Glen Acres Elementary School
November 15, 2020
Dear Glen Acres Families,
We are looking forward to seeing you via Zoom at conferences the week of 11/23.
If you are interested in donating to Home of the Sparrow, a local organization that supports homeless women and children, feel free to send in paper towels or non-perishable food. We have boxes at our student entrances for your child to drop off donated supplies if you would like to participate.
Enjoy the week.
Donna
Glen Acres Holiday Shop for Students and Families
In years past, the PTO ran a Holiday Shop as a way to teach our students to give back and think about their loved ones during the holiday season. It was also a way for our students to purchase affordable gifts for their family members on their own and to learn how to budget their money when buying gifts. This year, the PTO has recreated this event online via the Penguin Patch Holiday Shop Online.
Here's the note from PTO:
We love hosting a holiday shop for a number of reasons, but one of them is certainly because it gives each child an opportunity to experience the joy of giving and the challenge of budgeting. We've known for a long time the best teacher is immersion. Our online shop gives each of our students the opportunity to enjoy a safe online shopping experience with your help. Our shop starts on 11/18 and runs until 12/4!
Be sure to mark your calendars for 11/18/20 to have your student(s) go online to shop for their loved ones.
You can place your order at https://shop.penguinpatch.com [School: Glen Acres Elementary, West Chester, PA] to ensure guaranteed delivery for Christmas.
Conferences and Report Cards
Dear Families,
Conferences are the week of November 23rd. Your teacher has started to reach out to you to schedule a time via Zoom. Our first trimester ends December 1st. Report cards will be available online on December 17th.
- In grades K-2, the West Chester Area School District (WCASD) utilizes standards-based reporting. Each child will receive a 1, 2, 2+, 3, or 4 for each standard addressed this trimester. If you see “N/A” it means that the standard has not yet been assessed. Please remember the goals are end of year standards/expectations. In December, you will likely see many 2’s and some 1’s which is appropriate for this time of year because the expectation is that students meet the standards with a 3 by the third and final report card in June. In addition, please know that 4’s are rare to receive, even at the end of the school year. For a child to reach that level, he/she is performing significantly and consistently above the standard expectations.
- In grades 3-5, WCASD utilizes numeric grades (45-100) that correspond to letter grades (A, B, C, F) for core subjects. Please know that standard grading (1, 2, 3, 4) does not correlate to a letter grade. For example, a 3 in second grade does not mean a B in third grade. Teachers utilize various assessments, activities, and assignments to determine an overall grade. Parents are encouraged to stay abreast of progress via Parent Portal over the course of the entire trimester.
- Learning support students and reading support students will receive progress reports at the same time that report cards go live on Parent Portal in December.
- All children in grades K-5, receive needs improvement (NI), progressing (P), or demonstrates consistently (DC) for Learning Related Behaviors (LRBs). In order to achieve DC, a child needs to exhibit the expectation close to 100% of the time. Progressing (P) is completely appropriate, as it captures a behavior that is observed on a regular basis.
- Special Area Subjects for grades 1-5 utilize standards-based reporting as noted above for K-2.
- All children in grades K-5, receive needs improvement (NI), progressing (P), or demonstrates consistently (DC) for Learning Related Behaviors (LRBs). In order to achieve DC, a child needs to exhibit the expectation close to 100% of the time. Progressing (P) is completely appropriate, as it captures a behavior that is observed on a regular basis.
Enjoy the week.
Donna
EQUITY CORNER
This week, I have two book recommendations. Some of your children might have read them at school in the past.
Let’s Talk About Race
A major point of the book is to talk about race and move beyond racial stereotypes to our common humanity. Acknowledging our common humanity does not necessarily mean ignoring race and racism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40ORHCOA9fE
The Colors of Us
Lena, the main character, realizes that every shade is beautiful, then mixes her paints accordingly for portraits of her friends—“The colors of us!” Bold illustrations celebrate diversity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=679Sw4IACAk
WCASD Equity Mission:
Eradicate institutional racism and inequities through social justice, promoting the emotional development of staff and students, and embracing diverse perspectives.
WCASD Equity Goals:
- Teach an inclusive curriculum that teaches anti-racism, celebrates differences, promotes understanding, and seeks multiple perspectives.
- Promote a positive school climate in which students feel safe, respected, and appreciated.
- Provide on-going professional development to all staff in all aspects of equity.
- Engage staff, students, parents, and community members in our work.
- Provide equitable access to district programming.
GAE Spirit Days
Some students have expressed wanting to have more spirit wear days. Of course wearing spirit wear is optional. Every Monday and Friday, if your child would like to participate we invite him/her to wear GA spirit wear or green to show his/her school spirit.
On Wednesdays, each class will pick a theme for the school to participate in.
Here are some of the classes picks for Wednesday school spirit wear days.
11/18
Hat Day (BARNETT)
12/2 PAJAMA DAY (CLAYTON)
12/9
CRAZY HAIR DAY (MCALINEY)
12/16
STUFFED ANIMAL DAY (PHILLIPS)
12/23 (½ day)
HOLIDAY CHEER - BLING IT OUT WITH YOUR HOLIDAY ACCESSORIES! ( SCHOOL PICK)
Calendar
This week's calendar:
Monday, November 16, DAY 3: Hybrid A at school, Hybrid B Remote
Tuesday, November 17, DAY 4: Hybrid A at school, Hybrid B Remote, Second Grade Testing for Group A
Wednesday, November 18, DAY 1: All Virtual/Remote- Hat Day ( Mrs. Barnett's Class Pick)
Thursday , November 19, DAY 2: Hybrid B at school, Hybrid A Remote, Second Grade Testing for Group B and Second Grade Remote Students
Friday , November 20, DAY 3: Hybrid B at school , Hybrid A Remote
Upcoming Calendar: PLEASE NOTE THAT ON OUR HALF DAYS DISMISSAL WILL BE AT 11:40 and No Lunch will be served.
11/23 : HYBRID A at school, HYBRID B at home. Half Days for Students, Parent Teacher Conferences via ZOOM
11/24: HYBRID B at school, HYBRID A at home. Half Days for Students, Parent Teacher Conferences via ZOOM
11/25: Half Day Conferences, Students Are Off
11/26-11/27: Thanksgiving Break, Students Are Off
12/23: Half Day for Students
12/24-1/3: Winter Break
Enjoy the week! Call or email me if you have questions or concerns.
Donna
Ext 1702
What to Do if Your Child Does Not Feel Well
Do the Daily Home Screening checklist with your child every day, and follow the guidelines for keeping sick children home.
Call to report your child’s absence. 484 266-1710.
Contact your health care provider if your child has symptoms.
Contact the nurse’s office if your child or another person in the household is getting a test for Covid-19. Keep your child home if he/she is waiting for test results or if your child has a known exposure to someone who tests positive for Covid-19.
Nurse: Michelle Cassidy
484-266-1706
Attendance and Dismissal Notes:
Hybrid / Remote Attendance Procedures:
If your child is sick or not able to attend school, partially or the whole day, please send in a HANDWRITTEN & SIGNED note explaining the reason for the absence.
If your child is sick but able to learn remotely, please send in a HANDWRITTEN & SIGNED note explaining the reason and we will code appropriately.
You can take a picture of the note, and email it to tweaver2@wcasd.net. If your smartphone is full and unable to take a picture, you can use your child's iPad.
If your child has a doctor's appointment and will miss school for the day or even part of the day you can have the Doctors' Office fax us a note @ 484-266-1799 or take a picture of the note from the doctors' office and email it to: tweaver2@wcasd.net.
We need absent notes by 5 days after the absence in order to prevent coding it unlawful.
Dismissal Notes for Hybrid / Remote:
If you are going to be picking up your child every day from school for the entire year we need ONE HANDWRITTEN & SIGNED & DATED note from you. If grandparents, friends, or sitters will be picking up your children please list their names also.
If your family will only be picking up randomly please send a handwritten note in with your child that morning so we can add your child to the pickup list.
Theresa Weaver, Office Assistant
Attendance Secretary
Glen Acres Elementary
Phone: 484-266-1712
Email: tweaver2@wcasd.net
Attendance Line: 484-266-1710
Fax: 484-266-1799