As many of you are aware the Clark County School District Board of Education met to review the Implementation Plan for Transition to the Hybrid Model of Instruction. After the plan was reviewed by the Trustees, Dr. Jara and President Brooks announced their decision to postpone the approval vote due to current Covid 19 pandemic data in our community. In July 2020, based upon CDC Guidelines, the Board voted to transition when our community average infection rates were below 5%. Daily Average rates are currently above 13% in our state. It should be noted that this continues to be a crisis nationwide and many Districts across the country who have implemented the Hybrid Model are now having to close schools. In fact during review of the plan, Dr. Jara mentioned that schools across the country are closing and reopening daily due to Covid 19 exposures. It is important to note that once schools reopen with the Hybrid Model, it is expected that cohorts of students will return to Distance Learning for 10-14 days due to Covid Exposures. We must all continue to be flexible and supportive of our Gibson students during these uncertain times.
Another point brought up was the need to extend the Parent Survey regarding Cohort selection. In an effort to provide additional time for parents/guardians to make decisions regarding the cohort selection(s) for their student(s) within the hybrid instructional model, the Hybrid Cohort Questionnaire located at http://ccsd.net/survey will remain open through November 20, 2020, until 5:00 p.m. If a parent/guardian wants to change their selection, parents/guardians may submit a second response that will replace their first response beginning on November 11, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. Parents/guardians may only resubmit their response one time through November 20, 2020, until 5:00 p.m. The final cohort selection for every student is required by November 20, 2020, to promote the planning and preparation for the potential of implementing the hybrid instructional model. If you have any questions, please contact the school at (insert school phone number).
As we continue with Distance Education, we will bring you a topic that will assist you in making Distance Education work for your child. Most of what we share with you is from “The Distance Learning Playbook for Parents: How to Support Your child’s Academic, Social, and Emotional Development in Any Setting” by Wiseman, Fisher, Frey and Hattie. This week we will focus on Screen Time.
There is much debate in the community about screen time and how much screen time should be required of students. Unfortunately, there is not a great deal of research available on the effects on children older than 5 years, but we do know a great deal from experience and common sense parenting. Perhaps what we need to focus on is the tasks students are doing while not on devices. Are they playing? Are they interacting with others? Doing their chores? Do they talk with family members? Work on projects? Exercise? A good rule of thumb might be to ensure that your child spends as much time doing something active or productive off a device as they do on a device.
In addition, we need to look at what children are doing while they are online. Not all programs are educationally sound. There is a great deal of knowledge about how children learn. Gibson Elementary pays attention and our recommended programs are supported by this research. Your child should spend 20 minutes a day on Khan Math and 20 minutes a day on either Khan Literacy (305) or Smarty Ants (K-2).
In addition, most of the research shows children should take a break from devices while reading. In general, readers gain general understanding from digital texts, but retain fewer of the key details. Our World Series of Reading program supports this research. This is also why our teachers work diligently to deploy materials on regular schedules. Children need books in their hands.
If your family is looking for some great things to do offline, our PTO has many family fun activities planned this month. We are conducting a mobile Winterfest this year. You may order paint your own ornaments and even get them delivered to your home. Funds raised from Winterfest will be used to pay for the Fifth Grade Legacy Wall. See the attached flyer for details.
We also have three nights of fun at the Glittering Lights at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on November 13th, November 30th, and/or January 4th. Tickets are $25 weekdays and $35 weekends, and $5 for every vehicle/flyer comes back to Gibson! Please share this message and flyer with your family and friends! You must give them the flyer for an accurate count. Flyers will be available for pick up at the school. A copy is also attached if you prefer to print your own. :)
Finally, we have our Thanksgiving STEM activity bags out front. What a fun way to spend Thanksgiving Day. Be sure to check it out and send photos to our Gibson PTO.
Stay safe Gibson Families!!
Then Gibson Team
