The Marshall Owl Hoots
Sharing News About...
From the Administrators...
We were having a great time at Marshall when suddenly, schools were closed. There was a pandemic: COVID-19. There were signs that something was brewing. Just days before, from March 11th through 13th, we held "remote parent-teacher conferences." People were afraid to sit face-to-face due to the spread of coronavirus. Communication was shared regarding travel to and from certain countries. We talked more and more about the importance of washing hands frequently for at least 20 seconds. The Marshall Staff created a "Wash Your Hands" video (see below) and instead of showing it at a school-wide assembly, we decided that it would be shown in the students' individual classrooms. Moreover, attendance was the lowest it had ever been as concerned parents began to keep their children home. Yes...there were very clearly signs. On March 13th just after 2 PM, stakeholders received an email from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ronald Taylor informing us that schools would be closed for two weeks.
With little to no experience in distance learning, we were suddenly thrust into it. We knew after Governor Murphy signed Executive Order 107 on March 21st closing down many businesses and directing residents to stay indoors that this was serious. The District began to work on ensuring that every family who responded to the District technology survey indicating a need for a device received a Chromebook. Wearing masks and gloves (and practicing social distancing), Marshall staff members carefully disinfected each Chromebook and packed it in its own baggie with a charger. We distributed over 60 Chromebooks to Marshall families on March 24th. We ultimately received another communication from Superintendent Taylor informing us that schools would remain closed through April 17th. Teachers began to ferociously prepare instructional videos. Other professionals in our school began to make preparations to deliver services remotely.
We want to express our gratitude to families for their understanding during this challenging time as we began to make quick, unplanned adjustments. School as we know it has changed and we have all been impacted - teachers, families, and of course, the children, but we are resilient! We will continue to teach and our students will continue to learn!
Stay home if you can, wash your hands frequently, and practice social distancing! We hope to see you all again very soon...IN SCHOOL!
Mrs. Horn and Mrs. Swyberius
Character Education Assembly
On Tuesday, March 3rd, Marshall held its monthly character education assembly. We celebrated the students' efforts to exhibit patience during the month of February and introduced our new character trait: kindness. We discussed that kindness means showing others they are valuable by how you treat them. The March Principal's Book of the Month was introduced at this assembly: The Invisible Boy written by Trudy Ludwig and illustrated by Patrice Barton. The book is about Brian, the invisible boy, who no one seems to notice or include in activities. A new student joins the class and Brian is the first to make him feel welcome. For the first time, Brian's gifts are noticed, he is truly seen, and he begins to shine! After hearing this text, we want students to understand the importance of being kind to others as well as being inclusive.
NOTE: Typically, Mrs. Horn and Mrs. Swyberius would read the book to each class. The pandemic interrupted their ability to do so. A link was shared for students in their Google Classrooms of Mrs. Horn doing a read aloud of the text. You may also access this read aloud on You Tube (link below).
Sustainable Marshall - The Marshall Green Team Kickoff!
On March 3rd students gathered in the cafetorium for a school wide Recycling Assembly! A group of Marshall Staff members has launched a Marshall Green Team in an effort to create environmentally friendly initiatives at Marshall that will teach our students how to protect the planet by conserving its resources, reducing waste, and recycling whenever possible. During the assembly, the Marshall Green Team Teachers performed two recycling skits, the students watched an informative slideshow about how recycling works and what items can be recycled and the entire school recited our new recycling chant together! (see the chant below) Everyone was excited to kick off our recycling project in earnest! After the assembly all classes signed a recycling pledge and received reminder signs for their classroom recycling bins. We are excited to pick up where we left off as soon as we return to school! Please remind your children of their pledge and talk with them about recycling and energy conservation while they are learning from home!
Recycling Chant
Let's recycle...it's fantastic!
Look around, there’s so much plastic.
Don’t forget about paper and glass
Recycle together with your family and class.
We can keep the environment clean
Recycling is FUN and we are proud to be
GREEN!
Read-a-Thon Assembly
Marshall students participated in the Read-a-Thon from January 6th through January 31st. They were rewarded with a variety of prizes and incentives - both as a class and as individuals. Classes on each grade level that read the most each week were rewarded with extra recess. The classes on each grade level that read the most overall had a silly string assembly with Mrs. Horn and Mrs. Swyberius. Individually, all students received bookmarks for their participation. Students who read the most on each grade level each week were invited to participate in the human sundae activity, with Mrs. Horn and Mrs. Swyberius as the "human volunteers." Students on each grade level who read the most overall received gift cards to Words Bookstore in Maplewood. We are very proud of our winners (listed below) as well as of all our readers!
Class Prizes
1. Weekly Prize— Extra Recess:
· Ms. Kiess, Kindergarten Class (Weeks 2 & 4)
· Ms. Wood, Kindergarten Class (Weeks 1 & 3)
· Ms. Rotondo, 1st Grade Class (Weeks 1, 2, & 4)
· Ms. Gregory, 1st Grade Class (Week 3)
· Mr. Martinez, 2nd Grade Class (Weeks 1, 2, 3, & 4)
· Ms. Hart, Mixed Grade Class (Week 4)
· Ms. Olsen, Mixed Grade Class (Weeks 1, 2, & 3)
2. Grand Prize— Silly String Extra Assembly:
· Kindergarten: Ms. Kiess
· 1st Grade: Ms. Rotondo
· 2nd Grade: Mr. Martinez
· Mixed Grades: Ms. Olsen
Individual Prizes
1. All Students—Bookmarks
2. Weekly Prize—Invitation to Participate in the Human Sundae Activity:
Kindergarten
o Emma C., Ms. Woods (Weeks 1, 2, & 3)
o June D., Ms. Intile (Week 4)
First Grade
o Nicholas T., Ms. Lincoln (Week 1)
o Sophia F., Ms. Tinari (Week 2)
o Batu N., Ms. Stitt (Week 3)
o Tyler C., Ms. Lincoln (Week 4)
Second Grade:
o Ela A., Steiner (Week 1)
o Barret P., Martinez (Weeks 2 & 4)
o Caden S., Martinez (Week 3)
3. Grand Prize—Words Gift Cards:
Kindergarten:
o Emma C., Ms. Woods
o June D., Ms. Intile
o Felix N., Ms. Woods
First Grade:
o Sophia F., Ms. Tinari
o Tyler C., Ms. Lincoln
o Batu N., Ms. Stitt
Second Grade:
o Barret P., Ms. Martinez
o Caden S., Ms. Martinez
o Lily M., Ms. Olsen
Upcoming Events
April 13th - 17th - School closed for Spring Recess
April 20th - Anticipated return to school