Dear Elementary Families,
I hope you and your family have enjoyed your time together over spring break. Our teachers and I miss your child(ren) and are looking forward to distance learning starting on Monday morning, April 6.
I imagine you are all a little bit nervous about how this is going to work. Here are four things to keep in mind.
- Your family is not alone. Every household in Minnesota is getting used to this new way of learning. This is new to all of us and we are all in this together! Our goal is to start slowly, reconnect with students, review prior learning, and make sure our technology is working properly.
- Our teachers are here to guide your child's learning. Even though our school building is closed, teaching and learning is going to continue. Teachers will be interacting with your students every day via our learning platforms — Seesaw (K-3) and Canvas (4-5). Your child(ren)'s teacher will connect with you through one of those platforms to communicate their daily schedule; when they are available online, when they will be conferring with individual students, etc.
- Focus on today. I know that many of you are worried about the long-term implications of distance learning on your child's education. Try to focus on just today and let us know how we can help.
- Breathe. Relax. Have fun. Like all great adventures, this new way of doing school is likely to have some unexpected twists and turns, frustrations and celebrations. Dr. Emily King, author of the blog "Parenting On Your Own Path", writes:
"Working, parenting, and teaching are three different jobs that cannot be done at the same time. Do the best you can. When you have to pick, because at some point you will, choose connection. Pick playing a board game over arguing about an assignment. Pick teaching your child a chore rather than feeling frustrated they aren't helping. Pick laughing, and snuggling, and reminding them that they are safe."
Here are a few more things you should know.
- Every school day, your child's teacher will post a morning greeting along with the day's assignments and activities, no later than 10 a.m. Please remember that it's not a requirement to check-in exactly at 10 a.m. We appreciate your flexibility as there may be technical challenges with so many students logging into Seesaw and Canvas at the same time across the country.
- In the event one of our online learning tools is not working, please know it's okay to follow a back-up plan. Your child could choose to read and check back at another time to access the online portion of their assignments. We anticipate there could be challenges, but we know we'll get through them together.
- Students are expected to spend time every day reading, working on assignments and completing activities. I'm attaching a checklist and sample template for a daily schedule that you may find helpful. Please adjust as necessary based on the needs of your household. While it's great to have a daily routine, sometimes your work commitments will take priority. We know that your child's ability to be online may be determined by your availability to help them. Lessons are planned to be done at any time; morning, evening and weekends.
- Attendance: We will assume that your child will be checking in with their teacher every day. If your child is ill, please put an absence into Skyward Family Access the day(s) they are unable to be online due to illness.
From time to time, I will be sending out a survey to find out how you and your child are doing during this time. Know that we are here to support you, and will do whatever we can to help your child be successful.
Please let me know what I can do to help you and your child(ren).
Sincerely,
Sam Fredrickson, Birchview, Sam.Fredrickson@wayzataschools.org
Mary McKasy, Gleason Lake, Mary.McKasy@wayzataschools.org
Brad Gustafson, Greenwood, Brad.Gustafson@wayzataschools.org
Kari Wehrmann, Kimberly Lane, Kari.Wehrmann@wayzataschools.org
Karen Keffeler, Meadow Ridge, Karen.Keffeler@wayzataschools.org
Jenny Berg, North Woods, Jennifer.Berg@wayzataschools.org
Sarabeth deNeui, Oakwood, Sarabeth.deNeui@wayzataschools.org
Karla Thompson, Plymouth Creek, Karla.Thompson@wayzataschools.org
Ross Williams, Sunset Hill, Ross.Williams@wayzataschools.org