Week of June 1 - Final Classroom Blog

Hello Families!

It's here!  Summer!  

Thank you for reading along on....Even though it's the last week, we don't want you to miss out on these year-end events!

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Monday 6/1:

Final Class Meeting at 11am
Please sign up here if you haven't already (Code: HASSENGER): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040b49afa82aa4fa7-talk6

Tuesday 6/2:

Final 1:1 meetings with Mrs. Hassenger (a.m.)
Please sign up here if you haven't already (Code: HASSENGER): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040b49afa82aa4fa7-talk6

Wednesday 6/3:

Final 1:1 meetings with Mrs. Hassenger (p.m.)

Pick up your belongings at Brown School: 4th Grade: 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.

Thursday 6/4:

Goodbye parade at Brown School 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.

Friday 6/5:

Awards Assembly (Link posted on Friday)

Final Week at a Glance:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s8phypfKmZQQx2In0ZqLEiQyH81TeVkpyzmc4QpcbsI/edit?usp=sharing 

PLEASE read Mrs. Bawk's Parent Blog this week.  There is A LOT of information about the end of the year that you need to know.

https://brownschoolnewssaintjoseph.blogspot.com/

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Congratulations to the following students for passing another level in the Lexia/Core 5 program:

-Ethan

Summer Learning Challenge 2020

We are so excited to launch the 2020 Summer Learning Challenge! Like last year, we are challenging all of our current Y5 - 4th grade students to "go for gold" by keeping learning and discovery alive all summer long! By dedicating a small portion of free time to fun learning activities, students will work to overcome the dreaded effects of "summer slide". Click here to access the document for this summer's challenge. We can't wait to pass out medals in the fall! 

4th & 5th Grade Student Devices
Several of the apps that your child has used during this period of remote emergency learning will continue to be available throughout the summer months. We are pleased to be able to offer the use of your child’s assigned Chromebook for this extended learning opportunity. However, if your family is not in need of the school device for summer enrichment, we would encourage you to return it to school on June 3rd during your child’s assigned pick-up/drop-off time so that our IT department can work on the redeployment of devices for fall learning. Thank you!

Pick up your belongings!!!  
Wednesday, June 3rd, 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.

Reminders: Please have car tag with students last name visible so staff can prepare the items and keep traffic flowing (pick-up tags would be perfect for this). Items to be returned to your family will be placed in the trunk or back seat in order to adhere with social distancing guidelines. Please remember that everyone must stay in their vehicles to ensure everyone's safety and comfort.  

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Farewell Parade 
Our staff is planning a special farewell for our students and their families. On the evening of June 4th we will be hosting a "reverse" farewell parade. Staff will line the bus lot along Garden Lane and will invite your family to drive through and wave farewell.

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Yearbooks

We are all out of hard copies of the yearbook! You can use the link below to order directly from Geskus. Any yearbooks that are ordered now will be mailed to your home and a shipping fee will be applied. Click on the link below to order your copy!

http://geskusphoto.com/?YB=3716

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Social and Emotional Support 

Our social workers continue to offer support to our families during this time. You can email them at guidance@sjschools.org and visit our website sjschools.org for updated information, including this list of social/emotional resources.

Please click here for a special video from our social workers. Please also click on the links below to access resources to support your conversations related to closure and consideration.

Resources in order, as mentioned in the video:

Wish Keeper

Wish Keeper Directions

Fablefy-The Whole Child (Mindfulness)

Commonsense Age-Appropriate Mindfulness Apps

3 Keys to Help Your Child Cope, So They Can Stay Calm, Focused, and even Happy During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Love and Logic Weekly Blog

All Things Love and Logic

Teaching Social and Emotional Skills

SJPS COVID-19 Website

Elementary Family Resource Page

Mrs. VanHekken and Mrs. Jasiak will be hosting their last family Google Hangout this Thursday, May 28, 2020 at 6 p.m. They would love for anyone with celebrations, concerns, or questions to join us as we near the end of this school year. Here is the link:

https://meet.google.com/wht-esvq-odo

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Summer Reading at the Public Library

Good news!  St. Joseph Public Library will have an online summer reading program this year. Click to read more about it here:  SJ Public Library 

**Please visit the SJPS Elementary eResource website for more information on the above.  This site changes regularly as new information and resources are shared, so check back often.

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed having your children in class this year; this is truly an amazing bunch of kids! I am so impressed by how hard they have worked over the last few months of e-learning and I have really enjoyed seeing them and talking to them (and you!) during our 1 to 1 meetings. Thank you so much for all of your support! I hope you have an amazing and relaxing summer.

Best, 

Mrs. Hassenger

Week of May 25

Hi Families!

Can you believe we are down to our last 2 weeks!? I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing you all on June 3rd for the materials pick-up/drop-off! I've been missing our class so much!

Please make sure to sign up for a final one-to-one conference (required) on either Tuesday June 2 or Wednesday June 3rd. Please sign up for a time slot here (pass code is: HASSENGER): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040b49afa82aa4fa7-talk6

Mrs. Bawk' blog is FULL of a lot of important pieces of information this week; below are a few tidbits (you can view her full blog post for this week HERE): 

Material Pick-Up/Drop-Off
As we wrap-up the 2019-2020 school year, we will begin preparing our classrooms for summer. This includes packaging up any personal items that may have been left by students on March 13th, including yearbooks, Bear Tracks, and Bear Wear orders. In addition, it will be important to collect media center materials that were sent home with students prior to the shutdown. Please plan to drive through our school’s main office parking lot on June 3rd according to the schedule and map that will be shared in next week’s blog post.

Items to be returned to your family will be placed in the trunk or back seat in order to adhere with social distancing guidelines. Please remember that everyone must stay in their vehicles to ensure everyone's safety and comfort.  

Farewell Parade
Our staff is planning a special farewell for our students and their families. On the evening of June 4th we will be hosting a "reverse" farewell parade. Staff will line the bus lot along Garden Lane and will invite your family to drive through and wave farewell.

Important Dates From Mrs. Bawk's Blog:

5/25  Memorial Day - no remote teaching & learning today

5/26  PTO Meeting 7 p.m. via Google Hangouts Meet 

6/3    Family pick-up/drop-off of materials - see schedule in next week's blog post 

6/4    Farewell Parade 
         4:00-4:30 p.m.  Fifth grade Families Only
         4:30-6:00 p.m.  ECDD - 4th Grade Families

6/5    Last day of school!
         Awards Assembly - sent out via email and FB (a.m.)

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Don't forget!!  Class Google Meet on TUESDAY at 9:30 a.m.!!!  The link will be posted on Google Classroom a few minutes before the meeting time.   "See" you there!! 

May 25-29 Week at a Glance: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_kXZUPhpbgDdMT3JLBEfK2ifgydHzqTJKS0XflpbzIw/edit?usp=sharing 

This week's learning standard will focus on writing.  Students will be constructing one informational writing piece through the week.  No research will need to be done...they will be writing on a topic of their choice, and it should be something they already know well.
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Support for Our Families

Technology - Contact support@sjschools.org or call (269) 926-3100 for repair/support of school issued devices or for learners who need a device or do not have internet access during the closure. Note: public libraries and schools will provide wi-fi access from their parking lots while people remain in their vehicles.

Meals - Mondays and Thursdays from 11:00AM-12:30PM at the St Joseph High School back entrance off of Lakeview Ave. These resources in our community are also available for support: Area Food Sites and Distribution

If you are in need of food or interested in making a monetary donation to assist in this time of crisis, here’s a list of local Food Bank Options

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Congratulations to the following students for passing another level in the Lexia/Core 5 program:

-Owen

-Diego

-Tyler

I also want to extend a HUGE congratulations to a few students from our classroom whose projects were recognized with awards at the Ren Baldwin Tech Fest last week:

-3rd in Animations: Torey, Corinne, Bryant, Landen and Lacey
-2nd in Drawings/Architecture/Digital Art: Evan L.

Media Center News:  Mrs. Bacolor would like me to pass this information on to students and families:

Update from Your Media Center - Week of May 26

• 
  Ren Baldwin Student Technology Festival 2020
  Thank you to those students who participated in this year's technology festival.  A link to the virtual event video can be found here.  To view all of the projects entered this year, please visit the 2020 Tech Fest website.  Both of these links are also found on all SJPS elementary media center pages and our eResource site.  I encourage you to spend some time viewing the amazing work that our students have created this year.  Thanks again to students, teachers, parents, and our SJPS Foundation for the continued support of this annual event.
  
  
  Library Books
  Do you know what books you have checked out from our library?  Do you know where they are located?  Now is the time to start gathering them together so you can return them back to school when it is safe to do so.  You can see the books you have checked out by logging into your account on Destiny Discover, our library catalog.  Here's a brief screencast video to help you do that.  Please contact Mrs. Bacolor (cbacolor@sjschools.org) if you have any questions.
  
  
  Library/Media Choice Board #2
  There's still time to complete Library Choice Board #2.  They are due on Friday, May 29th.  Once you complete a bingo, follow the directions on the board and complete the Google Form.  More shoutouts will be share on our eResource site.
  Grade Y5-2 Choice Board #2
  Grade 3-5 Choice Board #2
  Direction Video
  
  
  Summer Reading at the Public Library
  Good News!  St. Joseph Public Library will have an online summer reading program this year.  
  

  
  

  **Please visit the SJPS Elementary eResource website for more information on the above.  This site changes regularly as new information and resources are shared, so check back often.

1:1 Conferences. Meeting times with Mrs. Hassenger link (code to enter is: HASSENGER) CLICK HERE.

Have a FANTASTIC week,

Mrs. Hassenger

Week of May 18

Hi Families!

What an amazing few days of sunshine we had this past week! It sure makes me excited for the amazing weather to come.

Our administrative team is working hard to come up with plans for students to pick up their belongings at the end of the year.  We're not sure what that's going to look like at this time, but rest assured we will let you know as soon as decisions have been made.

This is our last full week of school!  Next week will be condensed due to Memorial Day, and the following week will end on Thursday, June 4th.

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May 18-22 Week at a Glance: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CNlZQs5hr2LglcvoeUIztlrQ9uoYUzVAPwifUMblB5U/edit?usp=sharing

Learning Support Opportunity
As a reminder, our amazing Title One interventionists, Mrs. DeVore, Mrs. Bolinder, and Mrs. J,  are hosting "office hours" weekly. This is an additional layer of support to assist students in completion of assigned classwork and is open to all Brown School First - Fifth graders. It is our hope that this connection will not only benefit your child, but will also help to support you in finding balance during this time of remote teaching and learning.  

Important!!  Please note the links have changed! Click here for the schedule and updated links. Like other connections, we ask that an adult is present.
**Students can also join the Google Classroom that Mrs. DeVore, Mrs. Bolinder and Mrs. J have set up by following the directions that will be posted at 8am on Monday 5/18 in our Google Classroom.
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Support for Our Families

Technology - Contact support@sjschools.org or call (269) 926-3100 for repair/support of school issued devices or for learners who need a device or do not have internet access during the closure. Note: public libraries and schools will provide wi-fi access from their parking lots while people remain in their vehicles.

Meals - Mondays and Thursdays from 11:00AM-12:30PM at the St Joseph High School back entrance off of Lakeview Ave. These resources in our community are also available for support: Area Food Sites and Distribution

If you are in need of food or interested in making a monetary donation to assist in this time of crisis, here’s a list of local Food Bank Options

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Congratulations to the following students for passing another level in the Lexia/Core 5 program:

-Gavin

-Logan

Brown School News Team Opportunity!:    Mrs. Berry is going to be on the morning news broadcast tomorrow (I'll post the video on Google Classroom as soon as possible) to talk about applications for next year's news team!  Applications will be posted on my Google Classroom page tomorrow morning.  There is a strict due date!  If your soon-to-be 5th grader is interested, please pass along this information.  Also, Mrs. Berry will be attending our class meeting on Wednesday to talk to the students about the process and expectations.

Don't forget!!  Class Google Meet on Monday at 11:00 a.m.!!!  The link will be posted on Google Classroom a few minutes before the meeting time.   "See" you there!! 

**Our class meeting for next week will be on TUESDAY MAY 26 AT 9:30AM due to the holiday on Monday.

Media Center News:  Mrs. Bacolor would like me to pass this information on to students and families.  I'll post her information in the Week at a Glance for the students:

• Updates from Our Media Department
  
  • The next Library/Media Choice Boards are available and can be found by clicking here.  This will take them to a Google Slide Virtual Library classroom with links to library enrichment choice boards and other resources.  
  • Please encourage your students to share their 1st choice boards with me if they've completed at least 3 boxes. I'll make sure to give them a shoutout on our eResources website.
  • The Sora Reading App is now available to our students.  This is a reading app that contains eBooks and audiobooks.  Plus it also connects to our public libraries.  I've included a few screencasts on the homepage of our eResources site (scroll down just a bit) for information on how to access this collection.  In addition, more eBooks will be purchased and added soon either to Sora or Destiny Discover.  I'll let you know as soon as the additional titles become available.  
  • Stay tuned for details about the upcoming Ren Baldwin Virtual Technology Festival! This event will take place on Wednesday, May 20th.  The link will be posted on the district website before the start of the event!

1:1 Conferences. Meeting times with Mrs. Hassenger link (code to enter is: HASSENGER) CLICK HERE.

Have a FANTASTIC week,

Mrs. Hassenger

Week of May 11

Hello Families,

Into week 4 we go!

Thank you so much for the sweet messages, pictures and e-mails I received for Teacher Appreciation week! I can't tell you how much that meant to me; I have loved having your students in class this year.

Learning Support!

If your student could use some 1 to 1 time with a teacher to help with weekly homework, we have great news!  Our Title One teachers, Mrs. Devore, Mrs. Bolinder, and Mrs. J will have weekly "office hours" beginning this week!  This is available to ALL Brown School students in grades 1 - 5.  Attending a weekly Google Meet will give students extra support as they complete assignments from the Week at a Glance. It's Brown School's hope that this offers one more avenue of support during this time of emergency remote learning.   If your student is struggling with a concept, consider having him/her join one of the scheduled times below.

The schedule is below. Please click here for the live links to the meets. 
Like other connections, we ask that an adult is present. 

Media Center News:  Mrs. Bacolor would like me to pass this information on to students and families.  I'll post it on Google Classroom for the students:

• The next Library/Media Choice Boards are available and can be found by clicking here.  This will take them to a Google Slide Virtual Library classroom with links to library enrichment choice boards and other resources.  
• Please encourage your students to share their 1st choice boards with me if they've completed at least 3 boxes. I'll make sure to give them a shoutout on our eResources website.
• The Sora Reading App is now available to our students.  This is a reading app that contains eBooks and audiobooks.  Plus it also connects to our public libraries.  I've included a few screencasts on the homepage of our eResources site (scroll down just a bit) for information on how to access this collection.  In addition, more eBooks will be purchased and added soon either to Sora or Destiny Discover.  I'll let you know as soon as the additional titles become available.  
• Stay tuned for details about the upcoming Ren Baldwin Virtual Technology Festival! This event will take place on Wednesday, May 20th.  The times and the links to access this live event will be shared this week.

Week at a Glance: The Week at a Glance will be linked below after 8am on Monday.

Click here to access the Week at a Glance for May 5-8.

Don't forget!!  Class Google Meet on Monday at 11:00 a.m.!!!  The link will be posted on Google Classroom a few minutes before the meeting time.   "See" you there!! 

Talk to Me Tuesdays/Thursdays:  I'm including a sign-up sheet for individual conferences in order to answer learning questions for your student.This week, online Google Meets will be on Tuesday morning and Thursday afternoon (please note there will not be slots on Tuesday afternoon or Thursday morning).

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.

Click here for "Talk to Me Tuesdays/Thursdays" Sign up for 5/11-5/15 (Use the access code: HASSENGER)

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

All the best,

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.  

Week of May 4

Hello Families,

Into week 3 we go!

Thank you to everyone who has been connecting with me in one way, shape or form over the last week! I had one family decide to send me some pictures and videos of what they have been up to for their 1:1 check-in this past week (in lieu of a 1:1 online conference) and I loved being able to check out what they were doing and have a back and forth that way. Please don't feel like you have to sign up for a 1:1 meeting each week; if you'd like to connect with me by sending photos and/or videos that would be amazing! Your student would even have a ton of fun putting together a little WeVideo or Google Slideshow to share with me.

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

Lesson plans for the week will not be posted UNTIL 8am on Mondays. I'll post to our Google Classroom 

Congratulations to the following students who have passed a Lexia/Core 5 this past week!

-Bryant
-Evan T.
-Nadia

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.

Emergency Remote Learning:  I wanted to remind families that lessons we plan are based on 60-90 minutes of learning per day. We know that some of the Moby Max, IXL, or Khan activities will not be finished in one sitting, or even one day.  We recommend students work for the scheduled amount of time, and then take breaks to do other things...play outside or inside, some of the "choice board" activities, etc...If assignments aren't fully completed on one of the online learning programs (IXL, Moby, etc...) we are often able to get scores based on partial completion to see how students are doing with that particular skill.  Your judgment is best for your student, but we don't want anyone feeling overwhelmed or frustrated.  Remote learning activities are not "graded", though feedback will be given, when we are able, on certain assignments.

Click here to access the Week at a Glance for May 5-8.

Don't forget!!  Class Google Meet on Monday at 11:00 a.m.!!!  The link will be posted on Google Classroom a few minutes before the meeting time.   "See" you there!! 

Talk to Me Tuesdays/Thursdays:  I'm including a sign-up sheet for individual conferences in order to answer learning questions for your student.This week, online Google Meets will be on Tuesday morning and Thursday afternoon (please note there will not be slots on Tuesday afternoon or Thursday morning).

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.

Click here for "Talk to Me Tuesdays/Thursdays" Sign up for 5/4-5/8 (Use the access code: HASSENGER)

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

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.