Return to School January 6
Please read carefully!
Happy New Year Peabody and Watkins Families!
We look forward to welcoming your students back safely tomorrow. This week’s testing effort at the student and staff level has been a tremendous display of communal safety and I appreciate everyone who has contributed to keeping our kids, our staff, and families safe.
We are proud to open every homeroom at Watkins and all but one homeroom at Peabody. The impacted families have already been notified. Every other student and family can expect a full day of learning in person as long as a negative test is submitted. For students without a test or in quarantine, teachers will reach out to you tomorrow and virtual learning will start on Friday.
In addition to the chancellor’s note from earlier tonight, I want to add some details for the Peabody and Watkins community.
Arrival Procedures
For tomorrow’s arrival, we are asking that caregivers be prepared to stay with students in line and wait until you have received confirmation that your child has been cleared to enter the building. Please be sure to wear your mask as you wait in line. A few additional reminders below, to ensure that you are prepared for morning arrival. You should expect longer-than-normal arrival times.
Parents/Caregivers should accompany their child at arrival
If your child does not eat breakfast, we strongly encourage arrival on the late side of the arrival window. Arrival at Watkins is 8:10-8:40; at Peabody it's 8:30-9:00.
Upload your test results. Upload proof of your COVID-19 negative test result to https://securelink.dc.gov/en-US/sta/ as soon as possible. We will run a final list early in the morning to check at the doors.
Be prepared with a photo of a negative test on a phone.
Bring a screenshot or printout of negative test result email.
What if my child doesn't have a test result by Wednesday morning?
Students unaccompanied by a caregiver will be escorted to the testing site to be tested. Caregivers must submit an opt-out ahead of time or their child will be tested. Opting out of this test means opting in to 10 days of quarantine and learning at home.
What if my child tests positive tomororw?
Breakfast will be served at both campuses after students arrive
At Watkins, the multipurpose room will be the testing site to minimize un-tested people passing through the building. Eaters will have all tested negative, which reduces the risk of eating outside of the cafeteria.
Before Care if OPEN for those with an uploaded negative result
For students who attend before care: an uploaded negative result is required to attend before care. The on-site testing option will not be available until the regular arrival times (8:10 at Watkins; 8:30 at Peabody). Ms. Washington and Ms. Rachel will have lists of uploaded negative results and will accept only students on that list into before care. Those without a negative uploaded will not be permitted in school until the regular arrival time.