Parent Newsletter March 29, 2020


Parents, thank you for your patience in advance with this adjustment to online learning. This week, our teachers will begin posting digital content. Official lessons will begin on April 3, 2020 . These activities will be posted on Google Classroom. Many teachers have used this platform this year, but some may not have yet. Please see information below in accessing this platform. Teachers will be available each day via email or their preferred contact method, from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM , excluding Spring Break.

This week, continue to familiarize yourself with the digital platforms. Your child will be the best resource for navigating through the digital content as they are already familiar with those systems. I have provided some resources below and the teachers may provide some practice work while we wait for Online Instruction to officially begin on April 3, 2020.


Our Administrators and Counselors are available from 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM daily for your support through email. I am available from 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM daily through email. If you have any questions or concerns, our emails are listed below:
H.E.L.P. Our Children
Parents, please take some time to read the article below, written by our very own 7th Grade ELA Teacher, Sherika Falcon.
The uncertainty of time is leaving everyone scrambling for help. We’re searching for help to protect our families, help to work from home, and help to keep our children on track during this time. As a teacher and a parent, I understand this very difficult process and want you, as parents, to know that we are growing in strength and surviving the uncertainty together.  

Mandated virtual school is new to all of us. There will be some hiccups along the way, but as we seek to keep our children first we will streamline the process.  

So, what can you do as parents to ensure children’s success. Here is an acronym that will give us tips, hope, and encouragement: H.E.L.P.

First, we must “H”, Heal our children. Healing comes with determining the source of the need. All of our students will need something different while they are making this transition and it is up to us to figure out how to help them.

“E” is Empower. Once we seek to heal our kids, we can empower them by working with them to fulfill the need.  

Let’s Love our children which is the “L”. Our actions, consistency, and time will communicate our love to them.  

Finally, the “P” stands for Praise. We must remember to praise our children in the midst of this new season of life.

There are so many funny memes right about parents becoming teachers. The truth is that parents have always been teachers. You are your child’s first teacher.

Parents, you are not alone. As you H.E.L.P. your children at home, we will H.E.L.P. them in the Virtual Classroom.  

We are committed to Healing each child by fulfilling the instructional needs with meaningful lessons. We will Empower them with the necessary tools to be successful. Our dedication to show up online each day we show our Love for them. And always, we will Praise them for their efforts, growth, and progress.   

At Turner Elementary Middle School our students are so much more than just students, they are our children, too. So, let’s work together to H.E.L.P. our children.    

By Mrs. S. Falcon - 7th Grade ELA Teacher, Turner Elementary Middle School
Tomorrow, March 30th, we will begin issuing devices to everyone who completed the survey that was sent to the parents of all Caddo students on March 16th.

Thank you for your patience as we prepare devices for your child to borrow if requested. The dates and times are listed. Please adhere to the following dates and times as these are the only opportunities we are providing to receive a device. Due to the rapid spread of the coronovirus, we had to modify this process once again. Our Leadership Team will distribute the devices all three days and we have to adhere to these strict guidelines to ensure the safety of our staff as well as the safety of your families. We have pre-assigned and packaged devices based on the information you provided. We are only distributing one device per household. Please see the instruction below for receiving a device for your child.


If You Requested a Device Through the Caddo Survey

We want to limit any direct hand-to-hand exposure. If you requested a device, you MUST pick up your device on March 30-31. Parents will form a line in the front of the school, similar to afternoon carpool. Someone will be posted on the curb to get your child's name. She will then ask you to pull forward once your device is placed on a table further down the driveway. You will pull forward to the table. Take and sign the loan agreement on the table, keep the disinfected pen, drop the signed loan document in the box on the table, retrieve your device, and pull off. All devices have been tested and are working properly. We are constantly disinfected all exposed surfaces throughout this process.



If You Did NOT Request a Device But Need to Borrow One

If you did not request to borrow a device and would like to borrow one, we will ONLY distribute those devices on April 1st at the designated times. You may complete this survey now to reserve a device for that day. Please be patient as this process takes time.


ELL Parents Who Needs Assistance

To assist our ELL Parents better, we are asking you to pick up your device on April 1st ONLY . We will have someone on campus to assist with communication.


Padres ELL que necesitan asistencia
Para ayudar mejor a nuestros padres ELL, le pedimos que recoja su dispositivo SOLAMENTE el 1 de abril. Tendremos a alguien en el campus para ayudar con la comunicación.




Now that we are all set up in Google Classroom, your child will begin receiving coursework next week. All students are enrolled in their teacher's Google Classroom. For enrichment classes, please join their classes by adding the following classroom codes for the appropriate grade level:






Counselor's Classroom Codes

Sonya Shepherd's PreK - 2nd Grade Class Code tpkehrm

Sammi Knutsen's 3rd - 5th Grade Class Code l72hke5

Clementine Johnson's 6th - 8th Grade Class Code isfe77y


Feeding Program (March 30 ONLY)

The district will provide lunch for the week to be picked up on
Monday, March 30, 2020 ONLY . I will include updates each week as this may change.
Shelter in Place
Important Resources
XBOX One and PS4
See the link below to learn how to access Google Classroom from your child's XBOX One or PS4.

Please check this site frequently as many helpful resources will be provided. Caddo Parish Public Schools is committed to providing our students and families with the access to resources needed to be successful during this period of social distancing. To help guide parents and students to the resources most needed, please follow the instructions below to access the most commonly visited resources and sites. Click below to access

Parents, we are one of the ten Discovery Education iLearn Schools in Caddo Parish. Please take some time and explore the virtual Field Trips and other amazing resources available for our students. Sign into Classlinks and click Discovery Education.
iPhone Scanner NEW
Parents, if you have an iPhone with the "Notes" app, you have a scanner!! Just open the Notes app and click on the camera. From there, you will see a menu. Click "Scan Documents". There you have a color scanner available for you if needed.


Coronovirus Facts


Core Subjects
K-5 Math : Student practice work is included on the sites below.



Special Education Services Assistance
Google Tools for Struggling Students Technology can be a powerful tool to assist students with special needs or any sort of learning challenge. In particular the Chrome web browser. Check this link out for accessibility resources using Chrome!

Art
Join us for FREE online art lessons for kids (and adults). Ease some anxiety with art therapy, learn how to create awesome projects, and enjoy getting creative.

Library
Username: engaged
Password: learning

Username: continue
Password: reading

Our school NOW has access to ALL of our digital resources until April 30, 2020!  World Book Online   is a great resource for distance learning and non-fiction e-reading. 

Music

Kindergarten Parents: Links to sing along songs

Parents in Grades 1 and 2:

All Grades



Physical Education
Active Home - OPEN Physical Education Curriculum - Check this site out for activities to keep you moving while having fun!!!


Virtual Field Trips and Miscellaneous Sites



28 Days of STEM Activities - 28 Days of STEM Activities and STEAM Activities for Kids is loaded with hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and math projects perfect for the classroom and at home. The kids are gonna love this!

Imagineering in a Box ’ is a free online program that brings together the diverse talents of Disney Imagineers around the world for a one-of-a-kind learning experience and is part of Disney’s commitment to helping today’s youth create the future they imagine.  



FREE HOME ACCESS TO ABC MOUSE!
Redeem code AOFLUNICEF (or you could continue trying SCHOOL7771) for FREE access to ABCmouse.com Early Learning Academy, Adventure Academy, and ReadingIQ during the period of school closure! ❤️😊😍

👉  https://www.abcmouse.com/Redeem  for Early Learning Academy (for children Preschool Through 2nd Grade)

👉  https://www.readingiq.com/redeem/  for Reading IQ (for children in Preschool through 6th Grade)

👉  https://www.adventureacademy.com/redeem/  for Adventure Academy (for Children in 3rd through 8th Grade)
Caddo Schools Website - Check here daily for important updates