Kramer Enews 4/17/2020

Posted on: April 17, 2020

Kramer Elementary E-News

April 17, 2020

School News and Information

Happy Friday!

It is hard to believe that we have been a little over a month since we were actually at school. I know that the students have been working hard while at home as have our families. Thank you for stepping in to support your child(ren) in their learning each day. We appreciate it all!

I had a great week of Google Hangout meetings with each grade level team and the support team with each grade level. We had great conversations, shared resources and talked about virtual learning. Our staff at Kramer are doing great things. Thank you for the emails, feedback and input. It is appreciated!

Please remember, with our school building being closed, please feel free to contact me with any questions or needs. I can be reached at merzj@talawanda.org.

I am going to continue having a video announcement during the week. I’ll share birthdays, talk about the Kramer Code and read a story. I will continue to share “celebrity readers”. I am excited with our lineup of readers and can’t wait to continue pushing these out.

Technology Update and Reminders

If your child is having issues with their iPad or ChromeBook, please let your child’s teacher know. We are working on swapping out the technology for working devices.

2020-21 Kindergarten Registration

Mrs. Ritcher sent the following information to incoming kindergarten parents earlier this week.

Kramer Elementary is postponing Kindergarten Orientation & Registration. We are looking forward to meeting you and our new students and will notify you when we reschedule. Thank you for completing your Final Forms and reviewing your packet.

We started collecting information about Kindergarten for next year before the school closings. If we have not taken your information yet and you have a child who will turn 5 before August 1, please email Mrs. Ritcher for further directions for registering your child for kindergarten.

ritcherd@talawanda.org

From the Transportation Department

This is a reminder that a new Transportation Request Form for each school year. The form can be downloaded from the Talawanda Website for each child so that we can make sure that we have the most current contact information. Please remember that babysitting arrangements need to be filled out on the Transportation Form as well because it doesn’t always carry over from year to year. Thanks for thinking ahead to next year.

From the Lane Public Library

Lane Libraries has subscribed to: Tutor.com.

Services include 1-to-1 tutoring in a ton of K-12 subjects, plus essay review/feedback within 12 hours of submission! The service is now live on our website: https://lanepl.org/tutor

Click Here for more information.

Folks will need their library card and pin number to log in. If they don't have a card (or have misplaced it), they can sign up for a temporary e-card at https://www.lanepl.org/covid-19.

Bingo challenge from Lane - Attached you will find a kids, teen, and adult version.

Resources

PAX Information and Virtual Session from Mrs. Macechko

Sesame Street PSA- For Parents

To all the parents out there: you are doing an amazing job! But remember to take a moment for yourself, to breath, stretch, whatever you need to keep being your best self. Hang in there and keep up the great work!

PBS- Parents You are Enough -Parenting during the CoronaVirus.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

You may have heard that Dolly Parton's Imagination Library recently expanded to include all children Birth-5 in Butler County. This is wonderful news, as each enrolled child will receive 1 FREE book a month in the mail until their 5th birthday. Here is the link: https://ohioimaginationlibrary.org/enroll

Student Meal Program Flyer

Previous E-News Links

Article for Parents (Originally posted on 2/11/20)

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/parenting/coronavirus-quarantine.html

Below is a video on keeping structure/schedules at home. (FYI It is 12 minutes long)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsIbTu2Xpzc&feature=youtu.be

OAESA shared- How to Support Your Child’s Social, Emotional and Behavioral Health

We know you and your child may be experiencing stress, confusion, fear or anxiety during this time. Below are some steps you can take to support your child.

Talk to Your Child about the Current Situation. Have age-appropriate conversations with your child and be sure all adults in the household are using the same language to describe what is happening. Be sure you understand the correct facts from medical and government resources. Share only developmentally appropriate facts with your child (see the links below for ideas about how to do this). Be calming to avoid cultivating anxiety or distress in your child.

Limit Exposure. Be mindful of adult conversations or media coverage about what is happening. Limit your child’s exposure to these as they could cause an increase in anxiety or distress in your child.

Encourage Expressive Activities. Encourage imaginative and expressive activities that can help your child share how he or she is feeling (for example, play for younger children and music activities, art activities and journaling for older children). This will allow your child to process his or her emotions in safe and productive ways.

Create a Structured Environment. Provide structure and routine for your child. Have a daily schedule with general activities posted in the home. Visual schedules are beneficial for young children. Children do well and feel safer when they know what to expect next.

Set Expectations. Set expectations for your child to complete a set amount of academic work daily. This helps with structure but also will help avoid the pressures of feeling behind when he or she returns to school.

Create Special Time. Set aside at least 10 minutes a day to focus on your child. More time is better. Actively listen to what he or she says and stay positive. If your child is younger, play with him or her during this time. Child-focused play has many benefits to child-adult relationships.

Spend Quality Time Together. Have dinner together. Put away all technology. Take turns sharing something that you felt happy about today. Your child can help with preparation and clean up.

Stay Active. Encourage your child to play, walk or hike outdoors and get outside with your child as well. If the weather does not allow for outdoor time, try yoga, having a dance party or watching online videos that encourage movement indoors.

Focus on the Positive. Point out the “helpers” in the world and the good things they are doing. Stay simple and limit detail about anything frightening, but emphasize the good work being done.

Model Responses to Difficult Situations. The adult should care for him or herself and model this for the child. Children will watch how adults in their homes deal with stress and replicate this themselves.

Health and Safety

Mrs. Pke, Kramer Social Worker provided a hub of national, state and local resources for families in need of financial support during this time.

This link was shared by the City of Oxford. Thank you Mrs. Pke and City of Oxford!

For resources on addressing the coronavirus please visit:

https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/

Enjoy the weekend. Be safe, stay healthy and wash your hands!

Jason Merz

Principal

Staff Email Addresses

Kindergarten

Mrs. Birchfield- birchfielda@talawanda.org

Ms. Bucheit bucheite@talawanda.org