Virtual Learning - Week 5
We're sending you a virtual high five! Our appreciation of your ongoing commitment to partnering with us in your child's education cannot be overstated! We appreciate you and are here to support our students and their families. We’re all in this together!
#BetterTogether
Remote Learning Updates
Our new remote learning plan kicked off this week. Plans and lessons will be available to you each Monday afternoon. The lessons, in combination with assignments, should provide one and a half to five hours of on-task work for your learner, depending on grade level. Additionally, teachers will be offering opportunities to virtually connect with learners in weekly whole classroom settings and will facilitate individual connections with each learner.
Thank you for checking established communication channels with your child’s teacher weekly. Thank you, too, for helping learners complete assignments by the following Monday, unless a later date is indicated by the teacher.
We are excited to hear so many of our SJ students have been reading and enjoying the library books they took home with them in March. While we would love to be able to facilitate a book exchange for students to get more reading material, we are not able to do so at this time due to our buildings being closed. Please visit the websites created by our teacher librarians for access to numerous ebooks and resources. We will be sharing even more possibilities soon. Finally, please encourage your children to keep reading and to contact their teacher librarian for assistance. We are here to help!
Elementary Library Media Resources Site
Upton Library Media Resources Site
SJHS Library Media Resources Site
Google Meet Grid View
Is your child able to view all their classmates during their Google Meet? If not, there is an extension to add a grid view. Google Extension - Grid View
There will be a grid image in the upper right corner of the Google Meet page once it’s downloaded. We're sure your child will enjoy seeing everyone during your virtual visits.
As your child connects with his/her class, we ask that you please be mindful of everyone's right to privacy. Please do not photograph the class and repost on public social media outlets. While we are all excited and proud of the work our students and their teachers are doing together, we want to be sure to be respectful of all families. Thank you!
Support for Our Families
Social/Emotional Support
Please use guidance@sjschools.org and visit our website sjschools.org for updated information, including this list of social/emotional resources provided by our social workers.
Please watch the video below from Colette Jasiak and Bri VanHekken, our elementary school social workers, regarding creating routines at home in this new remote learning environment. Please also check out the resources below.
Please contact support@sjschools.org for repair/support of school issued devices or for learners who need a device or do not have internet access during the closure. Note: Public libraries and schools will provide wi-fi access from their parking lots while people remain in their vehicles.
Feeding Our Bears
This important service will continue Mondays and Thursdays from 11:00AM-12:30PM at the St. Joseph High School entrance off of Lakeview Ave.
These resources in our community are also available for support: Area Food Sites and Distribution
If you are in need of food or interested in making a monetary donation to assist in this time of crisis, here’s a list of local Food Bank Options.
Community Support Resources
211 is a free, confidential service that helps people find the local resources they need (social, emotional, health care, unemployment and more). Dial 211 (or 844-875-9211) to speak with a community resource advisor who can provide info and referrals for everyday needs in times of crisis. For more, visit uwsm.org/2-1-1.
Protect MI Child
We shared this initiative awhile ago, but with the increased screen time during this closure and so many virtual options available, we wanted to share it again. This website below offers tips on talking to your child about internet safety, in addition to stopping ads from popping up unexpectedly on your child's device.
https://www.protectmichild.com/cybertips.html
As soon as it is safe to be together again, we will make a plan to celebrate the many accomplishments of our amazing fifth grade students. Until then, there are a few things that we would love to ask families to help with from the safety of your home.
Our Tech Fest Will Go On!
Great news! Our Annual Ren Baldwin Technology Festival will be held virtually this year. This means our students can keep working on all those awesome projects from home! Get creative and have some fun! We can hardly wait to see what our creative students come up with!
TIPS FOR A WINNING PHOTO:
*Cell photos are FINE! Email the ORIGINAL shot so size requirement is met.
*Entries must depict school life - including remote learning at home!
*Take shot in LANDSCAPE mode so it can be used in the school calendar
*BE CREATIVE!
It is the policy of the St. Joseph Public School District that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, disability, height, weight, or marital status be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to, discrimination during any program, activity, service or in employment.
Fifth Grade Class Gift to the School
Please see the message below from our Fifth Grade Farewell Committee.
Please see the message below from our Fifth Grade Farewell Committee.
Hello Brown Families!
This is the time of year when, traditionally, the 5th Grade class holds fundraisers to raise money for a gift to the school. (A few gifts from previous classes have been the water bottle drinking fountains, playground equipment, and the Gaga Ball Pit.)
Among other fundraisers, the most popular has been popsicle sales at recess. Sadly, this year's 5th grade class will not be able to hold any of these fundraisers. But we would still like for them to be able to leave their legacy and buy a gift for Brown Elementary School.
Our hope is that we are able to continue this tradition with the help of your donation.
We understand the struggles that most, if not all of us are going through right now, and greatly appreciate any amount that you are able to give.
Thank you so much, from the 5th Graders!
For any questions, please contact:
Lydia Woosley - lydiawoosley@gmail.com
or Robin Lawrence - Rel3414@gmail.com
Calling All Fifth Grade Families!
As soon as it is safe to be together again, we will make a plan to celebrate the many accomplishments of our amazing fifth grade students. Until then, there are a few things that we would love to ask families to help with from the safety of your home.
Fifth Grade Slideshow
Chelsey Fonua is putting together a slideshow for the 5th graders and in order to gather photos from every family, she has created a Cluster group. Please add your photos to the link below, fifth grade families.
Fifth Grade Guess Who Baby Pictures Now/Then
Hello All,
My name is Christin Haunhorst, mother of Alice in Mr Lignell's class. Delana Langmeyer and myself were on the committee for the Guess Who Baby Pictures Now/Then display. We would like to move forward with the project despite the school shutdown. We feel it is vitally important to have some form of normalcy even if it is virtually/digitally. I will send a link to view the slideshow when completed.
With that being said I need your help. I need you to send me your students' baby picture. Preferably under a year old. (If this is not possible the earliest picture you have will be fine)
I will also need their current school picture or current candid picture. Either of these can be portrait or landscape in orientation. Please select photos that clearly show their face and preferably alone in the picture.
Please send all pictures to my secure photography email:
mommabearpridesjhs@gmail.com
Please label your email with student name and teacher name so that I can assure we include everyone.
Thank you so much,
Christin Haunhorst
Stay safe. Stay well.
Great news! Our Annual Ren Baldwin Technology Festival will be held virtually this year. This means our students can keep working on all those awesome projects from home! Get creative and have some fun! We can hardly wait to see what our creative students come up with!
Please plan to email your entry to sjpsfoundation@sjschools.org.
TIPS FOR A WINNING PHOTO:
*Cell photos are FINE! Email the ORIGINAL shot so size requirement is met.
*Entries must depict school life - including remote learning at home!
*Take shot in LANDSCAPE mode so it can be used in the school calendar
*BE CREATIVE!
It is the policy of the St. Joseph Public School District that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, disability, height, weight, or marital status be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to, discrimination during any program, activity, service or in employment.
