Parent Advisory Council Newsletter Issue 4.4 • April-May 2020

 
 
 

The PAC Mission:
To serve as the front line of communication facilitating cooperative efforts between home mentors, the school, and the RVA School Board with the intention to give a voice to families.

Elementary Spring

I am sending out my last newsletter of the year a little early!

In this final newsletter you will find a number of important reminders as well as some internet safety guidelines for parents with children to consider.

Please review the information below and reach out to any of our RVA contacts if you have any questions or concerns.


kids computer

Teaching Kids About Internet Safety

Age-appropriate ways to teach your children about internet safety

With precautions being taken to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) we're all spending more time online - whether it's for work, school, or entertainment the internet can help us stay connected.

It's important then for all of us to be safe about our internet usage and it's even more important for us to help children learn to navigate the online world in a safe way.

Here are some top tips for children of any age:

  • Keep laptops, tablets, and other smart devices in a common family area so children’s Internet use can be supervised.

  • Create a list of family rules around Internet use. Young children must ask a parent’s permission before accessing the Internet, for example.

  • Caution children never to reveal personal information including passwords, full names, addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, or even where they go to school.

  • Encourage children to come to you if they encounter anything that makes them feel scared or uncomfortable.

  • Bookmark favorite or acceptable websites for your children to use.

For more information regarding internet safety tips for your children and to learn more about how to keep yourself and your kids protected, click here.


School Year Curriculum ‘Deadlines’

Remember that what I am listing below is just a reference. For the most part the RVA works off of a year round calendar. Meaning, as long as we finish our school work in the calendar year after it was ordered for us we are on track.

If you are not on track with the schedule listed below, keep in touch with your teacher! We all need to be on the same page. As we are a public school and do have regulations that need to be followed.

Here are some dates to consider:

May 29 is when we want to be finished with our curriculum.

July 3 is the above and beyond finish line!
(For those of you who like to finish ALL of the curriculum, not just the assigned work.)

There are incentives for both of these deadlines. Emails will be sent at a later date from our teachers regarding these incentives and the guidelines to qualify. So if you are interested keep an eye on your inbox for more information.


 
RVA Mentor Series.png
 

Mentor Series

You can view all the current scheduled topics, dates and times by viewing the Mentor Series Schedule. If you have missed previous Mentor Series webinars feel free to visit our Mentor Series Library.  Here you will find great resources to better your practices as a home mentor.

If you have or would like to contribute ideas for future Mentor Series please contact our Mentor Series Coordinator, Tracie Moldenhauer at 715.459.6827 or tracie.moldenhauer@ruralvirtual.org.


Field Trips Cancelled through April 27th

Due to the current COVID-19 Safer-at-Home Act, all in person field trips have been cancelled through April 27th. Currently, regional event coordinators are looking for online virtual event ideas and welcome any input or ideas.

Please view the link below to view our current Virtual Field Trips!

RVA Virtual Events Calendar


ride share

High School Students Looking for Rides

All around the state of Wisconsin we have High school students who would like a ride to and from RVA events. (Obviously looking ahead to next year.)

I know there are pros and cons to this idea and I would love to talk to anyone who would like to discuss this. Join me at our next PAC meeting, listed at the end of this newsletter.


PAC Meeting

Our next PAC Meeting will be held on 

Thursday, May 14th at 7pm

Open Forum Parent Discussion

Elementary Blackboard Room #16

Hope to see you there!

PAC President:

Charlone Nikolaus
920.255.6665
nikolaus@ruralvirtual.org

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me; the RVA’s PAC President, Charlone Nikolaus at 920.255.6665 or nikolaus@ruralvirtual.org.