Meadow Pond Elementary School

December 11, 2020

Dear Meadow Pond Families,

Believe it or not, in a few short weeks we will reach the end of this year and the Holiday Winter Break. It is likely that most of us will be happy to bid farewell to 2020! We share early good wishes with all our Meadow Pond Families, and we look forward to a happy and healthy 2021!

MEADOW POND REPORT: (formerly MP Live)

Our morning announcements have been re-imagined for the current learning environment.  The Meadow Pond Report is the name of the new morning announcements video where a pair of 5^th grade students update the school on the weather report and school birthdays. It also includes fun features like Today in History, the Monday Mindbender and Trivia Tuesday. 

Each episode includes information about various subjects and topics ranging from how a recycling center operates to how cranberries are harvested from a bog, to how robotics is changing the harvesting of apples in orchards.  We have also taken a video tour of the Civil War battlefield in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  It’s a fun and engaging way to start off the morning and get our students ready to take on the challenges of the day.  

Additionally, after our students see the Report, they recite the Pledge of Allegiance with their classmates. Thank you to Nick Grasso, our Library Media Specialist, and our 5^th graders for adding interesting experiences and a little fun to our daily routine!

HYBRID LEARNING: Please read carefully so that you can support your child and help us keep everyone safe and learning. Additionally, if you are planning to go away for the holidays, please remember there may be quarantine requirements when you return from traveling.

Grades K/1 Families

As you are aware, beginning Monday, December 7 through Tuesday, December 22 on weekdays other than Wednesday, if your child is staying home and well enough to engage in remote learning, please complete the form linked here as soon as possible.  Advance notice is much appreciated and it enables our staff to get your child into their schedules and plan for them accordingly.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspxid=sh9fOF1VEUerES58NTHSbsHN3eX6QslFqKOIkcZ1hvRUNkZaNlNVVTZHMEtBUjk0QUtNNUYwUjYzNC4u

You will be forwarded information about the learning activities planned for your child’s grade level for the day. Learning experiences will be appropriate for your child’s grade; however, they may be different from lessons being taught in the classroom. Please note, plans may look different from day to day based on available staff. As always, we will support students when they return to in-person learning.

 Grade 2:

Please email your child’s teacher by 8:30 am to request the link to the Morning’s Meeting. Teachers will provide learning experiences for remote learners; however, their focus will be on ensuring a safe and engaging learning environment for the in-person students. The amount of synchronous learning for the fully remote students may vary from day to day based on the teacher’s responsibility to attend to the needs of the students in the classroom. As always, we will support students when they return to in-person learning.

 Grades 3-5:

Students in Grades 3-5 attending remote learning on a day when they are expected to be “in-person” are able to join their class’ regularly scheduled Zoom meetings. The teacher will mark your child “remote” if they attend the Morning Meeting and actively participate throughout the day. If your child is not virtually present on Zoom, the absence will be recorded.

 ATTENDANCE:

If you are keeping your child home when they are scheduled for in-person learning, on the first day of their absence, please complete the daily Health Screener and contact our office assistant, Lynne Licht at llicht@klschools.org and the classroom teacher to report the absence and anticipated duration. We also ask that you please contact the School Nurse, Elizabeth Marcoux at emarcoux@klschools.org anytime your child does not pass the health screener or is ill in any way.

 COLDER WEATHER REMINDER:  We are spending more time than ever outside for both movement and physical education.  To be sure our students stay warm, please remember the following guidelines for outdoor breaks and/or play.

If the temperature including the wind chill is below forty degrees, students should be prepared to play outside wearing warm coats and long pants.  On snowy days, students will also need snow pants, boots, hats and gloves.

Please be aware that if a student is not dressed appropriately, he or she will be unable to attend outdoor activities.  If the temperature including the wind chill falls below twenty degrees, the students will stay inside.  We consult with our School District Physician, Dr. Louis A. Corsaro, for guidance in these matters. Thank you for preparing your child for the colder weather.

CALENDAR:

Please review and mark your calendar for these upcoming events.

Virtual Principal’s Coffee K-5                              Tuesday, December 15^th 10:00 a.m.

Cohort A & 4 days on site                                     Monday, December 21^st (Monday schedule)

Cohort B & 4 days on site                                     Tuesday, December 22^nd (Thursday schedule)

Remote Learning                                                   Wednesday, December 23^rd

Winter Break                                                         Thursday, Dec. 24^th through Friday, Jan 1^st

School Reopens                                                     Monday, January 4^th, 2021

Stay Safe. Enjoy the holiday break with your family!

Sincerely,

Carolann Castellano                        Dawn Pomeroy

Principal                                          Assistant Principal