The College School
“There is no greater inspiration than empowering children to help other children.”
May 25, 2020
Dear Families of TCS,
I hope you enjoyed a wonderful holiday weekend. Perhaps it felt different than those in the past, but hopefully, it encompassed what’s important; time with family and a chance to reflect and relax. Hard to believe that we are heading into our final week of school. Time has certainly passed quickly these past weeks.
As we prepare to finalize our school year, I want to commend your children for finishing this year strong. Thinking back to that first week in September and now these final days of May, they have accomplished and achieved great things. Through hard work and determination, they became stronger readers, writers and mathematicians. To overcome what once seemed challenging, they learned to focus and persevere. To enhance their social and emotional learning, they worked cooperatively, capitalized on their strengths and developed into more patient and compassionate individuals. I am so proud of the growth they have made this year, particularly over these last two months when faced with a time of uncertainty. With guidance from YOU and their teachers, they were bold in their approach to embrace change and move forward. I have experienced many highlights in my career at TCS, however, I believe the courage of your amazing children now ranks among my most memorable. THANK YOU for your faith in my staff and your unwavering commitment to stay the course all year. I’m so grateful to have been a part of this journey together.
And now for some final notes and reminders as we enter our final week.
- TCS Closing Ceremonies will be held on Wednesday, June 3rd @ 10:00am. I encourage you and your child to set time aside to attend this special culminating event. Although it is taking place in a virtual format, we will commemorate the occasion by honoring and celebrating the achievements of our students. A Zoom link will be sent out to you by the end of this week. Again, family members and special guests are welcome to join this event!
- 2020-2021 TCS enrollment contracts continue to roll in. Thank you for your patience awaiting them and your time to sign and return them you’re your deposit payment.
- This Wednesday, May 27th is the final day to place an online order for our 2019-2020 TCS Yearbook and to sign up for ALEKS (online supplemental math practice).
- Drive-Up Pick-Up & Drop-Off @ TCS—We are still pending final permission for our families socially-distanced drop-off and pick-up at TCS on Tuesday, June 9th. However, I am optimistic that all will be a “GO!” As families will not be permitted in the building, TCS Staff will pre-pack all student belongings in marked bags that each family will receive curbside. In preparation for this day, teachers will be providing you and your child with any items he/she needs to return to school. If you have any special requests, please contact your teacher or me in advance. Expect more details to follow regarding designated times. We will ALL look forward to seeing you on the 9th!
While this school year draws to a close, I want our returning families to be aware that plans for the 2020-2021 School Year are in full motion. While we closely follow the research and the CDC regulations for school re-openings, we are also collaborating with Delaware officials and other public and private school administrations across the country to seek the best guidance of our return in September. First and foremost, are the safety and well-being of The College School students and families. Whether our return will follow a virtual, hybrid or in-person model, I want to assure you that TCS teachers and staff are taking a proactive approach. Summer Professional Development is already in the works as we continue to develop and enhance our instructional practices as a teaching team. In addition, our training will provide a proactive approach to planning virtual lessons, facilitating online projects and exploring research-based methods that maximize the engagement of our students. Finally, YOU (our parents) will also have training opportunities to assist your child in becoming a more independent learner. During this unprecedented time, it is paramount that we continue to grow and evolve together as a strong learning community. My staff and I remain committed to provide a high-quality education for your child, while incorporating crucial social opportunities, too. Please expect more detailed information in the coming weeks.
Finally, I hope you will continue to applaud and acknowledge our 8th graders and UD seniors in our “Student Spotlights.”
All the best in our FINAL week ahead!
Laura
“The secret of change is to focus your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”
~Socrates
May 17, 2020
Dear Families of TCS,
I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful weekend. It has definitely been nice to have the sun and spring-like temperatures around this past week. Hard to believe we are already heading into the Memorial Day holiday this Friday!
As we approach the end of the school year, I am sending a few important reminders. While I mentioned some of these in last week’s Virtual Update, I hope you will not perceive this repeated information as annoying, but instead, as a gesture to friendly remind you! And, I say that as someone who benefits from those friendly reminders in my own life! (-:
- TCS Closing Ceremonies will be held on Wednesday, June 3rd @ 10:00am. Although this event must take place in a virtual format, we are looking forward to celebrating ALL students with year-end awards and our traditional slide show. Additionally, this opportunity will provide time to recognize our graduating 8th graders, as well as other students moving on to new schools in the fall. As I want to be accurate in each of my student acknowledgements, please send me an email if any of your intentions (particularly the new school your child will attend) have changed.
- Mrs. Baker emailed the 2020-2021 TCS enrollment contracts last week. Please let her (or me) know if you have any questions regarding these. Thank you to those of you who have already reached out with questions.
- Wednesday, May 27th will be the final day to place an order for our 2019-2020 TCS Yearbook. Additionally, we are offering ALEKS (online supplemental math practice for Grades 4-8) for a small fee of $25.
- 600-Hour TCS Reading Challenge—Congratulations to all of the children at TCS for daring to respond in a BOLD way to the 600-Hour Reading Challenge. The teachers and I are SO proud of their concerted efforts to maximize their reading time these last several weeks. And, a big thanks to YOU as parents for your encouragement at home. Remember that research has proven time and again that students who read independently become better readers, score higher on achievement tests in all subject areas and have greater content knowledge overall! To reward their efforts, TCS will reward every child with an ice cream certificate from the UD Creamery! More details to follow, but please let your children know how proud we are of their commitment to reading!
- Drive-Up Pick-Up & Drop-Off @ TCS–As of today, we have permission for our families to do a socially-distanced drop-off and pick-up at TCS on Tuesday, June 9th. As students and families will not be permitted to go into the building, TCS Staff will pre-pack and store all student items in a bag that each family will receive curbside. In preparation of this day, your teacher will provide you and your child with any items he/she needs to return to school. If you have any special requests for specific items, please contact your teacher or me in advance. Please expect more details to follow regarding designated times for each family. We will ALL look forward to seeing you on the 9th!
- Our final days of TCS Social Engagement opportunities are winding down, so if your child hasn’t checked out the Flipgrid videos or made a post yet…..this may be their chance to give it a try!! Here is the link:
https://flipgrid.com/tcssocialengagement
- Mondays – Show and Tell
- Wednesday – Fun Challenges
- Fridays – Spirit Days
- In observance of the Memorial Holiday weekend ahead, there will be no Lunch Bunches on Friday, May 22nd and Monday, May 25th. We hope to see your children participating on Monday and Wednesday this week! On a side note, as we would love to have FULL engagement with your children during Lunch Bunches these final weeks, we ask that you highly encourage NO use of video games during this half-hour. We want this social time to be one in which students chat and engage with their teachers and peers. We truly appreciate your help with this!
While the impact of COVID-19 continues to keep us in a transitional stage of uncertainty, I know that many of you are anxious to know what September and the start of a new school year will bring. For those of you planning to return in the fall, please know that I am in the early stages of a re-opening plan with the UD administration. With current research and CDC regulations are under perpetual review, we continue to seek the appropriate guidance that is in the best interest and safety of your children. Among the tasks we are working on is a parent survey for TCS families. It is important for us to obtain your voice and perspective as we move into these next phases of planning. I will continue to share and keep you updated as new information is presented. As always, please feel free to reach out to me if you have specific and more immediate questions and concerns regarding a re-opening plan for TCS.
Please continue to virtually applaud and acknowledge our 8th graders and UD seniors in the “Student Spotlights,” which will continue coming out this month. We continue to be SO proud of these graduating students and want to provide them with the special recognition they truly deserve!
Wishing you and your family the best in the new week ahead….
Laura
The best way to treat obstacles is to use them as stepping-stones. Tread on them and let them to lead you to something better. ~Enid Blyton
May 10, 2020
Dear Families of TCS,
I hope this email finds all of our moms out there enjoying a very Happy Mother’s Day! Thanks for all you do to love and support your children and for making your job as “Mom,” a TOP priority! You are 100% appreciated today and always!
Some of you are still inquiring about tutoring for your child this summer. If I have not yet spoken to you personally about this, I will make contact by the end of this week. I have plenty of tutoring offers from staff and UD students, so no worries about searching elsewhere.
To this end, I’m also letting you know that Learning Ally will continue to be available to all TCS students over the summer, as our school contract runs through August. I hope that your child will continue to utilize the benefits of this reading tool beyond the school year. Additionally, we are offering ALEKS (online supplemental math practice for Grades 4-8) for a small fee of $25.
Additionally, information for our 2019-2020 TCS Yearbook order is also included in this link. We ask that BOTH of these online orders are completed no later than Wednesday, May 27th. Thank you!
https://www.collegeschool.udel.edu/orders/
Just a few more updates for this week ahead…..
TCS SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
Continue to remind your children about TCS social engagement opportunities! Remember that even if they miss one of the weekly offerings, it’s not too late to go back and watch the Flipgrid videos or make a late post! Here is the link:
https://flipgrid.com/tcssocialengagement
Mondays – Show and Tell
Wednesday – Fun Challenges
Fridays – Spirit Days
TCS READING CHALLENGE
Please encourage your children to KEEP READING, as our updated data shows that students are just over the 400-hour mark! And, please let your child know that since we cannot be at school for the previously planned Moo Mobile visit, we have decided to send Rita’s Water Ice gift cards instead. Hopefully, our students will master the challenge and reach the goal in the days ahead!
ACES DAY
Thank you again for encouraging your children to attend our first virtual ACES Day last Wednesday! It was a great event, and I’m pleased to report that we had 95% attendance from our TCS students and staff. Including the Lab School, there were nearly 150 total ZOOM attendees, which was a fabulous turnout! Shout-out again to our UD interns, Liz, Hannah and Sydney for all of their hard work coordinating this day!
STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS: Please continue to acknowledge our 8th graders and UD seniors in the “Student Spotlights,” which will continue coming throughout the month of May. We are SO proud of our TCS and UD seniors and we want to provide them with the special recognition they deserve!
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
Thank you for the contributions towards a wonderful Teacher Appreciation Week for the teachers and staff of TCS! They all enjoyed a week of special acknowledgement and especially loved their “Dinner on Us!” night last Thursday. Cheers to the great work of our wonderful team at The College School…I know we all appreciate the work they do to make a positive difference for our children.
Calendar Reminders
Just a few dates to remind you of as we approach the end of our school year:
Monday, May 25th–TCS will be closed for the observance of the Memorial Day Holiday
Friday, May 29th—Officially marks the final day of the marking period, last day of online classes and last “Lunch Bunches” for TCS.
Wednesday, June 3rd–Our virtual Closing Ceremonies for TCS will begin at 10:00am, please note the time change for this event.
Week of June 8th—We hope that UD will grant us clearance to have families drop off and pick up their child’s belongings/materials from lockers and classrooms at TCS. At this time, we plan to distribute student report cards and awards, too. As all on-campus activity remains suspended through May 18th, we still do not have official permission, however, I’m hopeful that once our plan is approved (following CDC guidelines), we’ll make this exchange happen. Thank you for your patience in awaiting these details.
Wishing you and your family the best in the week ahead….
Laura
We cannot accomplish all that we need to do without working together.
~Bill Richardson
May 4, 2020
Dear Families of TCS,
I hope this email finds you strong and well. I want to thank those of you who continue to send pictures of your children during this time quarantine time. Receiving them brings our staff a sense of comfort, and it’s a joy to see the simple and creative things you are doing as a family, while social distancing keeps us apart.
At TCS, we understand that the balance between home-schooling and managing your full-time profession is not an easy one, so, as a parent, I hope that you find some time each day to shift your energy and do something special for YOU. It is that indefinite aspect of COVID-19 that I believe makes this time so difficult. Therefore, it is more important now than ever to do things that are meaningful and memorable. Things that offer a fresh perspective when we feel sad or stressed and need it the most. Be sure you to take time to unplug, go for a walk, listen to music, try a new recipe or watch a funny movie to prompt some laughter. I believe we can all find something to shift our perceptions and relax. Even if it’s temporary—it’s important! So, take a little time for yourself each day and find those opportunities to discover your inner strength when life feels the most challenging.
Just a few updates for this week ahead:
TCS SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
Please remind your children about TCS social engagement opportunities! And, even if they miss one of the weekly offerings, it’s never too late to go back and watch the Flipgrid videos or make a delayed post! I hear from many parents how much their child enjoys going back and watching their friends’ and teachers’ posts over and over again! Here is the link:
https://flipgrid.com/tcssocialengagement
Mondays – Show and Tell
Wednesday – Fun Challenges
Fridays – Spirit Days
ACES DAY
THIS Wednesday, May 6th, we will commence in holding our annual ACES Day with the children and families of the Lab School! This event will run 11:00am to 12:00pm. For full details and information, I will be sending out the ACES Day letter this evening. Obviously, a virtual ACES Day will be vastly different than our past ones, however, our interns from TCS and the Lab School have worked tirelessly to make this day special. Teachers have been pushing student attendance in their classes, buy I truly appreciate you supporting and encouraging your child’s participation as well! The 4’s and 5’s from Miss Monica and Miss Katie’s classes are especially looking forward to seeing their middle school buddies, so this will be a great reunion!!
Student Spotlights: Hopefully, you saw the first “Student Spotlight” yesterday for the first of our 8th graders. These, along with the acknowledgement of our UD seniors will extend through the weeks ahead! We are SO proud of our TCS and UD graduates and we want to provide them with the special recognition they deserve!
Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
Happy National Teacher Appreciation Week!! I want to extend my personal thanks to the teachers and staff of TCS, while also recognizing TCS parents who join us in the field and front lines of education. Thanks for ALL that you do to make a positive impact in the lives of your students! We are truly grateful for YOU….especially during unprecedented times like these!
We are truly grateful for your consideration to express special thanks to the teaching staff of TCS.
Social Media
When you have a minute, please remember to visit and “like” us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tcsudel/ and while you’re there, check out some of our most recent posts! Also, student pictures displaying “What I Miss About TCS…” are still being accepted through tomorrow (5/5) at noon. We’d love to see your child participate!
Sending my best to you and your family as we continue this journey together,
Laura
We rise by lifting others.
~Robert Ingersoll
April 26, 2020
Dear Families,
While the news of Governor Carney’s announcement on Friday may have been anticipated, many of us were still clinging to the hope of TCS students and staff finishing out the year at school together. Nevertheless, the stay-at-home order and guidelines around social distancing will remain in place.
To this end, TCS will continue with our virtual schooling plan right up through the last day of the marking period on Friday, May 29th. Our teachers, staff and UD students will continue to provide remote instruction, student support and social engagement to maximize your child’s learning. Additionally, we will proceed in our planning for Closing Ceremonies on June 3rd as we work to create a virtual program that is unique and memorable.
In addition, we will begin to discuss a plan for optional summer work, including academic suggestions for keeping your child practicing and developing important skills. Some parents have also inquired about recommendations for summer tutoring. Please feel free to reach out to me separately if you are also interested in this private service for your child. I do have names of readily available tutors, including some of our TCS teachers and UD students.
Disappointment is undoubtedly the emotion we feel right now, nevertheless, it is essential for us to remain balanced and thankful for the amazing things that have emerged this school year. In addition, we must pull together as a strong force in the days ahead. And, while the worries of this pandemic remain uncertain, the hope for our future at TCS is strong. In the weeks to come, my plan is to accentuate the success and many accomplishments of our students and staff. I will also recognize those who will be moving on at the end of this year, particularly, our 8th graders and UD seniors. Please look for these special student “spotlights” in my future correspondence.
As most of you know, I have been a proud member of The College School community for many years, however, today, I am prouder than ever. Since this pandemic began, I have witnessed first-hand, the perpetual commitment of TCS staff and families. From the rapid transition to online learning and special support for students to the ultra-flexibility you have exhibited while adjusting to this new model of remote learning. The commitment, compassion, and resilience you have shown, inspire me each day, and I will always be grateful.
In the coming days, I will be consulting with my staff and the administration at UD about plans to ensure a smooth ending to our school year. These plans will include procedures such as returning books, laptops and school materials, retrieving personal items from lockers and classrooms and much more. Please expect to hear about these plans as they are determined.
Again, as we look to the promise of the future, let’s focus on finishing this year TCS STRONG! It is expected that you will continue to have questions, and as I receive guidance, I will share the answers. In the meantime, do not hesitate to reach out at any time. Stay safe and be well as we embark on another week together.
All the best,
Laura
“The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to make things a little better.”
~John F. Kennedy
Dear Families of TCS,
Hope that last week’s Spring Break provided an opportunity to step away from work and to enjoy some downtime. I know my teachers were grateful to unplug from virtual schooling and to spend some quality time with their families. It’s hard to believe that tomorrow begins Week 5 in the virtual classroom. After a week away, it will be good to get everyone back into a school routine once again. To that end, I’m including some “Parent Tips” with strategies to support your child’s learning at home and maximize the benefits of an online education.
Preparing TCS Students for “Zoom” Classes
- Help your child prepare a dedicated “school space,” at a table or desk, free from distractions.
- Remind your child to finish any meals or snacks prior to attending class.
- Encourage your child to be on time and to participate for the full class period.
- Expect your child to be more independent, just as he/she would be in classrooms at TCS. Children tend to participate more when parents are monitoring from a distance, which may be a few feet away or across the room, depending on the age of your child.
- Add your child’s ZOOM meetings to a family calendar or schedule. Older students should be able to maintain on their own, however, parent reminders are always helpful!
Another reminder that Lunch Bunches will continue on Monday-Wednesday-Friday. Please click on the social engagement link and encourage your child to join in on the fun offerings our UD Students have so creatively arranged.
https://flipgrid.com/tcssocialengagement
And again, if your child is interested in contacting a classmate, remember that each student email address is the child’s first name and last initial, followed by @tcsud.org. So, for example, the email for Jack Smith would be jacks@tcsud.org Additionally, remember that our family roster is securely located on our Parent Portal. Here’s the link below:
https://app.schoology.com/group/2152934513/materials#/group/2152934513/materials
💻 TCS TECH TIP 🖥
Photomath is useful free app that reads and solves problems instantly by using the camera on your phone. After quickly scanning an equation, this app will guide your child through a solving approach with clear instructions. It provides animated calculation steps just as a teacher would in a live classroom. Photomath is easy to use and definitely a GREAT app to check out!
And finally, another big thanks for the photos of your children learning and playing at home! Please continue to email and share these as we are documenting all that we can during our virtual journey together!
May your family continue to stay strong and well. Have a good week!
All the best,
Laura
“Good times are a reminder and reward for dealing with the challenging times.”
~Leslie Garland
Dear Families of TCS,
Here’s hoping that teachers and students are off to a relaxing spring break. I’m sure that parents, too, are happy to hit the “pause” button from virtual schooling this week! Take extra time to do some fun things as a family and try to get outdoors as much as possible. Yesterday, I was able to connect with a few students during Lunch Bunches, however, both sessions had WAY more adults than kids! Just a reminder that these will continue taking place on Wednesday and Friday this week. Lunch Bunches are entertaining and a great way to catch up and hear what everyone is up to. They also provide a perfect platform for socialization in a more casual context, which hopefully, reduces those overly social tendencies when it comes to academic and instructional time. So, if your children care to join in, we’d love to see them! Don’t forget to check out the FUN social engagement activities, too!
https://flipgrid.com/tcssocialengagement
A few parents have inquired about having their child reach out to classmates via email. I think this is a great way for our students to connect! If your child wants to do so, remember that each student email address is the child’s first name and
last initial, followed by @tcsud.org. So, for example, the email for Jack Smith would be jacks@tcsud.org Hope this is helpful in connecting your child with friends during this time! Additionally, check out our family roster, located on our Parent Portal, for ways to connect with other parents. Here’s the link below:
https://app.schoology.com/group/2152934513/materials#/group/2152934513/materials
Hopefully, you received my TCS Reading Rally letter yesterday. Again, I am challenging EVERY student to participate and be a part of this, so please offer any extra encouragement at home. While it may be a daring goal, I know it’s attainable if we all work together. And, as this is an extra busy time for you as parents, please remember to rely on the support of Learning Ally, which is key in helping every child develop a stronger reading foundation, while building their independent skills and confidence, too.
Enjoy the rest of this spring break week! As always, I hope you will continue to reach out with any ideas or concerns~ your feedback is valuable to us. We appreciate your many kind emails and well wishes, as they definitely keep us going. A big thanks to those of you who have emailed photos! We still need MORE, especially for our yearbook, which must be submitted by the end of this month!
May your family stay strong and well as we wake up each day hoping for peace and positive change in the weeks ahead.
All the best,
Laura
“One of the most important things we can do in this world is to let others know they are not alone.”
~Shannon Adler
Dear Families of TCS,
Just checking in tonight before closing out our first virtual month and heading into a well-deserved break ahead. I also want to commend you, your children and my teaching staff for your commitment to this new normal of online schooling. While there have been some glitches and challenges along the way, I have been pleased and impressed with the strong communication and support we’ve collectively shown at The College School. Together, we have demonstrated a spirit of unity and teamwork during what continues to be a challenging time. Thank you for remaining flexible and caring for one another on a daily basis–what a positive difference this has made!
I know some families have expressed disappointment about our choice to proceed with spring break. While this decision may not be optimal for everyone, I do ask for your compassion about the importance of stepping away next week. Not only have teachers and staff been working 6-7 days a week planning and preparing their professional duties for TCS, but they are also balancing their families, households and personal commitments. Furthermore, TCS has many parents in essential and front-line professions, struggling to balance their jobs and families. They are grateful for this break from virtual schooling, as it will offer a welcome reprieve and extra quality time to spend with their children. I personally thank you for your support and understanding of this decision for our TCS community as a whole. Over the break, please be on the lookout for the TCS Reading Challenge, which will rally students to unitedly read 500-hours by May 15th. The reward is a FREE visit from the Moo Mobile when school reopens!
I attended some parent-teacher conferences this week, and enjoyed the opportunity of “Zooming” with you. Hopefully, it felt good having the chance to connect and chat with teachers to discuss your child’s progress. As some of you expressed the desire of additional meeting time, I encourage you to arrange this with teachers in the weeks ahead.
I continue to enjoy seeing TCS students during their in-class academic time, as well as the mid-day “Lunch Bunches.” The Flip-Grid videos for Art and the many social challenges are also a LOT of fun to try or check out, so please encourage your child to do so (parents can give these challenges a whirl, too)! Again, I offer a big shout-out to our UD students for putting together these social engagement opportunities and for arranging personal weekly check-in times to meet with and assist your children. Their loyalty to TCS remains amazing!!
Some of you recently inquired about TCS 2020-2021 Enrollment Contracts for the school year. Unfortunately, with the temporary closure of our UD Mail system, we are in the midst of making alternative arrangements to send these. If you did not return the TCS Student Intent form for next year, please send me an email indicating your intentions for fall. Finally, I know some of you have an interest in financial assistance for next year. I welcome families to reach out to me in a separate email about this. While I will continue to work persistently to offer financial help, TCS scholarship funds will definitely be more limited due to the unfortunate impact of COVID-19. Nevertheless, I remain optimistic about easing the hardships that families may face. I plan to explore every option and am determined to keep TCS enrollment and staffing strong and consistent as we head into a new school year. Thanks for your patience and understanding as we navigate this process.
In closing, I hope you enjoy celebrating a special Easter and/or Passover with your family and friends this week. Although these observances may feel vastly different in virtual mode, the wishes for love, peace and hope continue as always. May we all count our blessings, hoping the days to come will bring us positive stories of healing, development and renewal.
All the best,
Laura
“Challenges are what make life interesting, overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”
Dear TCS Families,
I hope this note finds you well after a beautiful weekend! How can it be that we are heading into Week 4 of online schooling? While I miss the daily engagement of seeing your children in person, I am comforted knowing they are safely bonded at home with the continued support of their parents and teachers.
This morning, I woke up to the sun shining through my window, thinking how wonderful it would be to jump back into our former routines. Yet again, I was reminded this would not be the case today. Instead, we must take the essential precautions and remain patient until higher powers commence and heal the pandemic we face. And, while the return to TCS with smiling faces, high-fives and welcome back hugs would be a reviving sight; we’ll wait for that time to come. For now, let’s continue to embrace the positive, take advantage of virtual connections, and begin another week TCS STRONG… TOGETHER!
Here are a few quick reminders:
- PLEASE take advantage of the Social Engagement Activities that our UD students are working so hard to plan for your children. Below is the quick link for your convenience, but please remember that EVERYTHING you and your child continue to need for online learning is located in our “TCS Virtual Learning” file on the Google Drive.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wqK6Gx9y531jgTVeCySjdxbPQcCROtRB
- As per your request, we have added a 3rd Lunch Bunch option on Wednesday’s. This will be a “school-wide” engagement and will run from 11:40am to 12:20pm. Social Engagement activities will continue through Spring Break next week!
- Report Card Conferences are in progress and will be held ALL week long. I hope you have a productive conference with your child’s teachers, overviewing their progress, including highlighted strengths and areas for continued development.
- PHOTO REQUESTS: We are in desperate need of pictures for our photo gallery and school yearbook! Please send us ANY photos of your children spotlighting what they are doing in the day-to-day during this time at home. There will be a dedicated section in our yearbook to acknowledge this virtual part of the school year. PLEASE help us by sending some personal photos!! Dougherty will also be reaching out in a separate email to 8th grade parents and student writers for special content in our TCS yearbook.
Stay strong, hug your kids daily, and remember you are thought of and missed by your TCS Family
All the best,
Laura
“Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children.”
~Maya Angelou
Dear TCS Families,
Just checking in on you. I hope that your family continues to be strong and to make the most of this time together. Additionally (fingers crossed), I am hopeful that most of you are beginning to get the hang of virtual schooling. While there were still be some challenges in the day-to-day, please know we are all working through this together and are here to offer our support. I had a LONG meeting tonight with my staff and we discussed the many things that are going well along with the things that are still requiring some adjustments. Nevertheless, I see everyone embracing change in the strongest way possible, and I commend you on your strength and persistence during this time.
Here are a few quick reminders, as we work to finish this week strong….
- Remember that ALL “Virtual Learning” materials are located in the Google Drive. This is the ONLY link you need! Whatever you are searching for, check this drive first. Our goal is to keep everything in one place for easy and convenient access:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11IXqL-Xf0jv4FFTl8aNlhBTFBNgnhUBq
- Many parents shared that the “tech tip” from a week ago has been a HUGE time-saver! On that note, I am re-sharing how to drag the Google Drive link to your desktop for quick and easy access. Do not delay in trying this one–it’s a WIN-WIN!!
- If you have not yet scheduled a report card conference, please expect to hear from your child’s homeroom teacher by the end of this week
- Don’t forget to remind your child to check out some of the social engagement activities such as Spirit Week! Share your latest artwork with Mrs. K. on “FlipGrid” or join us for an upper school/lower school “Lunch Bunch” this Friday! It’s all right there on the Google Drive!
Stay strong….and know that you are missed.
All the best,
Laura
“In the midst of every crisis lies great opportunity.
~Albert Einstein
Dear TCS Families,
This past week, I’ve learned that when life brings us challenge, it also offers us the chance to come together and do something out the ordinary. At TCS, I truly believe that we have taken hold of this difficult period and are doing just that; assuming different roles, acclimating to new routines and advancing beyond our comfort zones. I want to commend our TCS students, staff and each of you for the ways you’ve embraced change these last two weeks. I am grateful for your trust and patience with each step forward.
It’s hard to believe that tomorrow marks the official start of our 4th and final marking period at TCS. And, who would have guessed we’d be kicking it off in an online mode? Teachers have again spent another weekend organizing and planning to deliver instruction with some new approaches. Based on your survey feedback, they have worked to implement more technology, utilizing new techniques and providing more virtual time. As we move into this first FULL week of virtual schooling, please take note of the following:
- Monday through Thursday will be academic days for teachers and students. Fridays are reserved for teachers as Planning and Professional Development. Students will utilize Friday’s as “catch-up” work days, with Specials time and social engagement activities, as planned by UD students and staff.
- We encourage all students to complete the work assigned by their teachers. While no student will be penalized, credit will be awarded to those who consistently complete assignments on a weekly basis. As every family’s situation varies during this challenging time, incomplete work will NOT negatively impact any student’s final grades.
While we may not hit every expectation, I know that your child will benefit from the instruction each teacher has so thoughtfully prepared. For your convenience, I’ve included the link for our ZOOM scheduling moving forward:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rWo7Onyv7tCz6CqWJDSTKXmH6weq_UN7rWjul18JF5I/edit?usp=sharing
In addition to the academic piece of our virtual program, I also have exciting news that encompasses your requests for MORE social engagement for your children. With the sadness of our own school year stopping abruptly, perhaps even sadder was the loss of many of our wonderful UD students. With no chance to say goodbye, they were rushed off campus and sent back home. Nevertheless, we stayed in touch, trying to come up with ways they could stay connected to TCS. Our three Behavioral Science undergraduates (Sydney Hirsch, Hannah Gottfried and Liz Clayton), contacted me about the possibility of continuing their internship. And, as luck would have it, they rallied and we scheduled a ZOOM meeting last Thursday, which also included Miss Megan, Mrs. Hershberger, Mrs. Kempista and myself. Although scattered across different states, we were able to create a virtual plan that will help to keep our students connected and engaged over the weeks ahead. Additionally, Ms. Kelly, Miss Alex, Miss Kasey and Miss Caila have also agreed to stay the course with us at any capacity they can! Words cannot express how grateful I am that these UD students are volunteering their time to stay on with us. I hope this conveys the true commitment and allegiance they feel towards TCS. Not sure how I will ever properly thank them!! Please note that I will be sending a separate email titled “TCS Social Engagement” with all the details, so please look for this so your child is ready to ROLL!
Thank you again for your time and attention to the many details we continue to send out! Stay strong, be well and have a good week ahead!
All the best,
Laura