BES RAILROADER EXPRESS
February 11, 2021
*DO YOUR BEST. WORK HARD. BE KIND.*
Principal's Message
Last week, the district announced that students would be returning to school in a hybrid format on February 16th. Yesterday evening, Dr. Alban confirmed this start date. As mentioned in a previous newsletter, we have been busy preparing for this model and we are excited to take this next step!
As we make this shift next week, our school staff remains committed to providing our very best for all students, whether engaged in hybrid or virtual learning. We ask for your patience as we begin the implementation of a brand new learning experience for our staff and students. We have worked very hard to be as prepared as possible for this transition, yet we anticipate some "bumps" in the road. Our commitment to supporting our students and families remains our primary focus and our greatest joy is found in connecting with our students’ whether in-person or online.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's grade level administrator with any questions.
Justin McConnaughey, Principal : justin.mcconnaughey@fcps.org
Melissa Burton, AP / Grades PK - 2 : - melissa.burton@fcps.org
Jason Rubeling, AP / Grades 3 - 5 : thomas.rubeling@fcps.org
IMPORTANT DATES
February 15 - Monday <> Schools Closed - President's Day
February 16 - Tuesday <> First Day of Hybrid Instruction & New Instructional Schedule (see below for more information) <> Our new Hybrid schedule has face to face students beginning to arrive at 8:30 AM. Instruction begins for all cohorts at 9 AM and dismissal for face to face students will begin at 2 PM.
February 24 - Wednesday <> Incoming 6th Grade Parent Orientation Night
- Virtual Presentation from BMS: 6:30 - 7:30 pm
The ABCs of Hybrid Learning
Student Health / Family Screening / Required Quarantine from Travel
Students / Staff will be excluded and allowed to return when symptoms have improved, no fever for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.
Any 1 of the following: of cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, new loss of taste or smell
OR
At least 2 of the following: fever of 100.4 or higher (measured or subjective), chills or shaking chills, muscle aches, sore throat, headache, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, and congestion or runny nose
Travel and Quarantine: Governor Hogan has the emergency order below requiring quarantine after travel outside of MD (note exceptions). This applies to staff and families. FCPS is following the governor's emergency order for travel and quarantine, and any hybrid child who travels outside of MD (exceptions noted) will have to access virtual learning only for 10 days OR until receiving a negative test.
EXPANDED TESTING AND QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAVEL. The governor issued an emergency order requiring Marylanders to limit all travel to essential purposes only. All Marylanders who do travel outside of Maryland or any individuals who do travel to Maryland must either obtain a negative COVID-19 test result or self-quarantine for 10 days. This applies to all states, with the exception of Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, DC. Read the governor’s order and the companion health directives.
Student Health
Students identified as potentially having exposure, displaying symptoms, or complaining of illness
*PLEASE keep students home if they are not feeling well or have been exposed to someone with Covid symptoms. They can participate via distance learning as they are able physically.
If students at school present any Covid-like symptoms:
*Students will be isolated immediately.
*Parents will be called for immediate pick up.
*The FCPS Covid Response team will be notified and will contact the parent regarding next steps.
Masks / Facial Coverings
Masks are to be provided by the family and a back-up is recommended. Additional masks will be available at every entrance point upon arrival of students. Masks must be worn before entering the school. Masks will be provided to rooms in the event that masks become unusable.
Gaitors must be double layered. A single-layer gaitor is no longer permitted according to CDC Guidelines and FCPS Policy.
Students are required to wear a face covering on the bus. Drivers and assistants are required to wear face coverings at all times when students are on the bus.
Visitors are required to wear a face covering at all times when in a school building and when entering and exiting the building.
BES staff are committed to supporting our students with their usage.
FCPS Progressive Discipline for mask non-compliance may result in a return to full virtual learning.
Transportation
Bus Route Information
Student bus information is not yet available due to routes being finalized for Student Cohorts. Information will be updated on the FCPS website on Monday, February 1 and can be accessed using the link below. Please check this information prior to the start of Hybrid as routing information could change.
https://www.fcps.org/transportation/bus-stop-information-online
Car Rider Process - Parent Drop-Off & Pick-Up
Car Rider Drop off will continue curbside between 8:30 - 9:00 am. Students will need to have their mask on before exiting the vehicle. Staff will support students entering the building while observing physical distancing. Students will be directed to report directly to his/her classroom.
The process for Car Rider Pick-Up will be adjusted. The process change will address eliminating parents/guardians exiting their cars and convening on the sidewalk. It will also address having students all waiting until the car rider canopy at one time. Afternoon Car Riders will be assigned 1 of 3 pick-up windows: 2:00 - 2:15, 2:15 - 2:30, or 2:30 - 2:45pm. Families that have indicated they will be providing transportation will receive an email the afternoon of Feb. 11 communicating which PM Car Rider Phase the student(s) have been assigned. Families are encouraged to contact Mr. Rubeling with questions - thomas.rubeling@fcps.org
Breakfast & Lunch
Two water bottle filling stations will be installed within the building as soon as they are delivered.
Bathrooms
Student School Supplies
- personal technology (i.e. FCPS chromebook and charger or personal technology device)
- personal headphones
- water bottle
- lunch (if not selecting a FCPS-provided meal)
- spiral notebooks, as desired
Safe Schools: Cleaning & Disinfecting
Safe Schools: Ventilation & More
Black/African American History Month Student Showcase
FCPS is accepting student entries for a Black/African American History Month Student Showcase for Grades K-12.
All students are encouraged to participate!
Please see details here: Please see details here.
Kathleen Klecan Nominated for LifeChanger of the Year
Kathleen Klecan was nominated by the Maryland School Counselor Association.
Ms. Klecan was named the Maryland School Counselor of the Year. Her colleagues say if they were to diagram the optimal school counselor, they could use Ms. Klecan as the model. She has a calm demeanor that resonates well with children, parents, and other adults at Brunswick Elementary School. During the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Klecan was still available remotely to the BES families and staff. She continued her social groups with students through Google Meet, which made those children feel loved and special. She contacted families for teachers who she was concerned about, or families who normally wouldn't return calls, but were receptive to her reaching out to them. Ms. Klecan showed concern for the staff's mental health during online distance learning, so she reached out and offered coffee chats and mindfulness sessions to help staff feel connected and centered.
Visit her nomination page and leave Kathleen a comment...
FCPS' New Health Metrics Dashboard
Frederick County Public Schools is debuting a new health metrics dashboard, which will allow the public to track COVID-19 cases by school.
The new dashboard provides updates on the following metrics:
- COVID-19 cases by school, broken down by student and staff cases
- Frederick County COVID-19 metrics and test positivity rate
- Outbreaks in Maryland public and private schools
The dashboard can be viewed at https://www.fcps.org/update/dashboard.
Out of District Application Window Opens
Out of District applications will be accepted beginning January 2, 2021.
Please print out the attached form, complete it, sign it and either email, preferably in PDF format, to outofdistrict@fcps.org, fax it to 240-236-2480 or mail it to Department of Student Services, Orchard Grove Elementary School, 5898 Hannover Drive, Frederick, MD 21703
Applications without a signature will not be processed and the form will be returned to the parent for a signature. The deadline to apply for Out of District status is March 1, 2021.
Out of District Form - English (https://fcps.ezcommunicator.net/edu/Frederick/GetFile.aspx?DocId=14071)
Out of District Form - Spanish (https://fcps.ezcommunicator.net/edu/Frederick/GetFile.aspx?DocId=14072)
BES PTO INFORMATION
Please visit www.BESPTO.org for school news or you can visit PTO Facebook Page- Brunswick The PTO can also be contacted at brunswickpto@gmail.com with any questions.
BRUNSWICK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Always Do Your Best
Work Hard.Be Kind.
Email: justin.mcconnaughey@fcps.org
Website: http://education.fcps.org/bes/
Location: 400 Central Avenue, Brunswick, MD, United States
Phone: 240.236.2900
Twitter: @BrunswickES