December 4 Update

Happy Friday, McKinley!
I hope you had a great week back with students.  I've been in and out of classrooms this week - WOW.  Your compassion, flexibility, and knowledge of students is easily observed through everything you do.  I appreciate our team so much.  

How to be an Anti-Racist:

Below is a link to an article on "How to be an Anti-Racist" (Educational Leadership).  Our job, as educators, is to move to the level of an "anti-racist".  Ibram X Kendi says, "The opposite of racist isn't no racist.  It is anti-racist".   This article gives us some concrete ways we can move to stopping racism -  please take some time to read.  

Article - http://www.ascd.org/publications/newsletters/education-update/oct19/vol61/num10/How-to-Be-an-Antiracist-Educator.aspx

Absences & COVID:

We are starting to see more staff out with COVID.  I wanted to remind you of the plan for this type of absence.  First, if you are positive or a close contact, please let Judy and Steph know.  We need to track this information.

If you are able to teach, you can do so.  If you are not able to teach, we have a few options - 

• Pre-record your lesson(s) and post in Google Classroom. Please let students know you are out.  
• Have your co-teacher teach.  
• Have students attend a teammmate's Google Meet.

If those options are all exhausted, we can try and find a sub for you.  Bringing a sub in for distance learning is hard, as they need to be added to your classroom, kids won't know them, and you need to write sub plans.  It's not impossible, just way harder.  

Feel free to reach out to me if you run into a situation and just need to brainstorm your options.  I'm here to support.  Also, you may want to run this by your team for a proactive plan - what would you do if one of you goes out sick?  

SeeSaw- from Mike Halverson:

Great news, if you are already using the free version of Seesaw account, we've converted it to the premium paid version of Seesaw for Schools over the weekend.  With the Seesaw for School paid version, there are many features available to you such as unlimited activities and the ability to schedule activities (click here for a full comparison of versions and features).

I know many of you are already familiar with Seesaw, but for those that would like a refresher or are new to Seesaw, please watch this quick video.  There is also additional "beyond the basics" PD located here that will help you master your Seesaw skillset to support students & families.

From a personal, parent perspective, I wish we would've been using Seesaw long ago as I know more about what is happening with my son's education than I ever have before thanks to Mr. Langlois and Seesaw. Many parents I've had the opportunity to talk with over the last couple of months are saying the same things so keep up the awesome work all of you are doing.

If you have any questions or concerns, please submit a technology ticket and someone will assist as soon as they are able.

Learning Material Pick-Up: 

We are offering a learning material pick-up on Wednesday, December 9.  Please remind families this is a curbside pick up (they should call the office and we will bring it out) between 7:15-4:30pm.  Also, if you have materials to distribute, please have them individually bagged up with the student's name.  We will be offering another one in early January.  I've had a grade level ask about your Volume 2 Math Journal.  Please talk to your team and decide - should the math journal go home now or wait until early January?  Please let Ann or I know if you need assistance.  

Distance Learning - Manipulatives:

Here is a site I have come across with some free manipulatives - http://toytheater.com/category/teacher-tools/virtual-manipulatives/

Building Weekly Newsletter:

Click here to access the building weekly newsletter

Have a great weekend, everyone!  

-Justin