2020-21 Back To School Letter
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Our 2020-21 Back-To-School Letter, included below, is being mailed to families during the week of Monday, August 17.
Dear 10th and Penn Families,
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you and your child to 10th and Penn Elementary School. The beginning of the school year is always an exciting time, filled with new experiences, teachers and learning. COVID-19 has certainly impacted what school will look like, but, rest assured, we will all stand “U-Knighted” and work together to educate our children.
As a reminder, Reading School District will begin the 2020-21 school year with all students and teaching staff working at home through FULL REMOTE LEARNING during the entire 1st Quarter. Our teachers and staff have been busy this summer preparing engaging online learning programs and lessons for our incoming students. Even though we will not physically be together inside of our school and classrooms for now, you can still expect that your child will receive a high-quality education in a safe, supportive and successful environment. We believe that all students – without exception – can achieve at high levels, and we are committed to ensuring each student’s continuous growth.
Important Dates:- Monday, August 31, 2020
First Day of School - Monday, August 31, 2020 through Thursday, September 3
Orientation Week for Families (more details below!) - Friday, September 4 and Monday, September 7
Labor Day Holiday - School Closed - Tuesday, September 8, 2020
School Reopens - First, full instructional day for students - Wednesday, November 4, 2020
End of the 1st Marking Quarter
Orientation Week
To welcome our new and returning families to 10th and Penn Elementary School, we will host a special Orientation Week from Monday, August 31, 2020 through Thursday, September 3. Families will visit the school by appointment to receive their Chromebook (if needed), a bag of school supplies and other important information. In addition, teachers will host special online sessions throughout the week to meet students and families, as well as share some fun back-to-school activities. Following Orientation Week, we will begin our first full day of school with remote learning instruction on Tuesday, September 8.Orientation to pick up Chromebooks and all necessary materials will take place on August 31st from 9am to 7pm and September 1st from 9am to 5pm.
Please use the following links to set up an appointment. These links will also be posted on ClassDojo:Monday : https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f054eaeab2fa1fa7-back
Tuesday: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F054EAEAB2FA1FA7-back1
If you need assistance in signing up for a time, please call the main office at 610-320-6994.
Teachers will be contacting families on 8/31 and 9/1 to set up Virtual Classroom Orientation to occur on Wednesday, 9/2 and Thursday, 9/3.
If you are unable to make any of the Material Pick-up appointments on Monday or Tuesday, we will have makeup times on Wednesday and Thursday between the hours of 8am and 3pm. Please call the main office to set up a make-up appointment.
School Schedule Information
With FULL REMOTE LEARNING, the school day will be structured, and students will follow a set class schedule from 8:20-3:00. For elementary and middle school students, the schedule will include a Morning Meeting with their teacher, on-demand video lessons and daily, small group live instruction with their teachers throughout the school day.
School Schedule exampleTimes
Student
8:20 - 9:00
Independent Work Time
9:00 - 9:30
Attend Morning Meeting
9:30 – 9:45
ELA Meeting
9:45 – 10:15
Small group meeting or independent time
10:15 – 10:45
Small group meeting or independent time
10:45 – 11:15
Small group meeting or independent time
11:15 - 12:00
Independent Work Time (Science or SS)
12:00 - 12:30
Lunch
12:30 - 1:00
Independent Specials
1:00 - 1:15
Math Meeting
1:15 - 1:45
Small group meeting or independent time
1:45 - 2:15
Small group meeting or independent time
2:15 - 2:45
Small group meeting or independent time
2:45 - 3:00
Independent Work
Daily attendance will be taken, and our teachers will use Google Classroom to share and collect school assignments. You will receive your child’s Google Classroom Code during Orientation Week. During the 1st Quarter, grades will return to the standard A-F grading system for Grades 2-12, and we will no longer use the Pass-Fail grading system. Younger grades will use the number scale grading system.
Students will not be required to wear school uniforms during FULL REMOTE LEARNING.
Reading Virtual Academy
If you feel your family cannot follow the set FULL REMOTE LEARNING daytime school schedule outlined above, we encourage you to enroll in our district cyber school – Reading Virtual Academy (RVA), which is expanding to grades K-12 for the 2020-21 school year. With RVA, families will have a more flexible learning schedule that allows students to watch on-demand virtual video lessons at any time and then complete their work assignments by a designated date. While students in RVA do not have a full-time RSD teacher, they would have access to RSD teachers who are available to assist with tutoring, as needed. To enroll in Reading Virtual Academy, you must complete a RVA application. The application is available online in English and Spanish at www.readingsd.org/virtualacademy or you can pick up a print copy at the ROCC Building, located at 800 Penn St.
School Communications
Our school website is www.readingsd.org/10thpenn.
We use Class Dojo to communicate directly with families, and the school district uses Blackboard for mass notifications, such as emergencies. You will receive more information about how to connect with your child’s teacher and our school during Orientation Week.
If you have any questions prior to the start of the school year, please contact our main office at 610-320-6994, visit our website www.readingsd.org/10thpenn or visit the district’s Back To School information page at www.readingsd.org/backtoschool.
Together, we share the responsibility for our children’s education. I look forward to working with you to create a strong partnership so your child can achieve great success and have a wonderful 2020-21 school year!Sincerely,
Rowbee’C Kasisky
@RowKasisky - Monday, August 31, 2020