Updates and Information
During Remote Learning

Dear Eliot Families,

Before I update Eliot families on our plans for the next few weeks, I did want to take a moment to give thanks and recognition for all the teachers and families who are working as hard as we can to adapt to these most unusual circumstances. My thoughts go to our parents in the medical profession, first responders, and all of the essential employees who keep everyone afloat at risk to themselves, as our community bands together during these troubling times. 

For the past few weeks, Eliot School staff and the Needham Public Schools community have been working on a plan to provide new learning opportunities for our students, starting on Monday, April 6. While this distance learning is not intended to replace the classroom experience, the primary goal of the Eliot staff is to maintain, as best as possible, the important and meaningful connections with our students during this interruption to their school experience. Teachers will be available to students and parents to assist with the academic components during this time as well. 

Here is a link to the Elementary Remote Learning Plan for your review.  In addition, Julie Muse Fisher, the interim director of special education has provided an overview of special education services during this time. Here is a link to that Special Education document.  

On Sunday evening, you will receive the first daily communication from your child’s teacher detailing the learning activities for the following day.  Please note you will not receive communication on Friday, April 10th as it is still a vacation day on the school calendar. Families in grades K-2 will receive an email with instructions to access SeeSaw or a google doc with your child’s assignments.  SeeSaw is a new learning platform for many of our teachers and families and it may take time to transition into that format. In grades 3-5, students will receive lessons through Google Classroom. We encourage student participation and engagement in the activities provided by their teacher.  Please communicate with your child’s teacher if a situation arises that impacts a student’s participation due to personal circumstances.

Finally, as mentioned earlier, the most important work we can do right now is to support our students and families at this time.  Please continue to communicate with us and let us know how your family is doing. We are here to help in any way we can. In addition, if there are any families that are in need of school supplies to facilitate learning at home, please feel free to email me directly and we will do our best to provide those for you.  You can also contact the guidance counselor Jen Sullivan at jennifer_kiely-sullivan@needham.k12.ma.us.  

Take care of yourselves and we look forward to the day we are together again.