Bulldog Paw Prints
08/20/2021
Return to Learn Plan
*I will provide snapshots of the plan in the sections that follow, but please know that the full plan provides the fine details and much more information.
General Logistics
HERE IS A SHANP SHOT OF GENERAL LOGISTICS OF THE DAY:
-Daily, self-certification of students will not take place this year.
-Arrival/Dismissal will be staggered as described in the last newsletter and repeated in this one.
-The playground will not be in use during arrival, but it will be used during the school day.
-Hand sanitizer will be used in much the same way as it was last year--upon arrival, before/after lunch, before/after recess. Frequent hand-washing will be encouraged throughout the day.
-Masks must be worn inside the school with the exception of when eating/drinking.
-We will function with at least three feet of distance while inside classrooms, working in small groups, transitioning from one place to another, etc. and at least six feet of distance when eating.
-Recess will take place as it did pre-pandemic. Students, if they so choose, can remove masks, use playground equipment, and share balls, jump ropes, and other game equipment.
-Mask breaks will be in place throughout the day and facilitated by the classroom teachers.
Lunch and Snack
LOCATIONS: We will be making use of four locations for lunch--the gym and stage, the library, the intervention room, and the art/music room. We've already identified the capacity for each space, and the individual chairs and tables are currently being assembled. We plan to hold lunch outside as often as possible while the weather holds.
ANTICIPATED LUNCH TIMES: We plan to have students in Kdg, 2, 4, 6 eat from 11:30 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. We plan to have students in 1, 3, 5 eat from 11:50 a.m. - 12:20 p.m. This configuration allows for nearly-equal numbers of students eating during each time frame and fits within our space capacities.
PTA HOT LUNCH: This is something that we would like to build into the student day so long as we are able to do that. We anticipate this being able to start in November.
DAILY SNACK: This is something we'd like to hold (and see the importance in holding), but I don't want to over-promise at this point. Desks within classrooms will be spaced at least three feet apart, and students need to be at least six feet apart while eating. While I believe that we can build snack into the day, I'd like to work with our teachers on Monday and Tuesday to talk through room configurations and options in order for this to be a safe and beneficial. Snack would be easy enough to navigate outside while the weather holds, but I want to ensure that a long-term, sustainable plan is in place for late fall/winter/inclement weather.
More information on this will come to you prior to the first day of school.
Specials
Students in OKEEP, Grade 1, Grade 2:
art 1x weekly
music 1x weekly
physical education 2x weekly
library 2x weekly
Students in Grades, 3, 4, 5, 6
art 1x weekly
music 1x weekly
physical education 3x weekly
library 1x weekly
Clubs and After-School Classes
Bus Transportation
Draft routes for this year have arrived at our office, and Amy is working to get things (Bus number, bus stop information, arrival times) correctly entered into the PowerSchool Parent portal. Once everything is set, she will send you an email.
*All passengers on the bus must correctly wear a face mask for the duration of the bus ride.
**Earlier this week, Amy sent an email to all families we anticipate using bus transportation. Please give Amy a call at the school if you did not get an email from her and you do plan to use bus transportation this year. 630-719-5820
Volunteers
In the meantime, really consider volunteering for our PTA. The PTA provides so much for our students and school (assemblies, field trips, before and after-school programs, family events, library events, teacher/staff support, student hot lunch, classroom parties, etc. etc. etc.). All of these are beneficial in so many ways, and they do take a collaborative effort. As a volunteer for PTA, you get to directly see the positive impact that your work created, you become more strongly connected to the school, and you get to know a number of families who are not your direct neighbors.
We have our first PTA event this coming Tuesday (3:30 p.m. at the school), and we will have PTA representation present to get your family registered and to talk more about the various ways you can get involved.
Come on over for a school visit!
August 24 - 2:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Belle Aire open house/meet and greet.
This will be a great opportunity for all of our families to head to the school, meet with your new teacher(s), and start reconnecting with your neighbors and with us. Feel free to come and go as your schedule allows within those 45 minutes. I understand that you may not be able to attend this event, but know that this is just one of other opportunities to come.
This event will be a mix of indoor/outdoor. We will all be outside starting at 2:45 p.m. Teachers will be outside various doors at the school, so please plan to head to the door that your child will use for arrival and dismissal each day. You can find that information here and in the Arrival & Dismissal section in this newsletter. After you've had the chance to meet with your teacher and catch up with your neighbors, you can enter the designated door to drop off supplies and then head back outside. Families with more than one Bulldog can pick which teacher to start with and make your way around the building as needed. Feel free to visit and reconnect with your child's previous teachers as well!
*Masks are not required when outside.
**Please wear a mask when you enter the school.
In addition to the meet and greet, we are hosting a PTA Welcome Back to School Kick off
What: 2021 Back to School Kick off
Where: Belle Aire Black Top
When: 8/24 3:30pm-4:30pm
We will have popsicles, music by DJ Firm and fun!
Come & learn about the Belle Aire Community, meet the teachers & how to get involved with the PTA for the school year!
We are looking forward to seeing all of our Belle Aire friends and families!
Chalk the Walk!
We will be partnering with the Downers Grove Junior Women's club this Sunday from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Grab your chalk, and come on up to the school!
Arrival & Dismissal
ARRIVAL
Our arrival procedures will look very similar to last year, as we will be utilizing multiple entry points to promote social distancing, limit the traffic within the school, and help build community with students being welcomed by many of our staff members. Please see the attached map to determine which door your student(s) will use. It's a two-page document.
Prior to students entering Belle Aire, they will need to be wearing an appropriate mask (covering nose and mouth). Staff members will have extra masks, and each student will receive hand sanitizer. Paw prints are painted on the ground outside of each entrance as a visual to help students maintain social distancing as they enter the building.
Doors will open for student arrival beginning at 8:05 a.m. each day and will continue until 8:15 a.m. PLEASE DO NOT HAVE YOUR STUDENT ARRIVE ON CAMPUS PRIOR TO 8:05 A.M. AS THERE WILL BE NO ADULT SUPERVISION. Students arriving after 8:15 a.m. will enter at the main entrance (Door 1) and buzz the office.
DISMISSAL
Students will follow a staggered dismissal procedure and exit out the same doors that they used to enter. We will also be dismissing students in various groupings to support distancing. Please do all you can to make sure your child understands your family's dismissal plan (meeting outside of the door, being picked up in Herbert Circle, being picked up in the main parking lot, walking home with brother/sister, etc.).
KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS:
Kindergarten students will remain in the building until they are picked up by an older sibling or by an adult, dismissed to Champions, or until they are escorted by a staff member for pick up in the school’s parking lot (to depart via car or bus).
Here are the groupings we will use to support our staggered dismissal:
*Students attending Champions
*Walkers/Bike Riders/Those meeting parents outside of the assigned entry/exit door.
*Students leaving by car in Herbert Circle
*Students leaving by bus
*Students leaving by car in the main parking lot:
Students who will be leaving school by car in the main parking lot will be dismissed in the order that families arrive. Please have a sign with your family's name on the passenger window so we can relay your arrival to the teachers inside.
A Message from our health office
Kindergarten - Completed physical dated within the past year (no earlier than August 26, 2020), full immunization record and vision exam by October 15. Dental exam is required this year, but they have until May 15, 2022.
Second grade - Dental exam is required this year, but they have until May 15, 2022.
Sixth grade - Completed physical dated within the past year (no earlier than August 26, 2020), and proof of the Meningococcal and Tdap vaccinations are due by October 15. Dental exam is required this year, but they have until May 15, 2022.
What's to Come?
August 22 - Chalk the Walk event at Belle Aire (12:00 - 2:00 p.m.)
August 23 - Teachers report to District 58 for district-wide and school-based inservice.
August 24 - Teachers and staff report to District 58 for school-based inservice.
August 24 - 2:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Belle Aire open house/meet and greet. This will be a great opportunity for all of our families to head to the school, meet with your new teacher(s), and start reconnecting with your neighbors and with us. Feel free to come and go as your schedule allows within those 45 minutes. I understand that you may not be able to attend this event, but know that this is just one of other opportunities to come.
August 25 - Instructional support staff reports to District 58 for inservice.
August 26 - First full day of student attendance. Please send a lunch and water bottle.
About us
Email: bborchelt@dg58.org
Website: www.dg58.org/ba
Location: 3935 Belle Aire Lane, Downers Grove, IL, USA
Phone: 630.719.5820
Twitter: @BBorcheltDG58