Bellevue School District issued the following announcement on April 28.
As the new routines are setting in, students, families and staff are getting creative with remote learning. Whether it’s designating a student as a “chat boss” during a Teams classroom meeting, creating rhymes about missing their teachers, or helping others by learning how to make masks, our community has come together to continue to help our students learn and thrive.
If you want to share your experience with us, please contact us.
High-Quality Instruction at a Distance
Before the first closure, fourth grade teacher Rylie Uselman sent packets of work home with students and she prepared her students to get on Microsoft Teams. She knew that being able to communicate, either through online chat or email, would be important. “We had done at Outlook crash course,” Uselman said. When the closure was extended through the end of the school year, Uselman checked in with the parents and guardians of her student and asked them to respond to a survey. The feedback she received was that they liked the computer work, but also having physical copies and something to do complete on paper. Uselman made additional packets and dropped them off at her students’ homes (while respecting distancing guidelines). “It was nice to connect with waves through windows.” She also saw some handmade signs.
The social-emotional needs of her students are the primary focus of video sessions and check-ins for Uselman. “Our school community is so rich,” Uselman says. “What kids are missing is the social interaction.” Previously, there were so many goings-on and opportunities through the Enatai PTSA and other school activities. In the meantime, students are connecting via Teams in scheduled video sessions, posting about their schoolwork to get feedback from peers and emailing Uselman daily writing in response to the prompts she sends to her class. Uselman is getting creative with connections despite physical distancing – her latest packet included a blank, stamped postcard addressed to her for her students to write on or decorate and pop in the mail. This week, Uselman is reading “Flat Stanley” by Jeff Brown and she sent each of her students a flat Ms. Uselman to accompany them as they do homework, go for a walk or engage in other adventures.
Artistic Expression
Kindergartner Ruby misses her teacher, Ms. Nakamichi, and turned to poetry to express herself. Ruby made up this colorful rhyme about “peachy” Ms. Nakamichi complete with illustrations.
Virus virus go away.
Don’t come back another day.
Staying at home is not so peachy,
Because we miss Ms. Nakamichi.
Collaboration
Tim Harris, assistant principal at Interlake High School, is continuing to support teachers and other staff at Interlake High School. “I feel for the teachers – because they have a totally different routine,” said Harris. Part of his job is serving as the go-to administrator for a handful of departments, a structure that has endured and become even more critical during the school closure. Staff at Interlake have been meeting weekly via Microsoft Teams, but with about 130 people on a video call, not everyone can ask specific questions. That is when assistant principals step in and connect with individual departments. Harris says that they talk through things discussed in the larger staff meetings. “They also get a chance to ask me to advocate for them,” Harris explains.
Harris misses being at school and problem solving on the go. “I enjoy interacting with our school community,” says Harris. In the meantime, he isn’t walking the halls of Interlake, but he is in touch with staff via video calls, chats and email. And he moves around his house – from his backyard to the dining room table, where his elementary-age child does online learning, to the basement. “I’ve been working from my son’s craft table, believe it or not. It’s also the game room.” Harris is on the move again when his kids take a break for game or crafts.
Sewing for a Cause
Emme is a first-grade student in Bellevue School District. Outside of remote learning, she recently learned how to use a sewing machine! Emme has been hard at work cutting and sewing masks to sell and raise money for Bellevue LifeSpring’s COVID-19 relief fund.
Providing Courageous Support
Ruth Rosas, a counselor at Wilburton Elementary School, wants to do everything she can to support the school’s families and students while buildings are closed.
When asked about all Rosas has done, Principal Beth Hamilton said, “She is amazing and set up systems for check-ins with students daily/weekly with her or with other staff members.” According to Hamilton, Rosas has helped families with technology so students can access remote learning resources and helped families get food and childcare. She created Social Emotional Learning (SEL) video lessons, joins SEL live check-ins and circles with classes via Teams and more. Hamilton describes Rosas as doing so much for so many families that isn’t visible, but is impactful. “She is the glue behind the scenes that is reaching so many of our families.”
Service to Others
Carly, grade 4, is staying busy when she is not engaged in her remote learning by making masks with her mom, Maggie. Carly and Maggie donated their masks to emergency childcare workers.
Original source can be found here.
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