The Collins Weekly Update

March 19, 2021 

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NEXT WEEKS SCHEDULE

Grades 3-5
Monday and Tuesday - Cohort A

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday - Cohort B
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IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES:

• April 5th -  3rd - 5th Grade Hybrid students will start in-person instruction for five days a week.  

SPRING BREAK

• March 29 - April 2nd  - Closed for Spring Break.  Please note- quarantine time is 7 days with a negative test (on day 3-5 of return)  or 10 days from return to New Jersey. Please check with the nurse and report ANY TRAVEL before returning to school on April 5th.
• If you are planning on traveling please email pbowman@livingston.org. Please include the destination and exact date of return so we can determine if quarantine is necessary. 
• As per Dr. Block’s message to parents on March 5th please note:
• It is essential to the health and safety of our entire school community that the Daily Covid Tracker form be filled out completely and accurately each day. Going forward, if it is discovered that the Daily COVID Tracker Form has been filled out inaccurately, and the presence of a student in our schools could negatively impact the health and safety of our school community (ie. not truthfully reporting travel or symptoms) the student will immediately be moved to the full-remote learning model. 

ATTENDANCE REMINDERS

• Students who choose the in-person option are expected to be in school every day. 
• If a hybrid student logs on from home they will be marked absent  (Please note that there is a chance that the teacher may not be available for remote learning). 
• The only exception is if the student is in quarantine due to COVID 19 restriction.  Students Absence - Call Attendance line to report specific illness reason for student’s absence.

MEDIA

Be sure to ask your child about some of the books we have been reading in school! Mrs. Stafford and Mrs. Carter continue to select books that promote purposeful discourse and celebrate diversity. 

K - Happy In Our Skin by Fran Manushkin

1 - Mr. George Baker by Amy Hest

2 - Niko Draws a Feeling - by Bob Raczka

3 - My Name is Yoon by  Helen Recorvits 

4 - 47 Strings: Tessa’s Secret Code by Becky Carey

5 - The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hajib and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K.

The Collins Weekly Update

1/22/2021

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Next week 

Monday, Tuesday, and Friday are Cohort A Days. 

Wednesday and Thursday are Cohort B Days. 

• In-person PE will begin on January 29th.  Our PE department continues to find ways to engage our kiddos in a safe and socially distant manner.
• K/5 Buddies will begin in February. More information on this will be coming from your teachers next week. 
• January continues to be  devoted to the topic of Resiliency.  Stay tuned for our February Kickoff- Kindness and Compassion. 
• Please join us for Bingo Night on February 4th. Make sure to

register for Collins Bingo Night event on the PTO website. There is no charge for

this event but you must be a Collins PTO member to sign up. Prizes will be offered for the winners of each game. If you have questions, email

mindy.p.fox@gmail.com
 

​​​2021-2022 KINDERGARTEN PRE-REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Calling all families who have a child turning five years old on or before October 1, 2021 - they are eligible for Kindergarten in September 2021!  Even if you already have a child in Livingston Public Schools, you still need to register your incoming Kindergartener by May 14, 2021.

REMOTE appointments begin Monday, February 1, 2021 and will continue through Friday, May 14, 2021. REMOTE 30-minute appointments will be available from 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m and 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.  For detailed information, please visit our Kindergarten Pre-Registration webpage.

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The Collins Weekly Update

12/22/2020 

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As we conclude 2020, and break for the Winter holiday, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all who help make Collins an amazing place to be! From the classroom, to our living rooms and all points in-between, our collective efforts to provide a sound educational experience for each child is filled with passion and dedication. Please enjoy the quality time with your loved ones during this break. Here's to hoping you make the most of 2021! May the new year bring you peace, joy, and happiness.

Wednesday, December 23rd is an all remote day ending at 12:45pm.

Remote instruction will take place beginning on
Monday, January 4th ending on Friday, January 15th.

• As currently scheduled, all schools will be closed on January 18th for the Martin Luther King Jr Holiday.
• All schools will begin hybrid in person instruction at the regular time on Monday, January 19, 2021. This is a Cohort A Day.

The Collins Weekly Update

12/11/2020 

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Monday, Tuesday, and Friday - Cohort A

Wednesday & Thursday - Cohort B 

• Please note that December 18th is a Cohort A Day. 
• Report Cards will be available on Genesis after 3 pm on December 16th. 
• If you are scheduled to be in school and you decide to have your child work remotely you MUST call the call for safety.
• As a reminder, remote instruction will take place beginning on Monday, January 4th and ending on Friday, January 15th.
• As currently scheduled, all schools will be closed on January 18th for the Martin Luther King Jr Holiday.
• All schools will begin instruction at the regular time on Monday, January 19, 2021. This is a Cohort A Day.
• The January to March Cohort calendar is attached. 

Cohort Schedule

The Collins Weekly Update

11/13/2020 

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Week of November 16th 

Monday, Tuesday, and Friday (Cohort A) 

Wednesday and Thursday (Cohort B) 
 

1. All fifth graders are welcome to attend our team building event on Monday, November 16th from 1:30 to 3:15.  Ms. Gronek, Mr. Purdue, and Mrs. Carter have done an exceptional job designing this event that promotes collaboration and teamwork. T-shirts will be distributed upon arrival and there will be pictures taken at 3:00. Drop off and pick up will be in the rear of the school on the soccer field.
    
2. Collins Picture Day is scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday November 17th for Cohort A and Wednesday, November 18th for Cohort B. Individual photos will be taken only. Students must bring in the completed form or pay online ahead of time in order to take their photo. Attached is the flyer with the pay code and information.
    
3. All virtual students are invited to take their photo either Tuesday, November 17th or Wednesday, November 18th from 12:30 - 1:30. You MUST complete this form to sign up for the correct day. https://forms.gle/KWiChWXGerqwbARd6
    
4. Calling all 5th Graders - Collins Cares Club needs your help -  Our goal this year will be to work together to make our school and community a better place. We will meet once a month to organize, plan and of course have fun. Use the Google Form below to sign up and Mrs. Baird and Mrs. Pannia will send you an email with details about our first meeting!  https://forms.gle/KBvumNF7s4P9cLyf7

The Collins Weekly Update

10/30/2020

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• November 2nd is Cohort A Day. Students will come to school and be dismissed at their typical time (starting 12:30pm). Closing Circle will not occur on this day as teachers will be conducting conferences. 

• November 3rd is Election Day and no students are permitted in the building. All students must log on for their morning meeting. At this time teachers will explain the asynchronous work for the day. Students are to log back on for specials. Specialists will provide their Zoom link for students. Closing Circle will not occur on this day as teachers will be conducting conferences. 

• November 4th is Cohort B Day. Students will come to school and be dismissed at their typical time (starting at 12:30). Closing Circle will not occur on this day as teachers will be conducting conferences

• There is no school on Thursday, November 5th and Friday, November 6th. 

• Updated Zoom links for conferences are attached to this email and can be found on the Collins website

• Please make sure to Call for Safety x7102 if there is change in your child's attendance for any reason.  For a variety of reasons, it is necessary to provide the reason why you elected to keep your child home on an in person day. 

The Collins Weekly Update

10/23/2020 

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Week of October 26th

Monday & Tuesday (Cohort A) 

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (Cohort B) 

• Our Halloween class parties will look a little different this year. Class parents will be hosting an outdoor activity with the entire class during the week of the 26th. Please remember these events are for students and class parents only. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Class parents and teachers will share the details with each class. 

• We will be having 2 Halloween Parades on Friday, October 30th. Specific details will be sent out next week. 
• Halloween Parade 1 @ 1:15pm (K - 2)
• Halloween Parade Parade 2  @ 2:00pm (3- 5)

(Parades are for students and parents only) 

• Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on November 2, 3 and 4.  Please note that school is open on November 2nd and 4th. November 2nd is an A day and November 4th is a B day. November 3rd (Election Day) is an all remote day for students and staff. On this day, students will have a live morning meeting with live specials along with asynchronous assignments for the day. Teachers will be conducting conferences throughout the entire day on November 3rd. 
  
  
• To schedule your parent teacher conferences for November 2, 3 or 4 please visit:  https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Collins_Elementary_School_1
  
  
• Reminder school is closed on Thursday and Friday, November 5th and 6th