MVES News!
3/15/2020
News & Notes from Mrs. Kapuchuck
Dear Families,
COVID-19 Update
RCPS Parents,
As you are aware, there is an increasing concern worldwide and locally regarding the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). This email is to update you on the efforts and position of Rockingham County Public Schools (RCPS) as we address this important matter.
1. We are in regular communication with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) about the current status of the COVID-19 virus in the state. As of 5:30pm today, the VDH representative from our local area shared that there are 9 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in VA. There are no confirmed cases in our immediate area.
2. While a number of colleges and universities in the state have discontinued face-to-face classes and are moving to online instruction, the VDH doctor explained that this does not necessarily suggest that K-12 schools should do the same. For one, college students in dorms live together in close proximity which causes a higher risk. Also, many colleges are currently or recently have been on spring break where students may have been traveling across the country or the world, increasing their risk for exposure. This is not the case for students in our schools.
3. At this point, neither the VDH nor the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have identified specific locations in the state (or country) that should be avoided. Therefore, there is not a reason to limit travel. As a result, we are currently not restricting field trips. No field trip is mandatory for students and parents can elect to not have their child participate in field trips if they don't feel comfortable.
4. All of our schools employ best practices for disinfecting "high touch" surfaces in our schools. Over the past several years, division custodians have been trained in these practices. We continue to work with our custodial staff to ensure that schools are disinfected properly on a daily basis to limit the transmission of potential illnesses.
We will continue to be in regular contact with representatives from the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Education to make the best, most informed decisions to ensure the safety of all students and staff. We are committed to communicating regularly with parents about updates regarding this evolving situation and will send out emails to parents as we gain more information and have additional updates.
Safe Routes to School
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Safe Routes to School is a K-8 grant funded program which promotes active transportation choices such as walking and biking to school. We teach students how to be safe pedestrians and cyclists. Perhaps your child has talked about riding bikes during PE. Safe Routes provides those bikes and teaches the rules of the road. To support our work please take 5 minutes to fill out this survey. Thank you for your time.
http://www.saferoutesdata.org/surveyformparent.cfm?key=9958547
Valerie Kramer
Safe Routes to School Coordinator for RCPS
KIDS HEART CHALLENGE
Upcoming Musical Performance
Dear Parents,
All students in 4th and 5th grade will be performing in a Fine Arts/Musical Performance showcase. We are so excited to share our hard work from Art and Music class! All students in grades 4 and 5 will participate in a class musical performance and all students will also have art in the Art Show. The students have been practicing as an ensemble so it is important that everyone attends both performances so that all the parts of the song(s) we have been practicing are there.
Date: March 31, 2020
Daytime: Both grades and Violin Club 1:45-2:45
Evening:
Grade 4 and all of Violin Club*- 5:30-6:15Break- 6:15-6:30
Grade 5 and all of Violin Club* - 6:30-7:15
"RCPS Innovation Update"- important information for RCPS parents!
THE FLU
Flu season is officially here at MVES. Over the past few weeks, we have had an increase in illness and confirmed cases of the flu. Here at school, we are encouraging frequent hand washing and our custodians are working hard to keep all spaces sanitized. As always, your child should stay home from school if he/she has a fever greater than 100 degrees F and should not return to school until he/she has been fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medicine for at least 24 hours. See the flu guides attached.
Please, as always, call the school or send an email to mvesattendance@rockingham.k12.va.us if your child will be absent from school.
Thank you so much for all of your help in keeping our students healthy! Please feel free to contact Leslie Kapuchuck and/or Nurse Wanda if you have any questions at 540-438-1965.
Smencils!
Leslie Kapuchuck
Mountain View Elementary School
Email: lkapuchuck@rockingham.k12.va.us
Website: http://mves.rockingham.k12.va.us/
Facebook: facebook.com/mveseagles
Twitter: @lkapuchuck