Scotty Updates
A Newsletter from Scotland Elementary School
Week of February 15, 2021
Scotty Updates
The Scotty Updates has been created to provide families and staff with information regarding upcoming events, happenings, and programs at Scotland Elementary School. Please take time each Monday to review our newsletter. Thank you!
A Message from Mrs. Katkocin โค๏ธ
Dear Scotland Families and Staff,
I hope you are all well and enjoying the long weekend!
As Dr. Da Silva communicated on Wednesday, will return to a full in-person learning model this week. Dr. Da Silva will communicate the learning model for next week to the community on Wednesday, February 17th.
This week on Thursday, February 18th, we will be doing a chromebook inventory of all student devices. Kindly be sure to send your child to school with their school-issued chromebook on Thursday, February 18th. Families of virtual learners received an email with a link to complete this inventory on Thursday. Kindly complete the form by Friday, February 19th. We appreciate your support!
As Dr. Da Silva recently communicated, Ridgefield Public Schools is implementing another mitigation strategy and layer of protection against COVID-19 at the elementary (and middle school level). Over the next couple of weeks, all elementary in-person students will be given a face shield to wear during snack and lunch times when they take off their masks to eat. We are implementing this additional strategy to provide a barrier for potential virus transmission when masks cannot be worn.
Student face shield use was piloted at the Ridgefield middle schools and there are neighboring elementary schools who use this mitigating measure successfully. Reports from these sources suggest that after a little acclimating, students easily mastered eating lunch with their shields on.
Students will be instructed as to how to put the shield on and take it off as part of their eating preparations. They are a headband style that fit around the forehead like a hat.
Shields will be wiped clean by students as needed. They will stay in the classroom overnight so there is no need to worry about transporting them. Adding in this process for eating will take some time for students to get used to and so we expect that, at least initially, transitions between eating times and learning time may last longer.
Face shields will be distributed to students by class over the next couple of weeks. The District has ordered one for each student and will have replacements available in the event that the face shield is damaged. Like face masks, students are welcome to bring in their own from home as well.
Wishing you all a wonderful, healthy week!
Kind regards,
Jill
Reminder: If your child is going to change learning models, please complete this form, and email both your child's classroom teacher and Mrs. Anderson at canderson@ridgefieldps.net to notify us. We ask for 72 hours notice for any change in learning model, so we can ensure our records, PowerSchool, and classrooms are prepared for the change.
*Follow Scotland on Instagram @ScotlandElementarySchool
Snaps around Scotland ๐ธ
100th Day of School! ๐ฏ
Love of Literacy Day - Grade 3 โค๏ธ๐
โค๏ธ Valentine's Day โค๏ธ
Reminder from Mr. Truchsess
Events and Happenings
WEEK AT A GLANCE:
Monday, February 15th:
- No School - Presidents' Day Recess
Tuesday, February 16th:
- No School - Presidents' Day Recess
Wednesday, February 17th:
- E Day
Thursday, February 18th:
- F Day
Friday, February 19th:
- A Day
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Friday, February 12th - Tuesday , February 16th:
- No School - Presidents' Day Recess
Friday, February 26th:
- Early Dismissal Day: Dismissal will begin at 11:30am
- Students will be involved in "asynchronous" (not live teaching) activities in the afternoon from home
Monday, March 15th:
- Early Dismissal Day: Dismissal will begin at 11:30am
- Students will be involved in "asynchronous" (not live teaching) activities in the afternoon from home
Monday, April 26th:
- Early Dismissal Day: Dismissal will begin at 11:30am
- Students will be involved in "asynchronous" (not live teaching) activities in the afternoon from home
Monday, May 24th:
- Early Dismissal Day: Dismissal will begin at 11:30am
- Students will be involved in "asynchronous" (not live teaching) activities in the afternoon from home
Scotty Scavenger Hunt -See If You Can Spot Our Favorite Scotty Dog!
Keep your eyes peeled for our favorite Scotty dog around town!
Snap a pic and upload it HERE!
* Game boards will also be sent home in backpacks
Yearbooks On Sale NOW!
Scotland Virtual Talent Show!
Amazon Smile - The Easiest Way to Support SES PTA
Scotties in Photos
Join the PTA Today!
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Information to Keep Handy! ๐
Winter Weather Attire
As I have previously shared, at Scotland, we make every effort to send students outside for recess on a daily basis, as we are aware of the benefits of daily physical activity for children. As a part of our mitigating measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, our classroom windows will remain open to circulate air throughout the school year. As such, please make sure to send your child to school dressed in layers, as the classroom spaces can become very chilly.
Students go outside for recess daily, unless the weather/temperature is unusually severe. We will have indoor recess only when the windchill is below 20 degrees, or if it is actively precipitating. Please provide your child with appropriate outerwear each day including gloves, a hat, snow pants, and jacket. Students with appropriate clothing are permitted to play in the snow. Please note, for safety reasons, we can not allow children to play in the snow without gloves/mittens, snow pants, and boots. Students without snow clothing are permitted to play on the blacktop area. Please label your child(ren)โs outer clothing, sneakers, and rain wear for easy identification. Any lost clothing is placed in our lost and found area and kept for a period of time before being donated to charity. As always, thank you for your support!
Letter from Aaron Crook
12/31/20
Dear Families and Faculty,
I hope you are enjoying the blessings of the season and staying healthy.
Before returning to school on Monday, January 4th, we are requesting that you please watch this video that covers important topics related to our return to school safely. Topics within the video include:
- RPS at current stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, including a review of the Farmingville outbreak
- New mitigation strategies that will be in place on January 4th
- Changes to the Connecticut travel advisory -- Important note: If you traveled anywhere other than New York, New Jersey, or Rhode Island, you must quarantine for 10 days upon return or submit a rapid antigen or PCR test to the Department of Public Health. Please also send a copy to your school nurse.
- New quarantine guidelines from the DPH
- Testing for RPS staff
- Rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine
Mitigation
Increased mitigation measures will be in place when we return to school on January 4th, including a short-term reduction of in-person density in elementary school buildings via the hybrid learning model, and increased supervision of mitigation efforts by school nurses and building principals. In addition, Dr. Da Silva, Dr. Hannaway, Karen Dewing, and I will meet on Wednesdays with Town of Ridgefield Health Director Ed Briggs, and RPS Medical Advisor, Dr. James Ahern, to determine the learning model for the following week.
The video also reviews the importance of staying home from work or school if you have one of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) listed symptoms of COVID-19: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.
Travel Advisory
If you traveled to any state or foreign country other than New York, New Jersey, or Rhode Island, you must quarantine for 10 days upon return, or submit a rapid antigen or PCR test to the Department of Public Health (DPH). Please also send a copy to your school nurse. More information on CTโs travel advisory can be found here.
Quarantine Guidelines
RPS has adopted the CT DPH revised quarantine guidelines of 10 days after an exposure to COVID-19. At this time, we are not allowing a test-out option after day 5. We may revisit after we see a sustained reduction in new cases at RPS. Parents may contact their school nurse with specific questions related to quarantine timelines for each childโs specific situation.
Testing for RPS Staff
RPS staff may now receive same-day testing at Connecticut Community Health Centers (CCHC) by registering online for a test. Bring your RPS ID badge to skip the line. Also, in partnership with First Selectman Rudy Marconi and DOCS Urgent Care, RPS staff may receive a rapid antigen test at Yanity Gym in Ridgefield (next to Central Office). To register for a test at DOCS, fill out the google form I emailed to RPS on December 14th or send me an email.
Vaccine
Phase 1a of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout has started in Connecticut. Currently, health care workers, including RPS school nurses and health office paras, have appointments to receive the vaccine. Educators and school staff will be in phase 1b. Facilitating the vaccination of our educators is one of our highest priorities. As soon as the vaccine is available to educators in phase 1b, we will communicate that information right away.
Aagin, please watch this video, wear a mask, wash your hands, and keep your distance.
In partnership,
Aaron
Aaron Crook, RN
COVID-19 Health and Safety Compliance Liaison
Coordinator of Nursing Services
Quick Links:
Travel and Returning to School
Please refer to the website below regarding travel plans and what needs to be done if you and your family will be traveling to an affected state, territory, or country.
Connecticut travel advisory requirements have recently been updated and can be found here: https://portal.ct.gov/coronavirus/travel. Executive Order Regarding Travel: Pursuant to Governor Lamont's Executive Order No. 9S, anyone traveling into Connecticut from a state or territory, other than New York, New Jersey, or Rhode Island, or from a country other than the United States, is directed to self-quarantine for a 10-day period from the time of last contact within the identified state or country. An Affected Traveler is exempt from the self-quarantine requirement if the Affected Traveler (1) has had a test for COVID-19 in the seventy-two (72) hours prior to arrival in Connecticut or at any time following arrival in Connecticut, (2) the result of such COVID-19 test is negative, and (3) he or she has provided written proof of such negative test result to the Commissioner of Public Health via email to DPH.COVID-Travel@ct.gov or via facsimile to 860-326-0529. All test results submitted to DPH are confidential. All COVID-19 tests, other than COVID-19 antibody tests, are acceptable for this testing option. If a test was obtained in the seventy-two (72) hours prior to arrival in Connecticut, or following arrival in Connecticut, and such Affected Traveler has not yet received his or her test results, such traveler shall remain in self-quarantine in Connecticut until a negative test result is submitted to the Commissioner. If the test result is positive and the traveler is asymptomatic, he or she shall self-isolate for ten (10) days from the date of the test; if symptomatic, he or she should seek medical assistance. Travelers who test positive for COVID-19 prior to traveling to Connecticut should delay such travel and consult with a medical professional. All Affected Travelers are required to complete the Travel Health Form.
In summary, if your child will be returning from an affected state, territory, or country before returning to in person school, they will need to either quarantine for 10 days on their return to CT, or have a negative PCR or rapid test. The results of this test need to be emailed to Mrs. Martire prior to their return to in-person learning.
If you will be traveling, please notify your child's teacher, the nurse, and me via email that the student will be quarantining due to travel. We need to maintain records on the learning model for each student in the building.
Dismissal ๐
Our dismissal process has been working smoothly, and I am incredibly grateful for your patience and flexibility as we navigate the space we have to use. We will continue to work with Ridgefield Police to ensure a safe, efficient pickup at Scotland! Just a few dismissal reminders as we head into the week...
- Please be sure to enter dismissal information into School Dismissal Manager. If a family arrives to pick up a student whose name is not entered in SDM, the family will be asked to park, and then sign out their child with our security guard. This is to ensure the safety of each and every student.
- Please have your students name(s) visible in the front windshield on the passenger side of the car. This will allow our staff to call students for dismissal in the most efficient way possible.
- In the pick up line, students MUST enter the car on the passenger side of the car. We cannot have students walking between cars to enter from the driver's side. If your child must enter on the driver's side, please park your car, and one of our staff members will walk your child to you.
- If you need to help your child buckle, or perhaps open a snack for their ride home, kindly park the car in one of the available spots to do so.
A Note from Mrs. Martire ๐ฉ๐ปโโ๏ธ
If your child is ill or has been exposed to Covid-19 please contact me at 894-5825 extension 6575 or email me at lmartire@ridgefieldps.net.
Attached below is the letter that was sent out from the RPS nurses at the start of the school year for your reference. It includes a link to Addendum 5 ( also attached below: link to CT Guidelines) which was a collaborative effort by the Connecticut State Department of Education and the State Department of Public Health to provide schools districts with guidance and protocols for responding to specific Covid-19 scenarios that may occur with school reopening.
Due to COVID health and safety concerns, any student with any one of the potential COVID symptoms (cough, difficulty breathing, fever or chills, fatigue, muscle or body ache, headache, new loss or taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea) must remain home until the CSDE and CT DPH guidance is met in accordance with Addendum 5.
Addendum 5 has several scenarios based on symptoms and exposure. Becoming familiar with the document will be helpful as I will be referring to this often this year as we continue to experience this global pandemic.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions .
Stay well,
Lisa Martire
Virtual Learning Reminders
- Students will be visible to the teacher and other participating students (please remind your child to have their camera on throughout the lessons).
- Parents are encouraged to have their students independently participate via a location that is quiet and free of distraction, to the extent possible. Other individuals in the home are not permitted to participate in or be visible on the video conference, or otherwise observe the lesson, other than reasonable adult supervision of the student.
- Parents and students are prohibited from recording video conferencing sessions. The district will not be recording any classes/sessions.
- Depending on each studentโs individual circumstance, teachers or service providers may request the facilitation of the supervising adult to assist the student in engaging in the session.
- In addition, if your child needs to leave for a period of time during instruction (i.e. doctor or dentist appointment), please notify the classroom teacher ahead of time, just as you would if they were in the building.
Thank you so much for your partnership in making this experience a success!
School Dismissal Manager
We continue to use School Dismissal Manager this year at Scotland. Please click below for information regarding this system. This system will be available to families in late August. A welcome letter will be emailed to families when the system is available. If you have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us!
We'd love to see all the wonderful things our kids are doing during each week!
Send Photos To: robinpro@live.com
Contact Us!
Email: jkatkocin@ridgefieldps.net
Website: https://ses.ridgefield.org/
Location: 111 Barlow Mountain Road, Ridgefield, CT, USA
Phone: 203-894-5825
Twitter: @Scotland_Elem