It has been another busy week at the school house. On my walks around the building, I witness children eager to provide greetings and welcome to those nearby. Teachers are laser-focused on reading, math, and science skill instruction and providing intervention or enrichment experiences to those that needed. Students are completing NWEA assessments, developing critical thinking skills in STEM, playing drums in music, and creating in Art. These are a handful of the many and varied learning experiences unfolding each day at the Meadow. I'm proud of this team of educational leaders along with the children they serve.

As we move into the weekend, please take note of the following:

Curriculum Night - Our teachers are working on communication for you regarding some of the inner workings of their classrooms.

• Your child's teachers are creating pre-recorded presentations that will be sent to you next Thursday. This information will be sent to you prior to 6 PM on Thursday, August 26th.
• We understand the disappointment to many that we didn't host the event in the school building. Know that our team is accessible to dialogue with you should you have questions or desire to learn more. Please contact your child's teacher if you have specific needs or questions. We are here for you and your family.

School Picture Day is next Thursday, August 26th. Please see the updated information below.

Jog-a-thon (JAT) is September 22! We are excited for the return of this event on September 22nd. Details will unfold to families in early September.

Enjoy your weekend, and hoping all stay healthy,

Tom Hundley, Principal

Cripe Photography will be on BME campus to take student photos on Thursday, August 26th.

To order with a debit or credit card, please follow the link below. All pre-ordering will close after Thursday, August 26, 2021. You do not need to turn in any receipt or form for an online order. Your student will be bringing home a paper form to pay by check or cash. Proof ordering will be available 4-6 weeks after the photo day.

https://cp-school-portraits.hhimagehost.com/V2/Home/LoginConsumer?EK=170727

COVID Policy for the 2021-22 school year:
Cripe Photography has instituted a "No Contact" policy for school photos. Our photographers will not be in contact with the students, therefore will not be fixing hair, collars or other clothing. Photographers will try their best to have the student fix what is needed.

If you have any questions or concerns please fill out our Customer Service Contact Form

Q: How are you addressing CoVID mitigation in the school this year? Do you think kids should wear masks? Why aren’t all adults required to wear masks?

A: The ZCS Board of Trustees decided that all individuals under the age of 12 will be masked until further notice. As a district, we strongly recommend those 12 and older who are not fully vaccinated wear a mask. This is a fluid situation, so guidance is subject to change if circumstances change. The School Board and our district leadership team will keep the community informed should there be a change to our current guidelines. in the meantime, increased ventilation/filtration, cleaning, hand washing, etc... will continue as practiced last school year.

Q: With elementary aged students wearing masks, is contact tracing still occurring?

A: Yes, contact tracing will still occur when applicable. Decisions for quarantine and isolation come from our State and Local Health Departments. We, as an organization, are legally bound by the State to conduct close contact tracing as defined by the health departments. The criteria set forth by the health departments also applies to organizations other than schools as well.

Q: What is the criteria for contact tracing?

A: Contact tracing occurs for those individuals within 6’ for at least 15 minutes (per day) of a C-19 positive person. If close contacts have prior C-19 Diagnosis, consultation will be made with Boone County Health Department to determine if quarantine is warranted. Currently, individuals who have been positive within the past 90 days do not need to quarantine as long as they are asymptomatic.

A contact-traced individual without proof of vaccination or prior C19 diagnosis will quarantine for 14 days.

However, the contact-traced individual may get a C-19 (PCR) test on day 5 or after exposure for an earlier return.

• If the test is negative, the individual may return on Day 8 if symptom free.
• If positive, a 10 day isolation begins from the date of testing or onset of symptoms.

Q: If the school quarantines my child due to close contact to another student or staff member that has tested positive, does that mean they have or will contract CoVID?

A: To be quarantined does not mean the individual has COVID. Rather, it means they were exposed and should take precautionary measures to help prevent potential spread. By not doing so, we run the risk of even more positive cases throughout the school and our community at large.

Q: What about symptoms? What symptoms must we watch and keep our child from school?
A: Every morning, families should take note of if their child is showing symptoms of illness. We know this can be complicated, frustrating, and inconvenient as we strive to keep our learning environments as healthy as possible. Fevers, sore throats, new onset of intense headache, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, coughing or shortness of breath, or new loss of taste or smell are the common symptoms and students will be required (per health department mandates) to quarantine for ten days from the start of symptoms. Student may return to school/activities sooner with a physician document stating they may return OR a negative PCR CoVID test. (This is regardless of vaccination status)

Q: If one child is home with symptoms, must my other children stay home as well?

A: Siblings of ill students will need to be picked up if at school. Siblings will need to follow quarantine guidelines.

Q: Why masks?

A: I recognize there is a debate over this. I hear it daily, and our Board of Trustees determines whether masks are in place or not.

We do know that masks do not guarantee that an individual won’t be exposed, but health departments, CDC, and majority of health organizations do report that it helps reduce exposure and assists with reducing spread. Our ZCS Board of Trustees enacted this cautionary measure to assist us in exposing less students, families, and staff to help prevent us from needing to close school doors due to viral spread.

More information regarding COVID protocols is located here on the ZCS website.

ZCS C-19 Protocol

August 25 - Dine for Dollars - Smoothie King (4-8)

August 26 - Picture Day; Curriculum Night presentations sent to families prior to 6 PM

September 2 - 4th grade to Camp Tecumseh (extended day study trip)

September 6 - Labor Day (no school)

September 8 - Dine for Dollars @ City BBQ

September 22 - Jog-a-thon; Dine for Dollars @ Papa Johns

October 4-8 - Fire Safety Week

October 5 - End of Quarter 1

October 6 - Dine for Dollars - Panda Express

October 7 - Picture Retake/Make-up Day

October 11-15 - Fall Break

October 20 - Dine for Dollars - Bub's Burgers

October 26 - Regular school day w/ Family/student conferences (PM)

October 27 - E-Day & Family/Student Conferences

November 3 - Dine for Dollars @ Marco's Pizza

November 7 - Daylight Savings Time ends

November 11 - Veterans Day

November 24-26 - Thanksgiving Break (no school)

December 6-17 - NWEA testing window

December 17 - End of Quarter 2/Semester 1

December 20-31 - Winter Break (no school)

January 17 - MLK Jr. Day (no school)

January 18 - Teacher professional development day (no school for students)

February 14 - Valentine's Day

February 21-25 - Presidents' Day/February Break (no school)

March 15 - End of Quarter 3

April 1-8 - Spring Break (no school)

May 25 - Last day of school

May 26- June 3 - Make up days (if needed)

May 30 - Memorial Day (no school)