Well, stating the obvi-ous, we have never started a newsletter in times like these!

We truly hope that you and all you love are well! Also, please be sure to reach out to either one of us with ANY questions or concerns during this time. Both Mrs. Sher-man-Hudson and I can be reached by email; however, we can also pick up phone messag-es if you choose to call the school and leave a message.

Here are some logistical things we want you to know at this time: 1) The 2nd round of

Chromebook distribu-tion is taking place on Wednesday, April 1st between the hours of 10:00am and 2:00pm at the CO-LUMBUS SCHOOL. (This is NOT an April Fools joke :-) )

2) “Grab-n-Go” Break-fast AND Lunch is being distributed M-F at the McGlynn Com-plex from 12:00pm-1:00pm. Check the MPS website for oth-er locations around the city.

3) You will soon re-ceive updates about student work expec-tations as we transi-tion from enrichment activities to remote distance learning. The administration, principals, directors, & teachers are work-ing hard to prepare

this for you. 4) Please visit the MPS

website to take the MPS Parent Survey for Distance Learn-ing posted on March 27th.

5) The Middle School Lottery originally scheduled for March 26, 2020, is post-poned until further notice. The district is presently explor-ing ways to hold this lottery virtually.

6) Kindergarten Reg-istration through the Parent Infor-mation Center is working hard to cre-ate a process for registering your child for Kindergar-ten online. Please check out the MPS website for updates in this regard.

7) Check the calendar within for the Co-lumbus Social Dis-tance Spirit Days. Please consider posting your partici-pation photos to the folder at this link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/T6cZFL5jL6mgfcnd7

For the future, please continue to practice so-cial distancing, partake in lots of hand washing, and find ways to stay

fit. Oh, and do not forget to complete the 2020 Census at www.2020census.gov

Some valuable tips I read just this morn-ing, when connecting with others online, text, or phone - do NOT spend lots of time talking about COVID-19. Also, think about watching the news only twice a day - perhaps in the morning and then again before bed. It’s also a good idea not to watch the news in front of your younger children. These are difficult times and we need to work together to help our children navigate this pandemic in a positive manner. See the attached article from the NASP. There are also resources posted on the web-site from Ms. Lepore and others on this topic.

Stay Healthy, Stay in Touch, & Sending Love!

~ Ms. Kay

~ Mrs. Sherman-

Hudson

Principal & Assistant Principal’s Corner

APRIL

2020

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IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS

* TELEPHONE : 781.393.2177

* FAX : 781.393.2187

* NURSE : 781.393.2175

* ABSENCE LINE: 718-393-2177 ext. 1

Columbus School - Social Distance Spirit Days

Post ANY & ALL photos to - https://photos.app.goo.gl/T6cZFL5jL6mgfcnd7

April 1 SideWALK/WINDOW Wednesday - Students & families are invited to deco

rate sidewalks (use chalk please) and/or windows with positive, wellness mes

sages to share with neighbors and passersby. Take & post photo to website.

April 9 Talent Thursday - Create some type of creative project or artwork & share

a picture of your creation with the Columbus School (e.g. Legos, drawing,

painting, sport/activity, arts & crafts/science project, etc.)

April 17 Play Outside Day - Spend time outside with your family in order to stay hap-

py & healthy. Take & post a photo of you walking, jogging, dancing, riding

your bike, or whatever you do outside today. Remember to keep a safe social

distance!

April 20 (TENTATIVE DATE - Depends what the district decides about Spring

Break!) What Are You Reading? You don’t have to stay away from a book.

Send a photo of you reading or a photo of you and your favorite book, maga-

zine, newspaper, etc.!

April 28 Pajama Day - Pajamas are the best part of learning from home! Take & post

a picture of you (& your family) in your PJs & be comfy all day! And for the

very brave - consider posting a photo from when you first wake up…that

means share your bed head with us... if you dare!

Page 2

Page 3

1) Cooking - https://www.jamieoliver.com/

features/category/get-kids-cooking

2) Music - www.digitalconcerthall.com (The

Berlin Philharmonic)

3) Exercise - https://www.ksl.com/

article/46734587/joe-wicks-is-the-worlds-

pe-teacher-helping-kids-keep-active-while-

social-distancing

4) Online Museums -

Pinacoteca di Brera - Milano https://

pinacotecabrera.org/

Galleria degli Uffizi - Firenze https://

www.uffizi.it/mostre-virtuali. (Be sure to

hit the button for English! Or practice your

Italian!)

Musei Vaticani - Roma

http://www.museivaticani.va/content/musei

vaticani/it/collezioni/catalogo-online.html

Museo Archeologico - Atene

https://www.namuseum.gr/en/collections/

Prado - Madrid

https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-

collection/art-works

Louvre - Parigi

https://www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne

British Museum - London

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection

Metropolitan Museum - New York

https://artsandculture.google.com/explore

Hermitage - San Pietroburgo

https://bit.ly/3cJHdnj

National Gallery of Art - Washington

https://www.nga.gov/index.html

Museu de Arte de São Paulo

https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/

masp?hl=en

The J. Paul Getty Museum - Los Angeles

https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/t

he-j-paul-getty-museum?hl=en

Van Gogh Museum - Amsterdam

https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/v

an-gogh-museum?hl=en

Rijksmuseum - Amsterdam

https://artsandculture.google.com/streetvie

w/rijksmuseum/iwH5aYGoPwSf7g?hl=en

Pergamon Museum - Berlin

https://artsandculture.google.com/entity/pe

rgamon/m05tcm?hl=en

National Museum of Modern and Contempo-

rary Art - Seoul

https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/n

ational-museum-of-modern-and-

contemporary-art-korea?hl=en

Musée d’Orsay - Paris

https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/

musee-dorsay-paris?hl=en

Guggenheim Museum - New York

https://artsandculture.google.com/streetvie

w/solomon-r-guggenheim-museum-interior-

streetview/jAHfbv3JGM2KaQ?hl=en

Suggestions for Family Fun while at Home

The Phantom Toll-booth written by Norton Juster, illustrated by Jules Feiffer. Ages 9-14.

Do you like adventure, ex-citement, and questing he-roically? If you said yes to any of these questions, then The Phantom Tollbooth

is for you! Published in 1961, The Phantom Toll-booth is a book that has

many unique and funny characters, such as The weather man, the Terrible Trivium, and Alec Bings. The story begins with a young boy named Milo, making his way home from

school. He finds a large package in his room and decides to build a tollbooth inside the box. He drives through it with a small automobile in his room and is transported into another

world that is not our own!

Milo travels to dictionopolis and meets The Humbug and King Azaz. Then, Milo, Tock (the watchdog), and The Humbug go on a quest to save the princesses, Rhyme and Reason, from

the castle in the air.

I strongly recommend The Phantom Tollbooth

for your reading pleasure!

~ Reviewed by Garvey Polack, Grade 5

Page 4

BOOK REVIEWS

Please read the attached article for helping your child(ren) cope with changes resulting

from COVID-19. It is shared with you from the National Association of School Psycholo-

gists and National Association of School Nurses, NASP, 2020, adapted from Talking to

Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource. (More resources are

available to families at the MPS website.)

Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln, Author Marga-rita Engle, Illustrator Rafael Lopez, Ages 5-8.

Parents need to know that Margarita Engle's Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the

Piano for President Lincoln, beautifully illustrated by Rafael López, tells the story of a little girl's bravery, her musical talents, and important contribution towards equality in the arts. It's based on the true story of Teresa Carreño, a child prodigy who played piano for Abraham

Lincoln and his family during the U.S. Civil War. Teresa's family came to America fleeing the revolution in Venezuela, but found that there was fighting happening in the United States as

well. Teresa felt lonely in her new home with no friends and few people spoke her language. However, everyone could relate to her beautiful music. Teresa's musical talents allowed her to find joy again and share happiness with others during such dark times. She quickly became known as the "Piano Girl," playing in enormous theaters alongside great orchestras, and eventually became a famous pianist. The author's Historical Note at the end of the book shares more details about Teresa Carreño's life, including her life beyond childhood.

Book review by Monica Encarnacion, Common Sense Media https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/dancing-hands-how-teresa-carreno-played-the-piano-for-president-lincoln