Country Meadows Families,
Principal's Message Video Greeting
It’s hard to believe the times we are facing, and I miss seeing your children’s smiling faces (and yours) more than I can describe. The Friday before spring break is typically a fun send off for students and staff with some anticipation and excitement for the week ahead. This Friday feels much different. One thing I do know is that our staff and school community are committed to meeting the needs of our students. We are a family, and we will get through this together!
Beginning March 31st (the first day of our remote learning), I will be sharing out a morning announcement greeting each day. I am dedicated to preserving any normalcy that I can for our students and families, and I want to be visible and accessible for students during this time. Please know I’m thinking of you all, wishing you health and wellness above all.
NEW *Remote Learning Communication*
Remote learning plans were shared yesterday along with a Parent Q & A document. Remote learning officially begins Tuesday, March 31st. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher with any specific questions about the assigned activities.
Beginning March 31st, you can expect a daily message from me to begin each remote learning day. I look forward to keeping in touch with students and families as we navigate these times.
This is also a friendly reminder that next week, March 23-March 27, is spring break. There will not be communication from administrators or educators during this time. Communication will begin again on March 31st.
NEW *Family Resources*
Talking to children about COVID-19 can be a difficult conversation to navigate. View this resource to guide you in this conversation and some additional tips during this time from the National Association of School Psychologist (NASP).
SEE D96 Coronavirus information and guidance linked from the homepage of our District website.
NEW *iPad Acceptable Use Policy*
Please review the iPad Acceptable Use Policy to ensure that your child is using their iPad correctly during our remote learning days.
NEW *iPad Cleaning Tips*
The SecURLy and Gaggle services do everything they can to block inappropriate content and time syncs such as gaming sites, social media sites, etc. That being said, no content-filter is perfect. The internet is a large place and a moving target that we are constantly monitoring to try and provide the most safe and efficient experience for our students. On top of SecURLy and Gaggle, we advise parents to utilize the screen time features outlined in this video. Utilizing the screen time feature outlined in this video will allow parents to take more granular control over when their children can use the device, and what content is available.
What does Gaggle do?
- Gaggle monitors google drive for all other students.
- Gaggle identifies and flags inappropriate content and shares that information with District 96 administrators for their review
- Gaggle also flags inappropriate communication being sent to other students and shares that information with District 96 administrators for their review
What does Securely do?
- Securly is always running on student iPads regardless of what network the device is connected to.
- Securly blocks inappropriate content from being reached
If you have any questions around use you can check out our iPad Handbook and other online information on our website.
NEW *Food Services*
This is an unprecedented time for our community with the COVID 19 virus. We want to ensure that your student will continue to have access to breakfast and lunch Mar. 17–Apr. 3, when school was scheduled to be in session. THIS SERVICE WILL CONTINUE THROUGH NEXT WEEK’S SPRING BREAK DATES OF MARCH 23-27.
KCSD 96 is working with our partners at Organic Life and the Exceptional Learners Collaborative to offer food services for our students. Beginning Tuesday, 3/17/2020, we will have a packed breakfast and lunch available for you to pick up daily at the Exceptional Learners Collaborative’s NEW location at 990 Corporate Woods Parkway, Vernon Hills, IL.
You may drive up to pick up a packed breakfast/lunch anytime between 11:00 am - 1:00 pm each day (Monday-Friday). In the event you are not able to come to the ELC during this time, please contact us at 224-513-6448 or email [email protected] to see if other arrangements can be made.
Food services will be available March 17-April 3. We will also be onsite during the scheduled week of Spring Break March 23-27.
You do not need to bring your child with you to pick up food.
Please contact the ELC if you have any questions at 224-513-6448.
REPEATING *iPad Cleaning*
As you are aware, your child has his/her iPad to access for remote learning activities while we are closed. Here are steps to keep them clean:
- Power down the iPad
- Wipe with a lint-free dry cloth
- Never apply liquids or moisture into openings of the device
- Never use compressed air or cleaning products
- 70% isopropyl alcohol + a microfiber cloth may be used to clean the surface of the device
For additional resources related to other devices (laptops, iPhones, etc) please refer to Apple’s official knowledge base article found at the URL below.
REPEATING *Parent Input for Class Placement (2020-2021)*
Creating balanced class lists that meet the needs of all students is a tremendously difficult job that takes many hours of thoughtful dialogue between classroom teachers, administrators, and specialists. At Country Meadows, we take this process very seriously. The process for class list creation is as follows:
Teachers reflect on the social and academic needs of each of their current students while recording pertinent information to assist in the decision making process.
Grade level teachers, the principal, specials area teachers, and specialists meet together to form class lists that are balanced in terms of academic, social, and emotional needs as well as considering student relationships. This is no easy task and often takes several collaborative discussions. Our dedicated team of educators considers each child’s personality, academic needs, friendship patterns, etc. as they make a recommendation for each individual child. A draft of class lists is created while considering parent input.
Class lists are then revised in August and changes are made to include students who move in or out of the district over the summer. Please note that class rosters and teacher placement are never final until they are released to families in August.
This process happens at grades 2-5. Willow Grove staff creates the class lists for our incoming 1st graders. Our 5th-grade team actively works with Woodlawn to provide data and input related to placement decisions at the middle school level.
We strongly believe that this detailed and collaborative process creates learning environments that benefit all students. It is a delicate balancing act which takes much consideration and thought by professionals who know and care about your children. Our goal is to create balanced class lists that promote the success of each child. Please know that your child is placed in a classroom for very specific reasons. The process benefits all students. Because of the input and thought given by teachers, specialists, parents, and the principal, we are very reluctant to make changes once this process occurs, as removing or moving one child can disrupt the balance of an entire class, impacting all students.
I welcome any insight you wish to share about your child’s strengths, needs, and learning style. I will take into consideration pertinent information received on or before FRIDAY, APRIL 24th. Please remember, while we welcome your input, specific teacher requests will not be honored.
I cannot express enough how important it is that your thoughts are provided through the Country Meadows Class Placement Input 2020-2021 Survey. As you can imagine, we receive a lot of parent input, and verbal information is impossible to track. The information you provide in the survey will remain confidential.
REPEATING *Coronavirus Information*
SEE Coronavirus information and guidance linked from the homepage of our District website.
Fondly,
Meghan Bird, Principal
Familias de Country Meadows,
Es difícil de creer por lo que estamos pasando, y extraño las sonrisas de sus hijos (y la de ustedes) más de lo que se imaginan. El viernes antes del descanso de primavera es generalmente un dia divertido para los estudiantes y el personal, anticipando la emoción de la semana de vacaciones. Este viernes se siente más diferente. Empezando el 31 de marzo (el primer dia del aprendizaje a distancia), cada día yo estaré compartiendo un anuncio en las mañanas. Haré lo posible por mantener la normalidad para nuestros estudiantes y familias, y juntos venceremos esto. ¡Somos una familia! Por favor sepa que estoy pensando en ustedes, y sobretodo les deseo salud y bienestar.
NUEVO *Mensaje del Aprendizaje a Distancia*
Los planes del aprendizaje a distancia se compartieron con usted ayer junto con un documento de Preguntas y Respuestas para Padres. El aprendizaje a distancia inicia oficialmente el martes, 31 de marzo. Por favor no dude en contactar al maestro de su hijo si tiene alguna pregunta específica sobre las actividades asignadas.
Empezando el 31 de marzo, usted recibirá un mensaje mío a diario para iniciar cada día de aprendizaje a distancia. Espero mantenerme en contacto con los estudiantes y las familias durante estos tiempos.
También quiero recordarles que la próxima semana, del 23 al 27 de marzo, son las vacaciones de primavera. No habrá mensajes de los administradores o de maestros en estas fechas. Los mensajes inician el 31 de marzo.
NUEVO *Recursos para Familias*
Conversar con los niños sobre el COVID-19 puede ser dificil. Haga clic aquí para ver un recurso de cómo llevar a cabo esta conversación y consejos adicionales durante estos tiempos por parte de National Association of School Psychologist (NASP).
https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crisis-resources/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-(coronavirus)-a-parent-resource
VER información del D96 sobre el Coronavirus y guías enlazadas de la página web de nuestro Distrito.
https://www.kcsd96.org/student-services/regarding-coronavirus
NUEVO *Regla para el Uso Adecuado del iPad*
Por favor repase la Regla para el uso adecuado del iPad para asegurar que su hijo está usando el iPad de manera adecuada durante los días de aprendizaje a distancia.
https://www.kcsd96.org/tech/ipad-handbook/ipad-acceptable-use#Privacy%20and%20Safety
NUEVO* Protección del iPad*
Los servicios SecURLy yGaggle hacen todo lo posible para bloquear cualquier contenido inadecuado y sincronización del tiempo tal como sitios para juegos, sitios para redes sociales, etc. Dicho esto, ningún filtro de contenido es perfecto. El internet es un lugar amplio y un blanco en movimiento que supervisamos constantemente y tratamos de proveer la experiencia más segura y eficiente para nuestros estudiantes. Además de SecURLy y Gaggle, sugerimos que los padres usen las funciones de tiempo frente a la pantalla que se presentan en este video. El uso de la función del tiempo frente a la pantalla que se presenta en este video permitirá que los padres tengan más control cuando sus hijos puedan usar el dispositivo, y el contenido que está disponible.
https://vimeo.com/379811876/ef3b0746da
¿Qué hace Gaggle?
Gaggle supervisar el disco de google para todos los estudiantes.
Gaggle identifica e indica cuando el contenido es inapropiado y comparte esta información con los administradores del Distrito 96 para que ellos lo revisen
Gaggle también indica cuando existe cualquier comunicación inapropiada que se envía a otros estudiantes y comparte esta información con los administradores del Distrito 96 para que ellos lo revisen
¿Qué hace Securely?
Securly siempre está activo en el iPad de los estudiantes independientemente de la red en la que está conectada el dispositivo.
Securly bloquea obtener contenidos inapropiados
Si usted tiene alguna pregunta sobre el uso puede ver nuestro Manual del iPad y otra información en línea en nuestro sitio web.
https://www.kcsd96.org/tech/ipad-handbook/index
NUEVO *Servicio de Alimentos*
Este es un momento sin precedente para nuestra comunidad con el virus COVID-19. Queremos asegurarnos de que su estudiante siga teniendo acceso al desayuno y al almuerzo del 17 de marzo al 20 de marzo y del 30 de marzo al 3 de abril, cuando se espera que regresemos a clases.
El Distrito 96 está trabajando con nuestros socios de Organic Life y el Exceptional Learners Collaborative para ofrecer servicios de alimento a nuestros estudiantes. Empezando el martes, 3/17/2020, tendremos paquetes de desayunos y de almuerzo disponibles para que usted pueda pasar a recoger en Exceptional Learners Collaborative y su NUEVA localidad en 990 Corporate Woods Parkway, Vernon Hills, IL.
Usted puede llegar a recoger los paquetes de desayuno/almuerzo entre las 11:00 am y 1:00 pm cada día (de lunes a viernes). En caso que usted no pueda ir al ELC durante estas fechas , por favor llame al 224-513-6448 o envíe un correo a [email protected] para ver si se pueden hacer planes alternos.
Los servicios de alimento estarán disponibles del 17 al 20 de marzo. No estaremos ahí durante la semana del descanso de Primavera del 23 de marzo al 27 de marzo. Estaremos repartiendo alimentos nuevamente del 30 de marzo al 3 de abril.
Usted no tiene que llevar a su hijo para recoger los alimentos.
Por favor contacte al ELC si tiene alguna pregunta al 224-513-6448.