Having students back in the building has been great and we are looking forward to the start back with 3rd-5th next week! As we have had the last week to learn about what works, we will adjust some things slightly. Overall, our plans remain the same. Having everyone follow the health and safety measures we have put in place is crucial to allow us to stay open for in-person. Including in this week's Werner Weekly, we have included the information needed for starting back. If you have any questions, please let me know. We hope you have great weekend with your family!

Sincerely,

Hayden

SAFETY ACTIONS:

• Face coverings: Please see the detailed information in this newsletter about face coverings.
• While at school, please keep in mind the three W's - "Wear a mask, wash your hands and watch your distance." Signage and wayfinding markers have been placed throughout the school.
• Hand washing and other hygiene practices will be promoted throughout the day.

• We will have a designated isolation room or area to separate anyone who exhibits COVID-like symptoms.

• Removeable plexiglass dividers will be in front offices and classrooms have small mobile dividers to use with students while at tables.

• Hand-sanitizer and touchless water bottle-filling stations are in installed. Students will be encouraged to use water bottles and hydration stations since water fountains have been shut off per county orders.

SOCIAL DISTANCING AND INTERACTIONS:

• Student arrival, drop-off and pick-up times - Students may be dropped off no earlier than 8:30. Students will go directly into the buildings after drop off. Gatherings outside of the school before or after school will not be allowed.

• Students and staff will maintain six feet of social distancing to the fullest extent possible, but it may not be possible in all instances. All students and staff are asked to limit close contact with others, which is defined by the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment as being within six feet of another person for more than 10 minutes.
  • Visual cues such as floor decals and/or signs will be utilized to indicate the flow and direction of one-way traffic and effective distancing.

• Students will be separated into cohorts. When at school, students will remain in the same cohort throughout the day.
  
• Classroom guidelines:
  • Maintain maximum desk/table spacing based on room dimensions.
  • Seating charts will be used in classrooms
  • Classroom floor space will be maximized by removing non-essential furniture.
  • Furniture that can't be disinfected (i.e. soft fabrics) will be removed from classrooms and common areas.
  • Students will have their own school supplies and backpacks. Personal items will remain at the desk with the student.
  • Shared school supplies and materials are discouraged. If supplies are shared, disinfection will take place between uses.
• Students will be encouraged to bring their own water bottles. Drinking fountains will be shut off, per county orders, but bottle-filling stations will be open where available.

• Recesses, lunches, and students passing in the halls will be staggered to keep students separated. Recess will occur outside with the following protocols
• Cohorts will play in different zones (playground equipment, grassy areas, or ball courts) and will not mix during recess time. Cohorts will rotate zones on a regular basis.
• Playground equipment will be used by small groups of students.
• Students will wash their hands upon reentering the school.
• Recess times will be staggered for each grade level.

MEALS/RECESS:

Meals

• Students may bring their own lunch or get one provided by the school. Meals are free to all students until Dec. 30. For more information and menus, go to: https://www.psdschools.org/programs-services/school-meals/menu.
• Breakfast will be served beginning at 8:30 am outside on the playground (north and south side) for students attending school in-person that day. Students may grab a breakfast and will take to classroom to eat. We want to remind you that these are free to our students until Dec. 30. Students may also grab a shelf stable breakfast for the next day as well.
• If students will be having a lunch provided by the school, they will need to let the teacher know in the morning which entree (hot or cold) they want. Please let our office staff if there are any special dietary needs if you have not already. There will be no self-serve options such as salad bars.
• Meals will be eaten in classrooms.
• Students will be asked to wash and/or sanitizer hands before and after lunch.
• Grab-and-go/sacked meals will be available for remote students. Remote students may go to one of several sites available (Kinard Middle School is the recommended site closest to Werner). For more information, go to: https://www.psdschools.org/psd2020-21/meals2020-21.

Recess

Playground equipment is provided for each A/B cohort for each classroom and will be used by that cohort. Students will wash hands or use hand sanitizer before entering and after exiting the playground.

RESTRICTIONS FOR NONESSENTIAL VISITORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND ACTIVITES

• In order to limit contact, nonessential visitors or volunteers will not be allowed at school until at least January. Parents may walk their young child up to the classroom, but will need to leave afterwards. Please keep distance from others.

• There will be no field trips.

• No in-person assemblies will be held (e.g. all-school assemblies, music performances, extracurricular activities).

BIRTHDAYS

This year, students may celebrate their birthday by choosing a special activity or extra recess for their class. With current pandemic and restrictions, we will not be allowing birthday treats. If your child has a summer birthday, please let your teacher know when you plan to celebrate it.

SPIRIT DAYS AND COMMUNITY BUILDING

• We will be working on options for possible virtual assemblies and will continue to work with PTA on possible ways to build school spirit and a sense of community when we can do that safely.
• We will also continue to work with our staff and students on ideas to build community spirit. Our Werner Cares and Shares Team is already working on some special projects to bring encouragement to our community. Stay tuned on communication coming soon.

CLEANING, DISINFECTION, AND VENTILATION

• Spray bottles of disinfectant for staff use in each classroom.

• Hand sanitizer dispensers available in high-traffic areas.

• Circulation of outdoor air will be increased as much as possible by opening windows and doors. Additionally, school ventilation systems are designed to recirculate air and are designed to work best when windows are closed. PSD is upgrading air filters to MERV 13 filters throughout buildings to filter out micron levels of COVID-19 where possible.
• Staff will be disinfecting high touch areas, bathrooms, and common areas throughout the day.

ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL REMINDERS

• Walk with Bikes/Scooters-Please walk with your bike, scooter, skateboard while on schools grounds. We need your help with this for safety purposes.
• No animals- Also, we ask that you leave your dogs at home or wait off school property with your furry friends. We some students that are afraid of dogs or have allergies and want to be sensitive to needs.
• Students should not arrive before 8:30 am. If you have child care issues, AlphaBEST is offering child care before, during and after school child care for students.
• Please leave the school grounds after dropping off or picking up your student(s).
• When dropping off your student in the Drop-Off Lane in the south parking lot, please pull all the forward and kiss and go. If you need time to help your student get ready, please use the parking lot to park your vehicle and take care of what you need.

Face coverings:

• All PSD staff and students are required to wear face coverings on school grounds.

• Although many face coverings are acceptable and follow Larimer County Department of Health and Environment guidance, face coverings should:
  • Be worn on the face
  • Be clean and in good repair
  • Be secure - fit snugly, but comfortably against the side of the face
  • Include multiple layers of fabric
  • Allow for breathing without restriction
  • Be machine washable and dried
  • Be laundered on a daily basis

• Cloth face coverings should not:
  • Have anything hanging off the facial covering that would create a food safety hazard
  • Have holes or tears
  • Masks should not be shared with others
  • A face shield alone is NOT sufficient. If a face shield is worn, it must be coupled with a cloth face covering to meet public health guidance.

• “Mask breaks” will take place periodically and outdoors for health department-approved time without face coverings.

• Students will be allowed to take their cloth face masks off for recess, following public health guidelines.

• Review PSD’s Student COVID-19 Face Coverings Protocols here.
  • If students repeatedly refuse to wear a cloth face covering or otherwise repeatedly fail to comply with this protocol, the willful disobedience or defiance to follow direction from school staff will be considered grounds for student discipline up to and including suspension or expulsion and/or require a transfer to PSD Virtual, PSD’s 100 percent online option for the 2020-21 school year.

Medical exemptions from face covering requirement
There may be rare instances when students or employees with some medical conditions or disabilities may be exempt from wearing a cloth face covering while at school.

• First talk with your school principal to learn more about PSD's process to request an exemption to the face covering requirement. Documentation from a licensed medical provider is required.

• If a student is approved for a medical exemption, they will need to wear a face shield if they are able; a physical barrier will be put in place (plexiglass, plastic or other); and social distancing of six feet or more will be implemented. Additionally, if an adult(s) is working in close proximity to the student, the adult will wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which will include a gown, gloves, mask, and eye protection.

• Other potential accommodations or alternatives, depending on the unique circumstance of the request, may include different passing/transition times to maintain distance from other students or attendance at PSD Virtual, PSD’s 100 percent online option.

• Requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Taking part in the process does not guarantee a mask exemption will be granted.

• If a student does not qualify for a mask exemption, the student will be expected to wear a face covering while at school.

Protocols for students, symptom checks

All staff are required to use the COVID-19 Daily Screening app and must get a "green light” from the app to work before entering a PSD facility. Staff who are sick must stay home, following staff protocols. >>

Families must check their student(s) for COVID-19 symptoms daily and not send them to school if they are experiencing any of the following, or are too sick to go to school, following student protocols. >>

COVID-19 symptoms:

· Feeling feverish, having chills, or temperature 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher

· New or unexplained persistent cough

· Shortness of breath

· Difficulty breathing

· Loss of taste or smell

· Fatigue

· Muscle aches

· Headache

· Sore throat

· Nausea or vomiting

· Diarrhea

· Runny nose or congestion

If any of the above symptoms are present, please keep your child at home; call your school and leave a message on the attendance line (970-488-5551); and contact your health care provider.

If your child develops symptoms while at school, they will be removed from class, parent/guardians will be notified, and the student will be isolated from others until their parent/guardian is able to pick them up. Under current protocols, students experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, not from another diagnosed condition, should isolate at home until at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared, and if the student has had no fever for 24 hours, and if other symptoms have improved.

Halloween is a great opportunity for dressing up in costumes that are creative and fun. We ask that you help your students plan for costumes that are not scary (e.g. zombies, vampires, etc.) and that do not use pretend weapons of any kind. Guns, knives, nun-chucks, bows/arrows, etc. will not be permitted. Students are okay with wearing facemasks.

Werner Cares and Shares is a special tradition where we come together to make meaningful contributions to our community and

give our children opportunities to experience the satisfaction of helping others. In the past we have hosted an evening full of hands-on projects and activities for families to do together. This year, instead, we will focus on one special group within our community each month and make handmade cards to express our gratitude and support.

The project is simple: We encourage you to use any materials you have at home to make a card. Notebook paper, construction paper, markers, tape, glue, scissors, etc. We will also have a stash of extra supplies in a box near Werner’s front door that you are welcome to use. When you are done, you can bring your card to Werner (bring them to your class on in-person days or drop in the box by the front door) and we will collect them and deliver them for you to the group of the month.

For the month of OCTOBER we will focus on thanking our FIRE FIGHTERS for all they do to keep our community safe. Feel free to make one card or a whole stack! Please turn your cards in by Monday, October 26th.

You can also use the Tech Portal for tech support when you need it: https://techportal.psdschools.org/. If you have any other questions about technology, please contact our Media Specialist, Debbie Powers, at dpowers@psdschools.org.