Dear Families,

As we move into another week of this new platform, I hope that you are settling in with your families and children in a way that feels manageable, with moments of fun and relaxation. It was great to hear from almost everyone this week. Please do expect a call from me at least once per week to check in, but more frequently as needed. Also, I have gotten many calls each day from the children with questions about school work. Those are more that welcomed. Just please remind the children that it might take me a bit of time to return calls if I am on the phone helping others. Please see this new call schedule   for the week.

It would be great if we as parents could set up a Zoom meeting to check in and to offer support to one another. Please look to the end of this email for the invitation to join on Tuesday, March 31, 7:30PM. I would like the meeting to not last more than one hour.

I’d also like to do the same with the class - once a week to go online at the same time to say the morning verse together. I am looking to make that happen for early next week. We can discuss in the meeting on Tuesday.

In terms of feedback from parents and children about the workload - I have heard a mixed variety. For some of you, it is best to have the schedule broken down each day with varied tasks. For others, your children require even more structure. For others, to follow a daily schedule at this time is just too much work. When I created the schedule I tried to do so with each of those in mind - something that would provide a bit of structure while not overwhelming. Please - do as you need to do right now to help see your children and families through this challenging time in whatever way works best in your individual home.

That said - I do expect and hope that the children will please keep up with: spelling, math, and listening to the stories sent out with the Main Lesson content. If you are unable to do anything else, please do focus on those. Meanwhile, I will send out additional *optional* work ideas - such as the Vincent Van Gogh work and the Greek Games Reading .   I’m also adding some new recipes for the week because I have heard lots of positive feedback about those. This week there are three - a favorite cake of mine, a Greek pasta salad, and homemade pizza dough! Additionally, a great and fun, easy idea is to sprouting seeds . I would love if the children that feel inspired to would start some seed sprouts and write or draw a bit about the process day by day. Again, not to burden anyone - this is optional.

Right now it is important to me that the children feel seen and met, even while their worlds are in flux. I’m considering all of the challenges of 25 families as much as I can. Please do not feel pressured in any way to do everything that I suggest here. At the same time, the structure can be a support for children and for families at this time. As time goes on - and we don’t know how long this will last - I think the structure will prove to be a boon.

If you need paper copies of the work please let me know. I am going to put some into the box under the apple tree on Monday. I don’t want to print more than necessary - I’ll need you to email me to say if you need a hard copy. Also - the campus is closed for now. Please hang on to any work that your child has done until further notice. I love to see photos or uploads of the work. It’s going to be the merit system now - based on what I mentioned above about what works for your family - until we get past this time.

Pen pal letters - I know that there is some concern about the letter exchange. It is not required that your child writes or receives pen pal letters, do what feels comfortable for your family. It’s a way for the children to connect. But we should not put others at risk for illness. Some medical professionals are recommending that we iron mail as it comes in to kill any potentially lingering virus.

Meanwhile, here’s the work for the week:

  • Please continue with saying the morning verse each day - English, Spanish, and German. 
  • Singing the Sea Shanty song that Ms. Loshak sent last week would be great. Please see your Spanish and German assignment here.
  • Please continue to practice your instrument and your recorder.
  • Please continue with Eurythmy work sent out from Ms. Nordoff last week.

Monday
Drawing -  Greece title page
Listen to story - Zeus and Cronus

Tuesday
Recall - use three nouns, three verbs, three adjectives to write out a few paragraphs retelling the story that you heard yesterday (Zeus and Cronus). Self-edit if you can. That means go back and check spelling, punctuation, capitalization, etc.
Drawing - Set up a page with a border for your ML work for tomorrow
Listen to story -  Zeus’ eagle

Wednesday
Spelling - spelling for today - review words with a family member
Recall - use three nouns, three verbs, three adjectives to write out a few paragraphs retelling the story that you heard yesterday (Zeus’ eagle). Self-edit if you can. That means go back and check spelling, punctuation, capitalization, etc.
Main Lesson page - put your writing from yesterday onto the ML book page you started yesterday
Drawing -  Zeus’ eagle drawing
Story -  Europa

Thursday
ML work - create a new ML book page with a border. Put your writing from yesterday onto that page.
Recall - use three nouns, three verbs, three adjectives to write out a few paragraphs retelling the story that you heard yesterday (Europa). Self-edit if you can. That means go back and check spelling, punctuation, capitalization, etc.
Drawing -  Europa bull drawing

Friday
Spelling - Review spelling words
Math - Finish math work from yesterday if you need to
Recall - Write your recall work from yesterday onto a ML book page Finish any work that needs finishing


I’m going to upload a new playlist onto the Spotify, it will be under the same link as last week (the Grade five playlist) and will include some Greek music that Gabi sent along.

Please do let me know if you have any questions. I will look forward to catching up throughout the week and on Tuesday evening.

All the best, 

Meaghan McKenna


Meaghan McKenna is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Grade five parents meeting

Time: Mar 31, 2020 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting 

pwd=T1JqZmpDZ0xZbXEzVVNraEhJMHM2UT09
Meeting ID: 446 353 014
Password: 995980
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