A Message From Mr. Ellis:
Beacon Tree Families,
I hope this message finds you and your families safe and healthy during this uncertain time. It is incredible how information is coming out at such a rapid pace and protocols and procedures are constantly changing due to this information.
On Friday, March 19th, each of you should have received communication from our Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Christine Johns. In her communication, she outlined the online platform that will be utilized by our All Star staff to provide reinforcement and enrichment during our school closure.
Parents will begin receiving information on how to access and navigate Schoology next week. Passwords and access codes will be provided so that you and your children will be able to begin this distance learning adventure. Communication will go out as follows:
- Wednesday, March 25th: Parents of students in grades 3, 4, 5, and 6
- Thursday, March 26th: Parents of students in grades Kindergarten, 1, and 2
If you have difficulty navigating Schoology (or other technical difficulties) after receiving your login and password information, please utilize the Online Learning Resources tab found at our district website uticak12.org. If you do not receive an email providing you with your Schoology information, please either email me or contact our office at (586)797-7300.
Your child’s teacher has been working hard behind the scenes to learn this new platform, gather materials, plan and prepare for the launch next week. Teachers are currently going through professional development on this platform to ensure that the upcoming interaction is positive and ensures that students remain focused and to provide structure if needed.
It is our goal to not overwhelm families, and to provide no more that an hour and a half of work daily in our core curricular areas. As mentioned earlier, the work will be review and or enrichment in nature. Because of this, work will not be graded at this time. If you have any questions about the activities provided through Schoology, please reach out to your child’s teacher.
Beacon Tree Elementary will also have enrichment/review packets available for families who may not have internet access, or devices to access Schoology. These will be available made available outside of our main entrance (Door 1). These packets will be updated every Wednesday.
Finally, we also know that families may be anxious about what the next weeks will bring. Utica Community Schools posted links to helpful resources on how to cope with anxiety as well as other resources regrading the COVID-19 outbreak at uticak12.org. Other resources you could utilize are:
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/talking-with-children.html
PBS: https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-coronavirus
NPR: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus
CDC: Child Mind Institute: https://childmind.org/
With all this uncertainty that surrounds us, I am quite confident that more is on the way! We don’t know what the future holds with this virus, but we do know that the Beacon Tree staff are anxious to get Schoology out there so they can interact with your children once again. I am hopeful that all of this subsides soon so that we can get your children back in their classrooms and we can breath some life back into Beacon Tree Elementary. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out via email or phone. If you call, please leave a message and either me or the appropriate person will be in touch.
I wish each of you the very best. Stay healthy and safe!
All The Best,
Mr. Ellis
Proud Principal
Beacon Tree Elementary
PowerSchool Parent Portal Information is available at this link.