School News
November 23, 2020
Setting Up for Success
Need to Know Info...
Kindness Week Challenge: Students and staff recently participate in a Kindness Week Challenge, in conjunction with National Kindness Day. Special messages and activities took place each day to set the tone for spreading kindness. Our challenge was to wrap the school in kindness. Check out the results in the video message below! We encourage you to continue the conversation at home and find ways to spread kindness in your circles of influence.
COVID Update: As you have seen in Mr. Ramey's recent updates, we are working hard to keep COVID out of our schools. We have been able to isolate positive cases and quarantine close contacts, which has kept majority of our students in school. We realize this is important for their learning and for our families to have this structure and routine in place. On the bright side, our attendance this year is much improved over previous years. We are not experiencing the high numbers of absences we would have previously seen due to seasonal flu and allergies, asthma, common colds, and other illnesses. To date, we have had 6 students or staff members test positive for COVID and that has been isolated to 3 classrooms. We are seeing the 14-day window hold true, so if you have been exposed to anyone who has tested positive for COVID, it is important to isolate from them and quarantine for 14 days, even if you remain asymptomatic.
As we watch the numbers rise throughout out county, we continue to prepare our staff and students for quality virtual learning - whether through a quarantine of small groups or through a school-wide closure. We have received positive feedback from families who have already experienced it this year. As we have reflected on our efforts from last spring, we have made some changes to how we structure virtual learning. Students will follow their daily schedule just as if they were here in-person. This allows us to maintain the schedule for daily supports and supplemental services. Students will participate in live instruction via Microsoft Teams and also have access to recorded lessons by the teacher. These interactions with occur throughout the school day, according to the typical daily schedule. All students in grades K-6 will have laptops sent home anytime virtual learning is necessary. We appreciate our parents and other caregivers who keep things positive and support our students when they cannot be here in-person. We've certainly learned first hand that it takes a village to raise a child!
We recognize each family has different needs and is working through this COVID climate in different ways. As we prepare to close this semester, watch for information about learning options for second semester. Families will have another opportunity to determine enrollment status as in-person or remote, based on their family needs.
Picture Retakes: Picture retakes will occur on Wed, Dec 2. Students participating in remote learning may come to school that day for school pictures.
News from the Thorntown Public Library - Upcoming Activities Update: Holiday activities previously planned at the Thorntown Public Library have been canceled due to rising COVID numbers in our county.
Arrival/Dismissal in Front of the Building: We really appreciate your cooperation with the enforcement of our arrival and dismissal procedures. It feels good to know we all work together for the safety of our kids! For future reference, you can access the Arrival/Dismissal Plan here.
Masks: Thank you with your efforts to make bringing a mask to school a habit. Our students are doing much better with this. We appreciate your cooperation in following all of our new procedures as we make every effort to keep our school a healthy place for kids to learn!
Upcoming
November
25 - Planned eLearning Day - Students will not attend in-person; Assignments posted 11/24
26-27 Thanksgiving Break
December
2 - Picture Retakes
17 - Last Day for Students
January
4 - Students Return
18 - MLK Day - No school
27 - Planned eLearning Day
Thorntown Elementary School
Email: abbie.hayden@webo.k12.in.us
Website: https://tes.weboschools.org/
Location: 200 West Mill Street, Thorntown, IN, USA
Phone: 765-485-2447
Facebook: facebook.com/ThorntownElementaryPTO
Twitter: @ThorntownES