It’s been amazing to see the enthusiasm across our campus with students, families, and staff digging into our online learning model to start the year. I appreciate the effort and patience being demonstrated by everyone at home to help us establish new routines and support kids as they adjust and settle in.

I’d like to think that I’m not too old to still recall what my time in elementary and middle school was like for me. I always had tons of excess energy and often needed to move around. Paying attention for lengthy stretches was tough for me then. It still is, but I know I would’ve struggled without the right support in our current online model.

Paying attention can be tough for kids. Even kids who never had attention issues in the past, may see them crop up a bit now. While our teachers are being extremely careful to chunk the instruction, embed natural breaks, and differentiate to meet all kids needs -- synchronous, or live instruction, can still involve more transitions and more details to remember. Managing them can challenge a child’s ability to focus.

To help your child overcome concentration issues:

• Suggest that he be honest with teachers if he's having trouble focusing in class. He can ask for their support. Teachers can help better if they know he’s not ignoring them on purpose.

• Have him connect with his teacher during their office hours if needed -- all of our teachers have time set aside especially for this type of situation

• Encourage him to clarify the directions. It can be intimidating to ask a teacher to repeat or explain directions. But it’s far better than getting completely lost.

• For older students, help them find strategies, like abbreviations and codes, to use while they are taking notes. They can make it easier to keep up and stay focused on what the teacher is saying.

• Encourage healthy habits. Eating breakfast and getting enough sleep and exercise can help your child stay alert and on task.

Helping to establish healthy habits and routines now will reap many benefits as we move further into the school year!

As always, I look forward to hearing from you. You are always welcome to call and connect with me. Stay safe, and stay #EdisonStrong!

Mr. Lopez

Attending online live sessions regularly helps children feel better about school— and themselves. Start building this habit in August so they learn right away that going online for school on time, every day is important. Great attendance will help children do well this year.

What can families do?

• Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.

• Lay out clothes, school materials, and chromebook the night before.

• If your child seems anxious about going online, talk to his teacher for advice on how to make her feel comfortable and excited about learning.

• Develop back-up plans for getting online or communicating with her teacher and school office if your wifi goes down or you have another technical issue getting online.

Help your child succeed in this year by building that habit of good attendance now!

Starting August 31, 2020, the Ontario City Library will make available Brainfuse to all Library Card holders. Brainfuse offers free on demand anytime anywhere eLearning for all ages and levels. Brainfuse - HelpNow will also offer personalized homework help in all core subjects (reading, math, writing, science and social studies) including live one-on-one assistance Monday - Sunday from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Brainfuse will be available on all internet connected computers. If you don’t have a library card and would like access, you can get a digital library card through the online catalog.

1. Visit bit.ly/patronaccount
   

2. Select Ovitt Family Community Library as your home library and enter your postal code.

3. Fill out the online form and create your PIN number.

The next screen has your digital library card number. All Cards begin with PACREG followed by 6 digits. You will need this number and your PIN number to access your account, so be sure to write it down.

MyPaymentsPlus is linked directly to our school, enabling us to show real-time balances and invoices, and eliminating the need to call or visit your school in search of information.

Whether you’re viewing what your 2nd grader ate for lunch, or adding money to their lunch account, MyPaymentsPlus ensures you never miss a beat, from Pre-K to promotion day. Simply create a free MyPaymentsPlus account to get started today. https://www.mypaymentsplus.com/welcome