April 2020 COUNSELOR'S CORNER from Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Coffman! Check out some great mental health conversation starters for parents, as well as several tidbits on Zoom safety. As always, please contact them with any concerns: cricharddavis@usd252.org & acoffman@usd252.org
ATTENTION SENIORS: There is a new scholarship opportunity, the Class of 2000 Scholarship. It is due April 27th. Check your email, look at Mrs. Davis's Counselor website, or contact Mrs. Davis for more details on how to apply!
Video @https://youtu.be/tdy4gMkY0II
Good evening, I just wanted to take a few minutes to check in with all of my Olpe students and families. Last week, we started school in an entirely different way. I am extremely proud of the work that my staff put in to recreate their classrooms and move them online. I also truly admire our students for stepping up to the plate and engaging in this new environment and parents for their support.
After week 1, I can happily report that we had nearly all of our students are actively participating in classes. Students were reconnected with their teachers and peers, new routines and expectations were established, and new content was learned for the first time under the structure of our continuous learning plan.
We are continuing to work with families that are struggling to find balance with schoolwork in this new reality. Several of our families have purchased Internet service, boosted their service, or taken advantage of hotspots in each community. Those who are without Internet service have been given packets as an alternative. Our teachers have worked hard to communicate with families and will continue to reach out in the days and weeks ahead.
Along with all of these positive efforts, there have been a few bumps along the way. Frustrations with technology, confusion of schedules, misinterpretations of expectations, etc. I want you to know that we are aware that our system is not perfect and that teachers and administrators are working to make necessary changes to provide the best learning environment we can under these extraordinary circumstances.
For some of us, including myself, this pandemic has caused a great bit of uncertainty in our households. I worry not just for my own family, but my entire Eagle family as well. For those of you who feel that the stress and anxiety is overwhelming, we can share a variety of Social Emotional resources with you and your family, as well as connect you with mental health providers such as Crosswinds if necessary. Please contact our counselors Mrs. Davis at cricharddavis@usd252.org, Mrs. Coffman at acoffman@usd252.org or our district social worker Ms. Samuels at ksamuels@usd252.org for information and assistance.
Please remember to sign up each week for Grab and Go meals on our district website or school Facebook page. Please note that we are moving our curbside pickup to the north side of the school. Please enter from the west off of Kansas street.
Lastly, to each of my students, staff, and families I offer the following in these challenging days: Change is something that we can GO through or change is something we can GROW through. I know that our incredible students and families will emerge from this time of change stronger and better than we were before. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teachers or email me at sclark@usd252.org with any questions or concerns.
Thank you, have a good evening and remember it’s always a great day to be an Eagle!
Pick Up Location Changing April 6 for Grab 'n Go!
PICTURES NEEDED:
2020 Seniors - We need to fill the yearbook graduation pages with pictures of you in your caps/gowns/tassels! Please send the following pictures to: jbroyles@usd252.org
*Picture 1: Please take a full body picture so we can see the cap, gown, etc. SMILE!
*Picture 2: Please take a fun picture in your graduation attire, you choose the pose.
ALL Students 7-12: Please take some pictures of your junior high and high school children "attending" school at home/online. Make sure all are school appropriate and SMILE!
Thanks for your help, we look forward to "seeing" your faces!
Continuous Learning Q & A
Question: Are my high school kids expected to be in front of a computer screen most of the day?
Answer: The JH/HS daily schedule runs from 8:30-2:00 everyday. Each class session is 30 minutes long and may include instruction and homework. The question and answer time that follows is there so that students can get clarification from a teacher if necessary. If students are unable to attend sessions as outlined in the schedule, teachers will be recording and providing this information that can be accessed at anytime. We anticipate that these students will have approximately 3 total hours of learning time daily.
Continuous Learning Q & A
Question: I am confused about the elementary daily schedule. Does my child need to attend both the 9:00 and the 1:00 session? What if I am not available to help my child during those times?
Answer: Students do not have to attend both sessions. Our teachers will be delivering instruction/interacting with students during that time. Teachers will provide more specific information each week as they communicate the specific tasks for the week. If you are not able to attend a session, that's OK. These sessions are recorded and are made available by your teacher through a learning platform such as Google Classroom. Your teacher will let you know how to keep informed and connected.
CLASS OF 2020: We know things are crazy and different right now, but we do NOT want you to forget about scholarship deadlines! For more information or to submit applications, you may contact Mrs. Davis at cricharddavis@usd252.org or visit her counselor's webpage at: http://www.usd252.org/o/olpe-schools/page/counselor-page--2. Also, if you haven't submitted your senior pictures to Mrs. Broyles please do so ASAP! We will still have a yearbook, composite board, and graduation slideshow for you, no matter what!
Please click on the link to fill out our Grab 'n Go form for March 30-April 3. Meals are available for curbside pick-up from 11:00am-12:30pm in front of the Olpe Elementary entrance. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLnyT-E3E4-mr7PeN8iOlA_Qwmh53qaG7FCFyLACqDVX4SSQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&fbclid=IwAR0xBO9kJfoiKufqWZY6CqkZcf3WQq3S-QN1DdKd6E5VjMzVlrugMrqEy98
Parents of Students in Grades 1-5, iPad chargers are in! We will be checking these out from 11:00-12:30 during our Grab 'n Go lunch pick up tomorrow - Thursday, March 26. If your child had an iPad sent home, he/she will need this charger as we had to order more and they just came in today. If you are unable to pick it up during this time, please call the elementary office at 620-475-3277.
Parents,
Teachers have been working hard and are getting closer and closer to finalizing the delivery of continuous learning to our students. We know that many of you have questions, and we hope that some of the information we share will help to answer some of those. The daily schedule for was developed with guidance from KSDE and the Continuous Learning Task Force.
Please note that while we have established specific learning times, our teachers are prepared to be flexible as we know that these schedules may or may not work for every student. Students are not expected to be online all day. In fact, students may not “meet” everyday. In these cases teachers will communicate what each week will look like and will be available as indicated in the schedule. This schedule allows us to be consistent in our delivery and to provide a sense of stability and routine for students.
If your child is unable to attend during a scheduled time, the instruction and materials will be available online (teachers will communicate how to access this material) or in a packet for those students who do not have internet access. If you have concerns about this, please contact your child’s teacher as they will be able to explain how to best access this information
Junior High and High School students will follow the A/B schedule. Monday, March 30 will be an “A” day.
Please note the times that teachers will be available to answer questions or to assist students in learning. Instructions on how to schedule an appointment/meeting will be communicated by your child’s teacher. If those times do not work, please contact the teacher to make other arrangements.
Teachers will be reaching out to you and your child to let you know what each day will look like.
Again, your child’s teacher will be working to iron out any difficulties that may arise as we launch into this new learning environment. Please be patience with us as we may experience some challenges through this transition – it is a new experience for all of us.
If you have questions, please contact your child’s teacher or feel free to contact me at sclark@usd252.org. Those questions emailed to will collected and will then be answered and posted to our website and Facebook page so that others who may have the same questions have a place to look at Frequently Asked Questions. Thank you for all you do and for your continued support.
To watch the Facebook Live Event recording, click on the following link: https://youtu.be/a9K_f0qTD2s
Students and Parents,
Let me first start by saying, I hope all of you are healthy and doing well. The events of the last few weeks have knocked the wind out of many of us. A lot of varying emotions have emerged as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As educators, we grieve with our seniors whose traditional ending will be much different from previous graduating classes. We also worry about the development of all children as they will be adjusting to a new way of learning.
We understand the cloud of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty that students and parents have experienced in the past days and weeks. The silver lining is that those changes open the door to new opportunities for learning and experiences.
I miss seeing all of you and want you to know that we have been working hard behind the scenes to find ways to connect with you and to best meet your academic and social-emotional needs.
This past week and a half, the administrative team has been working with guidance from KSDE and a continuous learning task force made up of educators from across the state to develop a framework for educational delivery. This week, our teachers will be working on the details within this framework. By the end of the week, we will roll out the district’s plan for continuous education for your child.
The educational day will look much different. Time that students will “be in school” will be dramatically reduced as we know that an online or non-traditional environment cannot replicate what we do in our schools through face to face interactions. KSDE has repeatedly emphasized that schools need to
• Focus on essential learning for students – a “Less is More” approach
• Be flexible and ready to adapt when needs arise
• foster relationships in this new learning environment
There are still unanswered questions at both the federal and state level that we are working to have answered. Many of our students have unique learning needs who require additional supports in the traditional school setting. We are waiting on answers to determine how this looks in this new environment.
We will continue to provide meals for those in need with curbside pick-up Monday-Friday from 11:00-12:30 at each of our educational sites. We just ask that you fill out the google form posted on our school’s Facebook page by Thursday of the preceding week so that we can accurately prepare for the next week’s meals. We will send out this form through email as well.
At this time, the county health department will not allow students back into our buildings. As a result, we plan to distribute technology, educational and personal items tomorrow from 8:00-4:00 and from 5:00-7:00pm. This will be accomplished through curbside pick-up. Elementary will pick up in front of the elementary, the junior high in the east side parking lot and the high school in front of the old high school entrance. We have developed a google form that must be filled out by a parent or guardian of students in grades K-6 so that we can issue either an iPad for those in grades K-5 or a Macbook to our sixth graders. This form is available through a link on our Facebook page and was also emailed to all parents. Please complete this prior to pick up.
By the end of the week, the administrative team and our teachers will communicate out the learning structures and expectations for the rest of this school year. This will give you a better idea of what day to day learning will look like and how to manage your academic day. Teachers will be reaching out to students in the next few days to connect with them and to reassure them during this time.
While we prepare this week for a new educational delivery system, we encourage you to explore ways for your child to engage in learning. Many of our teachers and administrators across the state have been posting ideas on social media to help children and parents continue learning in their homes.
This is not the “ending” to the school year we had hoped for. However, I am looking forward to “seeing” all of you in the days and weeks ahead in this new learning environment. To all our Olpe kids, we miss you all and want you to know that we are doing everything we can to keep connected and provide an education that will help you to be successful in the future.
If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher or you can contact me through my email at sclark@usd252.org. I will be posting the information from this Facebook live event to our Facebook page and to our website. Thank you for your patience through this difficult time and I wish all of you good health. Have a great evening! Enjoy your kids!
Parents with students in grades K-6, please fill out the following form so we can check out technology to your child. This form will need to be completed before devices can be picked up.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/18UHawQZY_CUnhZXSAb7ptcJd9DvUOkQVkyi-K29R0Yk/edit
Mark in your calendars for a Facebook live event scheduled for Monday, March 23 at 7:00pm. Your building administrator will be going live to update students, parents and community patrons on USD 252's progress toward developing a plan for continuous learning
CLASS OF 2020: We know things are crazy and different right now, but we do NOT want you to forget about scholarship deadlines! For more information or to submit applications, you may contact Mrs. Davis at cricharddavis@usd252.org or visit her counselor's webpage at: http://www.usd252.org/o/olpe-schools/page/counselor-page--2. Also, if you haven't submitted your senior pictures to Mrs. Broyles please do so ASAP! We will still have a yearbook, composite board, and graduation slideshow for you, no matter what!
Olpe Families: USD 252 is gathering information as to whether or not students have internet access at home so that we can improve our delivery of instruction in the coming weeks- please fill out the form below to help guide these decisions: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe978RxEBIljxLnpe0lmO2wLJ6JynEJNUiq7naBKLRSCtEJXA/viewform
Click on the link for the Grab 'n Go form. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdTYmx6g0S5dCaJOAEye8ZaIqCzcfeeW35yDkVgPBlZprsv5g/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1
Today's Olpe Blood Drive is still on! The location has been CHANGED to the Knights Hall in Olpe. IF YOU FEEL ILL, PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND!
Today, March 17, 2020 Governor Laura Kelly announced all school facilities will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. This includes all activities. This will place tremendous hardship on our families and staff, and impact the social and emotional well-being of our students.
We have been working on contingency plans since mid-March, including how we can meet the ongoing learning needs of our students and provide breakfast and lunch for our students who need it.
KSDE is working to help districts develop a plan for continuous learning for our students through the end of the school year. This plan will include virtual learning along with limited on campus instruction that complies with guidance from our local county health department. The details of our plan will be communicated as soon as they have been solidified.
What we do know now is that teachers will return on March 23 to begin planning student learning experiences through the Continuous Learning Program guided by the Kansas State Department of Education.
Meals are expected to start on March 23. If your child needs a meal, please fill out the USD 252 Grab ‘n Go form so that we can plan accordingly.
Students will be expected to begin participating in learning activities on Monday, March 30. Additional information will be shared during the week of March 23 in preparation of this transition.
During these uncertain times, USD 252 is committed to ensure that ALL of our staff remains gainfully employed; therefore, staff will continue to be paid. Staff may be asked to work in different areas during this time. We appreciate our staff’s dedication to our students and their continued flexibility over the coming months.
Our staff and board of education are also working on other critical issues, such as what this means for our seniors and how this will affect next school year. We will provide updates on these issues as soon as the information is available.
We are committed to working together as a community to support one another throughout these unprecedented times, and communication will remain a top priority. As a reminder, this school closure is in response to the current public health crisis. The focus should remain on preventing the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19 as it is also referred to.
Please be mindful of the following:
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing (cough/sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue).
• Keep sick children at home.
• Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.
• Practice social distancing
Follow additional guidance from these sources:
• National Center for Disease Control (CDC)
• Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)
• https://www.flinthillshealth.org
