Hello Cornwall Families,

 

If you have not yet seen it, please see Superintendent Burrows’ communication from today which includes information on returning to school for elementary students. We will start planning together as a staff next week to prepare, and we will keep you updated. We are excited to be returning to something closer to "school as we know it"!

 

Nurse Gina

Please see this message about Vision Screening from Nurse Gina.

 

FOCS Clothing Drive and Concert

FOCS is hosting a clothing drive through the month of October. Donations will be exchanged for credit at Junebug to be used to purchase backup outerwear to keep at school to ensure all students are well prepared for outdoor learning and play.

 

Please wash all clothing items prior to donating. Donations can be left at the school in the black tupperware bin with the yellow lid at the front entrance of school.

 

We'll also be collecting at the back to school concert this Sunday 9/27. Contact Pearl Riney  at pearl.riney@childrens.harvard.edu for any further questions​

 

 

Friends of Cornwall School (FOCS) is teaming up with the West Cornwall Backyard Concert Series to sponsor a Back-to-School Outdoor Concert!  This event is open to everyone in the school community, as well as residents of Cornwall and surrounding areas.

 

Date: Sunday, September 27 (rain plan TBD)

Time: 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM (Open House style - come any time that works for you)

Location: 14 Audet Road, Cornwall

Line-up:

• Men of Distinction
• Tom Caswell Blues Band
• Jazz Essentials
• Blues without Borders

 

Seating is on the lawn, and there is plenty of space for parking.  Bring chairs or blankets; pop-up tents are welcome.  Bring your own food and drinks to enjoy a picnic in a beautiful setting.  Please maintain social distance and wear a mask while arriving and leaving, and if getting up during the show.

 

There is no cost to attend, but FOCS will be accepting donations during the show.  So come out to support Cornwall School and have a great time!

 

Important Dates

10/05 & 10/09 Picture Days - Please check student bins for information. 

10/08 Family Information Night - virtual style! More information next week

 

Please enjoy the photos of some of the outdoor learning that was taking place at Cornwall School this week, and happy weekend!

Warmly,

Heather

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Cornwall Families,

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Thank you to Abi Sessions and Kymberly Breckenridge for sewing masks for students and adults. Thank you to Al Thalen for helping set up the striped tent. Thank you to Elizabeth Toder for providing play sand (twice!) for the sandbox in the playground.

 

I worry that as I thank people, I will forget some, but please know I am grateful for everything parents, students, teachers, and the community are doing to support students being back in school. 

Cornwall families do a great job of partnering with the school for their child(ren)’s education, and this year requires a whole new kind of partnership. We know it is hard for families to balance work, family schedules, and off-site learning days. 

 

Thank you for partnering with us to make that happen.

 

And thank you to our teachers for all of their work. They are working long, hard hours to develop remote, on-site and off-site lessons and are learning how to do it as they go.

The First Weeks of School

The first weeks of school are always a transition period. And that is even more true this year since we all were away from school longer than usual AND students are experiencing school in a different way. 

 

Part of the transition includes building stamina, learning routines and processes, learning how to ask questions, and learning how to work independently. This year we need to multiply that by 2 (or more!). Many students are experiencing that transition at school and again at home. Parents are witnessing or reliving that experience while helping their students at home. It is a process, and at times, it will be messy. We are all readjusting. 

 

When we planned to come back to school this fall, we based our expectations for the amount of work in all subject areas, including recess, on state guidance. It feels different from the spring because when schools closed then, academic requirements were reduced for students. Now, the academic expectations have returned to what they normally would be. As we continue in this hybrid model or as we transition to a different phase, we will reflect and determine next steps working within the state expectations for schools. 

Ambassador Program

We are delighted to introduce a new, district-wide program focusing on connection and communication. For a letter introducing the Ambassador Program, please see here. I also shared this letter separately via email earlier today.

Thank you again, 

Heather

 

Hello Cornwall Families,

What a wonderful week! We have had great weather, spent a lot of time outdoors, and started reconnecting with students and families both onsite and remotely. Please see below for information, introductions, and announcements.

 

Health and Safety

Important information from Nurse Gina

Remote and Hybrid Learning Models 

Please click on this link for a further explanation - Remote and Hybrid Learning Models

Instagram

Please follow cornwallschoolvt on Instagram!

Toddle

Along with all the other new things students and parents have been experiencing this week, Toddle is another!  Although we will not be up and running with Toddle fully until October to give both teachers and students time to transition with lots of new things, many students have already logged in and have started using Toddle. As we approach October we will have information and training sessions for families so you can get the most out of the Toddle experience.

 

However, for now please look at the information at the link below which provides some basic information about Toddle, how students log on and what students see in their online classroom.

 

https://sites.google.com/acsdvt.org/familytoddleguide/home

 

As we develop and implement other features of Toddle throughout the year such as students journaling and reflecting on their learning experiences and teachers collecting and sharing learning evidence via students portfolios as well as producing rich multimedia reports, we will share further information.

 

 

Introductions - a big welcome to our new staff members!

Claire Benjamin, First Grade

My teaching journey began at Middlebury College where I studied Studio Art and Education. After college, I found my way to the Bay Area, where I taught in urban charter schools, an experience that in many ways has defined my beliefs as a teacher. I found that my passion was for teaching reading and went back to school to earn a Masters in literacy at the University of San Francisco.

 

Back in Vermont again, I am very excited to be part of the dynamic and thoughtful team here at Cornwall Elementary. Now a parent myself, I am committed to bringing out the best in each of my students and igniting the curiosity that each child brings to the classroom.

 

William Chapman-Hale, Fourth Grade and Intervention 

I am thrilled to be joining the Cornwall School community this year! My wife and I are both Vermonters, and after ten years living in Oregon and Boston, we decided it was time to move ourselves, our one-year-old and our dog back to the Green Mountains.  

I got my start as a third grade teacher at an elementary school in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and had been in that role for six years prior to moving back here. 

I enjoy just about any hobby or activity that takes place outdoors, and I am very excited to bring our learning outside as much as possible this year. 

 

Sarah Whitcomb, Paraprofessional

I grew up in Richmond, but moved to Middlebury six years ago with my husband, Kyle. I have two dogs (Zeus and Mac) and two rabbits. My favorite place to vacation is Disney World, and my favorite thing to do is hike at Little River State Park with my husband. I have worked at two other ACSD schools and am excited to be a part of the community at Cornwall Elementary School!

 

And a message from Sarah Metcalf

We have a new addition to our family! Our son Zayne was born on August 18th. As I am home taking care of him and our 4 year-old twins, I am fortunate to be able to reflect a bit.  

 

What do I do with this tiny person who rarely even opens his eyes? After basic care and affection, music seems to be the natural answer, and not just because I happen to be a music teacher! Our voices instinctively experiment with pitch, tempo, dynamics, and timbre to find out what coaxes a positive reaction from him. We can't help but move, sing, and listen to music together. Even our older kids spontaneously make up songs for the baby. Humans are undoubtedly musical creatures.

 

My students, your families, and my colleagues are in my thoughts as you start the school year. Whatever the situation, I hope you can keep music part of your lives.

 

 

Virtual Communication- Zoom Meeting

Parent/Guardian Zoom meeting, September 17, 2020 9:00am

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8159227535?pwd=QlN5RmFhUC8vTjZEQ0NYdUhvQ2wydz09

Passcode: 325253

 

Q&A Format. Because it sometimes works better to have videos turned off, I will call on people using a “virtual circle format” to give everyone an opportunity to ask a question. Simply pass if you prefer not to ask a question.

 

Have a great weekend, and stay safe!

Heather

Hello!!!

Thank you to everyone in the community for helping get the school year started! The grounds and flowers look lovely, and the welcome banner was a great spot for first-day-of-school photos!

After checking with our bus driver, Andrew, this morning, there were changes made to the Arrival Procedure. The changes are highlighted in yellow in this document -

2020-2021 Returning to Cornwall School

 

Please see the message from Nurse Gina below -

September 8, 2020

 

HELLO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES!!!!

WELCOME BACK!!!!  

 

I wanted to share with you videos of the elementary school nurses that you can watch together.  These introduce and reinforce some of the new health and safety routines students will experience upon arrival back to school.

 

Feel free to send any questions my way!  

When to See the Nurse

http://www.mediafire.com/file/80lrhgzjugotans/ACSDNursesWhenSeeNurse.mp4/file

Bathrooms

http://www.mediafire.com/file/mpst6ogsfrrk0gy/ACSDNursesBathrooms.mp4/file

PPE

http://www.mediafire.com/file/svyub8wzk80bd20/file

Handwashing

http://www.mediafire.com/file/9uh6hh9cnu34edc/file

Mask Wearing

http://www.mediafire.com/file/71hcbgwgs94zw6j/ACSDNursesMaskWearing.mp4/file

 

See you all soon!

Nurse Gina

gciancia@acsdvt.org

 

Thank you! I will post again on Friday of this week.

 

Stay safe,

Heather

 

 

Hello Cornwall Families,

 

I am writing this before the school day begins - we are looking forward to seeing students for the Welcome today and for school next week, both in person and virtually!

Substitute for Mindy

Sue Sears will start the year as a part-time long term substitute for Mindy Harvey. She will be collaborating with Will Chapman-Hale. She will teach 3rd grade Math and, once intervention services start, will provide intervention services. Thank you, Sue!

We are happy to collect cards and send them to Mindy!

A Letter from Nurse Gina

September 4, 2020

 

Hello Parents and Guardians-

Just a few more reminders/updates as we get closer to the students’ first day back at school. 

Below are the following COVID Screening Questions we are asking you to review each morning.  Any one “yes” will require you to call the school and report that your student will be staying home that day.  The school nurse will then be notified and will reach out to provide more information.  You do not need to provide us with written documentation of your answers. 

 

Has your child been in close contact with a person who has COVID-19? Has your child travelled to a location for leisure that is not considered eligible for quarantine-free travel? Does your child feel unwell with any of the following symptoms consistent with COVID-19: Cough Shortness of breath  Chills Fatigue  Muscle pain or body aches  Headache (not explained by a known diagnosis of migraines)  Sore throat  Loss of taste or smell  Congestion or runny nose (not allergy related) Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

The following is a message from the Health Department about COVID testing sites:

We just posted two additional COVID-19 testing dates in Middlebury for September.  The National Guard will run COVID-19 testing clinics on September 3 and 10 at the American Legion Post #27 (49 Wilson Road).  The clinics will run from 9am – 3pm.  National Guard clinics can accommodate 200 appointments per day with additional capacity for walk-ins.  The National Guard will likely continue to host Thursday clinics through September.  We are hoping to finalize plans for additional September National Guard clinics next week. 

The Health Department Middlebury office will continue to host COVID-19 clinics every Tuesday from 9am – 3pm at our building, 156 South Village Green.  Our clinics have 100 appointments per day. 

For more information about Health Department and National Guard COVID-19 testing clinics:  https://www.healthvermont.gov/response/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-covid-19.

Best,

Moira L. Cook

Health Services District Director

Middlebury District Office

Vermont Department of Health

Ph: 802/388-5732

 

As always, if you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

Gina Ciancia Jackson BSN, RN

ACSD School Nurse

gciancia@acsdvt.org

The First Weeks

The schedule for the beginning of the year and the health and guidelines in place mean that the start of this school year feels a little different. 

 

Teachers will start their classes the same way they do at the beginning of any year - by setting routines, teaching the expectations, and building community. 

The first 6 weeks of school are “an ideal time to begin showing [students] that school is a safe place, that they’re important members of the classroom and school communities, and that they can look forward to an engaging, challenging, and fun year of learning” (The First Six Weeks of School). 

Thursday/Friday and Remote Students

Teachers will connect with Thursday/Friday and remote students either at the on-site Welcome today or electronically to provide information about the start of school next week. Their communication will focus on building connections, routines, and expectations.

Learning opportunities vs learning experiences in the hybrid model

As teachers are planning for instruction, they are making sure that all students have the same learning opportunities while at the same time recognizing that the learning experiences for students who are in person and 100% remote will be different.  

 

For instance, all students will receive instruction in the approaches to learning, such as approaches to research/formulating questions. The experience of doing this with a class in person is a different experience than doing it at home with an adult or independently. Both are opportunities for instruction and practice on the same skill, but the experiences in person and at home will be different. 

Buses

There were questions about buses on the Zoom meeting yesterday, which Brittany Gilman responded to.

• The buses are able to accommodate everyone who signed up
• There will be flexibility regarding ridership in the event of an emergency
• There will be an opportunity to sign up again quarterly and/or when we move between phases.  

Important Information

 

Returning to Cornwall School

 

Meal order form for off-site days: 

School Meals While Learning at Home - Elementar…

 

We are setting up a location on the school website to house the above important information in one space. At the top of the page, if you click on COVID 19 REENTRY, there is a dropdown link where you can access Cornwall specific information.

 

Introductions

Next week, I will include introductions to new staff members so you can get to know the a little bit

We are all very excited to be with students again, both on-site and virtually! 

Thank you, and stay well,

 

Heather

 

 

Hello again Cornwall Families,

 

Returning to Cornwall School-

Hello! We are about a week away from starting school!

To help clarify what is the same and what will be different about processes this school year, we have put together a handbook that describes these changes. Please note that it will be updated as information is finalized or we receive new guidance.

 

Communications -

In addition to communication from Superintendent Burrows on Fridays, newsletters will continue to be posted on Fridays on the Cornwall website. (These mid-week communications will taper off……)

 

We are looking to continue to schedule regular Zoom meetings as well. The next planned Zoom meeting is this Thursday, September 3 at 9am. 

 

Use this link to access the Zoom meeting-

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86172266092?pwd=ZlZiMkZmdWsrUElyWTYyek5jS21XQT09

Passcode: 4tVa1H

Optional On-site Welcome

We met as a staff yesterday to finalize plans for the optional On-site Welcome for Friday, September 4. Here are the important details:

 

Goals - Teachers will introduce students to the health and safety guidelines and to the indoor and outdoor spaces in preparation for the school year. Thursday/Friday students will be given information about what their first day of school on Tuesday, September 8th will look like.

 

Parents/Guardians - Because visitor access to the building is limited and space is limited indoors, we ask that parents drop their children off with the teacher and pick them back up at the end of the orientation time. Parents will not be allowed in the building. If you choose to remain outside to wait, per the Health and Safety guidelines, please no congregating.

 

Times -

9:00am-10:30am, Monday/Tuesday students

12:30pm-2:00pm, Thursday/Friday and 100% remote students

 

The first step will be to find the correct entrance and meet the teacher there!! 

Kindergarten and First Grade - meet at the door to the Kindergarten room

Second Grade - meet at the elementary entrance

Third and Fourth Grade - meet at the door to the Ms. Harvey’s classroom

Fifth and Sixth Grade - meet at the door to the library

100% remote students - meet at the door of your grade level

 

Health and Safety-

In accordance with ACSD’s Health and Safety Guidelines, please:

• Wear facial coverings/masks
• Maintain physical distancing
• Stay home if you are sick

If you have a question about which weekly cohort you are in, please contact your child’s teacher or the main office.

 

We are so looking forward to school starting again!

 

Warmly,

Heather

Hello Cornwall families,

 

There has been a lot of communication today, so I’ll get right to it!

On-site Welcome for Kindergarten - Sixth Grade

To make it easier for families with children in kindergarten AND other grades, we are going to combine the orientations into one day, September 4.

 

9:00am-10:30am, Monday/Tuesday students

12:30pm-2:00pm, Thursday/Friday and 100% remote students

 

The first step will be to find the correct entrance!! 

More detailed information will be sent next week regarding drop-off procedures, but one change is the use of designated doors for entrance into the building.

Kindergarten and First Grade - meet at the door to the Kindergarten room

Second Grade - meet at the elementary entrance

Third and Fourth Grade - meet at the door to the Ms. Harvey’s classroom

Fifth and Sixth Grade - meet at the door to the library

100% remote students - meet at the door of your grade level

 

In accordance with ACSD’s Health and Safety Guidelines, all children and adults, please:

• Wear facial coverings/masks
• Maintain physical distancing
• Stay home if you are sick

If you have a question about which weekly cohort you are in, please contact your child’s teacher or the main office.

We are looking forward to seeing you!

 

Welcome Information

Welcome information including important forms will be sent home by mail early next week.

 

Health and Safety

Earlier today, I shared a message from Nurse Gina. She also asked me to share the 

Outlying Elementary Schools Health and Safety Guidelines for Students and Families.

 

Attendance

Attendance Procedures in Hybrid and Remote Learning

 

Thank you, and stay well,

 

Heather

 

 

Hello Cornwall families,

 

The end of the school year is upon us, and this year it brings a strange combination of reflection and deep thinking along with the usual flurry of communication and activity. Today’s newsletter will, by necessity, focus on the flurry - it includes important information about the next week. You will also be receiving separate communications from the school and the district. 

After the school year ends on June 10, as a school staff and district, we will be spending some time on reflection and planning ahead.

 

Letter from ACSD Elementary Principals -

Please see this important letter which was shared earlier today with resources for talking to children about race, racism, and privilege.

 

IB PYP Verification Visit -

The virtual authorization visit will take place next week from June 8-June 12 so that Cornwall and the other ACSD elementary schools can fully become International Baccalaureate schools. Most of Cornwall’s “visit” will take place on Tuesday, June, 9 but teachers will be involved with meetings throughout the week.

 

Sixth Grade Promotion:

We will be celebrating our 6th graders on June 10th at 1:00pm by holding a drive up celebration following state guidelines for health and safety. We will only have room for the 6th graders to participate, and we want to acknowledge and thank the rest of the Cornwall School community for supporting these students through their elementary school journey.

 

Updated information will be sent to 6th grade families on Monday. Please reach out to Heather or Andrew if you have any questions.

We look forward to recognizing their accomplishments!

 

 

End-of-school car parade!

To acknowledge the end of the school year, teachers and staff have been looking for a way to say good-bye to all students, K-6, for the summer, especially considering that the transition to summer will feel very different this year. 

 

On the afternoon of the last day of school, June 10th, we will drive through Cornwall and drive by family’s houses. Cornwall fire department will participate as well! We are in the process of figuring out the route so that we can provide you with a time frame.

 

 

Meal Service

The last day of meal service for Addison Central School District will be Wednesday, June 10.  There are several other local programs that will be providing meals that will be available for pick up throughout the summer. Please check the ACSD Facebook and website for further information on more programs and resources as it becomes available. 

 

Mask Survey

ACSD School Nurses are helping to provide cloth masks to families in need. Please complete this survey to assist the nurses in this endeavor. Thank you! 

 

Come Alive Outside: Summer Passport

Come Alive Outside has created a free Summer Passport for students filled with fun outdoor activities that can be completed anywhere while practicing physical distancing! The passport was designed for K-5th grade students, but anyone is welcome to participate. Complete all 15 activities in the passport to earn a prize and qualify to win a $50 Gift Card to Dick’s Sporting Goods!

 

Passports can be downloaded and printed by visiting this website: https://comealiveoutside.com/passports/

 

If you would like a printed copy, please fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevem-9alMiV-ev8WqbbO9jBILoQrg6WrIb-AOkIW7ybCpLGA/viewform 

Thank you to the OK You’ve Got This campaign for youth resilience for offering to print and mail passports to students in Addison County.

 

As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Thank you and stay well,

 

Heather

 

 

 

Hello Cornwall families,

 

As the school year is winding down, today’s newsletter is full of announcements. See below for information on the IB Authorization visit, 6th grade promotion, the end of year celebration, request for masks, details about the gardens and bees, and our last question of the week.

 

Primary Years Program IB Authorization Visit:

A virtual authorization visit will take place the week of June 8-June 12 so that CES and the other ACSD elementary schools can fully become International Baccalaureate schools. 

 

We have been asked to invite 4 - 6 parents and students who would be willing to talk about IB and how its implementation has impacted our students and school. The questions will be informal and touch on how the philosophy, instruction and design of IB has resonated with students and families. 

 

Tuesday, June 9 from 10:00-10:30 has been set aside for the virtual parent/student meeting, and we would greatly appreciate your involvement. This visit is not meant to feel evaluative -- it is intended to give IB an overview of what we have done to implement the Primary Years Program at Cornwall and what work we still need to do before authorization. 

 

Thank you for considering participating in this session and please contact Heather if you are available and interested in participating. 

 

 

Sixth Grade Promotion:

We will be celebrating our 6th graders on June 10th at 1:00pm by holding a drive up celebration following state guidelines for health and safety. We will only have room for the 6th graders to participate, and we want to acknowledge and thank the rest of the Cornwall School community for supporting these students through their elementary school journey.

 

Information was sent to 6th grade families earlier this week to explain what the celebration will look like. Please reach out to Heather or Andrew if you have any questions.

 

We look forward to recognizing their accomplishments!

 

 

End-of-school car parade!

To acknowledge the end of the school year, teachers and staff have been looking for a way to say good-bye for the summer, especially considering that the transition to summer will feel very different this year. 

 

On the afternoon of the last day of school, June 10th, we will drive through Cornwall and drive by family’s houses. Cornwall fire department will participate as well! We are in the process of figuring out details including the time frame, and more information will follow.

 

 

Masks:

Nurse Gina has requested that we put a call out to community members for masks. If you are able to make some to donate to others, please drop them off at the high school between 10:30-3:00 on Thursday 6/4 and Thursday 6/11. Thank you!

 

 

Garden and Bees:

Thanks to Mark Burns and Lisa Beck, the school garden has been cleaned up and planted. They also arranged for master gardeners from the Victory Gardens group at the University of Vermont to take care of the garden over the summer. 

 

Thank you also to the Fetterolf family for taking care of the bees and the trees. We appreciate all of you for looking forward and helping out in these ways!

 

Question of the Week:

Do you know who this baby is?

 

  

Email questionoftheweek@acsdvt.org with your guesses!

 

As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions.

 

Thank you and stay well,

 

Heather

 

 

 

Hello Cornwall families,

 

What glorious weather! I’ve heard more than one person say that no place is more beautiful than Vermont when the weather is nice, and it’s so true!

I hope you all saw the message about the end of the school year that was sent earlier this week. It addresses the last day of school, the winding down of learning, our International Baccalaureate PYP virtual verification visit, progress reports, and 6th grade promotion. I included it at the end of this newsletter for your reference.

 

Announcements-

 

Virtual Kids on the Run Race! 

May 30-31st is the Virtual Kids on the Run Race created by Ms. Carra and other PE teachers in the district. With a parent or guardian, we are challenging you to run/walk a One Mile costume fun run , or a 3.1 mile costume fun run in a safe spot of your choice! Many have already signed up and will be receiving a free T-shirt, and if you haven't signed up and want to participate, you still can! Just email Ms. Carra before or on the day of the race. We may even have a few leftover T-shirts to give away! Race day is May 30 or May 31st, your choice, and we encourage you to wear a silly costume and submit photos to Ms. Carra or Laurie Ballantine to show your enthusiasm for movement and exercise! 

Remember to choose a safe place to run with an adult, and have fun! We are so proud of our students who are challenging themselves to move and get outside!

 

Free and Reduced Lunch Applications: Additional Food Shopping Benefits for Eligible Families

We are encouraging all families who do not currently qualify for free and reduced lunch to submit an application now. This includes families who have not applied in the past and families who previously applied, were not considered eligible, and have had a change in financial circumstances.  Families who are currently eligible to receive free and reduced lunch do NOT need to reapply.  Please note that application approval will not impact whether or not families continue to receive meal deliveries through the end of the school year.

Eligibility for free and reduced price school meals qualifies households to receive an additional food shopping benefit called Pandemic-EBT through 3-Squares VT (families will receive an EBT card that can be used to buy eligible food items at participating stores and farmers' markets) and it could impact free summer meal eligibility for our community in the future. The number of students who qualify for free meals also impacts additional funding for schools.

Applications can be submitted electronically by following this link (and entering 05753 for the zip code) or can be completed by filling out a paper copy of this form and mailing it to ACSD, 49 Charles Ave, Middlebury, VT 05753.  If you have questions, please contact Bill Waller, bwaller@acsdvt.org, 382-1293.

 

Question of the Week-

 

Congratulations to Kiera Sell who correctly guessed last week’s baby as Mrs. Harvey. Kiera will receive a certificate in the mail to redeem for a prize once we are physically back in school.

 

Reflection-

 

 

Have a fabulous weekend! As a reminder, there are no classes on Monday in observance of Memorial Day.

 

Please see below for the End-of-Year message that went out earlier this week.

 

Warmly,

 

Heather

 

May 21, 2020

 

Dear Cornwall families,

 

In light of the superintendent’s announcement that the official last day of school will be Wednesday, June 10th, I am writing to explain some of the ways we will ending the school year:

 

1) The Week at a Glance is Winding Down

Over the next three weeks, teachers will be expecting students to spend less time doing “school work” and leave more time for independent reading, exploring the outdoors, and reflecting on the ups and downs of the past year/months.  

Please continue to contact teachers each day, even as the year winds down.  This makes it possible for us to mark your child present in our attendance system.

Teachers will continue to communicate with you each week, particularly as the schedule for class and/or small group meetings change, and as we put closure on the year and this extended period of remote learning.

 

2) International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program Authorization is Happening!

Due to the COVID-19 shutdown, our planned verification visit from International Baccalaureate in early April was cancelled. We have been able to design a “virtual” verification visit for early June, during which teachers and leaders from all seven ACSD elementary schools will share the work we’ve done to implement the Primary Years Program and become a fully authorized IB PYP school district. 

There will be opportunities for students and parents to contribute to these virtual meetings and share your experiences and observations about IB and the PYP, so please let me know if you’d like to participate (more details to come).

 

3) Sixth Grade Promotion

We are coordinating scheduling 6th grade promotion with the other schools in the area and also with our PYP Authorization visit. It looks like we will be able to hold promotion on June 10th in the afternoon, so please hold that time. As soon as we know for certain, we will be in communication with families about both the date and the format. 

 

4) End-of-year Reports to be Mailed June 17th

Teachers have enjoyed collecting feedback from students and families around their positive take-aways from this “school at home” time. We have designed an end-of-the year narrative report to reflect the many ways students engaged in their learning. The report will be mailed home on June 17th. 

 

Thank you, once again, for your continued commitment to making this remote learning situation work.  As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.

 

Thank you,

Heather