Principal Madden’s Weekly Update—Week of June 15, 2020
Dear Families/Caregivers,
Today is the last official day of school. I am so sorry that our school year did not end with our usual fun traditions and rituals. I know that the school closure has been extremely difficult and stressful for families, and I cannot wait to be back to normal. I’ll be at school most of the summer if you want to check in with me. I will communicate via email and post on our website if there are any updates about our school’s reopening. What I can promise, is that no matter what school looks like in the fall, we will give your children loving support and work hard to meet their needs every day. We have to remind ourselves every day that this situation will not last forever.
Report cards and placement notes will be mailed to families/caregivers during this week!
Lost and Found
Last chance to claim lost clothes! Photos are attached. Call or email Mrs. Madden if you think any of these items belong to you!
Message from Nurse Lisa
Here is a letter from Nurse Lisa. She has served our school community for many years as our school nurse. I am glad she is not leaving our district, but we will miss her daily presence and wise care.
Letter-from-Nurse-LisaSummer Improv
Heidi Haas is offering Summer Improv! Spring sessions were a big hit! Here is more information:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/zoomimprovsummerenglish
District Community Needs Survey
District Leaders have put together a Community Needs Survey. We would appreciate your feedback and input. Thank you. Here is where you can access this survey.
Re-Opening Scenarios
Also, Dr. Provost has created a slide show of various possible scenarios for school re-opening. I know that the School Committee is thinking about all of the possibilities, and you should contact any of them if you have any input. Here is the link to that information.
Potential-School-Restart-OptionsREAL
This spring has been so difficult with the coronavirus and school closure, and our nation has recently had more pain as we wrestle with issues of equity and violence. I know that many families are feeling additional strain, frustration, anger, sadness, and confusion. It is always difficult to know how to explain what is going on to our children. I hope you and your loved ones are doing O.K. I am hopeful that things will shift toward more respect and equity. During this time of struggle, it is important for us to do all we can to become a better, more empathetic, and stronger community. Below are resources compiled by REAL (defined below) that you might find helpful and meaningful.
From REAL (Racial Equity and Learning) is a Northampton Education Foundation–funded project that brings together Northampton public school teachers, staff, students, and caregivers to fulfill the project’s mission: support and strengthen our school community by developing an intentionally anti-racist culture
Org/campaign
EmbraceRace (local)
Truth School (local)
Western Mass SURJ (local)
Arise for Social Justice (local)
Healing Racism Institute of Pioneer Valley (local)
Undoing Racism (local)
Pioneer Valley Workers Center (local)
National Association for Multicultural Education
Read
High Five Books (local; site includes age-specific links to books about race)
Having the Race Talk with My 4- and 21-Year-Old Sons
How to Talk to Your Mixed Race Kids About Race
100 Race-Conscious Things You Can Say to Your Child to Advance Racial Justice
This Book Is Anti-Racist (local author)
Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America
White Kids: Growing Up with Privilege in a Racially Divided America
Watch/listen
The Wellness of We series of videos
White Like Me documentary
Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in School documentary
Raising Free People podcast series
All My Relations podcast series
Seeing White podcast series
How to Not (Accidentally) Raise a Racist podcast episode
Compilations
Resources for Parents and Caregivers About Race and Racism
Anti-Racism Resources for All Ages
KidLit Rally 4 Black Lives: Anti-Racist Resources for Children, Families, and Educators
There Is No Apolitical Classroom: Resources for Teaching in These Times
Garden Update
The Garden Committee is planning some family work days in July and August, and we hope to get some interest, involvement and workers. We are lucky to have our little garden, and it takes a community to keep it going.
RKF-Garden-AppealFrom Food Service Director, Mistelle Hannah:
Attached are the links to the free/reduced application for the 2019-2020 school year. This application is good for the first 30 days of the upcoming school year. A new application will be required after that time. The new applications are typically released in early July and made available to families at the beginning of the school year. Since we anticipate some families have had a change of circumstances since this has begun it benefits them to get the application in for this school year. One less thing to worry about.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XwQxiVggetw1Zl3J56dy75G-RkP6gPMm/view
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1C9cChZkOR7j8J6OQBHzEpdkKGN1IinOM/view
Friday Fun Videos!
I loved all the photos of your field day or physical fun last week! Here’s that great video in case you missed it on Friday! You can find all of the Friday Fun on our website. Thanks to all who participated in our Friday Fun Videos—they were really fabulous and brought many smiles when we surely needed them.
Summer Online Resources
Please remember that all of the online resources that teachers have created during this closure will be available to students over the summer, although it won’t be updated, there are some wonderful resources. I hope your children will take advantage of some of these resources over the summer. And, of course, I’ll continue to communicate with you regarding any re-opening school plans.
I hope that all families feel welcome, comfortable, and valued at our school. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need anything. I am often in the building, and can talk through the window or over the phone.
Sincerely,
Sarah Madden, Principal
