Cooperative pedagogy focuses on communication, expressing emotions, and helping one another to succeed together in the respect of all. It allows students to improve their relationships with each other. It’s an instrument for producing social harmony.

A game is considered cooperative when the result of the activity does not distinguish the winners from the losers: either everyone wins or everyone loses. Students work together to tackle a challenge or to break a previous record. The game ends when the goal is achieved.

The game always ends with a phase of reflection and analysis. It is at this moment that the students express their feelings and the choices made. This phase of analysis allows the group to raise awareness of the strategies that are favorable and unfavorable to the success of the group game. 

This month, the 5th graders tried a new game: the cooperative pen! Students were randomly assigned to groups of 4 or 5. Each member of the group holds the end of a string that is attached to the same pen (see pictures). The goal is to work together, as a team, to reproduce a drawing (heart) with a message (École!). There is no time limit to accomplish the task. The students will repeat the exercise once a month, for three months, with the same teammates. That way, we will be able to see improvement over time. 

Several cooperative games will be done in 5th grade this year. Next challenge: building a pyramid with cups!

You will have access to the report cards starting Friday, December 11th after 4:00 p.m. directly on the FACTS Family Portal.

Once you log into the portal,

Go to Student in the use blue menu on the left,

Click on the arrow on the right to open the drop-down menu,

Scroll down and click on Report Cards.

If you do not have your login and/or password, please contact Stéphanie Humbert at admin@sdfrenchschool.org.

Please, take the time to download and to archive them for future use.

Francis Carlier, Director of the elementary school, fcarlier@sdfrenchschool.org remains available if you have any questions.

Meet Erin Stoller here by video.

Updates from Erin Stoller – December 11th

Important dates

There is no school uniform at SDFAS; however, the school does have a Dress Code, as outlined in the Parent-Student Handbook. For the 2020/21 school year, we are excited to partner, again, with Land’s End, a provider of high-quality school clothing and spirit wear.

• All Preschool students must wear their red polo during field trips and school events.
• All students from Grade 1 through 5 must wear a red polo during field trips and school events and a navy-blue T-shirt for Physical Education classes.
• All students Grade 5 through 8 must wear a navy-blue T-shirt for Physical Education classes.

Here is the Land’s End SDFAS webpage (900190869) where you will order:

• Red polo with the SDFAS logo (required for grades PK0 through 5) 
• Navy-blue PE t-shirt with the SDFAS logo (required for grades 1 through 8). The school will reimburse one navy-blue PE t-shirt per child if purchased before September 30th.  Your FACTs tuition account will be credited in October.  

More Info here. Please remember to label your child’s clothing and personal belongings.

Grades 1-2

• How to be a safe, strong digital citizen!

Grades 3-5

• News & Media Literacy 
• Digital Footprint & Identity 

Grades 6-8

• Quick Conversation Starter – Teen Voices: Friendships and Social Media
• Cyberbullying, Digital Drama & Hate Speech

Helpful reading for adults

• Raising Digital Citizens – Teach your children to become good and safe digital citizens

All parents with children enrolled at SDFAS for the 2020-2021 school year are required to review and acknowledge with signature the following documents using this ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM:

• SDFAS Parent-Student Handbook 2020-2021 (Revised and Updated on 09/12/20)
• SDFAS Covid-19 Addendum to the Parent-Student Handbook 2020-2021
• SDFAS Acceptable Use Policy (Technology) only for Grades 3-8. Click here for an overview of the SDFAS Chromebook Program.

**URGENT Action Needed!**Click here for the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM to print, complete, sign, scan to pdf and return by email to Stephanie Humbert at shumbert@sdfrenchschool.org.

• Go to your Family Portal
• In the menu on the left: Select the “Family” drop-down
• Click “Family Home”
• Within the “Contact Info” click the edit pencil to update “Emergency Contacts” and “Transportation (Pick-up) Contacts”.
• You may add as many “Transportation (Pick-up) Contacts” as necessary.

Consult our Covid-19 webpage at any time to see our most recent updates. Great news from Magnus! They have heard the recommendations from the community and have updated the Magnus application to now include Face ID/ Touch ID. The best way to take advantage of this update is to update the app in the Apple Store (iPhone users) or Google Play Store (Android Users). Once updated, log in, and a pop-up window will appear asking if you’d like to enable the Face ID/Touch ID feature. You may need to delete the app and download it again if you do not get the pop up upon logging in. Flu Season is here. Don’t wait to get the flu vaccine. Video from Anna and Mark

Instructions to install Magnus App For the upcoming school year, parents will use the Magnus Health Mobile App to complete a daily COVID-19 screening assessment for each SDFAS student from a smartphone in just a few clicks. This screening will need to be done every morning, at home, no later than 7:30 am, before departure for school. On August 27, 2020, parents will be able to set up a Magnus Health account via FACTS. After activating your Magnus Health account via FACTS you will install the Magnus Health Mobile App on your smartphone.  To log in for the first time please follow the instructions below:

1. Log into your FACTS account
2. Go to the Family Portal
3. Under the “Student Tab” Go to “Medical”
4. Click on Magnus Login button
5. Hover over your name within Magnus (top left of screen) and choose Change Credentials
6. Enter a Username & Password that only you know and will remember. This should be the same username & password you use for FACTS
7. You will see this phrase daily to remind you to complete your Covid-19 screening.
8. Download the “Magnus Mobile V2” App from the Apple Store or the Google Play store, and log in using your username & password.

At the completion of this initial process, you will be able to download the Magnus Mobile App for free on your smartphone and log in through the app to complete the screening assessment each morning. If you need additional help, you can always reference the parent tutorial. You will access the screening via the button titled “COVID-19.” We thank you in advance for your cooperation in this daily screening as it will be an imperative function of our safety protocols. Upon completion of the quick survey each morning, you will receive a message for the student’s attendance giving instructions for that day.  If your child arrives at school and the screening has not been completed, we will ask that you complete it before the student exits the vehicle. A parent must be the one to fill this out. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us keep the school operational during this pandemic.  Use of this App will help us create the safest possible environment for your children, our faculty, and staff.  For any technical issues with the mobile app such as login problems, or problems completing the screening please contact customer support at Magnus Health SMR by phone at 877.461.6831 or by email at service@magnushealthportal.com.