Principal's Message

Welcome Gonsalves Families to the 2020-2021 school year!

On behalf of the entire Gonsalves Staff, I just want to say how much we miss teaching and working with your students in person. Although we will be beginning the school year online, let’s hope it is sooner than later we will be able to bring the Gonsalves community back together again!

We will be starting school online only with our ABC Virtual Academy on Monday, August 24th. Please note that this is not asynchronous Online Learning at Home (OLAH) that your student participated at the end of the last school year. The ABC Virtual Academy is a virtual school offering both synchronous and asynchronous learning. Students attend the ABC Virtual Academy while at home. Similar to a regular school day, students will have specific class times and be required to attend their virtual classroom on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Attendance will be taken on a daily basis. On Wednesdays, most students will engage in asynchronous learning. I’ve included the daily and weekly schedule in this email. Please check with your teacher, as some academic blocks may be at different times.

Please establish clear expectations and set realistic goals for your child. It is very important to create a proper learning environment and encourage active participation and engagement in online activities. Please prepare a quiet learning space free of distractions such as cell phone, television, games, etc. Monitor academic performance and progress throughout the school year and contact your teacher regarding concerns or to request additional help. We teach and expect all students to practice and display good Digital Citizenship. Please encourage this with your child as well. Also, make sure to monitor students’ mental health and contact the school for additional resources and support if you notice mood changes, sadness, or a resistance to engage in online learning.

At Gonsalves, we will strive to create the best learning environment for our students online, and working together, I know we will make this happen!

Robert Benko- Principal