Greystone News
January 7, 2021
a note from dr. stocks
I hope that everyone is having a great start to the new year. I got to start with COVID this week, as have many of the people in our community. Omicron is quickly spreading and making its way through our community, our state, and nation. I am hopeful that the experts are right and this slows down in about 4 weeks.
Until this surge is over, we are back to spreading out during lunch by alternating classes eating in the cafeteria and their classrooms. We are continuing and being more diligent with sanitizing high touch areas. We are asking teachers to encourage distancing when possible and limit mixing groups of students. We will continue with limiting visitors in the building, but are very hopeful that this will not last long. We loved seeing everyone during our holiday parties and look forward to the day when we can have our parent volunteers back on a regular basis.
Right now, masks continue to be optional. We have many students and staff who are choosing to wear masks. The district protocol is that if we ever go two weeks where our student positive rate is over 1%, we will shift back to requiring masks. This past Wednesday, the report was over 1%. I anticipate we may be over 1% again next Wednesday, so be on the lookout for a change in the mask requirement. The district will send out information should the mask requirement change, but I wanted to make sure you were informed should you need to locate your child's masks.
It is important that you monitor your child for any symptoms of COVID. The Omicron seems to be causing headaches, stuffy noses, and extreme fatigue. For me and others I have talked to, it felt like a sinus infection. If your child does test positive, please make sure to report that to our school nurse, Nurse Felecia. She will advise you as to your child's return to school date. The flu is also going around. Please report any cases of the flu to Nurse Felecia, as well. She has to report those numbers to the state.
Just like students are getting COVID, so are the adults in our building. We are doing our best to secure substitutes when teachers are absent, but that is not always possible. We sometimes have to split classes or utilize the other adults in our building. Please know your children are always cared for, safe, and are learning. It is just what we are dealing with right now and we don't need sick adults in our building, either.
Our students will be taking their iReady Mid-Year Diagnostic next week. Encourage your child to take his/her time and do his/her best. This helps our teachers identify skills and standards that students have mastered and that they need to teach. It shows us if our students are growing and helps us identify how we can best support our students to achieve all they can this year. This diagnostic will also reset their personal pathways, which is what they work on during the week in iReady.
Thanks for your ongoing support. I am blessed to work with such a wonderful school community.
Dr. Stocks
Mark Your Calendars
January 11-13 - iReady Mid-Year Diagnostic
January 13 - School Board Meeting - 5:30pm
January 14 - HOUSE Spirit Day - wear your HOUSE shirt
January 17 - No School - MLK Jr. Day
January 20 - PTA Board Meeting - 10:30am
January 26 - Jim n Nick's Spirit Night
January 29 - Gingerbread Run - 2:00pm (Family Fun Run)
February 2 - Progress Reports go home
Our Greystone Motto
Learn - Lead - Leave a Legacy
Our Greystone Mission
As a school community, we empower learners, inspire leaders, and encourage all children to reach their potential.
Our Greystone Vision
Empowering a generation of learners and leaders to leave a legacy.
Greystone Elementary
Email: sstocks@hoover.k12.al.us
Website: https://www.hoovercityschools.net/greystone
Location: 300 Village Street, Birmingham, AL, USA
Phone: 205-439-3200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreystoneElementarySchool/
Twitter: @greystoneelem