Ready, Set, We Got This!
"Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all."
― Emily Dickinson
It has only been one week, and one day since I saw many of you at school, it feels surreal. This past week I witnessed the strength in the collective efforts of teams and the hope of a community working as one. We are all living in the most uncertain and unprecedented times, and although at times it can feel scary, I know that we've got this!
Last week, all of Canton Public Schools took action! We distributed Chromebooks to families, delivered lunch to students, and answered many questions. I am sure many more questions will surface. Regardless, I am sure that we will continue to work as partners.
I am so proud of our crew of teachers who are ramping up to provide robust and engaging learning experiences starting this week for families. The Luce Crew are fantastic teachers! I have witnessed teachers reaching out to their students and families to stay connected, teachers excited to get up to speed with Google Tools as they adjust to this "new normal," and a high level of collaboration and teamwork.
On Friday, Dr. Fischer-Mueller, our dynamic Superintendent, sent a detailed email (attached below) outlining academic learning opportunities and other district updates. Tomorrow, you will receive an email from your child's teacher and specialists. Some parents may have already received communication, and that is great. All teachers will create a Google Classroom, which will serve as the primary mechanism for teachers to provide academic learning opportunities to your child. If you are a parent in K-2, you will be invited to join your child's teacher's Google Classroom. Most children in grades 3-5 currently use Google Classroom. Children will engage in no more than 2-hours of academic learning opportunities with additional options for specials each week. Remember, these learning opportunities will not be graded. The goal of this work will be to maintain skills and to foster engagement. It is not a replacement for the teacher.
So what, now what? I realize that as a parent, you are trying your best to create a sense of normalcy in your household. You may even be working from home, or trying to get accustomed to Google Classroom. Please remember to give yourself grace and know that we are all learning this new way of school. If you have any questions about this process, don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher or me. Also, if you do not have a device in your home and still need a Chromebook, please email me directly to let me know. We are all in this together!
For many of our children, this is their first pandemic, and what a ride it is! I encourage you to document this time with your family and for your memories. Write down your experiences, take pictures, and, most importantly, take care of each other. We will all do our part to navigate the next 2-weeks, and we will prepare for whatever is to come.
In this weekly bulletin, I have reposted pictures of the last week of school. It is essential that we stay connected as a school family and also as humans. Photos are an excellent way to tell a story as we practice social distancing. Music and good food also work! In the spirit of staying connected, please send me pictures that highlight your new routine as you see fit. I will share them in the Weekly Happenings and Tweet them out using the hashtag #togetherwemakeithappen. I would love to know how you are doing.
I will continue to send out the Weekly Happenings and Principal Mid-Week Memos. In two weeks, we will see where we are as the state of Massachusetts. Until that time, please continue to practice social distancing, reach out with any needs, eat yummy food, record this moment in our history, and stay healthy. Each day we will grow stronger together. And together, we will get through this!
We've got this, Luce Crew!
Yeshi Lamour
Proud Principal
#togetherwemakeithappen
Follow us on Twitter @Luce School
Info For Parents Regarding Google Log-ins
As we move forward with Online Experiences and Google Tools, please see links to support families to learn how to access Google Classrooms. Also, please see an additional link that provides student usernames and passwords for other online resources.
Slidedeck for parents: How can I access my child's Google Classroom?
Luce Log info: Luce Elementary students log in
Luce School Council March Meeting is Postponed Until April ***(REPOST)***
The Luce School Council engaged in a mid-year review of our SIP. The next step is to share our revisions with our teaching staff for additional feedback and revision. Finally, we will share our revisions with the community at large.
Priority 1 Updates: Achieving Academic Excellence & Equity
Priority 2 Updates: Transforming Teaching & Learning
In March, we will also begin to work on our SIP for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year.
New District Calendar and School Start Times (Repost)
I hope this message finds you well. The School Committee approved new school start times and the district calendar for school year 20-21. Please see the links below for more information on the changes.
#togetherwemakeithappen
Principal Lamour
