Franklin Focus
Week of May 18-22, 2020
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Message from Mr. A
Hello Families ~ I hope this message finds you all healthy and well as Allegheny County moves into the yellow zone. Despite the change in zone status, I encourage everyone to continue to practice social distancing and safety precautions to ensure we all remain well.
This past week brought us the first “Pause Days” at the elementary level. Please be reminded that we will also have elementary Pause Days on Tuesday, May 19 and Tuesday, May 26. On these days, students are still asked to check-in for attendance purposes, but no new instruction will be provided by teachers at the elementary level. Elementary teachers across the District will be working in their classrooms on those Pause Days to do their summer packing and to collect all student items that remain in the buildings. The District is also working on plans for redistributing student items and collecting back from students any school items they may have at home (example: library books, science books, etc). When a finalized plan is approved by the District, we will be sure to communicate that to all of you.
With just four weeks remaining in this school year, I encourage everyone to remain positive, steadfast, and focused down this final stretch. This has been a challenging time that has pushed many of us beyond our comfort zone. But it is important to remember that we do not grow when we remain within our comfort zone. Growth occurs when we step outside our comfort zone, when we are challenged, when we have to take on something new, when we embrace new opportunities, and we when learn from our mistakes; and I think you would agree that many, if not all, of the aforementioned conditions certainly apply to remote learning and these past several weeks/months. While “grit” and “growth mindset” are terms that we have begun to explore at FES over the past few years, this current global situation has highlighted just how important it is for ALL of us to develop these qualities.
Hang in there, Franklin! Stay healthy, stay active, stay positive, and know that we are in this together. Get after it!
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Help Celebrate the Class of 2020
Tonight (Friday, May 15) at 8:20 p.m. is the NA Class of 2020 "Light Up Night"! Everyone is encouraged to turn on their porch lights for 20 minutes beginning at 8:20 p.m. and go outside and make some noise.
The morning of Wednesday, May 20 is the Faculty and Staff Car Parade, from 10:00-11:30 a.m. in honor of the Class of 2020. The North Allegheny faculty and staff will drive past all of the Seniors’ houses. This means we will be coming through your neighborhood! Be sure to wear your NA gear, make some noise and wave as we drive by, all in support of the NA 2020 Senior Class.
You can connect with our Seniors on social media by sharing pictures and videos of your celebrations using the hashtag #NASeniorStripes!
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Tiger Strong Live Long - Mental and Emotional Well-Being Resources
Since we are unable to see students each day in the school buildings for our usual conversations, information sharing, and check-ins, we have created a “virtual” place where students and their families can visit to gain and utilize resources to support students’ mental and emotional well-being. Students' mental health and happiness are just as important to us as academics during this time of remote learning at home.
This site, “Tiger Strong Live Long”, is a resource guide meant to answer questions, provide information, and give you real-life tips and strategies from familiar voices at school.
Remember:
Reach out to someone if you need help. We’re all in this together.
STAY #TigerStrong
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Counselor's Corner
I would love to hear from you! Please remind your children that I continue to be here for them as a helper and a listener. The form below is one of the ways they can check-in with me! Just like the notes that they can leave on my door at school, students can leave me a note via the link below and I will be sure to get back to them! Parents, I would love to continue to support you during this time of remote learning. I look forward to hearing from you! You can reach me at
ezinsser@northallegheny.org.
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School buildings closed for the remainder of the school year
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Pause Days
North Allegheny School District students will participate in “Pause Days” on the dates below. “Pause Days” are intended to give students opportunities to catch up on assigned work, and no new instruction or assignments will be assigned for the specific grade levels. Teachers will be participating in activities outside of their normal instructional duties, and may not be available via email on these days. Secondary teachers will not be holding “office hours” on these days.
Pause Days for Elementary Buildings: Tuesdays in May (5/19, and 5/26)
Pause Days for Middle and High School Buildings: Wednesdays in May (5/20, and 5/27)
On each “Pause Day”, students are still required to check-in for daily attendance by logging into TigerID and clicking on the Remote Learning Check-In App. Click here for directions:
https://nasd.school/StudentRemoteCheckIn.
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Volunteer Clearances
School volunteers need to update volunteer clearances every five years. This program began five years ago this coming fall, and many volunteers have clearances expiring in the coming months. Please
reference the North Allegheny School District website for further information about the types of clearances needed and how to update those clearances.
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Update on North Allegheny Summer Programs
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, typical North Allegheny summer programs will be modified or canceled for 2020.
Summer Academy - This elementary program is usually held in June and July of each summer but will not be offered during the summer of 2020 due to COVID-19 and social distancing requirements.
Extended School Year Programs - Through the NASD Special Education program, Extended School Year [ESY] programs are typically held in the summer following the current school year. Due to COVID-19 and social distancing requirements, ESY programs will be held via remote learning opportunities. Parents/guardians of students with IEP’s who qualify for ESY will be contacted by their child’s special education teacher/caseworker regarding their child’s specific ESY remote learning program.
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Elementary Remote Learning - Grading Update
Similar to the changes for grades 2-5 where report card grades were changed to pass/fail rather a letter grade, marking indicators will also be modified for the fourth quarter of the 2019-2020 school year as follows:
Special Area Classes
Report cards will use the following grades for marking indicators.
- Appropriate Progress
- Needs Improvement
- The “Strength” marking indicators will not be utilized during the fourth quarter of the 2019-2020 school year
Kindergarten and 1st Grade
Report cards will use the following grades for marking indicators for academic subject areas.
- Appropriate Progress
- Needs Improvement
- The “Strength” marking indicators will not be utilized during the fourth quarter of the 2019-2020 school year.
- Some marking indicators such as “Skills for Success” will not be assessed for the fourth quarter of the 2019-2020 school year.
2nd-5th Grade
Report cards will use grades for academic classes as either “Pass” or “Fail.” The marking indicators under each academic area will not be assessed for the 2019-2020 school year.
This information will also be communicated when fourth-quarter report cards are posted in the Tyler Student 360 portal to remind parents/guardians of these changes.
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Kindergarten Spring Conferences
Around this time every school year, kindergarten teachers typically offer optional spring conferences to parents/guardians to review end of the year assessments and discuss any social, emotional, and/or academic concerns that they may have as the student moves on to first grade. Due to the current pandemic, kindergarten teachers are unable to conduct end of the year assessments as in prior years.
Kindergarten students are largely social, hands-on learners, are less independent, and remote learning has presented some unique challenges. The goal of the kindergarten team during these past few months has been to provide a mix of familiar routines that students are used to doing in the classroom along with new instructional activities presented electronically. However, kindergarten teachers realize that parents/guardians have been integrally involved in the instruction of their children. We hope that you have felt supported throughout this remote learning process, and the District assures you that teachers will continue to communicate any concerns they may have regarding the academic needs of your child.
In place of formal conference scheduling, please know that teachers are readily available to discuss any questions or concerns that you may have regarding the academic preparedness and/or the emotional/social health of your child. If you have any questions or would like to discuss any concerns, please contact your child’s kindergarten teacher.
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Elementary Remote Learning Update - Special Area Classes and Pause Days
The District hopes to provide clarification in regards to completing assignments for Elementary Special Area classes related to the “Pause Days” on Tuesdays in May (5/19 and 5/26).
Special Area class assignments are posted each Monday and students have the full week (and into the weekend) to complete the weekly assignments. For the rest of May, each Tuesday has been scheduled as a “Pause Day”, as elementary teachers are not available due to other obligations within the District. Special Area teachers are available throughout the rest of the week to support students on their weekly Library, Music, Health & Physical Education, and Art assignments. Students are encouraged to continue to participate in all four Special Area instructional activities throughout the week.
Since Special Area assignments are provided on Monday for each week, students have the option to complete the assignment on their normally scheduled day when they would have attended class, or can complete the assignment any day Monday through Sunday. If parents/guardians have questions, they are welcome to reach out to their child’s Special Area teacher.
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Elementary Math Acceleration Process for the 2020-2021 School Year
Traditionally during May, elementary teachers begin the process to determine qualification for math acceleration for fourth and fifth-grade students. However, due to the COVID-19 school closure, this process will be delayed until at least mid to late July since it includes in-person testing for students who meet the initial screening criteria. Parents/guardians will receive more information about this process in July for determinations related to possible math acceleration for the 2020-2021 school year.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as the District awaits further information about social distancing and other needed precautions during this COVID-19 school closure.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information
Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates are archived on the North Allegheny website. This designated webpage will be updated as new information is provided.
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Remote Learning Guidelines
The District will continue with the remote learning plan for the duration of the closure of our buildings. Details on remote learning for elementary and secondary students can be found on the NA website.
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Missed a Newsletter?
All building newsletters are archived weekly on the North Allegheny website. This designated webpage will be updated with links to the previous week’s newsletters at the beginning of each school week by 11:30 a.m. A link to the archive is accessible on the District’s homepage and on each building’s homepage.
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The North Allegheny School District often receives requests for the distribution of athletics and approved non-profit community organization digital flyers. All requests for community flyers to be included in this newsletter must be submitted via email only at
flyers@northallegheny.org. Flyers will only be posted and removed from the District website on Friday.
Visit our website for details on how to submit flyers.
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Main Office - 412-366-9663
Nurse's Office - 412-366-9663
Counseling Office - 412-366-9663
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