May 31, 2020 - Weekly Update
Carrollton Family,
My sixteen year old came to me sad and disturbed the other day. She wanted me to explain the incident involving George Floyd, and while I could explain what happened, I struggled with explaining why it happened. She has a church-upbringing understanding of sin but understanding the reality of hate still escapes her. I try hard to teach my children about the need to show respect for others, a respect generated from equality and empathy -- then an adult with a badge and gun puts his knee on another human’s neck. Of course my daughter is sad and disturbed: I’m sad and disturbed. I’m angry and you may be, too. So, what do we do with this anger? We can continue to teach our children that all life is precious, that no color is criminal and no color is privileged, that this world is broken and we should do all we can while we can to bring healing. Dr. John W. Hodge, the president and co-founder of the Urban Learning and Leadership Center, wisely observed, “Educators cannot prepare children for the world if they pay no attention to what’s happening in the world.” As difficult as it was, I talked to my daughter about what justice for George (and Ahmad and Breonna and too many others) looks like. I shared with her that the new racism is to deny racism. And I’ll keep telling her and all the children I can that to not be part of the solution is to be part of the problem.
FYI
Instructional Supports
From our School Photographer, Blue Dominion
Thank you for your patience as our studio reopens and gets back to full capacity.
Online Ordering: https://
Yearbook Delivery: Yearbooks
Online Ordering Only: https://AccessMyEvent.
Product Delivery: Photo orders will ship directly to the address you provide (not the school)
Important: spring pictures were optional, please read the instructions after clicking the link for more info.
Online Ordering Only: https://AccessMyEvent.
Product Delivery: Photo orders will ship directly to the address you provide (not the school).
From our School Counselor, Mrs. Berkeley
Mark Your Calendar
May 30 – Learning materials pick-up day #2 (9:00 .m. – 1:00 p.m.)
June11 – Last day of school!
June 12 – Report cards will be mailed home
June 12 – iPad return day #1 (8:00 to 8:00 at Smithfield Middle)
June 15 – iPad return day #2 (8:00 to 8:00 at Smithfield Middle)
June 21 – Father’s Day
July 6 – Summer school starts (more info coming)
July 30 – Summer school ends
Teach your children well,
Mr.B.
Please follow the CDC guidelines for keeping safe and minimizing the spread of COVID-19. Medical questions may be directed to the VDH Hotline: 877-275-8343 (877-ASK-VDH3). I will keep in touch with you during this closure, and pertinent information will be made available on the IWCS and CAES communication platforms.
May 24, 2020 - Weekly Update
Carrollton Family,
Last week I shared about my fall when running and that story got some traction. Will you indulge me to share one more lesson from my stumble? I went down because I stepped on a piece of trash – one of those thin, plastic bands that wraps around a package. My left foot stepped on it, it popped up, and it caught my right foot. Basically I lassoed myself! Here’s the lesson: Avoid trash! As you’re making your way down this pandemic-impacted path, steer clear of the junk that can trip you up: negative relationships, defeated thinking, toxic social media, fake news. Now more than ever it’s important to focus on that which is helpful, hopeful, and honest.
Good news: The final batch of learning modules will be available for pick-up this Friday (12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.) and Saturday (9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.); friendly Instructional Assistants will be on hand to provide smiling customer service and retrieve your child’s belongings that may still be in the building. Please be sure to return any item belonging to a teacher of the library.
FYI
Instructional Supports
From our School Photographer, Blue Dominion
Thank you for your patience as our studio reopens and gets back to full capacity.
Online Ordering: https://
Yearbook Delivery: Yearbooks
Online Ordering Only: https://AccessMyEvent.
Product Delivery: Photo orders will ship directly to the address you provide (not the school)
Important: spring pictures were optional, please read the instructions after clicking the link for more info.
Online Ordering Only: https://AccessMyEvent.
Product Delivery: Photo orders will ship directly to the address you provide (not the school).
From our School Counselor, Mrs. Berkeley
Mark Your Calendar
May 25 – Memorial Day – Do something fun with your family!
May 29 – Learning materials pick-up day #1 (12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
May 30 – Learning materials pick-up day #2 (9:00 .m. – 1:00 p.m.)
June 11 – Last day of school!
June 12 – Report cards will be mailed home
June 21 – Father’s Day
July 6 – Summer school starts (more info coming)
July 30 – Summer school ends
With gratitude to all who have served or are still serving us through the armed forces!
Mr.B.
Please follow the CDC guidelines for keeping safe and minimizing the spread of COVID-19. Medical questions may be directed to the VDH Hotline: 877-275-8343 (877-ASK-VDH3). I will keep in touch with you during this closure, and pertinent information will be made available on the IWCS and CAES communication platforms.
May 16, 2020 - Weekly Update
grover-on-coping-during-
Carrollton Family,
Have you taken up a new hobby during this time of quarantine? I haven’t. No baking or gardening, macramé or decoupage, but I have begun to run again. Several years ago I trained for and ran races then stopped because I didn’t have the time. Well, that excuse went away once my commute decreased from 30 minutes to just down the hall. Last week while jogging through the neighborhood I fell. Hard. Scuffed my palms, scratched an elbow and knee, bruised my hip, cracked my phone. Hurt my pride. I had to decide either to stay in a fetal position until some good Samaritan happened by or to get up and keep going. Not unlike the choice we’re faced with daily during this unprecedented time as we struggle with the inconvenience of being quarantined, the discomfort of social distancing, the pain of loss particular to this pandemic. There’s an end to all of this current COVID-craziness, and many of you are keeping up a steady pace while others of us are limping along -- but at least we’re limping! However long it takes, we’ll get to the finish line and hopefully be better for it.
Instructional Supports
From our School Counselor, Mrs. Berkeley
Mark Your Calendar
5/18 – Cardinals CARE Club postcard competition deadline (see Mrs. Berkeley’s info above)
5/18 – Mrs. Harris’, Mrs. Lenz’s, & Mrs. Hall’s students’ virtual Hydroponics Expo
5/25 – Memorial Day
6/11 – Last day of school!
6/12 – Report cards will be mailed home
FYI
Keep heading toward the finish line!
Mr.B.
Please follow the CDC guidelines for keeping safe and minimizing the spread of COVID-19. Medical questions may be directed to the VDH Hotline: 877-275-8343 (877-ASK-VDH3). I will keep in touch with you during this closure, and pertinent information will be made available on the IWCS and CAES communication platforms.
May 9, 2020 - Weekly Update
Carrollton Family,
In loco parentis is the Latin phrase that qualifies teachers as the “parents-on-duty” whenever students are in the building. Not only does in loco parentis relate to legal and functional aspects of a teacher’s responsibilities when in the care of students, but it also goes to the heart of who a teacher is. Teachers become very protective of their own students, and every student in the building is the responsibility of every staff member in the building. This explains why our teachers are trying so hard during this prolonged, unanticipated school closure to keep connected with your children: they still feel obligated to provide instruction, support, continuity, encouragement. Letting go in mid-June is part of the educator’s scheduled routine, but letting go in mid-March is all wrong. Please understand that your child’s teacher is reaching out not to annoy you or to replace you; she is reaching out because she wants to; he is attempting to make contact because that’s what a good teachers does. Seven percent of our student body has not been heard from since the quarantine began and the in loco parentis in us is uncomfortable with that statistic! If you’re overwhelmed or over school, please let me know and I’ll tell the teacher to back off. Just know that the “school moms and dads” are committed to your kids now more than ever.
Instructional Supports
From our School Counselor, Mrs. Berkeley
Mark Your Calendar
5/10 – Mother’s Day
5/15– Newly extended yearbook ordering deadline
5/15 – Learning packet #4 distribution day (12:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m.)
5/16 – Learning packet #4 distribution day (9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
5/18 – Cardinals CARE Club postcard competition deadline (see Mrs. Berkeley’s info above)
5/25 – Memorial Day
6/11 – Last day of school!
FYI
Happy Mother’s Day, Moms!
Mr.B.
Please follow the CDC guidelines for keeping safe and minimizing the spread of COVID-19. Medical questions may be directed to the VDH Hotline: 877-275-8343 (877-ASK-VDH3). I will keep in touch with you during this closure, and pertinent information will be made available on the IWCS and CAES communication platforms.
May 2, 2020 - Weekly Update
Carrollton Family,
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come across the comment that parents appreciate teachers in a whole new way now – I even heard Oprah say it, so you know it’s gotta be true! May 4 – 8 is National Teacher Appreciation Week. If you’re grateful for your child’s teacher, this would be a great time to let him/her know. Expressing your thanks with a note or an e-mail may be just what our teachers need at this time as they continue to move away from their comfort zones of training and experience to continue to help your children.Here’s a digital option provided by the Virginia Lottery: thankateacherva.com
While we’re on the topic, I want to thank you for how you’ve stepped up to fill the role of teacher over the past seven weeks. It was you, the parent-teacher, who suggested clickable links on our web-based PDFs, answer keys included with packets, and daily academic schedules, so we’re making those improvements happen. It’s you, the parent-teachers, who are participating on Zoom with reading conferences and speech therapy sessions to better understand how to train your children. Parent-teachers have declared spirit days, taken fieldtrips, and conducted hands-on learning. Parent-teachers are sharing pictures of what their children are learning, and that's how I learned that one mom donned a wig to act as a substitute just to add some variety to the instructional day! Dozens of you picked up IWCS iPads and scores picked up CAES packets. So many of you are rising to the challenge to add "remote learning teacher" to your resumé. On behalf of the Carrollton Elementary faculty and staff, we appreciate you!
Instructional Supports
From our School Counselor, Mrs. Berkeley
Hi Cardinals! I miss you all, and I think about you every day. I hope you all are doing well, and enjoying the time at home with your families. These are strange times. It is okay if you are feeling scared or worried, sad, or even angry about the changes in your life, and how it affects you and your family. If you want to talk about it, I am here. We can arrange a meeting online to chat alone if you like, or you can sign up to have lunch with me and a group for fun or to check in. I can't wait to see you online!
Mark Your Calendar
FYI
I appreciate all that you’re doing as your child's teacher right now!
Mr.B.
Please follow the CDC guidelines for keeping safe and minimizing the spread of COVID-19. Medical questions may be directed to the VDH Hotline: 877-275-8343 (877-ASK-VDH3). I will keep in touch with you during this closure, and pertinent information will be made available on the IWCS and CAES communication platforms.