Parent Newsletter
June 4, 2020
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Message from Dr. Thompson
Dear Plymouth Creek Parents, Students, and Staff,
Today is the official last day of school but the school sits empty and I'm writing from my kitchen table. Thank you for a very successful day last Thursday of picking up student materials. We appreciate you taking the time to pick up your child's belongings and waving goodbye to teachers and staff. We are finishing up an unprecedented year with still a lot of unknowns. We will continue to update you on what school may look like in the fall as soon as we have that information.
Congratulations to our 5th grade class of 2020 and thank you to our 5th grade teachers for putting together this fun tribute to an amazing group of students and we wish them all the best as they prepare for middle school.
Thank you for all of your support during distance learning and helping your children navigate COVID-19 and the recent tragedies in our community and country. In these challenging times, I am especially grateful for each of you and our Plymouth Creek community and school staff. I wish we could be together to process all that has been happening, but please know that even as the school year comes to an end, we are still here to support you. I will be working until the end of June and then Ashley Paul will officially begin as the principal of Plymouth Creek Elementary. I am happy to let you know that our social worker has been given the opportunity to continue to support students and families over the summer so if you or your child needs extra support, please let me know or reach out directly to Mrs. Shoultz, our school social worker.
Thank you and best wishes for a relaxing and rejuvenating summer. I sincerely hope our paths will cross again.
Dr. Thompson
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Congratulations Dr. Thompson on Your Retirement!
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Did You Know?
| Resources for Parents/Guardians | |
| General suggestions for conversations with children about tragedy |
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| Resources about discussing race with children | |
| Books for conversations with E-5 students* |
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Plymouth Creek will be Closed this Summer
If you need to contact us over the summer, here is our contact information is available on our website.
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2019-2020 Yearbooks
Yearbooks will not be arriving until later this summer. Once they arrive, we will notify families of the distribution plans. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Our yearbook provider has experienced delays due to limited staff.
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Grading and Report Cards
Distance Learning has changed the learning environment, and - in response - our report cards will change, too. This spring, elementary report cards will be marked only in the following areas of focus: reading, writing and math. Student learning is enhanced through student engagement and personalized feedback. While there may not be official grades in some content areas or in personal management skills, teachers have provided and will continue to create engaging activities and provide this personalized feedback to students. Thank you for your continued support in having your child engage in their learning activities as we wrap up the 2019-2020 school year. Your partnership is greatly appreciated.
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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
Don't Forget to Order Your 2020-2021 School Supplies!
School supply packs for the 2020-2021 school year are now available to order online. Supply packs for grades 1-5 can be ordered online (school code is PLY003). Kindergarten packs are not available to order online as they will be purchased at school in the fall. Supply packs can be ordered through June 14, 2020. This year, instead of being delivered to the school, your supply packs will be delivered to your home by August 17.
Please note, the supply packs do not contain all of the items needed for your student. Please see the 2020-2021 School Supply List for a list of items that need to be purchase separately. Information will also be in your student's bag of materials today.
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Information About Food Distribution
Wayzata Public Schools is providing meals for students who need them every Monday through the end of June. 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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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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We Are Wayzata Strong, a community-based group of west metro neighbors, friends and Wayzata High School's Club Y.E.S., will host a food drive to supply the food shelf at Interfaith Outreach on Thursday, June 11, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the Wayzata High School parking lot (4955 Peony Lane N, Plymouth).
Wayzata Strong Food Drive Flyer
We want to hear your voice regarding how well we delivered on our goal of providing high-quality, inviting, and accessible instruction for all students during Distance Learning this spring. Your honest feedback will help us improve our Distance Learning practices in the future. All parents and guardians received an email from K12 Insight, our survey partner, the week of May 25. The survey is anonymous and no one from the District will know if you participate or how you answered the questions. The final survey results will show the overall findings and themes. This survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete and will be open until June 10. If you have more than one student enrolled in the Wayzata Public Schools, you can click on the link at the end of the survey to take the survey again. Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.
Mindful Kids: Managing Stress During Hard Times
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 help kids ages 7-11 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. The cost is $10 per week and meets Tuesdays from 1:00-1:30 p.m. 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!
What can I do to protect myself and others?
- 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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16005 41st Avenue North, Plymouth, MN 55446 | 763-745-5800