Fleming Flyer 8/28/2020
Opening of School Information
Welcome from Mr. Roy
Dear Students and Families,
I am thrilled to be writing this letter to welcome back students and families to Fleming School for the 2020-2021 school year! First, thank you for your support, flexibility, and understanding over the past several weeks. It could not have been easy to have so many questions about the coming school year, and to not have answers yet. I greatly appreciate your patience, and I am excited to be able to share information about the beginning of the school year and hopefully answer many of your questions. Teachers, nurses, and administrators have worked hard over the past several weeks to design school day experiences for students which prioritize health and safety, social-emotional learning, and engaging instruction.
This letter will provide you with information regarding the hybrid instructional model we will begin the school year in. A separate letter will be sent for students and families who are participating in the fully remote academy. Additionally, there are links at the end of the letter for you to use as resources. I apologize for the length of this letter, however there is a lot of important information to convey. During the school year you can expect regular updates and communication from the school regarding our school community and any changes in practices due to the pandemic. I look forward to meeting all of our students and seeing them in person in just a matter of days! Should you have any concerns or questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, your child’s teachers, or to Jill Aldrich, our amazing administrative assistant.
Sincerely,
Matthew G. Roy
Health and Safety
The health and safety of students and staff is our number one priority. We have worked hard to create a daily schedule, learning opportunities, and classroom environments that meet state health and safety guidelines and create a welcoming environment for students. Masks will be required by all students and staff (with the exception of any students with a medical exemption) while in the building and during certain outdoor activities. Please help your learner(s) increase their mask stamina by practicing mask wearing at home in the week leading up to the start of school. One suggestion would be to require masks during all screen time activities.
Social-emotional learning (SEL)
Supporting social-emotional learning is a priority in our school and throughout EWSD. This year we are happy to be welcoming Jason Trackim to the Fleming Falcon team as our school’s SEL coach. Throughout the year Jason will be supporting our students and our teachers in their social-emotional learning and teaching. In addition to academic instruction, students will engage in activities and will be members of learning communities that are designed to support their social-emotional development. Some of these areas include: self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. Additionally, each class will participate in lessons with our school counselor on a bi-weekly basis which will further support their social emotional needs. Please click here to view a letter from our school counselor Coori Sellers who will be an incredible support to our students as they return to the school building.
Supply Backpacks
Each student will be provided the necessary supplies for in-person and remote learning. Items such as pencils, markers, notebooks, colored pencils, rulers etc. have been prepared for each student. The school has also purchased supply backpacks for every student so that materials can be easily transported to and from school and and kept in one place while at school since the sharing of materials is not allowed. On Mondays and Thursdays, supply backpacks will remain at school. The backpacks will also be used for transporting chromebooks home (on Tuesdays and Fridays) and back to school (on Mondays and Thursdays) and will provide protection from rain, snow, cold etc. Our hope is to collect backpacks when they are no longer required, clean them, and save them for this type of situation in the future. Lastly, each supply backpack is labeled with the student’s name and their homeroom teacher.
Important reminders
Drop off time: 7:45 - 8:00 Students should not be dropped off / arrive prior to 7:45 (with the exception of bus students)
Masks: - Students and staff will be expected to wear masks at all times inside the building and outside when appropriate distancing cannot be maintained.
Water bottles: Students should bring a water bottle to school each day. Water fountains will not be available, however refill stations will be. We have some water bottles available for students that do not have their own.
Toys / equipment: Due to current cleaning / sanitizing requirements, students should not bring recess equipment / toys from home to use at school.
Materials: It is very important that materials are taken care of and brought home on Tuesdays and Fridays and returned to school on Mondays and Thursdays
Chromebooks: Students in the A day (M /T) group will begin school and receive chromebooks on September 8th. The B day (Th/F) group will have their first day of school and receive chromebooks on September 10th.
Weather and Recess / PE
Due to the need for students to have time without masks, and time to move around, get fresh air and healthy exercise, we will go outside for recess and PE if there is light rain. In hard rain and extreme cold, students will have indoor recess / PE. Please send your learner to school prepared for the weather.
Lunch
Students will sign up during homeroom for lunch if they are having school lunch each day. Choices may be limited due to lunch needing to be delivered to classrooms. Menus will be provided for families in advance so that you can plan your child's meals for in-person school days. *Microwaves will not be available for students to warm up / cook food, so be sure to send meals that do not require a microwave.
Music / Band
Please click here for a letter from Mr. Oquendo and Mr. Sawyer
The School Days
In-person School Day
When students arrive at school (no earlier than 7:45), they will be greeted and directed to the entrance of the building to which their classroom has been assigned. Different classrooms will enter through different entrances. Students will go right to their classrooms where their teachers will greet them upon arrival.
Important information regarding pick-up and drop-off:
Due to current restrictions, the playground will be closed prior to the start of the school day. We are not able to allow students to arrive prior to 7:45.
7:45 - 8:00 - Arrival, temperature screening, go to classroom
8:00 - 8:30 - Homeroom and morning meeting
Specials schedule:
PE / Music - Once each on M / T or Th / F
Art - Every other week on T / F
Learning Center - Every other week on T / F
Guidance - Every other week on M / Th
11:30 - 12:10 & 12:10 - 12:50 Lunch / Recess
Additional time was added for hand washing / sanitizing and surface cleaning
Please use this link for a detailed description of measures being taken to keep students safe while at school and what that looks like for a student during the day.
3:00 - 3:15 Pick-up
Please encourage your child to wait at the ends of the sidewalk in the front of the building to be picked up. Students should not be picked up behind the building.
Hybrid Remote School Day
8:30 - 9:00 Daily virtual morning meeting with a teacher from the building
Specials activities will be shared with students to complete independently
11:30 - 12:50 Each class will have a 35 minute guided remote support session with one of their classroom teachers
Students will be provided activities and lessons in content areas for online and offline independent work
Thomas Fleming School
Website: ewsd.org/fle
Location: 21 Prospect Street, Essex Junction, VT, USA
Phone: 802-878-1381