Virtual Learning Week 3
You are all navigating unchartered waters, and doing so with such grace and compassion. You are truly superheroes to our students and their families. All of the uplifting messages on our school's Facebook page, as well as the several emails that I have received over the past couple of weeks celebrate your love for our students and your dedication to this calling. Throughout this post you will see a few examples of the appreciation and love that have come my way.
I am hopeful there will be an opportunity to provide students with additional services before the end of the year (if safe and compliant with CDC of course). However, if they are unable to go back to school, I feel honored and blessed 💙 was able to experience 2/3 of her Kindergarten year at Brown, especially with Mrs. DeLapa. Your building is so well-run, it is like clock-work! You guys are amazing and while my heart breaks for Lily, who desperately misses Mrs. DeLapa, I am forever grateful for you and your entire staff.
You guys are incredible!
As spring break approaches, remember to disconnect and enjoy those around you. While it will undoubtably be a different plan than once anticipated, take the necessary time for self-care and relaxation of the mind and soul. It is so important. 
Thank you for reading to our students. You have inspired others to share their love of books. In fact, one of second graders has decided to read bedtime stories to our school. Your passion is contagious!
Family Connectivity Survey
Please complete the form linked here related to student connectivity in week two of remote learning. We are asking that you submit the names of students and/or families with whom you have not connected with AT ALL in the second week. We ask that you reach out to specifically to the family of the student, then if you do not hear a response Kristen will check in. Congratulations and thank you on 100% participation from the elementary schools on the first week's form. No surprise - you guys rock!
Zoom v. Hangouts Meet
It is important that all staff members use Google Hangouts Meet when connecting with students and families. Our ad staff group revisited this conversation this week and it was determined that Zoom is not a tool that we support using at this time.
Great news though, an extension was added to your @stjoebears.com Google account to allow the tile view that is so attractive in Zoom. With this you will be able to see all participants at once. To activate, you will click the tile panel in the upper right hand corner of your screen (see image below). In addition, the owner of the meeting (the person who sets it up) can also mute the mics of all attendees, if needed.
Please join us for a Friday Morning Coffee Chat tomorrow (4/3) at 10:00. This is our chance to connect with our colleagues and friends. Last week's "meeting" was so inspirational. Click on this link (same as the calendar invitation)Hope to see you all in the morning!
Welcome to SJPS!
We’d like to welcome Brenda Graham, our new CFO to St. Joseph Public Schools.
Brenda comes to us with years of experience in school finance having worked for Mattawan Public Schools and most recently, Portage Public Schools. Along with her years of experience she also holds her Michigan School Business Officials CFO Certification.
Brenda is a graduate of Benton Harbor High School, so she is no stranger to the area. She has one son, Ian, two dogs named Jax and Opie, and a cat named Gemma. Who can guess her favorite series when she named these pets?
Please help us welcome Brenda to the district.
Feel free to reach out to her to say hello: bgraham@sjschools.org
Here are a couple of additional spring tasks that classroom teachers might decide to tackle this week to get ahead of the year-end busy-ness:
*Specific classroom supply orders - Sara will send you a link and directions via email
*Maintenance / Custodial Work Orders - please submit to Sara and Kristen via email.
Please stay in the loop by checking out our family blog as well. It is updated weekly.
Handy Tips from IT and Tech Specialists
When using a hyperlink to share something from the Symbaloo with your students, make sure you copy the link from the district student page https://www.sjschools.org/District-Web-Links
When creating the hyperlink it is easiest to right click on the image or square on the Symbaloo and select "copy link address" and use that address as your hyperlink.
Amy Dirlam shared these tutorial videos in case you want to use itsLearning to message back and forth with students. Messaging works with the itsLearning phone app too. Feel free to share the student side link with families if you decide to use this feature.
itsL Messaging How-To for Teachers
itsL Messaging from Student Side
E-Learning Resources
Our media department has put together a list of additional eLearning resources that you may want to use with your students for enrichment over the next few weeks. You can find this resource on the SJPS eLearning website that was shared by Amy and Andrew last week.
Resource Highlights
There are many free resources, eBooks and audiobooks out there. Check out TumbleBooks and TumbleMath. We have a direct link to access those sites and they will be free until August. Capstone, Abdo, Follett, and Audible also have a number of eBooks and audiobooks available.
Scholastic TrueFlix is worth checking out. Each TrueFlix centers around a science or social studies topic and includes a short video, True Book eBook, and other activities. This is geared for grades 3-5.
Author/Illustrator activities - Patricia Polacco, Kate Messner, Mo Willems, Marc Barnett, and many others are reading aloud and/or providing drawing lessons. Check out the Special Themed Events calendar to be up-to-date on days and times.
PebbleGo (Gr. Y5-3) and PebbleGo Next (Gr. 3+) both offer articles related to science and social studies topics.
More BreakoutEDU digital games are available.
The Kids Should See This (KSST) is a site with "smart videos for curious minds." It contains over 4,300 kid-friendly, highly engaging videos!
Another resource: Kids Discover Online is offering classes (teacher and students) free access for 3 months. Details are available here: Kids Discover Offer
Check out this growth!
This is certainly something to celebrate! The dark blue section represents the students in our school working above grade level. The light blue represents on grade level and the gray represents our at-promise readers. We are closing the gap through practice and feedback! How do you work to inspire your students?
When using a hyperlink to share something from the Symbaloo with your students, make sure you copy the link from the district student page https://www.sjschools.org/District-Web-Links
When creating the hyperlink it is easiest to right click on the image or square on the Symbaloo and select "copy link address" and use that address as your hyperlink.
Amy Dirlam shared these tutorial videos in case you want to use itsLearning to message back and forth with students. Messaging works with the itsLearning phone app too. Feel free to share the student side link with families if you decide to use this feature.
itsL Messaging How-To for Teachers
itsL Messaging from Student Side
E-Learning Resources
Our media department has put together a list of additional eLearning resources that you may want to use with your students for enrichment over the next few weeks. You can find this resource on the SJPS eLearning website that was shared by Amy and Andrew last week.
Resource Highlights
There are many free resources, eBooks and audiobooks out there. Check out TumbleBooks and TumbleMath. We have a direct link to access those sites and they will be free until August. Capstone, Abdo, Follett, and Audible also have a number of eBooks and audiobooks available.
Scholastic TrueFlix is worth checking out. Each TrueFlix centers around a science or social studies topic and includes a short video, True Book eBook, and other activities. This is geared for grades 3-5.
Author/Illustrator activities - Patricia Polacco, Kate Messner, Mo Willems, Marc Barnett, and many others are reading aloud and/or providing drawing lessons. Check out the Special Themed Events calendar to be up-to-date on days and times.
PebbleGo (Gr. Y5-3) and PebbleGo Next (Gr. 3+) both offer articles related to science and social studies topics.
More BreakoutEDU digital games are available.
The Kids Should See This (KSST) is a site with "smart videos for curious minds." It contains over 4,300 kid-friendly, highly engaging videos!
Another resource: Kids Discover Online is offering classes (teacher and students) free access for 3 months. Details are available here: Kids Discover Offer
Have you checked in with your swim buddy lately?
Mine has been awesome! #ONE #BetterTogether
Core5 Upate
This is certainly something to celebrate! The dark blue section represents the students in our school working above grade level. The light blue represents on grade level and the gray represents our at-promise readers. We are closing the gap through practice and feedback! How do you work to inspire your students?
