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August 3, 2020
Danforth Jr. High Newsletter
Monday, August 3rd, 2020
Principal’s Message
So how we feeling out there? I’ve talked to a lot of parents and the answer to “how you feeling” seems to run the gamut from “Let’s get started NOW! ….to…… “I’m just not sure how any of this will ever work”. I truly wish I had all the best answers and could reassure everyone but this is such new territory for all of us. I have always known and continue to know that we are in a partnership with all of you reading this. We can’t ever be completely successful without each other. We need our wonderful parents and guardians working with our spectacular teachers and staff to get to a place that’s great for our kids. And that’s the thing……this is all – every bit of it – for the good of your children. These 11, 12, 13 and 14 year olds deserve our best and they’re going to get it.
So let me share some info with you about the structure of these Newsletters. My message contains various bits of information that pertain to the majority of students. Below my name you’ll see info about specific activities. You’ll see who those messages apply to by reading the top of each section.
So here we go with my part this week. We’ll have an Open House on Monday, Aug. 17th. In the coming days we’ll send out a detailed description of the logistics of how our Open House will work but families will be appropriately scheduled throughout that day so we don’t have 600 families in the building at one time. The Open House will not be mandatory. Every bit of the information shared in-person at the Open House will also be shared online by the teachers. As I said…….more info on that in the coming days.
The first day of school is Wednesday, August 19th. The anxiety of what to wear and how to open a locker has been replaced this year with…….”what does any of this look like?”. That first day of school will start at 8 am but it will look very different from anything we’ve ever done. And that’s ok. As you know, even if you chose the option for face to face learning, that option can’t begin for anyone on this campus until Sept. 8th. So that first day at 8 am our students will log in to their first period class. Your child’s teacher will have communicated instructions to the students on their roster. Asynchronous students will log in at their own pace, but will do work sometime during that day. Families who do not have Wifi capability will have been contacted about how school work can be completed. Of course, I hope it will all happen as I’ve written it here but the truth is – this is first time we’ve tried all of this and we’ll make adjustments where needed to reach everyone.
And again, it’s about our students. We have spent years preaching “get in the building and in a desk”. That model for some of our students is gone for the foreseeable future. The version of school we all knew before March 13th, 2020 is gone. In this new school year we will teach virtually and students will learn virtually in real time. We will also teach in person and students will learn in person. And we will teach by posting lessons online and students will access their lessons through Google Classroom……..and they will also learn.
And even though there still seems to be an endless stream of questions……..we will find a good path forward that meets the educational and safety needs……..for your child.
As I said last week, if you continue to have questions please email me at greg.howard@wimberleyisd.net or give me a call at 512-847-2181.
Thanks for taking a look at the Newsletter.
Greg Howard, Principal
In the next few days
Wednesday, Aug. 5th & Thursday, Aug. 6th
New Student Registration at Danforth – Call 512-847-2181 for more info
Monday, August 17th
Open House – details coming soon
More detailed info about other Danforth activities
From Nicole Royal, 8th grade honors teacher This message is for 8th grade honors English students only.
Hello, I hope you have spent your summer relaxing a bit and working on your summer reading packet. Packets will be due Thursday, August 20, 2020, and they will be a test grade. The packets can be submitted in the following ways:
1. Take pictures or scan each page of the assignment and submit them digitally in the google classroom assignment titled "And Then There Were None Summer Reading Packet" by 11:59 p.m. on 8/20/20. You will have access to this on the first day of school, 8/19/20.
or
2. Bring the packet to the Danforth office and place it in the basket labeled "8th Grade Honors English" before 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20th. Packets can also be submitted in the office prior to 8/20/20. When you submit your packet, please DO NOT return your book. We will be working on a few things with it through the first couple of weeks of school. If neither of these options work for you, or you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at nicole.royal@wimberleyisd.net or at (210) 816-1445 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
I look forward to getting to know all of you and having an amazing year! Mrs. Royal
From Stephanie Carter, 7th and 8th grade Girls Athletics Coordinator
This message is only for Girls participating in 7th or 8th grade Athletics.
Please make sure all paperwork is turned in prior to the first day of school. Since that is virtual it can be emailed to stephanie.carter@wimberleyisd.net or physically dropped off at the JH front office. Follow this link to access the packet https://www.wimberleyisd.net/Page/1352
Also, please make sure your email is up to date in Skyward. As we get closer to the first day of school I will be sending out emails via Skyward. All athletic programs will use an app called SportsYou, it is free to join and the JH Girls code is 56FUD4WL. Please let me know if you have any questions concerning paperwork at stephanie.carter@wimberleyisd.net
Thank you, Coach Carter
From Jeremy Mauk, 7th and 8th grade Boys Athletics Coordinator
This message is only for Boys participating in 7th or 8th grade Athletics Junior High Football is set to start up on the first day of school, Wednesday, August 19th. More information should be available over the next few days through the sportsyou app. To join, go to sportsyou.com and sign up for Wimberley JH Boys. Here is the code: QJTN7GGL. Off season will start that day as well but will be through the virtual learning online. Off season doesn’t need to come in person till Sept. 8th. Any questions, please contact Coach Mauk at jeremy.mauk@wimberleyisd.net.