Virtual Learning - Week 10, Final Edition
Congratulations to Mrs. Nimtz and Mrs. Schuler!
Mrs. Kelly Nimtz and Mrs. Christa Schuler are entering a new chapter of their lives at the conclusion of the school year - retirement! We wish both of these amazing educators all the best. They will certainly be missed!
Importance of 1:1 Connections
Year-End Wrap-Up Details
Our school team has been working to develop plans to close out this incredibly unique school year. Below you will find important information on upcoming events - thank you for reading along and marking your calendars!
Material Pick-Up/Drop-Off
As we wrap-up the 2019-2020 school year, we are beginning to prepare our classrooms for summer. This includes packaging up any personal items that may have been left by students on March 13th, including yearbooks, Bear Tracks, and Bear Wear orders. In addition, it will be important to collect media center materials that were sent home with students prior to the shutdown. Please plan to drive through our school’s main office parking lot on June 3rd according to the schedule and map below. If you have children in multiple grades, you can chose to only come through the line once - however classroom teachers will only be present during assigned times.
In addition, if you requested a yearbook and Mrs. Codde let you know one would be issued during this pick-up time, please be sure to bring $15 - either cash or a check addressed to SJPS. Thank you!
4th & 5th Grade Student Devices
Several of the apps that your child has used during this period of remote emergency learning will continue to be available throughout the summer months. We are pleased to be able to offer the use of your child’s assigned Chromebook for this extended learning opportunity. However, if your family is not in need of the school device for summer enrichment, we would encourage you to return it to school on June 3rd during your child’s assigned pick-up/drop-off time so that our IT department can work on the redeployment of devices for fall learning. Thank you!
Farewell Parade
Our staff is planning a special farewell for our students and their families. On the evening of June 4th we will be hosting a "reverse" farewell parade. Staff will line the bus lot along Garden Lane and will invite your family to drive through and wave farewell. In lieu of gifts for teachers/staff, please consider having your child create a sign of appreciation to display during the parade.
Fifth grade families are invited for a special farewell from 4:00 - 4:30 p.m., all other families are encouraged to drive through between 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. We hope you all can make it!
Mark Your Calendars...
6/3 Family pick-up/drop-off of materials throughout the day
6/4 Farewell Parade
4:00-4:30 p.m. Fifth grade Families Only
4:30-6:00 p.m. ECDD - Fourth Grade Families
6/5 Last day of school!
Awards Assembly - sent out via email and FB (a.m.)
We had our first virtual PTO meeting this week. It was a great success! Thank you to all who joined us. Several members of our staff and current PTO Board members had the chance to honor Marylin Bishop (President) and Matthew & April Soyk (Co-Treasurers) for their longstanding commitment to our Board. They are resigning from their leadership roles at the conclusion of this school year. Click here to enjoy our tribute video.
Our social workers continue to offer support to our families during this time. You can email them at guidance@sjschools.org and visit our website sjschools.org for updated information, including this list of social/emotional resources.
Mrs. VanHekken and Mrs. Jasiak will be hosting their last family Google Hangout this Thursday, May 28, 2020 at 6 p.m. They would love for anyone with celebrations, concerns, or questions to join us as we near the end of this school year. Here is the link:
Good news! St. Joseph Public Library will have an online summer reading program this year.
Wow! It is hard to believe, but this is the final family blog post of the school year. We are forever grateful for your partnership during this time of emergency remote learning. Your support has been the key to our students' success. We truly are #better together.
Please see details about our 2020 Summer Learning Challenge, as well as other end-of-year events below.
SCHOOLS OF CHOICE
If you moved out of the district this past school year, are a current SOC family and have a sibling that would like to apply, or are enrolled with a letter of release and wish to continue at SJPS, please see the information below.
We will accept Schools of Choice applications June 1-30, 2020. To apply online, please click here to fill out the form - or you may download here and complete the Schools of Choice application and send via email (spatzer@sjschools.org), mail (3275 Lincoln Avenue, St. Joseph, MI 49085), fax (269-429-5042) or add it to the drop box (located outside the central office doors, 3275 Lincoln Avenue) by June 30, 2020. If you know of other families interested in Schools of Choice, please share this information.
Congratulations and
Good Luck 5th Graders!
I think we can all agree that this year has been anything but ordinary. While we are saddened to not be able to honor you and bid you farewell in the traditional sense, you are certainly close to our hearts through this time of transition. We look forward to celebrating you next week during our virtual awards assembly, as well as during our reverse farewell parade and other special surprises that will be coming your way! Stay tuned...
Congratulations to Mrs. Nimtz and Mrs. Schuler!
Mrs. Kelly Nimtz and Mrs. Christa Schuler are entering a new chapter of their lives at the conclusion of the school year - retirement! We wish both of these amazing educators all the best. They will certainly be missed!
Importance of 1:1 Connections
In lieu of issuing report cards at the conclusion of the 19-20 school year, your child's teacher will prioritize his/her final one-on-one connection to share ideas for extending learning over the summer. Thank you for actively attending this important meeting in order to hear and share ideas related to your child's continued growth and progress. Thank you!
Year-End Wrap-Up Details
Our school team has been working to develop plans to close out this incredibly unique school year. Below you will find important information on upcoming events - thank you for reading along and marking your calendars!
Material Pick-Up/Drop-Off
As we wrap-up the 2019-2020 school year, we are beginning to prepare our classrooms for summer. This includes packaging up any personal items that may have been left by students on March 13th, including yearbooks, Bear Tracks, and Bear Wear orders. In addition, it will be important to collect media center materials that were sent home with students prior to the shutdown. Please plan to drive through our school’s main office parking lot on June 3rd according to the schedule and map below. If you have children in multiple grades, you can chose to only come through the line once - however classroom teachers will only be present during assigned times.
In addition, if you requested a yearbook and Mrs. Codde let you know one would be issued during this pick-up time, please be sure to bring $15 - either cash or a check addressed to SJPS. Thank you!
Several of the apps that your child has used during this period of remote emergency learning will continue to be available throughout the summer months. We are pleased to be able to offer the use of your child’s assigned Chromebook for this extended learning opportunity. However, if your family is not in need of the school device for summer enrichment, we would encourage you to return it to school on June 3rd during your child’s assigned pick-up/drop-off time so that our IT department can work on the redeployment of devices for fall learning. Thank you!
Reminders: Please have car tag with students last name visible so staff can prepare the items and keep traffic flowing (pick-up tags would be perfect for this). Items to be returned to your family will be placed in the trunk or back seat in order to adhere with social distancing guidelines. Please remember that everyone must stay in their vehicles to ensure everyone's safety and comfort.
Farewell Parade
Our staff is planning a special farewell for our students and their families. On the evening of June 4th we will be hosting a "reverse" farewell parade. Staff will line the bus lot along Garden Lane and will invite your family to drive through and wave farewell. In lieu of gifts for teachers/staff, please consider having your child create a sign of appreciation to display during the parade.
Fifth grade families are invited for a special farewell from 4:00 - 4:30 p.m., all other families are encouraged to drive through between 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. We hope you all can make it!
Mark Your Calendars...
6/3 Family pick-up/drop-off of materials throughout the day
6/4 Farewell Parade
4:00-4:30 p.m. Fifth grade Families Only
4:30-6:00 p.m. ECDD - Fourth Grade Families
6/5 Last day of school!
Awards Assembly - sent out via email and FB (a.m.)
Summer Learning Challenge 2020
We are so excited to launch the 2020 Summer Learning Challenge! Like last year, we are challenging all of our current Y5 - 4th grade students to "go for gold" by keeping learning and discovery alive all summer long! By dedicating a small portion of free time to fun learning activities, students will work to overcome the dreaded effects of "summer slide". Click here to access the document for this summer's challenge. We can't wait to pass out medals in the fall!
PTO News
We had our first virtual PTO meeting this week. It was a great success! Thank you to all who joined us. Several members of our staff and current PTO Board members had the chance to honor Marylin Bishop (President) and Matthew & April Soyk (Co-Treasurers) for their longstanding commitment to our Board. They are resigning from their leadership roles at the conclusion of this school year. Click here to enjoy our tribute video.
We are delighted to announce our 20-21 Brown School PTO Board members (see below) that were voted in during Tuesday night's meeting. Welcome and thank you for your leadership!
Sheri Baker, President
Brandi Johnson, Vice President
Jessamyn Calderwood, Secretary
Robin Lawrence, Treasurer
Yearbooks
We are all out of hard copies of the yearbook! You can use the link below to order directly from Geskus. Any yearbooks that are ordered now will be mailed to your home and a shipping fee will be applied. Click on the link below to order your copy!
http://geskusphoto.com/?YB=371
http://geskusphoto.com/?YB=371
Social and Emotional Support
Please click here for a special video from our social workers. Please also click on the links below to access resources to support your conversations related to closure and consideration.
Resources in order, as mentioned in the video:
Summer Reading at the Public Library
**Please visit the SJPS Elementary eResource website for more information on the above. This site changes regularly as new information and resources are shared, so check back often.
Community Corkboard
Summer programs, sports, and other student offerings are beginning to advertise for enrollment. Please check out the current local offerings by visiting our Community Corkboard.
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.
