Colonial School Update April 11, 2021

A red paw print
Sara Bagwell

April 11, 2021

Dear Colonial School Families,

The day has come! Tomorrow, we will begin Full-Time In-Person Instruction for most of our students. It has been a long time waiting and preparing.

I look forward to seeing everyone outside come 8:30 tomorrow morning.

As always, please reach out to your child's teacher with any classroom concerns or to me as appropriate.

With excitement and anticipation,

Susan

 

Join us in celebrating! The fifth grade teachers have come up with a Spirit Week to add to the festivities. On Monday- have your children wear their favorite baseball or other team jersey, in celebration of Opening Day that happened during break, or their Colonial or Pelham colors or spiritwear, or any combination.

 

SPIRIT WEEK: WEEK OF APRIL 12

Monday, April 12 is Opening Day- Students can wear gear from their favorite teams or Colonial spirit wear.

Tuesday, April 13 is Team Color Tuesday- Fifth graders can get decked out in purple and/or tie dye.

Wednesday, April 14 is Wacky Wednesday- Students can wear mismatched clothes, crazy socks, etc.

Thursday, April 15 is Totally 80s Thursday- as an 80s baby myself, I'm looking forward to this one ;o)

Friday, April 16 is our camp out! Students can wear pjs and we will be watching a movie.

 

Change in Arrival & Dismissal Times- As of April 12th, we will have new arrival and dismissal times. The doors that students have been using will remain the same, only the times will change.

Arrival- Starting April 12: 8:30-8:40 am

Arrival will go safely and smoothly with these practices:

  • No dogs on school property
  • Make sure your children have everything they need when they line up distanced on the sidewalk
  • Say goodbye before your child lines up
  • Children have their Covid Screening Health Sheet in hand, opened

Dismissal: Starting April 12: FM.T,Th,F- 2:40 pm

Dismissal: Early Release Day- 11:45 am

STARTING TUESDAY APRIL 6, WE WILL NO LONGER RADIO IN FOR STUDENTS. Please follow these procedures:

Parents and caregivers please go to the same door you have been using all year, and distance yourself, either on the playground in back, or in front. If you have a dog, please remain on the sidewalk off school grounds.

Students will be dismissed in this order:

  1. Walkers
  2. Playful Wonders After School Program
  3. Students in Cohort A 
  4. Students in K-2R 
  5. Students in Cohort B 
  6. Pelham Rec 
  • Please wait in your spot for your child to come to you.
  • Please walk off school grounds when you have met your children. Do not use this time to socialize or plan get togethers. 

Practicing with each cohort April 6-10 should make the following week run more smoothly.

If you drive, please park on a side street and walk to school.

I want to bring your attention to an email that Dr. Champ sent this past week regarding bias and hate. If you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, I’ve included the text below:

Dear Pelham Community,

The past few days have brought to light a concerning and increasing amount of bias and hate against the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities. Stop AAPI Hate compiled data showing nearly 3,800 documented cases of these incidents over the past year across the country. Our school district strongly condemns these actions and will address bias-related incidents should they occur in our schools. We stand in solidarity with the AAPI community. 

Please know that our school counselors are available to speak with any student in need and we stand committed to fostering an inclusive school community where every child can thrive. 

This rise in bias and hate underscores the importance of our Strategic Plan goal of Cultural Competence, under which the District endeavors to cultivate an empathetic, inclusive and equitable school community that values and encourages respect, voice and agency for all students. It is essential that ALL of our students and staff feel safe in our schools and in the Pelham community. 

Thank you for your continued support.

Cheryl H. Champ, Ed. D.

Superintendent of Schools

~Please know that our elementary schools continue to be committed to embracing diversity, fostering inclusion and practicing kindness. I know at times it feels daunting and hopeless. There are days I feel I have spent a lifetime and made no progress in making the world a better place for our children. However, we must not give up, we must teach our children, and we must be role models for them.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel to contact me.

~Susan

Important Covid information:

Google Form for Reporting COVID-19 Cases- In an effort to make our contact tracing efforts more efficient, we are asking families to complete this Google Form to report positive COVID-19 cases rather than directly notifying your principal. Please read more on the District website

Cohort Calendar

  • 4/6- Schools Reopen for In-Person Learning

Important information:

Google Form for Reporting COVID-19 Cases- In an effort to make our contact tracing efforts more efficient, we are asking families to complete this Google Form to report positive COVID-19 cases rather than directly notifying your principal. Please read more on the District website.

 UPCOMING DATES

  • 3/15- Cohort A Report Cards Go Home
  • 3/16- Early Release for Parent/ Teacher Conferences (Dismissal Begins at 11:40 am)
  • 3/16- Parent/ Teacher Conferences from 1:00-4:00 pm
  • 3/17- Full Time In-Person vs Virtual Survey Deadline!
  • 3/17- Early Release- Cohort B In-Person
  • 3/17- Parent/ Teacher Conferences from 1:00-4:00 pm and 5:00-8:00 pm, or as scheduled by your child's teacher
  • 3/24- Early Release- Cohort A In-Person
  • 3/29-4 /5- Schools Closed for Spring Break
  • 4/6- Schools Reopen for In-Person Learning

Parent/Teacher Conferences:

Your child's teacher will be sending you details for signing up for a virtual parent/ teacher conference. Both March 16 and March 17 will be early dismissal days.
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