Straight From The Lions Mouth
September 18, 2020
Congratulations making it through our 1st week of remote learning Grades 1 to 4!
I hope everyone takes the time to celebrate the completion of our first remote week of school. I am sure it has been busy, not perfect, and even sometimes stressful or frustrating, but in reflection of the overall week, it is my sincere hope that you are feeling good about our kids being engaged in learning once again.
I am in constant contact with all of our teachers, andI will share that they are truly impressed with the students’ engagement level, and also how much they have learned and/ or retained since last Spring. Technology can be a tricky tool in every working environment, but for what is worth, I am rating everyone as having an excellent start!
Today I had the opportunity to join a few classrooms virtually, and I will say that perhaps my rosey glasses on the overall rating of this week is due to my interaction with our students (your children!). I sincerely mean when I say that I miss them terribly! The beginning of each school year has always been my favorite time in school. Never in my 22 years in education I dreamt of opening a school in this manner. Well, we are doing it, and I am really proud of everyone! (including you, our families!) Great job! It is all due to our partnership, collaboration, and respect for one another. For those reasons, I want to thank you! Your work in supporting our remote teaching and learning in your home environment is enabling our success.
Again, thank you!
SKR - SAFE, KIND, RESPONSIBLE
This year we will continue to promote our core values: SAFE, KIND, and RESPONSIBLE. Our teachers included in their remote learning binders PAW cards, to award their classes and/ or particular student(s), when students demonstrate these skills.
In my classroom Meets today this was a big topic of conversation. Students were proudly showing me the amount of paw cards they have already earned. Brainstorming rewards was a fun, productive , and incentive driven conversation. Please feel free to utilize these core values at home. Remind our students of the expectations of every place they visit, and in moments you share at home. Below you will see the Google Meet Expected Behavior chart that our teachers are reinforcing with our students that is directly tied to our core values.
We want them to persevere
It is hard for a teacher to see a student struggle, but it is even harder for a parent to watch their child struggle. For this reason, as a professional community of learners (teachers, staff, and administration) we are always discussing ways of allowing a student to gain from their academic/ mental struggle. We call it: "Productive Struggle". It is definitely a hard balance to find, but understanding, being present, monitoring the level of struggle, will encourage grit, and teach perseverance. We want our students to grow to become great problem solvers. I like to say: "if it is a true problem, then there is a solution. If it is a fact, then, we must find a way of dealing with and accepting it."
I hope you read the article attached, as now, you are faced with watching on a more frequent basis, your child struggle through new concepts. Please know and understand, that it is absolutely what should happen.... If they are not "struggling", they are not learning.
Kindergarten and Preschool - Here you come!
As you may know, we were happy to complete preschool and kindergarten screening last Friday and this past Monday. After that, teachers had the opportunity to collaborate to build well-balanced classroom environments.
Yesterday (Thursday) and today (Friday), we had our Kindergarten Meet and Greet and successfully distributed chromebooks to our Kindergarteners. Now, it is matter of waiting for our official first day: Monday, September 21, 2020 at 8:30am.
Preschool families, if you have not heard from us, please contact our office. Our plan is to officially start school for your little ones on September 28, 2020.
This will be a very unique start for our early elementary students, but teachers have worked extra hard to make it as meaningful and engaging as possible.
Best of luck to everyone, and as always, don't hesitate to reach out.
Wishing all a great weekend! It is officially FALL!
Enjoy :)
From Our School Nurse's Office
Charles C. Cashman Elementary School
Email: karina.mascia@amesburyma.org
Website: https://schools.amesburyma.gov/Domain/454
Location: 193 Lions Mouth Road, Amesbury, MA, USA
Phone: 978 - 388-4407
ELEMENTARY PTO MEETING
Message from our PTO:
Join us :)
Seating is outside and light refreshments will be served.
People can register to attend by visiting amesburypto.org
Parents, caregivers, and teachers are welcome to attend!