PSSA Testing - Grades 3, 4 & 5

The students in grades three, four and five at McCullough Elementary School and the Penn-Trafford School District will be administered the PSSA statewide assessment from April 19 - 23 (ELA) & April 26 - 30 (Math). The PSSA is a state standardized assessment for English Language Arts and Mathematics for all students in Pennsylvania. Students in grade four will also be administered the PSSA Science Assessment during the week of May 3. You can find more information regarding the PSSA assessments in the attached documents. Should you have any questions please feel free to contact the school office at your earliest convenience.

 PSSA Parent-Guardian Information.pdf 

PSSA Electronic Device Notification.pdf  

PSSA Calculator Policy.pdf  

PSSA Schedule Grades 3-5 - ELA Math.pdf  

PSSA Schedule Grade 4 - Science.pdf 

Remote Learning Plan

Any time that McCullough needs to go to an entire full school remote learning (District Requirement, School Closure, Flexible Instruction Days) the students will be following a defined schedule for classes. Students will attend each period based on their current homeroom teacher. Each student in grade 1 will have a separate Math, Reading and Grammar class. In grade 2 students will have Math, Reading, Grammar and an online support period. (Grade 2 is different than the others because there are four homerooms) In grades 3-5 students will have a Math, ELA and Science class. Kindergarten students will have a math and reading class. Itinerant classes will be optional as a weekly activity will be posted but not required.

Each of the class periods will be 45 minutes in length and will be a live session with the teacher. There will be a 20-minute break between sessions in order for the teachers/students to leave the meeting and prepare for the next session.  The afternoon will have one period that will be used for live online support. (This does not include 2^nd Grade which will have a revolving online support period) Following that session the teachers will have office hours, which is when they can be contacted to answer any additional questions. Each grade will be providing a detailed schedule for their students. Students will be sent links via their school email to join the sessions or otherwise notified how they will be meeting through their Google Classroom.

Please note that every Wednesday is identified as a Two-Hour Delay and the schedule changes slightly. These schedules will remain in effect for the entire school year should we have to go to a remote learning platform. The schedule is the same as the one used previously when we were in a remote learning platform (Attached Below).  Should you have any questions please feel free to contact the office at any time.

Thank you for all of your patience, understanding and support as we continue to navigate through these unprecedented times. 

 McCullough Elementary Remote Learning

Flexible Instruction Days

During the 2020-2021 school year, the Penn-Trafford School District will be implementing the PDE approved Flexible Instruction Days (FIDs) which may be used in place of a school day that would otherwise have been canceled because of inclement weather or other emergency situation.  On a FID, students will participate by means of Remote Instruction.

Using a FID will not require additional make-up days when school is canceled.  We are permitted to use up to five (5) FIDs per school year.

If the district calls for a FID, parents will receive a text alert announcing the closure and identifying that the schools will be online for a Flexible Instructional Day.  The students will then have live synchronous instruction that day and follow the schedule that has previously been used on remote learning days.

McCullough Health and Safety Plan

I want to thank everyone that put in a lot of volunteer time to create a building Health and Safety Plan that is manageable and makes every attempt to proactively address many situations.  Please read the attached document.  

 McCullough Elementary School Reopening

Chromebooks and iPads

Penn-Trafford is going to offer a “One to One” environment to enhance and aid in student learning opportunities. These devices are theirs to use both in school and at home. At the end of last year, each student in grades 3-5 were allowed to keep his/her chromebook to use during online instruction in March, April and May. Students that will be in grades 4 and 5 need to trade in their chromebooks for a new one to use this school year. The District has purchased new chromebooks for those grade levels. Students not returning their old device will be charged the full cost of the chromebook.  Students in grades 1, 2 and 3 will be getting a chromebook for the first time.  Students in Kindergarten will be receiving an iPad.

In order to make this process seamless, we are asking that each parent/guardian and student  review the PTSD Chromebook Handbook and Network Accessible Use Agreement. Each parent/guardian and student will be responsible for reading, understanding, and signing these documents online. We require an annual technology fee of $30 that will be used for maintenance, accidental damage and other costs associated with each student having a device. To complete the user acknowledgements along with making a payment, please log on to your FamilyID account (or create a new one if needed) and follow the directions to update your account for the 2020-2021 school year. Families must complete this process by before trading in their old chromebook and/or picking up a new one or picking up an iPad.

Please use this link for all families of students in Grades 1-5:  Grade 1-5 Family ID Chromebook Registration

https://www.familyid.com/programs/2020-21-penn-trafford-school-district-chromebook-1-1

Please use this link for all families of students in Grade K:   Grade K Family ID iPad Registration

https://www.familyid.com/programs/2020-21-penn-trafford-school-district-kindergarten-ipad-1-1

We are hoping to do some of the chromebook exchanges and handouts before the start of school, but that schedule is TBD.  More information to come.

Technology Support Form

Powerschool Access and Letter

All new students as well as students in Kindergarten and First Grade will receive a letter  outlining how to create a Powerschool parent account. Returning students in grades 2-5 accounts will remain the same as previous years. Powerschool is how you will monitor your child’s grades and attendance for the school year.  You can also download the free app on a phone or iPad, if you desire. Should you have any questions please feel free to contact the office at your earliest convenience.

In order to give parents and students access to the class homeroom assignments before school

starts, we are asking you to follow the instructions below.

1. Please use the PowerSchool login (username and password) included in the letter that will be mailed to you to find out class homeroom assignments.
2. Class Homeroom assignments will be available in PowerSchool on August 14th.
3. The login website is: http://www.powerschool.penntrafford.org/public/home.html
4. Class Homeroom Assignment decisions, once available, are final.
5. Entire Class Lists will be available on the school website by August 14th.

Medical Information Update to Family ID

Each year, families are asked to update information in Family ID that pertains to medical and emergency contact information for their children.  That system is now up and ready for you to complete this data.  Please make sure that you log in to Family ID and do this for each child that you have enrolled no later than August 27th, 2020.   Here is the informational letter :   EMERGENCY CARD SUMMER UPDATE INFORMATION    

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1umGQu5qjvua-4mcMdli9Fx0bh3Xx6hHbEsRn1BhRSYs/edit?ts=5f2b321b

Here is the Family ID link to update your information:  FAMILY ID EMERGENCY CARD LINK

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1umGQu5qjvua-4mcMdli9Fx0bh3Xx6hHbEsRn1BhRSYs/edit?ts=5f2b321b

Lunch ID numbers

Students will be required to use their student ID to purchase lunch in all grades 1-5.  As part of our health and safety plan, every student will receive a new picture ID card.  This swipe card must be used instead of using the touchpad to bring up a lunch account and it will be kept at school in each child’s personal belongings.  In addition, the lunch ID number is used as a password for most of the websites and online access that students use.  We encourage the students to memorize this number.  For those new students and students entering first grade the lunch ID number is located at the very top of the Powerschool letter that is being mailed to you.

Elementary Handbook

The PTSD Elementary Handbook has been updated for the 2020-2021 school year.  

 Elementary Handbook 2020-2021.pdf 

Calendar and Information

Please check the McCullough School Calendar on the McCullough website as well as the Take Home Tuesday links often.

Understandably, this is a unique time in education, and in the world, but working together as a part of the PT community will ensure success for our kids.   I know everyone is concerned about their children and how to function at this time.  I also understand everyone has an opinion on this matter, but let's work together, please, to make the student experience positive and worthwhile.

Joseph A. Marasti, Jr.

Chromebook Forms

The Penn-Trafford School School District continues to prepare its students with 21st Century trends in education. Penn-Trafford School District will provide a Chromebook for each student grades 1-12 and an iPad to each kindergarten student. The fee for each device is $30.  Please fill out the registration form below, for each student in your family.

Early Dismissal / Parent Pick-Up

Please make sure to send in a note with your child that they will be parent pick-up or having an early dismissal. If this is going to be consistent throughout the year only one note is necessary. You will only need to send a note in if it is going to be changing. Please remember that should you email a teacher the day of the dismissal they might not see it because of their teaching responsibilities. If you are sending and email for an early dismissal please send it to the school secretary (kernas@penntrafford.org). Should you have any questions please feel free to contact the school office at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your understanding and assistance. 

SAFE2SAY 

Penn-Trafford School District has a SAFE2SAY helpline to help prevent threats and dangers to the school community. Safe2Say is designed to assist you in reporting any wrongdoing that impacts our schools, our students or our staff – anonymously, so as to protect your privacy. For example, you may wish to report acts of violence, potential threats, bullying, harassment, suicidal comments, theft, drugs, weapons, or any other dangers that may cause harm.

SAFE2SAY HELPLINE

If you see something, say something! The Safe2Say Helpline is a convenient, confidential way for anyone to report information about situations that might affect safety at our school. You can contact Safe2Say any time of the day or night to report concerns.

 In order to utilize Safe2Say Helpline to submit an anonymous tip, you can do one of the following:

1. Need to use the following website: https://www.safe2saypa.org

2. Call 1-844-SAF2SAY. The message is anonymous. The Safe2Say Helpline team triage your message and notify school officials, so appropriate action can be taken.

3. Use the mobile app.  It is available for Apple and Android devices.

Thank you for your continued support to provide a better education for all students in Penn Trafford School District. If you have any questions about the Safe2Say Helpline, please contact the school or the administration building. 

2Hr School Delays - Modified Kindergarten