DAVIS HILL COMMUNITY UPDATE
MARCH 22, 2021
I hope that everyone is enjoying the sun and an overall feeling of optimism as spring is upon us.
If you have not had the opportunity to read it yet, Dr. McCall's update from yesterday (3/20) once again has some important information for review. I have re-posted some key information from Dr. McCall's update below and provide some further information below under IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
FROM DR. MCCALL'S UPDATE:
K-8 Schools to Move to Full In-person Learning on April 5th
This week, we have worked with our teachers and building administrators on solidifying the plans associated with bringing our k-8 students back to school by April 5th. We are moving desks back into classrooms, rearranging cafeterias and some gymnasiums, and creating schedules that will accommodate all of our students to return to school if they choose to do so. This is an exciting and busy time for all of our educators and staff as we eagerly anticipate schools running at traditional student enrollment levels.
On Thursday, notification was shared with all families concerning their decision to choose for their students to either return to school or remain remote. In order to plan our classrooms out properly, we need the most accurate pupil count for in-person learning. We are continuously looking at the safest manner for bringing students back, and knowing how classes are arranged for proper social distancing is necessary. WRSD Full In-Person Learning Information
The schedule for full in-person learning will be full school days on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, with Wednesday being a half-day for all k-8 students. The start and end times for the schools will follow the same times as a normal school year for full days, and Wednesdays will follow a half-day schedule. All schedules have been updated and can be found in this document. We will maintain one half-day per week in order to provide our teachers with time to adequately plan for working synchronously with our remote students and in-person students. Each school will send specific start and end times for planning purposes.
We have also begun our planning for tentatively bringing our 9-12 students back by the end of April. The high school is a bit more complicated in terms of the actual dimensions of classrooms and being able to provide at least 3' of distancing between students, as well as developing a plan for feeding all of the students safely.
For families who do not participate in full in-person learning, the District will continue to offer a full remote learning program for any student who remains remote through the remainder of this school year. Cohort C students will remain with the current classroom teacher and/or schedule for the remainder of the school year. Please note, however, the DESE has indicated that school districts will not be allowed to offer full-remote learning programs for the next school year.
As mentioned in prior correspondence, the District is following all DESE requirements on physical distancing and mitigation measure to help stop the spread of Covid:
Physical Distancing Requirements
Transitioning students to a full in-person experience will require us to reduce physical distancing in classrooms to as little as 3 ft, in accordance with DESE guidance. We are currently evaluating school learning spaces at each building to maximize spacing wherever possible. With this in mind, we will begin to set our classrooms up to accommodate more students starting this coming week. Spacing in all cafeterias will continue to be at least 6 ft between students. The CDC announced today that 3ft of distancing between students who are wearing masks is allowable: CDC Guidance. This link will bring you to a study shared with districts by DESE concerning 3ft and 6ft distancing in schools: https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciab230/6167856.
Mitigation Measures
As part of any return to full in-person learning, DESE-defined mitigation strategies must be in place. All WRSD schools have these measures in place and will continue to follow them in order to provide a safe learning environment. These measures include:
Mandatory mask-wearing for all staff and students
Frequent hand washing and/or hand sanitizing throughout the day
Protocols for contact tracing
Daily self-screening for all staff and students
Outside mask breaks as weather permits
Ongoing cleaning and sanitizing of school facilities
BinaxNOW rapid antigen testing
Transportation
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary (DESE) has relaxed transportation restrictions to allow more students to ride buses and vans. Please see the DESE Transportation Guidance for more details.
Restrictions that were lifted:
Capacity limitations*
Physical distancing requirements*
*If a district has high community prevalence, capacity limitations and physical distancing requirements on buses are amended to allow 2 students per bus bench for middle and high school students
Mitigation strategies that remain in place:
Windows and vents must remain open
Everyone must wear masks
Hand sanitizing should occur before boarding
Students will have assigned seats
Cleaning daily and deep cleaning weekly
Deep cleaning when needed for a positive case
On a final note, we encourage, as much as possible, that students who are able to ride the bus do so. Several of our schools have parent drop-off and pick-up lines that were already lengthy prior to the pandemic. Any assistance with this would help us maintain safety in our schools and our parking lots.
PLEASE NOTE: It is critical for our continued success that those in the community remain vigilant related to the DAILY SCREENING and erring on the cautious side when determining if a child is healthy enough to go to school.
Kindly,
Jay Norton, Principal
IN-PERSON LEARNING SURVEY/ DECISION ON RETURNING
Provided the expectation that our classroom spaces are ready in two weeks to welcome our students back for full in-person learning, we need accurate and complete data as soon as possible. We have worked through our classroom teachers and office to gather survey data that was incomplete over the last few weeks; however, we continue to have some surveys that were completed without a decision or not completed at all. We are asking our classroom teaching staff and custodial staff to begin to make classroom changes as soon as this week to ensure that we are ready come April 5th. Please see the link below for information on WRSD Full In-Person learning and completing the survey.
PHYSICAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS/ NEXT STEPS
Please note that over the next two weeks classrooms will begin to be set-up to be ready for the reopening. This means that spacing will begin to fall under the previously maintained 6ft distancing in the majority of our classroom spaces over the next few weeks. This will not happen immediately in all spaces; however, we want to make those in our DHCommunity aware that these changes will begin to happen starting as early as this week.
In spaces where we can not provide 6ft of distancing, snack/ mask breaks will not be permitted provided our current guidance. We will be brainstorming options for how students may be able to utilize pod spaces/ cafeteria/ gym and/ or outside for these purposes.
DAVIS HILL SCHEDULE STARTING ON APRIL 5TH
Davis Hill (Starting on April 5th):
START TIME/ 9:00 AM (Doors Open at 8:50 AM)
END OF SCHOOL/ 3:30 PM (More info to come on Dismissal Start Time)
HALF-DAY WEDNESDAY DISMISSAL TIME/ 12:30 PM
PARENT PICK-UP AND DROP OFF
Please review the reminders below regarding student safety during arrival and dismissal.
Please drive slowly through our parking lot at all times. Younger children take a few minutes to get out of car seats or get buckled up. Sometimes new drivers are unsure of routines or need guidance; subsequently, we ask that you please be patient and follow the lead of the staff at the curb. Thank you for your patience and support in keeping our students safe.
A reminder that students should not be left unattended in the front of the building prior to 8:50 when staff takes position to open the building. I ask that parents who drop students off in cars are all using the parent drop-off area. In the morning, please do not circumvent the parent drop-off area by pulling up to the front of the building and dropping students off and pulling away. This is not fair to the other families who are waiting in line. If your child has a need that requires that they be dropped-off/ picked-up in a unique manner, please contact the office.
It is challenging for staff to manage the parent pick-up area and ensure child safety if there are other parents/ adults in the area. Please refrain from walking through the parent drop-off/ pick-up area during transition times.
MCAS UPDATE
DESE did update the MCAS Assessment window for MCAS last week. The new window is:
May 10 – June 11.
We will be producing a building specific MCAS schedule in the coming weeks, but please know that there will be make-up sessions and we will have further information regarding how students who are remote will take the assessment. Please keep an eye out for updated information. Thank you.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
For DHCommunity members looking to register for Kindergarten for the 2021-2022 School Year (and please feel free to share info to any neighbors/ DHCommunity members you know looking to register).
The process will involve two steps:
2. Completion of hard copy packet that will be sent directly to the attention of Pat Johnson at Davis Hill.
Please let us know if any questions/ concerns. For planning purposes, it is helpful for us to have registrations as soon as possible. Thank you!
SCHOOL LUNCH INFORMATION
REPEATED INFORMATION:
Welcome Back!
The WRSD foodservice reminds our district families that meals are FREE to ALL STUDENTS this school year! We encourage you to take advantage of this benefit.
Whether your child is attending in-school learning or full remote, you may also sign up to receive meals to enjoy at home. Please visit WRSDschoolnutrition.com for full sign up details.
Finally, the Biden administration has signed legislation to extend the P-EBT benefits for families receiving SNAP benefits.
Should you feel you may qualify, please submit a Free & Reduced Lunch Application to confirm your income eligibility. The link to the application is found at WRSDschoolnutrition.com
Thank you
Margaret Barton
Supervisor of School Nutrition
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I wanted to update all of you on the lunch program this school year. All lunch meals are FREE for students until the end of the school year. We will be feeding students daily in school. The menu will repeat for Cohort A & B, so this means Monday & Thursday are the same and Tuesday & Friday are the same each week. If any students want to get a milk with their lunch from home, it is not free. The charge for a milk purchase is .60 cents.
Parents will be picking up 3 lunch meals on Wednesday for Hybrid students and 5 lunch meals on Wednesdays for 100% remote students. Any parents wishing to pick up on Wednesdays do need to contact me by email or phone to be added to that list.
Pick up will be on Wednesday's from 3-4.
Thank you,
Alison Towns
Food Service Manager
Health Office Updates/ Information
COVID tracking:
Please contact the health office if your child has been identified as a close contact, has been tested due to covid symptoms or has tested positive for covid. Please email on Wednesdays as the nurse may be working remotely those days. Contact information for Mrs. Berquist is below:
Sandra Berquist
Davis Hill School Nurse
office # 508-829-2273
IMPORTANT: Medication Drop Off
Parent(s)/ Guardian(s):
All medication orders need to be renewed each school year. If you child requires any medication at school please make an appointment with Sandra Berquist RN. We can not accommodate drop-ins at this time.
You will need an updated medication order from MD , your signature on form and the medication in its original pharmacy bottle. A limit of a 30 day supply can be kept at school.
MD Orders are necessary for non-prescription medications as well. Medications must be in original packaging.
Please contact Mrs. Berquist if your child:
-Has tested positive for Covid -19 in the last 10 days.
-If any household members have tested positive in the last 10 days.
-Has been asked to isolate by a medical professional.
-Has been asked to quarantine by a medical professional.
-Travelled or plan to travel to any high risk state before January 19, 2021
-PLEASE EMAIL MRS. BERQUIST ON WEDNESDAY'S (As she may be working remotely)
From Central Office - MA COVID-19 Travel Order Update:
Below is a link to the state's COVID-19 Travel Order website.
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order#lower-risk-states-
IMPORTANT CHANGE/ STATE REQUIREMENT:
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is removing the requirement for flu vaccination for attendance in childcare/preschool, primary, secondary and postsecondary education. Preliminary data show that this has been a mild flu season to date, presumably as people have received their seasonal flu vaccine and have been adhering to mask-wearing and social distancing due to COVID-19. Given the intensive Commonwealth-wide efforts regarding COVID-19 vaccination, DPH wants to alleviate the burden to obtain flu vaccination and focus on continuing our COVID -19 vaccination efforts.
DPH continues to strongly recommend that everyone age six months and older receive their seasonal flu vaccine each year.
PHYSICAL INFORMATION:
4th grade students need to have an updated physical and immunization record on file. See MA law :
Specific Requirements:
M.G.L. c.71, s.57 and related amendments and regulations (105 CMR 200.000–200.920) require physical examinations of school children within 6 months before entry into school or during the first year after entry, and at intervals of either 3 or 4 years thereafter, such as during kindergarten, 4th grade, 7th grade, and 10th grade.
If you did not send one in on your current 5th grade student last year, please send in ASAP.
Nurses Informational Videos:
Thank you
Sandra Berquist
Davis Hill School Nurse
508-829-2273
fax# 508-829-2057
*Upcoming Important Dates (Of course this year... Things are always subject to change!)
April 5: Full In-Person Learning Anticipated Start Date
April 6: Grades Close for Quarter 3
April 12: Report Cards Available for Quarter 3 Via Parent Portal
April 19-23: April Vacation
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WRSD 2020-2021 Calendar Link HERE
GENERAL HYBRID SCHEDULE:
Our typical schedule and school day will include synchronous learning for hybrid Cohort A, Cohort B and Full Remote students (Cohort C) each day.
Cohorts:
Cohort A - In-Person on Monday / Tuesday
Cohort B - In-Person on Thursday / Friday
Wednesday - Remote Synchronous Instruction in AM / Asynchronous in PM
Hybrid Instructional Day Start and End Times:
Arrival:
Doors Open at 8:50
Dismissal:
Begins at 2:20
MESSAGE FROM THE GALE FREE LIBRARY
Did you know the Gale Free Library is open for lending? There are many easy and safe ways you can check out books for your kids. And with our Grab-and-Go and Curbside options, your books are bagged and ready for you when you arrange a pickup. Here are some links to get you started.
First: Need a library card? You can quickly fill out an application here.
In-Person Browsing. We have 30-minute appointments on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays in the children's room. Click here to make an appointment. You and your kids can visit together, and self-checkout in the children's room makes taking home books easy and safe.
Surprise Me! Bags. Fill out this form and the children's room staff will put together books for your kids based on your child's interests. Once your books are ready, you'll get an email to choose a grab-and-go pickup time. Let us pick books for you!
Online Catalog. Click here to put books on hold from your device. When ready, you'll get an email to choose a grab-and-go pickup time. There are plenty of ebook materials available as well.
Bookmark our Kids page to keep up with all we're doing, and like Gale Free Kids on Facebook. We have weekly online storytimes, book recommendations, take and make crafts and more.
Lastly, check out Gale Free Library's great new free digital resource for at-home learning: Lightbox. Thousands of instantly available nonfiction titles, all with embedded videos, google maps and activity sheets.
Thanks, we hope to see or hear from you soon!
Kevin McDonough (Mr. McDonough)
Kayla Casiello (Miss Kayla)
508-210-5564
LINK TO HYBRID REOPENING INFORMATION
Davis Hill Elementary School
Email: jay_norton@wrsd.net
Website: http://www.wrsd.net/davishill/
Location: 80 Jamieson Road, Holden, MA 01520, United States
Phone: 508-829-1754
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavisHillDragons/
Twitter: @DHPrincipal