2020-2021 Return To Learn
Park Elementary & Hilltop Elementary
Dear LS-H Parents and Guardians,
Greetings from Park and Hilltop Elementary Schools. Reflecting back to March 13, none of us could have predicted how COVID-19 would have changed our lives. Despite the major changes, we hope that you and your family are well and have created special memories these last few months.
Throughout the summer, we have been creating plans for the 2020-2021 school year. COVID-19 still remains with us, and planning for the upcoming school year has resulted in many challenges for both educators and parents/guardians. We know that families are eagerly and urgently needing to know how their child will “attend” school this Fall.
Governor Walz unveiled the state’s Safe Learning Plan on Thursday, July 30. This plan prioritizes student and staff safety and health, data-driven decision making and the importance of local school districts to make informed decisions. County public health COVID-19 data will play a significant role in the 2020-2021 school year and will aid in determining the learning scenarios of our schools.
The Le Sueur-Henderson school year does not begin until September. This means there is time for our community infection numbers to improve (or worsen).
Although today is Thursday, August 6th, we do not know which of the three learning scenarios will be our base model for the start of the school year, we wanted to share what the three learning scenarios will look like for our students, staff, and families. The Le Sueur-Henderson School District, in partnership with Sibley and Le Sueur County Health Workers, will be reviewing county COVID 19 cases to determine which scenario we will begin school (In Person, Hybrid or Distance Learning). A recommendation on which scenario LS-H will begin the school year will be brought to the board for approval on August 17, 2020.
In the meantime, please review additional information regarding each learning scenario below. Please keep in mind, consistent with the Minnesota Department of Education Safe Learning Plan, Le Sueur-Henderson School District has a deep desire to keep our students and families connected to our school community. Therefore, every family has the option to choose distance learning beginning this fall, if that is their preference. If a family chooses distance learning, their child will be assigned to an LS-H teacher.
Thank you for your patience and support as we plan for the 2020-2021 school year at Park and Hilltop Elementary Schools. We are excited for the new year and will be providing several parent/guardian updates with more detailed information throughout the remainder of the summer.
Warmest Regards,
Amanda Feterl, Hilltop Principal
Christine McDonald, Park Principal
In-Person Learning (Scenario 1)
This is defined as every student coming to school every day. The health and safety measures laid out in the Safe Learning Plan will be in place, and there will be some changes to our day. A few include the expectations that students and staff wear masks and follow social distance guidelines in school. Students will be assigned an arrival and dismissal entry and exit door based on their transportation plan (bus, parent drop off, etc). Children will be able to eat breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria, while practicing social distancing. School schedules will operate in a “traditional” manner.
Hybrid Learning (Scenario 2)
District administration, including the Buildings and Grounds Director, have been working throughout the summer to identify the Fire Marshal’s approved school occupancy loads (of which, in a hybrid scenario, schools must operate at 50% capacity and maintain 6 feet of social distance). Park and Hilltop Elementary Schools do indeed have enough square footage to permit ALL preschool through fifth grade students to attend school in their respective buildings, daily.
The school board’s approved plan, under the Hybrid Model, is to have ALL preschool through fifth grade students attend school Monday through Thursday, with Fridays being used as a distance learning day. On Fridays, students will complete their Music, Media, Physical Education and Art school work. Additionally, teachers will use Fridays for individualized instruction.
Specific, detailed information regarding the Hybrid Plan will be provided soon.
Distance Learning (Scenario 3)
If the infection rates in Le Sueur or Sibley counties reach specific thresholds, our schools will transition to Distance Learning. Technology integration will be an increasingly important part of our students’ education experience. Our preschool through first grade students will be using the “Seesaw” application to communicate with teachers, while second through fifth grade students will be using Google Classrooms.
Specific, detailed information regarding the Distance Learning Plan will be provided soon.
Future Information & More Details
In the next two weeks, families will be receiving their traditional “Back to School” packet through the US Postal Service. Within this packet, you will find your child’s homeroom teacher, parent teacher conference information, along with various other documents.
Don't Forget!
In addition to completing the surveys or important forms below (click on the blue buttons), please take extra care when completing all necessary paperwork in the back-to-school packets. It is paramount that all families have multiple emergency contacts listed with current information.
Park Office Contact Information, Secretary Maria Aguilar
Email: maguilar@isd2397.org
Website: park.isd2397.org
Location: Park Elementary School, North 5th Street, Le Sueur, MN, USA
Phone: (507)665-4700 --- 507-602-0383
Hilltop Office Contact Information, Secretary Rachel Scheffler
Email: rscheffler@isd2397.org
Website: hilltop.isd2397.org
Location: Hilltop Elementary School, South Street, Henderson, MN, USA
Phone: (507)665-5900
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will my child receive a health screening every day?
A: LS-H Schools will be utilizing passive daily health screenings for all students and staff. Parents will be responsible for taking their child’s temperature before school each day. Parents, by you sending your child to school, you are verifying that he/she does not exhibit any of the following symptoms: cough, fever, shortness of breath, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, muscle aches and headaches, chills or runny nose. Students and staff will be expected to remain home if a temperature or any of these symptoms are present.
Q: Will the schools need to move between the three learning scenarios?
A: An advisory committee will meet weekly to evaluate the current county(s) health data and its impact on the Le Sueur-Henderson School District. Based on the county health data and the possible necessity to respond to illness of staff and/or students, this committee will recommend moving to a more or less restrictive learning scenario as needed throughout the school year.
Q: Who will be allowed to enter Park and Hilltop Schools?
A: Only essential visitors will be granted access to Park and Hilltop. Parents and guardians will be required to remain outside. A school staff member will escort a child to his/her parents waiting outside.
Q: Who are the COVID-19 Coordinators?
A: Amanda Feterl will serve as the COVID-19 Coordinator for Hilltop Elementary, while Christine McDonald will serve as the COVID-19 Coordinator for Park Elementary.
Q: Will the schools be cleaned frequently?
A: The district is adding additional custodial staff to facilitate increased cleaning procedures.
Q: Will my child be remaining with his/her homeroom peers all day?
A: Yes, in Scenario 1 (in-person) your child will remain with his/her assigned teacher and classmates all day. Children will not be moving from one class to another. For example: A second grader in Ms. Julius’ class will not travel to Mr. Seipel’s classroom. The only exception is for students receiving individual or small group services (Title I, Special Education, English as a Second Language). As such, all staff will be trained on cleaning/sanitation procedures prior to the start of the school year.
In Scenario 2 (hybrid), children will be with a portion of their homeroom peers all day. In order to meet Fire Marshal occupancy loads for classrooms and maintain 6 feet of social distance, we will be assigning students to smaller groups and utilizing extra classrooms and/or spaces (i.e. gym, media center only at Hilltop) in order to spread out.
Q: Who will be teaching my student the core subjects (Math, Reading, Science, Social Studies) in all Scenarios?
A: In Scenario 1 (in-person), your student’s homeroom teacher will be providing all direct instruction for the core subjects.
In Scenario 2 (hybrid), your student’s homeroom teacher will still be providing the direct instruction for core subjects. However, another staff person (e.g. specialist teacher, Title I teacher, paraprofessional) will be assisting students during related small group activities and individual work time.
In Scenario 3 (distance learning), your student’s homeroom teacher will be providing all direct instruction for the core subjects.
Q: What happens if my student’s teacher is absent? Will there be a substitute teacher?
A: Similar to school districts all across the country, LS-H has experienced a substitute teacher shortage in previous years. We have taken steps to recruit additional short-call substitutes in the event we encounter similar shortages this year. The reality is that if we are faced with a staff shortage due to required quarantines, then we may be forced to implement a more restrictive Scenario (e.g. transition from hybrid into distance learning). If you have a Bachelor’s degree and are willing to assist with our possible substitute shortage, please consider applying for a short call substitute license. Call the Le Sueur-Henderson District Office for more information regarding obtaining a short call substitute license.
Q: Will my child be able to attend Specialists?
A: In Scenario 1 (in-person) the elementary schools will follow a traditional school schedule. However, children will not travel to the specialists’ room (ie: the Art Room), rather than specialist teachers will travel to the children’s homeroom. Physical Education and Music classes will occur outside until the weather does not permit outdoor activities.
In Scenario 2 (hybrid), children will receive their Specialists’ instruction on Fridays, through a Distance Learning model.
Q: Will my child have recess and lunch?
A: Yes, in Scenarios 1 and 2 all children will receive a recess and lunch. Through creative scheduling, to ensure social distancing and spacing, all children will have access to the playground.
A’viands will be providing traditional school lunch menus; children will have the option to pick the Salad, Newton Pack or Hot Lunch option. In Scenario one (in person), all children will be able to eat his/her lunch in the cafeteria. In Scenario two (hybrid), classrooms will rotate between eating lunch in the cafeteria and in their classrooms.
A major change to our lunch system is that no child will be able to self serve him/herself. All food, including milk, silverware and napkins will be placed on the food tray by an A’viands worker. An A’viands worker will also be entering a child’s lunch pin number into the computer system.
Q: How will my child get to school?
A: All families are encouraged to complete the Transportation Survey to identify your child’s method to school: walking/biking riding, parents dropping off or picking up, or riding in the school district provided transportation.
The LS-H bus company will increase its cleaning and sanitization procedures. While riding on the school bus, family members will be asked to sit together.
Q: Will my child be required to wear a mask while in school?
A: Kindergarten through 5th grade students and staff will be required to wear a face covering. More specific guidelines for face coverings will be provided in our next newsletter.
Q: What type of hygiene practices will be in place?
A: We have built routines of hand hygiene into the daily school schedule for all students and staff, including handwashing and sanitation breaks during or between classroom activities. Hand sanitizer will be provided in multiple locations throughout the buildings, including but not limited to the entryway, main office, all classrooms, lunchroom, and so on.
Q: What happens if a student comes to school with COVID-19 symptoms or develops them during the day?
A: With the guidance and training from the school district’s nurse, staff will be trained to watch for possible symptoms of COVID-19. When staff or students develop symptoms during the school day, the symptomatic individuals will be immediately separated for all others and placed in a designated space. The individuals with COVID-19 symptoms will remain under the visual supervision of a staff member. Families and/or emergency contacts will be notified immediately and will be required to have the symptomatic individual removed for the school building within 30 minutes of the received notification.
Q: Will families be notified if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19?
A: The school district nurse, building administration, the Department of Health, and Sibley or Le Sueur County Public Health will collaborate to facilitate communication/notifications, contact tracing, and testing (if necessary).