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Coates Families,
I hope you’re all doing well. I miss you and your children, and I know our teachers feel the same.
This message is intended to check in with you and reiterate a few relevant points that FCPS leadership have made recently. I invite you to ask me or the teachers any questions during this strange time away from school.
First, I hope that any family that needs it is taking advantage of the Grab & Go out front of Coates each day. We’re open from 8-2:30 serving free food to children for breakfast and lunch. Adults may purchase for $2. I know that some of our families are using the Grab & Go at Hutchison ES instead. Please practice social distancing if you experience a line. Special thanks to FCPS Food Services for taking care of our communities and to my boss, Ms. Becky Baenig for advocating for a Grab & Go site at Coates.
Next, I know that many parents appreciate having academic work for their children to do while at home over these many days. As a parent myself, I am with you! We need to keep our kids’ brains busy and having some school-related work adds much-needed structure to their days. At this time, the school system has provided many great resources on its Blackboard site and fresh educational programming is already coming to FCPS’s local cable channel 21. I know that your children’s classroom teachers may have provided some options to you as well. Please know that at time, we are not yet in a formal, distance learning program, and all suggestions from teachers should be considered optional. Nothing is graded. Nothing is “extra credit.” The school system is quickly developing smart plans for better continuity of learning, and they’re considering everything from the digital divide (families who have access to tech vs. those who do not) to issues of equity. Above all else, they want our teachers to have the skills needed to shine as educators and engage kids in learning from a distance. We will get there.
All that being said, I hope you’re able to use the resources mentioned above. Parent to parent, I would tell you that most important academic thing you can do with your kids during this time is keep them reading. Read to them, read with them, make them read to you and to themselves. Have them talk about what was read so you can check their comprehension. Let them see you reading yourself. The best nonacademic thing you can do is spend quality time with your children. One thing many of us have right now is the gift of time.
Last week, you should have gotten an email from FCPS offering you access to ParentVue (or Blackboard 24-7). I hope that you did what you needed to do to get access. If not, let us know.
Finally, I appreciate the many emails I’ve gotten this week from parents, neighbors, and faith partners asking what they can do to help Coates, the school system, or the community. I’m not surprised these offers came in – our people are awesome like that. Nonetheless, it was touching. Currently, we do not have any operations at school that require help. We’re practicing social distancing like you. I’d say that the best thing you can do it check on your neighbors to see if they’re OK. Share info, share food, and let them know you’re there. Maintain that habit if the current state continues.
I’m happy to answer any questions you might have. Please know that I do not have access to inside information on what the school system’s next moves will be. I strongly believe that Dr. Brabrand and his leadership team are working through a situation that changes daily and must coordinate with CDC, the state, and other groups to navigate rules and guidelines and attempt to maintain a stellar school system while prioritizing public safety. I also know from personal experience that they seek and use input from those of us running the schools, and I’m impressed by the work they’ve done and proud to be part of FCPS.
Did I already say that we miss your kids?
Take care,
Jesse Kraft, Proud Principal
jkraft@fcps.edu
https://coateses.fcps.edu/
Coates Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/coateselementary/, https://twitter.com/CoatesES, & https://www.instagram.com/coateselementary/
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