In This Week's Paw Print:
1. Principal's Message📬
2. Important Schedule change Information including new bell schedule❗
3. Parent Webinar information💻
4. Rising 7th Grade Curriculum Night/Electives Fair at Rocky Run MS🎓
5. Panther Praise Staff Recognition Form👏
6. Technology Help Information💻
Dear Poplar Tree Families,
We hope this message finds you healthy and safe. Due to winter break, this is the last Paw Print of 2020, and our next Paw Print will be sent on January 8. The year 2020 has certainly been a unique and challenging one filled with loss and heartache for many, and we believe there is still a great deal to celebrate. A Ted Talk titled Celebrate What's Right in The World! was shared with us and we wanted to share it with all of you. It reminds us all to try and focus on what is right rather than always focusing on what is wrong. Our hope is that 2021 is filled with more joy, laughter, and hope, and a return to "normal".
Stay safe, healthy, and happy New Year!
Sue Andujar
Principal
Carol Larsen
Assistant Principal
Important Schedule Changes
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The school office will be closed during the two week winter break December 21 - January 3. The office will reopen on Monday, January 4.
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Monday, January 4th will be independent school day for all students. Students do not need to login to their classrooms on January 4th.
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Monday, January 11 asynchronous school day for all students. Students do not need to login to their classrooms on January 11. Independent work will be provided by classroom teachers.
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Tuesday, January 5 - Friday, January 8 will be synchronous/virtual instruction for all students this includes our Preschool classroom, our multi-aged classrooms, and all classrooms K-6.
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Effective January 12, Poplar Tree will have a new bell schedule. Our school hours will be 9:00-3:30 for all students in grades Kindergarten - 6th grade. Stay tuned for adjusted class schedules when we return from winter break.
Zoomed Out? 5 Strategies to Get Even the Most Reluctant Kids Focused, Engaged, and Motivated: A Webinar for Families
Presented by Ann Dolin, M.Ed., educational consultant and award-winning author. Ann is the President and Director of Educational Connections, Inc.
January 7, 2021 6:30-8 p.m. or January 8, 2021 10 – 11:30 a.m.
What’s a parent to do when kids are already unfocused and unmotivated when it comes to virtual learning? Ann Dolin will help “right the ship” so that parenting doesn’t feel like a grind. In this webinar, Ann shares practical, easy-to-implement virtual learning strategies for:
- Tackling the daily power struggle of just getting started
- Helping children to focus during teacher-led instruction
- Dealing with social avoidance (not wanting to be seen and heard in front of peers)
- Keeping kids engaged by encouraging them to ask questions and advocate for themselves
- Opening the lines of communication to improve the parent/child relationship
Register to participate here: Zoomed Out? 5 Strategies to Get Even the Most Reluctant Kids Focused, Engaged, and Motivated: A Webinar for Families
Rising 7th Grade Curriculum Night and Electives Fair:
Tuesday January 12, 2020 from 6-7 PM (BBCU)
During Curriculum Night parents will have an opportunity to meet Rocky Run administrators and counselors and learn about the curriculum at RRMS. For more information, please visit the Rocky Run Academic Advising Website
 Poplar Tree Staff Panther Praise!
We are starting a new online tradition here at Poplar Tree that gives the community the opportunity to say thank you and/or show appreciation for all of the effort the Poplar Tree Staff is putting in day and night! We will share these praises with the staff members. To submit a Staff Panther Praise, please fill out this form!
Thank you for helping to recognize our amazing staff!
Tech Help Info
We know that as we move through Virtual Learning, technology issues arise. If you're having trouble with your FCPS laptop, here's a few things to try:
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Restart your computer! (We have found that this solves MANY of our problems - including those microphone, camera, and sound issues!)
- Visit this webpage to checkout some self-help guides!
- FCPS has launched a new Parent Technology Help Desk. The help desk can be reached at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS) and will be answered by staff members between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., seven days a week.
- If you still cannot get your laptop working, students and/or parents can submit an IT support ticket to get help with district digital resources or your FCPS issued laptop. Find the portal here.
We appreciate everyone's patience and understanding!
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