Coronavirus: Important Update
March 2020
Information for Sioux Central Families
We will be monitoring the coronavirus situation carefully and following all guidelines set by our District and and State Health Department. The purpose of this newsletter is to share facts and information.
As per governors request, Sioux Central Schools will be closed until April 13th. The following information is important for parents and students.
For more information from Iowa Department of Ed, click here.
Please don't hesitate to be in touch with questions or concerns,
Sioux Central Admin Team
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Relief from Required Instructional Hours or Days- Schools will receive relief from the state requirement for instructional time (180 days or 1,080 hours) while they close temporarily to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
- Online Learning-Schools may choose to use online learning options, but may not require student participation. At the bottom of this page are some links to online ideas for families. Keeping students on a schedule is what's really important and will make the transition back to school easier.
- Entering the Building-THIS WEEK ONLY Students will be allowed to come into the building individually to get things out of lockers and leave immediately after collecting what they need. However, if you are sick in any way or have traveled outside the state, you are not allowed in the building for 14 days.
- Accountability and Assessment- The U.S. Department of Education notified states in new guidance that it will consider targeted, one-year waivers of the assessment requirements for those schools impacted by extraordinary circumstances due to COVID-19. In addition, the U.S. Department of Education will consider a targeted, one-year waiver of the requirement to identify a school for comprehensive or targeted support and improvement under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) if the reason for the identification was related to the school being closed for a significant portion of the school year. The Department will pursue any waivers necessary to assist Iowa schools.
- Graduation-If districts and nonpublic schools have graduating seniors who are unable to complete their classes for the year due to school closure, illness, family illness, or related COVID-19 issues, the Department suggests the district use local discretion to determine whether the students have completed sufficient course content to consider the units complete. We recommend that districts provide as much latitude for students to graduate on time as possible.
- School Resuming-The school hopes to give 5-7 days notice to families prior to school resuming. Teachers will be asked to come in several days in advance to prepare for the return of students.
Facts about Coronavirus
HOW TO KEEP OURSELVES HEALTHY
- Wash your own hands frequently with soap and water and make sure your children wash hands whenever they come in from outside the home (see the link above for proper handwashing technique)
- Help your children practice not touching their faces (people touch their faces approximately 23 times an hour; keeping our hands away from our faces is crucial for staying healthy)
- Teach your children to cough and sneeze into the crooks of their elbows.
- Parents: avoid eating from from your children's plates and avoid sharing water bottles
- Avoid being near sick people
- Disinfect surfaces and devices in your home; dispose of all tissues.
Educational Apps if you have a sick child at home (or if school is closed)
Sometimes screen time is a necessity if we have children at home and work we need to do. Here are three apps that make screen time a learning time:
An Extensive List of Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MgW8sXa5INcEIJiGEg-eJkE1Me_YBB8LMwjzpIXe8rE/edit?usp=sharing
CodeMonkey: a game-based education program that teaches children to code. It comes with a membership fee, but there's a free 14-day trial that doesn't require a credit card.BrainPop: Online learning across subject areas for children in kindergarten through middle school and ELL learning for all age groups. Free.
Khan Academy: Online learning in math, science, and literacy for all age groups. Standards-aligned. Free.
Sioux Central Community Schools
Website: siouxcentral.org
Location: Our School Location
Phone: 712-283-2571