City Tree Christian School Coronavirus Updates
We are closely monitoring the Coronavirus (Covid-19) situation and following all recommendations provided to us by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and local agencies in order to make the best decisions for our school community.
K-8 Distance Learning Information:
March 16, 2020
Dear K-8 Parents,
Over the last few days, our staff has worked diligently to prepare for a transition to online learning in our K-8 classes. We have many good ideas for instruction, student participation and communication that we believe will help us continue providing quality education opportunities for your child.
As you might imagine, there are many challenges associated with implementing a change like this in such a short amount of time, and online learning platforms cannot replace face to face learning. We expect there to be some amount of trial and error as we work toward the priorities of quality, clarity, connectedness, and communication in our instruction. We also realize each family’s circumstances during this time are different, and some of your situations are challenging. Consequently, we welcome feedback as this new, and hopefully temporary, program rolls out.
Now, the details...
All grades will be instructed using Google Classroom. This is a widely used online learning platform that is already in use successfully with our upper grades, and is the most widely used learning platform for schools with grade K-12 students across the country. The primary reasons Google Classroom is so widely embraced by educators are as follows.
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Ease of use for both teacher and student on many different kinds of devices
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Compatibility with the google suite (which many families use already)
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Compatibility with other educational apps
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Interactive components allowing fluid communication between teacher and student
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Endless online storage
Each student will have a google apps for education account that comes with a school email address. This account and email are for educational use only and fully accessible and monitored by the school.
Grades K-3:
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Student accounts will be set up by Tuesday, March 17.
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Step by step instructions and login information will be sent out via email from your child's teacher to the parent email on file on Tuesday, March 17.
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IT IS VERY IMPORTANT that you be on the lookout for this email and follow the instructions to finish setting up your child's account and connecting it to google classroom.
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Regular online instruction will begin Wednesday, March 18, but teachers may reach out to you sooner with some things you can do before Wednesday.
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Once your child’s account is set up, it would be helpful if parents took time to familiarize themselves with the platform, this typically would take about 30 minutes.
Grades 4-5:
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Student accounts are already set up and in use. In other words, your child should already know how to login to google classroom. Please take a few minutes before Wednesday, March 18 to sit with your child as he/she logs into google classroom.
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Mrs. Floeter has already begun communicating about her online class structure and expectations, but more will come soon.
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Although online instruction will officially begin Wednesday, March 18, feel free to reach out to Mrs. Floeter with any questions.
Grades 6-8:
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Student accounts are already set up and in use. Students have been using google classroom both at home and in the physical classroom all year and are very familiar with it. If you have not yet done so this year, please take a few minutes before Wednesday, March 18 to sit with your child as he/she logs into google classroom.
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Most Middle School teachers have already begun communicating about their online class structure and expectations, but all classes will be up and running by Wednesday, March 18. Students should begin work on the classes that are posted right away.
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Although online instruction will officially begin Wednesday, March 18, feel free to reach out to any of your child's subject matter teachers with any questions.
There are several ways to contact us for help or to provide feedback on these program changes.
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For questions/feedback about the content, expectations, assignments, etc. for your child's class, please email your child's teacher.
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For technology-related questions, including access, hardware/software requirements, login, etc., please email our Technology Coordinator, Becky Henzel at office@citytree.org.
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For any other questions/feedback related to this program transition, school schedule, or if your family has challenges that we might help you overcome in this time, please email me, sue.kennedy@citytree.org
Lastly, while we intend to be working remotely, there may be occasions when staff are scheduled to be in the office, or can arrange to be in the office if you need to drop something off/pick something up. Please arrange this on a case by case basis by emailing me.
Thank you again for your prayerful support, and be safe!
Sincerely,
Sue Kennedy
Spring Break Update:
March 14, 2020
Dear City Tree Parents,
The School Board has decided to move City Tree’s Easter break to an earlier date within the window of our school closure. Our 6-day Easter/spring break will now be Friday, March 27-Friday, April 3. Our 6-day break was originally schedule from Monday, April 6-Monday, April 13. As previously communicated, “our school will likely remain closed until April 6, 2020, but we will be responding to information and direction provided to us by national and local agencies.”
Moving our Easter/spring break forward allows us to potentially have less time away from school. We think this decision is in the best interest of the majority of our school community. It also saves out-of-pocket childcare costs for many of our parents. It is our hope, that by making this decision now, you can rearrange any plans you had for the original Easter break week. Please communicate with the school office if that is not possible and a K-8 Student Study Contract is needed.
Sincerely,
Sue Kennedy
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. –Joshua 1:9
March 13, 2020, about 5:00pm
Dear City Tree Parents,
Thanks for your overwhelming support in response to our school closure due to the coronavirus. The staff has shown amazing teamwork as they have responded to this situation. In the letter I sent earlier today I mentioned that I would be sending out additional information so here are those details.
When you picked up your child today you probably found that there were additional items being sent home. Depending on the age of your child you should have brought home the following:
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Bedding
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Special sleep friends
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Textbooks
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A few awesome books to read
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Band instruments and needed support supplies
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Student’s personal classroom supplies (pens, pencils, markers, etc.)
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Personal items like lunch boxes, water bottles, clothing, etc.
If something needed is accidentally left behind, please contact the school Monday and we will do our best to make arrangements for you to pick things up.
Easter Break/Spring Break:
The City Tree School Board is considering moving our 6-day Easter break to an earlier date. This decision will be made in the next few days, and you will be informed via email.
Remote Education for K-8 Students:
Our K-8 teachers have already been working diligently to develop an effective remote learning plan for their students. Our teachers and tech team will need 1 or 2 days to prepare for remote learning. You will receive an email with additional information that is specific to your child’s classroom and includes are exact start date for remote education. Teachers have reached out to each K-8 parent to learn more about your technology capabilities at home. Please do your best to respond to them as soon as possible.
Parent emails and questions:
I know there are many questions around City Tree’s school closure. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work toward finding workable answers to your questions and also the time to respond to your phone calls and emails. Some of your questions will require the school board, along with the administrative staff, time to gather information in order to make wise and thoughtful decisions. Please feel free to continue to send your questions, but please also understand that we may not be able to give each one an immediate personal response.
I realize this is a difficult situation for everyone. Please be assured that your child's continued quality education and safety are of the highest priority, and we will work hard to be sure to keep our families informed as this situation evolves. Thank you for your continued patience. We are very grateful for the support and strength of this community.
Sincerely,
Sue Kennedy, Principal
March 13, 2020, 10:45am
Dear City Tree Parents,
City Tree infant, preschool, and K-8 programs will be closed beginning Monday, March 16 in an effort to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Our school will likely remain closed until April 6, 2020, but we will be responding to information and direction provided to us by national and local agencies. We have no information indicating that we have, or have had, any individual infected with the coronavirus on our campus. Nevertheless, we are taking proactive steps for our community.
For all of us, the coronavirus has brought concern and uncertainty, yet I am confident that we can and will navigate through this challenging time with wisdom and compassion. Additional information will be sent later today regarding K-8 remote education, possible adjustment to Easter break, and other important information.
Thanks for your support both to our staff and each other during this time. May the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Sincerely,
Sue Kennedy
Principal