April 15, 2023
I am excited to be welcoming you and your child back from Spring Break!
A couple of reminders and some extra information before students show up to class Monday the 17th by 9:05 sharp:
•COVID tests were dispersed in class just before Spring Break. SJUSD requests that all students and employees test for COVID the day before school resumes after Spring Break, and that if students have a fever or any symptoms of illness, they stay home.
•If your child was not in class the day or two before Spring Breaks or did not get their free test and you would like to have them test this weekend, please contact your regular pharmacy or doctor’s office.
•We will start our Monday back with a class circle, Social Emotional Skills lessons, updates to classroom jobs and seating, as well as reteaching and practice of class procedures. The first two agenda items will support students with their classroom relationships, communication skills, and managing their emotions, so necessary as we grow and learn with others!
•Look for me to provide you with information and support for CAASPP testing later this week. Students will have ample opportunity to get comfortable with logging in and working through practice test items in class; they will also be provided with information and support for at-home practice. This “low-pressure” practice eases anxiety and helps students do their best without undue worry or pressure.
•Last but not least, April is National Poetry Month, and we have been reading, listening to, writing on, and talking about poetry during our morning activities. I was gratified to see how many students checked out books of poetry at the school library last Friday! I have also deeply appreciated the quality of discussion the class has held. I enjoyed sharing one of my favorite poems ever, “When You Are Old” by William Butler Yeats. Afterwards, students surfaced ideas about the poem’s symbolism and commented on Yeats’ rhyming scheme. If you’re curious as to what all the fuss is about, you may find the poem on the class website here: https://msseyan.com/2020/04/03/april-3-2020/. By the way: In April 2020 I created a month’s worth of poetry and activities on the website for distance learning students. Feel free to check out the day-by-day posts, starting here: https://msseyan.com/2020/03/31/april-is-national-poetry-month/
As always, thank you for your time. Please reach out with any suggestions, questions, or concerns!
Warmly,
Ms. Seyan
E-2 Excellence 