Eastside Parent Information
January 2021
Eastside Elementary School
Please Call : If your child will not be coming for "In Person Learning" or "Participating Virtually"
Email: contact@sunprairieschools.org
Website: https://www.sunprairieschools.org/eastside
Location: 661 Elizabeth Lane, Sun Prairie, WI, USA
Phone: (608) 834-7400
Facebook: facebook.com/EastsideElementarySPASD
January No School Days
December 24, 2020 - January 2, 2021
School Resumes January 4
No School January18
No School January 22
Student Support Hubs Gr. K-5
December 18, 2020
Sun Prairie K-5 Families,
The safety of our kids, families, and staff has been and will continue to be our top priority as we collaboratively work toward our vision of Every Child, Every Day, even in a pandemic.
On December 28 we will send out a survey asking you to make a decision by January 4 about which option you will choose for each child in your household who is in grades K-5. The following information is intended to help inform you prior to making your decision.
Background Information
On September 28, in the update to the school board on distance learning, we said that our administration would study the feasibility of bringing children back to school at some point in the school year. It was determined that it is feasible to provide a hybrid option for students to attend school with appropriate infection mitigation strategies in place. On December 7 some K-2 students began to attend school in person based on the hybrid model. Since then Public Health Madison & Dane County has adjusted their guidance. Now it is possible for students in grades 3, 4, and 5 to also attend school in hybrid as well. This letter is to provide more information on the options that exist for returning K-5 students to school.
Families in K, 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 will have two options.
Option 1: Hybrid Learning Plan
What: Students attend school in person two full days per week and participate in distance learning two days per week live with their class. Wednesday is set aside for independent work online. Students are assigned to a group based on the last name of the head of the household and other factors to balance classes. AA refers to a cohort of students who will attend school together on Monday and Tuesday. V refers to all virtual (online independent work assigned by teachers) on Wednesday. BB refers to a separate cohort of students who attend school in person on Thursday and Friday. This is an AAVBB schedule.
Why: Delivery of hybrid learning in smaller cohort groups is done to provide in-person learning to the extent possible while having fewer students attend school to allow for adequate physical distancing and other infection mitigation strategies recommended by public health.
How: Teachers will develop blended learning opportunities delivered both in-person and online via Zoom and Seesaw. Students will not be online all day, and will need to be available to be online at scheduled times between 8:20-3:18 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Option 2: Distance Learning Plan
What: Students attend school online four days per week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) including a live morning meeting and scheduled times to meet with teachers. Lessons and activities are delivered via Zoom and Seesaw online. Each Wednesday is scheduled for students to do assignments and other independent work and practice.
Why: Delivery of virtual learning is done to provide consistency in the learning experience while having fewer students attend school to allow for student safety with minimal need for infection mitigation strategies.
How: Teachers will hold live morning meetings at a scheduled time and will deliver whole-class learning opportunities online via Zoom and assign activities using Seesaw. Students attending in either option will receive comparable content and learning activities. Students will not be online all day, and will need to be available to be online at scheduled times between 8:20-3:18 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Transportation
If you choose to have your student attend school in person and you live in an area that qualifies for transportation then school bus transportation will be provided. While every effort will be made to provide assigned seating with distancing, we cannot guarantee that that physical distancing will be maintained on school buses. More details regarding busing will be outlined in another communication prior to the survey.
Students with Disabilities
Guardians of children with disabilities (IEPs) must also choose from these two instructional options for children in grades K-5. If you choose the Option A, the IEP team will determine whether your child’s IEP services and supports can be provided as the IEP currently states, or whether revisions will need to be made to reflect the hybrid model.
If you select Option 2 and your child currently attends for some in person services, your child will be able to continue to receive those in person, IEP team determined services, and IEPs will continue to be implemented as written.
Specialized transportation, determined by the IEP team, will be available for all eligible students in both options.
Public Health & Infection Mitigation Information
To promote the safety of our students, staff, and families, we have developed infection mitigation plans in line with recommendations from Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC). Recent changes to public health guidelines permit children in all grades to attend school in person with these infection mitigation strategies in place. This includes the “big three” strategies that are most effective at reducing risk: wearing a mask, washing hands, and maintaining 6 feet of physical distancing to the greatest extent possible. It will be important to talk to your child about the need to follow these guidelines while at school. It is equally important to commit to these risk-reducing practices outside the school setting. Each of us needs to do our part to mitigate infection in the community.
Additional infection mitigation strategies will cause in-person instruction to look different than in years past. For example, “specials” classes and food services may take place in your child’s classroom to minimize interactions outside their cohorted homeroom group. Cohort groups will also be together at recess to avoid mixing with other groups. Our custodial staff will be regularly disinfecting high-touch surfaces around the school with special attention given to regularly cleaning restrooms. The district has also adjusted ventilation settings to ensure airflow and air exchange while circulating higher levels of outside air.
What would happen if someone gets COVID? Families will be sent a health screening survey prior to return to school. Families must also commit to daily screening for symptoms or possible exposure prior to sending students to school. The district has a comprehensive infection response action plan, including separation, disinfection, notification, and contact tracing. Due to the nature of elementary age children, a positive COVID-19 test within a classroom will typically require the entire class being placed into quarantine for the recommended time per public health guidelines. Since it is important to respond quickly in these cases, there may be very little notice given to families for the need to quarantine. Quarantine could be up to 14 days. During that time, instruction will continue through distance learning in these instances.
If you have questions about these options you should…
Go to our website to learn more and to submit questions.
Contact your child’s teacher or school principal while school is in session in December for any site-specific questions and information.
In order for our principals and teachers to make plans, we need to know your plans. On December 28 we will send out a survey asking you to make a decision by January 4 about which option you will choose for each child in your household who is in grades K-5. The choice that you make will be the model your child will participate in from the beginning of hybrid learning through April 5, 2021, which is the end of the third quarter. Families will again have an opportunity to make a choice for the fourth quarter. The survey will be sent to the primary contact for each household (emergency priority 1 in Infinite Campus). Please check your contact information in Infinite Campus to be sure that your contact information is up to date. Also please check your email SPAM folder if you do not receive a survey. If you notice you still haven't received your survey, please let us know by visiting our website and submitting a “Submit a Question” form.
We hope this information helps you understand our K-5 learning options. If you have questions or concerns, you should always know that we invite you to reach out.
All our best,
Brad Saron, Superintendent
Hybrid Learning Kindergarten-Grade 5
Family One-Pager for Hybrid
Drop-Off/Pick-up
Students need to be dropped off between 8:10 and 8:20.
The playground is CLOSED before school starts
If students arrive prior to 8:10, they must wait in the vehicle until 8:10
For the first week, Eastside staff will meet students in the drop off and bus lines to help them get to their line spot. Family members must stay in vehicles.
Staff and teachers will help students line up and enter the building in small numbers to maintain social distancing
Stand on the Orange dashes in your designated teacher line, maintaining 6ft distance at all times
Walking families will drop off students by the entrance of the playground off of Elizabeth Lane or at the entrance of the parking lot off of Scheuerell - by the big tree.
Students riding bikes need to park their bikes in the bike racks on the playground
Drop off/Pick up - use the parking lot off of Scheuerell Lane
Lockers/Cubbies/Storage
All students are assigned a locker/cubby with distancing in mind
Students will keep their winter gear in their lockers, and their backpacks and lunch bags will be stored in their learning space in the classroom.
What to bring?
Backpack with school issued device and power cord
Specific supplies requested by your child’s teacher
Students are allowed to bring water bottles and water fountains are turned off
Lunch bag (if not eating school lunch)
Mask and an extra mask to be kept in the student’s backpack
Change of clothes
Winter gear
Optional snack
All recess equipment will be supplied by Eastside
Recess and Mask Breaks
Student will be going outside multiple times each day, weather permitting
Students will have a minimum of 2 mask breaks each day, one in the AM and one in the PM
Mask breaks must take place outside
Class cohorts will be assigned a playground zone to play in at recess each day. Cohorts will not be allowed to mix.
Meals and Snacks
Breakfast and lunch will be provided free to all families, or students may bring their own from home
Meals and snacks will be eaten in the classrooms
There will be 2 lunch options available to choose from each day: One bag lunch and one hot choice.
What you can do to help prepare your child for Hybrid
Practice mask stamina
Practice putting on coats, mittens, shoes, etc.
Practice physical distancing
If a student is showing symptoms:
The nurse will come to the classroom to assess and potentially remove your student if symptoms are present and put them in a separate room. The nurse will call guardians to have them picked up from school in a timely manner
Please think of a plan B if you are not able to pick your child up as they will remain in the separate room until picked up
Student Covid Screen Document (English Version) Student Covid Screen Document (Spanish Version) to use EVERY morning
Bussing Information
2020-21 K-5 Hybrid District Busing Information to be sent in advance of the Transportation Survey
Dear Sun Prairie Families,
You are receiving this letter because you are eligible for busing based on your child’s primary home address. Before we ask if you intend to have your child ride a school bus we want to give you some information about how busing will work due to COVID-19.
If at all possible, we encourage families to consider transporting their child(ren) to/from school to free up space for as much physical distancing as possible. We will do our best to provide as much physical distancing as possible, but there are a limited number of buses and drivers therefore physical distancing on buses or at bus stops cannot be guaranteed.
Students with Disabilities
Students who require specially-designed transportation through the IEP team process will continue to have specially designed-transportation made available to them. The program manager, associate principal, or case manager will communicate about those arrangements.
If your child has been found eligible for specialized transportation through the IEP process and you decline bus service at this time but need it reinstated at a later date, please work with your child's special education teacher.
Additional Information
If you decline bus service and need it at a later date, please contact Rhonda Page or Lisa Sprindis. Bus routes will be updated twice per month.
If your student needs transportation to/from a child care provider or a secondary household, Please complete the appropriate request form:
20/21 Transportation Request to/from Childcare
20/21 Transportation Request to/from a Secondary Household
We hope this information helps you understand your busing options.
ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES FOR DISTANCE LEARNING AND IN PERSON LEARNING
TO REPORT AN ABSENCE
Call 608-834-7400 *option 1 - Please be sure to leave this information in your voicemail.
- Students first and last name
- The students teacher and grade level
- The reason for the absence and if they will return to school or still complete work virtually
REPORTING ILLNESS
If you are calling to report an illness please leave a detailed message with all symptoms. Please call the attendance line before 8:30 AM. You may receive a follow up phone call from our School Nurse to just check in with your family and if necessary complete a screener before returning to school.
EXTENDED ABSENCES
If your student needs to be out for an extended period of time, please leave a detailed message and we will call you back to discuss how best we can serve them and to let you know what information we will need from you.
MARKED IN ERROR
If you feel your student was marked absent and shouldn't be, please call me at 1-608-834-7402 so that we can clarify and correct if necessary.
Advance Learner Programming Communication
January News from the advanced Learner program:
Happy New Year and Best Wishes for 2021! It is hard to believe we are almost halfway through the school year.
Yahara: All Yahara submissions were submitted by December 18. Local judging will take place on January 14. The top 10 pieces from each category: poetry, short stories, cartoons, and editorials, and art covers and divider pages will be selected to move onto regional judging in early February.
Haiku: This year 4th graders will be invited to write Haiku poems to submit for a regional Haiku competition. Information will be presented to classrooms the first or second week of January. Students will be allowed to submit up to 3 Haikus on one page. Final submissions will be turned in the first week of February.
Warmest Wishes,
Mrs. Rhodes
Eastside & Westside Advanced Learner Program Specialist
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Eastside Mission Statement
Vision: “Working together to maximize each student’s potential, in a safe and caring community, to become responsible citizens.”
Mission: “Futures depend on us to inspire and prepare every child, every day, by providing relevant, engaging, and innovative learning experiences in and out of the classroom”
Eastside Google Site
It is the Eastside Distance Learning Google Site for families
https://sites.google.com/a/sunprairieschools.org/eastside-elementary/home