Dear Runkle Families,
I hope that you are finding some joy and comfort at home now that the weather is finally warmer and we can spend more time outdoors. Our Superintendent Ben Lummis sent an email to families this week announcing my appointment to lead the Runkle School during the 2020-2021 school year. Runkle has been my second home for almost 10 years and I am honored to remain as the Interim Principal next year. Thank you for all your kind words and emails. I have always been extraordinarily proud of Runkle’s Faculty and Staff, but this pandemic has only made me happier to call these teachers my colleagues. We are so fortunate to have a highly dedicated staff, motivated students and supportive families at Runkle. It is my hope that having a familiar administrator to teachers, students and families will allow Runkle to build a strong, inclusive community of trust and shared values. I learned many important lessons about school and educational leadership from my time spent with Principal Jean-Michel and thank her for her service to the Public Schools of Brookline. I am confident in the capacity of the Runkle community.
I have participated in many ZOOM meetings in the past 8 weeks. I have met with PTO leaders, School Site Council members, principals, faculty, Student Council, Courageous Conversation members and parents during classroom socials/meetings. I have listened to important feedback and fielded many questions. I don’t have all the answers, but I want to address the areas where I can provide clarity if possible.
Collecting Belongings
The Town of Brookline is working closely with principals to schedule teacher entry into Runkle the week of Memorial Day (May 25th). As of this week, it is our plan to have teachers/paras/administrators pack up student belongings into labeled bags (emptying desks and lockers). We will then schedule parent pick up times outside of the building. We will schedule a time to pick up all instruments outside of the building that same week. It is not safe to have parents and students enter the buildings at this time. We must follow all the guidelines from Dr. Jett and the Public Health Department to make this work in an organized and healthy manner.
Spring Conferences
You received a message from Interim Superintendent, Ben Lummis, where he shared that K-5 conferences will not be held in their traditional format this spring. It may seem obvious, but I believe it is important to explain why this is the case before delving into how we will proceed this spring. Spring conferences are typically a time for teachers and families to talk about progress across a range of areas both academic and social emotional. Teachers spend time gathering student work products and compiling assessment information to use as artifacts in these conversations. Currently, teachers do not have access to formal or informal assessments about how students were doing academically before the closure as that information remains in the school building. In addition, because of the uncertainty ahead of us, teachers are unable to speak to the upcoming transition (ie, "What's school going to look like in the fall?"). Given the fact that Runkle has been closed since March 12, the typical robust conversation you have come to expect is simply not possible.
In the spring, teachers typically make time and seek appointments with the families of each of their students. We recognize that under current circumstances, not all families would want or be able to accommodate a video or voice call in their schedule.I want to stress that it is completely fine if you choose not to set up a time to connect with your student’s teacher.
In the spring, there are also four days on which students are dismissed early from school in order to create time in teacher schedules for conferences. Like us all, teachers are balancing significant home and professional obligations. To that end, in order for teachers to build in time for parent/teacher video or voice calls, adjustments may need to be made to some online learning activities on a given day/s.
Please know that our priorities remain the physical and emotional health of our students, families, and staff during this closure. In sharing the details above, my hope is to help provide clarity and not add stress or confusion. We know students and families are doing the very best that they can, and please know that Runkle staff are as well. I recognize given the unexpected nature of the extended school closure that so much has happened, been adjusted, and changed over the last several weeks. We are all adapting, managing and working very hard to serve a wide range of needs and circumstances. Our dedicated Runkle faculty stand ready to support you and your children in whatever way we are able throughout the remainder of the school year.
Standards and Content
Superintendent Lummis also sent out an updated Remote Learning communication last week. The link to find Grade Level Common Goals and Content was embedded in the email. I want to share the link that will take you directly to the websitePSB Remote Learning Website. You can then scroll down to your child’s grade level and click to see all of this information.
Grades
Many parents had questions about the grading system described in the Superintendent’s email. Again, K-5 teachers will most likely be marking many areas as NA and writing a short narrative about student activity during this period of remote learning.
It is my plan to have teachers in Grades 6-8 mark Term 3 with a “P” (for Pass and/or Pandemic). Term 1 and 2 grades will be averaged for the final grade with the understanding that no student will have this average lowered due to work not completed during remote learning. The “Completed,” “Attempted,” and “Not Attempted” language most recently described should be used in the comment section if needed. The town is still working out these details, but I will keep you posted.
New Kindergarten Students
We are in the process of planning a virtual Welcome to Kindergarten video and/or live meeting for parents. If you have already registered your child, you should be receiving information about Runkle and an Interview Form. If you have not yet registered your child, please use this link Registration Information
Celebrations
Both myself and Dr. Eileen Woods are working daily with other administrators in Brookline to plan celebrations for our 8th Grade Class of 2020. We are trying to have consistency amongst schools while honoring our Runkle Traditions. We should have more information soon.
Other Activities
We are in the process of putting a small committee together to assist in the hiring of an Interim Vice Principal for the 20-21 school year. I am hopeful that I can keep Dr. Woods as my mentor next year as her contributions and guidance during the past 8 weeks has been invaluable. The principal search will most likely begin in March of 2021.
We have been meeting with grade level teams all week to work on placement for next year as well. Keeping our K-2 students together in their classroom cohorts has been well-received by both staff and families. We received close to 75 responses to the Placement Forms sent out in April. Thank you for your feedback.
Runkle’s Student Council has been working on Spirit Day Activities that will be posted in the PTO Newsletter. Here’s a preview: This Wednesday, 5/20, is Crazy Hat/Hair Day! Send me pictures so we can share with all our Runkle friends. We also have plans for a Virtual Talent Show and a Memorial Day Celebration.
I apologize for the length of my letter. I want to share as much information with families and staff as I have at the time. We miss our students everyday. We don’t like this new normal and can’t wait to see you all soon (in person)!
Sending Real Hugs and Hope,
Donna
(Check out this good read!)
Dear Runkle Community,
Thank you for all you are doing to support your children by helping them engage in meaningful learning activities. I am sure that all families are experiencing many varied emotions these days with the rise in coronavirus cases, continued need for social distancing, working remotely and lots of other daily stresses. None of this is “normal” or even explainable at times. Tomorrow, Monday April 20th, is Patriot’s Day. It is a school holiday for both staff and families. Please take this time. April Vacation has been “cancelled” and students and staff will be back to work Tuesday through Friday.
I have received important feedback from many families and teachers. The feedback differs daily...
I want 4 hours of face-to-face instruction for my child. Thank you for your hard work.
When is Brookline going to step up?
My son loves seeing his friends at Morning Meeting! We are going to be so far behind!
We appreciate the schedule.
Please stop sending all this work.
It is too much for our family right now. I thought it was optional!
Please note that Learning Opportunities are technically optional due to varied student needs, ability to access, and sometimes challenging family life and most important is the fact that we are affected by a global health pandemic. In our community, we have families and staff experiencing food and job insecurity, technical challenges (one computer and three students in the home), a lack of consistent adult supervision, and more.
If you are NOT consistently facing these challenges, we expect students to fully engage in the learning opportunities we have on offer.
Grades 6-8 students will receive Pass/Fail grades for Quarter 4 (more explanation will be provided this month)
If you need help, please let a teacher or staff member know and we will work hard to help you meet your needs.
The Public Schools of Brookline are currently working with members of the School Committee to present specific MA State Standards to teachers that should be addressed between now and the end of June if need be. This information should address parent concerns about “What exactly should my child be learning?” However, due to the previously mentioned inequities, we will not hold students “back” or “accountable” upon re-entry if they have not mastered these standards. Teachers will do what they do best when we return. They will get your children back on track and in a better place to learn. We will adjust our expectations and meet the students where they are.
Nobody is failing their children. We are all doing our very best....parents and teachers both. Please do not put pressure on yourselves or on your children. Enjoy movies with your kids, read together if you can, take walks, hug when you can, support our local businesses and express gratitude often. More importantly, ask for help if you need it.
On a lighter note. Please watch the short Tiktok below… don’t judge… I fell down that rabbit hole last week. This is exactly how I felt this morning when my boys told me, “these pancakes are a bit thick Mom...” I’m just trying to get them to eat breakfast before I have to call it lunch. :(
https://vm.tiktok.com/WpH7qm/
We miss you all,
Donna
Dear Runkle Community,
Autism Awareness Month
The Runkle faculty and staff recognize and appreciate that families are working through a lot of stressors with the constraints of social distancing, the balancing of family life and the news of this week being the surge of cases. I understand that this situation is not getting easier. I feel like it gets harder everyday. Friends and colleagues have lost loved ones this past week. COVID-19 has infiltrated every aspect of our lives and those of our children.
Runkle is a special community. We are blessed with families from all over the world. Many of our students have parents who are more than essential workers in this crisis. Our parents are firefighters, EMTs, police officers, members of the military, doctors, nurses, custodians, teachers, and city officials. We are forever grateful for the work that they continue to do everyday while their own families are at home trying to stay healthy and safe.
We believe that any and all questions about “next steps,” “online learning,” “virtual class meetings,” and opportunities for students to connect to their teachers will be answered by teacher communications and our new learning hub. I believe that Runkle has made huge strides in a short period of time. This week we are publishing Runkle Learning Hub. This link will take parents to a website that connects to each grade level, specialists, conservatory teachers, and more. We add to this site daily as staff find the best way to share and connect with students and families. The site has a “Weekly Class Meeting” link to a chart containing meeting times in grades K-8. Students and parents will have to check teacher communications and google classrooms for the links to the meetings. We cannot publish those on the website.
In April, we are typically starting MCAS testing (deep sigh of relief here), planning end of the year trips and events for our 8th graders, celebrating spring and planning for next year. We will not be providing school work this Friday, April 10th (Good Friday). We have asked teachers to not expect work on Thursday evening, April 9th (First Day of Passover). I do not have an answer about April Vacation yet. I believe the School Committee will discuss this Monday evening. We will not be holding Parent/Teacher Conferences this spring. I will be sending a letter mid-week regarding the placement process for next year.
April is Autism Awareness Month. Our students on the autism spectrum are part of what makes Runkle the incredible community that it is. These students are also the most vulnerable in this unstable time. Their families struggle to create the structure that a school day provides; more so than any of us. We will be sharing more information about ways to support our friends this month.
I am sharing an article with you that helped me process the teaching and learning that we are trying to provide amidst a “historic moment in time that none of us have experienced or imagined before....” Opinion Piece Please don’t feel like you have to respond. I understand that some will not agree with this “Opinion” article.
During these uncertain times and school closure we will continue to work hard to serve our students by making connections, offering in-depth learning experiences, and supporting the health and well-being of our students. It is my hope to create more opportunities for us to virtually meet as a school via some fun activities. Please see the additional attachment requesting yearbook input.
Stay safe and be well.
Donna
Dear Runkle Community,
I hope everyone is safe and healthy on this rainy Sunday afternoon. This has been a challenging week for all of us. The extended school closure, implementation of learning expectations for home, and increasingly upsetting news about COVID-19 that we digest on a daily basis is not easy for adults. It has to be even more difficult for our beloved K-8 Runkle students.
Thank you for your continued support, reaching out and sending positive messages to teachers and staff this past week. It is important for me to share just how hard our teachers are working to provide accessible schedules, engaging and rigorous work, active play, and platforms to connect to their students. Most of us were able to join a Zoom or Google Meet last week through Middle School Advisories, Classroom Meetings or our larger K-2 or 3-5 Morning Meetings. Please understand that these platforms are not comfortable for everyone, nor is it an expectation that every teacher hold these virtual meetings. Teachers can connect via email, phone, or voice threads as well.
Brookline Public Schools is currently recommending that staff use Google Meet with our students. We do not have a contract with Zoom and there are privacy concerns with this site for students. The Town of Brookline will be making a formal recommendation soon about our current use of platforms.
Please do not pressure teachers to hold daily virtual meetings and/or compare them to their colleagues in Brookline or other districts. We are doing our very best to connect with our students. We have received both positive and negative feedback about the number of virtual platforms that students are being asked to view. Some of our K-1 students can be overwhelmed and confused by these online meetings.
One suggestion for parents is to organize social meetings online for their own children, friends and classmates. It is great to invite teachers, but they may not be able to attend these meetings due to work they are doing at home for their students or their own children.
Please keep your children HOME. Parents are reporting social media posts from middle school students who are out and about in Brookline with friends. I am hoping this has stopped. I had to do this with my own boys.. They understand now how critical it is to #stayhome to stop this virus. We miss our grandparents deeply, but want them and other compromised citizens safe and healthy.
Teachers will continue to reach out to students this week. I plan to hold larger grade level meetings with students and teachers during the Week of April 6th. Dates will follow. Thank you for your patience and kindness throughout these past two weeks. I check email daily and will continue to do so.
Sending Love and Wishes for Good Health,
Donna
Dear Runkle Families,
My heart is heavy knowing that schools are now officially closed until May 4th. I watched Governor Baker and Commissioner Riley speak this afternoon about the importance of these closures. I know we all understand how critical social distancing and the state's restrictions have become in this time of crisis. That being said, we all miss your children, our students, and each other.
Given the extended time away from schools, the Department of Education will be providing us with new guidelines tomorrow. If changes need to be made to our current remote learning plans, the state has given us until the beginning of April to make any adjustments. I want to thank you all for your patience and understanding with teachers who have been working so hard to plan for your children. I also want to be sensitive to the fact that some parents are struggling to get their children online for all of these Google Hangouts, Zoom meetings, and other virtual events.
I am holding two Morning Meetings for teachers and students (and you) in K-2 and 3-5 tomorrow morning. The meetings are on Zoom and the times and links are at the bottom of this email. These meetings are not mandatory, but an opportunity for students to see friends' faces and their teachers too. The meetings will be brief. I am hopeful the technology will cooperate and all will go well.
I am not holding a 6-8 meeting this week. I have been able to connect with almost all of our 6-8 students by joining Ms. Sneider's Advisory Meetings this week. She held nine meetings and they were amazing! The students had thoughtful questions and incredible insight about his new normal.
The Superintendent sent a letter today to introduce our Interim Vice Principal, Dr. Eileen Woods. I was able to meet with Dr. Woods before the schools were closed. I can't tell you how relieved I was to meet Eileen. She has so much experience and knowledge to share. We will all benefit from her guidance in the next few months. I will be meeting online with the Runkle Faculty on Friday to decompress this week. I hope we have many stories of success to share.
Please stay well. You are all in my thoughts,
Donna
Hello Runkle Families,
Please see my attached letter. I will be in touch soon with Zoom Meetings for students. I really miss seeing everyone (students and parents alike)! Please hang in there. We will figure this all out:)
Sending Love and Health Your Way,
Donna
Dear Runkle Families ,
By now, you should have received Interim Superintendent Ben Lummis’s email from Friday afternoon (3/20), which included a joint statement between the Brookline School Committee and Brookline Educators Union. These parties came to agreement late last week on how our public schools will function during the COVID-19 closure.
I write this afternoon to review next steps for the Monday 3/23 launching of our school-home learning opportunities that will help structure continued student learning and growth, challenge and support, during this period of school closure.
We realize that for many, resources shared last week were not as robust as students and families have come to expect from the public schools of Brookline. Please understand that transforming an educational environment from school to online is not as simple as holding the Zoom/Google Hangout/Skype chats we all have become experts in this week. The public schools of Brookline have long maintained that the essential part of the school experience is the interaction and response that happens inside a classroom between and among classmates and educators.
On-line Learning: 3/23-4/6 and Perhaps Beyond
As we enter this unprecedented second full week of closure, we begin the intermediate phase of our work by following guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) that remote learning is not intended to replicate the work we normally do with students when school is in session. This means we are not introducing new curricula or grading assessments. Rather, our focus will be on providing enrichment opportunities that allow students to remain engaged in learning, continue to be connected to school faculty and staff, and deepen their exposure to previously taught material. In summary, this interim period of remote learning is not school. We expect students to engage in and benefit from this work so that they are ready to return to school with their skills sharp. These resources should also help students and families structure their time and tend to learning, study, and practice throughout the weeks to come.
Next Steps
I am holding a virtual faculty meeting this afternoon. I am anxious to see my colleagues and check in with everyone. I am sure we will be addressing many questions and concerns.
We will be using these first several days to fine tune how to best maintain meaningful connections with our students during this extended absence from our regular routines. I understand that many teachers have already reached out with plans and scheduled meetings. Some will start connecting this week. We understand that the uncertainty of this new plan is likely causing some feelings of worry. We appreciate your continued patience as we adjust to this new reality in a short period of time! This implementation is new and may be awkward and messy at times.
Our Goals:
1. Preserve and continue to strengthen relationships
2. Keep students engaged in learning and curious
3. Maintain flexibility for families and teachers (who are at home with their families) to tweak learning plans if needed.
Staff are already collaborating with each other to identify how to connect with your children and provide review and enrichment opportunities for them. They miss seeing your children and are excited to reconnect very soon. You will be receiving information from your child’s teacher. Despite our best efforts, there will likely be glitches at the outset and we ask for your patience as we work them out.
As we proceed with these plans, we continue to be focused on educational equity during a time that is challenging for all. PSB continues to offer Grab and Go meals to families on free and reduced lunch and Chromebooks to those who need access to a digital device. Parents, guardians, and caretakers should use these PSB links to seek assistance; high school and district custodial, food service, and administrative staff will continue to aid in these important programs in the days and weeks to come.
I will be confirming dates and times to hold Zoom Meetings with Grade Levels K-2, 3-5, and 6-8 by tonight. I will be sure to get that information to you quickly.
Wishing you and your family peace, love and good health!
Donna
Dear Runkle Families,
I hope this email finds you safe and well with families and friends. I understand how frustrating and confusing these past 7 days have been for all of you. I know that some of our Runkle teachers have reached out to their students and parents. I am confident that all of Runkle's teachers and staff want what is best for our students during this time away from classrooms. The district leadership continues to work with the teachers' union on identifying, creating and communicating about next steps in providing academic learning opportunities, social-emotional support, and most importantly, consistent connections between teachers and their students.
We hope you have received the communication from interim Superintendent Ben Lummis dated March 17, 2020 sharing information about learning experiences for students in grades K-2, 3-5 and 6-8 which can be found on the Public Schools of Brookline
As we continue to develop materials for students and families, I wanted to share with you some additional resources and ideas that the Pre-K-8 principals recently put together. These resources are linked below and will also be available on the district website shortly.
We hope your children will find some, if not many, of these resources engaging, interesting and fun.
https://padlet.com/jennifer_buller/6q866l24b9ww
The town has also provided a link to Special Education and Mental Health Resources in the link below.
PSB COVID-19 Special Education and Student Services Page (Includes helpful Special Education, Self-Care, and Mental Health Resources):
https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/Page/2587#q2
It is my intention to use a platform such as Google Hangouts or Zoom to connect with students next week. I may start with a K-2 Morning Meeting and then do the same for 3-5 and 6-8. I will provide plenty of notice and instructions on how to connect by Monday, March 23rd. I really miss seeing our students everyday. I love my own kids, but this IS NOT EASY. We are all in this together. We will need patience and kindness to make it work. Feel free to reach out. I check my email frequently.
With Understanding and Encouragement,
Donna