SHGS Newsletter
September 21, 2020
Notes and News
Dear SHGS Families,
Happy Fall! The Fall Equinox is on September 22, 2020
I pray this newsletter finds you and your family well. I hope you had a wonderful weekend!
We had a fabulous first full week of school, we even had the Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Michael Deegan, stop by. (see photo below).
Thank you to everyone for completing the Covid-19 Self-Checklist at home with your child each morning. This is critical to keeping us all safe and healthy.
Absent Notes:
If your child is sent home from school by the nurse, you will need to send in or fax a doctor’s note for your child to return to school.
If your child is absent from school 3 consecutive days or more, you will need to send in or fax a doctor’s note for your child to return to school.
If your child is absent from school less than 3 consecutive days, you will need to write an absent note and send it in with your child upon their return to school.
MAP Testing:
MAP Testing will be given to all students both in person and remotely. We will begin Monday, September 28th with grades 6-8 and grades 3-5. Students in grades 2-1 and Kindergarten will begin testing on Monday, October 5th.
Remote students will be sent a letter later today with more details on setting up the MAP Testing. Remote students are expected to follow the same schedule for testing as the in-person students.
We wish you all a fabulous week. Stay safe and stay healthy.
Warm Regards,
Tracy Strub
MAP Testing
Dear Families:
Beginning September 28th, the students of Sacred Heart Grade School will take NWEA MAP Growth assessments on a computer or tablet. MAP Growth scores help teachers check student performance by measuring achievement and growth. Teachers use results to tailor classroom lessons and set goals for students.
MAP Growth tests are unique, and it adapts to your child’s responses to measure your child’s skill level. If your child answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If they answer incorrectly, the next one is easier. These results will provide a more complete picture of what your child knows and is ready to learn—whether it is on, above, or below their grade level.
Since MAP Growth tests provide immediate and accurate information about your child’s learning, it’s easy for teachers to identify students with similar scores that are generally ready for instruction in similar skills and topics, and then plan instruction accordingly.
Students in Kindergarten- Grade 2 will take assessments in Reading and Math while students in Grades 3 through 8 grades will participate in Reading, Math and Language Usage. Each test, while untimed, typically takes less than one hour. Following each testing period, you will receive a Family Report showing a summary of how your child is performing academically.
We are truly excited to focus on your child’s individual growth and achievement. We request that students are on-time and fully rested to ensure they are able to concentrate at their best. For students testing remotely, we ask that a parent/ adult be available to support as needed during designated testing times. Below is a schedule of MAP assessments for our school.
Each student should take the following tests according to their grade level:
GRADE BAND READING MATH LANGUAGE
Grades 6-8 Growth: Reading 6+ Growth: Math 6+ Growth: Language 2-12
Grades 3-5 Growth: Reading 2-5 Growth: Math 2-5 Growth: Language 2-12
Grades 1-2 Growth: Reading K-2 Growth: Math NA Kindergarten Screening: Reading Early Literacy Screening: Math Early Numeracy N/A
For your reference, the Family Guide to MAP Growth in both English and Spanish will provide additional detail and understanding of the assessments. If you would like to see a sample of the MAP Assessment, please visit studentresources.nwea.org.
Sincerely,
Tracy Strub
First Full Week of School
Reopening Information and Reference
PreK3, PreK 4, K, and Grades 1-4: In-Person- Students attend school 5 days a week in person
Grades 5-8:Hybrid Schedule- Students attend school in cohorts 2/3 days a week in person
Ventilation
Classroom doors will remain open when students are present. At least one classroom window will remain open when students are present, and a window fan will be placed in a classroom window facing the outside to draw air from the classroom to the outside and improve air circulation.
Visitors
No visitors will be allowed in the building during operating hours (7:40am - 3:30pm).
· For PreK 3, PreK4, and Kindergarten students, we have classroom assistants to escort the students once they clear their temperature scan to their classrooms
· For any parents who would like to meet with myself, Mrs. Millen, or a teacher, we will arrange for a Zoom meeting.
Sick Student or Staff- COVID-19 Symptoms
To ensure the safety and best practice, schools must designate a “Guardian Angel” room (isolation room) where students and staff with COVID-19 symptoms are to be placed while they await pick up and safe exit from the building. Sacred Heart Grade School has designated the room previously used as our Title 1 room (which is attached to the nurse’s office) and the room across from the nurse’s office as our ‘Guardian Angel” rooms. The sick student or staff will be monitored by the nurse and a staff member wearing full PPE. A sick student and or staff member will exit stairwell A3 and exit the building from the A3 Door to be picked up.
Morning Drop Off procedures
We will use 2 entrances to safely admit students into the building and to assure that we are maximizing instructional time. Social distancing markers outside the building will be set up along the sides of the building. Students will line up on a marker 6ft apart. Students will enter using one of two areas:
Main Entrance A1: 7:45am PreK4 and Grades 1-4
A2 Door: 7:45am PreK3, Kindergarten, and Grades 5-8.
Before entering the school building, temperature screening and screening questions as outlined in the NYS Guidance for In-Person Instruction at Pre-K–Grade 12 Schools during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency will be taken. *All individuals must be wearing a mask as soon as they line up for their temperature check. Masks will be available should an individual forget their mask. **Persons who have fevers of 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit or above or who are exhibiting other signs of illness shall not be admitted to the school.
Dismissal Procedure
At 2:40pm PreK4 will line up 6ft apart accompanied by their teacher and will be dismissed through the Main Entrance A1 Door.
At 2:40pm PreK3 and Kindergarten will line up 6ft apart accompanied by their teacher and will be dismissed through the Playground Entrance A2 Door.
At 2:55pm our bus students will line up in the breezeway 6ft apart and exit through Sacred Heart High School’s Main Entrance with staff supervising to get on the bus to take them home.
At 3:00pm the students in Grades 1-3 will line up 6ft apart accompanied by their teacher and will be dismissed through the Main Entrance A1 Door,
At 3:00pm Grades 4 and 5 will line up at 6ft apart accompanied by their teacher and be dismissed through the Playground A2 Door,
At 3:00pm Grades 6-8 will line up 6ft apart accompanied by their teacher and will be dismissed through the backdoor A3 Door.
Bathroom Procedure
A bathroom schedule will be implemented for all classes. Students will be escorted to the bathroom by a staff member to ensure social distancing when it is not a scheduled bathroom break. Bathrooms will be disinfected by wiping down with CDC-approved cleaners at least two to three times throughout the day and thoroughly cleaned daily.
Outside Break
Each class will be given a set time where they can go for an outside break (walk outside). When outside, students will remain 6 feet apart. During this time, students will have mask free time, this will occur once in the morning and once in the afternoon.
Mask Break
While in the classroom, a mask break will be given every 30 to 60 minutes (age appropriate). This will be done by having every other student remove his/her mask for 5 minutes (half of the class) and then switch for the second group (other half of class) to remove his/her mask for 5 minutes.
SHGS Re-Opening Plan see below
Classes have been determined for 5 day in-person instruction or the hybrid schedule. Class instruction decisions are based on class enrollment, square footage of classrooms, social distancing requirements, and number of students opting for the full-time remote/virtual learning.
No After School Program at this Time
We cannot offer our After School Program at this time, as soon as we are able to reinstate the program we will let you know.
No Early Morning Drop Off
We will not have early morning drop off this school year, please be sure not to drop your child/children off before 7:45am as there is no supervision before 7:45am.
Lunches
Please note that we will not be providing breakfast or lunch this school year. All children must bring in their own "bag lunch" including a drink and a snack.
They should be easily managed by your child and not require refrigeration or the microwave. All lunches/lunch boxes should be clearly labeled with your child’s name on it. Lunches will be eaten in your child’s classroom and no food will be shared with another student.
Uniform Update
For the first quarter, students will have the following options to wear each school day:
· A Spirit-Wear shirt and P.E. Shorts/Sweats
· P.E. Uniform -
· Regular Uniform
Calendar 2020 - 2021
The tentative SHGS 2020-21 calendar is now available (see school website). Please note this is a draft calendar and is pending final approval.Important Dates
Wednesday, September 23rd:Cohort A attend in person
Monday, September 28th: MAP Testing Begins for Grades 3-8
Wednesday, September 30th:Cohort B attend in person
Monday, October 5th: MAP Testing Begins for Kindergarten- Grade 2
About Us
Email: tstrub@shgsyonkers.org
Website: shgsyonkers.org
Location: 34 Convent Avenue, Yonkers, NY, USA
Phone: (914) 963- 5318
Facebook: facebook.com/shgsyonkers.org
Twitter: @SHGSYonkers