Welcome to Truro Central School
8:20 A.M. - 2:50 P.M.
8:20 A.M. - 2:50 P.M.
Mission Statement
The Truro School System fosters a healthy, secure, and supportive atmosphere which develops the intellectual, physical, social, and creative potential of each individual. We are a nurturing community that challenges and prepares students to accept the responsibilities of citizenship and leadership, and to recognize and assess critically the values and directions of our global society. Throughout the curriculum and in all activities, we endeavor to create a positive, productive atmosphere that promotes respect for learning, self esteem, concern for others, and mastery of decision-making skills.
The Truro School System fosters a healthy, secure, and supportive atmosphere which develops the intellectual, physical, social, and creative potential of each individual. We are a nurturing community that challenges and prepares students to accept the responsibilities of citizenship and leadership, and to recognize and assess critically the values and directions of our global society. Throughout the curriculum and in all activities, we endeavor to create a positive, productive atmosphere that promotes respect for learning, self esteem, concern for others, and mastery of decision-making skills.
Dear TCS Families,
Welcome to the 2020-21 school year at Truro Central School! This will be a different school year, for sure, but the staff has been working hard to make it happen for both our remote and in-person students. Thank you so much for your patience as we navigate these challenging circumstances and prepare for a safe return for our students. For your information, approximately 68% of our Preschool-grade 5 student population has chosen to return to the building on Sept. 28th for in-person learning.
Our first day of school is Thursday, September 17th and we will begin remotely for all students in Kindergarten through Grade 5. Please note that preschool will be delayed in its start this year as we have had to make some adjustments to both our remote and in-person programs. Therefore, preschoolers will start remotely and in-person on October 5th.
Devices will be provided to all students and pick-up for students in Kindergarten through grade 5 will begin tomorrow. You may pick up on Tuesday (tomorrow) from 1-3 p.m. or Wednesday from 9-11 a.m. (also the time for food pick-up for those who called ahead). Please drive around the parking lot, pull up in front of the cafeteria, and open your trunk. A staff member will hand you a clipboard to sign for your device(s) and put the technology and other materials your child may need in your trunk.
Finally, during our first two days of remote learning this week, our teachers will be offering a short virtual meeting for families to gather important information for their child's grade level. These meetings will last 10-15 minutes. Please call Eliza at (508) 487-1558, ext. 204 to schedule a time with your child's teacher on Thursday or Friday afternoon. Students will participate in remote learning in the mornings this week and teachers will be available to meet with parents and caregivers in the afternoon.
The next communication you will receive will be from your child's teacher with information about remote learning including schedules and expectations. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
We are looking forward to a great year!
Kindly,
Stephanie
Stephanie Costigan
Assistant Superintendent & Acting TCS Principal
Welcome to the 2020-21 school year at Truro Central School! This will be a different school year, for sure, but the staff has been working hard to make it happen for both our remote and in-person students. Thank you so much for your patience as we navigate these challenging circumstances and prepare for a safe return for our students. For your information, approximately 68% of our Preschool-grade 5 student population has chosen to return to the building on Sept. 28th for in-person learning.
Our first day of school is Thursday, September 17th and we will begin remotely for all students in Kindergarten through Grade 5. Please note that preschool will be delayed in its start this year as we have had to make some adjustments to both our remote and in-person programs. Therefore, preschoolers will start remotely and in-person on October 5th.
Devices will be provided to all students and pick-up for students in Kindergarten through grade 5 will begin tomorrow. You may pick up on Tuesday (tomorrow) from 1-3 p.m. or Wednesday from 9-11 a.m. (also the time for food pick-up for those who called ahead). Please drive around the parking lot, pull up in front of the cafeteria, and open your trunk. A staff member will hand you a clipboard to sign for your device(s) and put the technology and other materials your child may need in your trunk.
Finally, during our first two days of remote learning this week, our teachers will be offering a short virtual meeting for families to gather important information for their child's grade level. These meetings will last 10-15 minutes. Please call Eliza at (508) 487-1558, ext. 204 to schedule a time with your child's teacher on Thursday or Friday afternoon. Students will participate in remote learning in the mornings this week and teachers will be available to meet with parents and caregivers in the afternoon.
The next communication you will receive will be from your child's teacher with information about remote learning including schedules and expectations. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
We are looking forward to a great year!
Kindly,
Stephanie
Stephanie Costigan
Assistant Superintendent & Acting TCS Principal
Town of Truro Covid-19 Information
Final comprehensive reopening plan - Truro Central School
A. Executive summary
Truro Central School is a single-school elementary district. Our enrollment, 110-115 students in preschool through grade 6, is well-served by a building designed to house as many as 150 students.
Our planning is based on the return to in-person education of as many of our students as parents wish to send to school.
Our remote learning plan is based on the possibility that circumstances will require that in-person instruction may be suspended for some period this year, and require that all students be taught remotely. This plan also will serve those students whose parents choose not to send their children to in-person instruction.
Our hybrid plan recognizes that the enrollment (small) and the facility (more than adequate to serve 115 students, socially distanced) make hybrid unlikely. The plan is provided in recognition that the unprecedented characteristics of the pandemic may create needs we do not presently anticipate.
Our plan to reopen is to begin with ten days of professional preparations for staff, as required by DESE, from September 1-16. On Sept. 17, we will begin remote learning for all. This is to ensure that remote learning is well-established when we bring in-person students to school; to prepare everyone for the possibility of remote learning for all, should the virus spike at some point; and to allow an extra ten days to monitor transmission on Cape Cod, after the summer tourist season.
On September 28, we will begin in-person instruction. Surveys of parents’ expectations suggest that two-thirds to three-quarters of our students will attend. The majority of those children will be transported by their parents, allowing our two existing bus routes to serve those who need transportation to and from school.
B. Letter from the superintendent to the community, including the district’s selection for the reopening model it will use to begin the school year.
August 10, 2020
Dear Parents, Caregivers, and Townspeople:
As you may have heard, the state has asked every school district to prepare three plans for the coming school year: in-person learning at school; remote learning at home; and a combination of the two, called “hybrid”. We have been asked to select one of these to be our preferred choice.
At its first August meeting, the Truro School Committee voted to support the following plan:
September 17 – begin instruction remotely for all students.
September 28 – begin in-person instruction at Truro Central.
In-person instruction will be provided with masks on everyone, at least from second grade up. Children’s seats will be 6 feet apart. We will wash our hands, or at least use hand sanitizer, frequently. We will redesign the daily schedule to keep students and staff as safe as possible, from the moment they get on the bus, until they leave in the afternoon. We’ll spend as much time outside as possible, where the air on Cape Cod circulates constantly. We are committed to creating the safest possible learning environment, convinced that in-person contact with our students is best for children and their families.
You will get a survey in a day or so inviting you to choose either remote or in-person for the coming year, and provide us other information that will help us get ready for beginning a new school year. We need to know your hopes and expectations to move ahead with our planning, because healthy buses and classrooms can hold only so many children. We can plan adjustments as we move through the year, depending on the number of children who join us at school, but making those plans takes time. Please take a few minutes when you get the survey, so we can make the best plans for your children.
We’ll be sending more information regularly over the next month. If you have questions, remember our email reopening tcs@truromass.org. Thank you all for being part of the wonderful community that is Truro Central School!
Best,
Mike Gradone, Superintendent
P.S. Stay safe!
C. In-person learning model:
Truro Central School has sufficient space available to maintain social distancing guidelines and all Covid-19 safety protocols to allow all students in grades PK-6 to return to in-person instruction for fall 2020. Modifications will include the removal of furniture and materials to allow 6 feet of social/physical distance for students and staff in each instructional setting. Student supplies and instructional tools for students will be in individual storage containers assigned for specific student use only. In addition, we have an outside classroom and exterior space outside of all classrooms for small group instruction weather permitting. The school will work with the Truro Department of Public Works to install canopies to enhance our outside learning areas. We are able to reassign teaching staff as needed to provide whole group instruction, small group instruction and individual instruction for all students based on the MA Curriculum Frameworks and Standards 1-4 of the MA Teacher Evaluation Rubric while adhering to DESE Covid-19 safety requirements. Our largest cohort of students is 18. The room that will house the 18 students and staff member is adjacent to a science room that can be repurposed for use as a satellite space for some of the 18 student cohort to lower class size to ensure social/physical distancing. Student cohorts will remain together for all instruction unless an IEP mandates a different approach. Student cohorts will have lunch and recess together. We will adjust instructional schedules to lessen the amount of student movement and transitions throughout the building. Each instructional day will include a time scheduled for teaching/reteaching of safety protocols including social/physical distancing, wearing masks in school, hand washing, and not coming to school if not feeling well. Families will be reminded regularly of these health/safety protocols. We also have two full time custodians who have been working closely with the Truro Health Department to implement COVID-19 cleaning and safety protocols. The custodians will adhere to all safety protocols as they clean and disinfectant all areas of the building on an established schedule. TCS has a full time nurse and a designated isolation room for any student or staff member exhibiting any symptoms of Covid-19.
D. Hybrid learning model:
As noted in the In-Person Model we can accommodate all students at TCS and meet or exceed all DESE Covid-19 safety protocols. We would only consider the hybrid model if the state mandated it, or if some unique circumstance suggested a significant portion of our students should stay out of school for a substantial period of time. The TCS Hybrid would be based on dividing the student population in half; into Group A and Group B. Group A students would attend in-person school on Monday and Tuesday. Group B students would attend in-person school on Thursday and Friday. Wednesdays would be used to invite at-risk students to receive additional interventions to facilitate a greater level of achievement; for deep cleaning; and for remote instruction for all. The at-risk students would be determined by the Director of Student Services, based on IEPs and assessment results. Siblings will be assigned to the same groups. We would reassign teaching staff to meet the In-Person and Remote instructional needs of all students. Each grade level will be assigned a classroom teacher, a remote teacher and an educational assistant to provide each student/family with daily check-ins and meet the academic and social/emotional learning needs of each student/family. In–Person would be based on information provided previously in the In-Person Model Descriptor in this document and Remote instruction during Hybrid would be similar to the Remote Model Descriptor that follows in this document.
E. Remote learning model:
The TCS Remote instructional model will be based on the MA Curriculum Framework for Digital Literacy as well as all other MA content specific Curriculum Frameworks. Each student will be provided with a digital device. Each staff member involved in instruction will be provided with a digital device. Administrators will assign staff to create a learning model that consists of a grade level classroom teacher, a remote teacher and an educational assistant to ensure that each student has daily check-ins and differentiated learning supports to increase student participation, engagement, accountability and academic as well as social/emotional growth. Staff members will have scheduled times to collaborate remotely or safely in-person for professional development to support improvement in remote instruction and student outcomes. Administrators will support teachers with additional technology if needed to increase rigor and accessibility in the TCS Remote Learning Model. The administrative team has created an administrative position supporting Remote Instruction to design professional development, select technology, train staff on digital platforms and provide input on synchronous and asynchronous remote instruction. Collaboration will include time to review progress monitors, analyze data and devise interventions to increase student achievement. In addition, the remote learning model will align with standards 1-4 in the MA Teacher Evaluation Rubric. Administrators will communicate with families on a regular basis via email, phone calls, videos and virtual meetings when appropriate. Attendance and accountability will be documented by features within the digital platforms of Seesaw and Google Classroom. The Seesaw Remote Platform will be used in grades PK-2. Google Classroom will be used in grades 3-6. Whole group instruction, small group instruction and individual instruction as well as assessment and feedback will be supported and enriched with additional online resources and hard copy materials including:
Google Meets
Flipgrid
Office hours
Epic Digital Reading Library
Reading A-Z
Zoom
Screencastify
Lexia
Khan Academy
IXL
Accelerated Reader
News ELA
Video lessons
Consumables for reading and math
Ebooks
Books
F. Out-of-school time plan: Not applicable.
G. Student supports and professional learning:
Truro Central School currently has 46% of its students (PK-6) who fall into the high needs category. In the spring during remote learning, we supported these students in many ways. Due to our very small size (114 students), we were able to accommodate each high needs student individually.
In all three reopening models, we have grade level teams that consist of general and special educators who collaborate to design individual remote learning plans for each of our high needs students so that we may continue to meet each student's individual needs. These teams meet weekly to review progress and adjust instruction. In addition to what all students receive, high needs students have individual remote learning sessions via Google Meet one to four times a week with an educational assistant or general/special educator to support access to the curriculum and to become fluent using remote learning applications and tools. In addition, for the remote learning and hybrid models, we will provide consumable materials to all students so they have access to the same materials at home and in school.
In regards to our safety, wellness, and social emotional supports, we have a full-time school social worker as well as a full-time nurse on staff who will work with the Principal and PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) team to create, follow, and post health and safety protocols and signage; provide training to staff and students on these protocols and systems within the building; create and support the implementation of lesson plans on new systems and routines at school; and monitor the social emotional well-being of staff and students and provide support in a multitude of ways.
Last week, our school committee approved the creation of three positions to support the Acting Principal. One position will support the Acting Principal in overseeing the implementation of in person instruction, including health and safety protocols, student transportation procedures, scheduling, staff assignments and duties, student supports, parental communication, and other aspects of in person instruction. Another position will support the Acting Principal in the design and implementation of Remote Learning, including online platforms, academic content, technical matters, and the management of student participation and family communication. The third position will be a special education team chair who will monitor the special education process, conduct meetings, communicate with families and staff, and maintain compliance with IDEA and OCR regulations. All three positions will support the selection, design, and presentation of appropriate professional development, prior to the beginning of the student year, and as the school year unfolds. In addition to the state-mandated ten days prior to the beginning of the school year, the Truro Central calendar includes an additional five days of professional development activities.
A re-opening committee consisting of the Superintendent, Principal, Director of Student Services, Social Worker, School Nurse, our Board of Health agent, Custodian, and several teachers has been meeting since June to determine how to safely re-open the school to allow students to attend in-person, or remotely. As part of this process, we will consider how instruction, assessments, and interventions will be conducted this fall. In regard to special education evaluations, we will follow health and safety protocols to provide a safe environment for in-person evaluations. Our remote learning assistant will be exploring ways to safely and effectively conduct universal screening assessments in the remote learning environment.
Our school committee approved the proposed school year calendar to amend with the following information:
September 1-16 - Ten professional development days for teachers and staff.
September 17-25th - First day of school - remote only for all students
September 28th - First day of in-person instruction, remote learning for those who choose continues.
H. Other:
I. Certification of health and safety requirements:
The administration and School Nurse meet weekly with the Town Health Agent to determine how best to implement DESE’s health and safety requirements. When students return to in person education in late September, Truro Central will be in full compliance with all requirements, including social distancing, masks, hand hygiene, cleaning, and disinfecting.
Michael B. Gradone, Superintendent
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Guidance Office, please click on the Guidance Office link to read Mrs. Winslow's tips for families.
Non-Resident School Choice
If you reside outside of the Town of Truro and would like your children to attend Kindergarten through sixth grade at Truro Central School, please see the following timeline.
April 1: Application period will commence for the following school year.
Applicants with siblings currently attending TCS will be placed first, prior to an enrollment lottery.
June 5: Spring lottery (if there are more applicants than existing seats)
Students not accepted in the Spring lottery will be placed on a waiting list.
Applications received after the June 6 lottery will be kept separate from the waiting list.
July 17: Summer lottery (if needed) for seats not filled by the June 6 lottery or waiting list.
If seats remain after the July 16 lottery and there is no waiting list, students may be accepted as parents apply until a date specified by the principal, or until the available seats are filled.
If you are interested in enrolling for the 2020-21 school year
please fill out the school choice form and registration form and email to harnede@truromass.org
If you reside outside of the Town of Truro and would like your children to attend Kindergarten through sixth grade at Truro Central School, please see the following timeline.
April 1: Application period will commence for the following school year.
Applicants with siblings currently attending TCS will be placed first, prior to an enrollment lottery.
June 5: Spring lottery (if there are more applicants than existing seats)
Students not accepted in the Spring lottery will be placed on a waiting list.
Applications received after the June 6 lottery will be kept separate from the waiting list.
July 17: Summer lottery (if needed) for seats not filled by the June 6 lottery or waiting list.
If seats remain after the July 16 lottery and there is no waiting list, students may be accepted as parents apply until a date specified by the principal, or until the available seats are filled.
If you are interested in enrolling for the 2020-21 school year
please fill out the school choice form and registration form and email to harnede@truromass.org
Apply to be a Substitute at TCS!
ON-CALL SUBSTITUTES
Truro Central School is seeking applications for on-call substitute positions including: substitute teachers($100.) substitute educational assistants($75.); substitute custodians; substitute cafeteria workers; substitute nurse($150.) Please submit a letter of application, resume and references to Kathy Rosenkampff - rosenkampffk@truromass.org or Truro Central School POB 2029 Truro MA 02666. E.O.E.
Truro Central School is seeking applications for on-call substitute positions including: substitute teachers($100.) substitute educational assistants($75.); substitute custodians; substitute cafeteria workers; substitute nurse($150.) Please submit a letter of application, resume and references to Kathy Rosenkampff - rosenkampffk@truromass.org or Truro Central School POB 2029 Truro MA 02666. E.O.E.
TCS Is Now on Facebook!
click above to go to the TCS Facebook page
Shop for TCS Student Artwork on ARTSONIA!
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Art teacher Kim Possee curates our Artsonia page. Here you will find uploads of student artwork organized by grade and project. You can order many different items with the child's piece on it. There are 25 different keepsakes to choose from including t-shirts, cutting boards, mugs, note cards, puzzles, and ceramic tiles. Not only do you or someone you love receive a beautiful piece of art, but Truro Central School's Art Program receives 20% of each purchase! Great gifts for friends and family! You can also register and leave comments for students!
Click here or on the logo to enter the site. |
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