Update from Robin Harris: April 6, 2020
Posted on 04/06/2020
Hello FMA Caregivers,
I hope you are all staying safe and taking care of yourselves and each other. Each week brings new challenges for all of us, but I am aware that I write this note from my house on Hews Street, many of you continue to work essential jobs or volunteer out in the community. Many parents from FMA are working in hospitals, research labs, members of the police, fire, and safety forces and so much more. You are out there each day supporting all of us. Please know that we are grateful for your work and are sending good vibes your way. I also want to give a special “Shout Out” to our custodians, Roger, Leo and Tevis. Each day, they open and sanitize our building getting it ready for bag lunch and breakfast distribution.
As we start the month of April, I want to remind you about the CPS school calendar. This Friday, April 10th, is Good Friday, which is a school holiday. Teachers will not assign work or meet with students. Also, April 20th through April 24th is April Break. Staff will not assign work or meet with students during this time. However, please feel free to reach out to me (617.201.7817) if you need help during this time.
By the end of the week, you will receive a FMA Distance Learning “Live” Classes Schedule. This will include all “Live” classes for the week for by grade level that students can engage in. There will be core content classes and a class that meets social emotional and community needs. For those students that are unable to participate in the “Live” class we will post a recording of the session.
In order to record the live sessions, students need to have a signed media release form on file. Many parents signed this form at the start of the school year. For those students that don’t have a signed release, Ms Linda and Daniel will be doing outreach to families to obtain this permission. Without this students will need to cover their computer camera during the lesson.
Scheduling Special Education Services and academic intervention will be challenging. We are working around classroom schedules, family schedules, and teacher home-life schedules, all of which are likely to be in conflict. In addition, special educators and interventionists work with multiple grade levels, so they must work with one grade level at a time to create student groupings. We started this scheduling last Friday and will continue to meet by grade band up until Thursday. We have created times at each grade level that are open for special education and intervention services. The master schedule will come out to the whole community and then individual schedules will be sent for those children that engage in small or individual groups. For the children in our ASD classrooms we are working on individual plans to meet the needs of each child.
One last note, FMA has received a shipment of personal hygiene supplies (bar soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, etc.). Special thank you to our physical therapist, Beth Champagne and our family liaison, Daniel Skeritt for securing this donation. If you would like a bag filled with items, delivered to your home please let me know.
In closing, I want to let you know about upcoming opportunities for FMA adults to participate in. Please see the list below. As always, if you have questions please reach out to either Daniel or myself. Hope to see you in a virtual chat soon.
Be well,
Robin
Events:
Tues, April 7 | 4PM | Parent Check In Zoom Meeting w/ Deborah, Daniel, and Robin
Thurs, April 9 | 8AM | FMA Leadership Team Meeting
Thurs, April 9 | 4PM | FMA Support Group for families who have a child on an IEP