Dear PK4 families,
I want to take this opportunity to explain how school is going to look over the coming weeks. Some parts will feel very different and others similar to a “normal” school day. While students will not have daily face-to-face contact with your teachers and peers, students and parents will still have access to teachers and other resources for help. Students will have regular activities from our PK4 curriculum. Please keep your child's work to share with your child's teacher upon return to school.
Below you will find a great deal of information about what this will look like starting on Monday, the 23rd.
Tomorrow (Friday the 20th) you will click the link for your teacher's name (below) and have a short video class with all of your friends at 11:30 a.m.
The St. Andrew’s Community
This week many of you - parents, students, and faculty - have expressed sadness about missing time with our very special SA community. The community remains strong, even if virtual for now, and all of the resources and supports you need remain in place. We will even continue to have Big Chapel every Friday! Please continue to depend on the school, our community and our talented faculty; we remain available and eager to support and assist all families during this challenging time.
Daily Schedule
The teachers for your grade level have created a recommended daily schedule for you while your student is at home. This is just recommended but will give you an understanding of some developmentally appropriate ways to keep your student active, engaged, and well during this time period. This is just a recommendation.
PK3 Google Hangout
Your child will not have a designated class time. However, your teacher and assistant teacher will each reach out to schedule check-ins once per week (for a total of twice weekly).you to schedule check-ins twice per week. The link below can be used to access your teacher for your appointment. To access the teacher and assistants online during office hours, please click the following link:
Students are encouraged to join on a device (tablet, cell phone, laptop, desktop, etc.). In the event that your child cannot join on a device, please reach out to the teacher to get the call-in information.
Student Activities
Every Sunday morning your teacher will have the student activities posted on the Grade Level MySA page. For your grade level, this will also link directly to your child’s Seesaw account. Please keep your child's work in a physical folder to share with your child's teacher upon return to school.
Co-Curriculars
All of your child's favorite co-curricular activities will still be available during this time! Simply check out the Co-Curricular Resource Board on MySA for some fun and engaging activities for you and your student. These are not required but will be a nice outlet for you all. Co-Curricular teachers will also have office hours.
Attendance
Attendance will be taken weekly through a variety of ways including participation in individual check-in’s with teachers and notifications to the teacher from Seesaw.replies to class discussions. Please reach out to your child's teacher if you have any questions or concerns.
Tech Support
As we begin to work in a virtual world, it is possible that you may run into some tech glitches or needs along the way. Our IT department is ready and willing to help! Parents and Students are able to receive technical services through the following means:
URGENT REQUESTS - An “urgent request” is an issue that prevents your child from participating in a virtual check-in through Google Meet with a teacher.
Call the Support Hotline at (601) 853-6047. If no answer, please leave a message.
GENERAL REQUESTS - General requests are basic “how-to” questions or “where do I find information” questions. Email the support team at helpdesk@gosaints.org.
SUPPORT HOURS - The Technical Services Team is available Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. to support you. Should you need assistance after-hours, please call the support hotline and leave a message or email helpdesk@gosaints.org. A member of our team will respond within 24 hours.
Student Support
During this time, our teachers and student support personnel will remain available to help students. Our learning facilitator, Dr. Selman, and reading specialist, Ms. Woodward, will reach out to individual parents directly to share the plan on how they will continue services remotely. Chelsea Freeman, our counselor, and Rev. Annie are also ready to assist students and families during this stressful time.
Office Hours
Your child's teacher will be available Monday through Friday from 8:30-11:30 via the Hangout link above. In the afternoon your teachers will not be available on Hangouts but will respond to emails received before 4 p.m. during the work week.
School administration will have office hours each afternoon. Links for individual administrators are available here.
Honor Code
During this time, once your child has received directions for an activity please allow them to work as independently as possible. Parents are encouraged to allow their student to reach out directly to their teacher during office hours each day. Please do not do your child's work for them during this time. This is their opportunity to shine and show what they know, receiving individualized support from the teacher for things they may struggle with. Allow this learning process to work its magic during this time and feel free to reach out to the teacher if you have questions as well.
Caregivers
Parents, please share this document with any of the caregivers who may be working with your child so they can assist.
I know that this is a great deal of new information right now. Please do not hesitate to reach out should you have any questions or concerns.
We are all in this together!
Dawn