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Please see the following email from Mr. Thorne, shared earlier this afternoon: Hello to our wonderful Christina Gordon families: Let me say how much I miss seeing our children and parents. I miss the smiling faces I see in the hallways, the love of learning I see in the classrooms, the amazing connection I see daily between students and our amazing staff. I especially miss greeting students and parents each morning at the drop off area. That fills my bucket each morning and always puts a smile on my face to begin the day ahead. The school without our children and families in it is only a building. I can’t wait until we once again hear the sounds and see the faces that make Christina Gordon the awesome place it normally is. On Friday past you received the first package of At Home Learning Activities (Learning Continuity Plan) from your child’s teacher. When you receive this each Friday, please keep in mind that these activities/lessons are meant to support you as an attempt to provide some normalcy in your child's routine through “school work”. Realizing that all families may not be in the same place in terms of having their child complete this work, please let me emphasize that this is not meant to cause families undue stress by overwhelming them during a time when they are already overwhelmed by the circumstances we each find ourselves in. While it provides some valuable learning experiences, the ‘work’ is totally optional. Please DO NOT allow this to add to your stress! By now you should have all been contacted by your child’s teacher, possibly many times. It is so important that the connection that your child had with their teacher is maintained. Expect that you will continue to be reached out to by our teachers regularly and often. We hope that this can provide a little extra something that brightens your child’s day or makes you feel more supported. We do know that some teachers have been unable to reach some families. If that is your case, please reach out to your child’s teacher through their email to let them know how you are doing and whether there is anything we can do to support you in these challenging times. We really care about you and need to know how you are doing! Know that our teachers are committed to you and your families. That is what we pride ourselves in at Christina Gordon. Whether you need support in getting through this emotionally, support in working with your child academically, support with having the appropriate technology or support of any kind that you need as a family, we are here for you. We can help, or put you in touch with someone who can. While I would love to be able to reach out personally to each of you, I’m sure you realize that doing that for 530 children is challenging. Instead, through this letter, I would like to suggest and offer that if there is anything I can do for you, I am only a phone call away at 587 276 2017 or through email at richard.thorne@fmpsd.ab.ca. Make no mistake that together we will get through this and come out the other end stronger than ever. That’s just what we do. Please take good care of yourselves and those around you, and do your part to stop the spread of this virus. Sincerely, Rick Thorne
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Please see the following email, shared earlier this afternoon: Good afternoon, Thank you all for your support with rolling out our educational continuity plan. Again, please let me know how I can assist you in connecting to your students' Seesaw accounts. As per our last email, beginning this week we will be returning to weekly summary emails at the beginning or end of the week as needed. Today's Classroom Book a Day selection is "Little Red Riding Hood: A Newfangled Prairie Tale" by Lisa Campbell Ernst. To see our daily read aloud videos, check your student's Seesaw journal. I will also send out a summary of the week's videos on Friday along with next week's continuity plan. Next, Mrs. Andrews and Mrs. Barr have shared a resource site of Physical Education and Health at home activities prepared for FMPSD students and families. This site is housed on the FMPSD Supporting Families During Class Cancellation site but the direct link to at home Physical Education and Health Activities is: https://bit.ly/2y5yHyX. This site will be updated weekly with highlighted health and PE activities families can try out at home. Finally, please see the following email from our admin team in regards to the Technology Accessibility Survey: Dear Christina Gordon Families, Thank you for all your help over the past week as we map our way forward. The district has revised the technology accessibility survey and has asked that it be sent out again to all families, there was an error in the data collection in the last survey and this new survey should rectify the situation. We understand this may be an inconvenience, but ask you to do the surveys again, even if you have done one sent out earlier in the week. Below are the steps for the survey:
The list of teachers and codes is below: Ms. Barrington - https://forms.gle/B4JWppMxr7jk9KC2A We thank you once again for all your help and understanding, Rick, Chris, and Erin - Ashley Barrington, Grade 3 Teacher
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Please see the following in regards to our educational continuity plan and connecting to Seesaw. You can also reach the new Classroom Blog by clicking on the new banner link as well: Good afternoon, As shared in yesterday's update email, today is the day that we will begin providing some virtual opportunities for students and families as part of our educational continuity plan. One of the main methods of communication that the Fort McMurray Public School Division (FMPSD) is implementing for students in grades K-3 is the use of Seesaw. It is important that you connect to Seesaw to receive important updates from our division, school, and classroom. Your student will be able to post to Seesaw to share their learning with you, their teachers, as well as other students in the class (through the Classroom Blog, etc.). I will also be able to send students and families messages and reminders. Seesaw is private. You will only see posts created by your student or their classroom teachers. To connect to our classroom using Seesaw: 1. In a web browser, go to: https://app.seesaw.me/s/963-351-643 2. Choose your student from the list 3. Create your account 4. Once you’re approved by Ashley Barrington, you’ll get access to Seesaw Once your account has been approved, I will send you a home learning code that your student can use to login to the Seesaw Class app or website to share their learning through their journal, complete assigned activities, and share their learning with the classroom through the Classroom Blog. I have already added this week's optional learning tasks to students' journals in their Seesaw account, however, if you are eager to get started before your Seesaw account has been created and approved, I have also attached a copy of the weekly plans below. I will also be uploading our daily Classroom Book a Day videos to Seesaw from now on. After today, I will email a list of the week's Classroom Book a Day videos, rather than continuing to email you everyday. As per yesterday, what I will be sharing this week is what I am calling a "soft start" plan. In our class, each day we have 20-30 mins. to play and explore. The activities are meant to be provocations or practice for curricular concepts, but in a way that allows students to collaborate and have fun. This is what we call a "soft start." The optional learning activities that students can work on at home this week are the first of these plans that will go home. Let's view it as a "soft start". This is new to all of us. Seesaw and virtual learning is something that many of us (including the teacher) are unfamiliar with. Do not feel pressured or stressed to complete what is being sent home. Do what you can or what feels right for your family. Everything is completely optional. I am here to support you in whatever way I can. As time goes on, we will all get a better sense of what our students need and make the necessary changes together. As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, - Ashley Barrington, Grade 3 Teacher
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Please see the following email for an update on our educational continuity plan: Good evening, Today's Classroom Book a Day selection is "Red Riding Hood" which is retold and illustrated by James Marshall. I really enjoy James Marshall's illustrations in this version of the story. Students can compare and contrast it to the fractured fairy tale "Ninja Red Riding Hood" that we read earlier. As shared yesterday, we are asking that all families please complete the following technology survey for the Fort McMurray Public School Division. Survey link: https://forms.gle/cvZK3HksCYheAzeB8 This survey will help us in planning and organizing ways to reach all of our families and students during this difficult time. I also have a note regarding the educational continuity plan to share with you this evening: Note from Superintendent: Dear Parents/Guardians, I am writing to confirm that all students within FMPSD will be given the opportunity to begin off-site learning this week. Teachers will begin sending assignments, based on the Ministry of Education recommendations, to students beginning this Friday, March 27th at 1:00 pm. We appreciate your patience as our teachers shift their planning and practice from a classroom to distance-based learning. In addition, we have set up a dedicated parent website. This will include resources on how to support your child's learning, how to structure your child's day to learn at home, and how to support mental health and wellness during this time of uncertainty. You can access the parent resources on the following website: https://sites.google.com/fmpsd.ab.ca/school-closures/fmpsd-supporting-families-during-class-cancellation Please know that your health and safety are our first priority. We will support your child and their learning when you are ready to begin again. Our community, Province, and country are all responding to this shift in educational practice. Everyone involved with K-12 and post-secondary education is responding together and will adjust to the new 'normal'. No students will be left behind, as we all are responding to the impact of COVID-19. Please reach out to your school if you have additional questions. Jennifer Turner R.Psych Superintendent of Schools As per the above note, tomorrow I will be sharing what I am calling a "soft start" plan with you. In our classroom, as we enter each day we have 20-30 mins. to play, explore, and get organized for the day. Often the activities are meant to be provocations or practice for curricular concepts, but in a way that allows students to explore and have fun. We call this a "soft start." Tomorrow I will share some options of learning activities that students can work on at home. As it is the first of these plans that will go home, let's view it as a "soft start". This is new to all of us. This is a format as well as resources that many of us are unfamiliar with. Do not feel pressured or stressed to complete everything that is sent home. Do what you can. Everything is completely optional. I am here to support you in whatever way you need. As time goes on, we will all get a better sense of what our students need and make changes together. As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, - Ashley Barrington, Grade 3 Teacher
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Please read the following email that was shared earlier this evening: Good evening, Again, thank you so much for your patience as the Fort McMurray Public School Division works to plan and implement an educational continuity plan for students. More information will be sent home to families in regards to the plan either Thursday or Friday. Today for Classroom Book a Day, we read "If You Give a Cat a Cupcake" by Laura Numeroff. As mentioned in yesterday's video, this is another book series that is popular in our classroom. We often use books in the same series to look for patterns to help us to make inferences or predictions while reading. See if your student has any predictions about this book! Please note the following message from the Education Department of FMPSD: As teachers in Fort McMurray Public School Division prepare to roll out our learning continuity plan, we are aware that the lack of technology in homes may be a barrier for some families. To help us better support our children and families, we need your assistance to get a snapshot of what technology exists in the homes of our students. Below is a link to a very small survey we need all parents to complete no later than Friday, March 27th. https://forms.gle/cvZK3HksCYheAzeB8 Finally, don't forget that the staff at Christina Gordon would like to invite you all to participate in our Virtual School Spirit Week. We will be posting this on Facebook and would invite you, if you feel comfortable doing so, to share your pics as you have some fun participating. Today was "What Are You Reading?" Wednesday! Tomorrow will be Thankful Thursday. Visit the Christina Gordon Facebook page to send a shout out to someone you're thankful for - a friend, a family member, or even one of the frontline workers keeping us safe! See the attached poster for more information on the different themed days throughout the week. Thank you everyone! Please keep sending me any updates or photos of your time at home that you are comfortable sharing. I love getting to see how everyone is doing. Also, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have, - Ashley Barrington, Grade 3 Teacher
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Please see the following email shared earlier this evening: Good evening, Sorry that today's Classroom Book a Day selection is coming to you so late. Telus is sending me a booster for the Wifi in my apartment, but it is kind of spotty sometimes. Today's read aloud is "How do Dinosaurs Choose Their Pets?" by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague. This is another one of our favourite series. Don't forget, the staff at Christina Gordon would like to invite you all to participate in our Virtual School Spirit Week. We will be posting this on Facebook and would invite you, if you feel comfortable doing so, to share your pics as you have some fun participating. Today was Team Spirit Tuesday! Tomorrow will be "What Are You Reading?" Wednesday. See the attached poster for more information on the different themed days throughout the week. Finally, our FMPSD Counsellors have been compiling this list of excellent COVID-19 Parent Resources for children of all ages. You can find it under Resources on our dedicated COVID-19 webpage: https://fmpsdschools.ca/covid.php. Thank you everyone! As always, please keep sending me any updates or photos of your time at home that you are comfortable sharing. I love seeing how everyone is doing. Also, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have, - Ashley Barrington, Grade 3 Teacher
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Please see the following email shared earlier this evening: Good evening, Today's Classroom Book a Day Selection is another fractured fairy tale version of Little Red Riding Hood. Today we are reading, "Honestly, Red Riding Hood was Rotten!" by Trisha Speed Shaskan. This version is told from the point of view of the Big Bad Wolf. If you like today's book, you can choose to work on or think about the following:
Thank you so much for all of your patience as we work as a division to finalize an educational continuity plan. We have been asked to share the attached letter from the Minister of Education. Again, please be patient with us. The division needs some time to determine how this will look for FMPSD. More information will be provided throughout the week. Our amazing CG staff is really missing our contact with our CG families and especially our students. We know that this is a challenging time for all. We'd love to tap into the fantastic CG spirit that we have seen so often and give our CG families a chance to have a little fun and stay in touch with everyone. As such, we would like to invite you all to participate in our Virtual School Spirit Week. We will be posting this on Facebook and would invite you, if you feel comfortable doing so, to share your pics as you have some fun participating. Today was Mismatched Monday! Tomorrow will be Team Spirit Tuesday. See the attached poster for more information on the different themed days throughout the week. Finally, Mrs. Power held her first live concert today at 1:00 pm. If you were unable to make it, you can go to her classroom Facebook page to view today's recording. This is something she intends to continue, so be sure to like and follow her Facebook page to stay up to date on the different activities Mrs. Power will be sharing to make your time at home more musical. Thank you everyone! As always, please keep sending me any updates or photos of your time at home that you are comfortable sharing. I love seeing how everyone is doing. Also, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have, - Ashley Barrington, Grade 3 Teacher
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Please see the following email, shared earlier this afternoon: Good afternoon, Thank you for your kind messages and your support this week. I miss the students greatly, but have loved hearing from so many of you. Today's Classroom Book a Day selection is "Fin M'Coul: The Giant of Knockmany Hill" retold by Tomie dePaola. I shared another Tomie dePaola book, "Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato" earlier this week and thought it would be fun to finish this week with another Irish folktale. Grade 3 spends time looking at and discussing different genres and we have discussed folksongs and folktales throughout the year. As shared earlier from our admin. team, please know that we miss you all and our thoughts are with you as we all deal with our current reality. The school is eerily quiet without our students and families in it. We can't wait for the time when the halls ring again with the sounds of our students. The sounds that many of you may be wishing you had a little less of right now. Our Term 2 report cards were finalized by staff this week and placed in the mail today to be delivered to students' homes. However, if you would like to see or print them sooner you can do so through parent portal. Go to: fmpsd.powerschool.com/public on either your computer or the browser on you mobile device and click on report card. We realize that many of you may have questions about educational continuity in these uncertain times. You may be aware that Alberta Education issued a press release this morning with some general guidelines in this regard. Please know that our division is currently working hard to respond to that announcement and will provide an update late next week on a plan to move forward. We truly do appreciate your continued support and patience in these unprecedented times. In the meantime, please make the most of the time you have with your children. This is a time that they will recall many years from now. Our hope is that, rather than remembering the fear caused by the virus itself, they will remember the quality time they spent with their families and the community spirit and support that they saw as we all pull together in the face of adversity. Remember that you can continue to share photos of your student's play and learning from this and in upcoming weeks with me to share on our classroom's Instagram page. It has been very comforting to see students and I know that our students and families would love to see more of each other. Remember to tell your students that I like them, I love them, and I miss them! If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me, - Ashley Barrington, Grade 3 Teacher
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Please see the following email, shared earlier this evening: Good evening, Again, thank you for your patience. We are awaiting further direction from the division as to how an educational continuity plan will be shared with students and families. However, I do have a few resources and activities to share with you all today. First, Snicket and I chose to read "Even Superheroes Make Mistakes" by Shelly Becker - read is generous for Snicket; he mainly wanders around the room wondering who I am talking to. This is a book series that we LOVE! We read "Even Superheroes Have Bad Days" together earlier this year. Mrs. Power has been sharing some Music resources that families are welcome to explore. This is OPTIONAL. There is no pressure whatsoever to use or explore any of these resources. She has been sharing them through her Facebook page. She is hoping to have a Sing-Along and students and families can visit her page to make song requests. During indoor recesses, Mr. Organ offers "Just Dance" days in the gym that are incredibly popular. He has shared the playlist of videos that he uses on the school's Facebook page, for any students who are looking to have fun and get active at home. Speaking about getting active, during yesterday's Read Aloud I mentioned the Cosmic Kids Yoga channel that we often use at school. This is a wonderful resource. It has not only a variety of different yoga activities but also Mindfulness activities and meditations that families may wish to explore during these stressful days. There are even some for falling asleep. Finally, I know a lot of students might be missing some of our extra-curricular activities. Junior Tech students, you can use Tynker at home as often as you like. If you complete all of the lessons and you want more, just let me know and I will move you over to the Tech & Trades classes - with the older students! If a student who is not in Junior Tech would like to explore computer coding, let me know and I will set up an account for you. If you need your Google Account information to sign in, I can retrieve it for you as well. Sign Language Club, Ms. Ashton is planning to share some Sign Language lessons on her classroom Instagram account. She posted the first one today for anyone who is interested in spending some time learning and practicing sign language at home. Thank you to the students and families who have shared messages and photos with me over the past few days. I absolutely love hearing from all of you. Keep sending me student photos to share on our classroom Instagram page. It is great so see what everyone is doing! Remember to tell your students that I like them, I love them, and I miss them. Let me know if I can help answer any questions or concerns that you may have, - Ashley Barrington, Grade 3 Teacher
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Please see the following email shared earlier this evening: Good evening, Once again, thank you for your patience as we continue to try and make decisions and changes each day. We will continue to update families as quickly as we can. Today, Lucky (our llama) and I took a break and read, "Ninja Red Riding Hood" by Corey Rosen Schwartz. The students and I have explored many examples of fractured fairy tales this year. We did an entire book study on Goldilocks and the Three Bears and had just begun Little Red Riding Hood. You can look forward to more Red Riding Hood selections in upcoming videos. I will also be sharing photos from students on our classroom Instagram page for anyone who would like to participate. Have you done anything fun or learned something new that you want to share with your classmates? Send me a picture to share! Finally, we will NOT be having personal item pick up tomorrow. We place the health and safety of our staff, students, and families as our top priority. Due to the changing status of COVID-19, effective immediately we will be restricting access to public schools to staff only. If there are students with medically necessary items (ie. medication, glasses, hearing aids, etc.), please phone the school and make arrangements to collect those items. Otherwise, we are asking students and families to please refrain from coming to the school. We recognize this is a change from our previous messaging and apologize for any confusion or frustration that may result. The health and safety of all students and staff are our priority and we continue to try to respond to the best of our abilities. Division staff is working on developing an educational continuity plan which will be shared with families as soon as we can. For now, parents and students should take this time to rest, connect with one another, and to attend to your own personal health and wellness. More information on educational continuity will be provided towards the end of next week. Remember to tell your students that I like them, I love them, and I miss them! Let me know if I can help answer any questions or concerns that you may have, - Ashley Barrington, Grade 3 Teacher
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