March 15th, 2020

Dear K-8 St. Mark Families, 

St. Mark School's Distance Learning plans for all grade levels (K-8) will go live tomorrow, Monday, March 16th, 2020. There will be communication from myself, classroom teachers, and specials teachers regarding assignments, due dates, and expectations. Our goal is ensure a continuity of learning in all subject areas, including specials, during St. Mark School's temporary shut down.

Again, it is imperative that all students engage in and are responsible for completing assignments during this prolonged absence. It is beneficial to students' educational development to be actively learning during this school closure. Furthermore, each day we can provide evidence that students are engaged in learning (despite not being physically present in the building), it could be considered a school day.

If you are a room parent for your child's classroom, kindly forward this and future communications regarding distance learning to your parents, to ensure all St. Mark families have the most up to date information.

K-4 Families
Distance Learning will consist of a mix of paper/pencil assignments and digital learning technologies. Due to the nature of the paper/pencil assignments, teachers may begin to communicate student Distance Learning assignments for Monday, March 16th later today.

In the hallway outside the main entrance to the school building (the blue St. Mark awning door), paper/pencil assignments for the week of March 16th-March 20th are available for pick up until 8pm today, March 15th. Assignments can be found in folders organized by grade level. Each student has his or her own folder. Please leave the folder. However, drop completed work in the folder, and take assignments for the week.

Kindergarten bags can be found in a box, under the table. Kindergarten work will be provided in a large, clear bag, labeled with students' names.

Please review communication from your child's teacher regarding web-based programs that will be integrated into the Distance Learning Plan in a timely manner to ensure that your child is ready for technology-based assignments on Monday. If you have specific questions about what is included in technology-based learning, please email the teacher.

5-8 Families
Most assignments will be through digital platforms (Google Classroom, EdPuzzler, Edmentum, etc.) and will be posted tomorrow morning, Monday, March 16th.

Extra copies of materials sent home with students on Thursday, March 12th from grades 5 and 8 History also available in a folder in the hallway outside the main entrance to school (the blue St. Mark awning door).

Please advise your children to check their Google Accounts for invitations to join newly created Google Classrooms (Music, Spanish, Religion, Math, etc.) if they have not joined already.

PlusPortal Activation
If you replied to the Distance Learning Survey that you do not have access to Plus Portal, please check for an email from St. Mark School: Plus Portal Activation. Follow the link to active your account.

Please email Innovation/Technology Teacher, Josie Huben, at jhuben@stmarkschool.org if you need assistance.

Continue to stay healthy and may God bless our school community.

Yours in Christ, 
Melissa Warner 
St. Mark School
500 Wigwam Lane, Stratford CT