Churchill Chatter - Issue 33, June 28, 2020
In This Week's Issue
Dear Families,
Today, I write wanting to ensure that you have received and read Dr. Brabrand’s letter and plan from last week describing school choices for the 2020-21 school year. While I know this information does not completely answer all of your questions, please know the county and I are working to support you and your child’s learning regardless of the option you choose.
Over the past few days, I have been asked what the school day will look like in both face-to-face and virtual settings. Although the final decision has not been made for the virtual schedule, there will be more live, teacher-directed hours than offered this past spring. These virtual hours will include both whole group and small group learning opportunities for students. In both settings, we are working with teachers during the summer with a focus on creating meaningful direct instruction, as well as ensuring we have structures in place to support the individual needs of your child. Technology will be used in both settings to assist and support these goals.
This past week, we have been working to understand our capacity numbers for face-to-face instruction. The number of students in each class will depend on the physical size of the classroom and our ability to socially distance (currently 6 feet) based on Health Department and CDC guidance. Churchill Road’s average size classroom may be able to accommodate 12-15 students with social distancing in place. However, classroom sizes vary, so some classes will have fewer students. Student schedules will be assigned alphabetically to support families with students in multiple grades.
Another question being asked is whether children will be taught by a Churchill Road teacher. At this time, it is my understanding that once we know our numbers for both settings, we will have a better plan for what that means for our Churchill Road staffing. Please know as soon as we receive numbers from the county, thoughtful instructional support will be considered to further your child’s individual learning and academic needs in either setting. We know and hear this is important to you as parents. It is important to our staff, as well.
Some of the skills teachers are focused on growing professionally this summer are related to using technology in a blended learning classroom as well as supporting students’ socio-emotional needs as they return to school. A group of teachers also have been working to increase the implementation of project-based learning (PBL), as well as collaborating to support students by name and by need. Our entire staff wants to be ready to support your child during the 2020-21 school year.
As Dr. Brabrand wrote in his letter to the Fairfax County community, another letter will be distributed this week which will provide additional details. You will be asked to select which program you feel is best for your child. To better inform your decision, Dr. Brabrand is also having a Town Hall Meeting meeting on Monday, July 6 at 6:30 p.m. to answer additional questions that arise from his communication.
As information continues to be shared and decisions are made regarding our return to school, I will continue to update you. Already, many of you have emailed and called with individual questions related to your child(ren). Please continue to email or call me. I am more than happy to listen and answer as many specific questions as I possibly can to support you and your child. Questions related to placement decisions, I likely will not be able to answer until administration has capacity data, staffing instructional delivery requests, and your decision regarding next year. Once we receive these data, we are prepared to make decisions in a timely manner to best structure our learning environment for the start of the school year.
Lastly, and most importantly, I want to reiterate that we are determined, as a staff, to make sure that next year is focused on individual students' needs, as well as creating a positive learning environment for all children in the Churchill Road community. We are so grateful to the many of you who have assured us of your partnership and willingness to support us in any way!
Sincerely,
Cherith Pierson
Principal
Summer Learning Opportunities
Although FCPS school buildings will remain closed through the end of July, we will continue to provide recommended distance learning opportunities for students throughout the summer. Your students will have access to skill practice through the iReady digital lessons on the FCPS public Universal Screener website. Students will need to enter their FCPS login credentials to access these resources. These digital activities will be available until Friday, July 31.
Additionally, students currently in grades K-6 will receive both a Mathematics and a Language Arts Essentials Summer Practice Book in the mail by the end of June. Digital versions of the books will also be posted on the Continuity of Learning Blackboard page. These books will provide recommended practice activities for students to review essential content from the 2019-2020 school year; they are not intended to preview content from next year’s grade level, but rather reinforce essential learning from this past year.
Students can access these activities beginning tomorrow, June 29, and continuing through July 31. Students will have the opportunity to attend one virtual office hour each week with one of our own outstanding staff members. The schedule is as follows:
Kindergarten: Tuesdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Mrs. Asta-Dianne Clark, aclark@fcps.edu
Grade 1: Tuesdays, 9:15-10:15 a.m., Ms. Audrey Gordon, argordon@fcps.edu
Grade 2: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:00 a.m., Ms. Cheryl Bamdad, chbamdad@fcps.edu
Grade 3: Tuesdays, 10:45-11:45 a.m., Ms. Sarah Finger, SAFinger@fcps.edu
Grade 4: Wednesdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Ms. Sarah Aicher, saicher@fcps.edu
Grade 5: Wednesdays, 9:15-10:15 a.m., Ms. Jill Hamlin, JEHamlin@fcps.edu
Grade 6: Wednesdays, 10:00-11:00 a.m., Ms. Gwendolyn Vichness, gvichness@fcps.edu
Special Education: varies, Mr. Drew Eddy, dseddy@fcps.edu
English Language Development: Tuesdays, 1:00-1:30 p.m. for Grades 3-6 and Wednesdays from 1:00-1:30 p.m. for Grades K-2, Mrs. Lisa Williams, ljwilliams1@fcps.edu
All students have been invited to the appropriate Google Class/Classrooms. Please be in touch with your questions.
Yearbook Distribution 7/1
If you were not able to pick-up your 2019-20 yearbook last week, CRS staff members will be offering another curbside pick-up on Wednesday, July 1 from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon.
- Drive through the bus loop by the cafeteria; remain in your car and please wear a mask. Staff will place your yearbooks in your car trunk.
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Prior to arriving, please make a sign (written in marker) with the names of your child/children and homeroom teacher/s. This sign should be visible to the staff (passenger side of car).
- You may ONLY pick-up your family’s yearbook order. If you will not be able to pick-up your order at the scheduled pick-up times, please contact the Yearbook Committee (yearbook@churchillroadpta.org) to make alternative arrangements.
If you haven't yet ordered your yearbook, we do have some extra soft cover yearbooks for sale. Please bring a check for $27 made out to “CRS PTA” during the Wednesday pick-up to purchase one, subject to availability. Please note we are unable to accept cash or credit cards.
Thank you for all of your patience and flexibility with this process. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Yearbook Committee.
School Supplies Kits - Order by 7/7
The CRS PTA's school supplies store (through Educational Products) is open until July 7. Each supply kit includes the exact teacher requested supplies for each grade and will ship to CRS before the first day of school. Note: If there is an extended distance learning schedule, arrangements will be made to distribute the kits to parents.
Each student will need to supply their own headphones for use during the school day (or you can add these to your order. (Grades K-2 foam over the head headphones - no earbuds; Grades 3-6 headphones or earbuds.)
Shop the store at https://www.educationalproducts.com/shoppacks/ and enter code CHU084 when prompted.
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