January 25 - 29

 Families, 

Wind Down Wednesday - no meeting this week. On February 3rd, we will have our Wind Down Meeting to focus on motivating students in their work, accountability and providing structures in online learning. If the school board makes additional decisions about in-person return, then that information will be the start of our meeting. 

Report Cards - Second Quarter Report cards will be sent via email on Friday January 29th. 

Istation- All students K-5 will be completing the Middle of Year Istation Reading with ISIP assessment in the upcoming weeks.  The window closes on January 31st so teachers will be assessing students remotely over the next couple of weeks.  Teachers will be going over the directions in class and will be providing time in their schedule for students to complete the assessments.  Here is the troubleshooting document in case you have trouble accessing Istation. Students in grades 1-5 will also be completing the ORF (oral reading fluency) task this month. Information on the ORF can also be found on the troubleshooting document.  Teachers will be modeling what that looks like to students prior to them completing the task.  The ORF will provide teachers timely information about how fluently their students read which will help them quickly address students' needs in reading.  If you have any questions, please email Jessica Kronen (jkronen@wcpss.net) 

3rd quarter School Schedule - Click on link for dates for remote learning days (asynchronous day - no live instruction, assignments, Dreambox and iStation), calendar out days (no school), and workdays (no school).   2020-2021 2nd Semester Calendar. Underwood Elementary will be following this schedule when it comes to Asynchronous days. 

Link for uploading your photos for yearbook (Photos of at home learning, book fair dress up day, daily work Underwood meet-ups, holiday crafts, PTA or Foundation events, etc..)https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOvglj-a5iDAqklsnnPEjLVi5ilUB-fW0QhzeBDsHJoDu4GJhc_H1sLLSY2UcYMFg?key=MGpIRlA4YVM4ZS1MeElnUnRDcXdkazFqS3pCUU9R

Foundation -. The purpose of the foundation is to provide funds to close gaps in funding to ensure Underwood can maintain our staff and dynamic instructional programming.  Please consider donating to the Underwood Foundation - http://www.underwoodfoundation.org/

PTA --. The purpose of the PTA is to provide goods and services for students and staff to create learning environments to support all students' learning. To donate or find out more information about the PTA -- https://underwood.new.memberhub.store/. 

Wishing you well!

Travis Shillings, Principal

January 11 - 15

 Families, 

Informational emails were sent out recently about third quarter changes based on return to in-person k-5. Remember that the third quarter begins on January 20th and any in-person changes for schools would be done by the school board and/or Governors Orders on which plan we are in that would result in remote learning (B or C).  

Wind Down Wednesday for in-person returning recording focused on the in-person learning -WDW - return to in-person 1/6/21  

3rd quarter School Schedule - Click on link for dates for remote learning days (asynchronous day - no live instruction, assignments, Dreambox and iStation), calendar out days (no school), and workdays (no school).   2020-2021 2nd Semester Calendar 

New Bus Riders that are In-Person this Spring-  If you rode the bus during the 2019-2020 school year and did not decline transportation, your child should be able to get on the bus on January 20.  If you did decline transportation and are new to transportation or totally unsure of what you did in the spring, please fill out this form. 

Additionally, all bus riders will need to have the attestation form filled out prior to riding the bus.  

What happens if my child is sick? Click on the link that shows how we would support your child if they are out for a day or two and if they are out for an extended period of time - Students absence flow chart. If you have questions, feel free to email tshillings@wcpss.net 

Let's celebrate making it through 2020 with a Virtual Cocktail & Cupcakes event! Join your Underwood Family on January 20th at 8:00pm for a virtual event learning how to make a Hot Toddy Cocktail and enjoy delicious cupcakes from The Cupcake Shoppe! Purchase your Cocktail & Cupcake Kit ($35 each) by January 15th. Each kit makes 2 Hot Toddys and comes with 4 cupcakes. All funds raised will support Underwood’s PTA and Foundation. Kits can be purchased here (cutoff is January 15th) : https://e.givesmart.com/events/jUC/

5th grade Parents:  Ms. Cooper will also be hosting an informal parent session tomorrow on Tuesday, January 12th at 11:30am meet.google.com/rau-ymvs-hmc for 5th grade parents that have any questions about the Magnet Process for Middle School.

If you have an incoming (base) Kindergarten sibling for the 2021-2022 school year, please register them at your earliest convenience. Details can be found here. Contact Holly Collins, hcollins@wcpss.net with any questions.

If you will have an incoming Kindergarten sibling and your older child is a magnet student, you will need to complete the Magnet Online Application before January 28th. Contact Ashley Cooper, acooper4@wcpss.net with any questions.

Wishing you well!

 

Mr. Shillings

Updates for January 4-8

 Families, 

I hope that you had a relaxing and safe winter break. On January 20th, all WCPSS students will begin the third quarter for the 2020-2021 school year. At the start of the third quarter, there will also be additional students returning to in-person school (as a result of the parent application window that occurred in early December). As we continue to plan for the future we have kept two main factors in mind:  staff/student safety and space guidelines for each learning environment within the building. After the school board decides when we will return to in-person (currently January 20th) I will share additional information on teacher placement and learning schedules.

Updates: 

• Wishing well Karen Wehmann as she retired at the end of December and also Ny’Asia King who has accepted a teaching position in Johnson County.  

• Mrs. Pesce will continue as our school counselor for the remainder of the year. 

• Ms. Schnitzer is returning from medical leave and will be joining the 5th grade team as an instructional assistant.  Welcome back! 

• ISTATION- students will not be able to access their monthly Reading with ISIP Assessment at this time.  Students can access the adaptive curriculum or Ipractice for their assigned Istation time.  More information to come next week.  

• On January 5th, the WCPSS School Board will meet and discuss second semester learning environments for all K-12 students 

• January 6th and 13th are both asynchronous days (students need to log into morning meeting and complete Istation and Dreambox to be counted present for the day)

• January 6th -- Wind Down Wednesday -- return to in-person (what will it look like?) - https://meet.google.com/xmv-gxqd-qxs 

• January 18th is a holiday and January 19th will be a teacher workday (no school for students either day)

• January 20th starts the third quarter

Wishing you well, 

Travis Shillings, Principal