April 9, 2020

From the Head of School

The Strength of Our Community

Dear Families,

I hope this finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy at home. As we reach the end of our second week of distance learning, I want to ask for your feedback on how it's going so far. We have put together a short parent survey that should take less than 10 minutes to complete (link below). The survey will remain open until Monday. Thank you in advance for providing input that will help make this experience the best it can be for students, parents and teachers.

I also want to thank teachers for their incredible commitment under challenging circumstances. They have shown a flexibility and creativity that is truly inspiring. Likewise, I want to thank parents. The connection between home and school has always been a bedrock of Foote's approach to learning, but never have we relied on your partnership so directly. Please know that the commitment you are showing to your children's education has been a source of strength for all of us.

Many members of our community are celebrating religious holidays today or this weekend and for many, they unfortunately cannot be celebrated in the company of loved ones. Whether or not you are celebrating, I hope the long weekend will provide an opportunity to spend time with your immediate families and focus on the things that are most important right now: appreciating what we have, being kind to others, finding ways to lift one another up and understanding the importance of our responsibilities to our communities and society.

Beginning next week, we'll be offering several opportunities to gather as a community online to learn, celebrate, unwind and support one another (read on for details). As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with anything that is on your mind.

With gratitude,

Carol Maoz

Head of School

Parent Feedback Survey

All School News

New Distance Learning Pages

We have launched new pages on our website for Distance Learning links and resources. Please note: the old pages will be removed this weekend, so please update your bookmarks!

New Distance Learning Main Page
Distance Learning for Grades K–5
Distance Learning for Grades 6–9
Foote's Response to COVID-19
Submit photos or videos of your distance learning
If you need tech support, please email the Foote Help Desk at helpdesk@footeschool.org.

Parent Reminders

Calendar Reminder & Update

Reminder

There will be no school/distance learning tomorrow, Friday, April 10, in observance of the Good Friday holiday.

Update

Friday, April 17 will be a regular school day (letter day F). The faculty professional development day has been rescheduled for Friday, April 24; there will be no school that day.

Parent Forum

"Emotional Wellbeing in Uncertain Times"

Featuring:

Dr. Michael Kaplan, Foote consulting pediatric psychiatrist

Kossouth Bradford, Foote School counselor

Wednesday, April 15

8:00 p.m.

Zoom Meeting link

Kossouth and Michael will talk about ways to support your child(ren) and families during these uncertain times, and answer parent questions.

Zoom Meeting Link

All School News

Show Us How #FooteLearns

Parents are invited to share photos, videos, anecdotes, screenshots, examples of their children's work, etc. that will be shared in the weekly e-newsletter, our website and social media.

Share distance learning stories on your own social media accounts using the hashtag #FooteLearns to connect with others in our community.

Next week, we are asking for photos around two specific themes:

Writing: Send us a piece of student writing, or a video of your child reading something.
Community Service: Send photos or videos of students doing their part to help our communities during the pandemic.

Thank you for helping us to document this unusual chapter in Foote School's history!

Share a Photo, Video or Story

Special Event

Live Music Performance: April 21

Isabella Mendes

Brazilian singer-songwriter, pianist, composer, educator

Tuesday, April 21

6:30 p.m.

Watch for a Zoom link in next week's newsletter

*Appropriate for the whole family*

Isabella Mendes, a native of São Paulo whose work is rooted in Brazilian jazz and bossa nova, will perform for the Foote community. She will share her story and music and hold a Q&A.

This event is being sponsored by MOSAIC (Multicultural, Open-Minded, Supportive, Accepting, Inclusive Community), an all-volunteer group of parents, faculty, staff that organizers enriching speaker events for the Foote community.

All School News

Foote School Association Annual Meeting

Please join the annual joint meeting of the Foote School Association and Parent Teacher Council on April 22 at 10 a.m. Head of School Carol Maoz will make a few remarks and the Association will elect new members to the Foote School Board of Directors. All parents and guardians of Foote students are members of the Foote School Association and are eligible to participate. Please refer to the email sent home on April 7 for further details.

> Zoom Meeting Link

Meeting ID: 388 538 409

Video

Distance Learning Week 2

As families navigated another week of distance learning and uncertainty, images of creative and happy learning filled our inbox! Barefoot children exploring a riverbank; beautiful mandalas made of spring flowers, feathers and seashells; siblings helping younger brothers and sisters learn to count or read; positivity stones with uplifting messages; a map of ancient Greece drawn by hand with precision; hiking to an inspiring lookout on a gorgeous spring day.

Amid the upheaval, Foote is showing itself to be a resilient community guided by dedicated teachers and parents working harder than ever to provide inspiration and continuity through an unprecedented time.

Watch Video