A week to celebrate!

4/23/2021

Friday, April 23, 2021

"Those that contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts." --Rachel Carson, environmentalist.

"The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful." -- e.e. cummings, poet

Dear Ocean Shore Families,

In honor of Earth Day and Poetry Month, I have two quotes this week. We know how important it is to care for the earth and to support practices and policies that promote clean energy, encourage recycling and reuse, and prevent pollution. It can be overwhelming to think about the state of our planet, and frightening to contemplate climate change. While we have to address these serious issues, it is also important to celebrate the beauty and the pure joy that nature can bring us. Children usually don't need to be reminded of this. Anyone who has watched a 4-year-old (or a 14-year-old) stomp in puddles or bend down to pick a dandelion, knows that kids are often more in tune with the beauty and the fun that nature provides than adults are. You don't need to travel to Yosemite or the Grand Canyon to experience awe, you can do it in your own neighborhood as you observe a hummingbird in flight or a perfect Calla Lily.

Speaking of joy, I can't tell you how thrilling it was to see children in the building this week. It felt like a real school again. Teachers are working harder than ever, zooming with students at home and creating engaging activities for the kids they are seeing "IRL". Everyone has been great about wearing masks and keeping their distance, even though I know the teachers would hug each and every one of them if they could.

Take care, celebrate nature, and thank you for the gift of your children!

Jeanne

Shout out of the week: Our wonderful PTO (and our 2nd and 3rd grade parents in particular) provided pupusas for our whole staff on Thursday. They were delicious! I think I can speak for all of our staff when I say that the support of our parent community is one of the things that has kept us going this year.

School Business

Rainy day plan for morning drop-off (just in case): Students will line up outside and enter through the main entrance by the front office. Staff will monitor students in the hallways to ensure that they keep their distance. Students will enter classes through the inside classroom doors. Early birds, students arriving more than 15 minutes before class starts, will wait in the library.

Link to the Daily Health Screening Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc9QvhcxJbuzrzrrcmnhwJVaFgdg33tKUFLW5ppU-MEaHPQ6Q/viewform

Back to School Dance Party: - April 30, 6:30pm, DJ, Music, Dancing, Games, Fun. Please see the flier for more details!

Hybrid Instructional Calendar - *May 28th is an A day for 4-8th grade Here is the PSD Hybrid Learning Calendar. One change to the calendar since the start day was announced. May 28th will be an in-person instructional day for the B group in grades TK-3rd grade and the A group in grades 4-8th grade. Since 4-8th grade began in-person instruction with the B group, there were 3 more in-person instructional days. By taking one of those days and changing it to an A group instructional day, there is only one more in-person instructional day for the B group.