NBS Principal Newsletter
March 28, 2021
#NBSColtPride
As the kids like to say "Let's Go!" We begin another phase in the journey of this ever-changing year, tomorrow. All the in-person learners will return to school for a full day for all five days of the week. My hope is that all the information you need to know is in this newsletter. If you find that you still have questions please reach out directly to the main office and either they can assist you or they will pass you along to me.
We have all (students, staff, and parents) shown resilience through this challenging year and it is truly appreciated. I know that we can do this again and make the last 44 days of school the best that they can be for everyone if we stick together. As in any typical year on the first day, you should anticipate arrival and dismissal to be a little bit slower. That includes busing. If you are dropping your child off at school you should try to arrive earlier than normal. Don't forget that we start at 8 am. That means students need to be in their room ready to learn by 8 am.
One last thing. This start does not return us to normal. We will be maintaining the 3-6 feet of social distancing that is expected. Nothing within the building will look like a typical year. Lunch will not be a social time as all students will be 6 feet away from one another. Recess will only occur with their homeroom class and will have a designated area. This can all be read about in the information below but I wanted to highlight that this will still look very different from any other year. The main benefit is getting students in the building for the entire day all 5 days of the week.
Please remember to complete the Self-Certification for your child every morning. Link: health.barrington220.org
I hope you all had a wonderful Spring Break!
#NBSColtPride
#WeAreOne
Return to Full Day Details
Below are some highlights of our daily procedures. I also have attached a link that has more detail in regards to arrival and dismissal for you to look over. If you have any questions please reach out to me directly or contact your teacher. The only difference in dismissal is for our AM Kindergarteners. All dismissal will occur in front of the building. Parents and buses will pick up their Kindergarteners at 10:35 am in that location. It does not change for anyone else.
Students will wash or sanitize their hands prior to lunch
Students can purchase a brown bag sack lunch daily (there will not be choices but a daily menu should be out soon of the daily items)
It will be helpful if the students bring a brown bag lunch from home (this provides less contact in how we get to and from the classroom to the lunchroom)
One grade level will be in the cafeteria at one time with an overflow into the gym
If we are able to eat outside at least one class (if not more) will be directed to do so.
10:35 1st grade
10:55 2nd grade
11:25 3rd grade
11:45 4th grade
12:25 5th grade (Phillips, Barry, Warrington
12:45 5th grade (Rodriguez, Bielski, Wang)
Recess
- Students will sanitize their hands before and after recess
- Classes will be provided an equipment bag (e.g. basketball, soccer ball, etc.) with class-specific equipment for play
The playground will be separated into 3 zones (A, B, and C) and students will rotate between zones
Classes will be provided a designated zone for recess
Students will need to wear their masks when playing on the playground (due to proximity)
The playground will be sanitized routinely
Mask break areas will be designated for students to go during recess
Snack
- Teachers will schedule a snack break
- When possible snack will occur outside
- If snack occurs inside the classroom students will alternate (A group/B group) who is eating so the students are 6 ft apart
- Send one snack per day, do not send a smorgasbord of food to be eaten
- It should be a small snack and something that can be eaten in a short amount of time
Specials
- Students will travel to their special classes with the exception of Art
- Mrs. Siddons will travel to the classrooms for Art class
Lunch/Recess Supervisors
JOB DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Lunch/Recess/Open Area Supervisor
QUALIFICATIONS:
1. High school diploma or equivalent.
2. Develops positive relationships with a broad range of students, staff, and community members.
3. Able to demonstrate patience and gain students' cooperation.
4. Able to manage large groups of children and maintain order.
5. Demonstrates good listening skills and communicates effectively.
6. Demonstrates proficient use of the English language in written and oral forms.
7. Use/operate technology and equipment related to the position/job.
8. Able to walk and stand for extended periods of time.
REPORTS TO: Building Principal, Assistant Principal, Dean, or Coordinator of Safety
SUPERVISES: Students during lunch/recess hour, passing periods, & open areas
POSITION SUMMARY: The position of Lunch/Recess Supervisor was established for the purposes of supervising, assisting, and guiding students during lunch, recess, and open periods at BHS to ensure the safe and efficient operations of the lunchroom and recess procedures.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
1. Ensures that students follow lunch and recess procedures and rules.
2. Circulates throughout the cafeteria, recess environments, study areas, and the commons area at BHS and provides assistance to students on an as-needed basis (e.g., opening food packages).
3. Assists in lunchroom clean-up.
4. Monitors student behavior and works with students to resolve conflicts peacefully.
5. Manages the safe and orderly movement of children in a variety of settings, including to and from the playground, classroom, and lunchroom, and hallways during passing periods. Maintains a safe environment for students at all times.
6. Ensures compliance with all emergency procedures and in conformity with procedures adopted by the District and emergency service authorities to ensure the safety of students.
7. Reports safety, sanitary, and other hazards to supervisor.
8. Performs other duties as assigned.
PHYSICAL CONTEXT OF THE JOB: Able to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods of time. Moving up to 50 pounds (pulling, pushing, lifting, carrying). Completing tasks using fine finger dexterity
GENERAL COMMENTS:
● Provide guidance and positive direction to the student body regarding respect and school expectations for behavior as described in the Student Handbook.
● Intervenes and takes appropriate action when respect for the individual or our educational environment is not demonstrated.
● Is proactive - prevents problems from developing.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT (completed by the Office of Human Resources):
1. 1-3.25 hours per day (prefer 5 days a week) (hours/day)
2. Student attendance days (174 days) (days/year)
3. 10 months (months/year)
4. T/A (salary/grade)
School Supplies Needed for March 29th Return
1st-5th Grade Students: Please bring your ART and MUSIC kits back to school on the 29th.
Art Kits are a 2-gallon ziplock bag with a pink zipper. Grades 2-5 should also return their green spiral sketchbook. Music Kits are a colored drawstring bag that may contain wooden rhythm sticks, cups, and/or eggs.
Virtual Gallery Night Request:
Mrs. Siddons is collecting photographs of students working on art at home to include in our Virtual Gallery Night. Please click on Gallery Night Photographs link to submit photos of your children, up to 3 per child.
Important information in regards to Quarantine and COVID Cases
- COVID-19 FAQs for Parents/Guardians
- Here is the school guidance that we follow to the letter: https://www.isbe.net/Documents/IDPH-COVID19-Exclusion-Decison-Tree.pdf
- Keeping secondary contacts home is a parent's choice. It is not a CDC, IDPH, or LCHD recommendation.
- Definition of close contact - Someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period* starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.
- CDC - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tracing-plan/appendix.html#contact
- LCHD recommended we NOT send classroom letters, protecting the identity of the person is required and paramount.
- For confidentiality reasons, we won't be identifying the classroom the person was in or if the positive person is a student or adult, as much as possible. This is due to the privacy of the information.
- If there is ever a situation that the nurses are unsure of, they immediately contact the LCHD
- We submit all positive cases students or staff to the health department and they follow up on each case.
- When we feel we do not have enough information (late at night typically), we do a short-term quarantine of any possible affected students or staff until we can feel we definitely know if they are a close contact.
- Our HR department and Director of Nursing contact trace right away (regardless of nights or weekends) when we find out about a positive case.
Important Dates
March 29th - All in-person students return to full day
April 2nd - No School
April 16th - 5th Grade presentation from Middle School Counselors at NBS
April 21st - 5th graders visit their respective Middle School (in-person with a virtual option)
April 21st - May 5th - Virtual Art Fair
May 7th - Course selection for Band, Orchestra, Choir, Dual Language, World Language Due for Middle School in Infinite Campus (5th Grade only)
May 21st - Field Day (Grades K-4)
May 24th - 5th grade Field Day (TBD)
May 25th - Rain Date (TBD)
May 26th - 5th-grade recognition at BHS
May 28th - Last day of school
Austin Johnson - Principal North Barrington Elementary
Email: ajohnson@barrington220.org
Website: https://www.barrington220.org/north
Phone: 847-381-4340
Twitter: @NBarringtonColt