Wilmot Word: Mid-Week Edition
3-3-21
Return to Full Day Instruction - Updates and Information
Elementary Schools Welcome Back To Full Day Instruction (video below)
Preparing for Our Return to Full Day Instruction
- Students will be seated 3 feet apart (or greater) in all classrooms
- If students share a table there will be a divider placed on the table at all times (this is in addition to the lunch dividers)
- With the exception of lunch, students and adults will wear a tight fitting mask at all times.
- Students will continue to practice hand hygiene throughout the school day.
- Students will have their own materials in the classroom (no shared supplies).
- PE, music and recess materials will be sanitized between classes/sessions.
- Only essential adults will be allowed in the building (e.g. no parent volunteers at this time).
Daily Certification
Beginning Monday, March 8 All in-person families must complete the NEW (slightly revised) daily certification form. On Friday I will share an updated link. It is important that you bookmark the new link as we will have just one form for all in-person learners. The district has made a helpful video showing you how to fill it out if you're not as familiar with the process or want a refresher!
All families must complete the daily certification form by 7:45 am. A different form is required for each student. Please enter your child's first and last name as it appears in Family Access.
Arrival and Dismissal
- Adults should NEVER enter the parking lot using the exit. This creates a very dangerous situation. understand that many parents are trying to enter the lot to park their car. You must be patient and not enter through the exit.
- All drivers must pull all the way forward in both parking lots. This means cars will need to pull into the circle at the far north end of the west lot. This is not an option as we need to move cars through the lot as quickly and safely as possible. When cars are forced to wait on Wilmot Road we create an unsafe situation for our community.
- Drivers should not get out of their car along the curb to assist students. This is very dangerous. Our staff are happy to assist and open doors with child safety locks.
- Drives should NEVER use their phone when on or around school property.
- Drivers should NOT block the entrance in the front lot. Buses and emergency vehicles must be able to enter the front lot and pull along the curb adjacent to the building.
- Please review the diagram below. The yellow arrows represent the bus and emergency vehicle zone. No cars should pull along the curb that runs adjacent to the building in the north lot.
At dismissal staff member will walk all bus riders to the gym to line up by bus number
Non-bus riders will be dismissed by class. Teachers will walk students to their assigned exit door.
Students waiting for a car will wait in the west lot standing on markings to promote social distancing.
Parents who park and meet students at their exit door must wear a mask and practice social distancing.
Thank you for your patience and support.
Entrance and Exit Doors
Preparing for Lunch/Recess When We Return on March 8
Our new lunch schedule allows us to minimize the number of children outside during lunch recess. We will have two 55-minute lunch blocks with three grades attending each lunch/recess block.
Each class will be split into two groups. Group A will remain in the classroom with a designated supervisor and will eat lunch while group B plays outside. After approximately 25 minutes group A will move outside and group B will return to the classroom for lunch.
If you choose to pick up your child and take them home for lunch this is a commitment for the full 55-minute lunch block and will be required 5 days a week. These students will be signed in and out from the Wilmot foyer. A parent/adult must come into the foyer and sign your child in and out each day.
Below is the lunch/recess schedule.
- 11:20 - 12:15 - K, 1, 4
- 12:20 - 1:15 - 2, 3, 5
Lunch:
- Please make sure you send a lunch with your child. Please make sure you send napkins, utensils and a drink each day. At this time we will not have milk. If your child does not have a lunch we will ask that you pick your child up and take them home for lunch. Creating a safe place for students to eat outside of the lunch hour will be very difficult.
- Each student will use their designated three-sided divider during lunch.
- All students in the lunch group will open containers and prepare their lunch. Please send your child with container that they can easily open with minimal assistance.
- After all students have opened their lunches/containers the supervisor will ask them in the group (A or B) to remove their mask and begin eating.
- Students will be asked to eat with minimal conversation to ensure the safety of all.
- Supervisors will assist students in throwing away garbage in cans that do not remain in the classroom.
- All students will sanitize their hands after eating.
- Nut Free Classrooms - In order to accommodate lunch in our classrooms, we will be temporarily designating our classrooms as open food areas per our District 109 Food Allergy Management Plan; however, all classrooms will remain nut free. Peanuts and tree nuts will not be allowed as part of your child’s lunch, so please plan accordingly in order to provide a safe learning environment for all students and staff. If you have concerns about your individual child and other necessary accommodations pertaining to food allergies please do not hesitate to contact your building nurse or assistant/associate principal.
Recess:
- We have created three designated play zones outside for recess using the blacktop and playgrounds. Grade levels will remain together in one play area for the full recess.
- All students and staff will wear a mask during recess.
- Students may play on the playground equipment or engage in non-contact activities.
- We will put out hula hoops, jump ropes, playground balls and other similar items for students to use at recess.
- Students may play games such as Four Square, HORSE, Hop Scotch and catch.
- Students may not play games such as tag, soccer, football, basketball or Gaga.
- Students may bring books or materials for coloring outside
- Our recess program will evolve over the next few weeks as we establish and teach students safe play procedures and activities.
- Students will sanitize their hands after recess
It is very important that students are prepared to go outside each day for recess and PE. Please have students dress appropriately with a coat, hat, gloves, boots and pants, as we will go outside each day unless it is unsafe due to cold (temperatures under 20 degrees or 15 degrees with the windchill) or excessive ice/snow.
Bus Schedules and Information
- Information regarding bus routes is available on the DPS109 website on Friday.
All bus riders will have an assigned seat to promote social distancing
Students must wear a face covering on the bus
Staff will meet the buses at arrival to assist younger students in walking to their assigned entrance
Staff will assist students in lining up at dismissal
For questions regarding transportation, please email transportation@dps109.org
Please Bring Back Art and Music Supplies -:)
Art: (ALL of the supplies given at the beginning of the year, plus a few more!)
1 Sketchbook (only if there are a lot of blank pages left)
1 set of Crayola markers (10-pack)
1 set of Crayola Colored Pencils (24-pack)
1 pink eraser
1 Sharpie
**Students will also need scissors, a few glue sticks, crayons and clipboards. The clipboards were placed in student bins at the beginning of the school year, and the scissors, glue sticks and crayons are hopefully already in the classroom. (If not, please send them to school.)
Additionally, PLEASE check with your child to see if any of the supplies need to be replaced, as we will be using all of our supplies often.
Music:
Music supply bags (should include 2 pool noodles, 2 rhythm sticks, 1 egg shaker, 1 scarf (for Grades K-2), bag of little chips, and the rhythm/melody cards)
***Please do not send recorders to school***
We are SO excited for next week and beyond!!!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Dubin and Ms. Georgas = )
QUARANTINE EXPLANATION
General Livestreaming During Quarantine
Livestreaming is reserved for students who are typically “in-person” who are symptomatic, may have been exposed to Covid-19, and/or have been diagnosed as Covid-19 positive. The only exception will be the two weeks following spring break, when families can elect to voluntarily quarantine.
For clarification purposes, livestreaming will simply be a "window into the classroom" for the child. The student will sign-in using Zoom. Using Zoom and video streaming equipment, the district will be providing the child with access to hear/see the instruction happening but the teacher will not be providing direct instruction. If the child wants or needs assistance with academic content, the district will continue to offer the Quarantine Classrooms (K-5) during after school hours.
Please contact me if you already plan to have your child quarantine following spring break.