The Bobcat Blaze
October 23, 2020
Principal's Message
I am so excited to know I will be able to greet our Pre-K - 2nd grade students next week! It has been a busy week preparing for the start of Phase 2. Please review this week's edition thoroughly, in addition to communication sent by teachers, to better assist you with preparing for Phase 2. The cohort assignment letter attachment has important information regarding arrival/dismissal procedures, PPE, and meal distribution. You should have received copies of this letter previously but review again to refresh your memories on expectations for those coming in-person.
Transportation
It is especially important that your child's homeroom teacher in PreK - 2nd grade knows how your child will get home from school on their assigned cohort days.
Transfer Requests
For families who have applied to transfer from hybrid to virtual or vice versa, please see the notification letter included in today's newsletter.
Students are expected to bring their devices and chargers when they return for in-person learning. They may bring them on cohort day one, leave them overnight, and then take them home on their last day of in-person learning so they may do their asynchronous assignments during the remainder of the week. All students will be provided with a protective laptop sleeve for an added layer of protection when carrying their device.
I wish you a relaxing and exciting weekend!
Principal's Message: https://cloud.swivl.com/v/d18eb307478462a2fca8ff5c687409c7
Important Dates and Upcoming Events
October
- October 1st-October 31st.......................................Breast Cancer Awareness Month
..........................................................................................National Dropout Prevention Month
..........................................................................................National Principals' Month
- October, 25th..........................................Free COVID-19 Testing, 2221 Devine Street
- October 23rd--24th.................................Free COVID-19 Testing, Bluff Road Park
- October 26th..........................................Pre-K - 2nd Grades Cohort A begins Phase 2
- October 29th..........................................Pre-K - 2nd Grades Cohort B begins Phase 2
November
- November 2nd...............................Professional Development Day (No School For Students)
- November 3rd................................Election Day (No School For Students)
- November 4th.............................3rd-12th Grades begin Phase 2 (Asynchronous)
- November 5th.............................3rd-12th Grades begin Face-to-Face Phase 2
Free COVID-19 Testing Sites
School News
From Superintendent Witherspoon - October 23, 2020
October 23, 2020
Dear Richland One Parents,
Next week, we will transition to Phase 2 of our Reopening Schools Plan, beginning with our pre-kindergarten through second-grade students. Students will attend school two days a week and learn from home the other three days. We are excited to see them, and we know they look forward to seeing their teachers and classmates in person.
In many ways, the transition to Phase 2 will be like the start of the school year. For our pre-K students and many of our kindergarten students, it will be their first time going to their schools.
Please know that the health and safety our students and staff continue to be our priorities. As a reminder, students must wear masks at the bus stop, on the bus and at school. Social distancing and other health and safety protocols will be in place. Students will eat breakfast and lunch in their classrooms instead of in the cafeteria.
For bus assignments/routes, meal schedules and other information about Phase 2, please go to our website, www.richlandone.org. Also, be sure to follow Richland One on Facebook (facebook.com/richlandone) and Twitter (twitter.com/richlandone).
Thank you and have a great weekend. #R1Strong #RestartStrong
Sincerely,
Craig Witherspoon, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Restart Plans for A.C. Moore
Phase 2 Transfer Request Notification Letter
Notification to Parents of Elementary Level Students Requesting Transfers from the Virtual School Program to the Phase-in (Hybrid) Model or from the Phase-in Model to the Virtual School Program
More than 2300 requests for transfers into or out of the Virtual School Program were received by the deadline of October 19. Our goal is to accommodate as many of your requests as possible with the least amount of disruption to learning. As has been stated on numerous occasions, however, staffing and spacing must be considered in making moves of this magnitude.
Additionally, soon as we have determined which transfers can be accommodated based on spacing and staffing, all affected students must be moved within PowerSchool. Finally, coordination with the Offices of Transportation and Nutrition Services must be completed to ensure transportation routes and meal prep/meal pickup plans are accurate. All of this behind-the-scenes work takes time.
Parents will be notified on or before November 4 as to whether their request for transfer has been approved.
Until the transfer process has been completed, parents who requested transfers should note the following:
1. If your child is currently in the Virtual School Program and you requested a transfer to the Phase-in (Hybrid) Model, your child will continue to be served in his/her Virtual School Program classes until further notification. Please have him/her log in for classes in Microsoft Teams, as usual.
2. If your child is an elementary level student in grades PreK-2 in the Phase-in Model and you requested a transfer to the Virtual School Program, your child’s teacher will provide asynchronous assignments for your child beginning Monday, October 26 at 3pm. Simply stated, the teacher will provide activities that your child can do independently or with little assistance. Some of this work will be a review of what has been learned during first quarter.
3. If your child is an elementary level student in grades 3-5 in the Phase-in Model and you requested a transfer to the Virtual School Program, your child’s teacher will provide asynchronous assignments for your child on November 5-6. Simply stated, the teacher will provide activities that your child can do independently or with little assistance. Some of this work will be a review of what has been learned during first quarter.
If you have questions, please contact your child’s principal.
Student Nutrition Services During Phase 2
Beginning Monday, October 26, students in PK-2nd grade 2 will return to school for face-to-face instruction on an AA/BB model as outlined in the district’s Reopening of Schools Guide. Beginning Wednesday, November 4, students in grades 3-12 will begin the hybrid phase. The brochure attached below will provide you with guidance for meal services as we transition to the hybrid model. Please follow the assigned cohort schedule for your child(ren).
Employee Spotlight
Jennetta Cruel
Ms. Cruel was unavailable on October 2nd when we featured the custodial staff for National Custodial Worker's Recognition Day. We would like to extend our appreciation to Ms. Jennetta Cruel for her commitment to keeping our school community clean and safe.
Ms. Cruel began working in Richland School District One in October, 2016 and has been at A.C. Moore all four years. When she is not working, Ms. Cruel loves to watch her favorite football team, the Dallas Cowboys. When asked what she enjoys most working at A.C. Moore she says, "I love working here because the staff and kids are very loving and friendly". A big Bobcat thank you to you Ms. Cruel for being a part of the A.C. Moore community.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
...Showing Your Support
For many women diagnosed with breast cancer and for the caregivers that assist them during their medical treatment, processing the immediate and distant future can be be a daunting task. Many families can often feel isolated and alone in their battle to regain good health and well-being. Loved ones are important during this process because they can provide much needed support for the patient and their family after a breast cancer diagnoses.
Not sure of how you can help or support them? Below are some ways you can show your loved one (s) that they are not alone.
- Offer specific help
- Rather than saying ‘What can I do for you?’ say ‘Would you like me to...’.
Example offerings include:
- cleaning and vacuuming
- washing clothes and ironing
- gardening
- cooking meals for freezing
- providing transportation to and from hospital appointments
- taking children to or from school
- babysitting
- Most importantly, be alongside someone and allow them to express how they’re feeling
- Try not to be afraid of tears that may be shed
- If it’s appropriate, holding hands or giving them a hug can be useful
- Listen to your friend or relative talk about how they’re feeling even when the conversation is difficult or distressing to hear
- To be able to continue to support your friend or relative, remember to take care of yourself.
- Eat well, exercise, stay well-rested, and take time to yourself.
- In difficult times, and you are feeling overwhelmed, seek assistance from a friend, family member or medical professional
Join Us for Wardrobe Wednesday!
Teachers have been celebrating Wardrobe Wednesdays by wearing pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to an end, we will begin our next Wardrobe Wednesday theme. Starting Wednesday, October 28th we are asking students to participate from home in Superhero Wardrobe Wednesdays. Please encourage your student to participate with their teachers and wear clothing featuring their favorite superhero. Feel free to send pictures to your homeroom teachers!
Join Us in Celebrating National Walk to School Day!
Each fall, A.C. Moore participates with other school across the nation by celebrating National Walk to School Day. National Walk to School Day recognizes and celebrates the value of a healthy and safe community by walking or rolling to school. Although October 7th was the official Walk to School Day for 2020, we have chosen to participate in Walk Bike Scavenger Hunt Bingo promoted by the City of Columbia's Bike & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC).
During the month October families are being challenged to take a walk or ride their bike in their community to complete the scavenger hunt! Families will check off each box when an item is found. After all of the boxes have been checked, the family should a take a picture of themselves with their finished bingo card. Photos that are submitted to BPAC by October 30th will be entered into a drawing for a prize.
Notes from the Nurse
Important reminders:
Hello Bobcat families!
- Please don't forget to send in your child's Confidential Health Questionnaire on his/her first day back to campus (if you have not already done so). Let me know if you need another copy!
- If your child has asthma, allergies, seizures, or any other condition that requires rescue medication, please have it ready to deliver to school on his/her first day back to campus. You may download the medication order here.
- Please, please, please be sure everyone in your household (6 months old and up) gets an annual flu shot. This is the single best way to prevent the flu. It takes about 2 weeks for antibodies to develop and provide protection, so it is definitely not too early!
Please contact Nurse Hurt with any questions or concerns.
Phone: 803-929-3886
Prisma Health Offering Flu Shots in October
Prisma Health is offering free flu shots throughout Richland County and surrounding areas. The flu shot is available for anyone six months and older and will be administered by drive-through at designate locations in the midlands or you can visit the first floor lobby of Prisma Health, Nine Medical Park, every Wednesday and Thursday in October, 3–6 p.m. to receive a flu vaccine.
Face masks or shields will be required at both drive-up and in-building locations, along with temperature checks. Anyone with a fever will not be allowed a flu shot vaccine. Consent forms are required and available at each site. Children under the age of 16 require a parent/guardian signature. Flu shots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
For additional information and locations in our area, click the link below.
ACCESS Freely!
A message from the public library...
If students/families do not already have library cards, they can apply online now and access all the library resources! See the attached flyers for additional information.
A Message from PTO
To stay up-to-date on PTO happenings, please click the link below to register for the Bobcat e-Blast! If you are currently receiving the Bobcat e-Blasts, you will still need to complete the form and provide your information. We will hold virtual PTO meetings on Wednesday evenings this year.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LVTMQYJ
Thanks,
Carrie Smith & Kim Pordes (PTO chairs)
acmbobcatspto@gmail.com
Bienvenidos al año escolar 2020-2021 ! Estamos muy emocionados de empezar con el PTO (Junta de padres de la escuela) aunque sea un poco diferente esta vez. Nos encantaria construir las bases de nuestro PTO e incluir todas las familias posibles en nuestras comunicaciones y eventos, entonces por favor usen esta forma para registrarse para recibir el Bobcat e-Blast (periodico del PTO) y asi permanecer enterado de lo que pasa con el PTO.
**Asi usted haya recibido el Bobcat e-Blast en el pasado, por favor complete esta informacion- estamos haciendo una nueva base de datos. Estamos planeando las reuniones del PTO los miercoles en la tarde, al comienzo virtualmente, por eso esten pendiente de los anuncios que haga la Directora Aldridge en el Bobcat Blaze (periodico de la escuela) para mas informacion de la primera reunion.
Gracias, y espero verlos pronto!
Carrie Smith & Kim Pordes ( representantes del PTO)
Tech Tips
For Parents...
Richland One IT Help Desk
You can get remote assistance by calling the IT Help Desk Monday - Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM at 803-231-7436.
For Teachers...
Invite Others to View or Co-author a Notebook
In Class Notebook, you can share notes with others in a couple of different ways, depending on your needs. You can either invite others to view and make changes to your notebook, or you can create a link to a page of notes that you can paste in an email, blog, or web page. Click here for the steps.
Mark Your Calendars for...
Funny, Random, & Weird Holidays
Did you participate in a wacky holiday last week? Don't forget to send a picture of your family's celebration to Mrs. Whetstone at andrea.whetstone@richlandone.org. Here are a few weird holidays for your family to think about this week.
October 24th.........................................Bologna Day
October 25th.........................................Sourest Day
October 26th.........................................Howl at the Moon Day and Night
October 28th.........................................International Animation Day
October 29th.........................................Internet Day
October 30th.........................................Candy Corn Day
We Want to See Your Bobcat Student MAKING TRACKS!
We would love to share in your student's success by seeing them in action! Submit a photo of your e-learner engaged in e-learning activities and assignments and your student's picture can be featured in an upcoming issue of the Bobcat Blaze! Submit your photos to Mrs. Whetstone at andrea.whetstone@richlandone.org.
District Resources and Information
ThriveRichland
ThriveRichland is a birth to four initiative established by Richland County School District One with the overall goal of increasing the percentage of children entering kindergarten ready to learn. The three major focus areas of ThriveRichland are:
High quality professional development and support for early childhood professionals
Comprehensive family wellness and engagement
Development of a plan for an early learning lab school within Richland One
Connect with Us
Website: www.richlandone.org/Domain/26
Location: 333 Etiwan Avenue, Columbia, SC, USA
Phone: (803) 343-2910
Facebook: www.facebook.com/acmooreelementary
Twitter: @ACMooreBobcats