Winter MAP Assessments 

This week we will be starting our winter MAP assessments for students in grades 2-5. This will apply for both our in-person and remote students in these grades. Students will take their reading MAP assessments this coming week and their math MAP assessments the following week. Classroom teachers will communicate the exact schedule for their class with parents. Please see the attached letter for more information regarding our assessments for this window. 

Valentine’s Day Celebrations

Our Valentine’s Day celebrations will be modified this year due to COVID-19. We will still be celebrating the day with our students, however, we will not be holding our traditional parties. Classroom teachers will be facilitating some festive activities and the exchange of cards on Thursday, February 11th. Students who are remote will participate in activities with their class via Zoom and classroom teachers will have a virtual way/alternative for students to participate in a card exchange. In-person students must bring their cards into the building on Monday, February 8th in order for the cards to be quarantined for three days prior to being sent home with students on Thursday, February 11th. Classroom teachers will communicate other guidelines directly with families for the card exchange. Please note, if cards are not brought in by Monday, February 8th, they will not be sent home with students on February 11th. Thank you for your cooperation and support with this mitigation strategy for our card exchange. 

Kindergarten Round-Up for 2020-2021 School Year

Parents of our incoming kindergarten students are invited to attend our Grove Kindergarten Round-Up on Monday, February 1st at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. At this time, parents will hear an overview of the kindergarten programs, meet kindergarten staff, and have an opportunity to ask questions about the 2021-2022 school year. 

 

More detailed informational sessions for parents interested in Spanish Dual Language or Chinese Immersion programs will be held in February. Below is a timeline for our Kindergarten Registration process and links to sign-up to receive the invite for the Zoom information meetings in February.  

February 1, 2021- Virtual Kindergarten Round-Up information session with your neighborhood elementary principal on Feb. 1st at 6:30pm  (Please fill out this form) and you will receive a link to the zoom meeting prior to Feb. 1st)

February 2 - March 2- Complete online pre-registration for 2021 kindergarten students (The link for online pre-registration will be emailed to you)

February 3, 2021- Chinese Immersion Program Virtual Parent Information Presentation @ 6:30pm (Please fill out this form) and you will receive a link to the zoom meeting prior to Feb. 3rd)

February 4, 2021- ENGLISH: Spanish Dual Language Program Virtual Parent Information Presentation @ 6:30pm (Please fill out this form) and you will receive a link to the zoom meeting prior to Feb. 4th)

February 9, 2021- SPANISH: Spanish Dual Language Program Virtual Parent Information Presentation @ 6:30pm (Please fill out this form) and you will receive a link to the zoom meeting prior to Feb. 5th)

Please be sure to share the date for Kindergarten round-up with neighbors, friends, and community members who have kindergarten age children and may not have a child in the school system to hear about the event from our district.

Week 2: Resources for Parents to Help Support Reading and Writing at Home 

The Teachers’ College Reading and Writing Project (TCRWP), creators of our reading and writing programs, have developed numerous videos for families and caregivers to bring more joy into literacy learning. They draw on numerous years of experience and research in providing ideas for supporting reading and writing at home. We will highlight a few videos each week in upcoming newsletters, and encourage parents and caregivers to listen to or watch these short videos. In addition, we will be launching our annual Grove Family Reading Program in a few weeks in hopes to also bring some excitement, joy, and motivation to reading! To access all videos created by TCRWP and additional resources, please refer to this link. 

PreKinder - 1st Grade: Help Your Child Think Before, During, and After Reading: Amanda offers parents ways to support a child’s reading comprehension by emphasizing the value of rereading, suggesting conversations that can help before, during, and after rereading. This includes an example of Amanda reading with a child.

2nd - 5th Grade: How to Help Your Child Stay Focused While Reading: Hannah shares parent tips for increasing their kids' reading volume and stamina at home.

Spanish PreK - 5th Grade: Leyendo un libro con su niño/a - Consejos sobre cuándo y cómo parar y hablar del libro / Reading a Book with Your Child - Advice on When and How to Stop and Talk About the Book:  Stephanie explica unas maneras en que un familiar puede modelar ser un lector/a súper interesado/a mientras está leyendo con su propio hijo/a. Después, demuestra eso con un ejemplo de lectura en voz alta, haciendo preguntas y pensando en voz alta, mientras todavía enfatiza que usar demasiadas preguntas puede arruinar la experiencia.

Save the Date - Virtual Family STEM Night 

Our STEM teachers across the district are creating an amazing Virtual Family STEM Night for Thursday, February 11th from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Families will be able to join virtually or do the activities on their own!! More information to come soon!! 

Social Emotional Support for Students 

As our students continue to navigate our consistently changing landscape due to COVID 19, we are continuously considering how our children are coping and their overall mental health. Please know that our school and district are here to support our students who are struggling and may benefit from additional resources. Please see the attached letter regarding this and view the short video explaining how families can access the online META app that is also available to connect students with counselors while at home. Please also keep in mind that parents can contact our school based support directly by emailing our Social Worker, Mr. Walcott, at cwalcott@barrington220.org or our School Psychologist, Tonya Tompkins-Wisz, at ttompkins@barrington220.org.

Upcoming Dates 

Monday, February 1st - Kindergarten Round-Up Meeting via Zoom for 2021-2022 School Year

Monday, February 1st - Winter MAP Assessment Window Opens 

Wednesday, February 3rd - Chinese Immersion Kindergarten Info. Mtg., 6:30 p.m. via Zoom 

Thursday, February 4th - Spanish Dual Language Kindergarten Info. Mtg. in English, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom

Thursday, February 4th - Kindergarten Pre-Registration Opens  

Tuesday, February 9th - Spanish Dual Language Kindergarten Info. Mtg. in Spanish, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom 

Thursday, February 11th - Valentine’s Day Celebrations 

Thursday, February 11th - Virtual Family STEM Night, 6:00-7:30 p.m. 

Thursday, February 11th - Parent University @ 7 p.m. - Youth Mental Health and Suicide: Know the Warning Signs and How to Help 

Friday, February 12th - Institute Day, NO SCHOOL for Students 

Monday, February 15th - Presidents’ Day, NO SCHOOL for Students 

 

We had a great first week back in our Hybrid Model!! It was terrific to see students attending school in-person, while also having others continue to participate in remote learning with our remote learning staff. While the transition to the new model did require changes for us all, and it will take a little time to adjust to those changes, we are confident that it was worth it to provide families choice in their students’ learning mode that will potentially take us through the end of this school year.

Grove Referendum Construction Community Meeting 

On Monday, January 25th, we will be holding a Community Referendum Construction Preview Meeting via Zoom for the Grove Community. We have a panel of Grove staff, district staff, staff from the engineering firm - DLR, Grove parents, and board members who will participate in the meeting. We will also be live streaming the event for the entire community to view if interested. The link to view the meeting was shared privately in an email from IC with all parents. 

School Picture Distribution and Picture Retakes 

We distributed our school pictures that were taken in December to students and families this past week and our retake day is scheduled for this coming Friday, January 29th. Details regarding the retakes are listed below: 

• Families who ordered photos and would like to do retakes need to send the original package of photos back with the child at the time of the picture retake. The same package option will then be provided with the new photo

• If you did not order photos from the original pictures, your child just needs to show up for the picture retake and parents can go online to order the photos prior to the photos or even after the photo is taken at https://inter-state.com/FlyerEntry        Online Order Code: 55793X

Schedule for In-Person Students Retake Photos

Students who are attending in-person learning will have their picture taken while in the building for the day (either a.m. or p.m.). They will be called down from their classroom. Please make sure that your child knows that he/she needs to have their photo taken. 

Schedule for Distance Learner Students Retake Photos

We have created a schedule for distance learners to sign-up to come into the building during either their lunch time or afternoon specials to participate in retakes. Please click on the link to sign-up for a specific time slot to come into the building. This will help us continue to coordinate the pictures and maintain necessary distancing https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044DADA72DA4FF2-students. 

Kindergarten Round-Up for 2020-2021 School Year

Parents of our incoming kindergarten students are invited to attend our Grove Kindergarten Round-Up on Monday, February 1st at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. At this time, parents will hear an overview of the kindergarten programs, meet kindergarten staff, and have an opportunity to ask questions about the 2021-2022 school year. 

 

More detailed informational sessions for parents interested in Spanish Dual Language or Chinese Immersion programs will be held in February. Below is a timeline for our Kindergarten Registration process and links to sign-up to receive the invite for the Zoom information meetings in February.  

February 1, 2021- Virtual Kindergarten Round-Up information session with your neighborhood elementary principal on Feb. 1st at 6:30pm  (Please fill out this form) and you will receive a link to the zoom meeting prior to Feb. 1st)

February 2 - March 2- Complete online pre-registration for 2021 kindergarten students (The link for online pre-registration will be emailed to you)

February 3, 2021- Chinese Immersion Program Virtual Parent Information Presentation @ 6:30pm (Please fill out this form) and you will receive a link to the zoom meeting prior to Feb. 3rd)

February 4, 2021- ENGLISH: Spanish Dual Language Program Virtual Parent Information Presentation @ 6:30pm (Please fill out this form) and you will receive a link to the zoom meeting prior to Feb. 4th)

February 9, 2021- SPANISH: Spanish Dual Language Program Virtual Parent Information Presentation @ 6:30pm (Please fill out this form) and you will receive a link to the zoom meeting prior to Feb. 5th)

Please be sure to share the date for Kindergarten round-up with neighbors, friends, and community members who have kindergarten age children and may not have a child in the school system to hear about the event from our district.

Week 1: Resources for Parents to Help Support Reading and Writing at Home 

The Teachers’ College Reading and Writing Project (TCRWP), creators of our reading and writing programs, have developed numerous videos for families and caregivers to bring more joy into literacy learning. They draw on numerous years of experience and research in providing ideas for supporting reading and writing at home. We will highlight a few videos each week in upcoming newsletters, and encourage parents and caregivers to listen to or watch these short videos. In addition, we will be launching our annual Grove Family Reading Program in a few weeks in hopes to also bring some excitement, joy, and motivation to reading! To access all videos created by TCRWP and additional resources, please refer to this link. 

K-2: Help Children Fall in Love With Reading - Rituals to Set Up at Home:  In this video, Valerie describes a few at-home routines or habits parents can establish to help children engage (or re-engage) in reading, including side-by-side reading, reading the world and performing readings to friends and family.

3-5: How to Have Natural Conversations With Your Kids About Books:  In this video, Lizzie shares tips for talking with a child about his/her reading in ways that reinforce comprehension, while preventing the parent from becoming the teacher. 

Spanish: Consejos para ayudar a su hijo/a encontrar un sitio de trabajo / Tips for Helping Your Child Find a Work Space:  En este video, Stephanie explica cuatro principios para guiar a los padres cuando ayudan a su hijo/a a encontrar un espacio para escribir y hacer la tarea de la escuela en casa con energia tranquila y enfocada. Anima a los familiares a encontrar un lugar donde los niños pueden estar cómodos, traer peluches, o aún acostarse.  (In this video, Stephanie explains four principles to guide parents in helping children find a space to write and do schoolwork at home with calm, focused energy. She encourages parents to find a place where kids can be comfortable, bringing stuffed animals, even lying down.)

Save the Date - Virtual Family STEM Night 

Our STEM teachers across the district are creating an amazing Virtual Family STEM Night for Thursday, February 11th from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Families will be able to join virtually or do the activities on their own!! More information to come soon!! 

Social Emotional Support for Students 

As our students continue to navigate our consistently changing landscape due to COVID 19, we are continuously considering how our children are coping and their overall mental health. Please know that our school and district are here to support our students who are struggling and may benefit from additional resources. Please see the attached letter regarding this and view the short video explaining how families can access the online META app that is also available to connect students with counselors while at home. Please also keep in mind that parents can contact our school based support directly by emailing our Social Worker, Mr. Walcott, at cwalcott@barrington220.org or our School Psychologist, Tonya Tompkins-Wisz, at ttompkins@barrington220.org.

Upcoming Dates 

Monday, January 25th - Grove Gear All Year!! Wear your favorite Grove shirt or school colors!! 

Monday, January 25th - Grove Referendum Construction Work Community Meeting, 3:30-5:00 p.m. 

Thursday, January 28th - 2nd Trimester Report Cards available to parents in IC 

Friday, January 29th - Picture Retake Day

Monday, February 1st - Kindergarten Round-Up Meeting via Zoom for 2021-2022 School Year

Monday, February 1st - Winter MAP Assessment Window Opens 

Wednesday, February 3rd - Chinese Immersion Kindergarten Info. Mtg., 6:30 p.m. via Zoom 

Thursday, February 4th - Spanish Dual Language Kindergarten Info. Mtg. in English, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom

Thursday, February 4th - Kindergarten Pre-Registration Opens  

Tuesday, February 9th - Spanish Dual Language Kindergarten Info. Mtg. in Spanish, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom 

Thursday, February 11th - Virtual Family STEM Night, 6:00-7:30 p.m. 

Friday, February 12th - Institute Day, NO SCHOOL for Students 

Monday, February 15th - Presidents’ Day, NO SCHOOL for Students 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This past week certainly was emotional and bittersweet for our staff and students. While we are very excited to welcome students back into the building and eager to continue to provide a high quality remote learning experience, it was extremely difficult to close out our current classes and transition our students to new sections in preparation for next week. With that being said, our staff will continue to work collaboratively to support all of our students moving forward. We will be actively finding ways to stay connected to the entire Grove Community despite the fact that some students will be in different learning modes. 

Additional information regarding the return to in-person learning will be sent out to families in a separate email this weekend. Please be sure to review the details carefully if your child will be returning to Grove next week. 

We continue to anticipate the day when all students will be safely back in our building at the same time and view our transition next week as a positive step forward toward that objective!!! Until then, we will strive to maintain the goal and spirit behind our theme for this school year, Near or Far, Grove Grizzlies are Rockstars!!! 

District 220 Announces New Superintendent

The Barrington 220 Board of Education is pleased to announce it has selected Dr. Robert Hunt as the district’s next Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Hunt’s contract was unanimously approved at the Jan. 12, 2021 Board of Education meeting, and he will officially begin his duties on July 1, 2021. He will succeed Dr. Brian Harris, who is retiring on June 30 after 34 years in public education. 

Dr. Hunt’s selection is the culmination of a months-long national search process that included input from Barrington 220 stakeholders and produced highly qualified applicants from diverse geographic and professional backgrounds.

“This past fall, stakeholders were given the opportunity to provide input on the qualities desired in the district’s next superintendent,” said Board President Penny Kazmier. “Based on this criteria, the Board is confident Dr. Hunt is the right person to become our next superintendent. We were impressed by his commitment to the development of the whole child, placing equal importance on both the academic and social-emotional success of students. Dr. Hunt demonstrates the leadership style and desire to build personal relationships, which the Board believes will serve the Barrington 220 community well. We are grateful he has accepted our invitation to join our district and look forward to him becoming a part of our community.”

Dr. Hunt brings significant experience and leadership in education, most recently as the Superintendent of Schools for Chagrin Falls Exempted Village School District in Chagrin Falls, OH, where he has served since 2012. In October 2020 Dr. Hunt was named “Ohio Superintendent of the Year” by the AASA (American Association of School Administrators).

Kindergarten Round-Up for 2020-2021 School Year

Parents of our incoming kindergarten students are invited to attend our Kindergarten Round-Up on Monday, February 1st at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom At this time, parents will hear an overview of the kindergarten programs, meet kindergarten staff, ask questions, and have the opportunity to pre-register for the 2021-2022 school year. 

 

More detailed informational sessions for parents interested in Spanish Dual Language or Chinese Immersion programs will be held in February. 

 

Please be sure to share the date for Kindergarten round-up with neighbors, friends, and community members who have kindergarten age children and may not have a child in the school system to hear about the event from our district.

Save the Date - Virtual Family STEM Night 

Our STEM teachers across the district are creating an amazing Virtual Family STEM Night for Thursday, February 11th from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Families will be able to join virtually or do the activities on their own!! More information to come soon!! 

School Picture Distribution and Picture Retakes 

Our school pictures have arrived! We will be distributing the pictures to students who are attending in person the week of January 19th. Pictures will be available for pick-up for families whose children are remaining in remote learning starting the week of January 19th as well. 

We do have a schedule picture retake day for Friday, January 29th. More details regarding picture retakes will be sent out soon!! 

Resource for Adults to Help Support Kids Through Times of Change 

As our children begin the transition to Hybrid 2.0, we know the support we provide as parents, caregivers, and educators is more important than ever. I strongly encourage you to read and reflect on this blog, written by a parent and teacher, entitled, "Supporting Kids Through Times of Change". The author provides specific ideas to help children cope with transitions. While our teachers will provide support to their students as we make the shifts ahead, our children are also looking to us as parents and caregivers for our support as well. Thank you, and please reach out to us if you have specific concerns or questions regarding your child.

Social Emotional Support for Students 

As our students continue to navigate our consistently changing landscape due to COVID 19, we are continuously considering how our children are coping and their overall mental health. Please know that our school and district are here to support our students who are struggling and may benefit from additional resources. Please see the attached letter regarding this and view the short video explaining how families can access the online META app that is also available to connect students with counselors while at home. Please also keep in mind that parents can contact our school based support directly by emailing our Social Worker, Mr. Walcott, at cwalcott@barrington220.org or our School Psychologist, Tonya Tompkins-Wisz, at ttompkins@barrington220.org.

Upcoming Dates 

Monday, January 18th - MLK Day, No School 

Tuesday, January 19th - Hybrid 2.0 Learning Model Begins 

Tuesday, January 19th - PTO Meeting, 9:15 a.m. via Zoom 

Tuesday, January 19th - Fleece or flannel? Dress in your favorite warm winter wear!

Monday, January 25th - Grove Gear All Year!! Wear your favorite Grove shirt or school colors!! 

Thursday, January 28th - 2nd Trimester Report Cards available to parents in IC 

Friday, January 29th - Picture Retake Day

Monday, February 1st - Kindergarten Round-Up via Zoom for 2021-2022 School Year, 6:30 p.m. 

Thursday, February 11th - Virtual Family STEM Night, 6:00-7:30 p.m.