With the Traveling Mural Project, we will be connecting with other school communities around the country to create murals of peace, friendship, diversity and love. The theme of our Hayes mural was "Things That Bring Us Joy." We divided the mural into 10 pieces. We sent 9 of those pieces to different states and they each sent us one of their pieces. The pieces are now connected and hanging in the hall near the art room. Here is a picture of them all together. The second picture is of the mural before it was divided and sent away. The 3rd picture shows the students in 3rd grade working on it. All students in 3rd and 4th Grade participated.

As we approach fall and plan for winter, we want to share this annual information with you regarding our procedure for school building closures and student learning when school buildings are closed.

Notification of school building closure

In the event that school buildings have to be closed, the school district will inform parents/guardians through multiple channels. District/school will send parents an email, text message and will also call parents directly. In addition, the closure will also be posted on the district website as well as local television channels. The district uses the parent contact information on the Campus Parent Portal to communicate with parents/guardians. Please make sure that your contact information is accurate on the Parent Portal.

School building/classroom/program closure due to COVID-19

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has approved the provision of short term online learning to allow for flexibility in learning formats during the pandemic. In case of a COVID-19 situation that requires a school, program or classroom to temporarily transition to online learning, Fridley Public Schools will implement its MDE approved Blended Learning Plan for students.

· We will follow our district’s Blended Learning Plan that will allow students to continue to learn at home.

· Blended learning “blends” short-term online learning in place of regular in-person learning in the event groups/buildings need to isolate due to a COVID-19 spread.

· Students will learn from home through online instruction provided by students' individual teachers through SeeSaw (PreK-K) or Google Classroom (Grades 1-12).

· Our district has been provisionally approved to provide short-term online learning in order to allow flexibility during the pandemic.

· Each school will share more information with parents/guardians prior to any classroom/program or school building closure.

School building closure due to inclement weather

When severe weather conditions create hazardous conditions that pose life threatening risks for students and staff, the superintendent of schools may need to close school buildings and implement the district’s E-Learning Plan.

· The district’s E-Learning Plan will support learning for students in grades PreK-12 for up to five days a year when school buildings are closed due to inclement weather.

· There may still be a need for a traditional snow/cold day, but the district will make every effort to utilize E-Learning days to continue learning.

· An E-Learning day is considered an instructional day and attendance is taken.

· On an E-Learning day, students will learn from home through online instruction provided by students' individual teachers through SeeSaw (PreK-K) or Google Classroom (Grades 1-12).

· Students in grades 7-12 who are enrolled in the fulltime Fridley Online Academy will have no change in their learning day.

· As we near winter, each school will share more information with parents/guardians prior to any school building closure.

COVID-19 UPDATES & REMINDERS

Notification

Fridley Public Schools will continue its practice of notifying the Minnesota Department of Health of any lab confirmed positive case in its schools. Parents/Guardians will also receive direct communication if their child is identified as a close contact of a confirmed positive case. Notification will include the most current information on symptoms that parents can watch out for and monitor.

Health/Safety Reminders

· Please keep your child home if he/or she is not feeling well. Notify the school if someone in your household has been exposed to, has symptoms of, or has tested positive for COVID-19.

· Properly wearing a face covering/mask is a universal protection strategy that can help minimize the spread of COVID-19.

· Remember to send your child to school every day with a mask. They are required on school buses and inside our school/buildings.

· If your child is 5 years and older, consider having him or her vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines are free and are available to all Minnesotans ages 5 years and older.

COVID-19 Vaccines

· COVID-19 vaccines are currently available free of charge to all Minnesotans ages 5 years and older.

· Please follow this link to learn more, to schedule a vaccine for yourself, family member or child who is 5 years or older: COVID-19 vaccines

COVID-19 Testing

· COVID-19 saliva tests are available to all Minnesotans at no cost.

· Regular screening testing is an important mitigation strategy to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools.

· Any parent/guardian who wishes to order a test kit for their children and/or family members can use this link to order a free COVID-19 saliva test kit through Vault Health.

WINTER WEATHER REMINDERS

Winter brings an expectation of extreme cold temperatures and/or heavy snow. The Fridley Transportation Department would like to share a few winter-weather transportation reminders with you that will help keep our students safe.

• Please ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for the winter weather.
• Your child is required to be at the scheduled stop 5 minutes prior to bus pick-up time. We do not expect the student to stay at the stop any longer than 10 minutes after the scheduled time. Should the bus be late by more than 10 minutes, the student should go home and call the assigned bus company (see below).
• Information and updates on late busses are communicate through our messenger program, so please make sure that your contact information is accurate.
• You may log in to your Parent Portal parent account and update your email or phone number.
• If school buildings are closed due to severe weather, the district will communicate with families ahead of time through email, phone call, and will also post the announcement on the district website, local news channels and district social media.
• For more information on school closures, click here.

Our Bus Companies:

• Voigt’s – 763-571-1241 #2 (Route #’s 1- 19)
• 1st Student – Champlin 763-421-5785 (Route #'s 20-32)
• R & D Transportation – 763-767-1804 press #2 (Van)
• Halo Transportation – 763-432-6806 (Van)