Irmo Elementary Family Updates
#HeartoftheHive #BetterTogether November 30th-December 4th
A Note From Your Principal
Dear IES Families,
I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving break. Although this year looks very different, I have reflected during this time on my many blessings. One of these is the opportunity to serve IES' terrific students and families. On Tuesday, we began celebrating our students of the month for both F2F and virtual classrooms. Our character trait for the month of November was kindness. Homeroom teachers chose one student that displayed acts of kindness continuously at Irmo Elementary. We will finish the remaining classrooms this week. Each student received a small trophy, certificate and a fun filled visit from the administrative team complete with rainbow hair and noise makers. We want to congratulate our bees from the heart for positive behaviors! Please review the important dates and details for the upcoming week.
Shannon Fincannon
Principal
#HeartoftheHive
#BetterTogether
Help IES' Kindergarten Classrooms Support Those in Need
IMPORTANT - CAR RIDER LINE UPDATES
MORNING CAR LINE:
- Students should be prepared to exit to car as soon as you stop - masks on, book bags on or ready, lunch boxes and water bottles ready to go to keep the line moving safely and efficiently.
- The two entry lanes should merge (zipper merging) as you near the school.
- Pull all the way to the beginning of the drop off area and not just to the second tower area.
- To assist with efficient movement of the line, students may begin exiting cars at the first tower. Staff are located along the sidewalk for safety.
- The gate on Fork Ave closes at 7:50 am.
AFTERNOON CAR LINE:
- Car tags are required for student pick up. Please have tag displayed for the staff members to easily see.
- The gate on Fork Ave closes at 3:00 pm.
This Week's Important Dates
11/30 Irmo Strong Virtual 5K Ends
12/3 & 12/8 MAP testing 3-5 grades
12/4 & 12/10 MAP testing 1-2 grades
Self Screening Reminders
REMINDER: Self-Screening Checklist, COVID Communications Guide and COVID-19 Exposure Flowchart
Safety is a top priority. School District Five of Lexington & Richland Counties has worked in collaboration with health officials to establish health protocols for the 2020-21 school year, in response to COVID-19. Students and staff will be asked to complete daily self-screenings before reporting to school/district campuses. District schools will follow DHEC guidance regarding the management of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Click the following link to see the district’s self-screening checklist:
Click the following link to see the district’s COVID-19 Exposure Flowchart:
For DHEC guidelines regarding the management of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases, click the following link:
View our COVID-19 Communications Guide:
View DHEC's School COVID-19 Report:
https://scdhec.gov/covid-19-cases-associated-staff-students
For more information on health and safety protocols, click the "20-21 COVID-19 Information" tab on our district website or visit www.lexrich5.org/20-21reentry.
D5 Reentry
District Reentry Email Address Update
During the reentry process, School District Five has utilized a centralized email address to gather feedback and answer questions as we work to transition back to in-person learning. The email address the district created for questions about reentry is reentry@lexrich5.org.
School District Five values your input. If you have any questions about your child’s instructional model, please reach out to your child’s home school.
School District Five announces plan for 5-day in-person instruction
School District Five will begin the transition of in-person students from a 4-day in-person instructional schedule to a 5-day in-person schedule. This transition will begin on February 1 for all students. Wednesdays will no longer be distance learning days for in-person students.
Schools may utilize a 100% distance learning model during any phase if needed in response to COVID-19. Phases and dates can be modified, contingent upon reentry considerations. The district's Flexible Innovative Virtual Education (FIVE) virtual program will continue during all in-person learning models.
During a November 16 School Board meeting, the board voted 6-1 to “direct the Superintendent to move forward with the reentry plan presented which provides for face-to-face instruction five days a week beginning, Feb. 1, 2021, while continuing with the FIVE remote learning option.” The motion also stated that “if there is evidence of an increase in COVID positive tests within the zip code in the District 5 portion of Lexington and Richland counties that may cause safety issues, a request for a revised plan can be made to the board after the evidence of an increase is presented, discussed and approved by the board.”
Click the following link to view the superintendent’s report from the November 16 board meeting: https://bit.ly/2IGfVnc. Recordings of board meetings are posted on the district’s Board Information tab after the meetings. To learn more about school board meetings, please visit: https://bit.ly/2ZeKp5F.
D5 Redistricting Information
School District Five announces redistricting FAQ, planned virtual events
School District Five of Lexington & Richland Counties is announcing new tools for sharing information on redistricting with the community.
The district has created a new redistricting Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) web page, utilizing the questions submitted to its dedicated email address for answering questions. The district is also announcing plans to hold two virtual community events between November and December to answer questions on redistricting scenarios.
The FAQ can be viewed at www.lexrich5.org/redistricting.
Community input opportunities on proposed redistricting plans will be held prior to a final vote, to gain input from the community.
View the online map: http://www.lexrich5.org/redistrictingmap
View a video tutorial on the online map: http://bit.ly/redistrictingmaptutorial
View our redistricting overview video: http://bit.ly/redistrictingoverview
Review board presentations and background information on redistricting: https://www.lexrich5.org/redistricting
Email questions or comments regarding the redistricting scenarios: redistricting@lexrich5.org.
School District Five announces virtual community events on redistricting
Lexington-Richland School District Five will hold two virtual community events to answer questions on redistricting and get feedback from the community.
The first event was held Thursday, Nov. 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Any questions not answered will be retained and answered at the second event, via the district’s redistricting email address (redistricting@lexrich5.org) or via our FAQ web page.
The second event will be a Dec. 3 Lunch & Learn from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. Like the first event, there will be live video responses to questions.
NEXT COMMUNITY EVENT DATE:
Thursday, Dec. 3 Virtual Lunch & Learn
12 noon - 1:30 p.m.
Community Event Link (both events):
https://lexrich5.rev.vbrick.com/#/webcasts/forum
Submit Questions (both events): https://forms.gle/jowkm7ndVjtJazMW6
Learn more, review background information and see presentations on redistricting at www.lexrich5.org/redistricting.
Yearbook Orders Are Online Only This Year: Get Yours Now!
- Yearbook Price $26.00
- IES Online Code is: FMYB100385
- The online ordering site for your yearbook is ready. Your direct link to access your online ordering site is:
https://strawbridge.fotomerchanthv.com/clients/irmo-elementary-school/yearbook-1/access
Important FIVE Virtual Dates to Remember:
Important Dates:
December: MAP Testing in FIVE (virtual/ in-person options)
- Dec. 2 Reading
- Dec. 9 Math
FIVE Celebrations
- Send pictures and celebrations to FIVE@lexrich5.org or jbebber@lexrich5.org to be included in the FIVE newsletter and in our school highlights.
- Feel free to share pictures on social media using the hashtag #FIVEinLexRich5
Attendance Reminders
- Students are expected to attend all classes face to face in our virtual program. If your student is absent, please provide documentation to the classroom teacher.
- Please look at your child's daily schedule carefully to ensure they are logging into each live Google Meet each day. This includes all special area classes.
- VIDEO: Supporting Students in a Virtual Environment