JA Cub Report
Weekly Report #29: Thursday, March 18, 2021
Pick-Up and Drop-Off Procedures @ John Adams Middle School
Student pick-up and drop-off are two very busy times of day at John Adams! In order to keep all families safe (and to limit frustration), please follow these procedures from 7:15-7:40 and 1:30-until all busses are gone.
Doors open at 7:25 a.m. Students will social distance outside until 7:25 a.m.
- Door 1 – Grade 6
- Door 2 – Grade 7
- Door 9 – Grade 8
Students then enter the building and go to their classrooms. Students will eat breakfast in their first hour classrooms. If a student has first hour Science or Phy Ed class, they are required to eat their breakfast in the cafeteria/auditorium. The main circle / turn around near the main entrance is reserved for buses ONLY before/after school.
If you drive your child to John Adams, refer to the diagram (above) to understand expected traffic patterns. Cars entering/dropping off students should enter the parking lot on the east side of the building in the entrance only and let students out at the curb side of the parking lot next to the building. End of day, buses will utilize the curb area all the way to the stop sign on 31st Street. Handicap parking is available in the front of the John Adams Parking lot.
When waiting for your child after school, please be aware that other cars are arriving and leaving behind you. Good drop off and pick up areas are marked with a star on the map.
In-Person and Distance Learning Model: APRIL 5
Beginning April 5, RPS secondary schools will be returning to our In-person Learning Model. Here are details about what you can expect:
- You have received notice about Distance Learning or In-person Learning Model for your child. Please don’t hesitate to contact me directly with any questions you may have. I can be reached at brgoetz@rochesterschools.org or at my direct extension: 328-5676.
- Teachers will deliver instruction to students in-person using expected mitigation strategies.
- Distance Learning students will follow along live, provided short bursts of instruction, and/or offered activities to complete on their own.
- We will follow an 8-period day. This means all students, whether in-person or DL, will attend each class (periods 1-8) daily.
- The school day will be 7:40 am – 2 pm.
IMPORTANT DATES
- March 23 – 6th Grade Orientation Day (6th Grade In-Person Learning Model ONLY)
- March 24-25 – Teacher Planning Days (NO SCHOOL)
- March 26 – End of Quarter Day
- March 29 – April 2 – Spring Break
- April 5 - First Day of In-Person School and 8 Period Day
- April 14 - Picture Day (more specifics to come)
You will continue to receive the JA Cub Report weekly Friday afternoons!
MITIGRATION STRATEGIES
Health Screening: Before coming to school, staff and students should answer the screening questions provided in the At-Home COVID Screening Tool.
Face Coverings
Masking
1. Policy – Staff and students are required to wear face coverings in accordance with School Board Policy 808 during all programming. Staff are strongly encouraged to wear face shields, in addition to masks, when interacting with others. At this time, face shield requirements for individuals providing direct student support services has not changed.
- "Face covering" is defined as any paper or disposable mask, cloth face mask, medical-grade mask, medical grade respirator, or religious face covering that covers the nose and mouth completely in accordance with CDC guidance. Masks with valves, mesh, openings, holes, vents, or visible gaps in the material do not qualify as face coverings.
- Gaiters and bandanas do not qualify as face coverings.
- Inside school buildings and district offices
- On school grounds where social distancing cannot be maintained
- Onboard school transportation
2. Exemptions
- Any person under age 2
- Any person having trouble breathing
- If the person is unconscious
- Any person incapacitated or unable to remove covering without assistance
- Intolerance to face covering due to developmental, medical, or behavioral health conditions
Social Distancing
Requirements as of 2/17/21 – Students must maintain 6ft of physical distance from one another whenever feasible.
When 6ft cannot be met: minimum of 3ft must be maintained.
1. Classroom
- Desks must be 6’ apart, if possible, minimum 3’ apart
- Minimal movement about the classroom
- Minimal leaving the classroom during class time
- Plexiglass barriers
2. Hallway
- Restrooms – will be closed during passing time and before school
- Restroom visits - documented during class time
- Passing Time – maintain 6’ of social distance when possible, minimum of 3'
- Lockers – Lockers will not be used at this time
3. Outside
- Maintain Social Distancing
- Masks are to be worn on school grounds, where social distancing cannot be maintained
Illness
Students
- If students become symptomatic in class/at school
- Do NOT send student to health office
- Call Health Office to report symptoms
- Wait for designated escort to come to classroom
- If a student reports a positive COVID result in class (family or self)
- Ask student if they are experiencing any symptoms
- Report information to JA COVID Coordinators (Goetz & Goetz)
TRAVEL GUIDANCE: QUARANTINE
Domestic Travel: RPS does not currently require quarantine for travel within the U.S.; this includes domestic air travel.
International travel: RPS follows OCPH guidance for quarantine for international travel.
OCPH advises you get tested 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for 7 days after travel.
- Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days.
- If you test positive, stay home and isolate yourself to protect others.
If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.
SPRING 2021 SUPPLY LIST
Facemask
Backpack (do not pack too much and keep on back of chair in classes)- Notebooks to share between subject areas
- Folders to share between subject areas
- Pencils
- Colored pencils
- Glue stick
- Headphones
- Highlighters (8th Grade)
Honors Option for 2021-22 School Year
It’s time for this year’s 6th and 7th grade students to sign up to take honors classes next year. We offer all students the opportunity to take Honors English, Honors Science, or Honors Social Studies. Note: students in the highly gifted program do not need to sign up for honors classes.
Please complete this form to request honors classes. Please be aware that while students will likely be placed in one honors class, it may not be possible to place them in two or three honors classes because of schedule constraints.
The standards addressed in Middle School Honors Classes will be the same as grade level classes; however, the class will move at a faster pace, go into greater depth and require a greater degree of independence on the part of the student. These courses are not intended to assign MORE work, but work matched to students’ instructional level. The MS Honors Classes are not high school classes taught at the middle school; therefore, a student will NOT earn a high school credit or a high school grade.
Click on the link to sign up for Honors classes today!
https://forms.gle/Mx7KhzNjKYrTMty19
Denise Seabarkrob
Gifted Specialist
John Adams Middle School
ATTENTION: FUTURE STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS
Are you interested in joining the John Adams Student Council? Let Mrs. McRae know via email at hemcrae@isd535.org and she will send you more information. She would love to have you join the student council team!
JOHN ADAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL IS NOW OFFERING LIBRARY BOOK DELIVERY
To request a library book, fill out the form found in ClassLink under the Library/Media tab. Once completed hit Submit.
Book deliveries will occur every Tuesday and Friday from 11-2 pm. These will be delivered by John Adams staff members. We will simply be doing deliveries like Federal Express. We will leave on your step and ring the doorbell.
To aide you with the selection of a book, I recommend using the John Adams online catalog found within ClassLink under the Library/Media tab. When you find a title you want to request, make sure under the Status column that it says it’s available.
Questions? Send me an email: paguenzler@rochester.k12.mn.us
Thanks! Mrs. Guenzler
Mr. Brant Goetz
"You must believe in yourself if you expect others to believe in you." -John Wooden
Email: brgoetz@rochesterschools.org
Website: https://jams.rochesterschools.org/
Location: 1525 31st Street Northwest, Rochester, MN, USA
Phone: 507-328-5676
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnadamsms1
Twitter: @JohnAdamsMS1