Good evening families and staff,

Closure Update:

It is hard to believe that we have made it through the first week of closure. This morning all the superintendents across the state had a conference call with Jeff Riley, Commissioner of Education. While Commissioner Riley did not share any specific new information, he did advise all districts to begin to make contingency plans in the event that the closure, as ordered by the Governor, is extended. Within an hour, the GDRSD administrative team began outlining how they would go about creation of a plan if the closure was to be extended. Part of that planning process is to survey parents, students, and staff for feedback on how things have been going thus far and for suggestions on how we could improve on what we are currently doing. 

The link for the survey is :https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQf<_SV3r0wSRXYoeCVil5s2HR7o_SsRPe51ecLDUnmjg0w/viewform

Music Opportunities for Swallow Union students Using Zoom (more info to be emailed):

Monday, 3/23

10-10:40-4th grade – This Land is Your Land, Turn the Glasses Over cup song, Star-Spangled Banner – students can bring a plastic or paper cup to the “meeting” 

11-11:40-Kindergarten – our favorite movement songs, bring a small stuffed animal &/or a rhythm instrument (homemade or not)

1-1:40-3rd grade – Welcome All My Friends, Whacky Do Re Mi, & some of our favorite partner songs, students can bring their recorder, if they’d like.

Wednesday, 3/25

10-10:40-2nd grade – just bring your voices & suggestions for our favorite songs

11-11:40-1st grade – our concert music – bring your rhyming word ideas for The Corner Grocery Store

Parent Help With Zoom (Thanks Jen Marino)

A couple of helpful tips.  When your child first joins the meeting make sure both the audio and video are turned on.  These controls should be at the bottom left of your screen. The photo below shows them off. 

Once turned on you should see them as shown below.  At times it may show as muted. I have the ability to mute the whole class to reduce background noise as needed. 

Also, in order for your child to see everyone at once they have to be in gallery mode.  That is located at the top right of your screen as shown below.

Once you click gallery view, all participants can be seen and you will now see that it says speaker view at the top.

 

Lunch Distribution:

Lunches will be distributed to families of students on free and reduced lunch on Tuesday from 10:00 to noon. If you have any questions or concerns please email Katie Novak at knovak@oldsite.oldsite.oldsite.gdrsd.org

Chromebook Distribution:

If your family needs Chromebooks please email Luke Callahan at lcallahan@oldsite.oldsite.oldsite.gdrsd.org. Distribution to those who have registered with Luke will be Tuesday 10:00 to noon. 

 

Have a good weekend. Be safe. Talk to you again Monday night.