DIARY OF DAWSON SCHOOL
October 5, 2020 - Please read to the end!
Remote Learning Reminders:
PLEASE SUBMIT WORK ACCORDINGLY - REPORT CARDS ARE GOING OUT IN NOVEMBER
- Log on 2-3 minutes before your meeting time - Please tell your child not to log back into the classroom until the correct time as the teacher maybe not be on and we want to make sure all students are in a SAFE learning environment.
- Set up your student in a well-lit area away from noise and distractions - please review with your child not to travel anywhere with the device ( bathroom, outside, etc)
- The ideal area is:
-a table & chair, facing away from televisions/electronics
-a room separate from where the family business is occurring (not in a busy area)
- please do not have your child lying on a bed during remote learning.
- please make sure all family members are wearing appropriate clothing.
- Make sure your student is wearing appropriate clothing and is comfortable. Just like we are in school.
- Minimize the need for breaks and maximize learning time by having your child eat prior to the meeting, sit with a cup of water to drink, and have them use the restroom beforehand - again remind your child not to bring the device into the bathroom.
- You are welcome to sit beside your child to support them. Help them, and their teacher, by keeping your child seated, keeping the camera stabilized, and reminding them to follow directions. Please do not give them answers to questions or worry about their performance. They are here to learn and are not expected to answer everything correctly. Also - please refrain from asking your teacher questions during learning time. You can email them with your questions.
- If the connection is spotty, or in the event of technical difficulties, please exit the meeting and try to reload the page.
WEEKLY UPDATE:
Dear Dawson Community,
I hope that everyone enjoyed, what was again, a beautiful New England fall weekend.
Today, a small group of students returned to Dawson for hybrid learning as a part of the District's Phase 1 timeline. We look forward to successfully navigating Phase 1, and moving into Phase 2 (October 26th) and Phase 3 (November 18th). The TLC staff welcomed the students with signs and balloons. Everyone loved the smiles on their faces as they were ready to be back a school. I can not wait to welcome everyone back on November 18.
As we move through this year, we can expect that the road ahead will continue to be challenging. It seems that nothing is simple in 2020 and I don't expect that will change rapidly as we head into the late fall and winter months. Thankfully, we are fortunate to be a part of a community that has proven itself to be kind, caring, and dedicated to our Dolphins. Here is a quick survey so Mrs. Bischoff and I can better understand where you at and feeling about the Dawson Remote Learning experience so far. We know it has it’s challenging but we are committed to making it better.
I submitted the Dawson Re-Opening Handbook to the central office this past weekend for review and endorsement. Once I get the approval I will send it out to you immediately.
Wishing everyone an awesome week! Thanks to all for your continued support and efforts!
Sincerely,
Melissa Wallace, Principal
Important Dates:
- October 12 - No School - State Holiday
- October 14 - FULL DAY OF SCHOOL DUE TO MONDAY HOLIDAY
Work Packets
Moving forward, many grade levels are planning on having supplemental packets available for students (your teacher will communicate this to you). We have black and yellow bins labeled by grades outside of Dawson.
When picking up materials, please make sure to wear a mask and follow social distancing expectations. We also ask that groups to not congregate in the front of the building. . Thank you!!
Dawson HEALTH OFFICE INFORMATION
Return to School Reminders from Health Office
All Medication orders must be renewed each school year. New Medication orders and medication/s should be brought in by appointment to the school nurse by an adult. Students are not allowed to transport medications to school. (the two exceptions are: Epipens or rescue inhalers that a student carries in their backpack)The school nurse must be notified of any self- carry medications.
Medication order forms can be downloaded off the school website using the
Health tab on the website. Allergy action plans can also be downloaded.
ALL medications administered at school must have a physician order and parent permission (signature on form). This includes prescription and over-the-counter medications. Please see the medication policy on the website.
All students must be fully immunized by the first day of school. The only exceptions are written documentation from a doctor for medical exemptions or a written document by parent/guardian stating due to religious beliefs your child has not been vaccinated. The exemption forms must be renewed at the beginning of each school year. Those not fully vaccinated may be excluded from school if an immunization preventable disease occurs at school. Please remember that the influenza vaccine has been mandated by MDPH. You must send in one of the two exemptions if your child will not be receiving the influenza vaccine by December 31, 2020.
All new students including kindergarten students are required to have an updated physical and immunization record on file.
Students entering the 4th grade need to have an updated physical and immunization record on file in the health office. Please send in as soon as they get their physical.
Students in 5th grade who did not send in an updated physical and immunization in 4th grade will need to send in ASAP.
Please contact the health office - Michele Salvadore for any questions or concerns about any health-related issues.
COVID-19 INFORMATION/ IN PERSON LEARNING
Dear Parents,
To help families prepare for the eventual return to in-person learning, it is important that the following information pertaining to student illness is reviewed before students start school. As the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the medical community learn more about COVID-19, it is possible that this guidance will change. The information below is based on the most recent, reliable medical guidance.
Parents whose child has one or more of the following signs/symptoms of illness, that are also associated with COVID-19, should keep their child home from school. It is also recommended that parents contact their primary care physician for further evaluation:
Fever of 100.0° F or higher accompanied by chills
Persistent cough that is not due to another known cause such as chronic cough
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Headache in combination with other symptoms listed here
Muscle aches or body aches
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Fatigue in combination with other symptoms listed here
Nasal congestion or runny nose that is not due to other known causes such as allergies and is in combination with other symptoms listed here
Click here for the CDC’s COVID-19 Information Page
The following information, related to when child(ren) may return to school, is based on the WRSD School Reopening Plan and Department of Health guidance:
If a student is referred for further medical evaluation for symptoms of illness, they may only return to school with a note from their doctor or following a 10-day quarantine IF symptoms have improved AND they are fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.
Close contact is defined by the CDC as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic clients, 2 days prior to positive specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.
If a student is considered to be a close contact, they may only return to school following a 14-day quarantine period, even if a negative COVID-19 test result is received.
It is recommended that anyone who is considered close contact gets tested for COVID-19 four to five days following exposure.If a student has tested positive for COVID-19, they may return to school 10 days following documentation of the start of symptoms if they are fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication AND if their symptoms have improved.
Important: All documentation must be faxed or emailed to the health office prior to returning to school.
As the District refines and finalizes school reopening plans, it is understood that there may be situations unique for families that require further discussion. Your child’s school nurse is available to discuss these situations, as well as to provide further explanation for the protocols outlined in this message. Please be aware that the WRSD school nurses have been integral in shaping the District’s protocols and procedures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and they are a valuable resource for parents and guardians.
I appreciate the questions and concerns that have arisen in our outreach to the families of students. Our ability to work together and collaborate during this difficult period of time is integral to our success.
Kindly,
Mrs. Wallace
DAWSON CHALLENGE
I hope you are doing well. I have a little challenge for you this week- and you could win $25.00 in Scholastic Books. Anyone who submits the challenge will go into a raffle and I will pick it on October 16, 2020.
Here is the challenge: (do one or more it is up to you)
- Create a poster to spread the word on kindness.
- Write a poem on kindness.
You can drop off your poster or poem at Dawson so I can hang up when everyone returns. Let's have some fun off the computer. Good luck creating, and I can not wait to see your work!
Mrs. Wallace
Melissa Wallace, Lead Learner and Principal of Dawson Elementary School
Email: melissa_wallace@wrsd.net
Website: http://www.wrsd.net/dawson/
Location: 155 Salisbury Street, Holden, MA, USA
Phone: 508-829-6828
Facebook: facebook.com/DawsonElementarySchoolDolphins
Twitter: @dawsondolphin