Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Parent Update-March 15, 2021

 Hello Little River Community!

Periodic updates are shared each week during the school year regarding school via phone, email, and text. See updates below!

Mark your calendars!

  • March 29-April 2-Spring Break

  • April 8-Middle Grades Students Return

News you can use!

  • Thank you to Derby Roasters for greeting the return of elementary staff on March 8 with coffee, hot chocolate and tea!

  • March 15 was a return to in-person instruction for elementary students and a return to our standard school time for both in-person and remote learning: 7:25am-2:15pm. The culmination of hard work and preparation by teachers, supportive partnership with families and PTO, and the interest and eagerness of our students, made for a successful transition!

  • To assist with academic and safety planning, students who have chosen virtual learning or in-person learning on the February 2021 Learning Preference Survey will remain in that learning environment until the end of the 2020-2021 school year.  In rare instances, consideration to return to in-person learning or to return to virtual learning will be given if an emergency or significant extenuating circumstance exists. The school will notify the family of the decision within five school days after receiving the request.Any parent/guardian requesting a change for their student’s learning preference should submit the Change of Learning Preference Parent Request form explaining their extenuating circumstance and be available to discuss the request with the school team.

  • Reminder to 5th grade Parents-Complete the intent survey (Eng & SPA) by March 26 regarding your middle school choice for your child!


Missed this week’s Sunday phone message? Click here!


Missed a birthday announcement? Watch GMBN!

Best,

CHogans


Monday, March 8, 2021

Parent Update-March 8, 2021

 Hello Little River Community!

Periodic updates are shared each week during the school year regarding school via phone, email, and text. See updates below!

Mark your calendars!

  • March 9, 6pm, Parent Information Session with Dr. Hogans

  • March 11, 6pm, Parent Information Session with Dr. Hogans

  • March 15-Elementary Students Return

  • March 29-April 2-Spring Break

News you can use!

  • The Durham Public Schools Board of Education at its reconvened meeting on March 2, 2021, reaffirmed its decision to offer in-person instruction as an option again in DPS beginning with elementary schools on March 15.  Middle schools will reopen on April 8. Little River elementary teachers may schedule asynchronous activity  March 8 and March 9, but should hold morning Zooms each of these days. The district has provided district days for asynchronous activity on the dates indicated below to also allow for room set up.

PRE-K &

ELEMENTARY GRADES

MIDDLE GRADES

REMOTE LEARNING DAYS*

March 10, 11, 12

April 5, 6, 7

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

March 15

April 8

  • This week Little River is making final preparations for students to return to school on March 15. Because of this elementary teachers might schedule asynchronous activity  on Monday and Tuesday of this week after the morning Zooms each of these days. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will be totally asynchronous to also allow for preparations for return to in-person instruction. We greatly appreciate the support of our PTO and parent community in helping transition back to in-person instruction safely. Information about the start of school, updated schedule, and in-person and virtual assignments will be shared this week. Middle grades will continue as normal for this week.


Missed this week’s Sunday phone message? Click here!


Missed a birthday announcement? Watch GMBN!

Please reply REMOVE if you desire to not receive these updates.

Best,

CHogans


Monday, March 1, 2021

Parent Update-March 1, 2021

 Hello Little River Community!

Periodic updates are shared each week during the school year regarding school via phone, email, and text. See updates below!

Mark your calendars!

  • March 15-Elementary Students Return

  • March 29-April 2-Spring Break

News you can use!

  • Following the closed session of the DPS Board of Education meeting on February 25, the Board has recessed its meeting until 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, to revisit its discussion of the start date for in-person learning pending Governor Cooper’s action on SB 37.

  • The PTO created an Amazon wish list with input from teachers and administration to help provide needed supplies and materials for returning to the classroom as safely as possible. We are so excited to announce that an anonymous donor is going to MATCH the dollar amount of all items purchased through this wish list from now until March 13th, up to $2000! This means that if anyone purchases $50 worth of supplies from the wish list, not only will those items be sent to the school, but an additional $50 will be given to the PTO by this donor to purchase additional supplies as needed for reopening safely. Link to wish list. Little River is grateful for the incredible community support, and although we are in uncertain times, it's heartening to see our community come together to support our teachers and kids.

  • Families of 5th graders at Little River are presented with the unique opportunity for your child to continue at Little River for middle school (grades 6, 7, & 8).  This week fifth grade teachers will share the link to the Letter of Intent to express commitment for the 2021-22 school year for the Little River middle grades program.  

  • EMILY K CENTER RECRUITING STUDENTS

Find below an application-based, selective academic programs at the Emily K Center:

  • Pioneer Scholars (grades 1-8): a free, academic enrichment program serving academically-focused elementary and middle school students in Durham County who aspire to attend college after high school. The goal of the program is to establish a strong foundation of academic and leadership skills so that students enter high school ready to excel in a rigorous college preparatory curriculum that will put them on the path to admission at select colleges and universities. (Director-Nephitearya Bailey Singleton: nbailey@emilyk.org)    

  • Virtual Open House Dates for Families

    • Tuesday, March 2nd from 6pm-7pm OR 

    • Tuesday, March 9th from 6pm-7pm

    • Families can register for the Zoom sessions here: bit.ly/EKCOPENHOUSE (no deadline)

  • FREE RIDE To Get Your Vaccination! Both GoDurham and GoTriangle are offering free shared rides to and from COVID-19 vaccination appointments in Durham County. Please call at least 24 hours in advance to schedule your ride. GoDurham: 919-560-1551. More info: godurhamtransit.org/covid-19-updates GoTriange: 919-485-7582, More info: gotriangle.org/covid-19-updates-0

Missed this week’s Sunday phone message? Click here!


Missed a birthday announcement? Watch GMBN!

Best,

CHogans


Monday, February 22, 2021

Parent Update-February 22, 2021

 February 22

Hello Little River Community!

Periodic updates are shared each week during the school year regarding school via phone, email, and text. See updates below!

Mark your calendars!

  • February 24-6pm-PTO Parent Information Session about Return-to-Instruction

  • March 29-April 2-Spring Break

News you can use!

  • During an emergency meeting of the DPS Board of Education on February 18, board members voted to move forward with the administration’s plan for returning students to the classroom in light of Senate Bill 37. Little River is finalizing plans for students to return to school by March 15. Thank you to the over 56% of you who have already completed the learning preference survey! We need for all families to complete the preference survey. You can access the survey here. PTO will host a parent information session with Dr. Hogans on Wednesday, February, 24, 6pm to answer questions about the pending return to school.


Missed this week’s Sunday phone message? Click here!


Missed a birthday announcement? Watch GMBN!

Best,

CHogans


Monday, February 15, 2021

Parent Update-February 15, 2021

 February 15

Hello Little River Community!

Periodic updates are shared each week during the school year regarding school via phone, email, and text. See updates below!

Mark your calendars!

  • February 15-Teacher Workday/Remote Learning Day

  • March 29-April 2-Spring Break

News you can use!

  • Following legislation that calls for the return of students to in-person learning, the Durham Public Schools Superintendent and Board of Education discussed the impact of the pandemic on the district and how they hope to move forward during the February 11 Board work session. Senate Bill 37 would require DPS and all other state school districts to provide daily in-person instruction (Plan A) to all students with an Individualized Education Program or Section 504 plan, and either daily in-person instruction (Plan A) or moderate social distancing (Plan B) for all other students in grades kindergarten through 12. School boards would have the authority to close individual schools or classrooms due to COVID-19 exposures on a day-to-day basis. Because Senate Bill 37 requires in-person learning to begin within 15 days of its passage, DPS is finalizing a plan for returning to school if the bill becomes law.  This plan includes surveying our families to determine their preferences for all students in grades PreK-12.  Due to SB 37’s changes, all families must complete the new survey even if they have responded to previous DPS surveys. The survey will be available via the DPS website to families beginning Monday, Feb. 15 and will close on Wednesday, Feb. 24. The data from this survey will allow DPS to continue to plan for the possible return of students to the classroom.

  • The Durham County Dept. of Public Health is sharing information about P-EBT with schools to help ensure that all eligible families are able to access this important resource. The P-EBT program helps families buy food when school is closed because of COVID-19. The P-EBT program distributed funds in the spring and fall and it is being extended through September 2021. Students who received free and reduced lunch last year are automatically enrolled in the P-EBT program. However, families who are new to DPS or families who have had a recent change in income may be eligible for P-EBT. Families can complete the school lunch application to determine if they qualify for free and reduced lunch. Those who qualify will automatically be enrolled in the P-EBT program. Review this Fact Sheet in both English and Spanish about the P-EBT program with additional information about how to enroll. Some families may be concerned about P-EBT affecting their immigration status. It does not affect immigration status. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to get P-EBT. 

  • The ETA chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International Society of Women in Education presents The First Annual Coffee and Culture Multicultural Book Drive. This is a collection of multicultural books for Black History Month, that will be donated to Pre K through 12th grade students in the Durham community. The goal is to collect 1,000 books! It is planned for two weekends, Saturday, February 20th and 27th from 9:00am-12:00pm at the collection site of Pearsontown Elementary, 4915 Barbee Road, Durham 27713. Every car that comes through will be served coffee as they donate books. 


Missed this week’s Sunday phone message? Click here!


Missed a birthday announcement? Watch GMBN!

Best,

CHogans


Monday, February 8, 2021

Parent Update-February 8, 2021

 Hello Little River Community!

Periodic updates are shared each week during the school year regarding school via phone, email, and text. See updates below!

Mark your calendars!

  • February 8-SIL Meeting, 3:45pm

  • February 15-Teacher Workday/Remote Learning Day

News you can use!

  • Thank you to those of you who came out to the PTO meeting last Monday evening. Please visit the PTO webpage and newsletter for updates on how you can support your child’s Little River experience!

  • Our School Improvement-Leadership Team will meet Monday afternoon (February 8) at 3:45pm. 


Missed this week’s Sunday phone message? Click here!


Missed a birthday announcement? Watch GMBN!

Best,

CHogans


Monday, February 1, 2021

Parent Update-February 1, 2021

 February 1

Hello Little River Community!

Periodic updates are shared each week during the school year regarding school via phone, email, and text. See updates below!

Mark your calendars!

  • February 1-PTO Meeting, 6pm

  • February 15-Teacher Workday/Remote Learning Day


News you can use!

  • National School Counseling Week is this week! Take a few moments to send a note of appreciation to our very own Ms. Finnigan and Ms. Bruce! We appreciate all they do to help make Little River the best school at 2315 Snow Hill Road!

  • #DPSCELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH, launching DPS’ #DPS Celebrates/ #DPSBeyond28 series for Black History month. Join DPS LIVE to explore a gallery of community dreams launched by KidsVotingDurham’s MLK’s Day #Dreams4Durham campaign.  Visit celebrate.dpsnc.net  for links to LIVE events.

  • From the Durham County Department of Public Health: In this video Health Director Rod Jenkins provides updates on numbers of vaccines Durham has provided; new ways to schedule vaccine appointments; Durham County’s new partnership with the NC National Guard, and an additional way to find vaccine data.

Missed this week’s Sunday phone message? Click here!


Missed a birthday announcement? Watch GMBN!

Best,

CHogans