Musk Ox Memo
............................2020-2021.......................
Dear Musk Ox Families,
Last week was an adventure for sure! First day of kindergarten, our first fire drill, and our first positive case of COVID at the school. Thank you for your patience and flexibility during our dismissal procedures on Thursday. All in all things went smoothly. We did prepare all students to go home as we simply had no way of knowing how many parents were going to pick up their students early. We had to be prepared for all students to be going home. Fortunately, we had gorgeous weather that day so it was decided we would all go outside prepared to go home and have a picnic lunch while parents were picking up students. Once lunch was over and the initial influx of parents that arrived to pick up their students was complete we went back inside and resumed as much of a normal day as possible. In the future, we know the weather may not be as cooperative and we will need to have a new plan. We will likely have parents line up in the perspective drop off loop for their child's grade, call into the school, and we will walk your child out to you. This process will take longer but will prevent staff and students from waiting outside for a possible pick up.
We recognize the letter sent home was also a little confusing as to whether students needed to be picked up or not. In the future, it will be highly recommended for families that can pick up their child to please do so. We know in some cases parents are not able to due to work or transportation concerns and we will keep those students at the school until either buses arrive or parents arrive during normal pick up times. The sooner we can have students and staff out of the building, the sooner the cleaning can start and we can open the building back up. It took took two days to determine all close contacts in this situation as well due to new information coming in. We were fortunate we were going into a weekend and only had to close the building one day this time.
As a parent of a Machetanz student, please know I am truly in this with you and am affected by the required quarantines as well and I know how this impacts daily lives. We do not make these decisions lightly and are following all the guidelines of the state.
Starting this week, you will find buttons in the newsletter for each grade level and from there you will find the weekly newsletter for your child's classroom teacher. We hope the Musk Ox Memo serves as a one stop shop for all your informational needs.
Please reach out if you have any questions. You can text me using the remind app information below.
Thanks,
Jen Dowd
Nurse Amy is only available during her working hours of 8:45 am to 4:15 pm.
What's happening at Machetanz?
August 25- September 14: MAP testing- individual teachers will let parents know the schedule for their class
August 31: Cross Country Running starts- see last weeks newsletter for more info
September 3: Fall Picture Day
September 7: No School - Happy Labor Day
Fall School Pictures
We are trying to go as paperless as possible. Please consider ordering your pictures online using the following link and code:
Notice to Parents about At Home Learning and Recording of Zoom Lessons
In the event of school closures, our alternative location to pick up school lunch is Colony High School.
Machetanz Elementary Facebook
Email: mze@matsuk12.us
Website: www.matsuk12.us/mze
Location: 4961 E Nelson Rd, Wasilla, AK, United States
Phone: 907-864-2300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/machetanzelementary/