THE WEDNESDAY MESSAGE!
The Official Weekly of Salford Hills Elementary School
Flexible Instructional Days
We're not sure what mother nature has up her sleeve this winter, but with the Pennsylvania Department of Education negating the five FID limit per year, we'll be ready for the next one. Fingers-crossed we won't need to!
SAOA Parents Only
3rd Trimester Commitment Form (SAOA Elementary)
Complete your form by 8:00p.m. on Thursday, February 25th
Dear SAOA Elementary Parent/Guardian,
Thank you for responding to the SAOA Elementary 3rd Trimester Planning Survey we sent earlier in February. We have used your responses and comments to begin the planning process. Below you will find a link to a commitment form for you to finalize your choice of either in-person or online academy learning in the final trimester of the school year. We ask that ALL SAOA ELEMENTARY families complete the Elementary Trimester 3 Commitment Form. For students returning to in-person learning, the first day back in school will be Monday,
March 15, 2021.
Please complete and submit your response no later than 8:00p.m. on Thursday, February 25, 2021.
As we indicated, the third trimester will bring some changes that may significantly impact our elementary classes. With the return of some Souderton Area Online Academy students to in-person learning, we anticipate that we will need to close a small number of online sections. This means that some students remaining in the online academy may be moved to a new class, with a new teacher, for the last three months of school. SAOA students returning to in-person learning may also need to be assigned to a different teacher in the school.
We will work as hard as possible to minimize the level of disruption for our students. We will ensure our teachers have adequate planning time and communicate thoroughly with parents about student progress as transitions must occur. Your child’s principal will communicate any potential changes specific to your child as soon as we have received all family commitments.
We have also begun planning for next year, and we are optimistic that all students will engage in in-person learning for the 2021-2022 school year.
Thank you!
From the National Association of Elementary School Principals: Helping Children Deal With Tragedy
Did Anyone Say Summer?
It's Time for Read Across America!
2nd Grade SAOA Snowman Four Corners
2nd Graders Turn 100!
Celebrating the 100th Day of School
Click the link below to enjoy a video of the festivities!
Elementary Menus: March 1-31, 2021
Please use the links below for the Elementary Breakfast and Lunch Menus for March 1-31, 2021.
*Reminder for SAOA and other SASD students learning virtually:
Meals can be ordered online for bi-weekly curbside pickup.
Superintendent's Corner
Dear SASD Parent/Guardian,
Having passed the 100th day of the school year, I am writing to share some updates on happenings in our school district. This winter has certainly presented its challenges. As we continue to live and work in a pandemic, everything seems just a little more difficult, especially when you add one winter storm after another. While I know there are many who enjoy the winter season and all of its varied activities, as superintendent I much prefer days where weather is a non-issue. However, I have been very pleased with the implementation of our Flexible Instructional Days (FID) and the resourcefulness of our families and staff. I expect that we will revise and refine these flexible days moving forward in order to make them even more effective for students.
Throughout the month of February, our District has been proud to join schools across the nation in honoring Black History Month. Souderton Area School District values our diversity of culture, language, and race, and February has been a time to honor the countless and enduring contributions of Black men and women throughout history. Black History Month gives all our students the opportunity to engage in authentic learning to help celebrate the achievements of Black Americans and recognize their central role in the story of the United States of America. As a District, we are committed to addressing and promoting diversity through our Equity Team, curriculum, book discussions, podcasts, and speaker series. As educators and school leaders, we acknowledge an ongoing need to support and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of our work.
I am gratified to report that the number of COVID-19 cases in our District is showing a significant decline. This is consistent with the case data being reported by Montgomery County. These results are a testament to our community and your diligent efforts to slow the spread of the virus. I am also pleased to report that approximately 300 members of our faculty and staff have already received the vaccine and, as a result, our schools become safer every day. Your continued cooperation in adhering to guidelines and recommendations is just one of the tools that our school district is using to maintain a safe and healthy learning environment.
I have spent a lot of time in our schools this year and am consistently impressed with how our students and staff are persevering in these challenging times. Our school communities both in-person and online have been tremendously resilient. The Souderton Area Online Academy (SAOA) continues to serve about 20% of our student population, although many students have returned to in-person learning. With the approach of the third trimester in our elementary schools, we are expecting even more students to return. We have also begun planning for next school year, and while we will be prepared for any eventuality, we are optimistic that all students will be in-person and we can return to a sense of normalcy.
During this time of the school year, the school district budget is being developed and refined. We have certainly had some unexpected expenses with the pandemic, but remain hopeful about our own local economy. As always, one item that consistently impacts our budget development is the exorbitant amounts we must allocate to fund charter and cyber charter schools.
As a long-time advocate of charter school funding reform and the recent advent of our own Online Academy, I am convinced that a comprehensive and robust virtual program can be delivered successfully without the inflated tuitions currently being passed along to our taxpayers, particularly by cyber charter schools. Our advocacy group, L.E.A.R.N. (Leaders for Educational Accountability and Reform Network), continues to work with local and state legislators advocating for urgent reform of charter school funding. An op-ed on this subject recently appeared in The Inquirer (read the article)
It is my hope this last snowstorm is the final one of the season and spring will turn all of our thoughts to end-of-year activities. We are always excited to celebrate our accomplishments and are working very carefully with each building faculty and staff to hold as many activities as we can safely and appropriately. Please stay tuned as additional information will be forthcoming on end-of-year events.
Dr. Frank Gallagher
Superintendent, SASD
Heath and Safety Reminders
February 21st, 2021
***IMPORTANT***
Please keep your child home if he/she has been in close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Please also be reminded of the COVID-19 symptoms listed below.
Stay home if you:
- Have one or more symptoms in Group A OR
- Have two or more symptoms in Group B OR
- Are taking fever reducing medication.
If your child’s symptoms meet the criteria for keeping them home from school, please contact your healthcare provider, inform them of your child’s symptoms, and follow their advice.
If a household member has tested positive for COVID-19, it is necessary for all members of the family residing with that person to quarantine. The District is strictly following household contact quarantine guidelines. Also, please be sure to adhere to the athletic spectator guidelines provided by your school and limit carpooling.
Additional reminders:
Please keep your child home if he/she is:
*NOTE: If you have questions about your child’s quarantine, please call your school’s nurse before sending your child back to school.
- Feeling sick
- Experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19. For a list of symptoms and school exclusion guidelines, please see the COVID-19 School Exclusion Requirements found on our Illness Indicators/Sick Day Guidelines Web page
- Awaiting a COVID-19 test result and has not yet been cleared to return
- Quarantined due to a recent close contact with an individual with COVID-19
- Returned from recent travel to an area on Pennsylvania’s travel alert page
These practices are a critical part of limiting the spread of this disease in our school community and keeping our schools open. For information regarding COVID-19 cases in SASD, visit the District's COVID-19 Dashboard.
Getting tested for COVID-19 in Montgomery County
Montgomery County operates testing sites and has increased the number of tests administered on a daily basis. For further information, you can visit Montgomery County’s testing Web site or view the county’s map of testing sites.
Click the Buttons to Access Each Site
Congratulations to our February First In Math GRAND CHAMPION who have earned 10,000 Stickers!
Wow! Look at all our....
Happy Birthday From Salford Hills
Home and School Meetings
- Tuesday, March 9, 2021
- Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Questions for Home and School?
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, you can reach out via board@salfordhillshsa.org to contact all four board members: president (Danielle Moyer), vice-president (Lisa James), secretary (Stacy Caldwell), treasurer (Trish May).
Revised School Calendar
2021-2022 School Year Calendar
The 2021-2022 School Year Calendar has been approved by the Board of School Directors.
Download your copy of the calendar using this link: 2021-2022 School Year Calendar (PDF)
Salford Hills Elementary School
Fundamentally committed to each other, we at Salford Hills are a caring community of learners who value each individual’s intrinsic worth and potential.
In our supportive environment, learners are encouraged to achieve high standards by developing responsibility for their learning through authentic experiences that require hard work, critical thinking and reflection.
Learning is a process that positively impacts the future.
Website: http://salfordhills.soudertonsd.org/
Location: 2721 Barndt Road, Harleysville, PA, United States
Phone: 610-287-9197
Twitter: @SASD_SalfordHil