This is the PTA newsletter to read if you’re looking to get caught up with everything happening at Cragmont this Spring!

With so much going on, our team is working hard to make sure you have the most up to date links with information about reopening, distance learning, volunteer opportunities (we need your help!) upcoming events, and more.

OVERVIEW

On Monday, March 29th, Cragmont will reopen in-person instruction for all TK-2 families who have chosen this option. On April 12th, grades 3-5 will be welcomed back to campus.

Families who want to remain in distance learning also have that option for the remainder of the 2021 school year. 

DAILY SCHEDULE

• Grades TK-K: 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM

• Grades 2-5: 9 AM -2 PM

• DL: Same AM schedule as current, PM schedule tbd by DL teacher

QUESTIONS?

We have developed a Frequently Asked Questions page that is being updated regularly, you can find it here: https://www.cragmont.org/faq

If your question is not addressed by the FAQs, email ptapresident@cragmont.org and we’ll do our best to respond.

STAY UPDATED 

After a year of remote instruction, this is a quick pivot for the district and the Cragmont staff. Information on everything from safety protocols, what kids can bring to school, and information about Middle and High School reopening plans are being announced, then sometimes revised, then re-announced.

The most current information about reopening for all grades is coming from Superintendent Brent Stephens. Here are his recent communications:

• March 19: Middle School Enrollment

• March 19: Reopening, Information Sessions, and Solidarity

• March 17: Elementary Family Information about In-Person Learning and Distance Learning

If you are not getting Dr. Stephens email updates directly, here’s what to do:

• Email myemail@berkeley.net with the subject “Update Information.” 

• Include your name, school assignment, name of child(ren), phone, address, and email in the body of the email

• You can also “subscribe to district news” from the bottom of the page of any of the web links above

The PTA functions as a critical partner for Cragmont teachers and staff. For this school year, a small group of us have been doing our best to keep things moving, so we can ensure student support is not interrupted for this or next year.

With reopening, there is more than any of us can do. If you are able, please look at the list below and see where you can offer support.

• Donate to our Teacher + Classroom Supply Fund
  Based on COVID19 safety protocols, many teachers need supplies and support to prepare their classrooms for students’ return. Please donate funds to support our reopening wishlist.
  
  
• Direct Students On-Campus 
  FOUR adults are needed for 30 minutes each morning to welcome students on campus and direct them to their classes. Sign-up for as many shifts as you can here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4fa4a92aa1f85-cragmont
  
  
• Provide a Pop-up Tent or Shade Structure
  If you have one that you can loan to Cragmont, please email PTApresident@cragmont.org
  
  
• Make a Welcome Banner! (see images below)
  We need several people to make banners with text such as: "we missed you "; "welcome back!", etc. Creativity with color and words encouraged. See the two below which Cragmont parent Lindsay Jean Nofelt did with her kids. Ideal dimensions are 6ft W x 2 or 3ft H. Banner paper is in a big blue bin across from the front desk at Cragmont. If you're interested in this, email ledascout@gmail.com.

This Thursday, 3/25, join us for our general PTA meeting, which will focus on reopening, volunteer needs, and next year's budget.

Of special interest will be an overview of the 2021-22 PTA budget (including how you can provide input) and information about joining the PTA Board for next year.

AGENDA

• 7:00 PM- 7:45 PM: General PTA Meeting
• 7:45 PM - 8:30 PM: Reopening: New updates and Q&A with Principal Cannon
  
  

At this meeting we will discuss:

• A preliminary overview of the budget for the 2021-22 school year

• Volunteer needs to support reopening

• Upcoming events

• Currently open PTA positions

• Information about elections for PTA Board positions which will be held before the end of the school year.

• Reopening updates

We can’t get together in person this year, but we will once again host a weeklong online auction, slated to begin April 19, 2021.

After a year of responding to COVID-19 ordinances, many of our local community partners may not be able to contribute in the same ways as they have in years past, so we're looking to go big on YOUR IDEAS for items to auction to our community.

This could look like:

• Teaching a cooking class
• Offering dance lessons (we have an 8th-grade sibling interested in offering this for our students!)
• Pet portraits
• Birthday sign-bombings
• Teach your friends how to turn off parental controls (a 6th-grader suggested this one)
• And of course, wine and beer are always a hit

We strongly encourage students to get involved and get creative. What can your student share with the community?

SHARE YOUR AUCTION IDEAS >>

And, we could really use some more parent volunteers to help make this happen. Please email ptapresident@cragmont.org.

Cragmont Elementary • 830 Regal Rd, Berkeley, CA 94708

http://www.cragmont.org