Dear parents/guardians, students and 21st Century community,
Summer is winding down and this year may not feel like any other, but we are all looking ahead to the start of school. It is an exciting time to prepare by reviewing your school supply list, organizing your school uniform and checking out our website! There are summer reading lists on our school website with recommended reading from your grade level teachers. It is never too late to put yourself ahead for the fall by reading! After all, the start of the 2020-2021 school year is just around the corner! We have a few changes that we are excited to tell you about for next year. First, we have added 4th Grade to our growing school. We will have full time nursing services. Teachers and students will be wearing masks and practicing social distancing and there will be signs up at school to remind all of us to follow COVID safe practices. As you can see, our school is prepared to welcome you back and we are excited that you are a part of the Dragon Family!
This year will begin with a Drive Thru Welcome and Chromebook Distribution on August 31st. Mark your calendar for drive thru at your designated grade/homeroom time (see Drive Thru Welcome page). During the first week, students will attend homeroom remotely, reconnect socially, take required NWEA placement tests remotely and orient themselves to the remote learning environment with teachers and staff. We will all be online to start. Students will bring needed supplies once hybrid instruction begins.
The first day in the school building for each grade will be determined by the current health order. Hybrid learning groups will be assigned. Group A will attend Monday/Tuesday and Group B will attend Thursday/Friday. Every Wednesday school will be closed for deep cleaning and sanitizing. Currently, 4th and 5th graders are expected to start on campus September 8th. They will attend both A and B days as our youngest students learn best in face to face settings. When allowed, 6th grade will start next, then 7th, then 8th. Grade level teams will be sending daily student schedules with learning times, virtual out of school instruction information and teachers will provide class syllabus. Our teachers’ duty day is 8-4pm. An important part of every school day is eating a nutritious lunch. A paper form for Free/Reduced Lunch will be provided during Drive-Thru.
We are a uniform school and proudly display the 21st Century logo and dragon to the community, especially on Out of School Instruction (OSIs). Uniforms are provided by Ad It Up www.adituptees.com/21stcentury. If you have any questions, please reach out to them at: contact@adituptees.com or 505-888-0007, 2432 Menaul Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107. Please sign up to belong to our Parent Teacher Association (PTA) by contacting them through our website. In person on campus volunteering will be limited due to the pandemic. However, being active in our PTA is, and always has been, one of the best avenues to support your Dragon!
Homeroom teachers will provide Chromebooks, remote testing information, student schedules (after testing) and other important start of school information during Drive Thru Welcome August 31st. I am honored to be your principal and am looking forward to our collaboration for the 2020-2021 school year! See you soon!
Bianca Belmonte-Sapien, Principal
