We're re-sharing some information Janine sent out about this very unique start to the school year. We'll continue to add updates to the PTSA website and share via Rocket Reader and on the PTSA's Facebook page.

September 4-11: Strong Start Days
September 4-11th are considered “Strong Start” days for fall of 2020. We will focus on supporting students social and emotional well-being, culturally responsive community building, family connections, and making sure students know how to use their technology tools to access learning. What does this look like?

• Teachers will email your family a Teams invite and an activity suggestion
• 8:30 am daily: explorers will join their classmates on Teams for a Monday Meeting
  • Teacher and children will be together for an age-appropriate length of time.
  • K – 2 students will need adult help throughout these initial activities. Expect to be sitting side by side with your child helping them through these new online learning experiences.
  • 3rd- 5th graders will need adult help to join Teams. Expect to be sitting close by and directly supervising at the beginning of the year to support and encourage. They will build independence over time. 
• Activities will include: getting to know one another, playing games, listening to a story, and doing culturally responsive activities to help us build relationships and our classroom community.
• After the whole class gathering ends:
  • Teachers will be meeting online with each family between Sept. 4th – 11th. Expect a Teams invite!
  • Students will have time to do an activity, train on new software, etc. Stay tuned for details.
• Full instructional schedules will be implemented and followed once devices are equitably distributed.

Overall School Schedule
The district and the Seattle Education association came to an agreement that includes the following details

• Common start time — 8:30 am: Students begin each day in a whole class synchronous (all together) Morning Meeting
• Common lunch time -- 12 – 1 daily
• Common recess breaks
• Common end times:
  • M,T,Th,F: School ends at 3pm.
  • On Wednesday, school ends at 1:45 pm.

Instruction Schedule

• Every week, teachers will send home weekly calendars, so parents know plans in advance. Weekly calendars will provided detailed information about schedules for whole class and small group online times, assignments, and support links.
• During each instructional block of time, learning may be:
  
  • Synchronous: whole class online
    
  • Asynchronous:
  • Small groups working with teacher
    
  • Viewing a pre-recorded lesson
    
  • Working offline with adult support
    
  • For older students, working offline independently
    
• Teachers will plan instructional times that are: age-appropriate, student-centered, culturally responsive and differentiated to meet student’s needs.

Example Daily Schedule
This image is an example of what the daily division of time may look like. You'll get more precise details from your teacher.

Sharing Principal Roy's most recent update: 
---------
I hope you and your family are safe, well and continuing to enjoy some family time during this extraordinary summer.

We are each trying to meet the needs of our children as we navigate health issues, economic and racial inequity challenges, and childcare. Whenever I am faced with many unknowns, my husband Robert always begins with, “What do we know for sure?” Here is what I know for sure right this minute:

• More than ever before, QAE will continue to align our work with our pillars: o We are self-directed learners.
  
  • We encourage each other to think critically and learn more.
    
  • We are concerned, confident and compassionate citizens of the world.
    
  • We learn everywhere; we learn together.
    
  • We are creative.

•
We are in the midst of two pandemics:

• Pandemic #1: COVID-19
  
• Pandemic #2: Racism and racial inequities

To ensure student, staff and family safety, SPS will begin 2020-21 in remote learning. SPS is intensely working on plans, schedules and details for the fall. We are all literally ‘building the plane in the air’ in the midst of both COVID and racism turbulence. Continue to monitor SPS Planning for Fall 2020 for the latest information.

SPS will provide devices to each K – 12 student in September:

• K – 2 will receive iPads
  
• 3 – 5th graders will receive laptops with touch screens
  
• These will likely be distributed at our 26 SPS lunch sites. More info to follow.
  
• SPS is working hard to ensure all families have equitable access to reliable wifi.
  
• SPS is paying for all elementary schools to use Seesaw as a standard communication platform.

Lunches will continue to be served at 26 SPS lunch sites. SPS Board of Directors will vote on August 12th on Superintendent Juneau's recommendation to prioritize the
health and wellbeing of students and staff by starting the 2020-21 school year remotely. Latest info here.
 
JumpStart will be remote this year. SPS has provided some resources and staff and I are working on a plan for how this will look so that we can begin to build relationships with students and families. Teachers and I will provide updates to Kindergarten families over the next few days.

QAE staff are incredible! They have continued to work hard during the summer, connecting with me and each other to ensure we stay focused on our school goals:

• Welcoming environment
• Culturally responsive teaching and learning o Improving student reading and math

QAE BLT (BLT is a school-based team made up of teachers and parents) are creating a survey of QAE families to identify needs. This will go out shortly. As plans, schedules and details emerge, I will update QAE families ASAP.

Next Steps:

• Continue to check SPS Planning for Fall 2020 for the latest SPS information.
• Stay tuned for weekly QAE updates on Seesaw and email starting this week. (New families, we will get you on Seesaw ASAP. Meanwhile, expect your info to come via email.)
  
• Stay tuned for the QAE Parent survey.
  
• JumpStart families will be updated over the next few days.
  
• If you EVER have any questions, email me at jbroy@seattleschools.org. I’m happy to set up a call or remote meeting throughout the summer. We will get through this together!

Take care, mask up and stay well,
Janine Roy, Principal
jbroy@seattleschools.org
Follow on Twitter: @janineroy3 #QAE