Distance Learning Update from Superintendent McMannon

Dear WSD Families,

Yesterday evening Governor Scott announced that all Vermont schools will remain dismissed for in-person instruction through the end of this school year. This difficult decision was made to protect the health and safety of all Vermonters, primarily to lessen community spread of the virus. While I believe this is the right step to take, I am still deeply saddened. I feel that I can speak for our entire staff when I say that we really miss having your children in the building. We too were looking forward to a wonderful spring of learning, celebrations, school assemblies, field trips, and opportunities to connect, in person, both in and out of the classroom. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed so much about our world. It is changing the way we work, socialize, celebrate, and go to school.  It has also provided new opportunities to approach learning. You already know that Winooski is a remarkable community. We are fortunate to have an incredibly dedicated faculty who will ensure that remote learning is engaging and that students feel supported. It is now an exciting opportunity to create a ‘new normal’ together. Once we push past the fear of the unknown the possibilities for innovation and new learning are endless. 

We are expecting more guidance from the Vermont Agency of Education and the Governor’s office about what all of this means for our students. 

Here is what we do know:

• Remote learning will continue and move from the maintenance of learning to the continuity of learning, as previously shared.
• Meal service will continue. 
• Our faculty and staff care deeply about our students and will continue to ensure our students feel supported and engaged. 

We are still waiting on guidance on the following questions (you likely have more and we will do our best to provide answers in the coming weeks): 

• What will graduation celebration look like? (We expect more information by May 8).
• Will there be summer school?
• How will learning assessments be conducted?
• What will online learning look like now?
• How will special education services for students with disabilities and services for English Language Learners (ELL) be provided?

This weekend, we will share details about a second set of learning materials for pick-up next Wednesday and Thursday, and how we plan to return any student belongings that were left in the building/lockers.

While there remain many unknowns, the strength, creativity, and love of the Winooski community will get us through this together. 

Sincerely,

Sean McMannon, Superintendent

Hello from afar!

Hello families.

I hope everyone is okay. I miss seeing the children and you everyday. My plan is to do a short update each week on the website. I will continue to share optional online resources, share pictures and try to create a classroom community in this space. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions: tfox@wsdvt.org


I was saddened by the news that schools will finish the year with distance learning. This is new to all of us and the JFK staff are doing our best to understand what this looks like and what it means for teaching elementary students just as you are doing your best to understand what this looks like at home with your children. As of now the plan is to continue working in packets like you got this week. Continue working in that packet next week and a new packet will be ready for you on April 6th and 7th from 9am - 11am   -- pick it up at your school food distribution site. Change--we will not be collecting student work at this time to make sure we're not spreading germs. Keep the books at home to reread!


Some things to remember:

• It was great to talk to so many of you throughout the week! I will be continuing to call students throughout the school closure. Sometimes other teachers from school (ELL teachers, Special Educators, behavior coach, WIN teachers, Unified Arts teachers) will be calling, texting, emailing, or sending post cards as well. If you have a preferred method of contact (phone, email, text) or a time that is best, please let me know so I can share it with the team. The staff has a spreadsheet where this info will be shared to make it work for all of our wonderful families. 
• We put a lot of stuff in your child's packet with a sample schedule. Do what works best for you and your child. This is new for all of us. The most important thing is the well-being of your child and you. If an academic schedule is what works best for you child then go for it. If it is a schedule that involves more open ended time then that is okay. We are all figuring this out. If you need anything please don't hesitate to contact me. 
• Food and packet distribution will continue for the remainder of the school year (from the JFK Elementary Facebook Page): All student materials need to be picked up at the meal distribution site location closest to your home. Use the document linked to find the distribution center where your child’s materials will be. 
• The public library is closed. However, they are providing curbside or home delivery. Please let your students know that they can call 802-655-6424 or email winooskilibrary@winooski.gov to request reading books!

I have loved hearing about the projects and adventures the Fox Kits are having at home. Thank you so much for supporting their learning at home. Here are a few pictures I've received of work and play you're doing at home. If anyone else has photos to share I'm sure we'd all love to see each other! We all miss each other and would love to see all our faces!

Finally, Mrs. Crandall, our art teacher, has been encouraging students to create a rainbow and hang it in their window. If your child creates a rainbow, send me a picture and I will also forward the picture to Mrs. Crandall!


Thinking of you always,

❤ Mrs. Fox

Winooski Food Shelf This Week

WINOOSKI FOOD SHELF http://www.winooskifoodshelf.org/

Located at: 24 West Allen Street, Winooski

Email: winooskifoodshelf@gmail.com

Telephone: 802.655.7371

On Wednesday, March 25, from 2:00-4:00pm the Food Shelf will provide dry goods, meat, and toiletries. 

On Saturday, March 28, from 9:30-11:00am the Food Shelf will provide fresh produce, bread, and deli items.

Winooski Food Shelf is open to all residents of Winooski.

If you would like to access the Food Shelf for the first time, please bring a piece of mail with your Winooski address.

Digital Resources Available

March 23, 2020

Dear First Grade Families,

If you are looking for extra educational activities to do with your children here are links to some online resources. All of these are optional. We wanted to share them just in case you were looking for other ways to keep your children engaged and enriched during school closure other than the packets of work we send home.


If you do not have internet access at home you can call Spectrum to sign up for free: 1-844-488-8395


We will be calling to check in on your children during school closure starting next week. Wishing you all the best.

Until then, be well.
From,

Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Charron, and Mrs. Fox


Read Alouds
-JFK has a youtube channel full of read alouds from all of us!
--https://tinyurl.com/jfkreads


-OneMoreStory
--https://app.onemorestory.com/#/url-login/jfk
--Picture book read-alouds, both new and classics.
--No login is required when using the link above!


-Storybooks Canada
--Storybooks Canada is a free open educational resource that promotes literacy and language learning in homes, schools, and communities.
--Part of the Global Storybooks project, it makes 40 stories from the African Storybook available with text and audio in English, French, and the most widely spoken immigrant and refugee languages of Canada.
--We are also developing Indigenous Storybooks and the Global Storybooks literacy portal. Share and enjoy!
--https://storybookscanada.ca/


-Storyline Online Channel on youtube
--https://www.youtube.com/user/StorylineOnline


-Unite for Literacy
--https://www.uniteforliteracy.com/



Reading Resources
-Kids InfoBits
--Collection of nonfiction articles and books for elementary reading levels.
----No login is required.


-Scholastic releases free courses for kids amid school closures
--https://www.woodtv.com/news/national/scholastic-releases-free-daily-courses-for-kids-at-home-amid-coronavirus-school-closures/]
--www.scholastic.com/learnathome



-Epic
--Go to www.getepic.com/students or get the Epic app on android or iOS
--Login code: pzp2159
--Select your name and read!



-Access the library webpage: WSD Library, JFK Library, WHMS Library



Phonics Apps and Games
-ABC Mouse (pre-k - 2): https/www.abcmouse.com/redeem
--Free Home Access during school closure. Redeem code: AOFLUNICEF or SCHOOL7771


-Reading IQ (prek-6): https://www.readingiq.com/redeem
--Free Home Access during school closure. Redeem code: AOFLUNICEF or SCHOOL7771


-ABCYa https://www.abcya.com/




Math Apps and Games
-Xtra Math
--free service, focuses on math facts, very engaging
--https://xtramath.org/#/home/index



-Mancala
-- a great math game
-- this site has a free version and other math games
--https://www.mathplayground.com/mancala.html




Science Activities
-BrainPop
--www.brainpop.com
--An animated educational site for kids. Learn about your body, space, science and health. Have your homework questions answered with a movie, ask for advice, or just browse and learn.
--Login: winooski1
--Password: pop1



Mindfulness Activities
-List of mindfulness apps from Common Sense Media
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/meditation-apps-for-kids?j=7698356&sfmc_sub=170536297&l=2048712_HTML&u=143332603&mid=6409703&jb=781&utm_source=covid19_resources_jim&utm_medium=email



-Guided Meditation: Bulldog Finds His Heartbeat
--https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkY8_WlDexQ




Physical Activities
-Go Noodle!
--https://app.gonoodle.com/login
--Free parent accounts to use at home



-Cosmic Yoga
--https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga




Enrichment Activities
-Top 10 Podcasts for Kids
--http://learnincolor.com/top-podcasts-for-kids.html



-30 Virtual Field Trips with Links
https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1SvIdgTx9djKO6SjyvPDsoGlkgE3iExmi3qh2KRRku_w/mobiebasic?fbclid=IwAR3dno0SITajuQzZRDNgFxXujPyH5BrNoC7IPzlXOy1c-qcKL5ugPKmPgfg



-But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids
--https://www.npr.org/podcasts/474377890/but-why-a-podcast-for-curious-kids?fbclid=IwAR3Dey6n3oYpthS7nnEb-xq1LS1eOioPdsegn7qrhi5pgT0hIX4bhs8h4JI



-Cincinnati Zoo Home Safari
--While the Cincinnati Zoo is closed and kids are home from school, they’ll help make your children’s hiatus from school fun and educational.
--Join the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden for a Home Safari Facebook Live each weekday at 2pmCST /3pmET where we will highlight one of our amazing animals and include an activity you can do from home. Join them starting Monday, March 16 at 2pmCST/3pmET for their first Home Safari- featuring Fiona!
--https://www.facebook.com/events/209967643683561/




-LUNCH DOODLES with Mo Willems!
--Mo Willems invites YOU into his studio every day for his LUNCH DOODLE. Learners worldwide can draw, doodle and explore new ways of writing by visiting Mo’s studio virtually once a day for the next few weeks. Grab some paper and pencils, pens, or crayons and join Mo to explore ways of writing and making together.
--New episodes will be posted each weekday at 1:00 p.m. ET and then remain online to be streamed afterwards. Check back each weekday for new LUNCH DOODLES!
--https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/mo-willems/




-Virtual field trips!
--https://www.discoveryeducation.com/community/virtual-field-trips/
--https://www.virtualfieldtrips.org/
--https://www.fieldtripzoom.com/
--https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours
--https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour
--https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams

Highlights of the Week

Hello families,

The Fox Kits have had a great start back after winter break! Our heart jar quickly got filled again. This time we celebrated with a doll or stuffie play day! We also had the Jump Rope for Heart event this week. We had so much fun!

We began a new reading unit: Be the Boss of Your Reading. This means to take charge of your reading. If a word doesn't make sense or you don't know what it says, you have to take charge and use a few strategies to figure it out. Then triple check: does it look right?, does it sound right?, does it make sense? We have also been learning more ways reading partners help each other (not do the work for you).

We also began a new writing unit: opinions or persuasive writing. We opened this new unit by writing our opinions based on 2 read alouds, Duck! Rabbit! and It's Not a Box. We practiced writing our opinion saying "I think..." and explaining why with that transition word because. We talked about how people often have different opinions and this is good--we just have to talk about it in a friendly way. Then we started reading opinion books about pets, I Want a Dog and I Want a Cat. We began writing about my collection of fox toys and writing our opinions about which we liked best and WHY giving out blue, red, and yellow ribbons like at a contest.

After break we reviewed the measuring skills we learned so far about accurate measuring and writing our labels (i.e. 3 inches), continued working on skip counting patterns (2s,5s,10s), and writing numbers up to 120. By the end of the week we were feeling confident in our measuring skills and wrapped up that unit. Next week we start a mini unit on telling time to whole and half hours!

Please note that next week Thursday and Friday are 11:00 dismissals for the middle/high school parent/teacher conferences. There are only activities available for students who signed up ahead of time (on the green sheet that went home before break).

Please note that the PTO Fun Fair has been postponed. Our field trip to the Flynn Theater has been cancelled. 

Dates to Remember:

• March 19 - 11 am dismissal for WMHS family conferences 
• March 20 - 11 am dismissal for WMHS family conferences

Have a great weekend!

❤ Mrs. Fox