Alice Birney Elementary School

Welcome Team Eagle! 

I hope that you have had a relaxing summer. Having the opportunity to refuel over the summer is a necessary component of the important work that you do, especially after the challenges faced during the past school year. Through the difficulties we connected in new ways and although we were physically separated we remained united as a safe, caring, learning community. I am excited for the 2021-2022 school year and look forward to our continued partnership.

Alice Birney has some staffing changes for the 2021-2022 school year. I would like to welcome Keryn Lopez as our new kindergarten teacher, Sara Cotter as our new third grade teacher, Susan Perry Clarke as our new fifth grade teacher, and Jennifer Harvey as our Educational Specialist.  Cheyenne King and Jill Macknicki  will be teaching 2nd grade this year.  Gina Hale will be teaching reading intervention full time and Amber Thompson will be teaching English Language Development full time, as well. Shawn Magnuson will be teaching a 3 /4 combination.  As always, Team Eagle is committed to providing a positive learning environment in which ALL students can learn and thrive. 

The first day back for teachers will be Wednesday, August 18th. We will also have a school climate collaboration on Monday, August 16th.  Certificated staff will be compensated at the summer school rate if they participate. Classified Staff is encouraged to attend from 8-12 and will be compensated at their hourly rate. Certificated Staff may also be compensated for an additional professional development day. Please make sure to share your plan for that day, if opting to use it. See flyer attached about August PD from our June staff day.   

PTA will be sponsoring Popsicle posting on Thursday, August 19th from 2:45-3:15 p.m. (Drive-Thru?)

Some other important dates to remember:

• August 20th :  1-3pm TK/Kinder Classrooms open
  
• August 23rd-1st Day of School
  
•  September 6th- Labor Day (No School)
  
•  September 15th- Back to School Night~5:30-6:30 p.m.

Once again Stephanie and Robert should be commended for their hard work this summer!   Most rooms are ready for you to enter if you need. Let us know if you are coming by, and we can ensure the room is ready for you.  

Enjoy the rest of your vacation and I will see you all on August 18th. If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas please feel free to contact me at 441-2495.   I am looking forward to seeing each of you and what we will do together as a team this year!  

Our Eagle Courier, the staff website, is up and running again.  I will update each night to keep you informed. Here is the site:  Eagle Courier Link

See you soon,

Kristin Sobilo

Quarantine Period Following Breaks

11/23-11/27 No School Thanksgiving Break

11/30-12/18 All students will be participating in Distance
Learning due to a Quarantine Break. Please see Google
Classroom for schedule.

12/21-1/1/2021 No School Winter Break

1/4/2021-1/15/21 All students will be participating in Distance
Learning due to a Quarantine Break. Please see Google
Classroom for schedule.

1/19/2021 Continue Distance learning model until the second dose of the vaccine has been allocated to all school staff.
All current Class Assignments will remain the same.
Thank you for your continued flexibility.
Período de Cuarentena Después de las Vacaciones

23/11-27/11 No Hay Escuela Vacaciones del Día de Acción de Gracias

30/11-11/18 Todos los estudiantes participarán en el Aprendizaje
A Distancia Debido A un Período de Cuarentena. Favor de ver
Google Classroom para el horario.

21/12 - 1/1/2021 No Hay Escuela Vacaciones del vacaciones de invierno

4/1 - 15/1/2021 Todos los estudiantes participarán en el Aprendizaje A Distancia Debido A un Período de Cuarentena. Favor de ver Google Classroom para el horario.

19/1/2021 Continua el Aprendizaje a distancia hasta que una vacuna está lista por los maestros.

August 18, 2020

Dear Alice Birney Families,

I hope this letter finds you and your families well. As many of you know, we have been working diligently to figure out the best way to safely open the 2020-2021 school year. We were hopeful that we could provide some site-based instruction, but with COVID-19 numbers continually increasing in our local area, this is not the direction we will be able to start in. At a special board meeting on July 30, 2020, the Eureka City Schools Board of Trustees took action to support starting the 2020-2021 school year in full distance learning and re-evaluating the plan at the regularly scheduled board meeting on September 15th.

As we navigate these uncharted waters, we want you to know that we are working diligently to create a school schedule that will support students as we start the school year. There are a few things that we know for sure about the upcoming school year. We will begin the school year in distance learning. We will offer a robust and improved program. Teachers will be teaching “live” or “synchronous” lessons to students using online tools. Students will have scheduled daily online classes with teachers and classmates. In addition to these live lessons, students will have school work to complete and turn in using google classroom. Our teachers will be creating small group and individual meeting times with students to help them with their school work. Students will be accountable for participation, attendance, work completion, and assessments.

On Monday, August 24th, Teachers will be hosting their first Google Meeting. TK-2 will meet at 10:30 and 3-5 will meet at 12:30. Included with this letter is a communication from your teacher with more information.

I know that some of you will be relieved to have us start the year with a distance learning only model, due to ongoing COVID-19 safety concerns. I also understand that this news is extremely disappointing for other families. Please know, it is our goal to make distance learning work for all families and we will be creating multiple opportunities to support students and parents. We know that we are teaching partners with each of you and we want to make sure you feel supported as well. We wish dynamics were different and that we could start the school year with onsite instruction. I can assure you that we remain committed to returning to onsite instruction as soon as safely possible.

Beginning on Thursday August 20th, we will begin checking out Chromebook devices. Please contact the school for information on checking out a device. We will also be hosting a drive through meet the teacher on Thursday August 27th. At this time, families will have an opportunity to drive through our campus, meet their teachers, pick up supplies, receive a popsicle and any technical support they may need.

As always, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your continued support, patience, and understanding.
It is a true pleasure to work with each of you.
Truly,
Kristin Sobilo
Principal of Alice Birney
“Come Soar with the Eagles”

AB Parent Welcome Letter 2020-2021.pdf

AB Parent Welcome Letter Spanish 2020-2021.pdf