Friday News - September 18, 2020

Hillcrest Elementary School

Friday News

September 18,  2020

Dear Hillcrest Families,

It’s been a busy week for Hillcrest students, families and staff.  Our preschool and kindergarten students have connected with their teachers at their individual orientation meetings and they have picked up laptops and learning supplies.  On Monday, they will launch into their new school year! Our first grade students have been “in class” all week, reconnecting with their classmates, meeting their new teachers and learning how to navigate Google Classroom and Seesaw.  This week has presented all of us with many challenges and many learning opportunities.  As I have joined first grade Morning Meetings this week, I have been so impressed with our students’ enthusiasm as well as the creativity, flexibility and perseverance of our staff and families.  

Remote learning is not easy and it’s not ideal, but we are all doing our best to create an engaging learning environment for our students.  I am grateful for the families who have reached out this week to share their ideas, offer suggestions and voice their concerns about remote learning.  Your input is extremely valuable.  First grade families provided some excellent feedback and the first grade team is currently using that feedback to make some adjustments to the daily schedule and to the balance of Live Learning Time and Independent Learning Time. Please stay tuned for more information from the first grade team.

Here are several pieces of  important information for you:

• The first day of classes for our preschool and kindergarten students is Monday, September 21st.  Your child should be ready for school and logged into their Google Classroom at 8:30 on Monday morning. Our preschool and kindergarten teachers have met with all families to preview the technology and the daily schedule.  If you have questions for your child’s teacher, please contact them via email.

  • Preschool Teachers

    • sarah.chase@gmrsd.org

    • tprevett@gmrsd.org

    • chanda.waryas@gmrsd.org

  • Kindergarten Teachers

    • jessica.fox@gmrsd.org

    • veronica.hirst@gmrsd.org

    • lindsay.lesenski@gmrsd.org

• First grade families will receive additional information about schedule adjustments early next week. Until then, please follow the current schedule. 

• Materials pick-up for First Grade Students will take place in the afternoon on Wednesday, September 23rd.  You will receive more information about that in an email from your child’s teacher. 

• During Remote Learning, every Wednesday will be a half-day of school for students.  Staff members will be engaged in curriculum planning and professional collaboration on Wednesday afternoons. 

• Technology is an essential component of Remote Learning and our teachers have spent many, many hours learning about Google Classroom, Seesaw and many other technology tools. They have created well-stocked Google Classrooms and they will be providing your students with many lessons on navigating the necessary technology tools. This will be a learning process for all of us!  Please know that our teachers are dedicated to helping each student understand the tools they need to access their learning.  

• Please be sure to check out the GMRSD Family Technology Resource Page.  It’s full of very helpful resources to help you navigate Google Classroom, Google Meet, Seesaw and your Chromebook.  You can click the link above or go to the district website to access those resources. 

• Attached to this newsletter you will find some norms for remote learning.  

• Thank you for your patience as we all navigate this new learning environment together.  Please feel free to reach out to me via email (sarah.burstein@gmrsd.org) or telephone at 413-863-9526.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend --

Sarah Burstein

Principal, Hillcrest Elementary

sarah.burstein@gmrsd.org

Guidelines for Remote Learning

Students can help by: 

• Following the rules/norms established by your teacher. 

• Sitting up and facing the camera. 

• Keeping the camera on as much as possible. Staying muted unless otherwise instructed. 

• If the camera needs to be turned off, students are expected to continue to respond to teacher prompts.

• Keeping the device in one place.

• Keeping their faces polite and appropriate.

• Keeping the pinned picture the same

• Following the school dress code. 

• Waiting to eat until break times.

• Waiting until after class to play with toys. 

Families/Caregivers can help by:

• Setting up a consistent learning space for your student. Try to have their tools available in that space for them ready to use.

• Helping with materials, but not assisting in telling your student the answers.

• Remembering that your student is learning and that incorrect answers are part of the learning process.

• Making sure the background is appropriate. Being mindful of people and pets that can be seen and heard in the background (the microphones on our devices are very sensitive and pick up a lot).

• If your student is having technical difficulties, please help them leave the space and re-enter.