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Hello Birney families and friends,
Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year! As I am sure you know, tomorrow is the first day back to school after our two-week Winter break. I hope you are ready to go and able to ensure your students log on to their Zoom links before 9:00 a.m. when school officially starts.
It is a new year but our school year continues as before – we remain online during this spike in COVID cases/deaths and we will anticipate the Superintendent’s announcement January 13 with the latest news. In the meantime, we continue remote learning with ongoing Phase 1 student support at school. Students eligible for Phase 1 are struggling with access to the online curriculum and instruction or connectivity at home and require support. Parents who feel their child would benefit are welcome to contact me ([email protected]) and if the student is approved for Phase 1 Appointment-Based learning, I will add the student’s name to the waiting list.
It is encouraging to hear that Governor Newsom is providing increased funding for when we do reopen, which will help us fund the necessary supports we will need to provide ample supports to our students. While I acknowledge that in-person is really the best for all concerned, I can only say that I am proud of the quality of our online instruction, our teachers are probably busy uploading their new schedules and assignments as I write (Sundays are never full days for relaxing for teachers), and I know that there are some exciting days ahead for several grades as they embark on science experiments as part of their latest IB units.
Please be careful to check your teacher’s Google classroom for the dates of the supply distribution days. It is very important that you pick up the supplies even if you cannot make the actual day – we want our students to be able to engage in the learning 100% - you don’t want them to not have their supplies when the lessons begin.
Other ongoing things at Birney are:
- “Curbside Check Out” Wednesdays 12-2pm. There is a link for “Birney Curbside Check Out” on the website Miss LeeAnn’s Library Land. Please contact Ms. LeeAnn with any questions. Now grades 2-5 may request a library book through Destiny to be distributed on Wednesday.
- FAMILY FRIDAY will be Friday, January 15 from 2:30-3:30. Link and more information forthcoming.
- Yearbooks from last year are still here! Please email Pat Spaulding at [email protected] to arrange for a time to pick your yearbook up. You can still purchase a yearbook too, there are extra copies.
- Need to exchange a device? If your device is not working, first call the Online Learning Support hotline at (619) 732-1400 and walk through with a technician what is wrong. If they cannot fix over the phone, they will tell you where you can exchange. If you need support with your internet strength, check out the Family Technology Support website at www.bit.ly/sdusditsupport for all things you need help with in the technology realm.
- ACCESS to the parent portal in PowerSchool is still only possible by asking for the access via email to me so I can verify your email address. Then I send you the instructions and the access code and password for your child(ren).
Need to talk to me? I am always available by email! Question/Concern? [email protected]
Ms. Amanda