KGE Principal's Update
September 2020
Dear KGE Families,
Thank you for working with our teachers and your children in making the remote learning successful! We know there were some challenges, but together we pushed through those challenges and were able to do something pretty dynamic for our Wranglers.
As we prepare for the transition to face to face learning , there are several things I need to make you aware of below, so please read carefully.
SCHEDULE UPDATE FRIDAY, SEPT. 11: On Friday, Sept. 11, our teachers will spend the afternoon on campus preparing for In-Person students. Students will engage in learning with their teachers the morning of September 11 (as we have been doing on a daily basis). After lunch, students will have asynchronous independent work for their afternoon classes. Attendance will be taken following our current attendance practices, and students will be expected to access their work for the afternoon on SeeSaw. During this time, we will be making sure all safety protocols are in place and have been practiced by all staff members. Please know we are committed to making our campus as safe as possible for our students and staff.
- CHANGES TO YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER: As you are aware, the requirement for mandatory remote learning will be lifted, and students will have the option of attending class in-person on September 14, 2020. We are doing our very best to accommodate requests to change learning preferences while minimizing the effect on students. When possible, we will keep students with the previously assigned teacher(s). However, some changes will be inevitable. If your child will have a change in teacher, you will be notified via email by this Friday, Sept.11th. Flexibility, patience, and grace will continue to be necessary as we progress through the school year, and students transition in and out of remote learning at the end of each nine-week grading period.
- FIRST DAY PROCEDURES FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING: On Monday, September 14, students who are attending in-person learning will have their first day on campus. I have outlined several notable differences that should be expected below in our KGE return to learn plan, including wearing face masks, minimizing the transportation of items to and from school, and changes to the arrival and dismissal routines. Please review carefully. Classroom teachers will be sending out additional information this Friday, Sept. 11th with details about drop-off and pick up. It is going to take all of us working together to implement a revised arrival and dismissal plan that will protect students, staff, and families. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
- WHAT TO BRING TO IN-PERSON LEARNING: We are going to work hard to minimize the back and forth of materials from school to home and vice versa. Classroom teachers will communicate with you with specific information on what is needed for each grade level.
- Idea to Help New Students on the First Day: We know there are some of you that might be worried about your child getting to class on the first day. If you have an extra lanyard at home please attach your child's name and teacher on a notecard to the lanyard. This will help our staff get them to the correct classroom. All staff will have a KGE black shirt on the first day of school as well as their NISD badge. We will have student helpers and staff in the building to help our new students find their classroom.
If you are new to the Wrangler family, welcome! We are happy to have you at KGE. Hopefully you are finding families to connect with and realizing that there is something very special about the culture at Granger Elementary. I appreciate each one of you for being so encouraging and positive as we navigate this unusual time together. Should you have any questions, please reach out to your child's teacher, the campus office, or to me directly.
Michelle McAdams
Principal
Kay Granger Elementary
KGE's Return to Learn Safety Video- Please Watch
KGE's Safety Protocols
Changes to Arrival/Dismissal Procedures and Traffic Patterns
Arriving at Granger each morning will look similar to every other year with a few minor changes to allow for more distancing when entering the building. A-L last names will continue to drop off in the back drive as normal and M-Z in the front drive. There will be signs designating which door various grade levels will enter. This is typically the doors closest to their classroom within the eye site of staff monitoring the area. The students will enter the building through the designated door and walk straight to their classroom. If they are going to be eating breakfast in the cafeteria, they will head there once entering the building. There will be staff spread out along the outside and inside of the building to support students in reaching their destination in a safe manner. The map of where staff will be monitoring and where students in the front and back drop offs of the campus will be entering can be found here.
To maximize social distancing, arrival and dismissal times will be staggered and multiple entrances/exits utilized as described below. Detailed information is located in the safety plan (along with a map!).
ARRIVAL:
- All students and staff must wear masks while on campus.
- 7:15am- Bus riders will be dropped off in front drive
- 7:20am- Front and back of the school will be utilized for car rider drop-off and walkers
Leaving Granger each afternoon will also look similar to the previous years with a few minor changes. The office will be calling a staggered dismissal over the PA system. We will begin with bus riders being dismissed to the buses. There will be staff to escort them out, as well as, staff waiting outside in the bus lane to support the students in lining up safely and keeping distance as much as possible while waiting to load the buses. After buses, the office will begin calling car riders to be dismissed to the front and back of the building depending on their last name. A-L will continue to pick up in the back of the building and M-Z will pick up in the front of the building. Kindergarten and 1st grade will be dismissed first by announcement followed by 3rd and 4th grade and 2nd and 5th grades. This will allow for less traffic in the hallways and more distance between students exiting the building. Students will be escorted to the appropriate waiting area until their name is called over the walkie talkies to head to their colored pick up spot. There will be staff walking the pick up line to announce what students are in line to pick up, as well as, staff to load the students in their vehicle as is traditional here at Granger. At 3:10 parent and independent walkers will be escorted to the appropriate parent walker pick up location or to the grade level exit for independent walkers. A map of where staff will be monitoring as students are exiting the building can be found here and a follow-up map to where staff will be stationed once car riders have exited the building here.
DISMISSAL: **Note these times are tentative and subject to change.
- 2:45 pm- Bus riders will be dismissed.
- 2:45 pm- Day care riders will be dismissed.
- 2:55 pm- Car Riders will be dismissed. Front and back of the school will be utilized for car rider drop-off and walkers.
- 3:10pm- Walkers will be dismissed.
Bus Route Information
Click on the link below to visit the transportation website and find information about your child's bus route.
Is Your Student Eligible?
Save money this school year and apply for free and reduced-price meals. Check to see if your student is eligible – it's risk free and confidential. Click here to learn more about Free and Reduced-Price Meals.
#ILoveKGE
We’d like to invite our followers to share their love, appreciation, and shout-outs to our amazing teachers, staff, parents, and students by tagging #ILoveKGE and #ILoveNISD. We can’t wait to see what you share!
Face Masks Required at All NISD Facilities
Masks are required on buses, in buildings, in hallways, classrooms, in common areas like restrooms, while entering and exiting the building. Limited exceptions to this rule will be made for eating, drinking, therapy, or when participating in certain district-approved activities per UIL and TEA guidelines.
Appropriate masks include:
· disposable masks
· washable masks
· neck gaiters
Masks with exhalation valves or vents are not a CDC-approved mask and are not acceptable. Slogans and images on masks must comply with the NISD dress code. Face shields may be worn in addition to a mask, however they do not replace the requirement for a mask. Being six feet apart does not negate the requirement to wear a mask.
Students will not be required to wear their face covering when:
· Eating or drinking
· Participating in certain district-approved activities, per UIL and TEA guidelines
· Participating in P.E. activities that are both vigorous and provide a minimum of six feet separation between students.
In addition, campus administrators may provide additional opportunities as needed for "mask breaks." These breaks must adhere to a minimum of six feet of social distancing and may include, but are not limited to, the following:
· Designated and monitored mask-free area during recess
· Designated and monitored class time outdoors
· Designated and monitored time in the hallway, not during passing periods
If students don’t abide by the face mask requirement for In-Person Learning, they may be transitioned to Remote Learning. If a student arrives at school without a mask, a warning will be issued and a mask provided. In order to provide a safe learning environment for all, if a student refuses to wear a mask correctly, the student will be removed from the classroom, a parent will be called to pick up the student, and the student will transition to remote learning.
Northwest ISD Will Have Three Elections on November 2020 Ballot: Trustee Election, Bond Referendum, and VATRE (Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election)
At the August 10 school board meeting, the Northwest ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to have three elections on the November 3, 2020 ballot:
Board of Trustees Election: The annual school board election, which is usually held in May, was postponed due to the public health crisis. Three Board seats (Places 5, 6, and 7) will be on the ballot.
Bond Election: The May 2020 bond election, which was postponed due to the public health crisis, will now be presented to voters in November. The bond proposal is designed to address growth, aging facilities, technology, and student programs.
Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE): The Board adopted the 2020-2021 tax rate of $1.4663 which triggered a VATRE (formerly called a TRE or Tax Ratification Election).
For More Information
A Message from our PTA
Hello Granger Families.
This year may not be like years past, but the PTA mission to help every child reach their potential remains the same. As a PTA we will be doing our best to adapt to this new normal and we hope you will join us to make this year the best possible for everyone at Granger. We are working on getting things up and running on our website so we can do many of our normal things online like membership, volunteers, room parents and spirit wear. More information is to come in the next couple weeks.
https://www.facebook.com/grangerpta/
We are looking forward to a great year.
Go Wranglers!
Claire Romelfanger
Granger PTA President 2020-2021
Coffee with the Principal via zoom
Join Zoom Meeting
https://nisdtx.zoom.us/j/96414051077?pwd=L0pySjRlOHZTUzJPaEdTdzVCajRadz09
Meeting ID: 964 1405 1077
Passcode: 496157
Tuesday, Sep 22, 2020, 08:00 AM
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Kay Granger Elementary
Email: notification@sharpschool.com
Website: https://granger.nisdtx.org/
Location: 12771 Saratoga Springs Circle, Fort Worth, TX, USA
Phone: (817)698-1100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grangerelem/
Twitter: @grangerelem