June 18, 2020
Dear P.A.W.S. Families,
Happy Summer! The end of a truly remarkable and historic school year has come to a close. Thank you for the incredible positive energy, communication, and partnership you have provided throughout this unprecedented school year!
Silver Linings
In a recent end of the year faculty meeting, I asked teachers to share any “silver linings” that came to be during the unexpected school closure. One of the resounding highlights teachers named was their ability to collaborate deeply with their students’ parents and families while teaching remotely. They were truly grateful to have been able to work closely with you, the parents of their students, and to help you help your children! We value you, our partners in this important work and thank you for all that you accomplished with us during the school closure. We know not everyone was available to participate, but we have been thinking of you and your family, and continue to wish you well during this difficult time. In between enjoying lots of outdoor family fun time and lots of relaxed play time, be sure to enjoy Summer Reading time with your child, too.
Summer Learning Website
With the support of families and teachers, your children have accomplished a tremendous amount of growth this year. To keep the momentum going, please visit the Wellesley Public Schools Summer Learning Website to find reading, writing, science and math learning activities to do over the summer. In addition, you are welcome to check out the kindergarten remote learning videos from the spring that are available on the web site.
Your child’s classroom teacher informed you that the SeeSaw Family App was going to be closed for the summer. Some families expressed a desire to have access to the student materials throughout the summer. Unfortunately, we are not able to have the SeeSaw Family App open and active as it stands currently, but PAWS families still have access to the Family App and will be able to download their student journal through the Family App. until 5:00pm on Friday, June 19. All classes and students will be archived on Friday June 19th at 5pm and will not be available after that time. If you would like to download a .zip archive of a Seesaw journal, including images, videos, audio recordings, and text notes or captions
Here are the directions:
Note – Please be sure to use a computer and a Chrome or Firefox browser only, the .zip file will not download on a mobile or tablet device.
Looking Toward The Next School Year
Many of you have emailed to inquire about what next year will look like. We are already planning for SY20-21. I am working on a School Reopening Advisory Committee with Superintendent David Lussier and other WPS staff and Wellesley community members. We are meeting all throughout the summer to continue to refine the school reopening plan and will keep parents informed of the plans as they are confirmed. We are waiting to receive updates from the Commissioner of Education, Jeff Riley, to learn more about what the state guidance will provide. While PAWS is overseen by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) released a set of Minimum Requirements for Health and Safety for area preschools and daycare centers to follow in order to reopen. Feel free to review the EEC document. We are using it as a reference as we consider and plan for 3-5 year olds to reenter school safely.
We will be ready, when it is safe to do so, to welcome your students back to school. Our educators are working throughout the summer to adjust curriculum impacted by the extended closure. We will meet students exactly where they are by efficiently assessing their areas of proficiency and areas for growth. Given the loss and uncertainty many students may have felt this spring, we also plan to focus special attention on social and emotional needs. We will update families on our SY20-21 plans throughout the summer as we await further directions and guidance from state and local officials.
Thank You To Our PTO President Elizabeth Nelson!
Please help me in extending a warm and heartfelt thank you to Elizabeth Nelson, who has served as our PTO president for 4 years! Among her many talents, each year Elizabeth has led the PAWS PTO to: fundraise for Ken the Music Man, help to organize multiple family fun events and picnics, provide raffles, organize teacher appreciation gifts and luncheons, write grants to support the purchase of new equipment and toys for the children, and most recently hand sewed 50 face masks for the entire PAWS staff! The list of her many talents, skills, gifts, and accomplishments can go on and on! On behalf of the teachers and staff at PAWS, please accept our gratitude and appreciation for your partnership in supporting and caring for the PAWS PTO and the PAWS Program. We are truly grateful for all that you have done for our children, the community, the faculty and staff!
Farewell and Best Wishes Nurse Ann
Please enjoy a Final Video From Nurse Ann and the Nurse Newsletter. We wish Ann well on her retirement and will miss her very much. We are very fortunate to have hired a wonderful new school nurse for PAWS. Please extend a warm welcome to Zinta Gulens-Grava, MSN, BSN, BA, RN. We are looking forward to working with Nurse Zinta in the new school year.
MassSupport Network Services
Given all of the change, uncertainty, and loss associated with COVID-19, MassSupport Network provides free community outreach and support services to youth and adults statewide. READ MORE HERE
Many families and staff have experienced tremendous challenges and complexities as this global crisis has unfolded before us. We all look forward to better days ahead and wish you all a safe and healthy summer. Be kind to yourself and to others. Look for joy and keep reading to your child every day.
Be well, be safe, and enjoy the summer!
‘Becca Z.
Additional Resources:
Talking to Children about Racism: The Time is Now