Pioneer Puma Post
September 2, 2021
A message from Mr. Jakious ...
Pioneer Families,
I continue to be energized by the enthusiasm of our students, parents, and staff. Pioneer is buzzing with all of the signs of meaningful learning, students enjoying their school experience, and staff connecting with our students and families to set the foundation for another great year.
I'm writing today to update you on some operational changes that you and your child will notice next week.
Throughout this pandemic, Pioneer has been committed to monitoring health conditions in the building & community and evaluating impacts on our practice. As part of that ongoing process, representatives from all of our building teams recently met to discuss how we can best continue to meet our goal of ensuring that Pioneer students are in school as consistently as possible.
I am always humbled by our staff's focus on doing what is best for kids, promoting their health and social/academic growth above all else. With that mindset, our staff has decided to make the changes to our practices detailed below. The intent is to ...
- Reduce opportunities for disease transmission;
- Reduce the likelihood of student exposures that result in quarantine; and
- Increase consistency in attendance resulting in higher levels of learning/growth
We believe these changes will have minimal impacts on the students' daily experience, perhaps even enhancing it. I appreciate the support of our staff through their willingness to be proactive and accommodate these changes.
Regards,
David Jakious
Principal, Pioneer School of the Arts
Before School
Teachers have agreed to take on this additional student supervision duty during their planning time so that we can reduce potential exposure opportunities. As a reminder, students may arrive anytime after 8:45 as long as they are in their seats ready to learn at 9:10 (15-min delay on Wed).
We will have staff reminding students of this expectation around campus.
Morning and Afternoon Recess
Lunch & Mid-Day Recess
By continuing to utilize lunchroom seating charts that align with classroom seating charts we will minimize the number of peers each student is exposed to throughout the day and, as a result, reduce the number of students who might be required to quarantine. This rotation will also ensure that only one grade level will be on the playground at a given time during lunch recess.
*Our TK class will be with but spaced from 2nd grade as there is space available in that lunch session.
Parents Can Help Us Too!
- Is symptomatic with fever, loss of smell/taste, cough, muscle aches, sore throat, shortness of breath, chills, an unusual headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, congestion, and/or runny nose.
- Has been exposed to a COVID-positive person outside of school.
While we empathize that missing school is a major inconvenience, but please do not be the reason that a large number of Pumas get sick and/or have to miss school by knowingly sending your child in with illness or a known exposure. Remember ... medicating to temporarily reduce a symptom is not the same as being symptom-free.
Reminder: Masks on Buses
Masks are required on school buses regardless of Mask Opt-Out status. If your child rides the bus, please make sure to send them to the bus stop with a mask and make this expectation clear.
About Us
Website: westada.org/pioneer
Location: 13255 West McMillan Road, Boise, ID, USA
Phone: (208)855-4100
Facebook: facebook.com/pioneerpumas