IA Newsletter: The Scorpion
October 2020
Message from Mr. McConnell
HYBRID INSTRUCTION:
On October 12, we will be returning to school using a Hybrid Model. Each class is divided into two Cohorts. The benefits to the cohort model:
- Allows for distancing within a classroom and throughout campus.
- 10-14 students per cohort, which means teachers can provide targeting instruction for each student.
- Teachers can provide offline work for students to complete on the days they are not on campus.
- Students can socialize with classmates. (Following CDC guidelines)
- We can begin a return to our new normal.
HEALTHY AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS:
- Group bathrooms will be disinfected hourly.
- Each time a classroom is vacated the room will be disinfected.
- Additional custodial help during the school day solely focusing on sanitization.
- 2 large handwashing stations, 10 small handwashing stations.
- Lunch services will be 30-40 students at a time with no more than 3 students per table.
- Cafeteria tables will be disinfected after each use.
See additional details below.
Please welcome the newest additions to the IA-Staff
- Elizabeth Gingrich, 5th grade
- Ashlyn Lehwald, 3rd Grade
- Susan Baily-Smith, Special Education
- Darcy Spruce, Library
- Stephanie Ellersick, Clerk/Technology
Temperature Checks
ALL students will have their temperature checked prior to entering our campus.
Temperature checks, mask checks and a drop of hand sanitizer will be applied to ALL students upon entry of our campus.
If a student has an elevated temperature, they will go to the health office and have it rechecked after 10 minutes. If it remains high, they will need to immediately be picked up. The family will then be advised of the protocol they must adhere to.
We will follow the COVID flowcharts and all advice given to us by the Pima County Health Department.
Amphi Flowcharts for COVID-19 Quick Guides, Click HERE.
COVID Student Handbook, Click HERE.
MASK UP!
ALL students Preschool through 5th grades and ALL staff will wear masks at all times while on campus.
ALL students will be provided a mask lanyard to keep their mask attached to their person at all times. This lanyard will be provided by the IA-PTO and must be used by all students. We have purchased lanyards that break away with a tug to eliminate the risk of strangulation. Please, do not send your child to school with their own lanyard.
“Mask breaks” will be provided to all students throughout the day. These breaks will only be done outside and while safely social distancing. This includes lunch and grade level recess. There will be designated “Mask Break” areas on the playground. Additionally, students will wash/sanitize hands before/after recess and will wear masks throughout recess.
Sanitizing
All areas of the school be fully sanitized each day by our custodial and district staff. Classrooms will have surfaces re-sanitized when students are gone from the room.
Student and Staff Bathrooms fully sanitized throughout the day. There will be continuous sanitizing of high-touch surfaces all around our campus.
Amphi Facilities will sanitize (as they already do) all playground equipment and outside doors and gates early each morning with a 30-day sanitizer. Our custodial staff will complete an additional sanitization of our frequently touched surfaces throughout the day.
CHANGES in Drop-Off & Pick-Up
Drop-Off: Students may not be dropped off prior to 8:45 am.
Pick-up: Kindergarten students will line-up out front, all other grades will remain in the classroom. At 3:30 we will walk the car line and call the classroom to have your child dismissed.
All teachers will have students packed and ready to go.
Bus Protocols
School Buses will be sanitized twice a day with a 30-day sanitizer.
Students must wear masks while on the bus and at the bus stop. Any adults accompanying students at the bus stop must also wear a mask and be social distanced.
Students will be separated as much as possible while riding the bus, with Kinders and First graders toward the front. The district has limited how many students may ride the bus at one time.
Additional Amphi Resources
Individual School Supplies
Important Library Information
Students will have a shorter library time once each week. In order to reduce contamination, we will have a limited collection of books selected for each class, from which they will be permitted to check out books.
Students and caregivers are encouraged to access the digital Innovation Academy library catalog to reserve books! Here is how:
- Go to http://library.amphi.com/library/Home
- Select Innovation Academy in upper left corner drop down menu. From there, you can search authors, titles, keywords, etc. to browse the IA collection.
- To reserve, click on the “login” icon in the upper right corner, use your student’s 300# and password, search for your book, then click the reserve button. The book will be checked out and ready for the student to take home during his or her scheduled library time.
- Please ensure the book is reserved at least a full day (the earlier the better!) prior to your student’s library day.
Kinder/1st grade may check out one book. 2nd - 5th grade may check out two books.
All books can be checked out for one week but may be renewed for 3 consecutive weeks if the student would like to keep a book longer and the book has not been reserved.
Students may not check out books if they have overdue books or if they have unpaid fines for lost or damaged books.
HYBRID Schedule
9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Cohort 1: Monday & Thursday
Cohort 2: Tuesday & Friday
Wednesday*
9:00 am - 1:30 pm
*Virtual instruction for both Cohorts, no students on campus
Connect with our PTO!
President: Jeremy Spruce
President Elect: Kathryn Koenig
VP Communications: Tara Barrera
VP Fundraising: Asha O'Shea
VP Volunteers: Sarah Branski
Secretary: Annette Decena
Treasurer: Matti Vann
The next PTO Meeting will be held Monday, October 19th. A Zoom link will be provided. Sign up for updates at: innovationacademypto@gmail.com
Email: innovationacademypto@gmail.com
Website: https://innovationacademypto.org/
Facebook: facebook.com/ptoinnovationacademy
Eegee's Fundraiser Night
3:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Thank you to our sponsors
Panera Fundraiser Night
Noon - 8:00 pm