Harbor Heights On the Horizon
First Week of 2021
Whalecome Back 2021!
I hope you had a meaningful, restful, and enjoyable Winter Break. We have much to be thankful for here at Harbor Heights - you parents are doing an amazing job supporting your student learners at home. Our Orca community is amazing! Thank you for all of the staff gifts and appreciation shown to our amazing teachers.
A HUGE thank you to our VPO who gave all 65 staff members an individual stationery Starbucks gift card and treat! Also, thank you for blessing our staff with K-cups and a variety of coffee/tea/cocoa pods via the collection over the break. THANK YOU! There are several community events coming up between now and Mid-Winter Break, more news to come. Until then, be sure to check out our VPO updates:
VPO email list: http://eepurl.com/gEVGTT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarborHeightsVPO
I anticipate the first 6 weeks of school in 2021 will be filled with updates for our school, district, and Pierce County updates. For now, students who were remote in December will remain remote until further notice.
Therefore, all K-2 families only fill out a survey if you are wishing to change from what you chose back in the fall of 2020.
For all 3-5th grade students, please make sure you finish the survey.
Complete this survey for 3rd-5th graders. The survey will close on Sunday, January 10, 2021.
The complete message sent out to all families from PSD on Dec 18th is attached at the very end of this newsletter. Please call the office if you have any questions. We will have updates for our next Community Chat, 2nd Grade return, and 3-5 Hybrid plans. Until dates are set, please refer to the latest PSD communication: https://www.psd401.net/schoolreopening
Whalecome Wednesdays: Wednesday, Jan 13 @ 11am
Clubs of interest such as art, singing, sketching, reading stories, sharing personal writing and poems, and more! Orca students, please fill out this form to inform us on what you would like to have as an opportunity on Connection Wednesdays! https://forms.gle/HjTbR7sKe7mPmKNQ9
Our Harbor Heights Paraeducators, Counselor, Admin, and Specialists will be teaming together to connect with those who are interested and available on Wednesdays. Make sure you log in through your PSD portal since this is an authenticated zoom link, the first opportunity is Wednesday, Jan 13th.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://psd401.zoom.us/j/98503251904?pwd=WnRtNkgwSmRFa0NnMDdEb0FTbVhpdz09
Meeting ID: 985 0325 1904
Passcode: orca
Report Card Updates
1. click the Student Reports Link from the left-hand menu
2. On Currently Published Reports and Achieved Reports, choose Current Progress Report 20-21
3. To see the current progress report click the link for Elementary Progress Report 2020-2021 as shown in the picture
All Pick Up & Drop Off Materials are located by Parent Pickup
Dear Harbor Heights Community,
You are the gift that keeps on giving - more Sharing and Caring items came in over the break, you continue to amaze us and generously benefit those in need, thank you!
Specialist Emails
howea@psd401.net, Mrs. Howe STEM
coovertk@psd401.net, Mrs. Coovert STEM
Ruccid@psd401.net, Mr. Rucci PE
manderyj@psd401.net, Mrs. Mandery Music
January 2021 - The first unit for remote STEM will be fully digital! stay tuned for details from our innovative specialist team!
YRU - Year Round Updates to ensure your contact information is up to date
Parents have the ability to log into their Parent Portal account and click the Year Round Update link to review and make changes to their contact information. If you don’t already have a ParentPortal account you will have to create one. For information on creating an account go to psd401.net/parent-portal. We ask that all families review the information at least once a year as well as any time they have changes.
Attendance
2021 Elementary Learning Update and Surveys
Dear Peninsula School District Elementary Families,
As we head into the new year, we are preparing to move forward with our plans to serve more students who choose to learn in-person. A 3rd-5th Hybrid Advisory team has been working for several months to prepare for the return of students in these grade levels.
We had previously worked through staffing, room arrangements, and student assignments in preparation for the return of 2nd grade students, adding to our current K-1 model where students are on campus four days a week (M, T, Th, and F). We also intend to invite students in grades 3-5 to school for in-person learning with a hybrid half-day model, for those families who choose to do so. While dates have not been set for the return of these groups, we know they would not be returning to campus before Jan. 19.
In-Person and Fully Remote Learning Selection Surveys
Kindergarten-1st Grade: 4 full days per week
Last fall we asked families to choose between in-person or remote learning through the end of 1st semester. Now you have the option to change your selection for the 2nd semester. Whichever option you choose, our intent is for you to commit to one learning platform through the end of 2nd semester of the 2020-2021 school year to help ensure student and teacher continuity.
If you wish to change the current platform in which your student is learning, complete this survey. The survey will close on Sunday, January 3, 2021.
If you wish to continue with your student’s current learning platform, do not complete the survey.
2nd Grade: 4 full days per week
Last October, we finalized our plans for the return of 2nd graders who chose in-person learning, but needed to delay the start as COVID-19 case rates increased significantly. A date for bringing 2nd grade students back for in-person learning will be announced early next month.
Last November, we asked 2nd grade families to commit to either the in-person or fully remote learning model. We will continue to plan using your selection from this survey; however:
If you wish to change the selection you made in the November survey, complete this survey. The survey will close on Sunday, January 3, 2021.
If you wish to keep your selection the same, you do not need to complete the survey.
Please note: This survey is for 2nd graders except those attending Pioneer Elementary or who participate in the Peninsula Accelerated Classroom Enrichment (PACE) Program.
3rd-5th Grade: Hybrid: 4 half days per week
An AM/PM hybrid model was selected for 3rd-5th grade in-person learning. Several factors contributed to this choice, but the most important factor was the ability to have in-person learning and connections with students four days a week. We are still developing details, but here’s what we know:
A start date has not been selected, but it will not be during the first two weeks of January.
Students will be divided into three cohorts:
In-person AM: 9:00AM-11:30AM
In-person PM: 1:00PM-3:30PM, and
A fully remote option.
Most students selecting the fully remote option will be reassigned to a different teacher. Some students selecting in-person may need to shift teachers if their current teacher is part of the fully remote teacher team.
Students attending in-person will be designated to be in an AM/PM group based on transportation mode. Students transported by their family will attend the AM session; those transported by bus will attend the PM session.
Students will attend in person 4X per week, M/T/Th/F, and learn remotely on Wednesdays.
Wednesdays are home learning days.
The district will develop and follow a consistent plan for cleaning and disinfecting between cohorts and after school.
A plan will be developed to deliver breakfast and lunches for students.
A plan will be developed for the home learning part of the day.
Hours of attendance for students with IEPs and/or special programs may vary from these times as needed to provide the necessary services to support the student.
In some cases, students with IEPs could be reassigned to a different special education service provider and ESA, SPED and LAP schedules may need to be revised. Student Services will work to gather input from impacted educators.
We will have information sessions for parents wanting to learn more before selecting this hybrid in-person model or staying fully remote the first week of January.
Complete this survey for 3rd-5th graders. The survey will close on Sunday, January 10, 2021.
Harbor Heights Elementary
We are a passionate community dedicated to the success of the whole child
Email: bentlerd@psd401.net
Website: https://hhe.psd401.net/
Location: 4002 36th Street Northwest, Gig Harbor, WA, USA
Phone: (253) 530-1800
Facebook: facebook.com/hhorcas