March 18, 2020
Greetings Memorial School Community,
I am writing to you today as a result of the state notification that the Sanborn Regional School District will be transitioning to an online learning format. While we can all agree that this scenario is less than ideal, supporting the safety of our students and community is a priority. Additionally, staff have met and continue to work on providing an online learning experience to keep our students’ learning mindset current and the work that we want our students to engage in as authentic as possible.
As a result of this preparation, grade levels have chosen age appropriate online platforms for students to use to access learning. Classroom teachers and the special education team worked together to create these online learning assignments:
- Grades 3, 4, and 5 will be using Google Classroom that can be accessed by using their school Google account. The vast majority of our students in these grade levels utilize Google Classroom and Google based assignments as a part of the school experience.
- Grades Pre-K, K, 1, and 2 will be using SeeSaw. This platform may be new to some students, but teachers will be communicating via email directions to parents for how to access this learning tool. SeeSaw can be accessed from any device, including cell phones.
Our expectation for students during this time of online learning is that they will complete the assignments provided by their classroom teacher each school day as well as one special (P.E., Health, STEAM, Art, Library, Guidance, and Music). Please rotate through the specials in whatever order you wish. Additionally, if your child receives Title 1 Math and/or Reading services, resources to support them daily can be accessed by clicking the link below, which will take you to the Memorial School Online Learning Google Site.
I would also like to encourage families to establish a routine with children as much as possible. Children do better with structure and it will help them to maintain a balance with the online learning expectations they will have. I have provided a sample schedule that can be found on our Memorial School Online Learning Google Site (link below). Feel free to create a schedule with your child as a way to provide them some level of control and ownership over their day.
The link to access our learning platforms for all grade levels (and sample daily schedule) can be found below. This link will also be located on the Memorial School website.
Memorial School Online Learning
Classroom teachers will be sending out online learning assignments using the platform listed above each morning at 9:00 a.m. starting on Thursday, March 19th. Your child’s classroom teacher is available for digital “office hours” from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please see the staff directory if you would like your classroom teacher’s email before then. Students and families can choose the times that work best for them to complete daily online learning assignments as you create a schedule that works best for you. In other words, 9:00 a.m. is not a mandatory start time.
As a final note, I would like to emphasize that online learning assignments are intended to keep students engaged in learning and maintain an academic mindset. I do not expect learning to continue at the same pace as it does at school. Nor do I want to create unnecessary stress and frustration. Our teachers have worked hard to develop a variety of activities that will ask students to engage in learning using technology as well as assignments that do not involve “screen time”. Just as I trust Memorial teachers to use their discretion in providing appropriate online learning assignments, I also ask parents to use your best judgment if an assignment causes stress and frustration. Encourage your child to take a break or even stop until you (or your child) has had a chance to communicate with your child’s teacher to determine the best next steps to make the learning experience as successful as possible.
The school closure decision will be revisited at the end of these three weeks and it will be determined at that time if additional closure is necessary. All events scheduled in April will be re-evaluated at that time. Thank you for your patience and support. The Memorial School staff is truly a model of professionalism, flexibility, and above all, putting their students first.
I will be available via email should you have any questions or concerns over the next few weeks. Please address classroom specific questions with your child’s classroom teacher. I am certain there will be a few issues that we have not anticipated, but we will do our best to solve each one as it arises.
Sincerely,
Ryan McCluskey