Parent Newsletter

October 1, 2020

Message from Mrs. Paul

You are now able to set up conference times with your child's classroom teacher. This opportunity will be open until Monday, October 9 at 9:00 a.m.. Please be sure to let us know if you need any assistance with this process. Being able to have the opportunity to check in with you will be very valuable.

These conferences are going to be more about goal setting and collaborating on what is working well for your child and what challenges may exist in our new learning models of Hybrid and Distance Choice. Our goal during these conferences will not be to discuss assessment results; rather, we hope to gain more insight and understanding into how we can best support you and your child.

In addition, families will receive a Skyward email tomorrow on behalf of our specialists team to share how you can connect with them during our conferences. This separate message will be sent out Friday, October 2. It will contain Zoom links and passcodes, so you'll want to keep the email for future reference during the conference dates.

Skyward Conference Scheduling Parent Instructions

Skyward Family Access

We look forward to connecting with you soon!

With gratitude,

Ashley Paul

Accessing Learning on Non-Cohort Days

All Hybrid and Distance Choice teachers have organized your student's learning using a Week-at-a-Glance template. The Week-at-a-Glance can be found upon opening the Seesaw app and visiting the Announcements tab, or Canvas app on student devices. Links to live learning, specific activities, and specialist content are embedded into these templates, as are specific academic requirements. If you are having a technical issue or have questions with a specialist class, please contact that teacher directly. The classroom teacher does not have access to any specialist Canvas or Seesaw pages.

It is important to note that Wayzata Kids childcare staff will also be using these templates to assist students on their non-cohort days. It may not always be possible for students to complete all of their academic work during the day with Wayzata Kids, so families should also use the template to assist at home.

Synchronous (Live) Instruction

Students accessing live instruction from home are experiencing learning in a unique way. The same is true for families. Never before have you had the opportunity to experience your child's learning alongside them. Please be mindful of your child's synchronous time(s) on Zoom, and allow them to participate independently as much as possible. Help your child by showing them where the volume button is located on his or her device, make sure their headphones are working properly, and provide a comfortable work space. It is important that students are present at all of their live Zoom times, as scheduled by teachers. Note: Please check your Week-at-a-Glance for your child's scheduled morning meeting time. Times may be different from classroom to classroom.

Wayzata Kids School Day Childcare

Wayzata Kids program staff will assist students with their school work while in their care. In order for them to help with student work to the best of their abilities, they need some help from families:

Please make sure you send all materials to Wayzata Kids each day so students have what they need to complete their work.
Make sure iPads are included in your child's backpack, and that it is charged and ready to use.
Include the passcode for getting into your child's iPad - consider writing it down and putting it inside the iPad case so program staff can access it.
Check your child's Week-at-a-Glance at the end of the day, and plan to complete any unfinished work with your child at home.

Did You Know?

A Message From the Media Center

Requested library books for Distance Choice students can be picked up on Fridays between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. in the front entryway of the school. Students requesting books through Destiny library system need to put their requests in by 1:00 p.m. on Thursday if they want to pick up their library books on Friday. Please watch for an email saying the book is ready for pick up before driving to school. Sometimes a book is checked out to someone else or has a waitlist and is not available when your student puts it on hold. Books may also be returned during this time and must be placed in the return bin for proper check in.

Message from the Attendance Office

Please report absences in Skyward Family Access when your child is absent or tardy. Children are considered unexcused without an entry in Skyward Family Access or a call to the attendance line from a parent or guardian.

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.
Please also reach out to your classroom teacher to notify them of a planned full-day or multi-day absence.

Reminders

Medications at School

All medications, both prescribed and Over-The-Counter (OTC), administered at school requires a medical order from a person who is a licensed authorized prescribing practitioner (physician, physician's assistant, dentist, podiatrist, osteopath or psychiatrist). Please contact your school health office about medication drop off before the start of school. For more information, visit our Health Services webpage.

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 if you're not sure how to complete the form.

PTO News

Join or Volunteer

Digital PTO Calendar

Fun2Raise has designed a digital, clickable and printable (at home) PTO calendar. This interactive calendar will allow you to find current happenings at the school, links to virtual events (as we get them) and information updated in real time. The month of October is live now! Check back often as we will be updating multiple times per month as the year goes on.

Volunteer Needs

Around the District

Important Policies & Notices

Planning travel out of the state or country?
Regardless of whether your students are attending Wayzata Public Schools through hybrid learning or through Distance Choice, the district is required to account for students. Please ensure that the Welcome Center has a copy of your family's Extended Vacation form on file prior to your travel.

September Wayzata Legislative Action Committee Update
The Wayzata Legislative Action Committee (LAC) held its first meeting of the year on Wednesday, September 23. Superintendent Chace Anderson gave a district update (the same update will be provided at PTA/PTO meetings around the district). Scott Croonquist, Executive Director of the Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD) shared their 2020 Election Issues Guide. Kimberly Dunn Lewis, Minnesota School Board Association’s (MSBA) Associate Director of Government Relations, shared their 2020 MSBA Voter Guide. All seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives and Minnesota Senate will be up for election this year. To find out who represents you, what is on your ballot, and more election information, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State website. The Wayzata LAC is a non-partisan group of citizens that monitors legislative activity as it affects K-12 education and advocates positions on behalf of the district. For more information, please visit the Wayzata Committees webpage or contact Alexia Wierzbicki, your school’s Wayzata LAC representative.

Community Education

Join us in our online classrooms! We have many opportunities for our youth and adult learners. You can find all our class options on our registration site.

Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids - Navigating the stress and isolation of COVID-19 has presented added challenges for parenting our kids. How can we as parents support each other in our efforts to help our kids build and maintain resilience, self-esteem, and mental health in the midst of a pandemic? Parents of elementary-age children are invited to join a parent support group facilitated by Judy Hoy, DSW and Chithra Binoy.

Financial assistance is available or call 763-745-5200 for more information.