The Bobcat Bulletin
26/January/2022 - News!
From the Principal
Dear FMS Families,
In this issue, you will find some important updates about our school, including information from the health office, an announcement about Valentine's Day, upcoming dates of interest, and a reminder about traffic safety at the beginning and end of the school day.
Please reach out if you have any questions. Thank you for reading this newsletter!
Sincerely,
Sara Jablonski
802-879-6326
A Note from Nurse Alicia
Hello Founders Families,
As many of you know, it has been a busy couple of weeks dealing with many COVID situations in our community. Due to the increase in COVID transmission and a new Vermont Agency of Education directive on prevention and mitigation strategies for our schools, I wanted to write you a school-specific update.
We are entering a new phase in our response to the pandemic. If you haven’t done so already, I strongly encourage you to read the EWSD Communication: COVID Testing Update that was released yesterday.
Here are some of the takeaways from our shift in response:
Let’s start with what has NOT changed:
Your student should not come to school sick. Regardless of vaccination status and COVID status, students and staff should not be in school with symptoms.
If a student becomes sick during the school day, they will need to go home.
If your student has tested positive for COVID, keep them home from school and contact me. I will help you with isolation timelines and answer any questions you may have.
CHANGES:
When there is a COVID positive student or staff member, we will not contact trace. Instead, classmates will be identified as ‘presumptive contacts’.
Each evening, at 5pm, there will be an EWSD email listing positive COVID cases that were in school while infectious.
The communication will list the last date the individual was in school, while infectious.
The classroom teacher’s name will be listed, as well.
If you notice your student’s classroom teacher is listed where there was an exposure, you should click on this link.
If your student was a presumptive contact and you would like to receive COVID antigen tests, you should complete this form to request antigen tests.
Please only complete this form if your student is a presumptive contact.
Please complete this form each time you would like to request more tests; again, only complete it if your student was identified as a presumptive contact.
If you are unable to access the form, you can call me at 802-857-6304 or email me at agoodkind@ewsd.org to request a test kit.
I will make sure tests and recommendations on testing dates, based on your student’s exposure, are placed in your student’s backpack the next day school is in session.
Please contact me if you need testing kits for illness and community exposure. Once supplies are more robust, I will be able to distribute them more liberally for these reasons and for in-home exposures, as well.
I appreciate the effort we have all put into keeping our community healthy and safe over the past couple of years. I know this pandemic has taken its toll on all of us. I look forward to brighter days ahead.
Thank you,
Nurse Alicia
Valentine's Day
Many families traditionally plan to send in Valentines and treats with their children to share with classmates. We would like to request that families do not send in Valentines with students on Valentine’s Day. Classes will decide how they want to celebrate Valentine's Day, and may provide supplies and time for students to create these for each other rather than making this request of families. Thank you for your understanding.
Traffic Safety at Student Dropoff and Pickup
Important reminders:
- Drive the speed limit on school grounds
- Park only in designated areas
- Watch carefully for children and cars before backing out
- Read signs and watch for school personnel who may give directions
PICKUP PROCEDURE
Each grade level has a designated door through which they will exit the building.
- PARKING: At the end of the day, the drop off parking lot (Founders Road) will be available for parent parking for pick up on a first-come first-serve basis. Please only use designated parking spaces. Please do not block the entrance into that parking lot. We cannot have cars extended onto Founders Road blocking traffic.
PARKING: If the Founders Road parking lot is full, parents should park in the main parking lot (across the drive from the front doors of FMS) and walk over to the FMS grounds.
Each classroom will have a designated area outside the grade level exit door for parents to wait for their children.
Teachers will bring their cohorts directly to their designated area where they will turn their students over to their parents.
Teachers will greet you before turning over your child.
Please return immediately to your car using crosswalks and carefully exit the campus. DO NOT use the center crosswalk between the buses for safety purposes.
One-Day Bus Cancellations through 4/1
Thursday 1/27 ROUTE - EHS WESTFORD
Friday 1/28 ROUTE - VILLAGE RED
Click here for the list of Bus Cancellations through April 1.
Important dates
Friday, 1/28/22: Progress Reports sent home
Friday, 1/28/22: Fun Run T-Shirt Day
Wear any fun run shirt!
Friday, 2/18/22: Comfy Cozy Day
Monday, 2/21/22 - Tuesday, 3/1/22: Late Winter Break
Door Decorating Contest
Founders Memorial School
Email: kkedzierski@ewsd.org
Website: www.ewsd.org/fms
Location: 33 Founders Road, Essex Junction, VT, USA
Phone: 802-879-6326
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Founders-Memorial-School-1509308329359547
Twitter: @srjablonski