September 27, 2020
Dear Montrose families,
We had a GREAT first week back to school in the building. Your children were absolutely amazing and the staff were so happy to see them - at safe distances. We appreciate all that you are doing to have conversations at home about the protocols and new school environment.
As we look to a new week, here are some helpful tips to make our week go smoothly:
1) Help your child identify their belongings by labeling what they bring to school: backpacks, lunch boxes, containers, water bottle, and masks (the one they wear and the extra in their backpack).
2) Help your child pack up their backpack and set them up for success. Having a towel, sit upon, or yoga mat for outside lunch and outside learning makes it much more pleasant.
3) Ideas for outdoor games? Share them with your child so they can teach others. We are working on teaching them games as students are experiencing recess with their hybrid homeroom and rotating through zones on the playground.
4) Every transition and new routine takes more time especially during a pandemic. Your child will benefit from conversations about these including arrival and dismissal plans.
Take a look at our students this week:
They certainly rocked it! So proud of them! We won't have school tomorrow in honor of Yom Kippur. For those of you observing Yom Kippur, g’mar chatima tovah. We will resume classes on Tuesday for hybrid A and Thursday for hybrid B.
My best,
Melissa K-L
Melissa Klosterman-Lando
Principal at Montrose Elementary
WEEKLY CALENDAR
Monday, Sept. 28-No School- Yom Kippur
Tuesday, Sept. 29- Hybrid A group in-person (B learning at home)
Wednesday, Sept. 30- Hybrid A group in-person (B learning at home)
Thursday, Oct. 1- Hybrid B group in-person (A learning at home)
Friday, Oct. 2- Hybrid B group in-person (A learning at home)
HYBRID CALENDAR
Please note that our weekly hybrid schedule is adjusted for days that we do not have school. To access the entire fall schedule click here.
HYBRID LEARNING EXPECTATIONS
Just as we did with distance learning, we have created a document that reflects the expectations and commitments of students, parents and teachers for a successful hybrid learning experience. Please review our hybrid learning expectations here.
TITLE I SCHOOL
Maryland and Montrose receive federal funding under Title I. Title I, Part A (Title I) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESEA) provides financial assistance to local educational agencies for children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards. As a requirement to receive Title I funds, we need to share a document with you entitled A Parent's Right to Know which gives information about how to request details about teacher qualifications. All of Montrose's teachers are Highly Qualified as determined by the Ohio Department of Education meaning that all of our teachers are certified to teach the grade level and content that they teach. Another requirement of Title I is to share our district’s Parent involvement policy available by clicking on the link.
PANORAMA SURVEY
The Panorama survey allows us to assess students’ perceptions of social emotional learning (the critical skills and mindsets that enable success in school and in life). This online questionnaire encourages students to reflect on their own mindsets and approaches to learning.
Fourth and fifth grade students who are part of our hybrid groups will be taking this survey on October 7 which is a Z day. Students participating in eLearning will meet with our counselors and take the survey Oct. 14. The elementary counselors will be inviting students to a Zoom meeting where they will learn about the survey and then be given the link so that they can complete the survey. Counselors will stay on the Zoom call to answer any questions students have.
FOR OUR eLEARNING FAMILIES
To all of our e-learners and families who have made the transition to the SchoolsPLP platform, well done! And thank you for your patience as we navigate the hiccups that are bound to occur with anything new. Some families have reported issues with the lessons being marked as complete when doing the lessons on an iPad. For information about how to adjust iPad settings to resolve this issue, visit https://rb.gy/z0fjzg. If you have additional issues, please reach out to your case manager and check out https://www.bexleyschools.org/eLearning.aspx for additional tips and tricks.
MONTROSE HYBRID LOGISTICS
We are so excited to have students back in the building next week. We know there are lots of details you need to know in order to make this successful. Please take time to review all of this information about things like arrival, dismissal, recess, lunch, etc. Montrose Elementary Hybrid Logistics Plan
PARENT INSTITUTE
Join us virtually on September 30, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. to learn about microaggressions.
Zoom link: https://bexleyschools.zoom.us/j/87954323795
What are they?
How are they impacting our students and our community?
Why is it important that you address them?
What are some strategies that can support you in addressing them?
The discussion will be led by Ms. Leisan C. Smith, Director of Student and Community Engagement and is part of a three-part Parent Institute series on anti-racism. We are encouraging you to submit questions ahead of time:: [email protected]
HARPER’S CORNER
Harper's Corner is a foundation that has generously donated books focusing on diversity and inclusion to Bexley City Schools. We have set up a display with Harper’s Corner books as well as books purchased by Bexley Montrose P.T.O., Bexley Minority Parent Alliance, and Montrose Elementary. There are nonfiction, biography, easy chapter books, chapter books, and pictures books on display.
EMPLOYMENT: SEARCHING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AIDES AND BUILDING SUBS
Interested in employment opportunities? Click here: https://www.bexleyschools.org/EmploymentOpportunities.aspx
MONTROSE LITTLE FREE LIBRARY! NEW!!!
This awesome library celebrates the voices of Black, Indigenous and People of Color. A big THANK YOU to Mrs. Reiser (our Art teacher) for organizing this and to the Wolf family for donating the library cabinet so we could make this possible!
INFO FROM NURSE, MRS TYSON
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DKsvGIQE5HRuaIcR2iCYxjRcf3_kuCsYbAEKFk261t4/edit?usp=sharing
MONTROSE PTO
If you missed our first PTO meeting on September 15, check out the attached video: Recorded PTO Zoom Meeting 09/15/20
COUNSELOR CORNER INFO
Mrs. Hipsley, Montrose's school counselor, has some helpful tips this week for us: click here for details!