Dear Ashmore Parent/Guardian,
First, let me say I hope you and your family are safe and healthy as you read this information. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding as we have been adjusting, like you, to the drastic changes in life during the last few weeks. I am extremely appreciative of our students, parents, teachers, staff, and administrators for their positivity, flexibility and resilience during these trying times. We have definitely missed our students and their families and look forward to normalcy in the future.
As our school has come to the realization that students will not return this year and remote learning will be in place until May 22nd , we would like to find a safe-way to return personal materials to students and collect school materials. The materials that would be collected from your student would be library books and take-home books from each class. Some students may have Title 1 books that they took home with them before Spring Break. Mrs. Killman, the music teacher, would like to collect ukuleles that any 3rd grade students still have. Also, the Ashmore PTO is moving forward with the Original Works artwork fundraiser. Families can order items containing the student's artwork. Packets containing students' original artwork along with order forms were sent home prior to Spring Break. COVID-19 and remote learning interrupted our timeline of collecting orders. The company, Original Works, is located in New York. Their factory is currently closed due to the stay-home orders; however, they anticipate resuming production in May. They anticipate a turn-around time of four weeks once production resumes. Ashmore PTO will collect orders during the supply pick-up days. It is important to ensure the original artwork is turned in along with the order form. Only the artwork and order form are needed. Please ensure contact information is filled in! If you would like an order form emailed to you or if you have any questions, please contact Jessi Biggs at (217) 276-5514 or ashmorepto@gmail.com
Some families have multiple students in different grade levels and can pick up for all of their kids during one time period. If a parent is unable to make one of the assigned times, please contact the classroom teachers to make other arrangements for pick-up and drop off. The schedule for parents to pick up and drop off materials will be from 11:30-2 and 5-6:30 P.M. and is as follows:
- Monday, May 11th – Kindergarten & 1st (Personnel: Lynn, Huddleston, Moore, Cougill, Hennig and Jacobs)
- Tuesday May 12th - 2nd Grade & 3rd Grade (Personnel: Lynn, Huddleston, Moore, Oakley, Beurskens and Gibbons)
- Wednesday May 13th – 4th Grade and Parents that missed pick up (Personnel: Lynn, Huddleston, Moore, Gallo)
During pick-up/drop-off, all staff members will be wearing masks and gloves. We ask that parents drive up through the circle at the front of the building. A staff member will ask for your name and collect school supplies and another staff member will bring out personal supplies in a bag for the child.
In closing, one of our main focus points for our educators and students during the 2019-2020 school year has been discovering the 7 Habits, and one habit that stands out during these unusual times is “Habit 3: Putting First Things First.” “Putting first things first means organizing and executing around your most important priorities. It is living and being driven by the principles you value most, not by the agendas and forces surrounding you.” Little did we know how important putting first things first would be for all of us this year! Because of this experience and our ability to be proactive and put first things first, I believe we all will be stronger when we come out on the other side of the COVID-19 Pandemic!
Robert Lynn, Ashmore Elementary Principal