Team Meadow Update
April 13, 2020
Team Meadow -
I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Given our current situation, I hope everyone had a happy Easter. For us, this was the first time since Cindy and I married that we spent our Easter at home with our immediate family. It was so pleasant in many ways.
Based on what I've surmised, last week went very well and was a great run as we launch into our new structure. This week marks the first venture into our new weekly schedule. Please know that Lauren and I love to be engaged however we are able. We are flowing in and out of various school needs, so please keep the conversations flowing as we receive feedback from families and make adjustments. Don't hesitate to reach out, and we will get with you as soon as we can.
Related Arts: Our amazingly talented Related Arts team has knocked it out of the park! They have been working extremely hard to create some amazing experiences to engage students with well-rounded, learning opportunities. Students/families are able to design their pathways for related arts learning experiences throughout the week. Encourage students/families to view the preview video/commercial as they map our their plan. Preview video and link is located below. Be sure to highlight with families/students.
Staff Meeting: Please block 8:30 on Wednesday morning for our staff meeting. Invites to come out soon.
Team Check-Ins /Meetings: Lauren and I will be checking in with teams to schedule a time to meet with you on a consistent basis. Consider days/times that work well for your team as a whole, and we will be in contact soon in order to coordinate.
Joining class meeting/live instruction - Don't forget that Lauren and I would love to "sit in" on the occasional class meetings or happenings. Our time might be limited, but feel free to include us on an invite, and we'll pop in if we can. Seeing the kids in real time fills the bucket.
Delivering items to families: Please honor the stay at home order and refrain from delivering any items to students/families. If there is something of urgent matter, please contact me (Tom) so we can navigate. Thank you.
A few other miscellaneous items:
- Construction Update: Next Monday, April 20th, is when construction is set to begin in the building for the new wing. I will periodically need to check in with a few items at the school, which might slightly influence my availability this week. There were a handful of items needing closure before the construction crew can begin, and we will work on relocation of a number of items in the coming days. If you have any items located in the computer lab, BAC/Speech/preschool wing, please let me know so we can tend to it appropriately.
- Blue Ribbon application - Submission date has been slightly delayed by the USDOE. We are hoping to get turned it in later this week or early next week.
Thanks again for all you do, and especially for how you do it,
Tom
Related Arts Preview
Here is the link to copy and paste into your communication.
Curriculum/Instruction, Attendance & Progress Reports
Prior to break, the principals cross-walked a few questions with Academic Services, and Chris Squier responded with a few points/reminders. Much of it overlaps with our team conversations, and so I've taken her notes and compiled them below. As Chris said, "We applaud your ingenuity and resourcefulness as you re-group and think about what the most important parts of your curriculum are for the rest of the school year."
Curriculum and Instruction - One thing that might be weighing heavily on your mind is making sure that students are prepared for next year. We all want our students to do well, and it is completely understandable that you are concerned if you feel your students are not getting the same learning opportunities they would be afforded if they were in the school house with you.
- As we discussed before break, we need to filter through to identify the learning priorities during this different quarter of learning.
- Continue to give grace and focus on the students in front of you (even virtually in front of you) and respond to what they need as best you are able. The needs might be varied and include social/emotional needs, academic needs or a need for connection.
- When we finally get back to our school buildings and launch into the 20-21 school year, we will assess what students know and are able to do, reteach anything that has not been mastered, and move forward. We will then analyze data, connect with students and help them grow in response to their need.
- As we often say, we have a cumulative effect in this work that we do, building upon each other's investment to provide learning opportunities and experiences for our students. You are not in this alone.
"Grades" and Report Cards – Our report cards are designed in order to help parents understand what their child has learned and where they might need additional help or enrichment.
- You have already supplied parents with a very detailed account of this for the first three quarters in this school year. Overall, feedback has been strong and consistent with comments. Keep that in mind as we move forward, and realize, it most likely won't look the same in quarter 4.
- Learning needs are varied. For the last quarter you might feel compelled to help your students master all of the remaining (report card) standards or you might not. This is driven by need and readiness. You might choose to work with students on specific “power standards” that you know are foundational building blocks.
- Know that your assessments might also look different than they have in the past and that is okay. At the end of the quarter you will report out to parents where their child is in relation to the grade level standards as best you can. Next year will hold its opportunity to assess and continue the learning journey for our students.
Attendance –
- Keep in mind that attendance is still based on students attempting assignments/activities. (We would, of course, like completion, but that is not required for attendance.)
- Teachers can either go into Power School to add attendance each day or check in on work attempted on Wednesdays and Fridays to complete the attendance for the week.
- If a child is not working online, please be sure to reach out to the family and let Lauren, Kristi or myself know so that we can provide support.
With that, please know that we are here to assist however we are able. Don't hesitate to reach out.
Contact Us
Email: thundley@zcs.k12.in.us
Website: http://www.zcs.k12.in.us/bme/
Location: 5555 S Main St, Whitestown, IN, United States
Phone: 3178732226
Twitter: @ZCSBoone_Meadow