Negley Navigator News

Email: melody.crowther@hayscisd.net
Website: https://www.hayscisd.net/Domain/17
Location: 5940 McNaughton, Kyle, TX, United States
Phone: (512) 268-8501
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NegleyElementarySchool/
Twitter: @NESNavigator1

PLEASE check your child for Covid symptoms before sending or dropping your child off at school! This includes:

TEMPERATURE CHECK

Asking your child how they are feeling

Look at their face and eyes! This is the FIRST thing we look at when a child is sent to the nurse. Their little eyes will tell you how they are feeling way before symptoms often begin.

If they do not feel well, PLEASE do not send them to school. They can meet with their teacher virtually. If they feel better later in the morning, bring them on in!

If your child is coming to the building, please remember that they must have a face MASK.

Thanks for making sure they have several in their backpacks!

The mission at Negley Elementary is for students, teachers, and parents to work together to build a foundation of respectful leaders, lifelong learners, and problem solvers.

Ahoy Navigator Parents!

I hope you have enjoyed this very HOT weekend and have gotten to rest a bit. As a reminder tomorrow is Parent/Teacher Conference Day. Please be sure you are on time because our teachers have planned conferences back to back! Even just a few minutes can cause a back up!

Progress Reports are coming out soon! PLEASE read Ms. Winn's Counselor's Corner section below. She has some great information about the parent portal and how to keep up with your child's grades and assignments.

As a reminder, please think about how you want your child to learn for the 2nd 9 weeks. Take a look in the Parent Portal to remind yourself what your selection was. Parents have until Oct. 30 to make this selection. I need you to do this so that I can see if I need to move some teachers from virtual to in person, due to students wanting to return to in person learning. Thank you for taking care of this!

#NegleyStrong

Captain Crowther

Dear Hays CISD Family,

Let me begin by saying I hope this upcoming long weekend (three days for staff and four for students) will be restful and recharging for you. As I mentioned in this week’s “Wright This Minute” video, we have a higher percentage of students failing this year, compared to the same timeframe as last year. That failure rate is up 30 percentage points. Given the COVID disruptions and changes, the failure rate increase isn’t unexpected or unique to our school district. However, it is a problem we must confront. My hope is that by getting the message out now, we have time to make some fixes before next week’s UIL grading period cut-off date and before the cut-off date for the first nine-week grading period that is coming up in early November.

There is no single cause for the increased failure rate. Instead, data shows that there are multiple contributing factors. We do indeed have some students not completing assignments and we need them turn in their work; however, we (your district leadership) have some work to do on our end too – on our systems and grading guidelines. I know our students, parents, and teachers are working hard – harder than ever. My announcement about our failure rate isn’t about placing any blame, nor is it punitive in any way. Instead, my hope that by identifying the problem, we can fix it. Below, you will find some of the changes we are making to our grading guidelines to help us through this most unprecedented start to a school year. In addition, we will be implementing other tangible changes to help. As an example, advisory and homeroom periods will be utilized to provide students with additional trainings and information on how to navigate Schoology, time management, and student advocacy.

As always, I continue to wish everyone grace and understanding. We’ll keep working hard on our end and together we will continue to be strong. Enjoy your long weekend, you have earned it.

Eric

Grading Guidelines Revisions Effective Immediately

All campus principals and instructional coaches met with the Curriculum and Instruction Department on Wednesday and Thursday of this week to develop plans of action and discuss various solutions. In addition, the District Leadership Team (DLT); composed of teachers, parents, and community members; and serving as our Covid-19 Task Force, provided feedback on possible revisions to the grading guidelines. In response to this feedback, the following revisions to the elementary and secondary grading guidelines are implemented immediately:

• Students now have until the end of the first nine weeks grading period to turn late work. The five-day (elementary) and two meetings of the class (secondary block schedule) deadlines are lifted during the first grading period.
• All work turned in late in the first nine weeks is eligible for full credit. A mandatory grading cap on assignments turned in late is lifted during the first grading period.
• The five-day (elementary) and two meetings of the class (secondary block schedule) grace periods to turn in late work return in the second nine-week grading period, as does the grading cap on late assignments. However, the maximum grading cap is increased from 70 to 75. This increase remains for the entire 2020-2021 school year.
• Major grades, which are generally not eligible for a re-do, will be eligible for re-do for elementary students during the first nine week grading period.

Holiday Meal Box Sign-Up Households in need of a commodity box and a frozen turkey are invited to sign up and reserve their holiday meal box beginning Monday, October 12th. Only one holiday meal box per qualifying household. Sign up your household at haysfoodbank.org. Look for the banner at the top of the homepage. If you would prefer to sign up by phone, you may do so beginning on October 12th at 10:00AM. You may sign up by phone on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:00AM - 4:00PM after October 12th. The last day to sign up will be November 6th.

We cannot stress ENOUGH the importance of a distraction-free learning environment - or at least a distraction-reduced environment, at home. We understand how hard that is, but it is also very important. We want to make sure that they are as engaged and as focused on the material as possible. We know it's difficult and learning from home does pose some very unique challenges but we need to reiterate to them that, even though they're learning from home, they need to BEHAVE as if they were learning in a classroom at Negley. If it wouldn't be OK to do there, it's not OK do do here. 😊 We know it's tough - thank you for your support with this!

Students who are learning virtually at home can still enjoy breakfast and lunch for FREE. Visit https://www.hayscisd.net/eat .

Negley PTA 2020-2021 Calendar

Join Negley PTA

Last Year's Negley PTA Membership Count: 209
Current Negley PTA Membership Count: 76 and growing

PTA is for everyone - spouses, grandparents, students, staff, and community members too! Sign up the whole family to join Negley PTA online right now from your phone. We need your support this year more than ever to support our students & staff at Negley.
#negleystrong

Join Here
—>Hays CISD
—>Laura B. Negley Elementary

https://www.facebook.com/NegleyPTA/

Today is the day you can get your Negley Strong shirt! Tie dye. These 100% cotton tees are comfy and true to size. $20

We wanted to recognize this year that though things are different, and some of us will be virtual students and some on-campus, *together* we can be NEGLEY STRONG

Shirts are in stock and will be delivered to your porch within HCISD boundaries. Negley staff can request theirs to be delivered to campus instead (staff only, please).

We also have more Negley House shirts & hoodies in stock for new students or those that just need a new size!

See it all at the store:

https://www.negleyelementarypta.com/store.html

Yard sign presale found here:

Https://forms.gle/4G2ozARnzesY3Nyy6

Join Negley PTA here:

https://txpta.secure.force.com/JoinPTA/

Question: Have you checked to see how your child is doing academically?

Sometimes as parents we assume that they have this under control, but this new system of logging on, zooming, and completing assignments can be overwhelming, for teachers, for parents, and especially for students. Zoom is specifically tailored for students to not only get face to face contact with their teacher, but also to get help regarding lessons, extra support, enrichment opportunities, and is a great time for students to connect with their classmates. I know it is taxing to be in front of the computer all day, zooming etc… but I promise you, it will pay off, especially when and if your child hits concepts he/she doesn’t know.

If you are curious to how your child is doing academically, please log in to the PARENT PORTAL (PSS)- you will find assignments due, missing assignments, as well as their cumulative average. We don’t want anyone surprised when report cards arrive and they aren’t what is expected! Many students do not understand the concept of “averages”, and they think that “not turning in an assignment” means it just doesn’t count. That M in the gradebook averages into a zero. I will be working with 4thand 5th graders on how to check their own grades during guidance lessons, and how monitor their successes and set goals, but in the meantime, be sure to check out the parent portal so that you are aware of how your child is doing. The link: https://www.hayscisd.net/parent_portal

Click the graphic to enter, or if you do not have a log in, scroll to the bottom.

Virtual attendance is different than academic grades. Your child may be logging into Schoology, but not completing assignments or they may be on zoom but turning off the camera and doing other things. You may wish to check in with them if you see something in the PSS that alerts you.

Students also have access to a student self-serve portal. https://haystx.teams.hosting/selfserve/EntryPointHomeAction.do?parent=false

This enables them to take responsibility for their own progress and goal setting. If you would like to access this through your smart phone, go to the app page, and add HaysCISD. Once there, your child, or you, can access links to SSS and PSS easily!

If you are needing assistance with Schoology, please do not hesitate to reach out. Don’t let the first report card be the wake up call!

Counselors are getting ready for in person guidance lessons at school and will continue providing support through Schoology lessons, and through virtual zoom lessons soon! Last year, we had several VERY successful “coffee chats” with parents. With the changing times we would like to continue these chats through ZOOM and offer them at a few different times, to tailor to your needs. However, we need your help! We would like to know the topics that you think would be helpful for a coffee chat, and the best times for you. Please complete the attached form and we hope to have one scheduled in November!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1keN_B9Emot9NAUo-ARQ_tDBhPmHOwwrjqSZfZqJy-YQ/edit?usp=sharing

Continue to check the counselor website for updates and information. See you soon and be safe.

https://sites.google.com/g.hayscisd.net/nesschoolcounseling/home?authuser=0

To enroll in an social emotional learning (SEL) course for the counselor, which will have a cool virtual counseling office, with books and links etc… see your code below!

NES counseling webpage: https://sites.google.com/g.hayscisd.net/nesschoolcounseling/home?authuser=0

Schoology SEL access codes:

PreK: 3KQV-XPBP-RP54H

K: SQ9B-88PM-HXBTQ

1st: DZPW-TFWM-GH2RT

2nd: H9RV-52XF-R4H6Z

3rd: DNQ3-2NXB-SW9HB

4th: 2SQZ-X5F3-XB9FK

5th: FHR7-TT68-V6TW6

“We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world.”

-Helen Keller

Michelle Winn

Counselor

M.Ed, LSC

512-268-8501 ext:47050

Recipient of 2010 ADL “Excellence in Education” Award

Recipient of 2018-19 HaysCISD Elementary Counselor Ambassador Award

Negley Elementary School Counseling Website:

https://sites.google.com/g.hayscisd.net/nesschoolcounseling/home?authuser=0

Join us in knocking out the flu together! Nurses from Health Heroes will be on campus October 23, 2020 giving FREE influenza vaccines to students. Complete your child’s consent form today and let’s #KnockOutFlu. #AttendanceMatters

Please return completed consent forms by October 21, 2020. You may send them with your student or email them to our School NurseJill.Wenzel@hayscisd.net

This Flu Clinic is for ALL students ages 4 and up, virtual and in-person. We will be assigned a time that the flu clinic is available. Virtual and in-person students will come at the same time. Masks will be worn by everyone.

Consent forms are attached to this newsletter.

Jill Wenzel, RN, BSN

School Nurse, Negley Elementary

Phone: 512.268.8501

Fax: 512.268.7823

Email: jill.wenzel@hayscisd.net

Check out Nurse Jill's Virtual Clinic: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1nSHmtmJE0b-auM-ovxkzSJkxWzebbtUABPE764bOTs0/preview?rm=minimal&slide=id.p

What a great week! The Pigeon helped Mrs. Meyer and I drive the Book Bus into classrooms all week long! It was so awesome seeing the joy on the faces of our kiddos as we drove into their rooms. Students were able to borrow books from the cart that will be due back on their next library day. I will send an email the night before library to remind you of what your child has checked out. If they are not done with the book, they don’t have to bring it back just have them tell me that they want to renew or “re-check” it. For kindergarten and 1st grade, they only get one book at a time so if they forget their book or want to keep it another week, they won’t be able to get another one until that first one is returned. This a link to the tutorial that shows how to hold books in Destiny Discover (the online catalog, also on the library website and on Schoology). This way they will be able to choose any book they want from our entire library collection. Books will be quarantined for 72 hours after they are returned to the library to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

BOOKS STILL OUT FROM LAST YEAR STILL NEED TO COME BACK! PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AROUND FOR BOOKS FROM LAST YEAR BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE A LOT OUT!

For virtual students, library lessons will continue on Schoology each week. “Curbside” library pick up will begin on Monday between 11-1. We will also have Curbside Fridays 3:30-4:30. Returning books will be during Curbside as well. Virtual students put books (up to 5) on hold for pick up. Here’s the link to the tutorial for putting books on hold. Parents will receive an email when the book is ready for pick up. Pick up will only happen during Curbside Hours, Mondays 11-1 and Fridays 3:30-4:30. Holds have to be placed by 8 am on pick up day in order for them to be ready that day. Holds placed after 8 am of pick up day will be ready on the next pick up day. Books not picked up after two consecutive Curbsides will be returned to the shelf. All returned books will be quarantined for 72 hours to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

You can always check out the library website for great resources as well. If you don’t have access to the grade level library lessons I will provide the access codes for each grade level below. Have a great week and you can always email me if you have any questions, Colleen.Tierney@hayscisd.net.

Library Lessons on Schoology Access Codes by Grade Level:

Pre-K: X6RH-TDMZ-ZPB36

Kinder: R732-SSNG-752CH

1st: XQ4J-QPZ5-XC57N

2nd: DT27-F4RS-CTPX6

3rd: S5CS-38X9-SVBQP

4th: GBGD-VVG3-PXJG7

5th: 3V8X-993T-BSG62

Colleen Tierney

Librarian

Negley Elementary School

Colleen.Tierney@hayscisd.net

(512) 268-8501 x47009

Negley Library Website

Please check the calendar often as it will be updated on a weekly basis.

October:

13: Student Holiday/Parent-Teacher Conference Day

30: Last day to make a change to the instructional preference for your child - in person or virtual?

November:

1: Daylight saving time ends

11: Veteran's Day

19: Thanksgiving lunch for students only. Adults can pick up a Thanksgiving lunch at the PAC. More informaiton coming soon.

23-27: Thanksgiving Holiday

December:

21-January 4: Winter Break

Below are the cut-off dates for parents to change instructional options for each nine-week grading period.

2nd Nine Weeks = 11/9/20 - 1/29/21

Cut off: 10/30/20

3rd Nine Weeks = 2/1/21 - 4/1/21

Cut off: 1/22/21

4th Nine Weeks = 4/5/21 - 5/28/21

Cut off: 3/22/21

Please remember that ANYTIME you come to school to join your child (other than just dropping off your child at the beginning of the day) you MUST check in at the front office and get your Raptor sticker. To receive a sticker, you must present a photo ID regardless if this is your first time or thousandth time to check in to the school. This is for student safety and for us to know who is on our campus at all times. Thank you for being nice to the front office staff as they enforce this safety measure.

This does not apply to evening activities - just the school day.

ALL FAMILIES WILL NEED A TRANSPORTATION TAG IF THEY WILL BE PICKING UP THEIR CHILD FROM CAMPUS.

These tags are super important for picking up your child at dismissal. Each family has a distinct number - it is your family number. Instead of calling out your child's name for all to hear, we call your family number. Each family will receive 2 cards and 3 round discs that need to be attached to your child's backpack. If you need extras for another adult that may be picking up your child , just let our Receptionist, Ms. Goodman know when she gives you your original. There will be a $1.00 charge for extra cards OR to replace a lost card after this initial pick up. This fee is to help us with replacement materials. So - the first ones are FREE, but later on there will be the small charge.

PLEASE EMAIL MS. GOODMAN TO SCHEDULE A TIME TO PICK UP YOUR TRANSPORTATION TAGS or STOP BY THE RECEPTION AREA.

If you are picking up your child in the car rider line, these tags can hang from your passenger side visor using a rubber band or from your rearview mirror. It makes it easy for us to see and call your number. If you do not have your car tag, you will be asked to drive to the front office and present your ID in order to pick up your child.

If you are walking to the school to pick up your child, you will need to show your tag to your child's teacher OR the teacher on duty. They will check the number on the card with the tag attached to your child's backpack before releasing your student to you.

Here is your SCHOOLOGY login information:

• URL = https://hayscisd.schoology.com
• Your username =
• Your password =

If you have difficulty logging in after allowing 24 hours for the system to update, please contact Technology Help Desk: HelpDesk@hayscisd.net (512) 268-7676

Thank you for your patience as we work through this new system.

Use this link for additional instructions: SCHOOLOGY Instructions (English)

_________________

Aquí está su información de acceso a la SCHOOLOGY:

• URL = https://hayscisd.schoology.com
• Su nombre de usuario =
• Su contraseña =

Si tiene dificultades para iniciar sesión después de esperar 24 horas para que el sistema se actualice, comuníquese con Technology Help Desk: HelpDesk@hayscisd.net (512) 268-7676

Gracias por su paciencia mientras trabajamos en este nuevo sistema.

Utilice el enlace para obtener instrucciones adicionales: SCHOOLOGY Instrucciones (en Español)

We are #NegleyProud of our students! If your child is part of an extra curricular activity that has achieved recognition, please email me at: melody.crowther@hayscisd.net so that we may recognize and celebrate their accomplishments!