Monteith Mini Messenger
January 3rd Edition
January 3rd is a late start Monday 9:05am. Tomorrow is a B day for specials
My child will be absent what should I do...
*** If your child will be absent from school please make sure to call the Attendance line 313-432-4501 or email your child's teacher and Mrs. Hosea in the main office. Please include the REASON your child will be out of school that day***
Dear GPPSS Community,
We look forward to welcoming our students and staff back to our buildings tomorrow morning and hope families were able to have a restful holiday break. Considering the rise in local cases of COVID-19 over the break, we wanted to send some updates and reminders regarding our protocols and procedures and what you can expect moving forward in 2022.
New Quarantine Guidelines from MDHHS
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently released new guidelines regarding quarantine protocols within a school setting.
GPPSS will be adopting these new protocols as of tomorrow, January 3. The graphic below illustrates the various scenarios for students who are considered close contacts to a positive COVID-19 case within a school setting.
GPPSS will be using the “Test to Stay” strategy for unvaccinated students who are considered close contacts within the school setting. Fully vaccinated close contacts who are not experiencing symptoms do not need to test or quarantine.
The “Test to Stay” program will allow unvaccinated students who are identified as close contacts to test several times over a seven-day period and remain in school instead of serving a mandatory quarantine (as long as the results are negative for COVID-19 and the student is not experiencing symptoms). Testing will take place at school. Parents will be notified by electronic means if their child is identified as a ‘close contact’ and will need to test. For students who are unvaccinated and identified as a close contact, you will receive communication from your school office about next steps and the testing process to remain in school.
In order to facilitate a more streamlined process, we have created this form for parents/guardians to give consent for their student to be tested at school if they become a close contact and would be participating in the “Test to Stay” program.
For those who are vaccinated, you can upload your students’ completed vaccination card through your MiStar ParentPortal by following these instructions.
As always, any student or staff member experiencing any symptoms should not attend school or school activities. Here is a link to the current daily health screening tool.
We will continue to implement our mitigation strategies such as mask wearing, distancing when possible, and strict and thorough cleaning and disinfection in our school buildings to keep students safe and in school. Families can access all of our COVID-19 information on our website at this link.
Change in CDC guidance vs K-12 guidance
As you may have heard, the CDC has updated COVID-19 quarantine and isolation guidance for the general public, shortening the duration of quarantine and isolation under certain circumstances. The Michigan Department for Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has indicated that it will be updating MDHHS guidelines for the general public to align with the revised CDC guidance. We anticipate further clarity on this issue in the coming days.
Upcoming Vaccination Clinic
As a reminder, GPPSS will be hosting a Pfizer vaccination clinic for ages 5-11 at Ferry Elementary School this Saturday, January 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. GPPSS continues to encourage all eligible students to receive their vaccine and booster when available. We will update the community as we continue to schedule vaccination and booster clinics in partnership with the Wayne County Health Department.
Our goal, as always, is to maintain the continuity of face-to-face learning as much as possible while keeping our students and staff safe. We will continue to keep our staff and community updated as we receive new guidance and information. In the meantime, please reach out to your building administrator or info@gpschools.org with any questions.
Thank you,
GPPSS Administration
How to Upload Student Vaccine Records
Parents and guardians can upload their student's COVID vaccine card using the MiStar Parent Portal by following the directions linked here. According to quarantine guidelines from the Wayne County Health Department, any student who is fully vaccinated will not be required to quarantine if they are identified as a close contact to a COVID positive individual. Uploading your student’s vaccine card will help the district quickly identify those students who will not be required to quarantine. Thank you for doing this once the shots are complete!
Thank you to everyone who continues to volunteer at lunch and recess!
Great Start Readiness Program
Dear GPPSS Families,
The Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) is funded by the State of Michigan to provide free preschool for eligible four-year-old children. Head Start is federally funded to serve eligible children ages three through five years old. The Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency, in collaboration with GPPSS, developed a community interest survey to elicit information regarding housing a Head Start and/or GSRP program for the 2022-23 school year at Ferry Elementary.
Eligibility for GSRP and Head Start is prioritized based on income and other factors. A family of 4 can earn up to $26,200 for Head Start or $65,500 for GSRP to be eligible for the respective programs.
We are asking that income eligible families, with children who will be three through five years old next school year, complete this survey provided by Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency. If there is interest in Head Start and GSRP, then Wayne Metro will start the recruitment and enrollment process for the program in the spring/summer.
The survey will be open through January 14, 2022.
If you have any questions please contact Keith Howell at howellk@gpschools.org
Sincerely,
Keith Howell
Director of Elementary Instruction
Upcoming Events - More Details to Come!
January
3rd - Students return to school
11th- 6:30pm Rising 5th grade students parent night at the Middle School
13th - 6:30pm Incoming Young 5 and Kindergarten Parent Night
17th- No School MLK Day
19th- 6pm: Communities United in Diversity Meeting ( Maire Elementary School)
21st - 1/2 day for Students. Teacher record day
February
9th- 6pm: Communities United in Diversity Meeting (Richard Elementary School)
19th- 27th Mid Winter Break
28th - Students return to School
March
10th - 6:30pm PTO Zoom Meeting
23rd - Evening Conferences
24th - 1/2 day for Students Afternoon and Evening Conferences
25th - 1/2 Day of School
March 26th- April 3rd - Spring Break
April
4th - Students return to school
13th- 6pm Communities United in Diversity Meeting ( Mason Elementary School)
14th: 6:30pm PTO Zoom Meeting
15th - No School
26th - Monteith Vocal Music Concert
27th - Monteith Vocal Music Concert
May
2nd- 6th: Monteith Book Fair
30th - No School Memorial Day
June
16th - 1/2 Day of School
17th - 1/2 Day of School
IMPORTANT DISTRICT LINKS
Monteith Elementary School
Email: Keeleas@gpschools.org
Website: https://mi01000971.schoolwires.net/Domain/1586
Location: 1275 Cook Road, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, USA
Phone: 313-432-4500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/697593667092945