Principal's Message, 1-8-20
Greetings Stough Families,
I hope all of you are doing well and staying safe at the start of 2021. I have a few thoughts to share, and the weekly updates are further down.
I think it's important to acknowledge the anxiety and confusion that the events in Washington DC this week may have triggered for our students and families. Maybe it was fitting that our students studied "optimism" in morning meetings this week. P2 defines "optimism" as expecting the best for the future and working to achieve it. Even when things around us seem unstable, frustrating or confusing, we want our Stough students to continue asking questions, and grow through various trials. We want them to see obstacles or struggles as opportunities to learn and operate with hope toward achieving goals, no matter what those goals may be. If you or your child has questions or just want to talk, please reach out to me or a member of our students services team. We value the continued growth of our community, and we approach the work ahead with optimism.
The School District also sent a mass email with several resources for you to use with your family as you see fit.
Here are the weekly updates:
1. Next week, all students remain in remote learning (same schedule as this past week). Wednesday, January 13 is an asynchronous day. This is also the final week of the second quarter.
2. The Teacher Workday on Tuesday, January 19 will be our Materials Distribution day for Quarter 3. This is only for Semester 2, Virtual Academy Students.
Here's the schedule (in the carpool lane):
9-9:45am - Third Grade
10-10:45am - Fourth Grade
11-11:45am - Fifth Grade
1-1:45pm - Kindergarten
2-2:45pm - First Grade
3-3:45pm - Second Grade
Note - if you have students in multiple grade levels, please email both teachers and indicate which timeframe you plan to stop by. Our staff will collaborate to ensure that both students' materials are ready for pick-up at the same time.
3. Help us spread the word about Stough's Mandarin Immersion program! There are still opportunities for families of rising Kindergarteners to learn about Stough through:
the Magnet Mini-Fair on Tuesday, January 12th from 9:30-11 am (to access this event, visit www.wcpss.net/magnet)
- Stough virtual tours on January 13th, 20th, and 27th (sign up at: http://bit.ly/stoughtour)
- one-on-one Google Meet sessions with Stough's Magnet Coordinator, Stacey Shumake (sign up at: http://bit.ly/stough-one-on-one)
The application windows for base and magnet families are closing soon! Base family applications are due to Stough on Friday, January 15th and Magnet applications are due on January 28th. If you have questions, please contact Stacey Shumake at ashumake@wcpss.net.
5. Assessment Updates:
- The Dreambox Challenge continues through Friday 1/15! The student with the most lessons completed gets a certificate and gets featured in the next Friday rap... just sayin'!
- Students should not be on I-station this weekend. Teachers will have more information soon about Middle-of-Year Testing.
- Third Graders who have not yet taken the State's Beginning-of-Grade (BOG) Reading test will be given an opportunity to come to campus to do so. Look for a letter with more details next week.
6. Next week in P2, we move from studying "optimism" in to the trait "prudence." (How fitting!) For a 1-page character card overview, click here. And, for P2 for Families (password: P2), click here.
Prudence means you plan for the future and achieve your goals by making careful everyday choices. Prudence is the ability to do the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason. It's a future-oriented way of thinking that helps a person set goals, make plans, and have the discipline to accomplish them. It is cognitive – more a strength of the head than of the heart.
7. You may have heard that the District is short on substitute teachers. There is a campaign to recruit more subs and include more incentives. (Here's the link.) If interested, we'd love to have trustworthy parents sub specifically at Stough. Feel free to contact me if you have more questions.
8. The District requires the sharing of an annual Asbestos Memo with all parents. Here it is.
9. Here are your PTA Updates:
Chinese New Year
Mark your calendars for a virtual celebration on February 11- more information coming soon!
Shade Structure Grant
The PTA is planning to apply for a Shade Structure Grant from the American Academy of Dermatology Association to provide a shaded area for teachers and students on the new playground. The application is a yearlong process that requires participation in a sun-safety awareness program. You can find more information on the site below and on our social media pages.
Shade Structure grants (aad.org)
Best wishes to all,
Chris Cox, Principal