Neill. She is available all of the time to help students and their families. Mrs. O'Neill crafted a letter about how parents can reach out to her, and you can read the letter at the following LINK.
In addition, Mrs. O'Neill has resources and weekly activity calendars on her Distance Learning site. She has new content added weekly and that there are resources and activities provided.
Only one full week of distance learning remains for the children. Please encourage them to work hard and finish the school year strong. Take care and enjoy the weekend.
Joe MacClay
Principal
Holland Elementary School
597 Beverly Road
Holland, PA 18966
Email: jmacclay@crsd.org
Website: http://www.crsd.org/Domain/1212
Phone: 215-944-1500
Twitter: @HollandElem