Important Message Regarding Hybrid
Phased In-Person School Begins!
Dear Harris Families,
September 1, 2020
It has been a long time coming, but we hope you are as excited as we are to welcome students back to campus. We begin in a hybrid fashion on Tuesday, September 8. If the projections for the continued decline of our COVID numbers hold we will resume school fully in-person on Monday, September 21.
The hybrid return splits students into two groups. Students with the last name A-L will attend school on Mondays and Thursdays. Students with the last name M-Z will attend school in-person on Tuesdays and Fridays. Some classes need to be balanced due to enrollment changes and those families will be contacted. All students will participate in remote learning on Wednesday, September 9 & 16. Teachers will let students know what the plan and schedule will be for both Wednesdays during hybrid learning. Additionally, your child will have activities to complete independently on the two days they are not attending in-person each week when the teacher will be teaching the other half of the class. Students will need to log into Buzz for attendance for the at-home days. By only having half of the students, we will be able to teach routines and procedures to our students for a positive and safe return to school!
Students returning to campus can expect a few things to look a bit different, so please review and discuss these with your students so that we are all on the same page as we begin.
Acknowledgment Form
Please complete the acknowledgment form electronically included at the link below confirming your understanding of the COVID - 19 pandemic. Please complete this form for each of your students attending the school prior to September 8- COVID~19 Acknowledgement and Disclosure Form
Daily Student Health Assessment
Before attending each day on campus, you and your student must complete a student health assessment. Please view the assessment here. Students who are sick or feeling any COVID like symptoms can’t be on campus. For more information including health resources and information please visit www.gilbertschools.net/healthservices.
Face Coverings
Students in grades 1-12 must wear a face-covering in the building including classrooms and when moving from one location to another if your child attends an outside campus. Preschool and kindergarten students may wear a face covering at their parents’ discretion. Make sure your child brings a mask each day they are in school. We also suggest each student brings an extra mask in a ziplock bag with their name on it to store at school. Masks are not required while students are eating or engaging in strenuous activities such as PE or recess in which social distancing can occur. We do recognize some students cannot safely wear a face covering. Refer to the Face Covering Student Exemption Protocol for more information and contact your school’s health office if you would like to discuss further.
Here are some other things we are doing at our school:
Drinking fountains will be turned off throughout the school. Each student should bring a water bottle with their name on the water bottle. Water bottles can be filled up throughout the day with classroom sinks or if in a portable with the bottled water. Cups will also be available for students who forget to bring a water bottle. Soon, Harris students will have access to several water bottle refilling stations thanks to our wonderful PTSO.
Students can arrive on campus as early as 7:45am and will proceed directly to their teacher’s classroom. Breakfast will continue to be served daily to all students. Staff will be on hand to help students, especially kindergartners find their way to their classroom as parents will not be permitted into the school.
Parents needing to visit the office or any school area will need to wear a face-covering and adhere to social distancing in the front office and other areas as much as possible.
Lunch schedules have been altered to ensure reduced capacity in the cafeteria.
Hand washing instructions and reminders about wearing masks are posted around campus. Hand sanitizer will also be available in other areas throughout the school including the office. Teachers will have hand sanitizer accessible in each classroom as well as cleaning supplies that may be utilized throughout the day between classes as well as after recess or any other transition times.
As always, teachers and staff will review school and classroom routines and procedures. This will include walking in hallways, recognizing personal space, etc.
Hallways and outdoor campuses will have clear markings on where students should be walking.
Classroom seating will be forward-facing in rows as much as possible with assigned seating.
Bring your Chromebooks to school with you the first day.
Transportation
Transportation will be offered to eligible students. To view your student’s route and bus stop information please click here:https://www.gilbertschools.net/bus. There will be enhanced procedures and protocols in place on our school buses. Each bus will have a visible sign reminding students that only students attending M-Th are to get on the bus on Mondays and Thursdays and those students assigned to Tu-F are eligible to get on the bus on Tuesdays and Fridays. In addition, there will be some special education students who will be transported on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and have already been informed by the Special Education Department. Transportation will not be available on Wednesdays during the Hybrid weeks.
VIK
If you are interested in registering for our before and after school VIK program please visit our website for more information and registration details.
Thursday and Friday, September 24 and 25 were originally scheduled as half days for elementary students due to Parent-Teacher Conferences. Both of these are now full school days for students and we will look to reschedule Parent-Teacher Conferences later in the fall. Please refer to the 2020-2021 calendar at the following link for more information:
We know that there will be challenges ahead, but we also know that we will work collaboratively to make this a positive return to school. We can’t wait to see you on campus soon!
Bill Roth
Principal
Harris Elementary
HOME OF THE HAWKS!
Email: harrisinfo@gilbertschools.net
Website: https://www.gilbertschools.net/harris
Location: 1820 South Harris Drive, Mesa, AZ, USA
Phone: 480-545-7060
Twitter: @hawks_harris