Bulldog Paw Prints
08/24/2021
Bus Transportation
The most recent report I have is that all things will be correct in the PowerSchool Parent Portal tomorrow, and we will be checking to verify that first thing in the morning. We will reach out as soon as things are a "go" on our end, and again, I apologize for the delays in this.
Lunch and Snack
LOCATIONS FOR LUNCH: We will be making use of four locations for lunch--the gym and stage, the library, the intervention room, and the art/music room. We've already identified the capacity for each space, and the individual chairs and tables are currently being assembled. We plan to hold lunch outside as often as possible while the weather holds, and we have solid plans for when we need to hold lunch inside.
ADULT SUPERVISION: At this point, we believe that we have enough internal support to provide appropriate student supervision during our lunch and recess times. However, I will be reaching out to you for if we need more adults to provide support/coverage/supervision.
ANTICIPATED LUNCH TIMES: We plan to have students in Kdg, 2, 4, 6 eat from 11:30 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. We plan to have students in 1, 3, 5 eat from 11:50 a.m. - 12:20 p.m. This configuration allows for nearly-equal numbers of students eating during each time frame and fits within our space capacities.
PTA HOT LUNCH: This is something that we would like to build into the student day so long as we are able to do that. We anticipate this being able to start in November. You will learn more about this during PTA registration.
DAILY SNACK: This is something we will hold on a daily basis. After working with the teachers on Monday and Tuesday, each classroom has plans in place to hold daily snack outside or inside. Inside plans will for sure look different than outdoor plans, and depending on room location and configuration students will be staggered throughout the room, at the perimeter of the room, etc. to ensure that students are maintaining at least six feet of distance.
**As in the past, daily snack can only consist of fresh fruits or fresh vegetables without dips or sauces. Individual teachers will communicate directly with you about any details specific to their classroom. Daily snack, as always, is paired with an educational experience (i.e. read aloud or an independent activity), and it is an option. Families can decide whether or not to send a daily snack to school.
Traffic and Points of Entry (Repeat but worth a Review)
Please take a moment to read the procedures below, and be sure to share them with anyone who may be driving your students to school - parents, grandparents, caregivers, neighbors, etc.
There are two designated drop-off areas for those arriving by car. One is in our parking lot, and the other is at Herbert Circle. Should you decide to park and walk your children to the entry point, you may park on the west side of Belle Aire Lane (so your're facing Ogden) or in an open parking spot in our lot. Parking next to the school's sidewalks or on the perimeter of the lot is prohibited as it blocks and disrupts traffic patterns.
Main Parking Lot Drop-Off Zone:
There are two turn-in lanes available upon entering the school's parking lot. The first, most southern lane should only be used if you intend to park your car in an open spot. Parents who are dropping off students should use the second entrance (the one after the small median), which directs you to the circle drive in front of the school.
Currently, we treat the drop-off zone like the curbside drop-off at the airport, and it can be extremely dangerous because of moving traffic. The circle drive splits into two lanes at the sidewalk. The right lane nearest the sidewalk is where students should exit vehicles; the left lane is for passing/moving traffic exiting the lot. Students are the only ones who exit the vehicle in this procedure. Parents who exit the vehicle in this area are putting themselves in danger and slowing down our drop-off procedure. Please be aware of your surroundings, check your mirrors, and stay off of your cell phones.
When entering the drop-off zone, pull as far forward as possible at all times. We need to use the entire drop-off zone as a unit. If you are the first/only car in the zone, we ask that you still pull up all the way so that cars that eventually appear behind you are able to drop-off as well.
Students should only exit the vehicle from the passenger side and when the vehicle is next to the sidewalk.
Herbert Circle Drop-Off Zone
Vehicles should follow the typical, counter-clockwise traffic pattern of entering and exiting the circle. Students should exit the passenger side of the vehicle and walk along the guardrail until they reach the path to the school. Student walkers must use the paved path (outside of the guardrail) to enter campus rather than walking through Herbert Circle.
Please do everything you can to prepare your children to exit the vehicle quickly and always on the passenger side.
If you need to exit your vehicle to assist your children for any reason and/or for any amount of time, please use the parking spaces and not the circle drive drop-off zone.
Here is a short video to help you see are entry/departure areas.
Arrival & Dismissal (Repeat Item)
ARRIVAL
Our arrival procedures will look very similar to last year, as we will be utilizing multiple entry points to promote social distancing, limit the traffic within the school, and help build community with students being welcomed by many of our staff members. Please see the attached map to determine which door your student(s) will use. It's a two-page document.
Prior to students entering Belle Aire, they will need to be wearing an appropriate mask (covering nose and mouth). Staff members will have extra masks, and each student will receive hand sanitizer. Paw prints are painted on the ground outside of each entrance as a visual to help students maintain social distancing as they enter the building.
Doors will open for student arrival beginning at 8:05 a.m. each day and will continue until 8:15 a.m. PLEASE DO NOT HAVE YOUR STUDENT ARRIVE ON CAMPUS PRIOR TO 8:05 A.M. AS THERE WILL BE NO ADULT SUPERVISION. Students arriving after 8:15 a.m. will enter at the main entrance (Door 1) and buzz the office.
DISMISSAL
Students will follow a staggered dismissal procedure and exit out the same doors that they used to enter. We will also be dismissing students in various groupings to support distancing. Please do all you can to make sure your child understands your family's dismissal plan (meeting outside of the door, being picked up in Herbert Circle, being picked up in the main parking lot, walking home with brother/sister, etc.).
KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS:
Kindergarten students will remain in the building until they are picked up by an older sibling or by an adult, dismissed to Champions, or until they are escorted by a staff member for pick up in the school’s parking lot (to depart via car or bus).
Here are the groupings we will use to support our staggered dismissal:
*Students attending Champions
*Walkers/Bike Riders/Those meeting parents outside of the assigned entry/exit door.
*Students leaving by car in Herbert Circle
*Students leaving by bus
*Students leaving by car in the main parking lot:
Students who will be leaving school by car in the main parking lot will be dismissed in the order that families arrive. Please have a sign with your family's name on the passenger window so we can relay your arrival to the teachers inside.
Playground (Repeat Item)
PLAYGROUND/PARENT SUPPORT/PARTNERSHIP
The playground will not be utilized prior to the start of the day due to lack of supervision and in order to get the students into the building in an efficient manner. At family discretion, students may return to the playground after 3:45 p.m.
We are so excited to see all of our Bulldogs at school again! We do however need your help as we are transitioning students out of summer break. Please help us communicate consistent expectations, and while masks aren’t required outside, it will go a long way for all adults to model social distancing for the students. We understand the excitement and emotions that come with seeing friends and staff for the first time and we are asking for your support and cooperation with maintaining an awareness of distance between one another. We know this does not come naturally for most of us- but it is possible and important. We have painted paw prints on the ground in front of the entry points in an effort to help students maintain this spacing throughout arrival.
What's to Come?
August 26 - First full day of student attendance. Please send a lunch and water bottle.
About us
Email: bborchelt@dg58.org
Website: www.dg58.org/ba
Location: 3935 Belle Aire Lane, Downers Grove, IL, USA
Phone: 630.719.5820
Twitter: @BBorcheltDG58