August 28, 2020

Dear Hollymead Families,

This week we continued our work toward a successful beginning of our virtual learning on September 8th. Teachers have enjoyed reaching out to you and hearing some of your initial thoughts about the year. Communication between the school and you will be even more important this year in order to create a successful learning experience. We will continue to reach out and listen during virtual learning.

We can't wait for the year to begin, and to connect each day with the students. Establishing relationships and routines will be our goals in the early weeks of virtual learning. Students feeling safe and comfortable is a necessary condition for them to do their best in both a physical classroom and a virtual one. Our goal is to make that happen!

Have a great weekend, and we'll see you soon!

Please contact me if for any questions or concerns. You can reach me by phone, 434 973-8301; by email at cdommer@k12albemarle.org; or in person at school.

Craig Dommer

Principal, Hollymead Elementary School

We apologize for the delay in school supply lists. Please see the link below. In addition to the list, we have specific supplies that we are giving to every student. They can be picked up at the following times:

K - Monday 8/31, 1-3

1- Friday 9/4, 8:30-10

2 - Friday 9/4 10-12

3 - Friday 9/4 10-12

4 - Friday 9/4 12-2

5 - Friday 9/4 12-2

Siblings can pick up together in one of the time slots. We will also have some supplies available if you would like them. We don't have enough for everyone, but are very happy to supply them to anyone who needs them for any reason, including the difficulty shopping for anything during these times. The items we have available are starred on the attached list.

SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST

Albemarle County has developed a schedule for virtual learning that will provide consistency across all 15 elementary schools. Here is how it will work:

Each student will have a synchronous block of instruction (interactive with the teacher). It will include opening and closing class meetings, and instruction in the core content areas, and will last 2.5 - 3 hours with breaks away from the screen included in that block.

Each student will have a primarily asynchronous block of learning which will include activities through SeeSaw, or projects given by the teacher, or practice. The two exceptions will be a specials class which will be during this block, but will be synchronous, and any intervention or special education instruction which will be synchronous, and during this block.

The synchronous block will be taught twice per day, and each student will be assigned to be either a morning, or afternoon synchronous student.

The school day will run approximately 8am-3pm, and teachers will be creating, and sharing their individual schedules, as well as placement in the morning or afternoon synchronous block with their families next week.

We will be recording synchronous sessions for students who are unable to attend.

Specials classes will be offered during your student's asynchronous block, and we recommend that each student attends 1 art, 1 music, 3 PE classes. The 3 PE classes should be taken one on Monday or Tuesday in your grade level, one on Wednesday or Thursday in your grade level, and one in the Open Gym class. Here is the specials schedule.

Distributing technology will be done on multiple days in the next two weeks. We will be sending out individual grade level emails in the coming days complete with sign ups, but here is the overview of information and then how we will distribute.

K-2

All students in K-2 will be distributed and IPAD as soon as possible. We are awaiting shipment on the rest.

Any 1st or 2nd grader who needs a loaner laptop until IPADS are ready should let their teacher know, and we will have one ready for supply pick up on September 4th.

All Kindergarten IPADS and school supplies will be distributed on Monday, August 31st.

3rd Grade

All third graders who did not pick up their laptops on August 25th can contact the school to set up a time to pick yours up. If you have an IPAD from last year, please bring it at that time, including power blocks and charging cords. You will need to return it to get a laptop.

4th and 5th Grade

If you still need a laptop, please contact the school, and we will arrange one for pick up.

Our Open House will be virtual this year. On Tuesday, September 1st we will send out a school wide welcome video introducing staff members and welcoming the students. Our Specialist teachers will host a Zoom meeting at 11am that day for any new families that want to meet them, or any returning families that want to say hi. Classroom teachers will also be conducting Zoom meetings with families the week of August 31 - September 4th to get to know you, help make sure you are able to access our virtual platforms, and iron out any other issues before learning starts on Sept. 8th.

Last week, there was information sent out about the school lunch program. Please see that information here:

https://www.k12albemarle.org/our-departments/communications/message-board/~board/community-messages/post/2020-21-school-meals-program

To register, please follow this link:

https://survey.k12insight.com/survey.aspx?k=SsUTPVsQQTXsPsPsP&lang=0&data=

A wonderful thing about Hollymead is all of the volunteers that help to make our school run smoothly.

As we gear up for virtual learning, we will be in need of volunteers in both a virtual environment - to help with Zoom meetings, or provide additional support to students, and in a physical one - gathering supplies, distributing materials, monitoring bathrooms or providing teacher breaks once we are back in a hybrid model.

I know many of you are beyond busy, but if you were wondering how you could volunteer this year, those are some examples. Teachers and the school will send out specific requests as we need them.