Parent Newsletter
May 14, 2020
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Message from Dr. Thompson
Dear Plymouth Creek Parents, Students and Staff,
Thank you for your support with another successful week of distance learning. You have truly been remarkable. With the Governors updates last night we are now in a position to start finalizing a few things regarding the end of the year.
- On Friday, May 22, students will have assignments from their teachers but they may not have their regularly scheduled zoom meetings. This is because teachers will be engaged in end of the year planning.
- We also want to give you a heads up that we are in the planning stage of a parent pick up time of your child's personal belongings the week of May 26-29 (details and specific times will be sent out next Thursday).
- A district decision has been made for students to keep iPads until fall. If your family is moving, please contact the welcome center to arrange for iPad drop off.
- With an abundance of caution, a district decision has also been made that we will not be doing any kind of group gatherings or neighborhood or school drive throughs. However, to honor our 5th graders who will be moving on to 6th grade, we have ordered window clings and are creating a special 5th grade video send off.
Thanks again for all of your support with distance learning and be well.
Thank you,
Dr. Thompson
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Panther Network News
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Information About Food Distribution
Wayzata Public Schools is providing meals for students who need them every Monday for as long as schools are closed. Seven breakfast meals and seven lunches will be available for pick up each week. Meals are available for anyone 18 years old and younger at no charge. No identification or paperwork is required to receive food. If your family is in need of assistance but are unable to pick up food, please contact Dr. Thompson for delivery assistance.
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Did You Know?
Social-Emotional Learning Resource
Our social worker and student support specialist have been working hard to create some helpful resources for our families and students. A special shout out to Sunset Hill Elementary for being willing to share their ideas and to the staff at Plymouth Creek, especially, Mrs. Thoma, Mrs. Shoultz and Mr. Worth for making this resource available. We hope that you will have a chance to take a look. Here is what you will find:
- Weekly Student Activities that focus on social and emotional well-being. We know these two areas are critical pieces to our student's overall health and learning. We want you to know that no matter where we are learning---we know you want your child to have opportunities to grow their academic, social and emotional skills.
- Coping Skills Activities that your child can do independently or you can do them as a family. However you use the skills we hope they offer some fun ways for your child to learn how to manage the thoughts and feelings they are experiencing.
- Panther Pride Activities — have your child take a peek at this! This will be a place where we will encourage students to demonstrate their panther pride!
Our hope is that your child will find at least one (hopefully more!) activity that encourages them to challenge themselves, try something new and continue to grow social and emotionally.
There is also a section just for parents. Please check it out—you will find some resources to help you and your child during distant learning. Above anything, we hope you find this resource helpful. Please let us know if there is something you are looking for and just can not find---we would love to help. And if you have found a resource that has made a difference for you—would you please take a moment and share it with us?
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Reminders
Reporting Attendance in Skyward Family Access
A reminder that all absences (vacations, religious holidays, doctor appointments, illnesses, family emergencies, etc) should be entered via Skyward Family Access. Families will no longer need to complete a Travel Plan Form when they go on vacation, as all absences are now entered via Skyward Family Access. A few reminders when it comes to attendance:
- Children are considered unexcused without an entry in Skyward Family Access or a call to the attendance line from a parent or guardian.
- Students will also be marked unexcused if they arrive late to school and are not escorted into the office by a parent or adult.
- When you are submitting the attendance request in Skyward Family Access, you must be logged in as a parent, not a student.
- Calls to the attendance line (763-745-5855) should be reserved for last-minute attendance requests or changes.
- Remember to also reach out to your classroom teacher to notify them of a planned full-day or multi-day absence.
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Emergency Information Form
For a variety of reasons, there is often a need to contact you throughout the course of the school year. Parents/Guardians are asked to keep their contact information up-to-date in Skyward Family Access Emergency Information Form. Watch the Skyward Family Access video guide and to complete the form.
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PTO News
Box Tops are Going Digital!
If you still have a collection of the traditional clippings, please continue to turn those into your child's teacher, the office, or the container by the gym door, but be aware that the physical Box Tops are being phased out. Plymouth Creek's lifetime earnings from Box Tops is almost $38,000! This is a fantastic program that has benefited our children greatly over the years. Please take a minute to download the new Box Tops app, scan your receipts after each shopping trip, and watch our school earnings increase thanks to you!
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Being stuck at home and away from school and friends is difficult for many kids and teens. Relate Counseling Center is offering online Mindfulness and Stress Reduction groups to students ages 7-11 to manage emotions during COVID-19. Groups will incorporate discussion around feelings about the current pandemic as well as provide tangible tools to help manage stress and anxiety. Kids will also engage in movement and relaxation strategies throughout group. The cost is $10 per week and meets Tuesdays from 1:00-1:30 p.m. Participants can register for individual weeks or the full eight weeks. Contact Kelly Smith, LGSW at knsmith@relatemn.org for more information.
We have the best teachers and staff around, and never has it been clearer than during these unprecedented times. Whether they’ve helped make a difference in person or virtually this year, show your appreciation by participating in our Thank a Teacher program. From May 4 to June 3, any donation you make to the Wayzata Education Fund honoring a teacher or staff will come with a certificate of appreciation from your student. Additionally, if you donate $25 or more, they will also receive a bundlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes Minnetonka. Say thank you and support a good cause at the same time!
- Avoid being around others who are sick – when to keep your child home. When reporting attendance in Skyward Family Access, note that we have added Influenza-like Illness (oral temperature of 100° F or higher with a cough or sore throat) as an option. If your child has an oral temperature of 100° F or higher, please keep him/her home until they have been fever-free without medication for 24 hours.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or cough or sneeze into your sleeve.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Do not share drinking cups and straws.
- Frequently clean commonly touched surfaces (doorknobs, refrigerator handles, phones, water faucets).
- Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus – Child Mind Institute.
We've had so many great Ask Ali questions in our inbox – thanks to all who have submitted! Ali, along with her network of local experts, has been working hard to answer these questions. Responses are posted every Monday on her blog at partnersinpreventionmn.org/askali. Parents, you've got to check out the responses to these questions! There are some interesting ones that have been asked; chances are you might be wondering some of these things.
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Stay Creative While You Stay At Home!
In these days of social distancing and stay-at-home guidance, it’s more important than ever to connect with friends and family members and to continue expressing your creativity.
Destination Imagination’s Global Finals 2020 Virtual Tournament (GF20) is a one-of-a-kind collaborative problem-solving experience that takes place online and is open to all students and families (yes, you read that right!) who enjoy being creative, collaborative, and solving fun challenges that require out-of-the-box thinking. You do not need to have been on a Destination Imagination (DI) team for the 2019-20 DI season in order to participate. GF20 is a whole new experience and is open to EVERYONE!
For Global Finals 2020, you will work with your DI teammates, friends, or family members online to participate in several different Challenge Experiences. The cost to participate in the Global Finals 2020 Virtual Tournament is $199. Your team may participate in as many or as few of these Challenge Experiences as you choose. GF20 teams will compete for a number of awesome awards and prizes! Check them out here.
We’re excited to welcome everyone to the Summer of Creativity and hope you’ll join us for this historic, one-time-only event! Learn more on the Global Finals website.
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16005 41st Avenue North, Plymouth, MN 55446 | 763-745-5800