Asheville Primary School
APS Family Connection 9/9/2021
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Montessori School Lunch
Many of you have heard that the district is asking us to move students to the cafeteria for lunch. The district is actually asking us to move to having students go through the cafeteria line to make choices for their lunch. Each school was asked to come up with a plan to move towards that requirement.
Currently, we are delivering meals to all classrooms that are sealed for safety. Students are eating in their classrooms or outside.
Our Plan:
At APS, there is a large set of stairs going to our cafeteria. This makes it difficult for little feet to get down to the cafeteria quickly and climb back up with a full tray and no spills. We had an original plan that included Montessori lessons during lunch that will also work for getting students through the cafeteria line. We will start next week with one Lower El or Upper El class per day going to the cafeteria and receiving a lesson on going through the line and then having a Grace and Courtesy lesson during lunch. The rest of the classes will continue eating in their rooms and outside. We will continue to assess the situation and work towards having students be able to go through the cafeteria line for choices. This will be a work in progress and we appreciate your patience.
Monday Room 207
Tuesday Room 205
Wednesday Room 204
Thursday Room 206
Friday Room 208
How can you help?
Our Montessori rooms are looking for more ways to get more students outside during lunch, but the rain is putting a damper on that. With little mulch in the courtyard and limited seating, we are finding it difficult to get everyone a space. Many of our parents have asked how they could help. We are looking for more benches, picnic tables, picnic mats or washable surface blankets to quickly put out during lunch. If you have any of those and would like to donate those, please drop off items at the front entrance or call the school to make arrangements for a drop off in car line. We are so thankful that you have asked!
Transportation Information
PLEASE HELP US DISMISS QUICKLY AND SAFELY
The car line will open at 2:30 PM. PLEASE HAVE YOUR CAR TAG displayed in the window for the entire time you are in the car line. Also, pull all the way up to the orange cones as staff direct you. It helps us get your child quickly and safely to your car. If you would like to get out and talk to staff or comfort an upset child, please use a parking space so the line is able to keep moving.
Walkers will also be dismissed at 2:30 PM. Please socially distance and move to the front porch area so that staff can make sure to match you with your child. It is helpful to state the child's name and teacher when picking up. Walkers can only be dismissed at the front entrance for safety.
If you come to school before or after the times listed, please go to the front office to check out your child.
SCHOOL STARTS AT 8 AM
If your child is having a rough morning, it is helpful to let the teacher know so we can help support a smooth transition to class. Please call, email, or text to let us know how we can support your little one on tough mornings.
Health & Safety
Covid Protocols continue to change as our community needs change. Please refer to the tool kits below to find the latest information and explanations of safety protocols. Our district uses these tool kits to help develop safety protocols for our schools. (Please remember that all the board meeting videos are available on our district website.)
Please remind your child to do the following:
- wear a mask/face covering (we touch our nose and our chin when we are doing a mask check, students usually quickly adjust their mask when prompted, try that at home)
- socially distance (3 feet when mask is on, we use our arms to help with that length; 6 feet when mask is off for eating)
- wash hands (sanitizer works, but learning to wash hands well is best, sing a song while washing hands like Happy Birthday or APS Song or ABCs)
Students should stay home, even with a negative test result, if they have vomiting or diarrhea or a fever. They may return with a negative test result and 24 hours after no longer vomiting, diarrhea or fever without the aid of medication.
Recess
Outside students are not required to wear a mask, but are welcome to wear one if they want. Some school age students and staff have had concerns about some of the games they are playing and how close they are in contact with each other. Staff are going to help coach them in a conversation about whether they want to wear a mask for that game or play it for 10 minutes and then move on to another game. Please talk with your child's teacher if you have any specific concerns. Your child is free to make choices during recess that help them feel safe and get them moving in the fresh air.
Thank you for your help with keeping it safe at our school.
A detailed update is coming from the district...check your email.
SHINE
- Keeping it SAFE at Asheville Primary
- HELPING our class community
- Showing INTEGRITY
- Keeping our environment NEAT & CLEAN
- ENCOURAGING our classmates and staff
NUTS?!?!
NEED SUPPORT?
828-350-2922
Asheville Primary Reference Documents & Links
NO BUS PASSES for now
Click below for Staples Rewards information and how to link to your child's classroom.
We need GREAT people!
Asheville City Schools has several instructional assistant vacancies at the elementary level for the 2021-2022 school year. Visit https://www.applitrack.com/asheville/onlineapp/default.aspx for details.
These positions are full time positions with benefits (i.e. state retirement, sick days, paid time off, health insurance, and access to supplemental insurance). The best part is you have the opportunity to have a positive impact on children every day.
We are still in need of the following positions:
- academic support assistants
- cafeteria workers
- instructional assistants
- substitutes
Many schools across our district are struggling with finding new staff to fill positions and we are no exception. Until those positions are filled, please allow grace to our staff as we all fill in to make sure that everything is taken care of for our students. Thank you!