Jerry Ross Rocket News 11-13-20
Share Your Calm
From Ms. Linsley
Can you believe it was 8 months ago to the day that we packed up our children and sent them home for distance learning?
We know so much more now and are much better equipped to facilitate distance learning.
Teachers and staff have acquired many new skills and are learning more every day.
Our children have adapted really well to all of the changes. This week, in preparation for all of our students moving to distance learning, we asked our experts, students who have been distance learning all year, to create a SURVIVAL GUIDE for students new to distance learning.
This is straight from the mouths of kids, and it's so smart!
I SURVIVED DISTANCE LEARNING
Tips for the kids
- Have your schedule for each day written on a whiteboard or on a piece of paper in your study area
- Set a timer for your Zoom meetings
- Enter your Zoom meeting a few minutes early
- Don't be late or miss your Zoom
- Bookmark your Zoom links on your Chromebook
- Have a piece of paper and pencil handy so that you can write down quick information and make a to do list
- Have lots of room and space to move
- Have all of your materials organized and ready to go
- Do the assignment right after the teacher teaches it. It will be SO MUCH EASIER
- Don't chat
- Don't cheat
- Don't change your name on Zoom
These are great suggestions from our expert distance learners. Here are a few more from the principal:
- Don't sleep later than you normally would and observe school night bedtimes
- Schedule breakfast, lunch and snacks around the learning times if possible. Each class has designated lunch, recess, breaks, and independent work time
- Dress for SUCCESS! Get out of those pajamas, brush your teeth and hair, and put on school clothes.
- Make sure you turn on your cameras so teachers can see you and interact with you
- If you need help or a break, just ask the teacher
- Weather permitting, go outside for at least 30 minutes per day
- Make sure your name on Zoom is your first and last name, no nicknames
Photo from today
Jerry Ross "Red" Specials
Dear Parents & Guardians,
The Jerry Ross specials schedule will remain the same on “red” as it has been on “green”.
Library - All students will Zoom for Library.
Art - All students will begin with a Zoom for Art, then have time to work on their project.
Music – All students will have one day of Zoom, and another day of a Buzz assignment that should be completed during the assigned day and timeframe for Music.
PE – All students will have one day of Zoom. In Buzz, students may have to chart daily activities depending on the assignment.
Zoom links will be shared through Buzz.
Click HERE to view the detailed schedule. (Z) means that your child will be Zooming during that time.
Zoom expectations:
1. Students names should be their first AND last names only.
2. Be on time to Zoom.
3. Video on.
4. Muted unless asked to unmute.
5. Have room to move.
6. Have materials prepared.
7. Attendance on Zoom is required.
8. Full participation is expected.
9. Students should be on their own device and not sharing with a sibling or friend.
We appreciate your support during this transitional time. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Thanks,
JR Specials Team
Linda Muir, library – lmuir@cps.k12.in.us
Jennifer Myers, music – jmyers@cps.k12.in.us
Jennifer Popp, art – jpopp@cps.k12.in.us
Amy Yurko, PE – ayurko@cps.k12.in.us
Important information regarding our "RED" Status
Student Attendance in Red Status
- Students are expected to follow the agenda outlined by their teachers in Buzz.
- On distance learning days, the student is counted absent if there is no evidence by the start of the next school day of the following: course progress, participation in virtual class meetings, participation on assigned instruction, system activity and login times, and completion of daily work and/or long-term projects.
Food Service during Red Status
- Meal pick up days will begin on Monday, November 16, 2020. If you would like to receive meals for your students, please email pmaloney@cps.k12.in.us with all student names, the school they attend, and location from which you would like to pick up from by Friday November 13.
- Meal pick up locations: Crown Point High School, Jerry Ross Elementary, Timothy Ball Elementary, and MacArthur Elementary
- Meals will be distributed from 9-10am on Monday, November 16th (5 meals); Monday, November 23rd (3 meals); and Monday, November 30th (3 meals)
Technology during Red Status
- Should you encounter technology issues during distance learning, please see the section about technology on the COVID webpage at www.cps.k12.in.us/covid.
- Buzz, Zoom, and GoGuardian are digital platforms that may be used in distance learning.
- To protect the privacy of our students and teachers, parents and students are prohibited from conducting their own recording of instructional lessons and are further prohibited from reposting or transmitting in whole or in part any instructional lessons for any reason. Instructional lessons delivered online are protected by copyright owned by Crown Point Community School Corporation. Any unauthorized recording or re-transmission of some or all of a lesson is prohibited and a violation of U.S. Copyright law. Access to instructional lessons and all class activities delivered though CPCSC digital platforms constitutes your acceptance of these terms.
Our goal is to return to in-person instruction. Please keep in mind that external factors could change this plan. We will continue to monitor data and make changes if necessary.
- High school and middle school students will return to school December 3rd in yellow (hybrid) status. They will continue distance learning on Wednesdays at home.
- Elementary students will return to school on December 3rd in green status. However, Wednesdays will now be used for distance learning, similar to the secondary schools. This is a change from the previous green status.
From Mrs. Muir, Library
We are having a Virtual Book Fair. The link below will be active from Monday November 23-Sunday December 6. Enjoy shopping from your own home.
Purchases will be delivered directly to your home, with FREE shipping on BOOK orders of $25 or more.
HINT: If you are ordering something that is not a book, (like a poster)
make 2 separate orders and pay shipping on the non-book items only.
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/jerryrosselementaryschool
If your child runs out of things to read, we do have eBooks available. To access the eBooks students follow the directions below.
Once you are logged into your computer go to:
Bookmarks
Select Destiny Search (6th one down)
Jerry Ross Elementary
Log in…top right
Destiny Discover
Scroll down to the bottom where you see eBooks
Click on book you want to check out…
Students are allowed 1 eBook at a time.
Hope this information if helpful and thanks for reading.
Mrs. Muir
From Mrs. Pape and Mrs. Maynor
Happy Friday!
As we move into another round of virtual learning, I wanted to provide you with some helpful tips on making these next few weeks a little smoother. Mrs. Pape and I will be able to chat through Go-Guardian, conducting Zoom meetings for check-ins, and are available through email and phone. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need any support these next few weeks! P.S. Don’t forget about our virtual offices. There are some really cool resources there! You can find the link below J
Virtual Learning Tips for Parents
Set (and keep) a schedule
The closer this is to a ‘school schedule,’ the easier it will likely be on everyone. You obviously can (and probably should) revise whatever you come up with at first to fit your circumstance at home (your work schedule, sleeping schedules, etc.). But once you’ve got something that works, stick to it. And this almost certainly means to use some sort of timer to at least clarify how much time is being spent on what.
Make sure they have any materials necessary to complete all assignments
Whether its pencil and paper, a stable WiFi connection, log-in information for all accounts–whatever they need to get the work done.
Provide an environment conducive to learning
This isn’t always easy. If they’re too isolated, it’s difficult to check in with them. If they’re at the kitchen table, depending on the child or their environment, they may be too distracted. This is even more challenging when everyone is home and the house is full.
Create a daily plan
Creating a daily plan isn’t just a matter of scheduling. A daily plan looks at the schedule and then identifies to-do items for that day and combines the two for a specific plan for that specific day.
Help them check messages and communicate with school
Check for messages daily from teachers and other students and make sure to reply to any messages that require one.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1UdHvfWXEm2zvSJ9XE-o2-djpWYAawytV3EHXaiDkmQo/edit?usp=sharing
Feel free to check out my virtual office that I share on Mrs. Maynor’s page, just click on the PBIS Tab.
Mrs. Pape and Mrs. Maynor
Pie Sales
Apples to Apples
Textbook Rental Payment Reminders
Please note that textbook rental fees were due September 30, 2020 for parents or guardians who are not eligible for assistance and have not completed a book rental payment agreement. Any current outstanding balances, including final installment payments, are due no later than November 30th. If you are unable to pay at this time, please make arrangements in the office as soon as possible. Outstanding accounts, and accounts that fail to make scheduled payments, according to your agreement, will be referred to Kinum for collections. If you believe you may be eligible for Textbook Assistance (income dependent) please contact Mrs. Lukas to obtain a Textbook Assistance application. If you have any questions please call Mrs. Lukas at 219-663-3010 ex 18000.
Understanding the Lunch Line: A Parent's Guide
Weekly Breakfast- SERVED DAILY
Includes 100% Juice, Fruit and Milk
Monday- Breakfast Muffin/ 1 Breakfast Bar
Tuesday- Pop tarts/Oatmeal Bar
Wednesday- Banana Bread
Thursday- Pop tarts/ Whole Grain Donuts
Friday- Breakfast Muffin/1 Breakfast Bar
Breakfast- $1.50/ Lunch- $2.45
Parents may fund their children's lunch accounts by sending in cash/check in a clearly labeled/sealed envelope, or by using the MealTime application to add funds electronically with a credit card. You cannot add funds/create an account until you have your Student ID number after registration is complete.
Child Care
Red Status Latch Key Child Care Applications
Fee-based child care opportunities are available for children in grades K-5 while the corporation is in “red” status.
Applications are at the links below.
Upcoming Events/Dates to Remember
November
6th- Spell Bowl Competition
23rd- Pie Pick up at Jerry Ross
November 23- December 6- Virtual Book Fair
December 2020
3- Planned Return to GREEN Status
9- E-Learning Day
16- E-Learning Day
21-31- Winter Break
January 2020
1- Winter Break
4- School Resumes