|
 Greetings
Dear RAUC families,
Please click the image for a video message with highlights from this week’s news:
As always, if you have any questions or comments about the news or anything else, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me by email at [email protected] or phone at 857.244.0730.
Best,
Julia Ho, RAUC Family Liaison
Black History Month
In this last newsletter in January, we would like to share our upcoming plans for Black History Month which takes place in February. At RAUC we are dedicated to teaching, learning, and celebrating black history throughout the year and in every subject as an integral part of what we value and learn about.
 That means that Black History isn’t just a one month isolated event. Throughout the year, for example, we read books, stories, and poetry written by Black authors; we study and learn from Black artists, and musicians; we learn about contributions in science and math; and we explore the wide scope of people, organizations, and leaders that have fought and continue to fight for racial justice.
In February specifically, through Advisory lessons, we honor and celebrate Black joy, beauty, achievement, resiliency, and the continued striving for social and racial justice. Our specific goals for the month will be to:
- Continue to increase comfort/ability to talk about race and racial justice
Build critical thinking skills and awareness of current issues
- Continue to build understanding that there is no one Black experience in the U.S.
- Determine steps we can take as individuals and as a school to stay engaged in working towards equity
- Raise awareness and build understanding of what Black Lives Matter is and is not
Finally, and importantly, we aspire to be an anti-racist school. We acknowledge that we have work to do as a school, and as individual staff members, in our own and collective journey to becoming anti-racist. We are not perfect, but we are committed. We actively and continuously reflect and refine our thinking, practices and curriculum to better serve our students and to more fully live our intentions.
If you would like to explore some of the resources that inspire us for Black History Month and Black Lives Matters, here are some links: blacklivesmatteratschool.com; blacklivesmatter.com; facinghistory.org; Teaching Tolerance. We also invite you to share with us any resources you know of!
Photo (Rosa Parks) by Unseen Histories on Unsplash.
Updates on plans to expand in-person learning:
NO SCHOOL - Wednesday, January 27 & February 3
- The School Committee approved the plan to expand in-person learning starting no earlier than March 1st. You can learn more about the plan here on the district website.
- There will now be NO SCHOOL on Wednesday, January 27 and Wednesday, February 3. On these days, staff will be planning for the transition to expanded in-person learning. Students should treat this as a holiday (there will be no asynchronous work on these days). The lunch sites will be closed on these days so please pick up additional meals on Tuesday.
 INFO SESSION
Thurs., Feb. 4th | 6-7PM
Join via Zoom >>
- You should have been notified yesterday (1/25) on whether your student will be in-person or remain fully remote.
- We know that many questions remain on what in-person and remote learning will look like when we transition in March.
- We just learned of a schedule conflict with another school, and to allow more families to join, we have changed the date of our community meeting to Thursday Feb. 4th.
- At our February 4th Community Meeting, we will…
- Share schedule information for both fully remote and in-person learners
- Break up into remote and in-person groups to…
- Share information specific to each model (e.g. safety measures for in-person learners)
- Get your input on what should be in our orientation for students
- Answer any questions you may have that are specific to each model
Help show your appreciation to RAUC Staff!
 Families of RAUC (FRAUC) is organizing a teacher appreciation event for our RAUC staff who have been working so hard and who will be coming to the school building to plan on February 3!
Here is how you can show them your appreciation:
- Signs and cards of appreciation: You and your child can make signs, posters, or cards of any size. Encourage your child to write and decorate them however they’d like. You can mention individuals, groups of staff, or the whole staff in your signs and cards. Make as many as you can, showing appreciation for:
- Teachers
- Custodians
- Cafeteria staff
- Administrators and Support Staff
- Drop your signs and cards at the school (70 Rindge Ave.) on Monday, Feb 1 and Tuesday, Feb 2 from 9AM-3PM. There will be a bin outside the front entrance to collect them.
Live far from the school but want to share a sign/card? Please email Deirdre Logan, FRAUC Co-chair, for an alternative drop off location.
RAUC TV - Season 2
 RAUC TV is back with Season 2, and because kids are making videos more quickly this time, we're likely to put out multiple episodes over the next months. Featuring a little over 9 minutes of sketches, animation, and lots of fake commercials, this selection of short videos were all shot, edited, and produced by sixth graders. Know a middle schooler interested in making something for an upcoming episode? Send them to Mr. Tobin every Tuesday and Thursday at 3 (come to the day or days that make sense).
Watch RAUC TV Season 2 here >>
Tech Corner
If your student needs to make a video (for class, musical auditions, etc.), Screencastify is the simplest tool to do that. See quick instructions here. Many RAUC students are discovering that video allows them to express their creativity in a new way!
If your Chromebook is broken in any way, take it to the Mobile Help Desk! The Help Desk is open Mon.-Fri. 8AM-4PM, and Sat. 10AM-2PM. They're located at CRLS. Come to the service windows beside the garage door, on Felton St. closest to Broadway. Look for the fluorescent pink signs hanging in the window.
Social/Emotional Well-being--Tip of the Week
“Self-motivation is an essential skill young people need to succeed at school and in life. It can help to teach students what motivation is in order to help a child understand how to set goals and how to overcome any setbacks that can get in the way of their goals. Try sharing a personal experience about setting and achieving a goal, even better if it didn't happen easily!”
Healthy Snack of the Week
Here's Cambridge in Motion's Healthy Snack of the Week:
Greek Yogurt with chopped apples, walnuts, and honey!
|