Diane Prystas, Principal
Kristy Jackson, Assistant Principal
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Thank you for completing the most recent survey indicating your preference for distance learning or in-person learning in an AM/PM hybrid model. As I write this on Monday evening, we have responses from over half of our families, with the vast majority indicating the preference for their child(ren) to return for in-person instruction.
As I shared during the PTO Q&A session on Tuesday night, K-5 students will be on campus for 2.5-2.75 hours (150-165 minutes) on M,T, Th, F. You recall kinders require 180 instructional minutes/day; grades 1-3 require 230 minutes/day, and grades 4-8 require 240 minutes/day. Therefore, the remaining minutes of required instruction will be completed asynchronously away from teachers, with work teachers have assigned (work packets, reading, Dreambox, Khan, Newsela, and other projects/assignments). The middle school schedule is a bit trickier to work out. I continue to meet with middle school teachers, as well as directors and other middle school principals, to design an appropriate schedule. All schedules for grades K-8 will be communicated to families during the week of March 15th. Per the teacher contract, Wednesday will remain an asynchronous day for all students.
Our “soft opening” beginning on March 22nd will be scheduled by grade for any children returning to in-person instruction. In the March 5 message there was an explanation of activities. We will also be notifying you of these grade-level times during the week of March 15th. Students currently attending learning hubs, or other programs on campus, have already participated in the orientation and will not need to join these events. Learning hubs, pilot programs, and pods will end on March 26th. Our hub coaches will remain with us and support students in other capacities.
All in-person learning with classroom teachers will begin on Thursday, April 8th.
We recognize some families have chosen to remain in distance learning. We will also be notifying you during the week of March 15th of specific schedules and how we are able to asynchronously support your students.
I understand there are still many unanswered questions. For a year now, we have been living in a world of questions. We are, however, closer to having students back on campus and I sincerely appreciate your continued patience as we enter the next stretch and the teachers and I work this out for your children. It would be our absolute pleasure to be able to honor every personal request we are receiving. Please know we will do our best, and please recognize the challenge and the reality that it may not be possible.
With kindness, patience, and collaboration,
Diane
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This Week
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Fri, Mar 12 – Jog-A-Thon T-Shirt Contest Ends | Info
Next Week
- Mon-Fri, Mar 15-19 – Spring Conferences (Asynchronous Work After 12:45 pm)
- Mon-Fri, Mar 15-19 – Jog-A-Thon T-Shirt Contest Student Voting
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Thur, Mar 18, 4:00 pm – Kindness Campaign Event with Houston Kraft | Info | Zoom
Upcoming
- Mon, Mar 22 – "Soft Opening" Begins for In-Person Learning
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Mon, Mar 22, 3:00 pm – Rescheduled School Site Council Meeting | Zoom
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Wed, Mar 24, 7:00 pm – RCSD Board Meeting | Agenda & Zoom
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Thur, Mar 25, 9:00 am - 3:30 pm – Library Book Curbside Pickup | Info
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Thur, Mar 25, 7:00 pm – Roy Cloud SEPTAR Meeting | Info | Zoom
- Mon-Fri, Mar 29 - Apr 2 – Spring Break, No School
- Thur, Apr 8 – In-Person Learning Begins for Grades 1-8
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Note: All meetings are virtual
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Reopening Q&A / PTO Meeting Recap
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Thank you to over 200 members of the Roy Cloud community who joined us at our PTO meeting on Tuesday night for a discussion and Q&A with our principal and vice principal. As a promised follow up, we have prepared the following resources:
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Jog-A-Thon T-Shirt Contest Ends Tomorrow!
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Tomorrow is the LAST DAY for students to work on their designs for the Jog-A-Thon T-shirt Contest! The design must include the date of the Jog-A-Thon and our school name. Students may use a maximum of three colors for the design. The artist with the winning design will receive a $25 Sports Basement gift card and a free T-shirt. Students must submit their entry to the school office or email it by End Of Day on Friday, March 12th. Digital voting for the best design starts on Monday, March 15th and ends on Friday, March 19th. Be on the lookout for voting information next week!
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Need another design flier with template and submission rules? Find it here.
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PTO Approves Middle School PE Funding for Next Year
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At Roy Cloud, our middle school PE teacher is funded 50% by the school district and, historically, the PTO has covered the other 50% to fund it as a full time position.
In order to retain a full-time PE teacher for the 2021-22 school year, all PTO members had the opportunity to vote by electronic ballot last week. With 219 members voting, the funding commitment passed with 98% approval. Thank you for your participation!
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Annual Safe Routes to School Survey
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Every year, the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) conducts a survey to collect parent feedback that allows them to adjust the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program to best meet the needs of each school. Your feedback will be shared with decision makers throughout the county and the school community who can address infrastructure issues regarding safe walking and biking. Please take the survey in English or Spanish.
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New Monthly Meeting for Roy Cloud Special Ed Parents
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SEPTAR (Special Education Parent Teacher Association
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Kindness Club Starts Today
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The Kindness Campaign is still going strong and we are now starting a student-led Kindness Club! The club is open to students in grades 3-8 and meets every Thursday, starting today at 3 PM! Here's the Zoom link for students!
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Kindness Campaign Event with Houston Kraft Next Week
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Inspired by the Kindness Campaign, Roy Cloud's middle school leadership class has invited Houston Kraft, author of Deep Kindness and founder of CharacterStrong, to collaborate with them at a special Roy Cloud event for Roy Cloud parents, students, teachers, staff, and extended families! Together, we'll all discuss leaving fingerprints of kindness everywhere.
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Middle School Students Have an Eye for Art
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Student creativity is alive and well at Roy Cloud! Ms. Amato's middle school students in the Visual Arts elective were asked to create an "Eye Self Portrait" and here are just a few of the impressive works of art created!
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STEAM UPDATE FROM MS. KWA
Do You Want to Build a Snowperson?
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Even though it didn't snow in Redwood City, Ms. Kwa's students built their own snow people and snow creatures! They used their tech skills to digitally create their own or pulled together materials to represent the shapes and accessories.
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Ongoing After-School Enrichment Opportunities
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Keep your kids active in the comfort of your own home! Generation Pound® is a youth fitness program where they use drumsticks to get active, fusing movement and music to improve focus, coordination and physical fitness! Zumba® Kids classes are high energy dance parties packed with specially-choreographed, kid-friendly routines that kids will love. New virtual sessions start next week for both programs! Check out our PTO After-School Enrichment page for info on other classes.
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Info & Support for RCSD Families
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Each week, new opportunities are shared within our community to support and engage families in the Redwood City School District. Here are just a few:
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About the Roy Cloud Thunderbolt
For publication on Thursday, article submissions must be received by Monday and may be edited.
If you are a for-profit program or camp not located at Roy Cloud, please submit to Peachjar instead.
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