DUNNING NOTES FROM the OFFICE
Sunday, April 4th, 2021
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All previous Notes From the Office are available by using this LINK.
Dear Dunning Community,
We hope this letter finds you well. We are writing to share information about how we have prepared our staff and our building at Dunning School to minimize risk at our school for the children whose families have chosen to send them back for in-person learning.
We are committed to meeting the needs of all children, those who return in person and those who continue with remote learning. We have been working for several months on all aspects of a school-wide plan, from bathroom procedures to lunches to buses. We hope the information shared here helps prepare you and your child to return to school. We have organized this letter in sections so you can easily find the information you need.
DAILY ATTESTATION: MyMedBot APP
Each day staff and students’ families will complete a health attestation for their children through an application called MyMedBot, designed to screen all FPS staff and students daily for potential COVID symptoms. Students, families, and staff must answer a series of COVID-19 related questions via the mobile app and based on the answer. app will show a red screen, meaning you are not permitted to enter the school or green, meaning you may enter the school.
As a change in procedure, we have shifted how we will be checking MyMedBot responses. Moving forward, we will be checking responses in the office to ensure that students who show a red screen are not entering the building. We will be calling parents of any students whose MyMedBot response has a red screen to follow up on the response. We will also be sending a reminder email and/or text to families who have not completed the MyMedBit app.
The mobile app is available on Android, IOS, and also available from a web browser on a computer or tablet (https://dashboard.mymedbot.lu/webapp). Parents and Students will receive an email with a unique Invitation Code to set up their accounts.
A MyMedBot Call Center (508-782-6633) has been set up and is staffed with personnel who speak English, Spanish, and Portuguese. They will also have access to an interpreter line for other languages.
For more information, the district has designated a place on their webpage to provide details which can be accessed on the link: MyMedBot Information.
STUDENT INFORMATION, EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION, and ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL PLAN
As we move into the next phase of in-person learning, we want to ensure that we have a good communication process for updated student information, emergency contact information and student arrival/dismissal plans. We have created a google form which is linked below so that we can gather all these details. Please make sure to provide us with updated contact information, including cell phone numbers, for all Primary and Emergency contacts associated with your child(ren). At least 4 contacts should be listed. It is extremely important that we’re able to reach you with important operational communication as well as part of a contact tracing effort.
Google Form Link:
MORNING ARRIVAL
In preparation for morning arrival, we have tried to organize procedures that resemble our past practices, however we have had to make some changes that allow us to provide proper structures for social distancing.
Students Arriving by Bus:
Buses will pull into the horseshoe driveway and drop off at the front entrance of the school. There will be many adults stationed outside for morning duty to welcome students and help get them safely into the building, while honoring social distancing. Kindergarten staff will help students move into the classrooms safely and classroom aides will help the children access breakfast in the cafeteria.
Students Arriving by Car:
For parent drop off, parents should park and walk their children to the building.
Main Entrance: (Parents can park either on Frost Street or the front parking lot. Please DO NOT park along the horseshoe driveway)
Kindergarten Door: Kindergarten students and siblings can enter at this door
Rear Door (Eastside) near pathway coming from Walsh parking lot
Rear Door (Westside) near Cornell Street entrance
There are four options for parking:
Frost Street
Walsh parking lot
Cornell parking lot
Dunning front parking lot. Please note that parking in the Dunning front parking lot will take longer as the first priority will be to allow for busses and vans to drop students off. Staff will be stationed outside of this parking lot to direct traffic during this time.
Students who are walking to school without a parent:
Walkers without parents should enter the building in one of the arrival doors (Cornell, Walsh, Main Entrance).
AFTERNOON DISMISSAL
In preparing our dismissal procedures, we have tried to create a similar structure to arrival.
For students going home by bus or van:
At dismissal time, students riding a bus or van will be called to line up at their designated bus/van location. Once lined up, students will be lined up (socially distanced) while they await their bus to be called for loading. Each bus location will have staff members to take attendance of students riding the bus on that day and escort them to the bus.
For students who will be Parent Pick Up or Walking home:
There will be four dismissal locations for walkers or parent pick ups. At 3:30, we will begin calling students by their dismissal location one at a time. Parents should meet their child at that location at 3:30. Once students have been picked up, we ask that you leave school property promptly so that we can ensure proper social distancing, as well as keep the flow of dismissal moving quickly. Please note that all playground areas are closed during dismissal.
Kindergarten (Door #15) - Kindergarten and siblings Parent Pick Up
East Rear Door (Eastside Door #14) - Parents can park on Frost or in the front parking lot.
Walsh Door (Eastside Door #12) - Back east wing door (room 18) parents can park in the Walsh parking lot. There will be a staff member on duty to release students to parents or escort walkers to the walking path to Walsh.
Cornell Door(Westside Door# 7) - Back west wing door (room 33) parents can park at Cornell cul-de-sac. There will be a staff member on duty to release students to parents or escort walkers across the play area to the stairs leading to Cornell.
Early dismissal:
Signs at Dunning will inform family members picking children up early from school to pull up by the office, remain in their cars, and call the office. Ms. Cebula and Ms. Pierson will answer your call and notify the homeroom teacher. Children will come out to you.
SCHOOL/ BUILDING BASED PROCEDURES
Hallway Travel:
Signs will mark the flow of traffic in hallways. The hallways will be two way and we will ask students to stay on the right side of the hall as they travel through halls. Arrows will mark the direction.
Children’s Bathrooms:
Every other stall will be closed to limit the number of children in the bathroom at once. Bathrooms will be cleaned regularly by custodial staff. Students will take an individual bathroom pass when they go to the bathroom. We have these on lanyards for each class.
Breakfast and Lunch:
Breakfast and lunch will be served in the cafeteria. Tables in the cafeteria have been carefully measured to accommodate 6 feet social distancing for students. Staff will direct your children where to sit in the cafeteria.
Breakfast:
All breakfasts will be served in the cafeteria upon arrival in the morning. Students will sanitize hands before and after eating. Staff will be available in the cafeteria to help students navigate getting breakfast, seating and transitioning to their classrooms.
Lunch:
Since many Dunning students are returning in person, we and other elementary schools are switching back to a rotating lunch schedule. The lunch schedule will allow for children to socially distance in our cafe. Students learning remotely will follow this same lunch schedule.
The lunch schedule will be:
Storage of Student Belongings:
Students will keep all belongings in their backpacks and backpacks and jackets will be hung on student’s chairs. There will be no use of the closets or cubbies to hold student belongings.
Chromebooks:
Students will need to bring their chromebook each day. We have provided each in-person student a protective carrying case to travel back and forth to school. Please help your child remember to charge their chromebook before returning to school the next day.. Please have your student transport his/her chromebook in their backpack. We have found that carrying it separately is difficult for students. Additionally, if they take the bus, they may forget it when they get off at their stop.
Mask Breaks:
Please see the district Guidance for Mask Breaks/Recess During COVID-19.
Lessons for Students:
In order to prepare our students to use safe and healthy practices and to reduce risk when we return, teachers will be teaching a series of lessons about Covid, hand washing, social distancing, and Dunning-specific procedures.
Nurse’s Office:
Ms. Haire will work closely with our staff to make sure children who need access to the health room do so safely. Teachers will call the health room with any concerns they have and Ms. Haire will triage students as appropriate.
If any child gets sick with Covid like symptoms at school, Ms. Haire will bring the child to a supervised isolation room where they can receive care and await a family member to pick them up. Families will need to be prepared to pick up their child within one hour as we have limited space to house potentially sick students.
Main Office
Ms. Cebula and Ms. Pierson are as eager to help as ever; however visitors are not allowed in the building, so please call if you need anything. To reach the office please dial (508) 626-9155.
We appreciate your partnership, as always, in keeping our students and staff safe and healthy. We look forward to continuing to see you online, and to seeing many in person in the coming weeks!
What's New This Week:
- Student Pooled Testing - Online Consent Form
- SAVE THE DATE: Picture Day will be Friday, April 16th!
- District News & Announcements - April 3rd
- Return to School Update, April 1st
- Weekly Food Resource Guide
Please let us know if you have any question or concerns! We are ALWAYS available! Please call us or email us.
Sincerely,
Michele & Kathie
mschecter@framingham.k12.ma.us
Student Pooled Testing - Online Consent Form
In an effort to increase the District's Consent Rate for Pooled Testing, we made the consent forms available online. We hope this makes it easier for you to complete and submit the forms for your family!
PROVIDE YOUR CONSENT TODAY (links to a trilingual Google Form)
Pooled testing allows our entire school community to benefit when we can identify asymptomatic students with COVID-19 early and prevent the spread of the virus through our classrooms and schools. Please strongly consider providing your consent so we can make informed decisions about keeping our community safe and healthy!
Framingham Public Schools has launched a trilingual COVID Call Center to help families with MyMedBot App and Pool Testing questions. You can reach the Call Center by email COVID@framingham.k12.ma.us or by calling (508) 782-6633. Call Center staff are available between 5:00am to 6:00pm Monday through Friday.
For additional information, please review the Framingham Public Schools COVID-19 Testing for Students Overview English, Spanish, or Portuguese. You can also visit our website for more information: Pooled Testing at Framingham Public Schools.
SAVE THE DATE: Picture Day will be Friday, April 16th!
Don't despair, pandas, we will capture your smiles! Once again we are partnering with Coffee Pond to take school pictures. This date was selected based on the return to school date and the approaching 5th grade yearbook deadlines.
Pictures will be taken outside, socially distanced, contactless. Coffee Pond has been out and about this fall and spring in other districts, so their COVID-safe approach is road-tested. See the flyer in the comments for details.
No adults (photographers or parent volunteers) will touch students’ hair or clothing; we’ll do our best to talk students through any necessary adjustments so they can do it themselves.
Online ordering is strongly encouraged and preferred; if students bring in completed paper forms, there will be a clearly labeled box they can drop the paperwork in.
All students will:
Write their name (littlest pandas with assistance, of course) on a piece of paper to carry with them and show photographer
Follow the cones and one-way traffic directions
Wear their mask until the photographer tells them to remove it
Hold their mask in their lap while being photographed
Put their mask back on once picture has been taken
Follow the one-way traffic to exit the picture area
In-school learners will be called with their classes to the outside picture area.
Remote learners: we will be sharing a Sign-Up Genius for you to sign up for a time slot between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. on Friday, 4/16.
A make up date is being scheduled for later in April/early May, to be determined.
Dates to Remember
APRIL
Monday, 5th
- All In-Person Students Return
- Fifth Grade Zoom Puberty Parent Meeting, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
- Virtual Community Meeting, 2:30 – 3:00pm
- Picture Day
- No School - Patriot's Day
- No School -Spring Recess
Monday, 26th
School Council Meeting, 4:00 - 5:00pm
- Early Release - 1:05 Dismissal- Parent Conferences, Lunch IS served
MAY
Thursday, 6th
- Early Release - 1:05 Dismissal - Parent Conferences, Lunch IS served
- Early Release - 1:05 Dismissal - Parent Conferences, Lunch IS served
- Virtual Community Meeting, 9:30 – 10:00am
- Early Release - 1:05 Dismissal - Staff PD, Lunch IS served
Monday, May 24th
- School Council Meeting, 4:00 – 5:00pm
Thursday, May 27th
- Early Release - 1:05 Dismissal - Parent Conferences, Lunch IS served
Monday, May 31st
- No School - Memorial Day
Transportation Updates
COVID-Related Bus Safety
Riding the bus during COVID requires that students have a consistent seat in the morning and the afternoon. In some cases the seat assignment comes from the Principal in other cases it is managed by the bus driver. If you have a bus rider, please encourage your child to sit in the same seat in the morning and afternoon, as well as to remain in their seat for the entire bus ride. Staying in their seat helps to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19 among the students and assists with contact tracing in the case of a COVID positive student.
We know children are excited to be in school and we are excited to bring more students back in-person! To ensure that we can all stay in school and reduce the need to quarantine from possible exposure on buses, bus riders need to follow this guidance.
Please talk with your children regularly and encourage them to follow these risk mitigating efforts including:
Sitting in their assigned seat during each and every ride
Wearing their mask at all times during the bus ride
Weather permitting, keeping the windows down at least one click
Thank you for your partnership and for your patience.
If You have Chosen In-Person Learning
Thank you.
Bus Registration Codes
MyMedBot
MyMedBot is your ticket to school! MyMedBot is used to screen all FPS staff and students daily for potential COVID symptoms. Students, families, and staff must answer a series of COVID-19 related questions and based on the answers, the app will show a red screen, meaning you are not permitted to enter the school or a green screen, meaning you may enter the school. MyMedBot invitation codes are unique for each user and are being rolled out by cohort to families with students who are returning to in-person instruction.
If you are scheduled to come back to school and you do not receive the message, you can contact the FPS COVID Call Center (see below).
Please remember to complete MyMedBot everyday that your child is scheduled to attend school in-person. We ask that you complete MyMedBot by 8:30 at the latest each morning.
COVID Call Center
Framingham Public Schools has launched a trilingual COVID Call Center to help families with the MyMedBot App questions. Families can reach the Call Center by email COVID@framingham.k12.ma.us or by calling (508) 782-6633. Call Center staff are available between 5:00am to 6:00pm Monday through Friday. Staff who have MyMedBot App questions should continue to reach out to the Help Desk.
MetroWest Mediation Services
MetroWest Mediation Services is offering free virtual mediation between landlords and tenants for non-payment situations. This program is part of Governor Baker's comprehensive Eviction Diversion Initiative to mitigate the harmful economic impacts of COVID-19 and prevent homelessness by keeping tenants stably housed and landlords from mortgage foreclosures.
For more information or to schedule a free mediation, please contact Li, Coordinator of the Housing Mediation Program, by emailing li@metrowestmediation.org or calling 781-591-0866.
For assistance in Spanish or Portuguese: Please contact Peter at peter@metrowestmediation.org or call 617-213-0365.
School Lunch Update
- School breakfasts and lunches will be free for the remainder of the school year
- Milk only purchases will cost $0.60
DESE 2019 Dunning School & FPS District Accountability Report
"Every year, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) releases a report card for each school and district in the state. Just as a student's report card shows how they are doing in different classes, school and district report cards are designed to show parents and community members how a school or district is doing in different areas. Report cards highlight a school or district's strengths as well as any challenges that need to be addressed in order to make sure the needs of all students are being met.” DESE
To view our school’s report card overview and the complete report card, visit our school’s profile on the ESE’s School and District Profiles website at this Dunning Report Card Link.
Rental Assistance Program
Here is an updated application link to apply for the rental assistance program
https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/FRAMINGHAMMA/Participant. Please note that due to the influx of applications, applying through this site would be the quickest way.
If you are submitting a paper application, use the same link to email it.
ESL Writing Assessment Information
ESL Teachers will be administering the biannual ESL Writing Assessment to students (remote and in-person) to students identified as English Learners in grades 3-12, during the following testing windows:
Final Interim Assessment Testing Window:
March 29-April 30
Housing Help
The state Department of Housing and Community Development has centralized information about resources for families struggling to make rent or mortgage payments due to COVID-19. For information, go this this WEBSITE.
Resources if You Are Struggling to Make Rent or Mortgage Payments
Community Resources
Food Services Information
District Calendars
Dunning Directory
Click on the link below to input information and sign up for the Dunning Directory,
School Hours
Early Release Days
- 1:05pm dismissal
- Lunch IS served
- Early Release Thursdays: 9/18/20, 12/3/20, 12/10/20, 12/17/20, 1/7/21, 1/14/21, 3/11/21, 4/29/21, 5/6/21, 5/13/21, 5/20/21, 5/27/21
Half Days
- Students are dismissed at 12:00pm.
- Lunch IS NOT served.
- Half Days: 11/25 and the last day of school.
Visit the Dunning Website
Join the Dunning PTO FB Page
If you are not already a member, please join the PTO FB page. It is a great way to stay connected with the Dunning Community! www.facebook.com/groups/228212977304928/?ref=bookmarks