This week, we were fortunate to have experienced our virtual assembly with the music of Jared Campbell. As we struggle with the pandemic and the violence at the Capitol this week, Jared's message of kindness and friendship reminds us of our inner strength and the power in joining together. Don't miss your chance to watch the recorded assembly by accessing the link below. Also included in this newsletter are resources for you to use at your discretion about helping children cope with traumatic events.

We proudly recognize our December Leaders of the Month below!

Thank you for your partnership.

Nicole Zuerblis

Richland Principal

Helping Children Cope With Frightening News

Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers

Report to Parents: Helping Children Cope With Tragedy

On Monday, 11/18, we honor Martin Luther King, Jr., and there is no school for students.

Strayer National Junior Honor Society students will be serving on MLK Day. They are recording various activities to share with QCSD's elementary students to use or watch on Monday, January 18th.

Below are some of the videos that will be available for elementary students.

• Read aloud of a MLK Jr. (Day) picture book
• Reader's theater production about MLK Jr.
• Song and/or dance about MLK Jr.
• MLK Jr. direct draw : See it here!

QCSD's Elementary Redistricting Committee is tackling several important issues in online meetings that began in late September. The parent-led committee is scheduled to make its recommendations to the School Board on late February 11.

The Board has charged the committee with the following tasks:

• Develop options for the grade level configuration and redistricting of elementary (or K-6) students to be implemented at the start of the 2021-22 school year.
• Evaluate those options based on impact on academic program, impact on students and families, cost-effectiveness, efficiency, impact on facilities (including the future use of Quakertown Elementary and the Sixth Grade Center), requirement for construction, renovations, or modular classrooms, impact on transportation, impact on personnel savings, and other criteria as the Committee deems appropriate.
• Report its findings, decision matrix, and recommendations to the Board on February 11, 2021.

Redistricting Committee meetings are open to the public via Zoom with links and other information shared here.

Remaining Committee Meeting dates

1/13/21

1/20/21

1/27/21

If you would like to send a comment or question to the Committee, use this email address: Elemredistrict@qcsd.org.

MONDAY: How do you “press pause” when you are upset or angry?

TUESDAY: Think of a time when you felt frustrated, and you “pressed pause.” How did you feel?

WEDNESDAY: What do you do to feel better when you are sad?

THURSDAY: How do you feel today?

FRIDAY: What are you responsible for at home?

Hoping to incentivize more people with a Bachelor’s degree to become substitute teachers, the Quakertown Community School District is significantly increasing pay for substitute teachers for the 2020-21 school year.

The per diem rate is being raised from $105 to $120 per day. Long term per diem pay is being raised from $140 to $175 per day, highest in the area. The average per diem rate in Bucks County and surrounding districts is $109. The long term substitute rate is $125. Please click here for the story.

QCSD has several job openings that can be found by clicking here. They include substitute nurses, aides, and food service workers.

Click here for job openings in the Upper Bucks County Technical School.

We will review our absence data again the next morning and consult with Dr. Harner. If we cannot open our school safely, you will be notified by 7:30 a.m., and our school will operate virtually for the day. Please note that the notification/closure will apply to the individual school building only and other buildings will operate normally.

We will do our best and exhaust all strategies to avoid having to close our school for lack of adequate staffing, but it may occur. This will be our system that provides you advance notice as soon as we can.

If the school becomes virtual for a day or a period of time, teachers will teach synchronously and will supply all information needed to students and families about daily schedules.

Thank you for your support.

The free food program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture.

The United States Department of Agriculture has extended a nationwide waiver to allow the Quakertown Community School District to provide FREE meals to ALL students regardless of need. No qualification or identification is needed.

ALL students are eligible to receive FREE breakfast and FREE lunch through the end of the school year in June.

Breakfast will be served at Richland in our lunch room or classrooms from 8:45-9:00.

Lunch will have three selections daily: A sandwich/wrap/hot entree, a salad with a protein and roll, or a Grape/Peanut Butter Uncrustable. An assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables along with milk will be available daily. Students will order their lunches in the morning and will eat lunch in their classrooms. Lunches will be assembled by the cafeteria staff in bags, with aides delivering to rooms at the scheduled lunch times.

For Virtual Learners, free meal pickup is now held two days a week, Mondays and Wednesdays. On Mondays, students can receive meals for two days, and on Wednesdays for three days. Pickup remains at the Quakertown Community High School bus loop from 11:15 AM until 12:30 PM.

What should you or your child do if asked to quarantine due to exposure to Covid-19? After an exposure to Covid-19, it may take between 2-14 days for symptoms to appear. When ordered to quarantine, you must stay inside of your home until cleared by the Department of Health. Even if you have no symptoms, you or your child should not be outside of your home having close contact with friends and neighbors. If you become infected with the virus, with or without symptoms, interacting with others not in your household can cause community spread of the disease.

While in school, we require children and staff to be masked, wash their hands often, and socially distance to prevent our Richland community from becoming ill. Even if your child has been diagnosed with a common cold, please ensure they avoid contact with other children to prevent transmission and missed school days. Following these same good habits outside of school will prevent you, your children, and others from becoming sick, whether it be from Covid-19, Flu, or any number of common fall and winter illnesses.

For more information, please read QCSD Exclusion from and Return to School Requirements.

Every day Monday through Friday is a school day.

Please keep your child home if they show any symptoms and call to let us know. You will receive a follow up call from our school nurse. We will confirm if your child will become a virtual learner for a period of time so they are not marked absent from in person instruction while staying home with symptoms.

FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE PHYSICALLY IN THE BUILDING:

Attendance will be taken as in the past, and students will be marked absent if they are not physically present. *Please note, only students who need to quarantine or are approved by the school nurse will learn virtually instead of in person.

FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE 100% VIRTUAL LEARNERS:

Attendance will be taken daily. All students are to complete their "check-in" activity as explained by their teachers by 2:00 daily. To allow for the completion of work asynchronously, students may complete other school activities after 2:00, but the check-in must be completed by 2:00 in order to be marked as present.

IF YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT:

You will receive an email at 3:00 on the day your child is marked absent. The school must receive an excuse from you within 3 days of the absence.

New this year, you may respond to the email with your absence reason. If you prefer, you may send in an absence note to the office. All excuses must be received within 3 days of the absence.

The live school day begins at 9:00 and ends at 2:00.

Please note AM Kindergarten pick up at 11:00 and PM drop off at 12:00 are in the front of the school.

All buses will drop off and pick up in the front of the school.