A MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL MAYER
(From Wednesday's call to CMS families):
Hello Claremont Families! This is Mr. Mayer with a week four Distance Learning update! I hope folks have been enjoying the past two days of sunshine. As we continue with distance learning, teachers are holding office hours, posting video links and assignments on Google Classroom, and holding Zoom and Google Hangout sessions with updated security.
As noted in a recent newspaper article (from former Claremont mom Jill Tucker), we are being extra careful with internet security, particularly as it relates to information for any child. For this reason we have made a few changes
- Grade level letters on the CMS home learning options homepage are now only accessible to people with OUSD emails. If you need access, please email the owner, who is the grade level dean, and they will grant you access. (At this time little is changing on those emails, but we will send them out individually if there is a change worth noting).
- Google classroom codes are no longer on public documents, so if your child has still not accessed a classroom, they need to directly contact that teacher or grade level dean for access.
- ZOOM and meet links will also not be posted on public documents, and will be communicated through google classroom, email or talkingpoints. We will also use other security features such as secure login and waiting rooms.
Please check in with a grade level deans if you have questions and please continue to use our
Continuity of Learning Homepage at
ClaremontMS.org. It’s now in a box on the right side of the homepage! Also let us know if you have needs around computers and computer access.
Please make sure you do the 2020 Census. It is not too late! The Census helps our school funding! Get counted at
www.my2020census.gov. Also be sure to look at the posters that our students have created below in this edition of the Knightline.
There are a few updates with grading for the rest of the year as district guidance has changed slightly.
- 5th marking period will now go until April 24th. Grades will be Credit/No Credit.
- 6th marking period will begin April 27th and last until May 28th.
- Semester Grades will be Credit/no credit. Our teachers are determining what Credit/No Credit will mean in terms of how much work needs to be completed to get full credit for a class. We will share that information in next week’s robocall.
- Students will be held accountable for the work they are doing at this time. If they are struggling to complete work, please reach out to your grade level dean!
Office hours for teachers. We know that families have many different circumstances. We know some families are able to keep regular “school hours”, whereas others cannot get to work until later. Please know that teachers, many of whom have child care or other family responsibilities in the evening, will be keeping set hours, that are most likely during traditional school hours. You are welcome to reach out via email, or through google classroom comments, at any time, but understand that teachers may only be able to respond during set hours during the school day/week. If you are unable to get a hold of a teacher after 24 hours, please reach out to the grade level dean.
Please know that we are all working hard and trying to be creative with future learning opportunities for our students. Stay tuned for next week as we begin some “Fitness Challenges” and begin planning our 8th grade “Promotion”. If you have any suggestions and would like to help, please reach out to Mr. Galvan at eric.galvan@ousd.org
In Partnership.
Mr. Mayer
LOOKING FOR INTERNET OPTIONS?
Find a list of options for internet services and other distance learning resources on our homepage under the RESOURCES tab and in area noted in image below.
THE 2020 CENSUS
The Census helps our school funding! Get counted at www.my2020census.gov.
CENSUS POSTER CONTEST
A huge shout out to the following students who participated in the district Census Poster Contest — 6th grader Scarlett Pierson, 7th graders Sabina Giraldo-Ho and Logan Barthmaier, and 6th grader Hawa Khpalwak. These students submitted artwork in February for the District Contest. Although they did not win the district contest, they are winners at our school! Don't forget to complete the census — let your voice be heard because every person counts!
SEEKING LAWN SIGN PRINTING
Do you or someone you know have access to printing lawn signs? Please contact Mr. Galvan at Eric.galvan@ousd.org.
STUDENT VOICE IN CRITICAL TIMES SURVEY
Middle School and High School ACC students have created a Student Voice Survey. They are trying to get as many middle school students as possible to take the survey in the next few weeks. Please share with your students.
For more background and information about this survey and All City Council go here. You can access the survey in English, Spanish / Encuesta en Español, and Vietnamese / Khảo sát bằng tiếng việt.
From the PTA
OUR PTA (STILL) NEEDS YOU!
• President - runs board and general meetings, prepares agendas, works closely with the principal to support the school.
Current PTA President Shona Armstrong, "I was a bit worried about taking on the role of President, but I have found that of the roles I've held at Claremont this is one of the easiest. I enjoy getting to know the principal and have had a lot of fun on the PTA".
• VP of Fundraising - leads the Claremont fund campaign, assists the auction leads, and recruits leaders for the pancake breakfast. PLEASE NOTE -- fundraising goals have been adjusted to be attainable in our new economic reality.
Current VP of Fundraising, Michelle Quinn, "Serving on the Claremont board has been a lot of fun. I’ve enjoyed meeting parents, teachers and administrators, getting insights into how the school operates and feeling like I’m helping out. It’s a commitment but not too taxing."
• VP of Events -helps find leads for events like Rockridge Out & About, Pi / STEAM Night and more. This role can be shared by two people and attending the events is not necessary.
We have lead volunteers for the two major events (Out and About and STEAM night). The VP's role is to help provide support and be a liaison to the Board and administration.
Please contact Amy Golden, Miho Kubota, Eleanor Katari or Kira Don to learn more.
AUCTION PARTIES
All auction parties scheduled to take place before June 1st are cancelled.
We hope you will consider the price you paid for your tickets as a donation, but if you would like to request a refund, please contact auction@claremontms.org.
TIRED OF COOKING? MANY LOCAL RESTAURANTS ARE OPEN
Many favorite neighborhood restaurants are open for take-out and could really use our help during this time. Find out more via the Rockridge News online edition here (look for page 3).
ORDERING FROM AMAZON MORE THESE DAYS?
As much as we want to support our local businesses (see above), if you find yourself ordering from Amazon more than usual, don't forget to click on the AmazonSmile graphic shown on the Claremont homepage. Shop and select your purchases like you normally do and at checkout a portion of your total will go back to the PTA.
Community
COVID-19 RAPID RELIEF FUND FOR OAKLAND STUDENTS & SCHOOLS
The Oakland Public Education Fund, in partnership with OUSD, has launched the COVID-19 Rapid Relief Fund for Oakland Students & Schools. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we have already surpassed our Phase I goal of $1.4 million to serve students and families through April 7th.
Now that we know school will be closed for the rest of the year, we must continue to lift up the most vulnerable in our community. This difficult time has made evident the gaps in resources available to students and families in Oakland, and we cannot allow those gaps to grow.
100% of every donation will go directly to the Rapid Relief Fund!
The Oakland Public Education Fund is a nonprofit organization, Tax ID #43-2014630. To learn more and donate, go here.
STORY TIME IS GOOD FOR ALL AGES
On a fun note - Mr. Limata from Emerson Elementary is becoming well-known in his school community for his readings of children's books on Facebook Live. You can see his recorded storybooks or tune in for live readings at 10:30 AM on school days at Story Time with Mr. Limata. Good to watch even for adults when you need a break from scrolling the news!
Do you have an item for the Knightline?
Email your submission to news@claremontms.org. Submissions should be brief (100 to 200 words is best) and thoughtfully written, with essential times, dates and contact info included. Please remember that the Knightline is published by volunteers; extra care in preparing your item for publication will help us get your message out to the Claremont community.
