HMS UPDATE
October 2nd, 2020
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
In just over one week we will be starting our Hybrid/Cohort phase to school reopening. This week's newsletter aims to address the most common questions regarding protocols and procedures. All of our COVID-based safety precautions are based on New Jersey's guidance for reopening schools. In addition, I have linked below helpful guides and documents from the district and state.
There is a lot of information to review, but I would like to emphasize these main points:
1. If your child is symptomatic, or has a fever, please do not send them to school. Parents will be asked to complete daily COVID screening forms in Parent Portal. We need everyone, staff included, to follow this with fidelity.
2. Masks are mandatory for staff and students.
3. Students are responsible for bringing chromebooks to school and home.
4. Drop-off begins at 8:50, and pick-up begins at 1:25.
5. There will be obstacles and we all need to be flexible.
Next week's update will focus more on curriculum and instruction as related to the "hybrid" model. If after reviewing this week's newsletter and you have additional questions, please e-mail me or Mrs. Rivera.
Wear Blue on Monday!
Doug Layman
Principal, HMS
973.957.1HMS
RESOURCES
NJDOH (Department of Health) Guidelines for Schools (this guidance addresses many of the "what if?" scenarios)
UPCOMING DATES
WEEK OF RESPECT DAILY THEMES
10/5 Blue Shirt Day-World Day of Bullying Prevention/Stomp out Bullying
10/6 Everyone Counts Wear a shirt with a number on it
10/7 Dare to be Different -Wear mismatched clothes
10/8 United we stand against bullying-wear school spirit
10/9 Hero Day-wear a superhero shirt
Other Events
10.5: PTO Meeting, 2pm
10.12: Cohort A Return To School
10.19: Cohort B Return To School
SCREENING
Each morning parents are required to screen their child for COVID-related symptoms. Parents/guardians will need to complete the daily form in Genesis Parent Portal to verify each day that your child has been screened. If the screening is not completed the child will not be allowed to participate in instruction until this has been completed. Please see Mr. McQueeney's letter that provides instructions on how to do this.
The following is from the Centers for Disease Control:
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Please do not send your child to school if they have any of the above symptoms. If they present any of these symptoms at school they will be immediately screened by the nurse, sent to our supervised isolation area, where they will remain until picked up by a parent or guardian.
Parents are encouraged to review the New Jersey Department of Health’s Overview and Protocols for COVID-19 precautions and responses.
SCHOOL-BASED PRECAUTIONS
All students should wear a mask when on the bus, proceeding into the building, and when in the building.
Student desks will be spaced 3ft to 6ft apart, and all desks will face the same direction.
Teachers and staff will frequently reinforce frequent and proper handwashing.
Classrooms will be thoroughly cleaned on a daily basis.
Snack breaks will take place in the cafeteria, gym or outside. Students will maintain 6ft distancing when eating snacks.
Hand sanitizer stations will be in each classroom and students will be expected to use them when exiting the classroom.
Staff members will also be wearing masks and sometimes face shields.
If the HMS nurse is not present and we are unable to secure a substitute, then students will be asked to remain home for that day and switch over to virtual learning.
If a teacher is absent, we will attempt to secure a substitute. If we are not able to get a substitute, students will be asked to remain home for that day and switch over to virtual learning.
Specials classes will take place in the students' homerooms.
No sharing of supplies or classroom resources among students unless properly disinfected.
LUNCHES
SWITCHING CLASSES
WEARING MASKS
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
ON MASK BREAKS
Students will be expected to keep their masks on unless either eating snack or participating in an outdoor P/E lesson. The following on masks comes from the NJDOE:
Yes. District staff, students, and visitors are required to wear face coverings except under the following circumstances:
- When doing so would inhibit the individual’s health.
- When a student is in extreme heat outdoors.
- When a student is in water.
- If a student’s documented medical condition, or disability as reflected in an Individualized Education Program (IEP), precludes the use of a face covering.
- If a student is under the age of two (2), due to the risk of suffocation.
- When a student is eating or drinking.
- If or when anyone has trouble breathing or is unconscious, is incapacitated, or is otherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance (e.g., face coverings should not be worn by Pre-K students during nap time).
- The student is engaged in high intensity aerobic or anaerobic activities.
- During gym and music classes when individuals are in a well-ventilated location and able to maintain a physical distance of six feet apart (see number 2 below).
- When wearing a face covering creates an unsafe condition in which to operate equipment or execute a task (for example, students operating machinery in which face coverings may get caught).
REPORTING ABSENCES
If your child is going to be absent from school, or unable to participate online, please use Pick-up Patrol (PUP) to record the absence.
PUP doesn't have an app, but you can still make a shortcut to it on any smartphone. Here are the instructions on how to do that.
TAKING THE BUS
DROP-OFF and PICK-UP
AM
Students riding the bus will be dropped off beginning at 8:50am.
If you will be dropping your child off at school please drive around the back of the building and unload at the cafeteria doors. Staff will be outside to get the children out of the cars and walk them into the building. We will begin unloading cars at 8:50 a.m..
4th grade students getting dropped off will enter via the main entrance doors.
5th grade students getting dropped off will enter via the cafeteria doors.
See Drop-off Map for traffic pattern (same as in previous years)
.
PM
HMS students taking the bus home will depart at approximately 1:25
Students being picked up will be dismissed to the gym at dismissal time (1:25). Please drive around to the back of the building and follow school personnel's directions for parking. Parents will check in outside the gym doors, and students will come out to the parents.
These procedures will be evaluated on a daily basis and any changes will be communicated to all parents and guardians. We do expect delays the first two weeks and we appreciate your patience and understanding.
If Alpine Elementary is your next stop it is a lot easier to make a right out of HMS, go down Park which is your first right, and proceed around Lake Mohawk's southern end to get to Alpine. It is a longer trip in terms of miles, but there are no lights and little traffic.
CHROMEBOOKS IN SCHOOL
We will provide frequent reminders to students the first two weeks to remember to bring a charged chromebook to school.
PURCHASING LUNCH
Please visit the Sodexo website to see FAQ's, Menus, and more.
HMS PTO Meeting
Monday, October 5th
2PM
Participation Details:
Join by Meet
meet.google.com/iyk-nyhn-knf
OR
Join by phone
(US) +1 503-908-2335 PIN: 761 005 847#
TECH TIP OF THE WEEK
My Most Favorite, Recommended, Can't Go Wrong Website for Parents
SPARTA COMMUNITY FLYERS
PREVIOUS BLACKBOARD EMAILS
SUGGESTION BOX
Where to find these on the HMS website
Helen Morgan School
Email: doug.layman@sparta.org
Website: www.sparta.org
Location: Sparta, NJ
Phone: 973.729.5770
Twitter: @bulldogblasts