I hope you are doing well. Many of you have questions about the DCPS reopen and we are still learning information daily. Please refer to the links below to read more details.
Below you will find information about
- Kids Ride Free (SmartTrip) Cards
- Term 1 Grading
- Teacher Highlight
- Reopen- Term 2
- Housekeeping
- Spirit Week
Kids Ride Free (SmartTrip) Cards
Kids Ride Free Cards take a while to set up, we are changing our approach as a result. If you need a card, please use these steps:
- Send an email to chantay.powell@k12.dc.gov & crystal.white@k12.dc.gov and share your students name
- Wait 24 hours for the card to be prepared
- Pick up the card, once they confirm they are complete
We are also asking making a shift in the main office. One of our Warriors, Ms. Thompson lost someone very close to her and will be out for a number of weeks. In the interim, you can forward all attendance questions/information to LTESattendance@k12.dc.gov. Ms. White, Ms. Scholefield, and Ms. Powell will also be in the main office daily from 9am-3pm. Please call to confirm your visit prior to.
Term 1 Grading
This week, you received an attendance robo call from me. It was a friendly reminder that attendance matters. Remember, EVERYDAY COUNTS, even on Wednesdays. Students MUST log into CANVAS everyday of the week to be counted for attendance. Logging onto TEAMS does not count attendance. Students must log off then log back in or refresh Canvas daily. We are noticing a huge trend of students not returning back to the computer after their first class. In order to receive grades, students must attend all classes.
Teacher Highlight
Here is a video of Coach Smith getting her Pre-K 3 students up and moving at the start of class:
CLICK here to watch! Coach Smith with Pre-K3
Reopen-Term 2
We are excited that we can provide a space for learning to continue. We continue to learn the DCPS structures and gather facts. We are going to welcome all families to a “Parent Huddle” in the coming weeks to gain feedback, hear ideas, etc. Staff are going to continue to engage in meetings to learn (a) how this impacts them and (b) how they can prepare for any shifts. As of now, here is what we can reiterate and share:
1. There are 3 opportunities to engage in term 2:
- 100% virtual
- In-person learning classroom
- CARE classroom
3. Teachers do not lead CARE classrooms. Aides, support staff, and DCPS staff can lead those rooms
4. Families who will be offered seats will begin to be notified next week from central office
5. DCPS operation policies mandate mask, temperature checks, and social distancing
6. Materials pick-up for continued virtual learning will be restricted to a designated time of day
7. The student selection process is DCPS created, we are following the process of student selection
**You can learn more about the reopen strong plan here: DCPS Reopen Strong**
**Please visit the Q & A developed by DCPS here: DCPS Q & A**
As we prepare for the upcoming plan, teachers will have the opportunity to take more materials home given class spaces will be used for storage, in person learning and CARE classrooms. Because of that, the schedule below has dates that your student may engage in asynchronous learning to allow the teacher to come into the building. We ask for grace as teachers begin transitioning.
Oct 19th- ECE
Oct 20th- K and 1
Oct 21st- 2 and 3
Oct 22nd- 4 and 5
Oct 23rd- Specials
Information is evolving and we want to present facts to you. Again, be prepared to attend a “Family Huddle”- date, TBD. It is an opportunity to share ideas, ask questions and provide feedback about the DCPS approach. The LSAT (once elected) and PTO will also walk our facilities before the reopen to ensure a safe opening.
Housekeeping
Lack of Reopen Details: Right now we are living in many hypotheticals and potential plans. The plan shared, in error, from Watkins/Peabody was a mistake and premature. We have drafted operations plans in alignment with the protocols and procedures DCPS has outlined. Just as the DCPS email stated “DCPS Central Office will review those plans and then schools will be able to share details with their school community once plans are finalized”. We will follow that process and share once it is finalized.
Staff Update: A lot of my time has been invested in learning and hearing from our committed teachers and staff. We want to ensure our staff are well so they can show up 100% for our students and you.
Transparency: This is hard. This is uncomfortable. There are a lot of unknowns. I am working around the clock to get answers for myself, staff and the community. I do not have all the answers right now and hosting a Q&A with families would not be a great use of your time. I will continue attending meetings and learning in preparation to have answers for you.
Spirit Week
We all deserve a break. Please check out the flyer on the home page and let’s have some fun!
Thank you for your patience as we get through this, together!
Principal Daniel