Home » Welcome to the 2020-21 School Year

Creslane Families, August, 2020

 

Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year! I hope you are having a great summer and this letter finds you looking forward to another year at Creslane Elementary. I am excited to start my second year as principal at Creslane Elementary. Teachers and staff are busy preparing for a great year of learning. Creswell School district will be starting the year in Comprehensive Distance Learning. Although we won’t be in person, we are looking forward to reuniting with our students, connecting with returning families, meeting our newest Creslane Mustangs and “Making our spot count!” Attached in this mailing you will find some of the essential school start up details that will answer some of the more “pressing” questions that you might have before school starts.

Creslane has a few new staff members for the upcoming school year and they are listed below. We are so thrilled to have them join the Creslane team!

  •  Christi Nicholson: Assistant Principal
  • Josh Biederman, 2nd Grade
  • Crystal Ericson: Lead Custodian
  • Kristenia Johnson, SPED
  • Summer Martin: Online Learning Liaison
  • Ranell Trantham: 3-5 learning specialist
  • Sara Williams, Speech/Lang.

As you can imagine “Drop in Day” will look differently this year. We are replacing this event with what we are calling “CDL Materials Distribution and Meet the Teacher Drive-thru.” On September 9th and 10th we invite students to come meet their teacher and collect their Comprehensive Distance Learning materials in a drive through style event. In this mailing you will see a Technology Use and Device Loan Agreement. We ask you to review this with your child and bring it with you, signed, if you plan to check out a device for your student. There is a Digital Learning Pledge that is not required for device check out but we do want all students and their families to review this and return when meeting their teachers. Lastly, in this mailing you will also see the free and reduced lunch information. Please take a look at that. Paperwork can be returned during materials distribution. please contact the office should you have additional questions. 

Important dates and information:

    • Online Registration is open for new and returning students. All new and returning students need to register for the 20-21 school year. Even if information has not changed for returning students we ask that you log into Home Access in order to activate the enrollment for the 20-21 school year. If you are not sure what to do, please contact our office for assistance. 
      • If you have more than one student and you would like them linked together into one account for Home Access, please contact the CES office.
      • Registration for the Creswell Online Academy: parents can contact either Mrs. Halley or Mrs. Nicholson to discuss enrolling their child into the online academy otherwise all students will be participating in Comprehensive Distance Learning. If you are still unsure about the differences between CDL and the Creswell Online Academy, please visit the District website for more information or contact the school office. 
    • 1-5 Class Assignments will be EMAILED to families on Thursday, Sept. 3rd at 3:45. 
      • Kindergarten families we will be contacting you to discuss our kindergarten assessments and start up information used to place students into classes. Kinder classes will be finalized September 17th. Kindergarten students will still participate in Comprehensive Distance Learning while teachers work on assessments and balancing class lists. More information coming in a separate communication.
    • Starting September 9th Nutrition Services will provide grab-and-go meals. Families will need to apply in order to qualify for free/reduced lunch for the 20-21 school year. Different from last Spring, students will need to know their Student ID numbers when they pick-up their meals (for accounting purposes). Distribution of meals will occur at Creslane Elementary through the bus lane for any Creswell student (K-12) between the hours of 11:00am-1:30pm. Families in outlying areas will receive communication from transportation about lunch delivery options. Please fill out the attached free and reduced lunch forms and return them to the building during materials distribution September 9th, 10th, or 11th. or complete the 2020-2021 lunch application online at https://www.mymealtime.com/Apps/SignIn.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fapps.
    • Attend the CDL Materials Distribution & Meet the Teacher Drive-Thrus. It is very important that parents/guardians (students encouraged to attend as well) attend in order to get login information for Seesaw and Acellus, daily schedules, CDL handbook, technology and assignments for the first three days of school. 
      • KINDERGARTEN, FIRST, SECOND Grades: Wednesday, September 9th from 4:30-7:00 PM at CES 
      • THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH Grades: Thursday, September 10th form 4:30-7:00 PM AM at CES 
      • Friday, September 11th from 7:00-10:00 AM at CES (please note this will not include classroom teachers and is not grade specific)
  • COA Device Checkout: You can come to any of the times listed above, please notify the staff assisting you that your child is participating in the Online Academy.
  • Student Orientation: September 9th-11th Students will receive their first two days of school assignments at materials distribution. This will count for attendance.
  • Welcome Back To School! Class Meeting: Friday, Sept. 11th 2-3:30pm & COA Orientation
  • First Day of CDL and COA Monday, September 14th Teachers will provide schedules in Seesaw. 

 

CDL Schedule: (Subject to slight change)

Mon/Tu/Th/Fri:

  • Kindergarten 8-11:15
  • First, Second & Third Grade 8:15-11:45
  • Fourth & Fifth Grade 8:00-11:45

Wednesday:

  • Kinder  8:00-8:30 Virtual Classroom, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Grades: 8:15-8:45 Virtual Classroom, 
  • 4th & 5th Grade 8:30-9:00 Virtual Classroom, 
  • K-5 9:30-11:15 Applied learning 

 

COA Schedule:

Students log in M-F to complete course work assigned, weekly check in with the Learning Coach at Creslane Elementary.

School and Family communication: We at Creslane want to partner with you in providing your child with the best education possible. You can expect communications to come through email, Seesaw, school website, and the Creslane Facebook page regularly. This year all classroom teachers will use Seesaw to keep in contact with families, celebrate student work and progress, and share important school information. Please know we encourage phone calls, scheduled (virtual) meetings, and email from you as well. 

With school starting in a few short weeks it is the perfect time to begin setting routines, even in distance learning, Setting a bedtime, reading with your children, and ensuring they are ready for school the next day are all things families can begin implementing now to ease the transition back to a school schedule. 

While we are not requiring any specific school supplies at this time it is encouraged that families, if they are able, acquire some supplies to assist their children at home. The time honored tradition of shopping for school supplies helps mark the start of the school year. Pencils, lined paper, personal sharpener, and coloring tools are a few examples of supplies students might use while in CDL. Another suggestion, depending on your environment is to purchase some headphones to help limit distractions occurring at home. A small personal whiteboard with pens might encourage students to work out their math problems while working independently. Classroom teachers might also share some suggestions with parents, but again, nothing is required at this time. 

This year’s theme is to “Make Your Spot Count.” We will be unfolding this theme during our weekly principal messages to students. We are privileged to have the opportunity to serve as your principals, and we are honored to work with our qualified and dedicated staff, our wonderful students, and supportive parents. The elementary years are critical times of development for students and families, and we look forward to working with you to make this school year successful. 

                                            

Respectfully, 

Principal Amy Halley   &

Assistant Principal  Christi Nicholson