principal's CORNER
“Tough times never last, but tough people do.” – Robert H Schuller
Dear MJP School Community,
You are some of the toughest, strongest, most resilient people I know! Stay safe, stay strong, and know that this won't last forever. Keep on hanging in there and remember that you are not alone!
Upcoming Dates
3/27 - International SEL Day! Check out this website for great COVID-19 SEL resources.
3/30-4/3 - SPIRIT WEEK (Keep reading for details)
4/1 - Staff Meetings (ILT, CPT, All Staff Meeting)
4/10 - Good Friday (no school)
4/20-4/24 - Spring Break (no school)
4/30 - Grades due in SIS/Aspen
5/4 - School closure extended to this date
Second Step Skill of the Week - Emotion Management: Name your feelings.
Spirit Week 3/30-4/3
Hats off to Ms. Cantave's amazing 5th graders who advocated to have Spirit Week for all MJP scholars! Earlier this year, they surveyed peers, met with school leadership, and collaborated about themes. Then, they created a proposal which was presented to and approved by the School Site Council. WAY TO GO! Thanks to their hard work, Spirit Week will take place next week every day from Monday, March 30th through Friday, April 3rd. Students, staff, families, and community partners are encouraged to dress down as they learn from home as follows:
COVID-19 Updates
Closure Extension - Per Governor Baker’s orders on March 25th, all schools are closed until May 4th
Chromebook Deployment and Internet - Comcast and Verizon have relaxed their rules re late payments and loan forgiveness. Broadband internet is what students need. We would rather have students access Broadband rather than rely on hotspots.
Student Privacy
Food Sites and Catie's Closet
-April 10, 2020 (Good Friday) and Spring Break April 20-24, 2020 are school break days; no school work is expected.
-Negotiations are ongoing with BTU on expectations for evaluations. In the meantime, MJP is exercising SAFE PRACTICE. Enjoy exploring new learning platforms online without fear of missteps showing up on your evaluation. We are focusing on teaching over testing and evaluation.
-Attendance for teachers: To the extent possible, teachers are expected to attend virtual meetings.
Online Etiquette
Please remember (and teachers please advise your students about) online etiquette during video conferencing. Here is a link to the BPS Online Etiquette Best Practices. Key helpful tips are below:
Math Updates
Math Coach, Nonye Obiora, shared a link to all the resources the math office has put together to support remote learning. We will continue populating the folder grade-level appropriate resources throughout this remote learning time. Feel free to reach out to anyone from the Math Office if you have any questions or have ideas for ways that we may provide additional support. Here's a link to a schedule of our office hours with links to Zoom meetings included.
You might also find it helpful to know about the technology tools students can use to communicate and share their mathematical thinking—see this lovely video from Ondrea Johnson, Assistant Director for K-12 mathematics
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gaKGCvIfJ_lRiztsehlWCAK2VbfxzNAv/view
Math Plans for March and April folder
Ms. Harden also found this math resource for elementary teachers, Happy Numbers. It looks great and during the school closings, Happy Numbers can help to ensure the uninterrupted math education of all of your PK-5 students! They deliver quality math instruction, monitor progress and math growth - all remotely.
To ease the challenge of transitioning to online instruction, Happy Numbers is offering free access for the rest of the school year - no strings attached!
MCAS Updates
You may have heard that U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced that due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, there will broad flexibility for states around testing during the national emergency. At this time, the Department is exploring all options around this year's MCAS testing requirements and will keep us informed of decisions related to the Spring 2020 state assessment schedule and the competency determination for meeting the graduation requirements. There may an opportunity for a one-year assessment and accountability waiver from the federal government, but even if that is granted, the Department would need legislative relief from the state legislature to waive the state law around the testing requirement.
To this date, here is what DESE has communicated to us:
Districts and schools must continue to focus on the holistic needs of the educational community:
Lexia Updates
BPS is pushing our Lexia subscription out to Clever so students will be able to access it via that platform. Lexia has prepared resources to support our remote learning program, including home letters, access to apps, and video tutorials to support teachers in facilitating remote learning. Please use the following links to access all resources:
1. Home page: See the "Customer Resources" button at the top of the page.
2. Remote Learning for Educators and Families: Information and student resources based on grade level for educators and parents.
3. Support for Educators: Resources and Information for educators
4. Support for Families: Resources and Information for families whose students are using Core5
5. Support for Families using PowerUp: Resources and Information for families whose students are using PowerUp
Our upgrade also includes myLexia access to Lexia Academy, an online professional learning series for educators, and a Resources Hub to support teachers and administrators. Log on to your account at: www.myLexia.com
In order to provide a variety of professional learning opportunities, Core5 and PowerUp, live, on-line sessions will be offered, nationally, Monday through Friday starting this week. Please visit the Live Virtual Sessions page on our website for descriptions and registration information.
Take Care,
Maisha Rounds, Proud Principal
Michael J. Perkins Elementary School
"The Home of Outstanding World Learners"
Dear MJP School Community,
You are some of the toughest, strongest, most resilient people I know! Stay safe, stay strong, and know that this won't last forever. Keep on hanging in there and remember that you are not alone!
Upcoming Dates
3/27 - International SEL Day! Check out this website for great COVID-19 SEL resources.
3/30-4/3 - SPIRIT WEEK (Keep reading for details)
4/1 - Staff Meetings (ILT, CPT, All Staff Meeting)
4/10 - Good Friday (no school)
4/20-4/24 - Spring Break (no school)
4/30 - Grades due in SIS/Aspen
5/4 - School closure extended to this date
Second Step Skill of the Week - Emotion Management: Name your feelings.
Spirit Week 3/30-4/3
Hats off to Ms. Cantave's amazing 5th graders who advocated to have Spirit Week for all MJP scholars! Earlier this year, they surveyed peers, met with school leadership, and collaborated about themes. Then, they created a proposal which was presented to and approved by the School Site Council. WAY TO GO! Thanks to their hard work, Spirit Week will take place next week every day from Monday, March 30th through Friday, April 3rd. Students, staff, families, and community partners are encouraged to dress down as they learn from home as follows:
- 3/30 - Pajama Day - No need to get dressed today:-) Enjoy learning from the comfort of home in your coziest PJ's!
- 3/31 - Teddy Bear Day- Bring your favorite stuffed animal with you during virtual learning online.
- 4/1 - Wacky Tacky Day - Wear your most mismatched attire! Mix and match socks, shoes, & wear your clothes inside out and backwards. Have fun with it!
- 4/2 - Superhero Day - Dress up like your favorite superhero... cape and all!
- 4/3 - Formal Friday - Dress up in your best formal wear... Suits, ties, the works!
COVID-19 Updates
Closure Extension - Per Governor Baker’s orders on March 25th, all schools are closed until May 4th
Chromebook Deployment and Internet - Comcast and Verizon have relaxed their rules re late payments and loan forgiveness. Broadband internet is what students need. We would rather have students access Broadband rather than rely on hotspots.
Student Privacy
- Google Classroom and Clever comply with FERPA, they may not share or sell student data.
- Our Acceptable Use Policy applies to the online environment.
- Do not share identifiable information about students on social media.
- Resources
Food Sites and Catie's Closet
- Food sites - 16 food sites across the city open M-F 8:30 - 11:30 daily
- Sites are organized by neighborhood. BPS has delivered 53,000 meals as of Friday, March 27th.
- Catie’s Closet: On Monday, 3/23 Catie’s Closet donated and delivered toiletries and menstrual products to all 16 BPS Food Sites. Catie’s Closet will continue to provide and restock shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and menstrual products during our school closure period.
-April 10, 2020 (Good Friday) and Spring Break April 20-24, 2020 are school break days; no school work is expected.
-Negotiations are ongoing with BTU on expectations for evaluations. In the meantime, MJP is exercising SAFE PRACTICE. Enjoy exploring new learning platforms online without fear of missteps showing up on your evaluation. We are focusing on teaching over testing and evaluation.
-Attendance for teachers: To the extent possible, teachers are expected to attend virtual meetings.
Online Etiquette
Please remember (and teachers please advise your students about) online etiquette during video conferencing. Here is a link to the BPS Online Etiquette Best Practices. Key helpful tips are below:
- Dress professionally.
- Maintain eye contact with the camera to show engagement.
- Resist the urge to check email or respond to texts during Zoom meetings.
- Minimize background distractions (audible and visible). Silence notifications in your computer's settings.
- Test your computer's audio and video prior to Zoom meetings to troubleshoot issues beforehand.
- Arrive 5-10 minutes before the meeting is scheduled so the meeting can start on time.
- During meetings, please mute your mic when someone else is speaking.
- Mute your video if you need to briefly step away from the camera.
Math Updates
Math Coach, Nonye Obiora, shared a link to all the resources the math office has put together to support remote learning. We will continue populating the folder grade-level appropriate resources throughout this remote learning time. Feel free to reach out to anyone from the Math Office if you have any questions or have ideas for ways that we may provide additional support. Here's a link to a schedule of our office hours with links to Zoom meetings included.
You might also find it helpful to know about the technology tools students can use to communicate and share their mathematical thinking—see this lovely video from Ondrea Johnson, Assistant Director for K-12 mathematics
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gaKGCvIfJ_lRiztsehlWCAK2VbfxzNAv/view
Math Plans for March and April folder
Ms. Harden also found this math resource for elementary teachers, Happy Numbers. It looks great and during the school closings, Happy Numbers can help to ensure the uninterrupted math education of all of your PK-5 students! They deliver quality math instruction, monitor progress and math growth - all remotely.
To ease the challenge of transitioning to online instruction, Happy Numbers is offering free access for the rest of the school year - no strings attached!
MCAS Updates
You may have heard that U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced that due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, there will broad flexibility for states around testing during the national emergency. At this time, the Department is exploring all options around this year's MCAS testing requirements and will keep us informed of decisions related to the Spring 2020 state assessment schedule and the competency determination for meeting the graduation requirements. There may an opportunity for a one-year assessment and accountability waiver from the federal government, but even if that is granted, the Department would need legislative relief from the state legislature to waive the state law around the testing requirement.
To this date, here is what DESE has communicated to us:
- Both Grade 10 and opening of the grades 3-8 Spring ELA assessments have been postponed.
- MCAS-Alt portfolios do NOT need to be submitted by the deadline (April 3), nor is it necessary to obtain a parent’s signature that they have reviewed the portfolio prior to submission.
- Submission of a signed Verification Form will NOT be required this year.
- Schools should not schedule any shipment pick-ups. A new submission deadline will be communicated once confirmed.
- cohort appeals for students in grade 12 may still be submitted using the online application process only. At this time, appeals should NOT be submitted for students in grades 10 or 11. Questions about the process can be emailed to mcasappeals@doe.mass.edu or klhall@bostonpublicschools.org.
Districts and schools must continue to focus on the holistic needs of the educational community:
- The safety and well-being of students, families, and staff has been and must continue to be our top priority as an educational community. We are focused not only on physical health, safety, and nutrition, but also on social-emotional and mental health needs, which could intensify during this time.
- This crisis disproportionately affects our most vulnerable students in terms of their physical and mental health, as well as academically. Equity needs to be a top consideration in local planning efforts, especially as districts and schools make plans to manage an extended closure. To support these efforts, DESE will issue further guidance on how best to support special populations, including students with disabilities and English learners.
- Maintaining connections between school staff and students is paramount, particularly for the most vulnerable members of our school communities. These connections will provide natural conduits to guide districts and schools in addressing students’ specific needs.
Lexia Updates
BPS is pushing our Lexia subscription out to Clever so students will be able to access it via that platform. Lexia has prepared resources to support our remote learning program, including home letters, access to apps, and video tutorials to support teachers in facilitating remote learning. Please use the following links to access all resources:
1. Home page: See the "Customer Resources" button at the top of the page.
2. Remote Learning for Educators and Families: Information and student resources based on grade level for educators and parents.
3. Support for Educators: Resources and Information for educators
4. Support for Families: Resources and Information for families whose students are using Core5
5. Support for Families using PowerUp: Resources and Information for families whose students are using PowerUp
Our upgrade also includes myLexia access to Lexia Academy, an online professional learning series for educators, and a Resources Hub to support teachers and administrators. Log on to your account at: www.myLexia.com
In order to provide a variety of professional learning opportunities, Core5 and PowerUp, live, on-line sessions will be offered, nationally, Monday through Friday starting this week. Please visit the Live Virtual Sessions page on our website for descriptions and registration information.
Take Care,
Maisha Rounds, Proud Principal
Michael J. Perkins Elementary School
"The Home of Outstanding World Learners"
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English/Spanish versions of past letters are available below:
Entry Letter 7/2019 Mid-Summer Update 8/2019 Carta Familiar 9/3/19 Carta Familiar 9/6/19 Carta Familiar 10/18/19 Carta Familiar 11/11/19 Carta Familiar 12/3/19 Carta Familiar 1/5/20 Carta Familiar 2/4/20 Carta Familiar 3/9/20 COVID-19 Update 3/14/20 Carta Familiar 3/27/20 |
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