Arcadia This Week 4/26/2021

Hello, Arcadia families,

Here’s what’s happening at Arcadia this week! 

Monday, 4/26: Day 5

Tuesday, 4/27: Day 6

Wednesday, 4/28: Day 1

Thursday, 4/29: Day 2

Friday, 4/30: Day 3

Model Update and Upcoming Schedule

Rice County COVID case rate numbers are continuing to rise, and the case rate is now at 57.17/10,000 in a two week period. In my last meeting with Rice County Public Health, we learned that these numbers are due to general community spread, which is the most concerning for us. However, families, you have been doing a wonderful job, which is allowing us to keep going! Students have stayed home when they have any symptoms; and parents, your communication with us when you have concerns has been great. THANK YOU! 

And, as always...

Please continue to be vigilant around masking, distancing, and taking other precautions to control the spread of COVID. It’s working here at Arcadia! 

April 27: Midterm

May 7 and 14: Asynchronous Days (online school only, no in-building)

May 28: Last day of Fourth Quarter

June 1: First day of “May” Term

June 10: Last Day of School and Graduation! (Graduation will be held in the backyard at Arcadia the evening of June 10 for graduates and their families.)

 

General Announcements

MCA and ACCESS Testing This Week!

4/26: 10th Grade Reading (8:30am-11:30am); 11th Grade Math (8:30am-11:00am)

4/27: 7th and 8th Grade Reading (8:30am-11:30am)

4/28: 7th and 8th Grade Math (9:30am-12:20pm)

4/29: 8th and 10th Grade Science (8:30am-11:00am)

4/30: Make up tests, as needed

5/3: 6th Grade Reading (8:30am-12:00pm)

5/4: 6th Grade Math (8:30am-11:00am)

If your student is in distance learning, but planning to take the test, please bring them in and pick them up at the appropriate times. Students can be dropped off and picked up in front of the school in the loading/unloading zone and enter and exit through the front door. They will need to go straight back to the Great Room when they enter. Masking and distancing guidelines are strict, and masks will need to be worn during the test and at all times in the building.

If your student is doing distance learning and prefers not to participate, please indicate that here: Participation in Spring Testing

Racial Equity Leadership Institute and Resources Available

In response to systemic racism and inequities in education that continually harm Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color, the Minnesota Department of Education invited schools to send teams to the Racial Equity Leadership Institute facilitated by FREC. Arcadia has a team of seven staff members attending, who will then bring the conversation back to the whole staff. If you are interested in joining this conversation, the session descriptions and the materials for each session are available here: https://overcomingracism.org/programs/leadership-institute/

Last summer, the staff also read a set of books to inform our equity work, and all families are welcome to borrow these materials. Books available include:

So You Want to Talk about Race, by Ijeoma Oluo

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, by Jason Reynolds (a remix of Ibram X. Kendi’s Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, which is also available)

My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Healing our Hearts and Bodies, by Resmaa Menakem (a local author, and I cannot say enough good things about this book!)

Rethinking Multicultural Education: Teaching for Racial and Cultural Justice, edited by Wayne Au

The school also purchased a large number of books last year--fiction, poetry, graphic novels, etc.--written by Black, Latinx, and Indigenous authors. We have some amazing titles available! Students are welcome to borrow these from the Arcadia library.

If families are interested in a reading group, please let me know, I’d be happy to set something up! 

Attendance Form

Please report attendance-related information (appointments, illness) through our website, even during distance learning! Go to “Current Families” and then “ Report an Absence.” You can fill out as much as is relevant. If your child is ill, please make sure to report symptoms, as we are required to track a lot of information on illness this year! If you’d rather just save a link to the form somewhere accessible to you, here is a link to the form.

Upcoming Events

April 27: Midterm

May 3-7: Teacher Appreciation Week

May 5, 4:00pm-6:30pm: Gertens Spring Fundraiser Plant Delivery! Please pick up plants between 4:00pm-6:30pm.

May 7 and 14: Asynchronous Days (online school only, no in-building)

May 18, 6:30pm-8:30pm: Arcadia School Board Meeting (Online--Video call link: https://meet.google.com/tmk-nfcx-szi

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 513-796-6467‬ PIN: ‪493 475 105‬#)

 

Sincerely,