Paw Print News and Updates 4/3/20

Sue wash hands

Dear Poplar Tree Families,

I hope everyone is healthy and safe! As many of you heard yesterday, Ms. Walker was announced as the new Principal of Floris Elementary School. I will truly miss working with Ms. Walker on a daily basis. Many times it felt like we were using one brain! The Floris community is lucky to have a leader like Ms. Walker, and I am excited for her as she embarks on this new professional journey!

Now, onto distance learning. Below is the general Poplar Tree distance learning schedule. Classroom teachers and/or grade level teams will be sharing their personalized schedules directly with families. I have been so proud of our PTES staff! They have been working hard and losing sleep at night on figuring out creative ways to connect with their students. The staff has also participated in numerous virtual trainings throughout the week. As we embark on this new reality for all of us, we all need to continue to give everyone some grace. During our virtual staff meeting on Monday, we reminded each other that parents are balancing many things at home and some of our students might have difficulty accessing all of the virtual instruction. In turn, I ask our families to remember that our PTES staff are also balancing many things at home. Many of our staff are supporting their own children, caring for elderly parents, and dealing with WIFI challenges due to all family members working in the home. Distance learning is not going to look like a regular school day, and I know that our staff is committed to providing some fun and engaging learning opportunities for our students. As you look at the schedule below, please know that all teachers will be recording their “live” instructional lessons and then will post those recordings. 

We are all excited to begin this new learning experience together with you and to “get back to school.” Distance learning will not be perfect, and I am sure that we will all make some mistakes and need to adjust some things along the way. We are all in this together, and remember Amazing Things Happen Everywhere!

Stay safe and healthy!

Ms. Andujar

distance learning schedule 1

Office Hours

What are Virtual Office Hours?

Virtual office hours are a time when you can sign on to Blackboard Collaborate or email with your teacher to ask them questions regarding your assignments.


Learning Packets

 

As part of the Distance Learning Plan, FCPS is sending weekly learning packets in the mail for all students PK-8. Some families would prefer not to receive paper copies in the mail and want to just access the packets on Blackboard 24/7 Learning. If you want to opt-out of receiving paper packets, please go to this link and complete the information required to opt-out. You can find further information on the packets here


School Counselor

A Note from Your Poplar Tree Counselors:

We are here for all Poplar Tree Students and families. Please feel free to reach out to us if we can be of help in any way. We’ve also put together a list of resources that we hope will help during this ever-changing, uncertain time: 

Poplar Tree Parent Resource List: April 2020

Be well & Stay well, Ms. Mertens and Ms. Hirsch


FCPS

FCPS Links that you may need to access: 

Coronavirus Distance Learning Updates

Academic Continuity Resources 

Talking to Children About Coronavirus 

Emergency Breakfast and Lunch Locations 


Ways to Stay Informed

Visit the Poplar Tree Website  and FCPS website for updates.

Follow Poplar Tree on Twitter @PoplarTreeES.

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