{"id":28,"date":"2020-09-21T15:04:36","date_gmt":"2020-09-21T22:04:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sd41blogs.ca\/montaganob\/?p=28"},"modified":"2020-09-21T15:04:36","modified_gmt":"2020-09-21T22:04:36","slug":"welcome-to-division-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sd41blogs.ca\/montaganob\/2020\/09\/21\/welcome-to-division-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcome to Division 3!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Dear Parents and Families of Division 3 Students,<\/p>\n<p>Welcome to this unique school year at Parkcrest Elementary! If you are new to Parkcrest, I welcome you to our school community! If you are returning, I am so happy to see you again after such a long break.\u00a0 For those who don\u2019t know me, my name is Brenda Montagano and this is my second year at Parkcrest, but my 22<sup>nd<\/sup> \u00a0year teaching with the Burnaby School District.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0I am so grateful to be returning to work within the fabulous Parkcrest community.\u00a0 I am eager to share my enthusiasm for learning with your child, along with the new safety measures in place as we continue to live with the Covid virus.\u00a0 I look forward to working alongside you this year to help your child build confidence and grow as a learner.<\/p>\n<p>I strongly value open communication with parents and I invite you to contact me through email at <a href=\"mailto:brenda.montagano@burnabyschools.ca\">brenda.montagano@burnabyschools.ca<\/a>, and\/or through notes in the planner. Please read through the following newsletter to learn about some of our classroom routines and expectations.\u00a0 Thank you for taking the time; please let me know if you have any questions!<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Absences\/Lates:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>During Covid, it is imperative to stay at home if your child is not feeling well.\u00a0 Specific guidelines around how long you need to stay at home and protocols around returning to school have been provided in emails from Mr. Lee.\u00a0 While your child is away, I will gather work missed in a folder for their return.\u00a0 If it is an extended absence, I will communicate via email key work to be completed if the child is feeling well enough, or he or she will get caught up upon their return.\u00a0 Eventually, this blog will be used for some assignments and students will get onto Teams through Office 365 for some assignments once we can start using the computer lab.<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>School Supplies<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Thank you for getting these supplies into school as quickly as possible.\u00a0 \u00a0During this time where we are to be limiting the sharing of resources, thank you for \u00a0<u>labeling each item<\/u> with your child\u2019s name (including EVERY pencil, felt and crayon, please!)\u00a0 Supplies that are not needed right away (ex. extra duotangs, pencils, etc.) will be stored in the classroom in a ziploc bag, to be used when needed.\u00a0 Any extra supplies will go home at the end of the school year.<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Homework:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>All homework is expected to be completed; however, if your child is unable to complete any assignments for extenuating circumstance, they will be expected to complete them by the following day. I will write a note in the planner (stay tuned for details on the planner, or feel free to use your own notebook) to inform you of any missed or outstanding assignments.\u00a0 We also encourage you to help your child find a private and quiet place that is free of distractions for them to complete their homework. Places away from televisions and other siblings tend to work best.<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Social Expectations:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A lot of time will be spent working on achieving a positive sense of self. Much of the focus will be around treating themselves and others with respect.\u00a0 I have high expectations for them and I hope they will of themselves as well. I will do what I can to support your child to make wise and responsible choices while at school.<\/p>\n<p>We have collaboratively created a Classroom Contract.\u00a0 Every student has signed this contract, agreeing to help create a safe, respectful learning environment. Please read our contract below:<\/p>\n<p>In Division 3, we believe:<\/p>\n<p>Safety is important.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>We will wash our hands well for 20 seconds every time we come in and out of the classroom.<\/li>\n<li>We will maintain social distancing between each other.<\/li>\n<li>We will walk inside the classroom and in the hallways.<\/li>\n<li>We will encourage others to wear masks when inside.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Active listening is important.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>When the teacher or a classmate is speaking, we will have our eyes on the speaker, nothing in our hands and our mouths will be closed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Kindness is important.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>We will help each other.<\/li>\n<li>We will use kind words.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Respect is important.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>We will respect each other, our things, the classroom, school and our natural environment.<\/li>\n<li>We will respect each other\u2019s personal space.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Responsibility is important.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>We will be quiet when working and use quiet voices during lunch.<\/li>\n<li>We will remain seated in our own desks while eating, and remain seated until the bell goes for lunch EXCEPT for washing hands or going to the bathroom.<\/li>\n<li>We will do our best to get our homework in on time and to remain focused on the given task.<\/li>\n<li>We will follow the \u2018first things first\u2019 quote, where we do our assigned work first, then enjoy our free time activities (silent reading, sketching, completing other work, lego, cards, etc.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I will do my best to communicate with you should any major problems arise while at school. If you are noticing a problem that is happening at school, in the classroom or on the playground that is not being addressed at school, please inform me and I will do my best to help sort out these issues.<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><strong><u>Math: <\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>All students will be working towards memorization of their multiplication facts to 12 (and conversely their division facts as well).\u00a0 I have found that students who practice each week at home tend to have more success in memorizing their facts. We will learn some math card games early on this year and I encourage students to practice their facts through card games and\/or flash cards at home on a regular basis.<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><strong><u>Reading:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Home Reading:<\/em> Students are expected to read at home for <strong><u>at least 20 minutes<\/u><\/strong><u> <strong>every day<\/strong><\/u><strong>! <\/strong>I encourage you to find a way to incorporate this into your daily routine in a way that is habitual and free of distractions (Ex. Read in bed 20 minutes before bedtime).<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Outdoor Ed<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We will be outside as much as possible for lessons and PE throughout the first term.\u00a0 Please dress appropriately for the weather every day.\u00a0 We will be going on hikes and having PE outside rain or shine, so it is recommended that students have a change of shoes and socks in their bags.\u00a0 We do not have use of the coat room this year, so ALL student materials will be kept at one\u2019s desk.\u00a0 A bin will be provided for students for some materials, and backpacks and coats will be hung on the back of one\u2019s chair.\u00a0 For extra clothes, student may have a bag of extra clothes that stays at school (on their chair), or they may bring an extra pair of clothes back and forth each day.\u00a0 This will become more important as the rains arrive and students may get wet outside.\u00a0 Please make sure students have running shoes at school EVERY DAY.<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Use of Masks<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Ministry is providing two masks for every student (so far, students have received one each).\u00a0 \u00a0I will be wearing a mask and\/or shield when indoors, and encourage your child to wear a mask when we are inside and socially distancing is not possible.\u00a0 Please consider having an extra mask in your child\u2019s backpack if their first mask gets dirty or goes missing.\u00a0 We will be reviewing all covid safety procedures regularly over the next few months until it becomes part of our regular routine.\u00a0 Please let me know if you have any concerns or questions via email and I will do my best to address them promptly.<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Devices<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>With extra precautions and sanitizing in place, students at Parkcrest will be able to use the computer lab.\u00a0 We will be using the lab regularly to (re)familiarize ourselves with Teams, for research and for completing published works. \u00a0In case things change, I am surveying families to see which students have access to a laptop or ipad at home.\u00a0 Please indicate on the form going home tomorrow if a device is available for your child to use if the need arises.\u00a0 However, at this point, no students need to bring these devices to school.\u00a0 If students are bringing phones to school, they are not to be used between the regular school hours of 9 and 3.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><u>Calling all volunteers! <\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Volunteering will look a little different this year.\u00a0 At this time, no parents are allowed to help out within the school.\u00a0 If you are willing to help with communications with the class, tech support from home, or have other talents to share outside the classroom (ex. a science background for a walking field trip, an art lesson done outside, helping to create materials for activities in class, etc.), \u00a0please complete the form that will be sent home with the student questionnaire later this week.<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Donations:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you are able to donate some plastic spoons or forks to the classroom for students who forget to bring one for their lunch, that would be greatly appreciated! Also, if you have any age-appropriate books you are ready to part with, our class library is always excited to receive donations!\u00a0 Thank you!!<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Questionnaire<\/u><\/strong><br \/>\nI look forward to meeting with you at Parent-Teacher conferences (whether in person or by phone) next week \u2013 stay tuned for details. Please complete the questionnaire going home tomorrow with your child, and bring it to the parent-teacher conference.\u00a0 It helps me get to know more about your child and will provide me with valuable insight into how best to support them. Thank you for taking the time to fill this out!<\/p>\n<p>I am looking forward to an exciting, enriching year with your child.\u00a0 Although it will look different in some ways, I am confident that we will get into our new rhythm and successfully build our new Division 3 Community!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Sincerely,<\/p>\n<p>Brenda Montagano<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dear Parents and Families of Division 3 Students, Welcome to this unique school year at Parkcrest Elementary! If you are new to Parkcrest, I welcome you to our school community! If you are returning, I am so happy to see you again after such a long break.\u00a0 For those who don\u2019t know me, my name [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9590,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sd41blogs.ca\/montaganob\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sd41blogs.ca\/montaganob\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sd41blogs.ca\/montaganob\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sd41blogs.ca\/montaganob\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9590"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sd41blogs.ca\/montaganob\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sd41blogs.ca\/montaganob\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31,"href":"https:\/\/sd41blogs.ca\/montaganob\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28\/revisions\/31"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sd41blogs.ca\/montaganob\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sd41blogs.ca\/montaganob\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sd41blogs.ca\/montaganob\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}