Mason Moose Minutes
November 8, 2020
Mason Elementary School
If not us, who? If not now, when? -John F. Kennedy
Email: bishopr@gpschools.org
Website: https://www.gpschools.org/Domain/1501
Location: 1640 Vernier Road, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, USA
Phone: 313-432-4400
Facebook: facebook.com/masonelementary
Twitter: @MasonelemGP
Dear Mason Families,
I hope this message find you doing well. I am sure most of you have received the communication that was sent from the district Friday about us going back to a Remote Learning Phase for all students starting Monday (11.9). At this time, we have determined this to be our best vehicle for learning as the COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the district, county, state and all over the world. While we may have anticipated this shift due to what has been happening in districts around us, it is still a difficult one for everyone involved.
Since this is not our first experience with Remote Learning, I have copied my communication from the beginning of the school year so everyone can review our remote learning procedures. As we start back remotely next week, your patience, grace and understanding are appreciated. Staff will be collaborating early next week to get remote learning plans to our families. Through these trying times, our entire staff continues to focus on what we can control: our ability to provide the best education possible for our learners and taking care of ourselves mentally and physically. While learning will look different remotely, we will continue to focus on meeting the academic, social and emotional needs of everyone involved.
As a community of learners we can't say it enough, if you need anything at all please let us know. Many people are going through unfortunate situations right now and we need to be there for each other more than ever before. Please keep in mind that living through a pandemic is tough and we all must give ourselves grace and reach out for help whenever it is needed.
Last but certainly not least, it is not lost on me that ground-breaking history was made this weekend in several different ways. Record numbers of people voted in this years presidential election that resulted in Joe Biden becoming this country's 46th President-Elect and Kamala Harris becoming the first female, first Black and first South Asian Vice President-Elect. As a father of two daughters and a principal of a diverse school, it warms my heart to see ceilings of oppression being shattered. Our world is not perfect but our learners have a front row seat in seeing positive change happening in our world. If nothing else is learned from this situation, our learners will remember that the word IMPOSSIBLE can be reframed into I'M POSSIBLE! Please listen to the Book Grace for President below and I would love to hear how your discussion about the book goes with your learner at home.
Thanks for understanding and Be Kind to yourself,
Dr. Bishop
Principal
Message to the Mason Community sent on 9.4.20.
Happy September! Welcome to the start of the 2020-21 school year! The start to this school year will definitely be different but I know our staff, students and community is up for the challenge. The Mason Team has been working extremely hard to put together a plan that will support our students as they build a love for learning beyond the four walls of the classroom. With that being said, it is important to note that it is not our intention to have remote learning mimic the classroom in every way; that is truly impossible. All of our remote learning practices will be backed by research and staff is prepared to provide live instruction in addition to family-assisted learning opportunities for our entire student population.
If you are new to Mason this year, Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! We are so happy to have you with us and look forward to hearing from you and meeting you in the near future. Normally, we would have a back to school night extravaganza to celebrate you, but this year we won't be able to hold such a function. It is still our objective to get to know each and every one of our new families and answer any question you may have about your child(ren)'s experience at Mason. Welcome to Mason and please let us know what we can do to best support you!
As we embark on a new school year, while still surviving a pandemic, there are a couple of things I ask on the behalf of our staff:
- Please recognize that learning will look different remotely compared to the traditional classroom setting. It is not our intent to have children on the computer/iPad for the entire school day.
- Trust is a two way street. We will be extending grace and flexibility to our students and families, and our staff deserves the same. Please be kind to our teachers as they are revamping everything in their teaching philosophy to fit an online platform. If you have a concern related to online learning, always go to the teacher first with them. Social media bashing is not appropriate. Please, just be kind.
- Please exercise patience when technology issues arise. Everything will not go as planned because technology is not always our friend. We vow to do our best, and patience will be needed as we model for our learners how to deal with adversity.
- Our schedules are flexible and are subject to change as we try to help all of our families engage in learning.
- While Math and Language Arts will be our primary focus at the beginning of the school year, Science and Social Studies learning opportunities will be weaved into the learning when time and opportunity permits.
- More specific information about your child's schedule and how the first day of school will look will be coming from your child(ren)'s teacher later today.
- Teachers will not always be available to respond right away to family emails/communication due to teaching, planning, participating in professional development or working with their colleagues. Staff will do their best to respond to our community within a 24-48 hour time period.
- If your child needs immediate support with something, please send your child's teacher an email so a time can be arranged to meet with you and your child via zoom during teacher's dedicated student support hours in the afternoon. Please connect with child's teacher for more information about this.
Living through a pandemic has highlighted several issues that negatively impacts our world globally. These issues are ones we need to continually focus on within our school to make sure our students feel safe and nurtured while in the Grosse Pointe Public School System. This summer, our board of education adopted a resolution to address Racism and Create a more Equitable and inclusive School System for All. As a school and district, we are committed to being laser focused on operating from a lens of equity, and reflecting to ensure our systems are setting ALL of our students up for success.
Thank you in advance for a great school year!
Sincerely,
Dr. Roy Bishop, Jr.
Principal
Technology Help Desk for Monday, Nov. 9th
I will be available to help any family with their technology needs from 8-10am. Please click the link below if you need support getting your child logged into Schoology or if you have any other technology needs.
Click Here to go to Dr. Bishop's Technology Support Zoom Link
One GP Virtual, Traditional Face to Face Winter enrollment
If you are considering moving your child to OGPV or considering your child to return to Traditional Face to Face on January 25, an email will be sent November 11th from Sara Delgado. The form for enrollment in OGPV will be open from November 11th - 18th.
Schoology and Technology Support
What is my student’s new password?
The annual rollover of student accounts was completed ahead of schedule. Students can now access any of their GPPSS digital material (Google, Clever, Schoology, Chromebooks) with their new password. To find their new password, log into the MiStar Parent Portal. Once you find your student, scroll down, and their password will be available under “Student Login Information.”
Schoology Tips and Help for Students and Families
It would be helpful to learn how to login into the Schoology page and then “bookmark” it, so that it is easy to access every day. To do so, you and your child will need access to their school ID number and password. To find your child’s password, login to Parent Portal and you will find them there. The password should be a nine digit number beginning with 1500 and their password is made up of random letters and numbers. I recommend writing this down in a place where you can easily find it.
Next, Click here for specific directions from the District on how to access Schoology. This link will also direct you to the logins for both parents and students. Again, we highly recommend bookmarking the “Student Login” page so that students can easily access
If you are looking for Schoology support for parents, please use this link.
https://www.gpschools.org/Page/20417
Here is the link to the Town Hall on technology https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9IKRDeOW4Y&feature=youtu.be
Dr. Bishop's Morning Announcements
Book of the week!!! Grace for President!
Specials Update
Since we are moving back to remote learning this week, we have a new Specials schedule. The links below will take you the schedule and give you more information about the changes.
New Specials Schedule (revised 11.9.20)
Letter about Special Schedule Changes
**** STAFF SPOTLIGHT ****
Meet The Staff - Welcome to Mason, Mrs. Ostrowski!
Quote Of The Week
“Your talent determines what you can do. Your motivation determines how much you’re willing to do. Your attitude determines how well you do it.” —Lou Holtz
Dinner Conversation Topic
What does I'M POSSIBLE mean to you?
What valuable lessons did you learn from the book Grace For President?
Calendar Dates
November is Native American Heritage Month!
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month!
Nov 9
- Board of Education Mtg 7PM @ Brownell
- Mason Diversity Mtg - 7PM Virtual - See Flyer below
- Veteran's Day
- Picture Day - CANCELLED
- Board of Education Mtg 7PM @ Brownell
- 1/2 day AM only - start of Thanksgiving break
- Class resumes