School News

Hello Castlemont Families,

In our Wednesday staff meeting I asked our teachers to reflect upon the meaning of the word "courage."  I provided a quote and a definition from our Character Strong curriculum: “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” -Nelson Mandela. In child-accessible language: Courage is to choose what is good, right, and kind even when it is hard or scary.

I then asked our teachers to respond to one of the following prompts through the lens of their current teaching experience:

• How have you already practiced courage in your life? 

• What challenges have you overcome? How did these challenges teach or change you? 

• What helps you persevere even when things are hard or scary?

Common themes came to the surface: learning how to use tech tools was a challenge; getting support from colleagues was vital; and very significantly, we need to do this for our students. 

I know that having your children learning from home is challenging and requires a good measure of courage while navigating new technology and finding a way to balance work with distance learning. Try answering the  prompts above and then pat yourself on the back for being courageous in the face of something none of us have ever experienced  before. I am happy to say that we have early-on reached the goal of having every one of our students participating in the distance learning school day, and it is because all of us have been brave enough to tackle the new and unknown. Well done!

There are additional important ways you can support our school community and your child's learning.  The first is by joining our Home and School Club. The HSC is continuing to support Castlemont students, teachers, and parents even during distance learning. Joining is FREE and is a tremendous way to demonstrate your interest in our school community. Complete this short Google form to join.  Castlemont HSC Membership Form 

The second way you can support your child's learning is to encourage them during our upcoming iReady assessments. The assessment window opens next Tuesday, September 8th.  Distance learning means that assessments must be done from home. I ask you to watch the following video and read over the infographic.  Supporting and encouraging without helping with answers will be important to gathering accurate learning data.

Parent Video (English)

Parent Video (Spanish)

Parent Letter/Infographic 

Thank you for continuing to make Castlemont a very special place.

~Kristen

Welcome back to the new school year!  The Castlemont Home and School Club (HSC) wanted to send out the following announcements:

Elections:

We are holding elections for officers and coordinators for the 2020-2021 year and would love to have your help!   Please send a paragraph to castlemont.hsc.bod [at] gmail.com about you and why you are interested in the position by September 21 for voting in our first general meeting in October.  The open positions are:

Officers: President, VP Membership, Secretary, Financial Secretary

Coordinator positions needed:  Communications, Marketing, Box Tops, Book Fair, Volunteer, and Online Auction (assistants)

You can get more information here or by talking to Kristen Prindle, Jenni Avery, Emily Winters or Emily Ah Sing.

General Meeting - Tuesday, October 6th:

In general, our meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month.  In order to give families a chance to get settled in the new schedules, we are skipping our September meeting and will hold our first general meeting on Tuesday, October 6 at 7pm.  It will be held via Zoom; more information to be provided later this month.  Please contact castlemont.hsc.bod [at] gmail.com if you have any questions about the agenda or attending.  Make sure to register for your free HSC Membership (information also available in this newsletter) to receive emails directly regarding upcoming meeting agendas and invitations.

Upcoming:

Please be on the lookout for information in the next few weeks regarding our annual Charleston Wrap fundraiser and our Giving Drive.  We plan on using these funds to supplement the teacher supply budgets and arranging assemblies and field trips as we move towards Phase 4 of the Reopening Plan. 

Hello Castlemont Families,

We are excited and ready to start the school year!  I'd like to share some important beginning of the year information with you.

First, the answer to the question, "Who will my teacher be this year?"  Your teacher emailed you last night  to introduce her/himself  and welcome you to her/his class.  If you do not receive an email, please check our class lists.  Students will be identified by their five digit student number only, not by name.  For returning students, it is the same  number you used last year.  For new students, you will find your ID number in an email from the school district regarding student placement for the 2020-21 school year.

NOTE: As I write this article it has come to my attention that there may be a technical issue preventing our PowerSchool emails from being sent.  If you did not receive an email, please check the class list .

Your teacher will be sharing via email a sign-up for a 20 minute virtual student/family visit next week.  This visit will give your student a chance for some individual time with their teacher before we start the rigors of our academic program.  Having a strong relationship between student, family, and teacher is key to being successful in a regular year, and especially in distance learning. We are intentionally investing in this time with this in mind.

Please remember that the first day of school is this Monday, August 24th. School begins at 8:20 and we will be taking attendance daily. Your teacher will share with you a link to your morning class meeting.  If you do not receive the link or have an issue logging on, please contact your teacher. Teacher emails are on the Castlemont website under "Staff Directory."  

If your child is ill and cannot participate in class, please call our attendance line ASAP at          408 341-7047.

Here's to a great school!

Yours Sincerely,

Kristen Kimoto Prindle

408 364-4233

kprindle [at] campbellusd.org

Welcome to the 2020-21 school year! I hope you are all well and ready to start our new year together.  Despite the unusual circumstances of our learning environment, we are committed to providing a quality education to our students in a safe and engaging manner.  

The following are some important dates and information for your calendar:

• The first day of school is Monday, August 24th.  We will be taking attendance just as we do during a “normal” school year.

• SCHOOL START TIME: 8:20 a.m.

During distance learning it will be important to be logged on to your class morning

meeting on time, just as you would arrive at school on time. Teachers will provide their

individual class schedules and login information next week. 

• DISMISSAL: 2:30 p.m.

Distance learning schedules will vary by grade level. Students should plan to be engaged in learning from 8:20-2:30, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.  

• WEDNESDAY DISMISSAL: 

As during in-person instruction, Wednesday is a shortened day.  We conclude instruction at 1:30.

Teacher Assignments will be emailed to parents the evening of Wednesday, 8/19.  If you do not receive an email from your new teacher, please refer to an upcoming article on the Castlemont webpage on 8/20 that will list your assigned teacher.  Students will be identified by their five digit student number only, not by name.  For returning students, it is the same  number you used last year.  For new students, you will find your ID number in an email from the school district regarding student placement for the 2020-21 school year.

Technology

Each Castlemont student may check out a Chromebook.  If you have one from last year, please keep it to use this year.  If you did not check one out last year, but would like one this year, pick-ups by grade levels and times are listed below.  A parent signature is required.   Please note that each student living in the same home may check out a device. (We could only offer one per household last year.)

Next week, 8/19- 8/21

Technology and student materials pick-up times are scheduled for next week according to grade level.  Please adhere to social distancing and wear a face covering.  The schedule is:

Kindergarten

Wednesday, 8/19

10:00- 12:00 in the M.U. courtyard on Castlemont Ave.

Please walk up to the tables at the fence.

1st Grade (If you checked out an iPad in Kindergarten last year, please return it on this date!)

   Thursday, 8/20

8:30-10:30 in the M.U. courtyard on Castlemont Ave.

Please pull all the way forward in the driveway and stay in your car until you are asked to exit.

2nd Grade

Thursday, 8/20

10:30-11:30 in the M.U. courtyard on Castlemont Ave.

Please pull all the way forward in the driveway and stay in your car until you are asked to

            exit.

3rd Grade

Thursday, 8/20

11:30-12:30 in the M.U. courtyard on Castlemont Ave.

Please pull all the way forward in the driveway and stay in your car until you are asked to

            Exit.

4th Grade

Friday, 8/21

8:30-10:00 in the M.U. courtyard on Castlemont Ave.

Please pull all the way forward in the driveway and stay in your car until you are asked to

            Exit.

5th Grade

Friday, 8/21

10:00- 11:30 in the M.U. courtyard on Castlemont Ave.

Please pull all the way forward in the driveway and stay in your car until you are asked to 

            exit.

Your first week, 8/24- 8/28:

• Daily Schedules will be provided by your teacher during the first week of school.  

• Individual Teacher-Family “Visits”

Teachers will be emailing each of their families to schedule individual 20 minute virtual family visits. We feel this contact and connection is particularly important when starting the year without person-to-person contact.  We want our students and parents to have the chance to meet their teacher!  Please keep an eye out for a communication from your teacher next week.

• Week One Expectations-- you can expect the our first week together in distance learning to look different from the subsequent weeks.  We are investing in the social-emotional well-being of our students by taking the time to meet with everyone individually. Every class will hold a morning meeting and an afternoon closing to bookend the school day. This will also be good practice for logging on and off of our online platforms. Beginning-of-the-year assignments and activities will be provided. While we are anxious to start with our academic curriculum, beginning with a solid connection to each student and family will make learning at a distance more comfortable and successful for all of us.  

Though our building is closed, we are available and committed to helping you!  Our office hours are 7:30a.m - 4:00 p.m. Monday- Friday.  Please call (408) 364-4233 for assistance and answers to your questions. We are also happy to schedule in-person, socially distanced meetings.

My final thought is this-- I am so lucky to be here at Castlemont as part of this wonderful community.  We got in some good practice with distance learning in the spring and will continue to learn and improve how we educate our children in this manner.  I want to thank each of you for your ongoing support.  I remind myself, and you, that this is not forever, and we will come back together in-person even stronger as soon as it is safe to do so. Until then, a virtual hug to each of you!

Sincerely yours,

Kristen Kimoto Prindle

kprindle [at] campbellusd.org ()

(408) 364-4233

14 de agosto de 2020

Estimadas familias de Castlemont:

¡Bienvenidos al año escolar 2020-21! Espero que estén todos bien y listos para comenzar nuestro nuevo año juntos. A pesar de las circunstancias inusuales de nuestro entorno de aprendizaje, estamos comprometidos a brindar una educación de calidad a nuestros estudiantes de una manera segura y atractiva.

Las siguientes son algunas fechas e información importantes para su calendario:

• El primer día de clases es el lunes 24 de agosto. Tomaremos asistencia tal como lo hacemos durante un año escolar "normal".

• HORA DE INICIO ESCOLAR: 8:20 a.m.

Durante el aprendizaje a distancia, será importante estar conectado a su clase por la 

mañana, reunirse a tiempo, tal como llegaría a la escuela a tiempo. Las maestras proporcionarán sus horarios de clases individuales e información de inicio de sesión la próxima semana.

• SALIDA: 2:30 p.m.

Los horarios de aprendizaje a distancia variarán según el nivel de grado. Los estudiantes deben planear participar en el aprendizaje de 8:20-2: 30, los lunes, martes, jueves y viernes.

• SALIDA MIÉRCOLES:

Como ocurre con la instrucción en persona, el miércoles es un día reducido. Concluimos la instrucción a la 1:30.

Las asignaciones de maestros se enviarán por correo electrónico a los padres la noche del miércoles 19 de agosto. Si no recibe un correo electrónico de su nuevo maestro, consulte un próximo artículo en la página web de Castlemont el 20 de agosto que enumerará a su maestro asignado. Los estudiantes serán identificados por su número de estudiante de cinco dígitos solamente, no por su nombre. Para los estudiantes que regresan, es el mismo número que usó el año pasado. Para los estudiantes nuevos, encontrará su número de identificación en un correo electrónico del distrito escolar con respecto a la ubicación del estudiante para el año escolar 2020-21.

Tecnología

Cada estudiante de Castlemont puede sacar un Chromebook. Si tiene uno del año pasado, consérvelo para usarlo este año. Si no tomo uno prestado el año pasado, pero le gustaría tener uno este año, a continuación se enumeran las recolecciones por niveles de grado y horarios. Se requiere la firma de un padre. Tenga en cuenta que cada estudiante que viva en la misma casa puede retirar un dispositivo. (Solo pudimos ofrecer uno por hogar el año pasado).

La semana que viene, del 19/8 al 21/8

Los horarios de recogida de tecnología y materiales de los estudiantes están programados para la próxima semana de acuerdo al nivel de grado. Respete el distanciamiento social y use una cubierta facial. El horario es:

Kinder 

Miércoles, 19/8

10: 00-12: 00 en el M.U. patio en Castlemont Ave.

Por favor camine hacia las mesas en la cerca.

1er grado (Si sacó un iPad en Kinder el año pasado, ¡devuélvelo en esta fecha!)

Jueves, 20 de agosto

8: 30-10: 30 en el M.U. patio en Castlemont Ave.

Por favor, diríjase hacia adelante en el camino de entrada y permanezca en su automóvil hasta que se le pida que salga.

2do. grado

Jueves, 20 de agosto

10: 30-11: 30 en el M.U. patio en Castlemont Ave.

Por favor, diríjase hacia adelante en el camino de entrada y permanezca en su automóvil hasta que se le solicite salida.

3er grado

Jueves, 20 de agosto

11: 30-12: 30 en el M.U. patio en Castlemont Ave.

Por favor, diríjase hacia adelante en el camino de entrada y permanezca en su automóvil hasta que se le solicite Salida.

Cuarto grado

Viernes 21/8

8: 30-10: 00 en el M.U. patio en Castlemont Ave.

Por favor, diríjase hacia adelante en el camino de entrada y permanezca en su automóvil hasta que se le solicite Salida.

5to grado

Viernes 21/8

10: 00-11: 30 en el M.U. patio en Castlemont Ave.

Por favor, avance todo el camino hacia adelante en la entrada y permanezca en su auto hasta Salida.

Su primera semana, 24/8 al 28/8:

Los horarios diarios serán proporcionados por su maestro durante la primera semana de clases.

"Visitas" individuales de maestros y familias

Los maestros enviarán correos electrónicos a cada una de sus familias para programar visitas familiares virtuales individuales de 20 minutos. Creemos que este contacto y conexión es particularmente importante al comenzar el año sin contacto de persona a persona. ¡Queremos que nuestros estudiantes y padres tengan la oportunidad de conocer a su maestro! Esté atento a una comunicación de su maestro la próxima semana.

Expectativas de la semana uno: puede esperar que nuestra primera semana juntos en el aprendizaje a distancia se vea diferente a las semanas siguientes. Estamos invirtiendo en el bienestar social y emocional de nuestros estudiantes al tomarnos el tiempo para reunirnos con todos individualmente. Cada clase tendrá una reunión por la mañana y un cierre por la tarde para finalizar el día escolar. Esta también será una buena práctica para iniciar y cerrar sesión en nuestras plataformas en línea. Se proporcionarán asignaciones y actividades de inicio de año. Si bien estamos ansiosos por comenzar con nuestro plan de estudios académico, comenzar con una conexión sólida con cada estudiante y familia hará que el aprendizaje a distancia sea más cómodo y exitoso para todos nosotros.

Aunque nuestro edificio está cerrado, ¡estamos disponibles y comprometidos a ayudarlo! Nuestro horario de atención es de 7:30 a.m .-- 4:00 p.m. Lunes Viernes. Llame al (408) 364-4233 para obtener ayuda y respuestas a sus preguntas. También nos complace programar reuniones en persona y socialmente distanciadas.

Mi último pensamiento es este: tengo mucha suerte de estar aquí en Castlemont como parte de esta maravillosa comunidad. Tuvimos buenas prácticas con el aprendizaje a distancia en la primavera y continuaremos aprendiendo y mejorando la forma en que educamos a nuestros hijos de esta manera. Quiero agradecerles a cada uno de ustedes por su continuo apoyo. Me recuerdo a mí mismo, y a usted, que esto no es para siempre, y volveremos a estar juntos en persona aún más fuertes tan pronto como sea seguro hacerlo. Hasta entonces, ¡un abrazo virtual para cada uno de ustedes!

Sinceramente tuyo,

Kristen Kimoto Prindle

kprindle [at] campbellusd.org

(408) 364-4233