Week of April 27

Hello Families,

Our first week of Emergency Remote Learning went very well. Thank you for your continued support. We teachers know that every family is doing what they can and we appreciate all of your efforts.

The building administrators have informed us of a change for this week:

Lesson plans for the week will not be posted UNTIL noon on Mondays. Dr. Bruce had originally set this as the guideline, and we will be following that directive to have our "Week At a Glance" material posted at 12:00pm. In this way, all teachers are consistent in posting. Lexia/Core 5 and morning check-in documents will all be available before noon. I will also try and get the Brown B.E.S.T. News posted early on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week.

Congratulations to the following students who have passed a Lexia/Core 5 in April!

-Elijah
-Camila
-Ethan
-Corinne
-Daniyah
-Owen
-Landen
-Trent
-Tyler
-Ashlyn
-Logan

Update from the Media Center

Please visit our SJPS Elementary Library/Media website to access numerous ebooks, online storytimes, choice board enrichment activities, and more.  Visit the site to also find these recent updates...

• Are you up for an adventure about pirates, wizards, sea creatures, and magic?  Listen as Mrs. Berry, Brown Elementary's Media Assistant, reads aloud from one of her favorite books, "Voyage to Magical North" by Claire Fayers.  
• Ready for a new book?  Check out the recommended reads, which contains eBooks & audiobooks you can find for free.  Check back regularly as this will be updated often.
• Stop in to see Mrs. Berry, Mrs. Braley, Mrs. Gruchot, and Mrs. Bacolor on Wednesdays from 1:00-1:30 for the Ask a Librarian chat.  We would love to help you with any book-related questions you may have as well as answer your questions about the Ren Baldwin Virtual Technology Festival.
• Have you tried out a Live Breakout game yet?  Check the website for details about Live BreakoutEDU games happening every weekday at 2:00.

Some reminders from last week:

WEEKLY TASKS:  Your student will see a "Week at a Glance" task/assignment organizer posted under the title E-Learning Plans on Google Classroom each Monday at Noon.  We have tried to chunk the work by daily tasks, however these tasks do not have to be completed on that day, per se. At Governor Whitmer's order, we are able to provide 60 to 90 minutes of learning time per day to students. This includes time spent on music, art, physical education, and S.E.L. activities that are linked on Mondays! Time in these special areas should be spread throughout the week. Reading for enjoyment is also part of each day's plan. Your student will also see a very LARGE choice board for "early finishers" as they scroll UNDER the Week at a Glance board. This choice board will be an ever-changing document throughout the weeks, and will give extra opportunities to those who desire some OPTIONAL activities. As before, these tasks will not be "graded".  We will provide comments and feedback to students.  It is up to students and families to determine at-home expectations for completion. 

Week at a Glance Board: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1foJZcWN-Ha8N56_WgGUHYdpV4dsYOKaqhFXcORPW0Tw/edit?usp=sharing

Computer/Tech Help:  Computer issues may pop up from time to time. One hint: Please make sure your students are logging off and SHUTTING DOWN their computers each night! Our IT Dept. is continually working on pushing out updates to the Chromebooks. The ONLY way these updates will work is if the Chromebooks have been shut down and restarted (I just learned that this week!). Also, if your student continues to experience connectivity or tech problems, please keep this information handy. I'm happy to help as best I can but may not be of much help since I can't see your student's laptop. This is the most efficient way to get answers.

If you have connectivity or laptop issues, please email Helpdesk@stjoebears.com or call the district office at 269. 926. 3100

Whole Class Meetings will be Mondays from 11a.m. - 11:30 a.m.  The link is found on my Google Classroom home page in the big green bar!  Please note the link will only be posted a few minutes before the meeting is scheduled to begin!!!  If a student doesn't see it, have them refresh their screen until it shows up.

Talk to Me Tuesdays/Thursdays:  I'm including a sign-up sheet for individual conferences with your student.  I'll post a new sign up each week (here on this blog), as everyone's families are experiencing different situations and challenges, and schedules will vary. I realize your student might not be able to keep the same meeting time week to week, and there may be weeks where you might not be able to sign up for a slot at all.
Please know that I understand these situations. We're all going through a difficult time and facing things we've never faced before. We will all just do the best we can....

Please note that a reminder e-mail should be sent to the email used during sign-up 1 day before the conference (this is a new site I'm using and hope that it works). If he/she forgets to connect during their appointment time, you can see if there are any available times left on the sign up. If not, I'll look forward to connecting with them the following week.

**An adult MUST be present for the one-to-one meeting.

"Talk to Me Tuesdays/Thursdays" Sign up for 4/27-5/1 (Use the access code: HASSENGER)

All best wishes and much love are sent to you and your families. 

Take care,

Mrs. Hassenger 

If you need social, emotional or mental health support please email Guidance@stjoebears.com;  Call 911 for emergencies. 

Food Distribution continues on the south side of the SJHS on Mondays and Thursdays from 11AM -12:30PM.