Parent/Guardian Issue 3
K-4 Edition
August 28, 2020
Preparing for Takeoff
As we prepare for take off on Monday, August 31 we want to ensure you have all the information you need for a smooth ride. The safety card is in the seat pocket below and please give your attention to our crew for take off information.
This Weekend
  • Look for a communication from your child’s teacher that will include a welcome and details about your schedule on the first day of school, Monday, August 31 (Grades 1-Grades 4 only) Kindergarten information is below.

  • Look for an email from our tech department that will contain critical information about how to prepare your device for the first day of school AND login credentials to Seesaw (here is a fabulous copy of the details). Seesaw is the tool from which we will be pushing out critical information to your child’s device, for example, the document with the Google Meet links to connect with all your teachers.

  • Practice logging into Seesaw using these parent support links
  • Here are some great additional resources (but not needed unless you are looking for some additional resources or if you encounter issues – Seesaw Basic Support.

If by some chance you are having technical difficulties, please DO NOT PANIC. We have a lot of support on hand. Also teachers know that we will have some messy transitions and some students may not be able to get on a link. All will be fine and we will figure it out together. 
First Day of School for 1st - 4th Grade
  • Join us at 7:40 sharp in this Google Meet link for an exciting launch to your AVA experience. (I will have the Meet open at 7:30 AM to be sure you are in.)
  • NOTE: Since the AVA program is all AM Cohort A, your child’s day will begin at 7:40 AM. This means that your child will spend the morning with their Core Homeroom teachers and Specials classes will take place in the afternoon.
  • You may join from a parent device for this kick off. For example, just click on the link in this email and join from here. I hope you will be able to be on time. Anything after 7:40 AM will be difficult for me to admit you as I will have to toggle back and forth. I will record the session so that you can view it after if you are unable to get in. Please don’t worry or stress at all.

For our youngest learners, we invite you to take a portion of the morning (if possible) off to spend with your child as they are navigating their devices and their access to the digital learning environment on this first day. 
Things to Know to Keep You Calm
  • We have added three layers of security to ensure your child will be able to get on a Google Meet. Getting to your child’s homeroom teacher’s Google Meet link is the ONLY thing that matters right now. Once there, your child’s teacher will not let go of them until they are acclimated with the technology and can get to their next link.
  1. Seesaw has been loaded and is ready to push out the Google Meet link to enter for your child’s first connection time with their homeroom teacher. Here is the document they will see. They will just find their teacher and click on their Google Meet link.
  2. Your teachers have loaded a Google Meet into your child’s Google Calendar app on their iPad. If you can’t get into the Meet from Seesaw, you can click on the Google Calendar app, open the date and time and click on the Meet from there.
  3. Worst case scenario, you can access all Meets from here. The only issue with this is that it would have to be from YOUR device but that is absolutely fine with us. This would simply mean that you wouldn’t have access to your device for the day

  • Lastly, please join us for a Meet the AVA Principal time with your child at the following times. Meet links are found here at the bottom of this document.
Introduction to the AVA and Meet the Principal Meeting Times
August 31
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1st Grade 
8:30 - 9:15 AM
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2nd Grade 
9:30 - 10:15 AM
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3rd Grade 
10:30 - 11:15 AM
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4th Grade 
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Coming soon
  • August 31-September 4 is Kindergarten screening (be sure you have scheduled this with your home school).

  • Tuesday, September 8 is the first day Kindergarten to join their teachers. online.
  • We can’t WAIT to meet you!

  • Details about the Fly By, material pick-up and other fun coming next week.

  • More information to come regarding what synchronous versus asynchronous learning may look like this year during the Meet the AVA Principal (that’s me!) from your classroom teacher but here is our schedule. The Meeting Links will be in your child’s Seesaw account but you can click on them directly from here on your device as well.
Reminders from the Last Communication
  • Sign up for my Twitter (@ReneeFitzEdu) so you can follow our journey this year.

  • Consider joining the AVA Facebook Pages 
  • Lake Forest 4th grade AVA learners
  • Lake Forest 2nd grade AVA learners 
  • 1st Grade AVA Facebook page

  • Take a look at The Map on our website to find some of the parent and community resources we have curated for you through our fantastic district SEL COVID Task force. Scroll down to resources

Stay safe and be well,
Renée Fitzsimmons
AVA Principal
Lake Forest School District 67
cell 847.721.8376