info for June

Here are some bits and pieces that I have tried to collate:

Friday, June 5th is student materials pick up day.  We have strict guidelines that we are asking parents to follow when coming to school.  Do not come if you are not well.  One person per family.  No children.  Wear masks and maintain social distancing.  Times are staggered by last name as follows:
If your LAST name starts with…

A-D   -  9:00 AM
E-H  -  10:00 AM
I-L -   11:00 AM
M-O -  12:00 PM
P-S -   1:00 PM
T-Z  -  2:00 PM

Also, 5th grade families - mark your calendars for Tuesday, June 9th from 8 - 1:00 depending on class. 

8:00 am - Mrs. Pimenta's Class
9:00 am - Mrs. Cannon's Class
10:00 am - Mr. Hewitt's Class
11:00 am - Mr. Shelton's Class
12:00 pm - Miss Pak/Ms. Shin's Class

Report cards will be mailed home from the District on the last day of school.

Also:

Hello 5th Grade Teachers, 

In celebration of Keppel's upcoming promotion, Christine Hughes made a couple of signs that families can use for photos. I thought that these signs could be printed and then the kids can take pictures with them. Perhaps they could also be used to decorate cars for the promotion parade. Parents can download and choose whatever .pdf they'd like to print; students can use the .jpegs as a background in their zoom meetings.  This is all optional - just something fun to make these last few weeks a bit more special.

Here is a link to a folder containing the signs: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19qCK9HwsUTSKBnqvSL5PozjwbR3qNC3e?usp=sharing

Inside this folder you will find:

8.5 x 11" signs 

11 x 17" signs

There is a white version and a blue version to choose from.

Could you please post the google drive link on your blogs and let parents/students know that they are available? Thank you!

Let me know if you have any questions!

-Lindsay Cravens

**FYI, Minuteman Press on Central makes 11x17" prints for $1.50 + tax**

and lastly:

Dear Parent/Guardian of 5^th grade students,

Your child is growing at a rapid rate and it might often seem difficult to speak with them about adolescent development.  Attached is a link that will offer you useful tips and information to help guide your child through puberty https://www.pgschoolprograms.com/Parents  . This link includes a video and materials with accurate information on the physical changes during adolescence, personal hygiene, exercise, and nutrition. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at:  smirmojarabian@gusd.net

Thank you for all you do

Nina Sadat Mirmojarabian

School Nurse

The above program is pretty good if you want to approach your child about puberty.  It plays like an infomercial and it's a great intro to that awkward conversation.  Although you might like to wait for this insane world to calm down a little bit....

As always, PLEASE let me know if you have comments, questions, requests, or just want to talk

Instructions for Tile Project

Class of 2020!!

Glazing instructions

We are doing things differently in this different time.  We will have a special place to showcase your tiles for this reason.  

Because we can’t do this project in the Art Studio with lots of choices in glaze colors, we have decided to go with three colors.  We also decided to have you either paint your name or initials, the year 2020, and a border around the tile- leaving the background white.

Helpful hints and reminders:

• practice first on paper (just trace around the tile on scratch paper)
• two coats of glaze for bold colors
• don’t overlap / mix colors
• if you make an “oops”, all paint can be washed off and dried
• Q-tips are great for small clean ups on the tile
• toothpicks are helpful to scrap off dried glaze to make edges “cleaner”
• tile and border can be one, two, or three colors - your choice

Have fun you Cuties!  Please come back to Keppel and say “Hi!”  Miss your faces!!

-Mrs. Zierhut

Week 6? Day? I'm lost

Hello - I hope everyone had a well deserved and feted Mother's Day yesterday with plenty of love, attention, and excellent food.

UPDATED grading policy here, PLEASE READ:

https://www.gusd.net/cms/lib/CA01000648/Centricity/Domain/4404/GradingDuringRemoteLearning-FAQs.En.pdf

I think I posted the old one by mistake last time, this is brand new...


Small virtual housekeeping items :

 I try not to overload students with long Zoom meetings, but I do have a couple of small requests:

1.   Sign in 2-3 minutes early and wait politely.  For example, if a meeting is at 10:30, sign it at 10:25. I tend to adhere to the "if you're early, you're on time" mantra and like to start instruction immediately, not to waste people's time or bandwidth.

2.   Have video on.  Too many kids turn it off and "disappear" playing video games and generally tuning out.  I wouldn't accept that in physical class, and I can't accept it now.

3.   No virtual backgrounds should be on.  You can imagine how distracting and annoying that is.

4.  I GREATLY appreciate how helpful students have been on Google Classroom helping others, although silly spam type things should continue to be avoided.

5.  The overall online behavior on comments and Zoom has been SO impressive.  You guys are fantastic.


Lastly, I deeply am touched by the overwhelming kindness and generosity shown to me during socially distant Teacher Appreciation Week.  I thank you again from the bottom of my heart.  I think when this has all ended I will look back in future years and remember just how kind you and your wonderful children have been.

Week 4 / Grading Policy

I am glad to say that I feel we are up and running as well as we possibly can under the circumstances, and that most families have a rhythm to their school day with a minimum of interruption or absence.  The majority of tech problems and logistical nuances appear to have been solved for the most part.  Please reach out if you are struggling with organization or have a schedule that doesn't work and I will do my best to help, even for the smallest of problems.

Here is the grading policy that the district has implemented for the rest of the year.  Please read it, and let me know if you have any questions:

https://www.gusd.net/cms/lib/CA01000648/Centricity/shared/ar_bp_folder/AR-5121-ReportCards.pdf

Thanks again - you have all been so loving and supportive

Mr. Hewitt

Week 2

Looking good so far! I think we have a good rhythm going. The students have an excellent attitude, are ready to work, and are submitting high quality assignments.

Minor notes:

I'm trying to minimize Zoom meetings, and will only have a home room morning meeting on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays unless there is a pressing need.  That should give students a little more time to relax, eat, and comb their hair.  If you can't make a meeting let me know and I can always record it and send it to you.

Yearbooks for 5th graders are FREE this year.  THANK YOU 5th Grade Committee!  This has been an incredible year for parent support.

As always, please communicate anything to me.  I'm going 24 hours a day and it's never a bother.

Stay safe!

First week of new material

I am greatly encouraged this week by seeing improvement in all areas of our new reality.  Not only has California seemed to do well in this pandemic, but I see students adapting to distance learning and trying their best.  Very few students are "dialing it in" or waking up late or failing to turn in assignments.  There has been a great deal of engagement and communication, and most people are working very hard.  Thank you parents!!

From what I have heard in other districts, grading will be done in a favorable manner that takes our unique situation into account, so please have no anxiety when it comes to assignments.  Encourage your children to do their best and know that I support whatever flexibility you require.

Have a great Easter / Passover weekend

Day 3 of new material

Today's adjustment I am trying to implement is to help the number of kids who are working WAY too late on their work.  I can think of some possible reasons for this:

1.   tech issues
2.   typing: many 5th graders are very slow
3.   large number of paragraphs and essays expected
4.   many Zoom meetings
5.   long Zoom meetings
6.   difficult to navigate websites
7.   overall time management

Please, please have your child cut everything off at 5pm at the latest (or an earlier / later time of your choosing).  You can even tell them we insist if they can't let go.  I am working on my end to streamline this, and I appreciate any communication regarding this even if your timing is just right or too short.

Thanks again for everything - another day forward