THE VALLEY View
BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION- 08.27.2020
UPDATES & THINGS TO KNOW
- I could very well be THE most blessed principal in all of the land. Thank you to all of you for being so flexible and amazing.
- I am working on some nuts and bolts pieces of information that you'll need to know in terms of updated processes, etc. I will send that out to you once it is completed.
- Wendy and I will be sending out Jaguar Update (parent newsletter) on Thursdays.
- Due to decisions by the board with class sizes and the EVER changing numbers in grade levels, we have another change to process at SVE.
- Last year: 2nd grade - 3 sections, 3rd grade - 3 sections
- After student declarations: 2nd grade - 3 sections, 3rd grade - 2 sections
- Latest shift: 2nd grade - 2 sections, 3rd grade - 2 sections, 2nd/3rd split - 1 section
- Kristin Shrout will teach the 2/3 split.
- I am scheduling some trainings and development for our classified staff. I will bring your attention to two that were added to the calendar today.
- Friday Aug 28th at 1:00- ABCs of ReOpening, COVID Q&A, and Equity training
- Tuesday Sept 1 at 1:00- BIST with Linda Hosman
A HUGE WELCOME BACK TO OUR CLASSIFIED STAFF! WE COULDN'T BE MORE THRILLED TO HAVE YOUR SMILING FACES IN THE BUILDING!
LOOKING AHEAD TO OUR WORK...
BACK TO SCHOOL SCHEDULE- TEACHER WORK DAYS
*Remember this is a live document. Please be sure to check it often.
Friday, Aug 28th
- Report to SVE- Certified @ 8:00am/ Classified report for contracted hours
- Building Teams Meeting Rescheduled- I want you to have the entire day for what you need.
- Classified Staff- meet with Amy Westacott at 1:00pm in the library
- ABCs of ReOpening- COVID with Q&A
- Equity Presentation
Monday, Aug. 31
- Report to SVE- Certified @ 8:00am/ Classified report for contracted hours
- all day slated for Virtual Class Creation/Teacher Work Time
Tuesday, Sept 1
- Report to SVE- Certified @ 8:00am/ Classified report for contracted hours
- all day slated for Virtual Class Creation/Teacher Work Time
- Teacher assignments open to parents via PowerSchool
- 1-6th Report to SVE- 8:00am
- K Report at 10:00am (due to K Meet the Teacher that evening)
- Introductory Teacher Videos are due (share link with Rachel)
- Classified Staff- Meet with Linda Hosman from 1:00-2:15 in library
IMPORTANT DATES
Sept 1st
- Kindergarten Meet the Teacher 4:00- 6:00 (in person)
Sept 2nd
- Chromebook Pick Up for new students and repairs
- 9:00-3:00
Sept 3rd-
- Teacher assignments will be viewable to parents/students via PowerSchool
- Virtual Teacher Introductory Videos will be sent out to families with Google Meet Links
- Meet the Teacher 1st-6th Grades 4:00-6:00 (Virtual)
Sept 4th-
- Chromebook Pick Up for new students and repairs
- 9:00-3:00
Sept 8- FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
PREVIOUS INFORMATION
OTHER UPDATES & THINGS TO KNOW from 8/19
*TEACHER'S LOUNGE- The PTA wanted to surprise you with your gift from waaaaaay back for Teacher Appreciation Week last spring. Be sure to pop in and check out the newest additions to the lounge! Also, I'm sure they would love it if you could shoot them a quick "thank you email".
- Tiffany Ippolito, PTA president
- mrstiffanyippolito@gmail.com
*NEW PRINTERS: these are TRICKY! Here's a tip from Wendy on how to find and choose the correct printer. The new printers that you are looking for are:
-- Office: FindMe-ColorStaff on print01
-- Workroom: FindMe-B&WStaff on print01
If the above options are not listed on your list of printers, go into your email, select print and open the drop down box there. The above options should show up. After you print an email to the correct copier, reboot your computer and the new copier options should show up (hopefully).
*SAFESCHOOLS VIDEOS: I know how much you all love these! The district made your videos available in the spring. If you chose to get a head start and thought you completed them, I would still check your account to be sure there aren't additional videos that have been added to required course list. If you haven't started them, now is a perfect time! :)
*BEING A WRITER: As a part of the Collaborative Classroom, we will be a building that begins using Being a Writer this year. There will be a training at some point during our teacher work days. I am waiting on a final decision on scheduling for that training.
REOPENING INFORMATION as of 8/13/20
These topics will be discussed in greater detail at a later time. But many of you have been asking great questions. As such, I wanted to share some basic information for our re-opening structures. Please realize, the county and the district are both waiting until August 25th to make a decision in regards to our learning format. So some of the items below will only apply if/when we have kids back in the building.
Things to note REGARDLESS of our Learning Format:
CERTIFIED STAFFING CHANGES (*UPDATED)
R7 Online Academy Teachers: Christen Pruett, Kara Treadwell, Emily Tooley, Andrew Hookie
CLASSIFIED STAFF UPDATES
* We will have three of our Resource Aides returning this year: Sarah, Jessica, and Gale. It has been approved for each of their schedules to be extended, in order to reallocate the hours that belonged to Janelle last year.
* I realize that the district has provided almost no information in regards to classified staff and how they may be impacted by decisions for the upcoming year. *UPDATED- The August 20th Board Meeting will include decision making in regards to reporting days and contracts for our classified staff members. Be watching for an update following this meeting.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Think you need accommodations? We have received emails from HR about this - if you are concerned, you will need to refer to HR docs and chat with them, if needed
MASKS
* Currently are required full-time by staff and students - shields are not replacements for masks
* Students and staff may take a mask break - we will teach students how to do these
MEETINGS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
* No teachers pulled for development during 1st semester
* In person meetings under 50 staff
* Some of our SVE meetings may be in smaller groups, virtual, or as a flipped meeting
SCHOOL/COMMUNITY EVENTS
* Meet the Teacher/Curriculum Night will be conducted virtually.- we will follow the district protocol/template - you do not need to work on this yet
* Parent/Teacher Conferences will be conducted virtually.
* Kindergarten students will arrive 40 minutes after start of day on the 1st day. They may be accompanied by one parent for drop off.
VISITORS
* No visitors allowed in the building - this includes staff spouses, children, etc. .. - thank you for understanding
* Student deliveries - parents will drop off item in the "vestibule" and office staff will go get the item
* For student pick-up- for appointments, the child will meet the adult at the door and secretary will sign them out
*For ill student - we will ask parent to pick them up at the back door and secretary will sign them out
* For medicine drop off - parent will meet health room staff at back door to take care of this task
FURNITURE
*The district is asking that teachers and staff remove, for now, any soft furniture from their classrooms. Couches, recliners, etc. Please reach out if you need help with this. Some of you have already done this- THANK YOU!
Things to note IF/WHEN WE HAVE STUDENTS IN PERSON
ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL
* This will be staggered so that ALL students are not coming IN and going OUT at the same time. I am currently working on this plan.
SEATING CHARTS and SIGN-INS
* Seating Charts will be a MUST in ALL classes and lunchroom - this is for contact tracing
* Staff schedules - if staff pop into another room for lessons/student support/etc. We will have sign in sheets for the adults
BUSES
* Buses will be wiped down between tiers and sanitized between AM/PM
* Students will have seating chart
* Students will be asked to wear masks
* If we can, students will be seated one to a seat
* One - day ride passes will not be approved (exception for students in late enrollment)
* Driver Masks during loading/unloading
Things to note IF WE BEGIN WITH VIRTUAL LEARNING:
TEACHER WORK-DAY OPTIONS
*I have been getting questions about having to teach from the building should we all go ALL virtual. Please see this document. The chart explains all of the options and shows that should we go virtual, you may telecommute 4 days a week and report to the building on Wednesdays. You may also choose to come in to the building any day, if that is your preference.
COVID?
COVID
* Do you think someone has covid? The first thing you do is BREATHE!
* Do NOT share this information with others per HIPPA and FERPA
* You will ONLY share Covid info with Flood, Westacott, or Robin Smith
* We will BREATHE and then we will follow our district flow chart/check list
* Our district health dept has created detailed processes for us to follow
* CONFIDENTIALITY is a MUST
District Scheduling Parameters and Protocols for All Elem. Buildings
* teachers will have a 25 minute duty-free lunch
* 35 minute specials with 10 minutes in between when possible, 20 minute recess connected to specials as possible
* 250 minute of plan time for all certified staff
* Hand washing/Sanitizing Time Specifically identified within the written schedule
RECESS - district parameters
*Each grade level will have a 30 minute recess that is attached to the beginning or end of specials.
*20 minutes supervision by Resource Aides, remaining 10 minute supervision provided by teahcer
* We will work together to try to build a rotation so that you are not out every day
* classes will be assigned locations (ie black top, equipment, field)
* small window between recess grade levels, as able
HAND WASHING (HW) AND SANITIZING (S) - district protocols
* Entering classroom - S
* Out for specials: H/W or S
* Out to recess: H/W or S
* In from recess: H/W
* Out for Lunch: H/W
* In from Lunch: H/W or S
* Out for ______: H/W or S
* Dismissal from classroom: H/W or S
LIBRARY/MEDIA
* still checking out books
* LMS rotate schools by week
* Clerks serve as "concierge" for R7 Online students
* 72 hours quarantine of the books
* More to come
BREAKFAST & LUNCH
Breakfast and Lunch
BREAKFAST
* Breakfast will be Grab'N'Go, located at 2-3 sites in the building
* No choices - all breakfasts will be the same
* Students will not enter account #
* Teachers will mark on a roster in the classroom who got breakfast that morning (this may be paper/pencil OR we may make it electronic)
LUNCH
* Kids can bring lunch boxes from home
* Pre-packaged and delivered lunches are the only option for staff - no potlucks, food buffets, family style etc. . .
*# of students in cafeteria will be based on 50% of cafeteria capacity
* some students will be eating in classrooms - K - 6 teachers will not do their own lunch duty
* all certified staff will get a 25 minute duty free lunch
* roster turned in for lunch, just like breakfast
All supplies follow CDC and health department guidelines - PPE supplies
COVID-19 classroom kits for start of school will include
(note: these kits will be district provided & replenished)
1 gallon hand sanitizer for every classroom
1 smaller sanitizer bottle for teacher desk
1 infrared, no touch thermometer (pre-school and elementary classrooms and all health rooms)
2 cloth masks for each student and staff member
Face shields will be available for staff that request
1 box each of disposable masks in youth (where needed) and adult size
1 spray bottle with Quaternary sanitizer for wiping desk before and after food consumption
Paper towels (for use with Quaternary sanitizer)
2 tubs disinfectant wipes for spot cleaning
Plexiglass will be placed in office areas with frequent access to the public
Classroom Sanitizing v. Facilities Disinfecting
* Each teacher will have a bottle of food-safe spray
* Everyday desks and the top/back of chair will be disinfected and rinsed by facilities
* The Clorox 360 mist machine will be used on an as-needed basis
* We will have district provided wipes and hand sanitizer - we cannot accept donations from parents on these materials and teachers do NOT need to provide their own
* If a parent provides their OWN wipes and their OWN sanitizer - the student may wipe their OWN desk
* If as a teacher you wish to wipe down your OWN materials - not student materials - you may use your own personal supplies - but remember that district supplies are available for you and MUST be used on student surfaces/materials/supplies
* On priority cleans - all disinfecting will still happen - what might not happen is vacuuming, wiping down white boards, etc. . .