NOTES HOME

04/24/2020
Share photos and videos of your children working at home.
Thacher News
A Note from the Head of School

I would like to start by acknowledging the many members of our Thacher Community who are doctors, nurses, and others affiliated with the healthcare and first responder community. I am confident that I speak for staff and families in expressing our deepest gratitude for the tireless work you do to ensure our health and safety. You are truly appreciated.
 
As I communicated to you in my letter to the community on Wednesday, 4/22/20, Governor Charlie Baker has officially closed Massachusetts schools for the remainder of this academic school year. Each independent, parochial, and public school will all have their individual end-of-year dates - the following information is specific to Thacher Montessori School: 
 
  • The last day of virtual classes for all Thacher students will be Friday, June 5. Please note that this is one week earlier than is shown on the 2019/20 calendar. Our purpose for ending on June 5 is to prepare for the restructuring of our summer program. Protocols must be put in place to ensure that Thacher Montessori School is in compliance with all state guidelines in order to provide for the safe return of the students, staff, and families. As soon as we receive clearance from the state that it is safe to re-enter school for the summer program, we will be ready to open our doors within 24 hours. We anticipate that the summer program will not begin as originally scheduled in June and are hopeful that we will be able to open our doors after the 4th of July holiday. This is, of course, contingent upon receiving clearance from Governor Baker. We will keep you up-to-date as we receive information.

  • There will be a virtual Graduation for our current 8th grade students. Please stay tuned for details--more information to come!

  • Preparation for the 2020/21 school year - Administration and lead guides will be collaborating throughout the summer to devise a solid plan of action to provide a more rigorous, comprehensive online curriculum should we experience a resurgence of COVID-19 causing us to revert to distance learning in the fall. Unlike the two days we had to plan our online curriculum in March when all this began, having an extended period of time during the summer months will provide guides the opportunity to access their classrooms, fully prepare future lessons, and create assignments to meet the individual and collective needs of every child in their classroom. Guides will be ready to hit the pavement running, whether it is in the classroom or online.

On Monday, you will be receiving an online survey from Michelle. Please take a few minutes to fill it out. If we don't know what parents' concerns are, we cannot act to facilitate improvements. Please note, there is a short turnaround on this survey (only 1week) - there are only 6 weeks remaining in the school year, and we want to tap our valuable resources (YOU!) to continue improving the experiences your children are having until then...thank you!

In partnership,

Deba
Google Classrooms

Google Calendar
Did you know that your child's classroom has a Google Calendar that you can integrate with your own? Guides will post all their Zoom meetings and Class Assignments on the Calendar. (See screen shot below.)
Accounts
If you have not joined your child's Google classroom, please do so asap. The Google Classroom is your child's classroom for the rest of the school year. It's a single platform for communication, lessons, videos and classroom calendar.

Please contact Andrea ( [email protected] ) if you have any questions about accessing your child's classroom.
Yearbook IS Happening!

Place your order today for your copy on TreeRing.com and take advantage of the two free custom pages. Custom pages personalize your child’s book, these are only printed in your book.

New this year, TreeRing offers celebratory ads that are printed in all books. This year especially is one to remember.

Yearbook Team
Email Conversion

The Thacher staff email provider was successfully converted to G Suite for Education last week. We are back in full swing and apologize for any email hiccups last week.
Shout out and thank you to parent Jeremy Angoff from Ounce I.T. for his invaluable help.
Students at Home

Thanks to everyone who has been sharing their photos & video. Please keep sending them.
Click on the image above to listen to electronic dance music created by one of our AP students.
Teaching Videos
Rhythm with Victor
Toddler & Children's House
Dance with Clarissa and Keiran

They are back with a fourth dance routine in three parts. This week the music is Motown!
Music with Melanie
Melanie has been writing a Children's Music blog with lots of fun sing-along-videos.
Children's House & Lower Elementary
Meditation with Margo (from after-care)

Bring some calming meditation into your child's world with these videos for beginners. Children will practice sitting in a calm position along with various breathing and relaxing techniques.
Art with Renay

An art lesson about Earth Day chalk painting for Children's House and LE students.
Reading Time with Kim Storch
Kim has been reading stories for us every day! Subscribe to her YouTube Channel.
TPC (Thacher Parent Council)
Lotsa Helping Hands - please join today!

As we move through the weeks of quarantine, it's easy to get lost in the challenges and make them our new normal. Because we are confined to our small spaces, the options for support can feel limited and out of reach. Thacher Parent Council has set up a Lotsa Helping Hands webpage to coordinate help. Read more...