Video Greeting from Mrs. Mittleman
|
|
Dear Parents,
The announcement from the State and County has extended the school closures through the rest of the school year. While we all want to return to our school, this updated news has confirmed that we need to continue building our Remote Learning Program for students. The LGUSD team of teachers, administrators, and staff has been working on building skills and capacity every day.
Just as parents are trying to navigate the new reality of working at home, supporting a child with Remote Learning expectations, and striving to keep a sense of security in place during uncertain times, so are our District employees. I cannot overstate the appreciation I have for the Los Gatos Union School District community, teachers, staff, and families, for embracing these changes with patience and empathy as the teachers and I navigate the same challenges you are facing. Here is a review of our Remote Learning thus far:
- LGUSD Remote Learning Phase I: All teachers contributed lessons to a bank that was available for all students on our Remote Learning website.
- LGUSD Remote Learning Phase II: Teachers emphasized social-emotional connections over content. This provided time with a familiar face, practice opportunities on the remote learning platforms, and reassurance that we are all learning together--even in our living rooms.
LGUSD Phase III will officially begin on April 20th
- The plan will continue to require all TK-5 teachers to use Zoom (or another similar platform such as Google Meets) to check in with their class on a daily basis on a regular schedule (on M, T, Th, F). These “live” check-ins will continue to focus on the social-emotional well-being of our students, but may also include some academic content.
- Wednesdays will remain open for district and site collaboration meetings and professional development. The regular schedule allows specialists and support staff to work around class schedules to provide students with more individualized instruction.
- The plan will also continue to require teachers to hold a minimum of 30 minutes of office hours per day (on M, T, Th, F). During the office hour times teachers will be asked to make themselves available to their students to answer questions, offer additional social-emotional support, reinforce concepts, or provide direct feedback on work they have received.
- Phase III will also launch teachers into managing their own Seesaw Account (TK-2) or Google Classroom (3-5) to individualize the instruction for their own class.
- With the initiation of Phase III, teachers will begin to post at least one daily asynchronous mini-lesson video (offering direct instruction in any core content area) to support the learning experiences being provided to students. These videos will be posted five days a week.
At this time, the blended model with asynchronous instructional videos along with daily connections (4x weekly) best meets the developmental needs of elementary-aged children. Equity and access, screen time, and balance remain top priorities for all stakeholders. The
LGUSD Remote Learning web page
continues to house a plethora of information. Here are a few links that you might find especially helpful to support your child(ren) during Remote Learning Phase III:
- Click here for a wide range of schedules that can be used to support students having a routine at home for academics and household chores.
- Click here for contact information to access District Psychologists and Counselors. We are virtually here to support our students!
- Click here for social emotional self-care resources to help your child(ren) navigate this unique time.
- Click here for information about the virtual libraries for students to visit daily
- Click here for a direct link to Mrs. Martin’s Art Blog where new opportunities are provided every week and student work is showcased.
In LGUSD, all remote learning opportunities to date have been presented as “optional” as a means to be mindful of individual family circumstances (i.e. health, childcare, workforce, etc. ). Our greatest hope is that each student engages in the assigned work to the best of his/her ability. Students will not be penalized for incomplete work and our staff will work diligently to encourage students to participate. Our collective expectation is that every student and family puts forth their best effort to complete the assigned work. Please continue to communicate any special circumstances with your child’s teacher.
Our Student Council Officers are committed to engaging students remotely! Please see this message regarding Spirit Day this Friday, April 17!
|
|
In closing, here is a bit of levity that was shared with many classes virtually during morning meetings this week. I was challenged to participate in a #DANCINGPRINCIPALCHALLENGE. While this is the first challenge that I have ever accepted, extreme times call for extreme measures. Enjoy!
Continue to stay safe and be well.
In education together,
Principal, Daves Avenue Elementary School
|
|
The deadline is today, WEDNESDAY APRIL 15TH
.
Remember, you have the option to customize the first two pages of the yearbook for your child by adding in pictures of them with their friends and any memories they have had this school year. We have also added a “Signatures" page where you can request and add signatures to their friend's page since we can’t do that in person!
Originally, all yearbooks were going to be distributed at the end of the school year. Since school will not be resuming, we will be shipping all yearbooks to your home.
Dollars for Daves donors who have received a complimentary copy of the yearbook, will not need to update their shipping address, or pay the shipping fee.
Otherwise, if you have already purchased or will purchase a yearbook, please log into your Treering account and change the shipping address to your home.
Treering has given us a special discounted shipping fee of $2.99 due to our shelter-in-place.
Updating your address will ensure your book will be delivered to your home at the end of May. Here is a
LINK WITH INSTRUCTIONS
.
Yearbooks that are delivered to the school without an updated address will be distributed at the beginning of the next school year.
You will receive tracking/shipping information once the book has been shipped. If you have any trouble logging into your account or editing your shipping address please contact Treering directly at 877-755-8733.
Thank you to all who submitted your shelter in place photos! The students are going to love looking through them and finding their friends. I know this is a strange time in our children’s lives, but hopefully receiving the yearbook will bring a little joy to the end of the school year.
|
|
STEAM Showcase!
Have you been measuring the rainwater during this wet time at home? Did you learn how to bake bread using unique ingredients? Have you gone for a nature walk or out to study the stars? There are so many ways to keep your creative minds stimulated during this time at home. If you would like to share a project you've been working on, we'd love to see it! Please send a short (~1 minute) video of your student with their creation or experimental findings! Please have the student state their name, grade, and teacher and send videos to
Davesavemakers@gmail.com
. We will feature these projects in The Avenue and on our website! Please submit all projects by
May 1, 2020
.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
Science Fun
Mommy Poppins
Science Technology Engineering Art Mathematics- STEAM your Mind!
|
|
EXERCISE WITH COACH RANCE
|
|
While we are staying home, exercising to keep our students' bodies and minds healthy is more important than ever. Starting next week, check out our
Coach Rance Page
every Monday
for grade level exercise videos with Coach Rance! Also, join the fun with a
LIVE
Zoom workout
on Sundays.
More information coming soon...
|
|
Online Library Hours resume this week!
Grade-specific times:
12pm to 1pm TK/Kindergarten
1pm to 2pm 1st Grade
2pm to 3pm 2nd Grade
3pm to 4pm 3rd Grade
4pm to 5pm 4th Grade
5pm to 6pm 5th Grade
|
|
Want to talk to Mrs. G at other times? Try the link, or
email Mrs. G. directly.
|
|
Feed Our Heroes is a campaign, led by our Los Gatos Education community, to supply free meals to local healthcare workers fighting the coronavirus.
The campaign has already raised money for over 2,200 meals, but more are needed. All meals are sourced from Los Gatos restaurants, providing local businesses much-needed support during these tough times.
A simple meal at the end of a long shift is well-deserved thanks to our healthcare worker’s dedication and service.
We hope you will join us and contribute to Feed Our Heroes.
All donations are tax-deductible and 100% of the funds go towards purchasing meals.
Feed Our Heroes fits alongside #FeedTheNeed BayArea, another local initiative led by the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce. #FeedTheNeedBayArea provides meals for the most vulnerable Los Gatos citizens (seniors, displaced workers, low-income families), while Feed Our Heroes supports healthcare workers. Both campaigns are worthy of your support.
|
|
Never Miss an Important Date!
🗓
|
|
District-wide school closure has been extended through the end of the regularly scheduled school year. Please read this message from
Superintendent Paul Johnson
.
|
|
Daves Avenue Elementary School
17770 Daves Avenue, Monte Sereno, CA 95030
Phone: 408-335-2200 | Fax: 408-395-6314 | Attendance Line: 408-335-2245
|
|
Daves Avenue Home & School Club
|
|
THE AVENUE is approved by Principal Jenna Mittleman and the H&SC Board to provide pertinent information weekly to the Daves Avenue community.
*The Avenue newsletter is written exclusively to provide the Daves Avenue community with school information. Articles, information, calendars, etc. may not be duplicated or re-printed in any manner without the permission of the Home and School Club or the Daves Avenue school administration.
|
|
STAY CONNECTED
, visit the Daves H&SC Facebook page!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|