WOH For Tuesday, May 4, 2021
Opening Day Planning by Tim Allen, Sixth Grade Teacher
After operating in a hybrid learning model all year, we made plans to offer sixth grade the opportunity to return to in-person learning 4 days per week, starting yesterday! In addition, students had the option to continue their traditional Hybrid or all virtual model instead if desired, but the overwhelming majority of the class chose to return 4 days a week.
To me as a teacher, it almost feels like the beginning of the school year all over again. Here are some interesting facts that I’ve been thinking of as I’ve been trying to prepare myself, the students, and the classroom for this exciting (but also challenging) change!
- The majority of Hybrid A and Hybrid B have not seen each other (in person) in over a year, since we switched to all online in March 2020, and then have been hybrid up until now.
- There are some students in both Hybrid groups who have NEVER MET EACH OTHER IN PERSON. That’s a crazy fact and it will be fun to see new relationships form in the next few weeks as students get to know each other outside of a computer screen.
- Next week is going to be like the first week of school as students have to re-learn all the relational dynamics of having a table partner (even if they are separated by plexiglass), along with the two hybrid groups catching up on the past year of missed socialization with each other.
I know it will definitely create new challenges, even ones we haven’t thought of yet, but we are trying to do this in the safest way possible to ensure we continue to keep all students healthy, and also provide them with the best learning environment possible to meet all their needs. Wish us luck!
Editor’s Note: after Mr. Allen wrote this, he arrived Monday morning to see that most of the plexiglass dividers had fallen over the weekend, and so we made the decision to quickly move half the students to the Commons area and arrange for a staff person to supervise them. In the meanwhile, later that morning, our facilities director found a solution to the sagging plexi dividers. As you read this, hopefully we will be in the middle of our first day of full in-person learning in sixth grade!
Calendar of Events – Click Here
May 3 – 7: Teacher Appreciation Week
Wed. 5/5: 8:40 AM Online Chapel led by Mrs. Neafcy, Kindergarten Teacher
Fri. 5/7: Free Dress Day
Tues. 5/11: Fall 2021-2022 Tuition Materials Due to Office
Wed. 5/12: 8:40 AM Online Chapel led by Mr. Kopecky, Youth Minister
Tues. 5/18: Track Meet No School for 5-8 Grades
Fri. 5/21: Free Dress Day
Teacher Appreciation is This Week
Our theme this year is gratitude!
Tuesday: Coffee and flowers (coffee provided by PTH flowers by you)
Wednesday: Super specialist supplies and gifts (show our specialists some gratitude)
Thursday: Sweet Treats (packaged individually please)
Friday: Lunch and Love notes (PTH will provide lunch – you provide the love note)
PTH Notes and News
Thank you to all the parents and students who decorated classroom doors on Sunday. They look amazing and it is such a fun surprise when teachers (and students) arrived Monday morning. If you helped, don’t forget to turn in your PIP hours (they will count toward next school year).If you were not able to make our last PTH general meeting on April 20th, click here to see the recorded video and written minutes. Please contact your President Heather or VP Ashli at pth@hopeseattle.org if you would like to be considered for the open positions this coming Fall. Our next (and last) general meeting will be on May 25th at 7:00 PM .
No School / Track Meet for 5th – 8th Graders Tuesday, May 18 @ 9:30 AM
Parents, please note that Hope School will be having a track meet on Tuesday, May 18th at West Seattle stadium and there will be NO school for our 5th – 8th grade students on this day. This meet is for students that are actively participating in track. Unfortunately this year we are not able to allow students’ at the meet that are not on the team. Parents will need to make alternative care arrangements for their 5th – 8th gr. students who are not participating in track and who would attend in person.
No Grandparent/Special Person Day – May 27
Due to our current restrictions on large gatherings we are not able to host our much loved annual Grandparent/special person day on Thursday, May 27. We will still conduct an early dismiss for k through 8 grade students with k-3 dismissing at 11:45 am and our 4-8 dismissing at 12:00 pm. Our ESC will be open for those registered for this extra day.
Hope Summer Camp
This year’s summer camp will offer a variety of fun themes and will begin the week of June 21. We will be open Monday through Friday for students who have completed one year of preschool through age 12. Preschool/extended care director Christina Figgins will run our summer camp program with our regular wonderful extended care staff.
Summer camp registration is open with weeks still available. For more information, you may click on the link below. We look forward to a fun summer!
https://hopeluthstg.wpengine.com/extended-care/summer-camp/
PIP – Parent Involvement Program for 2020-2021
Due to the pandemic which continues to affect our protocols allowing visitors and has reduced our school activities, we are waving your PIP requirements for this school year. Any volunteer hours worked this year or PTH meetings attended will be applied to next year. Please submit these hours here https://hopeluthstg.wpengine.com/home/parents/pip/
Church Events – Click Here