Principal Message
April 5, 2020
Distance Learning
Dear Maple Hill Families,
We are officially into our 4th week of the school closure. My hope is that all of you have established your "new normal" and that this is bringing some peace and security to your household. And above all else, I hope that your family is healthy.
As you have all read from Dr. Taylor's messaging, school is closed for the remainder of the school year. I know that this announcement has conjured up a lot of questions and please know that we will answer them all in due time. This past week, our district has been working diligently and tirelessly on next steps, particularly in the area of distance learning. I have included a video (link below) where I address these next steps and what you can expect with distance learning. I cover a lot of information, so I hope you watch the video.
As always, if you have any questions or you would like to provide feedback, please don't hesitate to email me at kmorris@wvusd.k12.ca.us.
In partnership,
Ms. Morris
Principal of Maple Hill Elementary School
Child Mind Institute
As we progress further into our school closure, you might notice some emotional changes in your child. My sister was sharing with me how my 1st-grade niece, Charley, who was quite compliant and happy-go-lucky at the onset of the school closure, is now exhibiting some undesired behaviors. It was all so new to Charely at the beginning of March and she didn't really have a grasp on the long-term effects of a school closure and life at home. Fast forward, almost four weeks into the school closure, and Charley has had some meltdowns, had some "sassy" moments with mom and dad, and is starting to fight with her siblings. My sister shared that she doesn't know how she is going to get through the next 5 months (they return back to school in September) if these types of behaviors continue.
I have to imagine many parents are starting to experience the same, now that reality is setting in for most of our students. I heard about this great website on the news, childmind.org, where trained clinicians provide suggestions and resources to help parents find balance at home with their children. The site has an extensive video library, hosts Facebook life chats with expert clinicians at 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on key topics, such as parenting during the Coronavirus, managing screen time, etc. They have resources to help parents with discipline, stress, special needs, and much more. I hope you find some value in this resource if you choose to explore it.
We are all in this together!
5th Grade Memories Slide Show Presentation
Send us your 5th grader's photo memories from their K-5th grade years!
Dear 5th grade parents,
We are still taking pictures for the 5th grade "Memories" slideshow. This will include a slideshow composed of pictures of your student. The slideshow, when completed, will be emailed to all 5th grade parents to keep and cherish. Please start looking for school pictures from Kindergarten to present (individual or group) and send them to me digitally at mphclassof2020@gmail.com so that we can add them to the slide show (10 pictures maximum). Please note that we may not be able to include all of the pictures that you send in.
Some time will be needed in order to create this slideshow, so the deadline to turn in pictures will be April 30, 2020.
If you have any questions please email, call, or text at the following:
Thank you,
Saralie Ekowibowo (5th Grade Parent Coordinator)
School Spirit Day-April 7th
Have your child wear their Maple Hill spirit wear and snap a picture of him/her. Post the picture on Maple Hill's Community Club Facebook page between 8:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on April 7th and your child's name will be placed in a drawing to win two Disney Park Hopper passes. The winner will be selected with a name generator app and tickets will be mailed to the winner's home. The drawing will take place at 3:00 p.m. If you have multiple Maple Hill students in your family, send in individual pictures of each child. Let's show our Hawk Pride!
A Read Aloud with Ms. Morris
I loved reading "The Good Egg" last week to all of you! This week, I will be continuing to read the series by reading aloud "The Bad Seed" book. I will be "thinking about my thinking" like I did last week when I read "The Good Egg". When we "think about our thinking" it's called Metacognition. Metacognition is a skill that all great readers use naturally and helps to build our reading comprehension skills.
I have also included some "BAD SEED" activities that go hand-in-hand with the book. I hope you enjoy them!
Get "Mad" with Mad Science Experiments at Home
"Mad Science" has been a great Community Partner with Maple Hill. We have enjoyed hosting after-school "Mad Science" classes for many years. In an effort to support schools during the school closure, "Mad Science" is going to be posting new at-home science experiments every week while schools are closed. These experiments are exciting and only require everyday home items. We like simple!
This week, you can test your Scientist skillset by:
1. Making Instant Ice Cream
2. Creating Ghost Bubbles
3. Practice Bubble Catching
4. Explore the Musical Straw
5. Witness a Ballon Bond
Click the link above to access directions on how to conduct these science experiments.
Celebrity Read Aloud To Kids
There is nothing like a human reader - particularly a great human reader who uses fabulous voices. Wouldn’t it be amazing to have professional actors reading to your kids? Storylineonline.net is an AMAZING website where famous actors/actresses read popular book titles. Storyline Online receives over 100 million views annually from children all over the world. Storyline Online is available 24 hours a day for children, parents, caregivers, and educators worldwide. Each book includes a supplemental curriculum developed by a credentialed elementary educator, aiming to strengthen comprehension and verbal and written skills for English-language learners. Storyline Online is a program of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. The Foundation is a nonprofit organization that relies entirely on gifts, grants, and donations to fund Storyline Online and produce all of its videos.
This comprehensive list is a gold mine! It's a list of education companies that are currently offering free subscriptions, updated on a regular basis. Check it out!