HMS UPDATE
January 15th, 2021
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Most of the information in this week's newsletter was shared with you earlier this school year. With our return to hybrid instruction, the protocols and expectations are generally the same. The big reminders for our cohort A and B students are to remember the charged chromebook, mask, and to have the daily COVID form completed each morning.
If you recently completed the STPS virtual to hybrid change form, your bus information should be accessible in your Genesis Parent Portal account.
The next HMS Update will be sent on Friday, January 29th.
Proudly,
Doug Layman
Principal, HMS
973.957.1HMS
UPCOMING DATES
1.18- No School
1.19- Cohort A returns
1.25- Cohort B returns
1.26- Gordon Korman virtual assembly
Guest Author Appearance
From the HMS PTO
Monday, February 8th @ 10:00am (Google Meet information will be posted the week prior).
Upcoming Event:
PizzaOne Valentine's Day Fundraiser.
Order a heart-shaped pizza from Sparta's PizzaOne on either 2/13 or 2/14 and the HMS PTO will get back $1 per pizza.
RETURNING TO SCHOOL REMINDERS
SCHEDULE
Also, be sure to check your e-mail for any possible change to instrumental/intervention/speech schedule changes.
BUSING
DROP-OFF and PICK-UP
Pick-up will also run as usual. Cars proceed around the back of the building on the right side. We will then line cars up in our playground lot. Students who are being picked up will be sent to the gym. At about 1:20, parents will be signaled to line up outside the gym to sign their children out and then the child will leave the gym to come to you. In previous years, parents entered the gym to do this but because we use the same door to exit we are asking parents to remain outside. In addition, to allow more room for parents to socially distance we will mark off an area outside the gym to wait. We do expect a significant amount of pick-ups and therefore some delays. We will evaluate and address these delays each day with the hopes of getting to a more efficient process. We appreciate your patience with this.
PLEASE USE PUP (Pickup Patrol) to INDICATE IF YOU ARE PICKING UP YOUR CHILD AT DISMISSAL. WE ASK THAT YOU DO THIS BY 12:45PM SO THAT WE CAN LET STUDENTS KNOW OF ANY CHANGES. A REMINDER THAT IF YOUR CHILD IS AN EVERYDAY PICKUP YOU SHOULD INDICATE THAT IN PUP NOW.
WHAT STUDENTS NEED FOR SCHOOL
1. Chromebooks: Students need a charged chromebook every day. Please be sure the chromebook is charged over night. We recommend powering it down prior to doing so.
2. Masks: All staff and students must wear an appropriate mask, it is also a good idea to keep an extra one in their backpack.
3. Pencil pouch with pens, pencils.
4. Math workbook (4th Grade, Cohort A will be given their workbooks on Tuesday)
5. Water (our water fountains have been disabled. We do have one bottle filling station outside the main office.
6. Snack: students will be eating snack in either the cafeteria or gym and outside whenever weather permits (Monday looks rainy). Students will be spaced 3-6 feet apart for snack.
ATTENDANCE/REPORTING OF ABSENCES
Present: Working from Home on a day Assigned Cohort is in School
If your child is not assigned to attend school that day (ex: you are a Cohort B student during a Cohort A week, or you are fully virtual) you do not need to report this in PUP unless your child is not able to participate online.
COVID SCREENING
PLEASE SEE TODAY'S COMMUNICATION FROM OUR DISTRICT NURSES
Parents are going to receive two email reminders (one the night before, and one the morning of) to complete a COVID screening form. We will then send one to those that did not complete the form at around 8:30am.
The information below, which was in last week's update, provides additional details.
Each morning parents are required to screen their child for COVID-related symptoms. Parents/guardians will need to complete the daily form in Genesis Parent Portal to verify each day that your child has been screened. If the screening is not completed the child will not be allowed to participate in instruction until this has been completed. Please see Mr. McQueeney's letter that provides instructions on how to do this.
The following is from the Centers for Disease Control:
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Please do not send your child to school if they have any of the above symptoms. If they present any of these symptoms at school they will be immediately screened by the nurse, sent to our supervised isolation area, where they will remain until picked up by a parent or guardian.
Parents are encouraged to review the New Jersey Department of Health’s Overview and Protocols for COVID-19 precautions and responses.
PURCHASING LUNCH
NOTE: LUNCH ORDERS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY NOON THE FRIDAY BEFORE- THEREFORE THE DEADLINE FOR NEXT WEEK'S LUNCHES FOR IN-SCHOOL STUDENTS HAS ALREADY PASSED.
Please visit the Sodexo website to see FAQ's, Menus, and more.
MEDICATIONS
STAFF ABSENCES
TECHNOLOGY CONCERNS
My Most Favorite, Recommended, Can't Go Wrong Website for Parents
SPARTA COMMUNITY FLYERS
PREVIOUS BLACKBOARD EMAILS
SUGGESTION BOX
Where to find these on the HMS website
Helen Morgan School
Email: doug.layman@sparta.org
Website: www.sparta.org
Location: Sparta, NJ
Phone: 973.729.5770
Twitter: @bulldogblasts