The Sequiota Scoop
Monthly School Newsletter - August
Our Updated Mission Statement
"Sequiota is a school family of respectful, safe, and responsible learners growing together to build a positive community"
A Note from Mrs. Wagner
Welcome to the 2020-2021 School Year! Even though the start of this school year is going to look very different we are still EXTREMELY excited for the students to return to the building! It's been far too long since we've heard students laughter and witnessed the joy of learning.
I'm Jessica Wagner and this will be my third year as the principal at Sequiota Elementary. When I'm not working on school things I love crafting, gardening, reading, and spending time with my husband and cats. If you're a returning family you know that I have MANY cats, but I also have a couple dogs, chickens, and we raise beef cattle. I'm so excited to meet our newest families and reconnect with our returning families.
This newsletter will cover some of the basic updates we have at this time and will provide a simple introduction to our newest staff members. There will be additional communication sent over the next couple weeks as we continue to finalize details.
Thank you for your patience in awaiting updates. I know that all of us (staff and families alike) are experiencing many emotions in regard to the return to school. As I've said before I know we will work through this together because we are a strong school community, but please keep in mind this re-entry plan is a brand new approach for all of us which means it takes longer to finalize the details.
All information and updates are subject to change due to the constantly changing COVID data, but my hope is to wait and share updates after they have been thoroughly thought through in hopes to reduce the need to retract information and possibly add to the confusion.
Thank you for your grace and understanding during these unusual times. I hope we can continue to work together to find the best approach while honoring the safety of all first and foremost.
Upcoming August Dates
Aug. 12 - Kindergarten Virtual Orientation 5:30-6:00 via Zoom (see invite email or postcard for details).
Updates for the posting of Class Lists and a modified Meet the Teacher will come soon!
Aug. 24 - First Day of School for students with last names A-K
Aug. 27 - First Day of School for students with last names L-Z
Previously we've allowed Kindergarten parents to walk their child to class on the first day of school. This year we are unable to invite parents into the building to walk students to class due to visitor restrictions and safety and health guidelines amidst COVID-19.
Changes in Arrival/Dismissal
We are expanding the school day to increase instructional time for students.
8:30 a.m. - Doors open for students to enter the building
- When students arrive at school they will report directly to their classrooms.
8:45 a.m. - Tardy Bell rings and our school day officially begins
- All students arriving after this time must enter the building through the main office
3:45 p.m. - Dismissal
- Students will dismiss directly from their classrooms - this will be a new process and may take a few weeks to perfect. Please be patient as the students learn the new dismissal procedures.
Prime Time will still be available 6:30 am - 6:30 pm - please visit their website to register.
Specifics for updated arrival and dismissal procedures (to ensure safety and social distancing) will be shared soon.
Preparing for the First Day of School
We ask that all parents/guardians begin preparing their children for returning to school.
Re-establish bedtime routines: We know many of us have created different routines due to the initial COVID Closure and Summer break. Now is the time to start re-establishing bedtime routines.
Practicing mask-wearing protocols with your children: We highly recommend you do so before we return to school on August 24th/27th This will mitigate the safety concerns associated with improper mask etiquette (i.e. how it's being worn, when to remove it, etc.). All students grades K-5 will be required to wear masks at school. We appreciate your help in preparing your student to become used to wearing a mask ALL DAY prior to the start of school. We will provide ALL students with a mask lanyard to use when they are eating/drinking, at PE, or at recess.
Practice Social Distancing: Take the time to explain what this means and practice what 6 feet apart really looks and feels like. As much as we want to hug our students please remind them that we all must practice hands-off interactions upon the return to school.
Process for requesting to change which 2 days students attend in-person learning
SPS has received feedback from some parents with critical medical and/or childcare needs, including requests to change the days their student attends class in-person at school – from Monday/Tuesday to Thursday/Friday or vice versa. Those emergency requests are based on an extreme burden impacting families on a specific day of the week. At this point, SPS is considering whether accommodations can be made, on a limited basis, for families with similar critical needs.
If your family has a critical need and would like to be considered for a schedule change related to the two days of in-person learning at school, please complete this form before noon Thursday, August 13. You will be contacted Monday, August 17, regarding the status of your request.
We understand that this assigned schedule may create hardships. Please keep in mind, we cannot guarantee schedule changes will be made; however, we believe it is important to survey the need of families in order to make those determinations on a case-by-case basis.
PROCESS FOR CHANGING YOUR CHILD'S LEARNING OPTION
Breakfast and Lunch Updates
If your child is eating breakfast at school please have them there promptly at 8:30, they will pick up their breakfast from the cafeteria and eat it in their classroom.
All students will be socially distanced at lunch and the tables will be fully sanitized between classes. Lunches will be served in an individually packaged "grab and go" bag, but some choices will still be available for students to make. Student's may pack a lunch but microwaves will not be available (please pack accordingly).
SCHOOL SUPPLIES UPDATE
SPS will be providing basic supplies for all Pre-K through 5th-grade students, whether they are virtual or seated/in person. Backpacks are NOT being provided, and students will need a full-size backpack to carry their items to and from school each day. Students will also need to bring a water bottle each day because all water fountains will be "shut off". Additionally, 2nd Baptist Church has graciously offered to supply the items our teachers deemed necessary beyond the supplies being provided by the district. With that said, teachers may request an item or two as a wish list need throughout the year.
SUPPLIES WILL BE SENT HOME WITH STUDENTS EVERY AFTERNOON, AND STUDENTS WILL NEED TO BRING SUPPLIES BACK TO SCHOOL EACH MORNING THEY ATTEND SCHOOL. Carrying supplies back and forth each day means students will have access to the supplies they need to do any work at home. This includes their district-issued iPad/Chromebook and will require the need for setting up a charging station at home to ensure devices come to school fully charged on the days students attend in-person classes.
Parents are encouraged to purchase personal/travel packs of Kleenex tissues for your child to keep with their supplies, to avoid multiple students touching community tissue boxes in the classrooms. "Community supplies" will not be allowed this school year - all supplies will be kept stored separately in the classroom for each individual student.
Visitors & Volunteers
In order to increase safety the district has determined that all visitors into the building must be for educational purposes only (such as practicum students from the universities). Until further notice, no visitors will be permitted into the building.
With that said, the PTA is still going to think through some creative ways for our amazing Sequiota families to support our school community.
Let's Introduce our newest Tribe Members
Mrs. Call - 5th Grade
Mrs. Seidel - Special Education
Mrs. James - Librarian
Miss Sara Atkinson - Secretary
Mrs. David - Special Education
Ms. Austina Lane - Special Education Para
How we Communicate:
1. Teacher Newsletters - these will be emailed weekly
2. Folders sent home via backpack.
4. Principal Newsletters - these will be emailed monthly and posted to the Sequiota website
5. PTA Newsletters - these will be emailed monthly and posted on the PTA Facebook page
6. PTA Remind App messages (sign-up with the PTA)
7. Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)
8. Email, calls, and texts through our SPS Blackboard alert now system.
Other ways to stay connected:
- Sequiota Twitter Account - @Sequiota
- Sequiota Instagram Account (new this year) - @sequiota_elementary
- Springfield Public Schools Website
Additionally, all staff members can be reached by email or with a message left in the office. Many teachers may also set up their own lines of communication through Dojo, SeeSaw, Remind 101, etc.
Sequiota Behavior Expectations
CLICK ON THE IMAGE (to the left) TO ACCESS OUR BEHAVIOR MATRIX
This document outlines our behavior expectations for every area of the building.
Teachers will begin teaching these expectations to our students during the first week of school and will continue to reteach these expectations throughout the school year.
Feel free to review these expectations with your children to help reinforce positive choices at school.
About Us
Email: jlwagner@spsmail.org
Website: https://www.sps.org/sequiota
Location: 3414 South Mentor Avenue, Springfield, MO, USA
Phone: 417-523-5400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SequiotaPTA/
Twitter: @SequiotaIndians