Paw Print News
Carol Rae Ranch Elementary
September 2020
Principal's Corner
Dear Coyote Families,
It has been a long time coming, but we hope you are as happy as we are to welcome students back to campus! There is no school on Monday, September 7th, but we will begin the hybrid model on Tuesday, September 8. Thank you for reading the following information about the upcoming return to school:
The hybrid model splits students into two groups for in-person learning from September 8-19.
In-person school hours will be from 8:10-2:55. Students may arrive no earlier than 7:45 and will go directly to their classrooms (or the cafeteria if they eat breakfast at school).
Students with the last name A-L will attend school, in-person, on Mondays and Thursdays. Note: there is no school on 9/7, so their in-person start day is 9/10.
Students with the last name M-Z will attend school, in-person, on Tuesdays and Fridays. Their in-person start day is 9/8.
All students will participate in remote learning with their teachers on Wednesdays. Teachers will let their students know what the schedule will be for Wednesdays during hybrid learning.
You will need to check the teacher’s directions to see if your child will need to bring their Chromebook and charger to school on in-person learning days.
Your child will have activities to complete independently on the two days they are at home each week while their teacher is teaching the other half of the class. They will not have specials on the at-home days. Note: Students will need to log into Buzz by noon for attendance on the at-home days.
If the health department metrics reach the required green levels, we will resume with all students attending in-person starting on Monday, September 21. Fingers crossed! :-)
Students returning to campus can expect a few things to look a bit different, so please review and discuss these with your students so that we are on the same page as we begin.
Preschool and kindergarten students may wear a face covering at their parents’ discretion.
Staff and 1st-6th grade students must wear a face-covering in the building. Students may wear a face shield.
We also suggest that each student bring an extra mask in a labeled ziplock bag to keep at school.
I will be ordering breakaway lanyards for students to attach to their masks, however, they won’t arrive until September 11th, so if you have one at home, I encourage you to attach it to your child’s mask. They are very helpful in preventing masks from falling to the floor (especially helpful in the restrooms!).
Masks are not required while students are eating or engaging in strenuous activities such as PE or recess where social distancing can occur. We do recognize some students cannot safely wear a face-covering due to a medical or behavioral condition. Refer to the Face Covering Student Exemption Protocol for more information and contact Nurse Elizabeth with any questions.Drinking fountains will be turned off throughout the school. Each student should bring a water bottle labeled with their name. Water bottles can be filled up throughout the day with the classroom sink. Our PTSO purchased 4 water filling stations that should be delivered and installed soon. Cups will also be available for students who forget to bring a water bottle.
Staff will be on hand to help students find their way to their classroom, as parents will not be permitted into the school at this time.
Parents needing to visit the office, or any school area, will need to wear a face-covering and adhere to social distancing as much as possible.
Lunch schedules have been altered to ensure reduced capacity in the cafeteria.
Hand washing instructions and reminders about wearing masks are posted around campus. Hand sanitizer will also be available in other areas throughout the school including the office. Teachers have hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies in each classroom that may be utilized throughout the day, between classes, and after recess or other transition times.
As always, teachers and staff will review school and classroom routines and procedures. This will include walking in hallways, recognizing personal space, etc. Hallways will have clear markings for where students should be walking.
Classroom seating will be forward-facing in rows as much as possible with assigned seating.
Thursday and Friday, September 24 and 25 were originally scheduled as half days for elementary students due to Parent-Teacher Conferences. Both of these are now full school days for students and we will look to reschedule Parent-Teacher Conferences later in the fall.
Acknowledgment Form
Please complete the acknowledgment form electronically included at the link below confirming your understanding of the COVID - 19 pandemic. Please complete this form for each of your students attending the school prior to September 8 - COVID~19 Acknowledgement and Disclosure Form
Daily Student Health Assessment
Before attending each day on campus, you and your student must complete a student health assessment. Please view the assessment here. Students who are sick or feeling any COVID like symptoms can’t be on campus. For more information including health resources and information please visit www.gilbertschools.net/healthservices.
VIK
If you are interested in registering for the before and after school VIK program please visit our website for more information and registration details.
Please look for additional information in this newsletter, in particular the drop-off/pick-up map, and more that will be coming your way from your child’s teacher prior to our return.
We are very excited to see all of our new and returning Coyotes! We know that there will be challenges ahead, but we also know that we will work collaboratively to make this a positive return to school. On behalf of the CRRE teachers and staff, we can’t wait to see you on campus soon! Thank you for being great partners in your child’s education.
Thea Hansen
Principal
Carol Rae Ranch
Happenings at the Ranch this September:
From the Nurse's Office:
Keeping Healthy Upon Returning to In-Person
We have been working hard to implement guidelines and procedures to minimize the spread of germs on campus. Our school theme this year is “Team Up,” and this applies to staying healthy as well. Let’s all work together to keep ourselves and each other healthy and safe.
I encourage you to visit the Gilbert Public Schools webpage for families.
https://www.gilbertschools.net/families It has a variety of resources to help you navigate changes that will be taking place once we are back on campus. There are a variety of videos you can watch including the following:
Health Office Protocols
What Students Can do to Help
What Happens When You Get a Call That Your Child is Sick at School
Stay Home When Sick
Don’t Send Sick Kids to School
Changes on Campus
What Families Can do to Help Stop the Spread of Covid-19
Proper Hand Washing
Please make sure to screen your children prior to attending school daily. If they have any of the following symptoms, or the scenarios apply, they need to remain home.
Fever above 100.4 or a fever in the last 24 hours
Chills
New cough or Shortness of Breath
Muscle Aches
Sore Throat
Headache
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Loss of Sense of Taste or Smell
Is anyone in your home currently being isolated for COVID-19 due to a positive test or COVID-19 symptoms?
Have you been in close contact (closer than 6 feet for more than 10 minutes without a mask) with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or has symptoms compatible with COVID-19 in the last two days?
Masks: Masks are required for children in grades 1-12. If your child is younger than 1st grade and you would like them to wear a mask, that is permitted. Please consider sending an extra mask in your child’s backpack in a zip lock bag in case the one they wear to school gets soiled. There are lanyards available (I’ve purchased ones via Amazon for myself and my own children) that clip onto the masks and prevent them from falling to the ground. Shoe laces have also been used to create the same mechanism.
If you are in need of face masks, the Arizona Department of Health Services is providing a package of 5 cloth face masks free of charge. One order per family. The link to the order form is:
Water Bottles: Drinking fountains are not available at school at this time. Please make sure to send your child with a full water bottle daily. We are having touchless water dispensers installed that will allow the children to safely refill their water bottles.
Please see the following information on 10 Things You Can do Now to Prepare Your Child to Safely Return to School. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I understand this is a challenging time for all of us and I’m here to help as much as possible.
In Health,
Elizabeth Compiseno, BSN, RN
School Nurse
480-507-1359 x 1307
From our Social Worker
Hello Carol Rae Coyotes!
Welcome to the school year 2020-2021! So far this year has been full of lots of new adventures! I am here to help all of you along the way. My name is Michelle Ybarra and I am the School Social Worker here at Carol Rae Ranch Elementary School. I am so excited to be placed at the Ranch 5 days a week, all day long this year! I am here to assist students in achieving personal and academic success. I am also here to help parents in supporting their students' success through community resources and social supports. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. You may reach me at 480-507-1359 ext. 1354 or by email at michelle.fontaineybarra@gilbertschools.net. You may also visit my teacher page for good reads and helpful resources: https://sites.google.com/gilbertschools.net/ybarra/home
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Carol Rae Ranch Elementary
Home of the Coyotes!
A School
School Hours: 8:10 a.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Early Release each Wednesday at 1:55 p.m.
Email: carolraeranchinfo@gilbertschools.net
Website: gilbertschools.net/carolraeranch
Location: 3777 East Houston Avenue, Gilbert, AZ, USA
Phone: 480-507-1359
Twitter: @carolraecoyotes
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