Irmo Elementary Family Updates
#HeartoftheHive #BetterTogether October 19th-23rd
A Note From Your Principal
Dear IES Families,
Monday is almost here! Beginning 10/19, we will have all 4K-5th grade hybrid bees back in the building 4 days F2F. We will continue to provide the same measures to maintain safety as a top priority. Because our F2F elementary classrooms have maintained their entire classroom family throughout the phases, the adjustment back to the full student body should not be a difficult transition. Please see the important links below for specific information that will be helpful for you as families.
Shannon Fincannon
Principal
#HeartoftheHive
#BetterTogether
Beginning Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, in-person students in grades 4K through 6th grade will attend school 4 days per week as part of Phase III of reentry in School District Five. Grades 7-12 will remain hybrid.
Wednesdays will continue to be a distance learning day for students attending school in-person.
The district's Flexible Innovative Virtual Education (FIVE) virtual program will continue for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year.
Meals for in-person 4K through 6th grade students will be sent home on Tuesdays for their distance learning day. School breakfast and lunch are free for all students in School District Five through the end of the school year, due to a U.S. Department of Agriculture waiver.
PHASE IV - 7-12 Grades
NOVEMBER 9*
Beginning November 9, in-person students in grades 4K through 12 will attend school 4 days per week.
*NOTE: Schools may utilize a 100% distance learning model during any phase if needed in response to COVID-19. Phases and dates can be modified, contingent upon reentry considerations outlined in the presentation. A five-day, in-person model could later be considered.
Instructional Model Change Requests Reminder
School District Five elementary families have until tomorrow October 16, 2020 to complete their Instructional Model Change request forms.
School District Five has asked that families of elementary school students commit to at least a quarter and that families of secondary students commit to at least a semester before requesting a change in their instructional option.
Request Forms:
To request a change from one instructional model to another, parents/guardians will complete online forms, which will be available on school and district websites during the request windows for elementary students and secondary students. Requests will be considered based on available space and schedule/class availability.
Request Windows:
Elementary (K-5): The form opened Monday, October 5, 2020 and closes Friday, October 16, 2020.
Secondary (6-12):The form opens Monday, November 9, 2020 and closes Friday, November 20, 2020.
Acceptance Process: (*Not all requests will be granted. Approval will be based upon space and schedule/class availability*)
Elementary (K-5): Notification email to parents on or before Thursday, November 5, 2020.
Secondary (6-12): Notification email to parents on or before Wednesday, January 27, 2021.
Implementation of Instructional Model Changes (per requests):
Elementary (K-5):Start of 2nd quarter: Thursday, November 12, 2020.
Secondary (6-12):Start of 2nd semester: Wednesday, February 3, 2021.
School District Five families requesting admission into FIVE or a change to their in-person schedule after the elementary and/or secondary request window will be placed on a hardship waiting list.
Do You Have Questions About The D5 Redistricting Plan That Includes Irmo Elementary?
School District Five of Lexington & Richland Counties has launched new online interactive maps to allow the community to input their address, explore the redistricting scenarios, and understand potential attendance zone changes (if any) to their families and neighborhoods.
During the Board meeting on Oct.12, School District Five’s Board of Trustees heard a presentation outlining scenarios for redistricting. Engineering and planning firm Milone & MacBroom was approved by the Board in October 2019 to study capacity and growth in School District Five.
The study by the company was prompted by growth in the Chapin area and a need to redistrict for the planned new elementary school in Chapin, but the firm’s study also examines capacity and growth across the district as part of that process.
Community input opportunities on proposed redistricting plans will be held prior to a final vote, to gain input from the community.
VIEW THE ONLINE MAP:
http://www.lexrich5.org/redistrictingmap
Review board presentations and background information on the redistricting: https://www.lexrich5.org/redistricting
Send questions or comments regarding the redistricting scenarios to redistricting@lexrich5.org.
This Week's Important Dates
10/19 3rd-5th grade IES Hybrid bees begin 4 days F2F
10/20 4 days F2F CogAT testing for 2nd and 4th grade (no FIVE students testing)
10/21 SIC Virtual Meeting 12:00-12:45 pm
10/21 FIVE CogAT for 2nd and 4th grade 9:00 am - Bus loop drop off/pick up (No F2F students)
10/22 4 days F2F CogAT testing for 2nd and 4th grade (no FIVE students testing)
Safety Remains a Top Priority at IES
- All bees will wear masks unless social distancing can be obtained at 6 feet or more.
- All class families will remain together for recess and each will have an individual family set of sports equipment to play with at recess.
- There will only be 3 students per large cafeteria table at lunch to allow for 6 feet of social distancing.
- There will be social distancing and hand washing kid friendly protocol signage throughout the heart of the hive.
- There will be 5 hand sanitizing stations around the school touch spots. There are kid friendly classroom spaces conducive to learning, engaging students, and keeping them safe.
- Special Areas/Related arts will travel to your bee's classroom.
- There will be water bottle filling stations at specific water fountains for your bee. All other water fountains have been shut off for safety purposes.
Healthy School and Summer Study: Last Chance to Sign Up!
Last chance to sign up for the Healthy School and Summer Study where you and your child could earn $50 in gift cards.
Irmo is partnering with the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health to offer this project to all K-5th grade students.
Your child will wear a Fitbit-like activity watch for two weeks and you will complete online surveys during the following three time periods:
- Fall of 2020
- Late spring of 2021
- During the summer of 2021.
Participants can earn up to $150 in gift cards for completing the measures ($50 each 2 weeks).
Activity watches will be mailed home and participation does not require any in-person contact.
Receive $10 for signing up!
Click this link to learn more and sign-up: https://uofsc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6SwcACu4ylP7o33
If you signed up last year you DO NOT need to sign up again.
Reminder for Devices
Struggling with your device and technology? Please utilize the resources below to support. #BetterTogether
IES Student Chromebook Repair Request Form
Parent Tech Help D5 Distance Learning
Help for Chromebook Issues Chromebook How Tos
Internet Safety Family Tips for Communication
How do I get to SeeSaw? (students) Accessing SeeSaw Through Clever
Google Classroom-Parents Parents Guide to Google Classroom
D5 Self Screening Checklist and COVID-19 Exposure Flowchart for Families: Please Review to Proactively Keep Our Bees Safe
School District Five Self Screening Checklist and COVID-19 Exposure Flowchart
School District Five of Lexington & Richland Counties has worked in collaboration with health officials to establish health protocols for the 2020-21 school year, in response to COVID-19. Students and staff will be asked to complete daily self-screenings before reporting to school/district campuses. District schools will follow DHEC guidance regarding the management of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases.
- Click the following link to see the district’s self-screening checklist:
- Click the following link to see the district’s COVID-19 Exposure Flowchart:
- For DHEC guidelines regarding the management of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases, click the following link:
School Hours and Office Visit Procedures
Irmo Elementary office hours are 7:10 AM - 4:00PM. The school is open to students only beginning at 7:10 am Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Due to social distancing, 3 visitors are allowed inside the front office at a time by appointment. Non-essential visitors are not allowed in the building before, during, or after school hours. We will continue to conduct school business through appointments and coordination.
- Please call our front office at 803-476-4200 to make an appointment before arriving.
- When you arrive on campus, please park and call the office to let us know you are here. When space allows, you can enter based on social distancing protocol. There will be a holding area in the front entrance for those who have scheduled appointments (by the fish tank) to allow for social distancing.
Yearbook Orders Are Online Only This Year: Get Yours Now!
- $24 Yearbook Price Deadline: October 31, 2020
- Book Price after October 31 Deadline: $26.00
- IES Online Code is: FMYB100385
- The online ordering site for your yearbook is ready. Your direct link to access your online ordering site is:
https://strawbridge.fotomerchanthv.com/clients/irmo-elementary-school/yearbook-1/access
VIRTUAL LIBRARY- FIVE
Car Rider Support
- The car rider line opens at 7:10 am. With the addition of all K-5 hybrid students beginning 10/19 with the 4 days of F2F, please arrive as early as possible. Waiting until close to the 7:50 am closing of the gate will be difficult and may cause a back up in the line.
- Please have your bee ready to exit the car to assist in the flow of the line as well.
- Your bee may begin exiting the car at the first tower which will help with the flow of cars through the line.
- In the morning, two lines enter from Fork Ave and merge to one line. Please ensure you are allowing for the merge of cars as you pass the teacher parking lot area on the right.