Irmo Elementary Family Updates
#HeartoftheHive #BetterTogether November 23rd-27th
A Note From Your Principal
Dear IES Families,
We had such a terrific time celebrating American Education Week in the heart of the hive. You will see the pictures throughout the newsletter showcasing our crazy socks, pajamas, dressing for success, hat day and more! Our bees brought the spirit both F2F and virtually. We traveled back in time as 4th grade celebrated Colonial Day and all F2F bees enjoyed a Thanksgiving lunch. As you can see from the thumbs up, even behind the clear dividers, the students and staff loved the meal made by our amazing cafeteria crew! We are two days from our next holiday break. Please review the important information below in detail concerning redistricting and the next phase of reentry. I encourage you to be informed, involved, and a voice for #IrmoStrong.
Shannon Fincannon
Principal
#HeartoftheHive
#BetterTogether
Help IES' Kindergarten Classrooms Support Those in Need
IMPORTANT - CAR RIDER LINE UPDATES
MORNING CAR LINE:
- Students should be prepared to exit to car as soon as you stop - masks on, book bags on or ready, lunch boxes and water bottles ready to go to keep the line moving safely and efficiently.
- The two entry lanes should merge (zipper merging) as you near the school.
- Pull all the way to the beginning of the drop off area and not just to the second tower area.
- To assist with efficient movement of the line, students may begin exiting cars at the first tower. Staff are located along the sidewalk for safety.
- The gate on Fork Ave closes at 7:50 am.
AFTERNOON CAR LINE:
- Car tags are required for student pick up. Please have tag displayed for the staff members to easily see.
- The gate on Fork Ave closes at 3:00 pm.
This Week's Important Dates
11/25-11/27 Thanksgiving Holiday~All schools and offices closed
Coming Soon:
11/30 Irmo Strong Virtual 5K Ends
12/3 & 12/8 MAP testing 3-5 grades
12/4 & 12/10 MAP testing 1-2 grades
D5 Meal Distribution Updates
School District Five announces meal distribution changes
REMINDER: School breakfast and lunch are free for all students in School District Five through the end of the school year, due to a U.S. Department of Agriculture waiver.
Now that students in School District Five are transitioned to a 4-day in-person instructional model, meal pick-up will change slightly. All in-person students will receive a shelf stable breakfast and shelf stable lunch kit on Tuesday to take home for Wednesday. Milk and extra vegetables are available for students to pick-up at each school. FIVE students will also continue to receive their meals on Wednesday.
School Meal Sites
The district will serve 5-day meal supplies at three school sites on Wednesday. These locations are designed for FIVE student meal pick up and will serve five-days worth of breakfast and lunch items to students age 18 and under.
*Please note the time change*
Chapin High School (bus loop) – 12:15 p.m.-1:45 p.m.
Dutch Fork High School (bus loop) - 12:15 p.m.-1:45 p.m.
Irmo High School (bus loop) - 12:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Though students are not required to be present at feeding sites, parents will be required to show their students' ID cards, if they have them. If they do not have them, they will be required to sign their name and list their children’s names in order to receive the meals. Per the guidelines of the federal USDA waiver, these steps are taken to maintain the integrity of the program, while providing flexibility for parents.
Self Screening Reminders
REMINDER: Self-Screening Checklist, COVID Communications Guide and COVID-19 Exposure Flowchart
Safety is a top priority. School District Five of Lexington & Richland Counties has worked in collaboration with health officials to establish health protocols for the 2020-21 school year, in response to COVID-19. Students and staff will be asked to complete daily self-screenings before reporting to school/district campuses. District schools will follow DHEC guidance regarding the management of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Click the following link to see the district’s self-screening checklist:
Click the following link to see the district’s COVID-19 Exposure Flowchart:
For DHEC guidelines regarding the management of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases, click the following link:
View our COVID-19 Communications Guide:
View DHEC's School COVID-19 Report:
https://scdhec.gov/covid-19-cases-associated-staff-students
For more information on health and safety protocols, click the "20-21 COVID-19 Information" tab on our district website or visit www.lexrich5.org/20-21reentry.
D5 Reentry
District Reentry Email Address Update
During the reentry process, School District Five has utilized a centralized email address to gather feedback and answer questions as we work to transition back to in-person learning. The email address the district created for questions about reentry is reentry@lexrich5.org.
School District Five values your input. If you have any questions about your child’s instructional model, please reach out to your child’s home school.
School District Five announces plan for 5-day in-person instruction
School District Five will begin the transition of in-person students from a 4-day in-person instructional schedule to a 5-day in-person schedule. This transition will begin on February 1 for all students. Wednesdays will no longer be distance learning days for in-person students.
Schools may utilize a 100% distance learning model during any phase if needed in response to COVID-19. Phases and dates can be modified, contingent upon reentry considerations. The district's Flexible Innovative Virtual Education (FIVE) virtual program will continue during all in-person learning models.
During a November 16 School Board meeting, the board voted 6-1 to “direct the Superintendent to move forward with the reentry plan presented which provides for face-to-face instruction five days a week beginning, Feb. 1, 2021, while continuing with the FIVE remote learning option.” The motion also stated that “if there is evidence of an increase in COVID positive tests within the zip code in the District 5 portion of Lexington and Richland counties that may cause safety issues, a request for a revised plan can be made to the board after the evidence of an increase is presented, discussed and approved by the board.”
Click the following link to view the superintendent’s report from the November 16 board meeting: https://bit.ly/2IGfVnc. Recordings of board meetings are posted on the district’s Board Information tab after the meetings. To learn more about school board meetings, please visit: https://bit.ly/2ZeKp5F.
D5 Redistricting Information
School District Five announces redistricting FAQ, planned virtual events
School District Five of Lexington & Richland Counties is announcing new tools for sharing information on redistricting with the community.
The district has created a new redistricting Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) web page, utilizing the questions submitted to its dedicated email address for answering questions. The district is also announcing plans to hold two virtual community events between November and December to answer questions on redistricting scenarios.
The dates of the virtual events, along with details about the event’s format, will be announced at the district’s Nov. 16 School Board meeting. The FAQ can be viewed at www.lexrich5.org/redistricting.
Community input opportunities on proposed redistricting plans will be held prior to a final vote, to gain input from the community.
View the online map: http://www.lexrich5.org/redistrictingmap
View a video tutorial on the online map: http://bit.ly/redistrictingmaptutorial
View our redistricting overview video: http://bit.ly/redistrictingoverview
Review board presentations and background information on redistricting: https://www.lexrich5.org/redistricting
Email questions or comments regarding the redistricting scenarios: redistricting@lexrich5.org.
School District Five announces virtual community events on redistricting
Lexington-Richland School District Five will hold two virtual community events to answer questions on redistricting and get feedback from the community.
The first event will be held Thursday, Nov. 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event will include live video featuring experts from Milone & MacBroom, the firm studying capacity and growth in the district. Questions can be submitted before the event or live during the event, using a Google form. Any questions not answered will be retained and answered at the second event, via the district’s redistricting email address (redistricting@lexrich5.org) or via our FAQ web page.
The second event will be a Dec. 3 Lunch & Learn from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. Like the first event, there will be live video responses to questions.
COMMUNITY EVENTS DATES:
Thursday, Nov. 19 Virtual Community Event
5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 3 Virtual Lunch & Learn
12 noon - 1:30 p.m.
Community Event Link (both events):
https://lexrich5.rev.vbrick.com/#/webcasts/forum
Submit Questions (both events): https://forms.gle/jowkm7ndVjtJazMW6
Learn more, review background information and see presentations on redistricting at www.lexrich5.org/redistricting.
Yearbook Orders Are Online Only This Year: Get Yours Now!
- Yearbook Price $26.00
- IES Online Code is: FMYB100385
- The online ordering site for your yearbook is ready. Your direct link to access your online ordering site is:
https://strawbridge.fotomerchanthv.com/clients/irmo-elementary-school/yearbook-1/access
Weekly Update-FIVE
This week we had a fantastic week in FIVE!!! Students had a blast participating in virtual American Education Week. We saw students show their support for education by wearing red, they reached for their dreams in epic pajamas, showed off hilarious hats, dressed for success, and wore school spirit shirts from all over the district. It was great to see the number of students who participated in these activities. Teachers have also been working hard and planning great activities and lessons for students. Some of our teachers this week went on virtual field trips with their classes, created digital scavenger hunts, led Socratic Seminars, and initiated digital home stem projects! The creativity from the the teachers and the students continues to impress us. We are thankful for all of the hard work that each and everyone of you (students, parents, and teachers) are doing to make our FIVE program a success. Please feel free to reach out to jbebber@lexrich5.org if there is anything we can do to support you or your student. Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving!
Jason Bebber
AAP/FIVE Contact
Important FIVE Virtual Dates to Remember:
Important Dates:
~ November 25-27: Thanksgiving Break (school & offices closed)
~ December: MAP Testing in FIVE (virtual/ in-person options)
- Dec. 2 Reading
- Dec. 9 Math
FIVE Celebrations
- Send pictures and celebrations to FIVE@lexrich5.org or jbebber@lexrich5.org to be included in the FIVE newsletter and in our school highlights.
- Feel free to share pictures on social media using the hashtag #FIVEinLexRich5
Attendance Reminders
- Students are expected to attend all classes face to face in our virtual program. If your student is absent, please provide documentation to the classroom teacher.
- Please look at your child's daily schedule carefully to ensure they are logging into each live Google Meet each day. This includes all special area classes.
- VIDEO: Supporting Students in a Virtual Environment