Social Intelligence

Hi, Team Remote Families! This week's P2 character strength is Social Intelligence. Social intelligence helps individuals build relationships – and is important to numerous aspects of a person’s life. It allows an individual to form friendships and alliances. And, it assists a person against being taken advantage of. People with social intelligence can “read” other people’s faces and know what motivates them. Social intelligence builds over time and as a person ages. In this sense, it is similar to the character strength of perspective. You can read more about social intelligence here.

Check out the video below to see social intelligence in action among a group of middle school football players supporting their teammate and friend (Pro Tip: Have some tissues nearby before you click play 😭).

More Social Intelligence Resources

• The Neuroscience of Social Intelligence (TED Talk from psychology professor Bill von Hippel)
• Four Lessons from “Inside Out” to Discuss With Kids (article from Greater Good magazine of UC Berkeley)

Tutoring Opportunity from Syracuse University

Can you believe we are coming up on the one year anniversary of "remote" teaching and learning?! Last March, many of us were in "crisis" mode as all instruction was delivered asynchronously and students were only given feedback for the work they submitted. It was a heavy lift from families, students, teachers, and administrators to shift to our current model of remote instruction, but I am hopeful that you are finding it worthwhile now that we have established more synchronous contact between teachers and students as well as predictable routines. One of the things that distinguishes our current instructional model from last year's approach is that students' learning and effort "count" toward an actual grade. While some students are thriving, others may need more support to be successful. It was recently brought to my attention that Syracuse University is offering free tutoring for K-12 students in Central New York. From CNY Central:

Syracuse University is partnering with 15 local organizations to provide free tutoring to students in Central New York. The tutors are made up of retired teachers, students, current professors and experts to help ease the difficulties of remote learning.

If you are interested in pursuing this opportunity, read more here.

From Emily Winiecki, Community Engagement Coordinator at Syracuse University:

To keep up with the large increase in demand for tutoring as well as to accommodate the schedules of our volunteer tutors, we developed a weekly schedule of study sessions, broken up by grade level and subject area. While they are large Zoom meetings, we have volunteer tutor leads who create breakout rooms in Zoom so students can connect with tutors either one on one or in very small groups. In addition, we ask that a parent or guardian is home during the tutoring sessions.

Parents will need to complete these two forms to get their child(ren) signed up:

1. Registration Form
2. Permission Form

Here is the schedule of virtual tutoring study sessions:

Snowman Challenge Accepted!

Check out the enthusiasm on display from Team Remote 4th-grader Addison Davis (far left) with her sister Sawyer and cousin Jacqueline. Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm for CNY's winter!

"Anna and Olaf"

District Updates

Elementary Updates

Remote Materials Pick Up
Thursday, March 18, 2021, is the next date for remote families to pick up materials for the last marking period. This should get us through June. Families should arrange to pick up children's materials at their home schools on 3/18/21 at 3:00-4:00 p.m. Please return all materials that you are finished with up until now (see chart below). We will have another date in June for everyone to return ALL materials.

Remote Fine Arts Lessons

Reminder: Music and Art lessons are available for all K-4 remote students. Student can consume lessons on Mrs. Ta (music) and Mrs. Moser-Vogler's (art) website and can join each teacher's Google Classroom to "show what they know." Although Mrs. Ta and Mrs. Moser-Vogler both teach in-person classes, they will offer feedback to students who turn in their work. You may also be interested in reading this recent article from USA Today: Come together: Why music class is an essential refuge for students amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Remote Fine Arts Website:

https://sites.google.com/westgenesee.org/remote-fine-arts/home?authuser=0

Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten registration for the 2021-2022 school year is currently open until March 31, 2021. If you know of anyone who will begin Kindergarten, please let them know! Parents may utilize the Virtual Registration process to get started and schedule a tele-meeting! If parents have any questions, please call our Central Registration Office at (315) 487-4683.

Secondary Updates

Scheduling Info from CMS

Eighth grade students are in the process of filling out a Google Form to select their courses for next year at the high school. Over the next several weeks, Mrs. Canterino will follow-up with students to review their selections and answer any questions they may have about the high school. Parents will receive an email in the early spring indicating that the Schooltool course selection report is available for your review and feedback. Please feel free to call the Counseling Office at (315) 672-8381 or email Mrs. Canterino at mcanterino@westgenesee.org if you have questions. Grade 6 to Grade 7 and Grade 7 to Grade 8 scheduling will occur later in the spring.

WGHS Class of 2021

Attention all Remote Seniors: Let the celebrating begin! Stop by the Senior parking lot at WGHS after 2:30 PM on Friday, March 12th, and pick up a Shamrock Shake & Halfmoon Cookie provided by the Proud Parents of the Class of 2021! Thank you parents!

Be sure to check out the various Principal blogs (links on the right of this page) for more building-specific information.