Muskego Lakes Family Newsletter
August 28, 2020
Muskego-Norway School District Covid-19 FAQs & Resources
5 Days To Go!
A parent asked us the other day what families could do to help the school. Two key areas came to mind:
- Monitor your child's health daily and do not send them if they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
- Help your child understand why some procedures at Muskego Lakes have changed. While some of them may initially be frustrating, they are in place to help us Stay Safe to Stay Open.
As always, thank you for your partnership! We look forward to starting the 2020-2021 school year!
In partnership,
Rachel Rydzewski & Chad Krupar
Muskego Lakes Principals
To contact Rachel: rachel.rydzewski@muskegonorway.org or (608) 628-8546
To contact Chad: chad.krupar@muskegonorway.org or (262) 955-1274
Important Dates Ahead
8/28 - (10:00am - 2:00pm) Supply Pick Up for Virtual Students
9/1 - 1st Day of School for In-Person ("A" Day) and Virtual Students
Additions to the Student Handbook
In-Person Updates
Bus Procedures for 2020-21
Seating Charts
To allow for contact tracing, seating charts will be created by bus drivers. On the first day, as students enter the bus, drivers will give them the number of their seat on the bus. Siblings will be seated together. The seating charts will be designed to load students from back to front in the order they are picked up. This will reduce student contact because students will not cross paths with other students when boarding. When returning home, the seating chart will have the opposite effect. Students dropped off first will exit without crossing paths because they will be seated at the front - the result of being picked up last in the morning.
Masks
It is an expectation that students wear masks. In the morning, they should have a mask on as the board the bus. The mask remains on during the ride and while exiting the bus and entering Muskego Lakes. At the end of the day, students should keep their mask on when exiting Muskego Lakes and keep it on until exiting the bus at their stop.
Student Release from Buses
When buses arrive at Muskego Lakes, drivers will hold students until the building opens. At 7:55am, school staff will release students from buses one bus at a time. This staggered approach will spread out the students and reduce the size of the group moving toward and entering the building. Buses should empty from front to back, like an airplane.
Entering Muskego Lakes
In past years, all students entered through the main entrance. To reduce the size of the group entering the building, we are using three different entrances for students that ride the bus.
- 5th Graders will enter through Door 14 and proceed straight ahead to the 5th Grade pod.
- 6th Graders will enter through Door 2 and proceed through the cafeteria to the bridge that leads to the 6th grade pod.
- 7th & 8th graders will enter through Door 1 (main entrance) and proceed down the main hallway to the staircase leading them to their pods.
Staff members will be on hand the first day to help direct 5th and 6th graders as their route entering the building will be new to them.
Boarding the Bus After School
To reduce congestion, students will exit the building through the same doors they entered in the morning. When students arrive at their bus, they will be allowed to board immediately and take their assigned seat. While there will be some crossing of paths as students board, it was decided that this is a better option than having them form a group outside of the bus while waiting to load in order.
No Option to Ride a Different Bus
Students will not have the option to ride home on a friend's bus - even if they bring a note to school with parent permission. This will reduce the number of close contacts each student experiences on the bus and helps maintain the seating charts as created.
Student Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures
Please take a few minutes to watch the videos that correspond with the drop-off / pick-up lane you will use. The procedures have been fine tuned over the past two years with the help of parent feedback. We all contribute to the success and efficiency of our drop-off / pick-up lane.
Here are a few tips to help things run smoothly:
- Remind your child that they should exit the building without delay after school
- Consider arriving at Muskego Lakes at 3:10 or 3:15 to pick up. Coming early leads to a long wait and backs up our drive making it difficult for buses to access the lot. By 3:10 the lane is running smoothly. By 3:15, you could just about drive right up without any delay.
- Reinforce the procedures with your child. If they ask you to stop short in the lane to avoid extra walking, explain why it is important to fill in all space and not stop early.
- Take a deep breath & exercise patience. Your child is back at Muskego Lakes!
Upper Lot
Drop-Off Procedure Drive Through Video
Pick-Up Procedure Drive Through Video
The upper lot will be used for 5th & 6th graders. 7th and 8th graders carpooling with younger students will also get dropped off and picked up here.
Students will enter the building at the following doors:
- 5th Graders - Door 14
- 6th Graders - Door 2
- 7th & 8th Graders - Door 1
Service Drive Behind the School
Drop-Off Procedure Drive Through Video
Pick-Up Procedure Drive Through Video
The service drive behind the school will be used for 7th and 8th grade drop-off and pick up.
Students will enter the building at the following doors:
- 7th Graders - Door 8
- 8th Graders - Door 11
Door 1
Door 2
Door 14
Door 8
Door 11
Welcome Back, Muskies!
Cafeteria Procedures for 2020-21
- Masks must be worn while in the cafeteria. The only time a student may remove their mask is when they are seated and eating.
- A separate "Grab & Go" station will be set up in a secondary location in the cafeteria. They will sell drinks, chips and snacks. This will reduce congestion in the kitchen.
- All food will be prepackaged. There will not be any self-serve stations as in past years.
- Plexiglass has been installed on all tables in the cafeteria. Round tables that sat 8 students will now only sit 4 students. Rectangular tables that sat 16 students, will now sit 8-12 students. Circular stickers that say "Sit Here" will be installed where a seat is available. Students must sit on one of these stickers.
- Students will not have assigned seats. In the event we need to conduct contact tracing, we will take a picture of each table during each lunch period.
- Once students are seated, they will not be allowed to get up unless given permission. This will reduce the number of close contacts students have with others.
While the cafeteria will feel a bit different, we worked to maintain the important social opportunity cafeterias offer.
Masks on the First Day
Preparing Your Child to Wear a Mask
Our students are returning with various levels or experience and comfort levels wearing a mask. Below are some tips to help prepare them so their first day is a success.
Be a role model. You want your kids to wear a mask? Show them how it’s done! By presenting a positive and easy-going attitude about wearing a mask, kids will be able to follow your lead.
Do practice sessions at home. Find a time when kids are in a good mood and well rested. Have them either hold it to their mouth or put it on, starting with a few seconds, gradually building up to longer periods of time. Normalizing mask wearing in low risk environments can help avoid unintentional exposure outside your home.
Make it fun. Let students pick out masks that fit their personalities.
Normalize it. Distractions can be a good way to help them get used to this new sensation of something covering their nose and mouth. Have them start to wear it while they are playing video games or immersed in a really good book. Don’t forget to give your kids lots of praise for their efforts.
Provide incentives if necessary. As with any new behavior, some kids may need a little encouragement. Use incentives that have worked in the past.
Acknowledge their feelings. Kids may experience frustration with how COVID-19 has disrupted their lives. Wearing a mask may feel like another negative impact of this virus. Acknowledging and normalizing their feelings can be helpful to getting kids to understand the importance of wearing masks to protect each other.
As always, express confidence that your child can overcome obstacles and be successful.
Adapted from Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
Chromebook Care
Virtual Updates
Edmentum Student Orientation
This video shows:
- What’s in a course
- How to get started
- How to stay on track
Video #2: The Learning Experience
This video covers:
- What’s in a typical lesson
- What you’ll do in a lesson
- How to get the most out of each lesson
This video outlines three keys to success:
- Stay on pace with your work
- Complete and understand your assignments
- Communicate with your teacher
Save a copy of this Guide! It covers things you need to know right now and throughout your course:
- How to get started
- What technology you need
- What your teacher and school expect from you
- What skills you need for an online course
Week 1 Schedule for Virtual Learners
5th Graders
Google Classroom Code: p4x5k64
6th Graders
Google Classroom Code: ttw2vd6
Google Classroom Code: oap6hft
8th Graders
Google Classroom Code: 4fs2cow
Electives for Virtual Learners
Thank you to families that selected electives via the survey shared in our last newsletter. Schedules for our virtual learners will be available in Infinite Campus by the end of the week.
Supply Pick Up for Virtual Students
Co-Curriculars at Muskego Lakes
Muskego Lakes Middle School
Website: https://www.muskegonorway.org/schools/muskegolakes/
Location: W124 S8009 North Cape Rd.
Phone: 262-971-1860
Twitter: @MLMSmuskies