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Hello, Tiger Families!
As Dr. Brabrand recently shared, our world is challenged in ways we never imagined. Over the past several weeks, FCPS has diligently planned for this shift to distance learning as a continuity of learning. Our teachers, like you, are juggling the new demands of telework, supporting families, teaching their children, connecting with students, and maintaining health and safety. They are committed to making this work for your children and will provide many opportunities for your children to communicate with them and their classmates as we distance learn together.
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We sincerely appreciate your patience and flexibility as we launch our Distance Learning Plan, and are excited to return to our passion, instructing your children. Our teachers will work closely with you to ensure your child has access to instruction and will be responsive to your questions and supportive of the needs of your family beyond school. |
As mentioned in the message last week, below is detailed information regarding Terra Centre’s Distance Learning Plan. Additionally, there is information based on the frequently asked questions we have received from parents, such as questions about pictures, personal belongings, etc.
We hope you continue to enjoy your Spring Break stay-cation!
Rebecca Gidoni Carrie Pratt
Principal Acting Assistant Principal
Address Changes
- Please email Dee Cunningham, our registrar, at dmcunningham@fcps.edu if you have moved or plan to move.
Advanced Academics Placement (AAP)
- The FCPS Advanced Academics office is automating the notification process for Level IV eligibility decisions due to school and office closures.
- The AAP office will begin the notification process by emailing families by April 10. The notification process may take several weeks.
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Click here for AAP program updates.
- Level IV Orientation is not scheduled at this time. Further information will be provided.
Behavior Resources for Parents
- Log onto FCPS 24-7 Learning (BlackBoard)
- Then select the grade level
- Click on Special Education → click on Additional Supports → Click on Behavior Support
Distance Learning
- Complete Information (Click here)
- Information from Dr. Brabrand:
- We acknowledge that distance learning cannot reasonably replace daily in-person instructional programs, and we will not be trying to replicate the regular school day.
- Our Distance Learning Plan provides for students to continue learning in developmentally appropriate ways, while being mindful of their health and wellness. The plan includes paper learning packets, video broadcasts, lessons/assignments and learning materials posted to Blackboard and completed individually or collaboratively, along with scheduled web chats.
- Learning Packets:
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Click here for information about the Distance Learning Packets
- The first learning packets will include review content in literacy and mathematics.
- As time continues, packets will be updated to reflect essential standards for the 4th quarter.
- Due to a central printing error, some families may receive duplicate packets. This error has been corrected for future deliveries.
- The next packet should arrive on or after Friday, April 10.
- Packets are optional and may be referenced by teachers when instruction launches 4/14.
- Packets are available on FCPS 24-7 Learning.
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Click here if you would like to stop receiving the packets in the mail
- FCPS Learning Cable Channels:
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- Distance Learning Schedule:
- Click here for the FCPS Approximate Time Frames for Distance Learning
- Distance Learning begins on Tuesday, April 14.
- Instruction occurs from Monday-Thursday. Fridays are reserved for teacher professional development and planning.
- Grade level teams will post their schedule on FCPS 24-7 Learning (BlackBoard).
- Following FCPS guidelines, teachers will provide 1-hour of Direct Instruction pre-recorded and/or live, each day, Monday-Thursday, divided between Reading, Writing and Math. Science and Social Studies will also be included, possibly integrated with math and language arts or as a separate lesson.
- Following FCPS guidelines, teachers will provide 1-hour of Office Hours support to students, each day, Monday-Thursday. Office hours are a time when teachers can provide specific feedback to students on a rotational basis. The discussion may be content-specific and include whole class, small groups, or individuals.
- It is not possible to guarantee instructional times will not overlap. Therefore, all instruction will be recorded so that siblings and students can access their learning at other times, or if they or their devices are not available for live broadcasts
- Specialists provide music, Art, STEAM, PE, Spanish FLES, and Library instruction. The choice activities are considered independent study.
- Students can self-select one activity per school day using a Bingo choice board, and lessons will be asynchronous to allow for flexibility. The choice board is in FCPS 24-7 Learning under the Specials tab for each grade level.
- Boards are differentiated for grades K-2 and 3-6.
End of Year Celebrations
- 6th Grade Promotion
- Many parents, particularly those with significant milestones like 6th-grade promotion and high school graduation, are anxious to know if we will be able to do anything for our students. We hope to be able to provide something for our students when it is safe to do so.
- Promotion information will be provided in June 2020.
- Grade Level Celebration / Closure
- We are brainstorming ideas for some type of closure for our students, staff, and families when we are allowed to access the building safely, as we would like them to be able to close out the 2019-2020 school year somehow.
- Grade level celebration information will be provided in June 2020.
Field Trips and Payment Refunds
- All field trips are canceled.
- Travel Brokers & Vendors:
- The Department of Financial Services is currently working with contracted travel brokers and other vendors to evaluate refund, cancellation, and rescheduling policies. Each field trip may have different terms and conditions. Therefore, refunds may vary for individual schools and the trips planned.
- Teacher Arranged Field Trips:
- We are making every effort to recover deposits and fees to determine the amount that can be refunded. Before issuing refunds, cancellation fees, non-refundable amounts, and fixed costs must be taken into consideration.
- All field trips:
- Every effort will be made to issue refunds when possible. We will be issuing full refunds for any trips that have been canceled thus far and have no outstanding financial obligations (e.g., cancelation fees).
- Refund Process:
- You will receive an email regarding refunds.
- Follow the directions in the email as you will be given a choice between a refund or donating to Terra Centre.
- If you paid via My School Bucks, you will receive refunds through My School Bucks.
- If you paid by cash or check will receive a check, please be patient. There are many refunds to be processed, which is a lengthy process.
Grades
- March 27 - The school board stated that no student work assigned after March 13 would be graded at the recommendation of the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Click here for more information.
- Information regarding third-quarter report cards will be announced by FCPS.
- No fourth-quarter grades will be assigned to elementary students for the fourth quarter due to equity issues of access to technology and limited student ability to submit work during distance learning.
Instruments
- School remains closed and unavailable for pick-up of musical instruments.
- No date or time has been determined for instrument retrieval.
Learning Environment
Library Books and Reading Resources
- The school library is closed.
- Please hold onto any school library or school reading resources at this time
- Library resources are found when logging into FCPS 24-7 Learning (BlackBoard) → eCart → Library Databases (image below)
- Passwords to the library databases are located on the page with the resources.
- History textbooks for 4th-6th grades are found when logging into FCPS 24-7 Learning (BlackBoard) → eCart → ES Digital Resources (image below)
PTA Meetings
Registration
- Please email Dee Cunningham, our registrar, at dmcunningham@fcps.edu if you have any registration questions.
- Kindergarten Orientation has been postponed and more information will be shared as we receive it.
- If you have a rising kindergartener, please email Dee Cunningham at dmcunningham@fcps.edu.
School Grounds and Facility
- The school building remains closed.
- School fields and grounds (including playground and basketball courts) are closed.
- A date or time to open the building, field, or grounds will be communicated; however, no date or time has been placed on the schedule.
Special Education – Services and Resources
- If you were scheduled to attend an IEP, 504, or Local Screening meeting, you will be contacted by a member of the school Special Education Department.
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Click here for specific information provided by FCPS regarding the instructional packet resources and supports and universal design principals.
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Click here to read a message from Assistant Superintendent Teresa Johnson
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Click here for a video created by the Special Education PTA. This video provides information to ease the process of finding online resources and the accommodations toolkit.
- For resources, log onto FCPS 24-7 Learning (BlackBoard) and click on:
Speech and Language Services
- Communication tips are posted on the FCPS website and FCPS 24-7 BlackBoard, including activities to stimulate speech and language skills in the home.
- Click on Special Education → click on Additional Supports → Click on Speech-Language Activities
Student Belongings
- School remains closed and unavailable for pick-up of personal belongings.
- A date or time to open the building to students for the retrieval of belongings will be communicated; however, no date or time has been placed on the schedule.
Technology and Access
- If you are having issues with technology or access, please email Carrie Pratt at cjpratt@fcps.edu
- Discounted and free internet service providers in Virginia:
- Free public WIFI for 60 days, will not terminate services if not able to pay
- A waiver request can be submitted by customers to waive late fees
- CenturyLink
- Is waiving all late fees and will not terminate residential customers or small businesses for the next 60 days if due to financial circumstances surrounding COVID-19
- Data usage limits are suspended for residential customers during the COVID-19 time period
- Comcast/Xfinity
- Company opens Xfinity WIFI Network hotspots at businesses and outdoor locations nationally for Free
- Offers unlimited data for Free
- No disconnect or late fees
- Offers low-income families who live in a Comcast service area and are new customers a 60-day complimentary Internet Essentials service (normally available to all qualified low-income households for $9.95/month)
- COX
- Offers the Connect2Compete program with the first 2 months free of service and $9.95/month after
- Resources for discounted, refurbished equipment through their PCs for People program
- Charter Spectrum
- Offers free 60-day Spectrum Internet and WIFI to qualifying households with K-12 and college students
- Offer is only to those who currently do not have Spectrum internet service and are within the area of service
- Call 1.844.488.8398
- Sprint
- Unlimited data for existing customers 60 days starting March 18th
- Also waiving per-minute international toll charges from U.S. to CDC-Level 3 countries effective 3/17
- Any sprint.com orders will now get free next-day shipping and the activation fees will be waived
- Verizon
- Will not terminate services of existing customers if unable to pay due to hardships from coronavirus
- Late fees and overage charges for residential or small business customers are waived during this time
- Affordable options for low-income households for internet options to support distance learning
- An addition of high-speed data of 15GB to existing customers as well as no data caps for Fios and DSL broadband internet plans
Twitter
- Learning activities, resources, and other district information is shared on Twitter. Follow @TerraCentreES.
Yearbooks
- The order date for yearbooks has been extended to 4/18/20. Visit ybpay.lifetouch.com and enter the Yearbook ID Code: 1478420.
- There is not a date or time scheduled for yearbook distribution. Distribution updates will be provided in June.
Wellness and Mental Health Resources
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