Addams Early Childhood Center
11.04.20
Special Home Edition
Dear Addams Early Childhood Families,
I wanted to update you on our Addams Early Childcare Programs. After you read the following message from the Superintendent please check below for information about your specific program. The Board of Education just met and approved moving to remote and not being in person.
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Dear Royal Oak Schools Community,
On Wednesday, November 4, 2020, the Board of Education will convene a Special Meeting to consider the current Royal Oak Schools Extended COVID-19 Learning Plan. My recommendation to the Board will be to remain in the current mode of remote learning until at least the end of the first semester on January 29, 2021.
Moving forward, per the requirements of the State of Michigan, we are required to review the Royal Oak Schools Extended COVID-19 Learning Plan with the Board of Education once per month for their consideration. As always, we will continue to assess the situation in our community on a regular basis.
In recent days, Oakland County has moved from a rating of ‘C’ to an ‘E’ on the county risk determination chart. That indicator ranges from “Low Risk” which means there are less than seven cases per million and less than 3% positivity in the county, and goes through Levels A-E. The current rating of ‘E’ is the highest risk level and means Oakland County cases are 150 or greater per million, with 20% or greater positivity.
Per the guidance for in-person instruction from the Oakland County Health Division, “Building(s) with known cases in staff or students but no ongoing transmission” should “consider remote instruction in (the) entire district”. Therefore, we are recommending that our district remain in a remote learning mode and not return to hybrid learning as planned for November 9.
When our plan was reviewed in early October, the county was at a risk level ‘C’ but has quickly escalated to an ‘E’ in a matter of weeks. We are also experiencing some critical shortages of staff due to quarantine rules. Some of our cases are being transmitted outside of school, where staff and students are reporting positive cases in their households. If this pattern continues, we will not be able to staff many classrooms and programs, as our region is experiencing a critical shortage of substitute teachers.
The recommendation to the Board of Education tomorrow night will include a few changes which will impact our GSRP and special education students. We will be recommending that their current hybrid plan be moved to a full remote plan as well due to the high risk level we are experiencing.
If the Board of Education approves the recommendation tomorrow evening to remain in a remote learning plan mode, each principal and program director will then share updates with their families by the end of the week. We know that remaining in a remote mode means some of our other services will not be reinstated such as Young Oaks Latchkey and tuition preschool.
We have excellent mitigation and safety measures in place for when we return to in-person learning. I applaud our staff for their commitment to the safety and well-being of the district as we have worked on our plans over the last several weeks. The rise in cases and subsequent impact on our staff and families are far too great of risks to take at this time.
Thank you for your continued support.
Take care,
Mary Beth Fitzpatrick
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PROGRAM UPDATES
Thank you,
Angela Ashburn
Early Childhood Center Program DIrector
GSRP
At the GSRP (Great Start to Readiness Program) level, students will move to a full remote program, engaging in synchronous and asynchronous learning activities four days of the week. Office hours and opportunities for parents and students to conference with teachers are available daily on a scheduled basis.
Teachers will share daily plans with parents.
ECSE (Early Childhood Special Education) and Walk In Services (3-5 year olds)
Special Education students PreK-Post Secondary will move to a full remote program, engaging in synchronous and asynchronous learning. The district ensures a continuation of services for students receiving speech and language, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or social work services within their IFSP or IEP. The district also ensures a method for the continuation of evaluation for students suspected of having a disability as well as those requiring re-evaluation.
Teachers will share daily plans with parents.
Young Oaks Latchkey
Young Oaks Parents,
With the recommendation that there will be a postponed start date for in person learning until January 29, we will be delaying our Young Oaks return. Please read a few points below:
Families will be notified on 11/5/2020 if they have made it into lottery #1 (11/2/2020, 2:00 pm Deadline)
Paperwork will need to be completed. When we notify you we will share the paperwork needed. We will not be taking payment until we are closer to our return date.
Waitlist parents will be notified on 11/5/2020
We will run a second lottery prior to our return should spots open up. This may occur as people drop or more staff is hired.
Any parent who wants to be added to the second lottery should enter the lottery for their building. If you are on the waitlist you are automatically entered in the second lottery.You will be notified approximately a week before the return to in-person learning
If we return to full, in-person learning we will need to hold a new lottery for all participants
Tuition Preschool
IMPORTANT: The scheduled orientation scheduled for November 5 has been tentatively rescheduled for January 28. 2021. We will not meet on November 5. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Childcare
Childcare is currently closed and will remain closed at this time with the rest of the programs. We are working on increasing enrollment to reopen the program at some point this year.
Early Intervention
Our birth to 3 students in Early Intervention will continue in their remote home visits and services.
The district ensures a continuation of services for students receiving speech and language, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or social work services within their IFSP or IEP. The district also ensures a method for the continuation of evaluation for students suspected of having a disability as well as those requiring re-evaluation.
REQUIRED FORM FOR PARENTS: COMPLETE ONCE (DUE NOVEMBER 3)
Dear Parent/Guardian:
Linked is the parent health screening agreement that we need parents to complete to get confirmation that you will be taking part in the self screening process at home for your child(ren).
We do not need this form from latchkey families as you will turn it in to your school.
Attendance and Remote Learners in GSRP, ECSE and Support Services
Attendance for our learning is very important. There are times when students need to be absent. We ask that you let the teacher know if your child is not going to be present for online learning on a given day. THANK YOU FOR HELPING US! We are required to report attendance when we are in person and remote.
SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM UPDATES
Please click on the following link to access the Special Education Website:
FOOD SERVICE MEAL INTEREST SURVEY
Attached is a survey to determine if families are interested in picking up meals during the school day. Please complete this survey if you think this is something you might be interested in for your children:
Message Sent from the Superintendent 10/15
This letter includes contact tracing information, screening process, cleaning policies and more. Some information pertains to K-12 but several pieces relate to all buildings.
Resources
Blessing in A Backpack
Blessings in a Backpack
In light of the tough economic times facing our area, we are attempting to help Royal Oak Schools families by making sure that all of our children have enough food. “Blessings in a Backpack” is a program designed to provide students on the free and reduced lunch program with enough food for three meals a day during the weekends. This program, sponsored by the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester, is active in Royal Oak Schools. If you agree to take part in this program during the school year, your child will receive a bag filled with food for the weekend. While we are remote, the food will be delivered to your home by volunteers. The simple meals may include food like macaroni and cheese, beef ravioli, canned fruit, granola bars, soups, juice and other items. Virtual and high school children receive bags every other week, PreK-Middle school students will have food delivered weekly to the school.
If you would like to have your child participate in this program, fill out the form below and mail it to the board office at 800 Devillen, Royal Oak, MI 48073, or just hit submit on this form. Please be sure to indicate on the form if you child has any food allergies. If your child has a food allergy, you as the parent are responsible for checking all food labels when the food arrives home. Royal Oak Schools, as well as Blessings in a Backpack, will not be held responsible for any accidental food allergen exposure.
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