Sep. 1-Mar. 3: Applications for the 2021-2020 School Year Available Online

Oct. 9: No School Students/ Staff Professional Development

Oct. 12: No School

Oct. 19: Board of Trustees Meeting 6:00 PM

Reminder: No School for Student Friday, October 9^th and Monday, October 12^th.

Hello Families,

One month of virtual learning is in the books! Everyone is working exceptionally hard to make this as successful as possible and we thank you for your support. Our teachers have been learning new technology and teaching practices to help deliver meaningful learning. This is a new learning curve for everyone involved and requires patience, kindness and communication. Our technology department and staff are working to resolve laptop and hotspot issues in a timely manner so there is as little impact as possible on your child’s live learning sessions. We appreciate you reaching out to your child’s teacher when technology problems arise, however, please understand the classroom teacher cannot pause their instruction throughout the day and will refer you to the technology department using our helpdesk process. Here are some helpful tips that you can try for the most common problems: 

Laptop slowness, a program not opening, something stopped working:

Restart the computer. You can do this by clicking the start menu button in the bottom right of the screen and then clicking Power > Restart.

Laptop frozen/unresponsive – keyboard and touchpad do not see to do anything:

Hard restart the computer. You can do this by holding down the power button on the computer for about 10 seconds. This will cause the computer to instantly turn off. Then let go and wait a few seconds. Finally, press the power button to turn the computer back on.

Wireless Internet disconnecting, wireless Internet slowness or other wireless Internet issues:

If other devices on the same wireless network are working fine, then try restarting the laptop. Also, try moving the laptop closer to the wireless router. 

If other devices on the same wireless network are not working fine, then the problem is most likely either with the wireless router or with the environment. Try turning off the wireless router for 1 minute and then turning it back on (at your own discretion if this is your equipment). Otherwise, the problem may be with the environment. If there are many wireless Internet signals within range of your computer (e.g., if you have many nearby neighbors broadcasting wireless Internet signals), this can cause wireless interference which can cause sporadic disconnects and other issues. One tip for advanced users in this situation is to adjust your wireless router to use a 5Ghz signal on a wireless channel that is not currently in use by your neighbors.

Problem with speakers/headphones/hearing audio:

Ensure the volume on your computer is turned up. Click the speaker icon   in the bottom right of your screen (near the clock) and turn up the volume. Also, ensure that the volume in the system/website/tool that you are using is turned up if applicable. For example, YouTube videos have their own volume controls right within the video window.

If you have a problem with your computer speakers not being loud enough, try using headphones. If you have a problem with your headphones, try using your computer speakers, or try a different pair of headphones. We find that USB headphones are the most reliable.

Problem with microphone/speaking audio so others can hear you:

If in Google Meet, be sure to unmute yourself by clicking the unmute button. Also, be sure to click ALLOW when you first join the Google Meet so that your computer has permission to access your camera and microphone so that others can see and hear you.

You can test your microphone by going to google.com and clicking on the microphone button within the search bar. If Google can hear your voice, then your microphone is working fine. If not, then restart your computer and try again.

If the microphone built into your computer does not seem to be working, try using a USB headset or USB microphone.

Problem with video so others cannot see you:

If in Google Meet, be sure to turn on your camera by clicking the camera button. Also, be sure to click ALLOW when you first join the Google Meet so that your computer has permission to access your camera and microphone so that others can see and hear you.

Computer will not turn on:

Make sure that the computer is plugged into a working outlet. Try a different outlet if the first one does not work. While the computer is plugged in, press the power button on the laptop to turn it on.

Enjoy the long weekend and stay safe!

Mrs. Padden and Ms. Devito

Guidance K-5: Hello K-5 Families! I just wanted to remind all of the K-5 students to be sure they are checking out the guidance lessons posted in the Specials Google Classroom. These are important to complete as your student would have been getting them during their school day if we were in person. Every student has over one week to complete the assignment so there should be plenty of time to add these lessons into their day at some point when academics are completed. These lessons build upon the Open Circle curriculum that teachers use and further students’ social emotional learning. If you have any questions or concerns about the guidance curriculum please reach out through email hburgess@learningfirstcharter.org, send me a message on Dojo, or call/text me at 508-762-2543. Have a great long weekend! -Mrs. B

From the Art Studio: Explore, Observe, Create!

Grades K-5 has been observing birds in nature! Students are practicing foundational drawing techniques based on their observations. Observation increases attention span, and awareness- two skills that are essential to all learning! 

Grade 6-8 have been learning about the camera and the History of Photography! Students are viewing photographs by professional photographers and exploring the camera’s unique visual vocabulary.

Please help your student/s be prepared for art class by providing them with paper, pencils, crayons/colored pencils or markers and most importantly a quiet place to concentrate, explore, and create! Thank you for all you do! Wishing you good health and happiness! ~Mrs. Choiniere

P-EBT Benefits: P-EBT is a federal program. The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), in collaboration with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), received approval to operate this program in response to the COVID-19 related school closures. P-EBT provides food supports to help families with children who were receiving free and reduced-price school meals pay for food.
               Learning First Charter Public School is part of the Community Eligibility Program that provides free breakfast and lunch to all our families. This means all of our families have already received or will receive an EBT card. Sometime in October, families will receive food benefits for the month of September. There will be a letter in the mail from the Department of Transitional Assistance that will explain how to activate the card. If you did not receive a letter in the mail from DTA or you lost your letter, call Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline (800) 645-8333.

Important Reminders: Student Applications for the 2021-2022 school yearare now available! If you have a child whose sibling is turning five or older by August 31, 2021, please complete an application and return it to the main office or you can go online to https://learningfirstcharter.org/admission/. All applications require a birth certificate and two proofs of address to be complete. Completed applications should be submitted before March 3, 2021. The lottery will be held on March 5, 2021. A new application must be completed for each child, every school year. Please contact the Main Office for more information.

Learning First Charter Public School Food Service Department serves free meals (both breakfast & lunch) to all students. Meals will be available for pick up on Eastern Avenue for all Learning First Charter students. Meals will be “grab and go” style and will have 5 breakfast and 5 lunches for the week. There will also be the weekly supply of Fresh Fruit & Vegetables for the FFVP for snack.

Food pickup is available during the following days: Monday 10:00 am – 1:00 pm; Tuesday 10:00 am-1:00 pm; Wednesday 10:00 am- 1:00 pm or 3:30pm-6:00pm; Thursday 10:00 am-1:00 pm. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact Tasha Griffin, Food Service Director, at 508-799-7500 ext. 1114 or email at tgriffin@learningfirstcharter.org. 

The Department of Public Health has added a new influenza vaccine requirement for all grades of school from Kindergarten through Grade 12. This requirement was put in place to reduce influenza-related morbidity and to reduce the overall impact of respiratory illness in a population still facing the COVID-19 pandemic. Students will be expected to have received an influenza vaccine for the current influenza season (July-June) by December 31 unless they have a medical or religious exemption.

               All Kindergarten students must have their five year physical and immunizations on file. Please fax to the school at (508) 753-9679 or email Sarah Chysna, School Nurse, at schysna@learningfirstcharter.org. The health office also needs current physicals for students in 3rd and 7th grade 

Doctor’s notes should be faxed to the school at (508)753-9679 or take a picture of it and email it to our school nurse, Sarah Chysna at schysna@learningfirstcharter.org.

               Our SEMSAPAC team would like to welcome all parents to not only a new year, but also a year in which remote student learning and remote teaching is new to us all. Come join us every Monday through Thursday from 6:00-7:00 pm to an open forum where you will be able to voice any concerns, ask questions, share great ideas and also receive information about community resources. Please use this link to join us. https://zoom.us/j/91794647795?pwd=U2JlVFUySzVnb1kzUm5LbEVEWVZKdz09 Meeting ID: 917 9464 7795
Passcode: 9Wg0SM   ~Mrs. Bryan & Ms. Rosario

Community Connections:  Looking for things to do with the children over the long weekend? Check out Worcester Central Kids Calendar at https://worcestercentralkidscalendar.com for all kid friendly upcoming events. We like to highlight some of these events every week in our newsletter. Here are a few you might like.

               The REC Farmers Market is back for another season at 306 Chandler St., Beaver Brook, every Monday and Friday from 9:00 AM- 12:00 PM. Cash, credit, debit, EBT/SNAP, WIC and Senior Coupons are all accepted. They are a HIP retailer; pay with your SNAP card for fruits and veggies and earn matching dollars! Find out more: www.mass.gov/hip.

               Old Sturbridge Village is offering now until November 28^th up to three kids 17 and younger FREE admission when accompanied by an adult paying. For a family with three kids, that is a $42 savings! To follow the reopening guidelines, all visitors are required to purchase/reserve tickets in advance. To purchase tickets and to read the Covid-19 guidelines please go to https://www.osv.org/plan-your-visit/

The Worcester Art Museum has reopened and is offering FREE admission for children ages 17 and under. Tickets will be made available online for specific entry times between 10:00 AM- 4:00 PM. The maximum group size is five people. To learn more about Covid guidelines and for ticket pricing and purchase go to https://worcesterart.org/

               The FREE Halloween light show is on! The owners of 60 Pasadena Parkway in Worcester, annual Halloween light show will be taking place all weekend for drive-by only. Enjoy a synchronized show while tuning into 105.3FM. Show begins at Dark until 10:00 PM, weather permitting. Please check-out their Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/holidaydisplayinworcester