7 Oct 2020

Weeks 4 + 5

Pic of the Week Upcoming:  Everyone should be authenticated with their Microsoft account by this Friday, October 9.  This is important so that we can maintain continuity of instruction in the event of: a student being absent or on vacation a class going on quarantine for 2 weeks (this can happen without warning) a shutdown order from the Governor The PETTING ZOO is almost ready!  Probably by Wednesday next week when we reopen after the holiday. Week at a glance:  STUVOL food collection for Island Harvest continues this week.  THANK YOU ALL WHO ARE PARTICIPATING!!! Best Links:  We have several slide show displays of Art Projects here. Messages:   SCHOOL CLOSED MONDAY (10/12 Columbus Day) and TUESDAY (10/13 Staff Development Day) Please communicate with the school if your child is out sick, and explain the nature of their illness. Review:  In the picture we see a beautiful response to literature as students paint sounds they hear based on a book with a character who has synesthesia.

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27 Sep 2020

Week 3

Upcoming:  Teams and Canvas logins expected to be completed this week for all students.  This will allow all students to attend classes from home due to illness, stream into other grades at school, receive support services, or attend remotely in case of a shutdown.  This coming week we expect to complete an upgrade of our bandwidth and acquire new microphones that have been on back order. Week at a glance:  STUVOL food collection for Island Harvest continues this week.  Please participate! Best Links:  We have several slide show displays of Art Projects here. Messages:   Everyone will be contacted regarding Back-To-School information and communication by Tuesday, September 29. Please communicate with the school if your child is out sick, and explain the nature of their illness. Review:  A peek into Quiet Time:  I am currently streaming Quiet Time from my office, while Mr. Amal does it outside with the Middle School.  For 30 minutes the students see and hear me on their classroom smartboard.  For 30 minutes we do warm ups, yoga postures, massage, songs, silent meditation, and philosophy.  Today for example, the song we sang was very rhythmic, a calypso beat with the lyrics “Be kind and have a peaceful mind, be kind and have a peaceful mind, if you can do it you will find, Happiness won’t leave you behind.”  During the philosophy piece, I gave them 3 suggestions about how to develop a peaceful mind along with the benefits of that.  The suggestions were: Don’t worry so much!  The force that guides the stars and planets is guiding you too! See the good in everything and everyone Practice thinking of things you are grateful for each day so you can find contentment

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8 Mar 2020

Week 28

Pic of the Week Upcoming: This week features the start of several new clubs. We also want to remind folks to SAVE THE DATE for World Day, noted below under Messages.. There are so many great, hands-on lessons happening each week that it is hard to highlight them all.  Just in Social Studies, last week 4th played the Colony Game, 3rd adopted states, and K “visited” Africa (see pics here).  This week 6th grade will take us to ancient Egypt on Thursday at a Special Assembly! Progressive School had planned to start Phase 2 of our virus response when community spread instance of Coronavirus infection began to appear in Nassau County.  Since that occurred in the past couple of days, I will be sending out an email shortly outlining our further precautionary steps.  I don’t believe in overreacting to this new virus, but it is wise to take actions that reflect the potential dangers, and that serve health and hygiene with or without the new virus.  One aspect of our Phase 2 planning is preparing online instruction should the need arise. We will start training for that this week. Week at a glance: Monday- Strategy Game Club (start of session 3) Tuesday- Big Ideas Club Wednesday- Pizza Day Thursday- Special Assembly: 6th grade Mummification; Rock Band Friday- Breakfast Band; 3/4 trip leaves at 9:30 Best Links:     new clubs! (Big Ideas, Strategy Games, Scrabble, Crafts) updated 10/25 printable calendar (with special events listed on back) Recorder Book for grades 3 & 4 Messages: SAVE THE DATE: May 16: WORLD DAY (weather permitting) Review: Last week we ended with our Family Sports Night!  It was a smashing success, with everyone having a good time playing basketball, floor hockey, and mostly tennis.  We were so busy having fun that we failed to take any pictures!  We had lots of alumni and former students attending, and raising over $2000 to help the school meet new expenses related to health and hygiene.  My special thanks to our sponsors the Khans, the Infrancas, and the Pelaez’s, and especially to my friend Wayne Feldman who has been helping me organize this for 15 years after his two children graduated Progressive. Many of you know about our Imagination Playground, but have not seen it in action.  Enjoy our K collage of kids celebrating the return of nice outdoor weather at recess. A heartfelt welcome back to Tristan Taveras (grade one) who we really missed, and a big welcome to Keira Pick (fourth grade) who joined our family last week.

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