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September 28th, 2020
Dear Families,
This week will be very exciting as we welcome some of our students back into the building!
According to the staff, these past remote days were important for whole-class community building. It makes a difference for all students to see themselves as part of a class first, and a cohort second.
As a staff, we have planned, discussed, reviewed, tweaked, and reflected for months, days, hours, and agonized over every detail. We have been thrilled by the feedback and ideas that have already moved us forward with our plans. Thanks for the kind words and thoughtful suggestions! That is the core of the 75 Morton community.
There have been five days of remote learning. As you know, this is our first pandemic and there is no rule book! I say this because we have received some emails questioning our practices - I was honestly taken aback by the tone of some of these emails. So let me explain again:
Curriculum: This week was about EQUITY. Last spring we had so many students struggle with how to work the technology (uploading documents, accessing and answering emails, organizing their assignments, navigating Google Suite, creating spreadsheets and documents, submitting work). We were determined to front load our work this school year by thoroughly preparing all of our students for success. The staff has spent the summer creating curriculum and their overviews will be sent out the week of 10/5. Our content curriculum starts on 9/29.
Breaks: We heard that we needed to build in some breaks. In preparation for remote learning our staff looked over the schedule, which is one hour shorter than last year, and contains a DOE mandated "instructional lunch". They thoughtfully considered how to instruct with integrity, and to engage students within these time constraints.
Please make sure your children know that if they need to go to the bathroom while remote, they can let the teacher know in the chat that they are stepping away for a few minutes.
The teachers are building in movement breaks. When we are teaching the students in school, there will be 5-7 minute pauses between classes as teachers change classrooms and set up.
All staff agrees that after the lesson, students may go off Zoom to complete work and re-enter the Zoom at the teacher’s direction. We agree and know that off-screen time is important.
Advisory Program: Our advisory program is a fulfillment of both our 75 Morton Mission, and of the DOE mandated "instructional lunch". It takes place 4 days out of 6. During Advisory/Lunch students eat with masks off and then participate in Advisory. Students in school and at home follow this schedule. On the days without Advisory, the lunch break is a free 45 minute period for students learning remotely.
I am admittedly repeating myself endlessly, and I know all of you understand. This is a time of great stress and dissent in our country. It is easy to feel the anger, the distrust, and the sadness just by watching the news, reading the paper, scrolling the internet, speaking to others.
But at 75 Morton we are motivated by kindness, trust, thoughtful and helpful suggestions, and equity based solutions. The school staff is full of devoted, smart, and amazing educators who are carefully creating a year like no other, in this uncharted territory and these unprecedented times.
I am extremely protective of their efforts. I believe in this school. I believe in all of you. I am head over heels in love with our students. And I am stubbornly attached to the belief that we can all behave and make this work! I know this because all of you demonstrate this every day.
We suffered a sad loss this week, and we keep our perspective, realizing that we are a family and we take care of one another.
Now for a few reminders and updates:
The 75 Morton Family Handbook was released yesterday. If you haven't already, please read it and review it with your child. It pertains to all students and families, both blended and remote.
We had to change some Advisory assignments. Your child may find out about a change this week - and it will be okay. We have an amazing Advisory system.
Please remind your students attending school in person that they will need to have their cell phones on so we can see that the health screening was completed, and then the cell phones go into backpacks.
If you were unable to get school supplies we are happy to provide them. Please reach out to Jose at jose@75morton.org.
Buy SWAG - Be proud - I adore all 75 Morton SWAG!
Read, Read, Read the PTA Blasts.
I will leave you with this quote from one of our teachers:
“These kids are so genuinely ready for school.“
And so are we.
Jacqui and Katie