Whittier Weekly Newsletter
March 14, 2021
Spring is in the Air
Dear Whittier Families,
I'd like to take a moment to give a special thank you to a couple of the many people who help us all in our school and community.
Mrs. Reese and Mrs. Leatherman, our school counselors, continue to support our students, families, and staff every day. Each wee they provide information about the many services they offer in the Counselor's Corner below. If you have not had an opportunity to check it out, or to get to know Mrs. Reese and Mrs. Leatherman, please reach out and say hello. They are both amazing people and have a lot to offer!
Another person in our school who is instrumental in encouraging a love of reading, and also a love of life, is Ms. Tina Dattoli, our Library Media Specialist. She has partnered with Ms. Naa Ako-Adjei this year to provide wonderful lessons and opportunities for our readers. Ms. Ako-Adjei joins us every Monday and spends her other four days at Parkway Elementary School. We appreciate them both very much. Please see below for information about Curbside Book Exchange this week.
In addition to these wonderful people, I'd also like to express gratitude to our PTA for continuing to provide opportunities for students and families, even with all that has gone on this past year. They are working on some other fantastic opportunities in the months ahead, beginning with a Virtual Bingo Night coming up on Friday, March 26th. Look for information about Bingo Night this week.
If you would like to nominate one of our outstanding support staff for recognition, please consider doing so. Our secretarial staff, instructional assistants, custodial staff, bus drivers, and food and nutrition services staff do so much to support our students, families, and staff. Details are included here if you have someone in mind that you would like to recognize: Nominate Whittier Support Staff 2021
Looking ahead, we have received 60 requests from families to consider hybrid instruction for the upcoming quarter. We will work diligently to accommodate requests and will reach out to families as soon as possible to provide information. As you know, there are many, many factors to consider - we will do everything possible to accommodate requests and ensure a safe and health learning environment for all.
In addition, we will be providing families with some progress information with the next report card. As we have just passed the 120th day of school for this calendar year, it is important for our learners to realize just how much opportunity still lies ahead. It has been quite a challenge. As the parent of an 11th grader and a freshman at FCC, I know the significant difficulties that students and parents have faced this past year. But there are continuing opportunities ahead of us to regain skills, continue to learn, and finish the school year strong.
I will share a Book of the Week directly with our students in Schoology this week.
Warm regards and appreciation for your support,
Lorcan OhEithir, Principal
Library Book Exchange
Thank you to students and families who have been returning their library books this past week! If you still have library books checked out...
For Cohort A and B students, you can return them to your teacher and they will return them to the library.
For Virtual students, please stop by the front doors of the school between 8:30-4:00 Monday-Friday. Press the button on the silver box to let the secretary know you are dropping off library books.
What does your child have checked out? There are written directions and a video to show you how to access your child’s library account to see the titles and covers of the books they still have checked out.
Book Exchange for Cohort A and B students: Students who would like to check out library books will need to place holds in LS2PAC (video and written directions.) The deadline for placing holds was this past Wed the 10th. Since we are all still learning this new schedule, your child will have until 8:00am Monday, March 15th to place their holds on the books they would like. Ms. Dattoli will deliver the books your child placed on hold to their classroom between March 15-19. Schedule for holds and deliveries to classrooms
Book Exchange for Virtual students: Families who decide to participate will need to complete a permission form for each child who is a student at Whittier by Wed., March 17th. Families will then assist their child in logging into LS2PAC to place up to 3 holds on available books by 4:00pm Wed., March 17th (video and written directions.) Pick Up will be from 3:00-4:00 on Wed., March 24th in the front of the school. If you are unable to pick up books then, you can pick them up from the front office that Thursday or Friday. Schedule for holds and Pick Up Days
Questions? Email tina.dattoli@fcps.org. Happy reading!
Camp Invention is Returning to Whittier Elementary!
In partnership with the National Inventors Hall of Fame® (NIHF), Whittier Elementary is pleased to offer the nationally acclaimed Camp Invention® program to children entering first through sixth grade. This exciting, weeklong summer adventure provides opportunities for open-ended exploration of science, technology, engineering and more!
Children rotate through a variety of hands-on activities each day while collaborating with friends to think creatively and invent their own solutions to real-world challenges. The week begins on Monday, July 12th with Robin Murphy serving as Director, and the 2021 program lineup is the best yet, so whether your child is a new or returning camper, they are in for an amazing week full of new discoveries and “a-ha” moments!
This year camp will be offered both in person or at home and families have the option to choose either up until Memorial Day! Families who register early receive a $40 discount up until March 31st. See this FLYER for more information about registration.
There are also scholarships available. Contact Robin Murphy at robin.murphy@fcps.org for more information.
Counselor's Corner with Mrs. Reese and Mrs. Leatherman
Counseling Lessons for March: We will be coming into your child’s classrooms - both virtually and hybrid in the next few weeks to continue our Leader in Me and Counseling lessons. This month we will be talking about Growth Mindset and the transition to Hybrid Learning and Leader in Me!
Grades K-2: Begin With The End In Mind- Decision Making. We are focusing on Goal Setting. Ask your student what goal they are working on and how they are going to achieve it.
Grades 3-5: Diversity, Coping with Anxiety and Resilience.
Student Small Groups Updated Schedule: Our small groups will continue to meet virtually during hybrid. The virtual schedule for groups is posted on the Counselor’s Corner Schoology Page. Mrs. Leatherman’s Links and Mrs. Reese’s group times are posted there, as well.
Here is an Outline:
Mrs. Leatherman’s Groups: will meet from 3:00-3:30 on Mondays (K), Tues. (1st), Thurs. (2nd) and Fridays (K-2). NEW Group on Monday’s 2:30pm- Coping Skills Group- we will learn a new coping strategy to use at home and school each week-- all K-2 students are welcome to join! Clickable links are posted on Schoology.
Mrs. Reese’s Groups:
Monday: 3:00 KLU,
Wednesday: 1:00-1:30- 5thgrade Friends
Thursday: ‘3rd grade Thursdays’ 10.35-11:05 (during lunch)
Friday: 4th grade Fridays” will 12:40-1:10 (4th grade lunch)
The Meet Code for Mrs. Reese’s groups is WHESREESE
Military Group: Will meet on Wednesdays at 3:00. Mrs. Reese will share the links from Mrs. Wynn in Schoology
Kids Like Us- Parents please check your emails for links from Mrs. Reese and Ms. Syers on Monday. Mrs Reese will share the link directly with students through Schoology Messenger.
Please feel free to message, email or call Mrs. Reese or Mrs. Leatherman if you would like your child to be seen during the school day. We continue to meet with students individually and in small groups to offer counseling support for all Whittier Students. Cohort A, Cohort B and Cohort V.
Mrs. Leatherman 240-236-3135 Kirsten.Leatherman@fcps.org
Mrs. Reese: 240-236-3170 Lisa.Reese@fcps.org
Attendance
Communication is Key
Please provide a note if your child is not able to attend in person or virtually due to illness.
E-mail your student’s teacher AS WELL AS the Whittier Attendance email address (WHES.Attendance@fcps.org) so we can keep track of student absences.
Meals Information for Whittier Families
In addition to our 23 school locations that distribute “to-go” meals on Wednesdays and Fridays, starting Wednesday, March 3 – FCPS Food and Nutrition Services will be adding two new community meal distribution sites.
At these locations we will be distributing “to-go” breakfast, lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on WEDNESDAYS ONLY. These meals are enough for all seven days of the week.
Here are the two new distribution sites:
Discovery Shopping Center Parking Lot, 8425 Woodsboro Pike, Walkersville
Frederick Shopping Center Parking Lot, 1305 W. 7th Street, Frederick
Meals will be distributed from a school bus in the shopping center parking lots. Meals are free to all students 18 years old and younger. The recipients do not have to be FCPS students. Children do not have to be present to receive meals; a parent, guardian or other adult may pick up the food.
FCPS Food and Nutrition Services also provides meals to adults who are enrolled in an education program for people with disabilities.
Please call 301-644-5061 if you have questions or comments.
Health and Safety Information - Please Review Carefully
Daily COVID-19 Screening
FCPS is asking for your help keeping all our schools and communities safe. Please review the list of COVID-19 symptoms below with your student prior to leaving for school every day. You will be provided a weekly communication reminder of this requirement. Students who are ill or are experiencing symptoms are expected to remain at home.
Parents/Guardians are affirming and attesting to the following for their student:
(a) Your student has not tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days, or in the last 14 days had any close and prolonged contact ( * within 6 feet for 15 minutes or greater) with anyone who is either confirmed or suspected of being infected with COVID-19, AND
(b) Your student is not currently experiencing or displaying, and your student has not in the last 10 days met the criteria for a person experiencing a COVID-19-like-Illness:
Any 1 of the following: cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, new loss of taste or
smell;
OR
At least 2 of the following:
- Fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) or higher
- Chills or shaking chills
- Muscle aches
- Sore Throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting, or
- Diarrhea
If the answer is YES to any of the above statements, your student should not come to school.
Please contact your healthcare provider with any questions regarding next steps for your
student.
Thank you for your cooperation.
* 15 minutes of close contact in a cumulative 24-hour period
Safety Measures:
Mask Expectations: Everyone in the school building will wear a face covering while at school. The information linked here is intended to provide clarity about the FCPS requirements for wearing face coverings in school buildings.
Virtual Attendance in the Event of Mild Symptoms: If students are experiencing any symptoms of illness, they should stay home and parents should follow up with their child's health care provider. Students are encouraged to attend virtually any day they are not in school if they feel well enough to do so (even if it is a day for which they are scheduled to be in person).
Please provide a note if your child is not able to attend in person or virtually due to illness.
E-mail your student’s teacher AS WELL AS the Whittier Attendance email address (WHES.Attendance@fcps.org) so we can keep track of student absences.
Close Contact and Quarantine Details for Parents - What to Expect: When a positive COVID-19 case is confirmed, FCPS will conduct a case investigation to determine if there was any close contact with other individuals. Close contact means that an individual was within six feet for a prolonged period of more than a cumulative of fifteen minutes over a 24-hour period. All identified close contacts will be immediately notified and asked to quarantine for ten days and monitor for potential symptoms. If the close contact becomes symptomatic, the individual should seek assistance from their healthcare provider.
Quarantine means:
- Stay home except to obtain medical care.
- Your child may not participate in any in person school activities.
- Avoid public spaces and practice physical distancing of six feet or more from other people.
- Wear a mask at all times around other people.
Monitoring means:
- Watch for fever. Check temperature twice a day, at least 6 hours apart and record in a log.
- If your student or anyone else in the household develops symptoms such as a fever, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pains, sore throat, or a new loss of taste or smell, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
For further details, the FCPS guidance for Student Health and Safety and COVID-19 Response Plan can be found at this link.
Whittier Elementary School - Believe, Achieve, Succeed
We will also communicate through our school website
Follow me on Twitter @fcpsOhEithir where I will communicate school news and happenings
Email: lorcan.oheithir@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/whes/home
Location: 2400 Whittier Drive, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
Phone: (240) 236 3100
Twitter: @fcpsOhEithir