Lower School

List of 10 items.

• May 25, 2020

  Dear Lower School Families,

   

  I hope you were able to view the Kindergarten Rodeo this morning!. This event is just the beginning of students acquiring the essential skills of preparation, communication, and presentation that they will use in their future education and careers. Congratulations to all the kindergarteners, parents, teachers, and staff who helped pull off the Graland’s first virtual rodeo!

   

  As in other years, these special end-of-the-year events bring us together as a community and seem even more meaningful and necessary. Listed below is a timeline of upcoming events that can bring to our students a sense of culmination and celebration. Links to these events will be shared with families next week.

   

  Wednesday, May 27 - Grade 2 Virtual Biography Expo at 9:00 a.m. Second graders will be sharing their research about a person who identified a problem or need and then persevered through problems and failures to find a solution and changed our world for the better. The Expo includes a virtual parade and a website featuring presentations and video interviews for second graders and their families.

   

  Friday, May 29 - Town Hall with Head of School, with Josh Cobb at 11:00 a.m. Look for an announcement with the link to join.

   

  Monday, June 1 - Lower School Move-Up Day. After regularly scheduled morning meetings, Pre K through 3rd grade students will have an opportunity to meet next year’s teachers, and most of the specialists through zoom meetings. A special schedule will be shared with families via pushpage next week.

   

  Fourth graders will be participating in the Middle School Move-Up Day. A schedule with zoom links will be shared next week.

   

  Tuesday, June 2 - Join us for the final Lower School Assembly at 11:00 a.m. Join us for a special summer goodbye from our teachers, and a heartfelt sendoff to our 4th graders!

   

  Remember to drive by Graland, May 28 - 30, to retrieve your child’s belongings during the Campus Pick up and Drop. Details were shared in a pushpage earlier today. I look forward to seeing you at the events and celebrating a wonderful, unique year!

   

  Nan Remington
  Head of Lower School

• May 18, 2020

  Dear Families of Lower School Students,

   

  May has always been a favorite month for educators! It is not just that the school year is coming to a close, but it is because we celebrate and recognize our students' successes.

   

  The year has been full of successes, both on and off campus. Student growth and success are measured not only through academic assessments and assignments but also through Graland’s robust specials classes. This week, we celebrated the Graland Virtual Art Show, where every K-8 student at Graland had their art pieces presented.

   

  Another time-honored tradition, the Kindergarten Rodeo, will be celebrated on Friday, May 22, at 10:30 a.m. Although no classes will be held that day, I encourage you to tune in to watch the premiere! The Rodeo is a wonderful way to see evidence of our kindergarteners' confidence and speaking skills, which have grown so much since they first came to school last August. There will be some darling rodeo horses to see, and an opportunity to join in singing the ever-popular, Coyote Song. Watch for the link to be coming your way soon!

   

  As always, we appreciate the support and encouragement you provide your child with remote learning. Remote learning is a true partnership between school and home, and we all have an essential role in helping your child succeed.

   

  Sincerely,

   

  Nan Remington
  Head of Lower School

• May 11, 2020

  Dear Lower School Families,

   

  During Teacher Appreciation Week, Graland teachers received so many wonderful messages from parents and students. Many teachers shared how the videos, notes, and emails were a much-needed reminder of why they chose education as a career.

   

  We teach because, whether remotely or in person, watching children learn is a joyful experience. We relish our roles as partners in your child’s learning journey. There are few things better in the world than seeing the look of surprise and joy on a child’s face when he or she finally “gets it!” Teaching challenges us to find new ways to support our students. And, while we have faced new challenges with remote learning these past weeks, we have also seen our students experiencing the joy of learning.

   

  So your kind messages were poignant reminders of why we love teaching your children. Seeing their excited faces as they logged on to view the Lower School assembly on Thursday was a delightful reminder of why we love to teach. If you missed the assembly, click here to view.

   

  Today is also the last day to provide sectioning input for your child. Click here to access the online form.

   

  During this last month of school, there will be many more moments of joy and learning. Teachers are busy finalizing their curriculum, planning assessments, and organizing other culminating events to ensure your child ends the year with solid academic skills and a strong sense of community.

   

  Stay healthy and well, Graland!

   

  Sincerely,

  Nan Remington

  Head of Lower School

• May 4, 2020

  Dear Families of Lower School Students,

   

  Can you relate to any of the parent tweets below?

  • I just reinstituted nap time into our homeschool routine. For myself. I have no idea what the kids do while I sleep.
  • Watching my son’s teacher host a zoom meeting with the entire class. It’s a masterclass in the art of patience!
  • Child: I need help with my school work.  Also the child: THAT’S NOT HOW YOU DO IT
  • This homeschool gig should come with a better cafeteria!

   

  Any of these sound familiar? Finding some humor in our lives is important and gives us a chance to take a breath, relax, and recognize we are all working through this time together!

   

  The month of May at Graland is always jam-packed with great events, and even though we are learning remotely, this month will be a busy one. Please be sure to read the notifications and check your child’s class pages for the following events.

   

  Lower School Assembly: Thursday, May 7 at, 8:30 a.m. Who knows, the Graland Eagle may make another appearance! Be on the lookout for a pushpage on Wednesday, May 6, sharing the assembly link.

   

  Stretch Day: As announced in Friday’s GO, we will have a special schedule on Friday, May 8, with unique topic classes to “stretch” our students' minds. Lower School students will have their weekly morning meeting at their regularly scheduled time. Beginning at 10:30 a.m., students will have four optional Zoom sessions. Class schedules and links to all zoom sessions will be shared through the pushpage on Wednesday, May 6.

   

  If your child has an appointment with one of our SST faculty on Friday, we encourage your child to attend their session.

   

  Sectioning input: Click here to read more about the sectioning process and to provide input regarding your child’s learning style, classroom environment, and social-emotional needs. The last day to fill out the form is Friday, May 8, at 4:00 p.m.

  
  

  I wish for your family good health and wellness.

  
  Nan Remington
  Head of Lower School

• April 24, 2020

  Dear Lower School Families,

  
  

  Monday afternoon, my phone began buzzing with notifications. “Governor Polis announces Colorado school students will not return to their classrooms for in-person learning for the remainder of the school year.” While I knew this was the most likely scenario, my heart still sank for Graland students, parents, and teachers.

  
  

  After Governor Polis’ announcement, the next couple of days seemed longer than usual. Thursday arrived, and we had our first Lower School virtual assembly. It was wonderful to see over 290 students and teachers logged in as a community. Many of you commented on how excited your children were to see their teachers in the video and sing the Graland song. The assembly helped me remember we are part of a wonderful community that celebrates and supports each other. For those of you who missed the assembly or would like to view it again, please click this link.

  
  

  Our Lower School counselor, Kathy Riley, hosted a group of parents whose children are in the younger grades. She asked a great question, “In twenty years, what will your children remember about this time?” This gave me a new perspective. Our role as educators is focused on helping students thrive academically in a remote learning environment. But we also want our students and families to find joy and remain connected during this time. For families, this may look like putting aside an assignment in favor or a family walk, or making a choice to unplug for a few hours. 

  
  

  We understand these are challenging times for families, and we will work with you to meet your family's needs. Reach out to your teachers and let them know how things are going. Can we modify an assignment or talk with your child about where they are struggling or frustrated? Teachers are willing to help you through this time; it does take a village!

  
  

  We sincerely appreciate all who took the time to respond to the parent “pulse check” last week, and we have another for this week. Similar to last week, the Week 4 Pulse Check is focused on our students and your observations of their academic progress and wellbeing. A link was shared in Graland Online, and there is one below for your convenience.

  
  

  Week 4 Pulse Check: Remote Learning Survey

  
  

  Best, 

   

  Nan Remington

  Head of Lower School

• April 18, 2020

  Dear Families of Lower School Students,

   

  Thank you for your continued flexibility and support during these last three weeks of remote learning. While there may have been moments of frustration, I have been impressed with our students' resiliency. Students are dealing with being away from teachers and friends, as well as learning to navigate a new learning platform. And, with the help of supportive teachers and parents, teachers are seeing students with an increased level of confidence, as they problem-solve and persevere through the challenges our community has faced since the campus was closed.

   

  I have heard from students and parents that they are enjoying the increased academic time with their teachers. I also hope the new Zoom tab, found on each class page under the topics tab, has made accessing the links to Zoom meetings accessible and convenient.

   

  This week, the music and PE teachers, in grades 1 - 4, enjoyed connecting with your children through the live Zoom classes, and next week, the rest of the specialists' classes will be zooming. Look for the announcement on Monday evening, April 20, at 5 p.m. which provides the links and assignments for all specialists. If the additional specialists' classes and assignments prove to be too much for our family, feel comfortable choosing the specials that fit into your family's schedule.

   

  We will be holding out first virtual Lower School assembly on Thursday, April 23, at 8:30 a.m. Click on this Zoom link to enter the assembly on Thursday. Please only one login per family in order to have space for as many lower school students to join as possible.

   

  Please take a few moments to complete the Remote Learning Pulse Check 4-17-20, as the administration and teachers are working to meet the needs of students and families.

   

  I hope your family remains healthy and well!

   

  Nan Remington
  Head of Lower School

• April 10, 2020

  Dear Families of Lower School Students,

   

  First, let me say I hope you and your family are safe and healthy as you read this letter. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding as we have been adjusting, like you, to the drastic changes in life during the last few weeks.

   

  With that, I am especially grateful to parents. I know that balancing work, family, and school isn’t easy for anyone. Family and work schedules are interwoven, and not in a good way. Suddenly being cast in the role of “teacher” caught you off guard. We hear your difficulties and frustrations, and teachers are working tirelessly to meet all families' needs.

   

  At the same time, as educators, we prioritize what is best for our students and deliver instruction accordingly. I have heard from parents concerned about the amount of screen time that is now required. We are mindful of this and feel the morning and closing meetings, along with recorded lessons allow students to connect, but also take breaks, work at their own pace, and hear instruction and concepts taught several times if needed.

   

  As a Lower School faculty, we recognize the connection between student and teacher is essential, and teachers have begun having one-on-one meetings with students and/or parents  It will take time to get to each family, so if you haven't connected with your teacher, they will be checking in with you soon.

   

  When you log in to your child’s class page on Sunday evening, you will find a new topics tab labeled, Zoom. There you will find all the links for any live meetings, such as morning and closing meetings, links to specialists' live check-ins, lunch gatherings, and play dates. We hope this makes it easier to find the links and get on-line than last week.

   

  We are also working on consolidating specialists communication for Grades 1 – 4. Please refer to the schedule below for which subject will be posting assignments and links for live zoom check-ins. Note, the kindergarten specials schedule will remain the same.

   

  April 13 - 17

  Parents in Grades 1 - 4 will receive a posting on Monday evening for music and PE classes. The posting will include assignments and live zoom check-in links for the week. Spanish, art, drama, library, and science, will post in the same manner and schedule as in past weeks.

   

  April 20 -24 

  Spanish, art. drama, library, and science will post begin posting weekly assignments and live zoom links for check-ins for Grades 1 - 4 on Monday evening.

   

  As teachers and administrators work through minor tweaks to the schedule, we continue to learn more about the logistics of remote learning. Similar to the upgrades Zoom is making to provide a secure and safe platform for its users, we also updated our Zoom settings to add another layer of protection for the Graland community. We realized this might have caused some hiccups on your end, but we hope that these challenges were resolved as the week continued. However, if you continue to experience technical difficulties, please do not hesitate to reach out to theHelpdesk (303-336-3733). There was also a communication from Marty Twarogowski, Director of Innovative Learning, discussing the Zoom Security and Privacy Update made to the Graland Parent/Student Handbook. 

   

  I wish you good health and happiness in the weeks ahead.

   

  Nan Remington

  Head of Lower School

• April 4, 2020

  Dear Lower School families,

  
  

  It has been an unusual month, to say the least. Last month (on most days), we knew how to balance work, school, soccer practices, dinner, and homework. This month nothing seems usual. But, taking a cue from Oprah, here are some things I know for sure.

  
  

  Teachers can provide a robust curriculum through remote learning. We are all aware it looks and feels different in the way the curriculum is delivered. Our teachers have developed a hybrid approach, where the learning is not completely asynchronous, but neither is it entirely synchronous.

  
  

  Teachers post a video of themselves explaining something, and assignments are given to reinforce the concepts and skills. Recorded lessons allow students to stop, listen again, and work at their own pace. Even when a teacher is “live” with the whole class, it is difficult to monitor a child’s understanding, give immediate feedback, and see who is focused.

  
  

  Teachers are available during their office hours to answer questions, provide clarification to support you and your child. Take advantage of this time where teachers can focus on your needs.

  
  

  Notifications for assignments can be provided earlier. Classroom teachers and specialists will be sending out the next day’s assignments by 5:00 p.m.

  
  

  Some families need structure, with a dose of flexibility. While the class schedule helps organize your child’s day if you see your child’s frustration growing or a lack of focus, take a break and come back to it later. 

    

  Your child’s teacher is balancing work and family, just like your household. When they are not on-line with your children, they are providing feedback on assignments, developing lesson plans, answering emails, collaborating with their team. Please try to correspond with your child’s teacher between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., so they have time to prepare for the next day and tend to their families' needs.

  
  

  We are grieving. We are grieving the loss of normalcy, loss of job situations, loss of events, games, trips, and the loss of not seeing loved ones and friends.

  
  

  This time will pass. We will be together again soon, and students will be back in the classroom setting again.  I am grateful to be in a community with teachers and families who are working together and riding through the bumps with grace and flexibility.

  
  

  Sincerely,

   

  Nan Remington

  Head of Lower School

• March 31, 2020

  LS First Day of Remote Learning
  
  Dear Families of Lower School Students,

   

  Congratulations on completing the first day of remote learning! The goal for today was to establish procedures, answer questions, and reconnect with teachers and friends. As I joined a few of the morning meetings, it was clear that the social and emotional piece of school life is an essential component for students. Yes, there were a few glitches, but overall a success!

   

  The pacing and assignment load this week will be purposefully light to allow students to become accustomed to a new way to do school. We anticipate some changes in the upcoming weeks, just as we would with any new mode of teaching. Next week we will be soliciting your feedback, but it is important to give teachers time to implement this new model.

   

  As we introduce remote learning to students this week, there have been a few requests for access to Graland’s campus to retrieve workbooks, school materials, and other personal items. To accommodate these requests, please email me with the items you need and where the items are located so that I can gather the materials. This information is due by Wednesday, April 1, 2020, by 12:30 p.m.

   

  Once I have compiled the requests, I will share this information with Juan Botello, who will email families on Friday, April 3, letting you know when you can come to campus to pick up your child’s materials on Saturday, April 4, 2020. To keep everyone safe, pick up will happen curbside as no one will be allowed onto the campus.

   

  Your patience, grace, and partnership are appreciated and needed this first week.

   

  Sincerely,

   

  Nan Remington

  Head of Lower School

• March 30, 2020

  Dear ECLC and Lower School Families,

   

  On Wednesday afternoon, I was able to connect with some parents and students when families came by to pick up materials and workbooks. It was just the lift I needed after attending virtual meetings for most of the week and sitting in front of a computer all day. These interactions helped me think about what the next few weeks of remote learning should look like for Lower School students. 

   

  It will be necessary for all of us to work together to provide a balanced day for children, one that involves academics, creative outlets, and movement. We will need parents to be involved by helping their children access assignments, maintaining a routine, and providing ample room and time for reflection, physical activity, conversation, and play.

   

  Graland teachers have been developing online content and finding innovative ways to teach remotely. Our faculty is committed to engaging your child academically with lessons and activities that will encourage them to think, problem-solve, practice current skills, and continue their grade-level curriculum. But it does require us all to work together.
  
  

  Thank you for your consistent support as we work together to deliver instruction during this challenging time. Do not hesitate to reach out to me with any issues or concerns.

   

  Stay healthy!

   

  Nan Remington

  Head of Lower School