Reading at Home
This week we will be sending out information regarding ebooks or interactive books online. We encourage all parents and guardians to be involved in the selection of ebooks & library books by their student(s). Please help them find suitable, age appropriate books. Here are a few guidelines to help. (taken from books4yourkids.com)
The Fear Factor - know your reader’s sensitivity
The Maturity Factor - know the maturity and comprehension level of your child
The Animal Factor - let’s face it - some animal books can be really sad
Book level range- This is a good opportunity to let your student enjoy a book deemed “too easy” or allow them to challenge themselves with a harder book they really want to read.
A helpful site to check for age appropriateness that we use at school is common sense media. (www.commonsensemedia.org). You can search for book, movie & TV, games, and app reviews.
Wondering if a book has an AR quiz? Go to AR Bookfinder.
First up try ABDO providing free access through June 2020:
(not all are AR - check AR Bookfinder)
--Elementary Digital Bookshelf: PreK-8
--Secondary Digital Bookshelf: Grades 5-12
--ABDO Zoom Online Database: Grades PreK-2
GRADUATES! Scholarship Reapplications are due! TUESDAY, APRIL 1ST! And that is no foolin!
Governor Bullock's Announcement...
Good Evening Everyone,
As you probably know, Governor Bullock expanded the previous extended business and school closure by implementing a "Stay at Home" or "Shelter in Place" for the state to start at 12:01am Saturday.
This excludes a variety of "Essential Services", which includes education and our school lunch service.
"Educational institutions—including public and private pre-K-12 schools, colleges, and universities—for purposes of facilitating remote learning, performing critical research, or performing other essential functions consistent with prior Directives on school closures and the continued provision of certain services, provided that social distancing of six-feet per person is maintained to the greatest extent possible. This Directive is consistent with and does not amend or supersede the March 24, 2020 Directive closing non-residential public schools through April 10, 2020;"
Essentially, we can continue as we have already been mandated to do by the Governor and the County Health. Schools will all continue to implement their "Distance Learning Plan"
We know that the elementary has an important pick-up day tomorrow and we are ok to proceed, but we all need to observe safety precautions and distancing.
Packets and books will be available outside the building.
Returning materials including books and homework will need to be carefully placed in appropriate tub containers that will be quarantined for 72 hours before addressing contents as directed by the CDC.
Your and your students are doing a great job of helping us make this work to the best of our ability in a safe, yet productive manner.
Thank you,
Tune in tonight at 6:00! Log onto www.eaglestreaming.com and watch the State of the School!
Health Masks! Mr. Rogers and the 3-D printer have been rolling to provide masks for our health care providers! #FairfieldBlue!
Office of Public Instruction, Montana University System Announce Free ACT Opportunities for Students
HELENA—The Office of Public Instruction and Montana University System announced today that Montana juniors will have the opportunity to take the ACT free of charge this coming fall semester of their senior year. Normally, current juniors would take the ACT in the spring as Montana’s statewide standardized test for federal accountability. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and Montana’s pending waiver request from standardized tests, it is likely that juniors will not be taking the ACT this spring.
“In this time of uncertainty, Montana students, families, and educators should be focused on their health and safety not fulfilling standardized test requirements,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen said Tuesday. “I am pleased that Montana high school students who wish to take the ACT in pursuit of post-secondary education will have the opportunity to take it free of charge this fall.”
State of the School Address! Wednesday, March 25th at 6:00 pm. Log onto www.eaglestreaming.com. We will discuss where we were, where we are, and where we are headed. Please join us as we try to update the navigation of this new adventure. Thank you!
Lunch Message!
FAIRFIELD STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND COMMUNITY... YOU ARE AWESOME!!!
It is my pleasure to let you all know that we had 100% attendance in grades 7-12 on the first day of school, via distance learning!! AND, almost every single class had a live session on google meet or ZOOM with great interaction.
We did have 2 excused who called last week and a couple little glitches with connections and camera's early, but everyone got in and had class today!
We cannot say thank you enough for your outstanding support of the school and our educational plan as we work through this to the best of our ability. Parents and students, you are doing a great job and it is greatly appreciated.
We would also like to give 3 Rivers a huge thank you for getting all our students internet access and making this all possible. You have really helped the teachers and our students make this work.
Thank you,
Important Announcement...
As you know by now, a more formal school day starts on Monday from 8am - 12pm for grades 7-12, BUT, in order for that to happen, all students need to check the following:
1) School email
2) Google Classroom
Teachers were asked to start by making contact with every one of their students on Thurs/Friday to make sure students know how they will start scheduled class on Monday.
There are many students who have not made any contact with their teachers online and they need to do so right away. Teachers should have left directions for the media platform they will be utilizing to start classes Monday. This is important, because we will be taking attendance every period from 8 to 12 and this DAILY PARTICIPATION will be 30% of their grade for as long as this distance learning situation lasts.
School from 8-12 is not optional, it is required attendance the same as a regular school day, just from home. This is a very good structured option and will help ensure successful education is getting done, just in an abbreviated day, which should be easy for students previously committed to an 8:15 to 3:36pm day.
PARENTS, YOU WILL NEED TO HELP FACILITATE FROM HOME. Your student's academic success will depend upon your commitment to their education as well.
Students need to also be reminded:
1) Attendance will be required
2) All school handbook and policies will still be in place
3) Appropriate dress and behavior will be necessary for video classes: Google Meet and Zoom.
*Students will need to 'attend class' from an acceptable place in your home, preferably at a table or desk. Sitting in bed during class will not be productive or appropriate.
4) Acceptable Use Policy: Teachers will be utilizing Hypera which allows them to monitor what you are looking at on your chrome book during class.
5) Quarter Grades and Semester Grades will still require work to be turned in beyond class. The 8-12 day will allow instruction and in some cases a little work time, but some classes will still have work to be done outside of that time... a new definition of home work!
It is also important to let you know, that we are preparing for this to potentially last for the entire 4th quarter. We are hoping it does not, but it presently looks like that might be the case.
Thank you for your assistance,
Fairfield Community, Parents, and Students,
I feel after today we are gaining traction on this situation. I am pleased to announce that every student in grades 4-8 received a chrome book today during the pickup! Wow! We were also able to disperse almost all the HS materials as well! That was a big first hurdle to get "School" rolling again right away.
The staff has been finalizing our plan and I believe I will be rolling out the initial "Fairfield Education Plan" tomorrow as previously stated. Our plan is very good and it will have structure to see us through a short term shut down as well as flexibility to extend until the end of the year if that becomes necessary. We are ready!!
Staff members will begin making brief contact on Thurs/Friday and we will be in full fledged "virtual school" next Monday morning at 8am. I will share those details tomorrow.
Thank you Fairfield Community for supporting us here at the school. We are, and will continue, to work hard and make the best of the situation and to provide quality education.
Thank you to staff, students, parents etc. for an awesome pick up day today. It wasn't easy really, but wow all of you did a great job. Thanks again!
RE: ROADS TO GF. EXTREMELY SLICK FROM TRUDY'S TO THE INTERSECTION. NOT GOOD FROM FAIRFIELD TO TRUDY'S! BE CAREFUL OR DO NOT DRIVE IN!
Be careful going to school or work this morning. The town streets are slick as are areas on the highways.
The Book Fair was amazing! Thank you to everyone who came out to show your support!
Last Sunday of Pickleball! Come join the fun this Sunday, March 1st at 6:00pm in the little gym!
Check out the 5th Grade mapping the Lewis and Clark expedition. Total engagement by the students!
Congratulations to our student-athletes and coaches for being presented with this certificate! It has been years since a Fairfield student or coach has been ejected from competition. It is a good reminder for all of us as we head into the postseason basketball. Good luck Eagles!
GRADUATES! Two items: scholarship checks must be picked up by March 15th and reapplications are due April 1st. We have most, but there are a few of you out there still. Thanks!
FEBRUARY! Not only is it I LOVE TO READ month, but it is also celebrate the Career and Technical Education classes! Celebrate Today, Own Tomorrow!
