Principal News
Back-to-School Newsletter 8/11/2020
Hello Heritage Intermediate Families!
Hello Heritage Family,
I hope you are enjoying your last few weeks of summer! We have been working hard to get our building cleaned up and ready for your return. The hallways are shiny, the classrooms are clean & the staff is excited! This year our school theme is “Heritage, where the adventure begins." What a fitting theme for this new adventure we will be going on together-attending school during a pandemic!
Our Heritage Team has been busy planning new and innovative ways to teach, ways to keep your children healthy and ways to safely have fun for the upcoming school year. I am confident that it will truly be an adventure for us all. I am thrilled to be able to partner with you to help our children learn and grow this year.
We’ve had some changes over the summer with staff. We are thrilled to welcome our new staff members to our Heritage Family!
Mrs. Carla Crosson - 6th Grade Teacher
Mrs. Elena Bernstein - 4th Grade Teacher
Ms. Rachel Knobbe - 5th Grade Teacher
Ms. Logan Felder - Music
Mrs. Karrie Fast -Reading Intervention
Ms. Caitlyn Biddle - Reading Intervention
Mrs. Beth Kennedy - Literacy Coach
Mrs. Sheila McAlister - Nurse
Ms. Lauren Brennan - Occupational & Physical Therapy
Ms. Kaitlyn Lewis - Occupational & Physical Therapy
Ms. Jennifer Bushdiecker - Special Education Instructional Assistant
Mrs. O'Connor - Now teaching 4th grade
Mrs. Coldiron - Now teaching computer class
Mrs. Couch - Now teaching Read 180 and Medical Detectives
We are also looking forward to welcoming our new families to Heritage as well as our Virtual Academy students & returning Bears! Just thinking about how in two weeks I will get to see your smiling faces and hear your laughter gets me pumped about the 2020-2021 school year! This newsletter is full of some helpful information that should get you excited as well. Families, please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions and look for more detailed information to come from your assigned classroom teacher on August 18th. Now, go enjoy your last few days of summer! I can’t wait to meet all of you!
It's a great day to be a BEAR!
See you soon,
Dr. Jodi Oliver
A Message from Mr. Straub
Dear Heritage Families,
August 2002 was the first year that our campus combined families and divided them amongst the Primary and Intermediate schools. Prior to that there had been two separate K-5 elementary schools. This was also the same year that I started working here and became a Bear. I have been honored to serve this school community for all these years and I look forward to working together with the students, their families, and our staff to make the 2020-21 school year positive and meaningful for your child.
Given the current events going on in our world, we know we’ll have some unique challenges and we will keep working hard to find creative ways to overcome them. There will also be many wonderful opportunities for students to grow, excel, and experience the excitement that comes from realizing they are capable of great things.
Let’s continue creating a rich Heritage!
David Struab
Assistant Principal
Welcome New Heritage Bears
Upcoming Events
August 12 - Transportation Information sent out electronically
August 15 - Back to School Fair at Liberty high school (see info below)
August 18 - Class Placement email sent
August 20 - Virtual Meet the Teacher Night 5 pm to 7 pm
August 20 - Board of Education meeting 7 pm Administrative Center
August 24 & 25 - First days of school on campus for AA studentsAugust 27 & 28 - First days of school on campus for BB students
August 26 & 27 - Intermediate Papa Johns nights
August 26 - Heritage PTA night at LuLu's 5 pm to 9 pm
Meet the Teacher Night - Gone Virtual
We understand and appreciate how much our students and staff look forward to back to school events like Meet the Teacher or Open House. Those opportunities to connect are important for so many reasons. Not only do they serve as an introduction for students and their families to their teachers and school staff, but they also provide an opportunity for students and families to take a look around the classroom, locate their desk or locker, and meet new friends. Given that the District will be reopening at Level 2, those events will now all be done virtually in an effort to keep students, staff, and families safe and healthy. Please be assured, our caring and creative staff will make every effort to make those virtual connections and classroom tours meaningful and impactful for our students. We will still hold a virtual Meet the Teacher night on Thursday, August 20th from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Please expect more information from your child's classroom teacher, by end of day on August 19th.
Level 2 Key Points
Here are some key points to keep in mind related to Phase 2:
WSD plans to begin the school year in Level 2 and remain there throughout the first quarter.
If needed, we could potentially move to Level 3 during that time.
Students attend in-person on Monday & Tuesday or on Thursday & Friday.
AA (Monday/Tuesday) students are identified by the first letter of the last name of the oldest sibling in a household (A-L); all siblings in the household (regardless of last name) will be AA students;
BB (Thursday/Friday) students are identified by the first letter of the last name of the oldest sibling in a household (M-Z); all siblings in the household (regardless of last name) will be BB students;
DAYS CAN NOT be switched
All students attend virtually on Wednesdays.
Student attendance in classrooms will be approximately 50%.
Elementary students will follow their typical schedules during in-person attendance days.
Students will access learning activities virtually from home three days a week.
Virtual instruction will include learning activities assigned by the teacher and live instruction on Wednesdays.
Elementary special area classes and intervention services will occur in homerooms.
There are NO late starts during Level 2
WSD Virtual Academy students will remain in their enrolled grade level and courses regardless of what level the District is at for in-person learning. Schedule adjustments could occur based on building schedule adjustments.
All students and staff will continue to complete a health screening before coming to school or work.
To avoid large groups of students gathering in one place, we will adjust the way students move between classrooms and other spaces in our schools.
Students will eat in their classrooms. Lunch options will be chosen in the mornings and collected by cafe staff. All lunch items will be completely disposable.
Full-day Chautauqua care will be offered based on available space and staff.
Visitors are not allowed in the school building, unless it is for a predetermined meeting.
Masks
WSD Back to School Fair
Important Information for Heritage Kids and Families
Supplies
Handwashing and Cleaning
Handwashing:
This year we will schedule hand washing breaks and we will encourage hand washing throughout the day. We will also supply hand sanitizer in every classroom. Students and staff members must wash hands or use hand sanitizer before and after meals, outdoor play, and special area classes. Teachers will guide students on proper hand washing. Students will also be permitted to bring and use their own personal hand sanitizer.Cleaning:
Classrooms will be cleaned daily. Classroom materials, supplies and shared learning devices will be sanitized regularly. All staff will be trained to properly clean and sanitize services. Buildings will be disinfected on a regularly scheduled basis.
Lunch
Recess
Zone #1: Field A
Zone #2: Playground
Zone #3: Blacktop
Visitors
- Visitors will not be allowed in classrooms for lunch, parties, and events.
- Visitors will not be allowed to walk students into their classrooms.
- Visitors at the building for a required 504/IEP meeting, should remain in the car until called by our office.
- Visitors at the building to pick up a sick child, please park and call the office. The nurse will bring the child to your car, check your ID and release the child.
- Visitors will need to complete a health screening questionnaire upon arrival.
- All visitors will be required to wear face coverings when entering the building.
New Procedures
Water Bottles:
Drinking fountains will be used to refill water bottles only. ALL students need to bring a water bottled labeled with their name to school each day. Paper cups will be provided to students who forget their water bottle.
Birthdays:
This year no outside food will be permitted in the building. We will continue to recognize student birthdays on morning announcements as well as in the classroom.
Student items to office:
If you need to bring your child's lunch box, mask, band instrument, or any other item they forgot at home, we ask that it be placed in a plastic or paper bag if possible. Please clearly print their first and last name as well as their teacher's name (1st hour teacher for 6th grade students) on the bag or on a sticky note that's attached. There will be a table in the foyer where you can place the item. Please do not bring the item into the office. Staff will collect the item and deliver to the student.
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
More on arrival and dismissal procedures will come out with your child's class placement information on August 18th. We are working on revamping this process due to new COVID-19 procedures. Thank you for your patience.
Nurse Information
Nurse Sheila
636-327-3839 ext. 41233
Free and Reduced Meal Guidelines
The Wentzville School District has announced its revised free and reduced price policy for school children unable to pay the full price of meals served in schools under the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. Click here to learn more!
2020-2021 School Theme
Heritage, where the adventure begins!
This builds upon all of the practices started last year with Big Bear Adventures and allows us to continue our work. Students will still be able to earn the title of "Adventure Leader" and earn Bear Bucks!
Heritage Campus Phones Out of Order!
WSD Mobile App
The Wentzville School District has announced the launch of the WSD App, an all-in-one information source for parents, students, staff and community members. Created by ParentLink, the app was developed specifically to provide direct access to the District’s most sought-after information in the most convenient format – a mobile device. It allows users to view news stories, calendar information, send messages on a tip line, and receive important alerts – all on their smart phone.
The app is free and can be downloaded from the Apple Store or the Google Play store. Simply search for - Wentzville School District. “We know all parties -- students, parents, community, and staff - will find great value in this app,” said ParentLink President John Graff. “We are excited to provide the WSD community with a mobile resource to make collaborating with their local schools an enjoyable and easy part of their busy schedules."
What is Helping Hands?
Helping Hands is a program implemented at Heritage Primary and Heritage Intermediate schools in the Wentzville School District. This program was started to provide support to our students and families in need of assistance to help meet their basic needs. During this time we know that so many are in need of things. If your family is in need please reach out to the following email and our school will be happy to help support in any way that we can! #wearefamily #heritagecares
Email: helpinghands4heritage@gmail.com Phone: 573-557-9204
PTA Events for 2020-2021
Contact Us
Mr. David Straub, Assistant Principal - davidstraub@wsdr4.org
Website: https://mo02202303.schoolwires.net/site/Default.aspx?PageID=23
Location: 601 Carr Street, Wentzville MO 63385
Phone: 636-327-3839
Twitter: @HeritageInt