Principal's Newsletter—May 15, 2020
May 15, 2020
Dear Burr Families,
Early this week Dr. Fleishman sent out a letter sharing some updates to our learning plans that were informed by feedback from families, teachers, and the phase 3 guidelines from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The notable changes for elementary school are:
Distance learning has required children and adults to become fluent in using a variety of online programs and platforms. Sometimes these technologies are glitchy which can be frustrating since we are so dependent on them. Understandably, some of you have expressed the need for additional technology tutorials for yourselves or your children. Please see the Family Tutorials and Links on the Newton Public Schools website. If you or your child continue to need support, please be sure to reach out to me or your child’s classroom teacher.
Finally, I’d like to restate that supporting students’ connection with school and providing social-emotional support for them, remains a top priority for the Burr staff. Our mental health team has been sharing resources and providing support during this difficult time. I asked them to pull these resources together in one place so families can easily access them. I’m excited to share the new Burr Mental Health website and hope you will find it helpful.
As always, please be sure to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. I hope you have a nice weekend and can get outside to enjoy the beautiful weather.
Best,
Mindy
Dear Burr Families,
Early this week Dr. Fleishman sent out a letter sharing some updates to our learning plans that were informed by feedback from families, teachers, and the phase 3 guidelines from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The notable changes for elementary school are:
- All students will have at least 4 opportunities per week to connect live with a staff member, one of these connections will be with a specialist. Classroom teachers will decide what form their additional session will take. Specialist sessions will be on the same day and at the same time each week. Your child’s classroom teacher will include details for the additional meetings in their Sunday night email.
- Teachers have started to introduce new content and skill into their learning plans. They have been asked to focus on a limited number of key topics and skills with the goal being to prepare students for the next grade. During last week’s Parent Principal Check-In meetings several parents asked for more information about the skills identified as prerequisites for student success in the next grade level. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has prepared Massachusetts Elementary Prerequisite Content Standards to guide the work of districts during the COVID 19 pandemic. Please remember, we DO NOT expect parents to teach these skills. Students will be assessed when we return to school and instruction will be modified to meet their needs.
Distance learning has required children and adults to become fluent in using a variety of online programs and platforms. Sometimes these technologies are glitchy which can be frustrating since we are so dependent on them. Understandably, some of you have expressed the need for additional technology tutorials for yourselves or your children. Please see the Family Tutorials and Links on the Newton Public Schools website. If you or your child continue to need support, please be sure to reach out to me or your child’s classroom teacher.
Finally, I’d like to restate that supporting students’ connection with school and providing social-emotional support for them, remains a top priority for the Burr staff. Our mental health team has been sharing resources and providing support during this difficult time. I asked them to pull these resources together in one place so families can easily access them. I’m excited to share the new Burr Mental Health website and hope you will find it helpful.
As always, please be sure to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. I hope you have a nice weekend and can get outside to enjoy the beautiful weather.
Best,
Mindy