Jurassic Journal
Friday, December 18th
This Weeks Updates:
- Winter break 12/18-1/7
- We will be back in the building on Monday, January 4th
- Students will resume on-line learning on Thursday, January 7th.
- ACCESS Testing begins on January 11th
- Return to IN PERSON learning for those who have selected the model on January 25th
Letter from the Principal
Steggie Families:
Thank you for sharing your children with us this first semester. It was a semester full of surprises. Here is to a healthy 2021 where many things are possible. We look forward to working with all of you in a virtual setting on January 7th. On January 25th, those of you that have selected to do so will be able to come in person! Please take care of each other and reach out if we can do anything to help over these next two weeks.
Steggie Love
Sara Olson
Update from the district about second semester learning models
As we near the end of the first semester, we would like to extend our gratitude to the entire Five Star community. Amidst so many changing circumstances, we’ve seen our students, staff and families show grit, resilience, patience and understanding. For that we want to say thank you. We appreciate your support in this ever-changing landscape more than we could ever express.
We want to acknowledge you may have heard mixed messages in recent weeks regarding when students should be in school buildings. State and national health experts as well as government leaders have expressed their belief that students should be in school even as COVID cases and positivity rates have continued to rise in our community. We share their belief that the best place for students to be is in school and agree that schools are safe for students and staff based on low transmission rates within our buildings.
The challenges we faced this past fall in maintaining consistent in-person learning opportunities were not a result of high transmission rates within our buildings but quarantine guidelines that made it challenging to maintain the necessary amount of staff to run a school building and provide a safe learning environment.
What we’ve learned
Transmission in schools is low to rare. This is due to the number of mitigation measures in place at all schools – mask wearing, symptom screening, cohorting, targeted contact tracing, physical distancing, sanitizing, increased ventilation, etc.
Community spread causes staff shortages and disrupts in-person learning. Although most cases among students and staff appear to be acquired at home or in the community rather than in schools, these situations lead to quarantines of students and staff. When our counties reached very high levels of community transmission (> 500 cases per 100,000 with upward trends) we were unable to operate in-person learning due to shortages of staff caused by quarantines.
Community efforts to reduce COVID incidence rates are critical if school districts are to be able to provide consistent staffing to support in-person schooling.
What we need to do moving forward
Additional strategies at the district level
Simultaneous learning at the secondary level - The hybrid model at the secondary level will now have four days of synchronous instruction (live/teacher-led). When hybrid learning resumes, student cohort groups will have two in-person classroom days and two days where they join instruction remotely through a classroom live stream. Wednesdays will be asynchronous learning days with time set aside for additional synchronous support for identified students and teacher office hours.
Revised quarantine guidelines from public health officials.
Targeted school-based shifts to remote learning - This will include more clear metrics for when a school would transition to remote learning. Metrics will include a percentage of staff or students out for illness or quarantine.
Ongoing staffing strategies to encourage qualified adults in our communities to apply for and substitute in schools and a new “classroom monitor” position for when staff might be quarantined, but students are in-person.
On-site testing strategy for staff and students (in development stage)
Consider requiring staff to wear specific types of personal protective equipment (PPE) that is provided to them (exploring options)
We all have a role - Do your part, stop the spread
What we do outside of school can have an impact on what level of in-person learning can occur within our schools, so we ask you to please continue to do your part. Wear a face covering at public and private gatherings, keep your distance, wash/sanitize your hands frequently, monitor your health, and stay home when you are symptomatic.
In addition to strategies at the district and community level, we need additional resources and support from the state.
Monday, Jan 4 - Wednesday January 6th- No School for students, this is a change to our current calendar.*Jan. 5 and 6 will be made up as instructional days for students during other currently scheduled non-student contact days in second semester - final make-up days will be communicated before winter break.
Thursday, Jan. 7 Remote learning begins for all students (P-12)
Monday, Jan. 11
Limited in-person learning begins for special education students
Supports unique needs of special education students
Supports district opportunity to implement new quarantine guidance
In-person ACCESS testing begins for English Language Learners (ELL) the entire month of January
The District and state will monitor case rates and case rate patterns
Watch for case rates to arrive at and stay around 500 cases per 100,000 residents
Monday, Jan. 25
Return to in-person learning for grades P-12
The best chance for sustained in-person learning is if case rates are stable and around 500 per 100,000 residents. The district will monitor case rates as we approach Jan. 25 and look for case rates trending downward in the direction of 500 per 100,000 and then work with community, staff and board members to make decisions in the interest of in-person learning.
Gifted and Talented Information
Gifted-Talented Identification Testing
Do you suspect that your child may be in need of enriched academic programming? Does it seem like he or she may need additional challenges in their education, and may be gifted or talented? Gifted/Talented (G/T) testing at McElwain Elementary is currently scheduled for March 4, 2021 for all students in grades K-1 and 3-5 (testing for all 2nd grade students will occur on a different date). If you have a student you would like to nominate for G/T identification and would like to have tested, please fill out this form Parent Form no later than January 24, 2021. You may also go to https://www.adams12.org/gifted-advanced-academics/identification-assessment for further information.
Evaluaciones para la Identificación de Dotados y Talentosos
¿Sospecha que su hijo tal vez necesite programación académica enriquecida? ¿Parece que necesita retos adicionales en su educación o que tal vez sea dotado o talentoso? Las evaluaciones para dotados y talentosos (G/T siglas en inglés) en McElwain Elementary actualmente está programada para March 4, 2021 para todos los estudiantes en los grados de kínder a 1º y de 3º a 5º (los exámenes para todos los estudiantes de 2º se administrará en otra fecha). Si usted tiene un hijo al cual le gustaría nominar para la identificación G/T y quisiera que sea evaluado, por favor llene este formulario Forma de Padre a más tardar January 24, 2021. Usted también puede visitar la página http://www.adams12.org/identificación para dotados y talentosospara más información.
MSU Family Literacy Program: English Language and Technology Training
- All Classes Free of Charge!
- Beginning ESL - Low Advanced ESL Levels
- Classes offered in morning and evening hours
REGISTER HERE OR TEXT
ROBB GALLEGOS, ESL INSTRUCTOR
AT 505-312-4997
FOR INFORMATION - SE HABLA ESPAÑOL
Tech Corner
OVER WINTER BREAK...please keep school Chromebooks and hotspots in a safe place. For example, in a backpack or a closet where food/drinks, pets, and other potential damaging items can not reach the technology. As a reminder, families are financially liable for any damage to the Chromebooks. Fees will be charged to student accounts for any damages. The school or district office will not be open for replacements or tech support over winter break.
NEED BETTER WIFI? Submit a request for a free internet hotspot here: https://familytechsupport.adams12.org/hc/en-us/requests/new
PLEASE USE the new TECH ISSUES form to communicate ANY tech complications
Please feel free to contact Ms. Snider at sni024831@adams12.org or (720)972-8555 if you have any questions about this. Thank you for your partnership!
Contact US
Administration
Principal: Sara Olson Email: Sara.K.Olson@adams12.orgAssistant Principal:Brooke Tolmachoff Email: Brooke.Tolmachoff@adams12.org
Website: https://mcelwain.adams12.org/welcome-mcelwain-elementary
Location: 1020 Dawson Drive, Denver, CO, USA
Phone: 720-972-5500
Facebook: facebook.com/McElwainElementary
Twitter: @NA