Weekly Update
September 18, 2020
PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE NEWSLETTER
Welcome back on campus
Dear Parents,
We are looking forward to seeing some of our students back on campus! As we prepare for the return to school on Monday, September 21, I need your help. Please read these instructions and reminders for a successful experience at the school building:
· School starts at 7:55 am and ends at 2:40 pm.
. To minimize crowding, please plan to drop off your student in the carpool line. Parents are not permitted to accompany their student inside the building.
· Car drop-off and car pick-up will be at the front of the school ONLY. (You may enter the campus from Campus Drive or Julia Tutwiler Drive. Please be mindful of the arrows that are painted on the drive as they will assist with traffic flow.) Teachers will direct you through the car line and students may only get out of the right side of the car and step onto the sidewalk under the awning. Please do not load or unload except in the sidewalk and awning area.
· For afternoon pick-up, parents need to have a sign with their child’s last name visible in the front window (Your teacher will provide these signs when you come to school).
· Please REFRAIN from cell phone use when in the carpool line. It is important to be completely aware of ALL students!
· Bus zones are located on the south side of the building (near the University Church of Christ.) Please do not enter the bus zones.
· School doors will open each morning at 7:30 am. Students should not arrive at the school before this time. TMSE students who are eating breakfast will go directly to the cafeteria. All other students will proceed directly to their classrooms.
· For the safety of your child, you may not call the school and change the way your child is riding home. You must send a note that morning with your child to give to your child’s teacher. Please do not text or email your teacher regarding transportation. We must have the transportation change in writing or your child will follow their normal routine.
Please know that we are doing everything we can to make this a smooth transition for all students and parents. We understand that there will be some congestion with traffic as car riders for two schools navigate the car pool lane. We appreciate you working with us.
Student Groups and Days (Green and Gray Days)
Tuscaloosa City Schools students will start school on September 21 in a staggered schedule format. We are looking forward to seeing our face to face students at TMSE on Monday.
- By now, you must have received information from your child's teacher via email about your child's staggered group/day assignment.
- Students will receive 2 days of face-to-face instruction & 3 days of asynchronous learning.
- Friday will be a virtual day of asynchronous learning (no live instruction) for ALL students.
- During the staggered phase of school reopening, students will be divided into two groups.
- The green group students will attend school on Monday and Tuesday from 7:55-2:40.
- The gray group students will attend school on Wednesday and Thursday from 7:55-2:40.
SPECIALS SCHEDULE FOR GREEN & GRAY DAYS
Students will have specials on the days that they are not physically in the school building.
Green students will have specials on Wednesday and Thursday.
Gray students will have specials on Monday and Tuesday.
There will be no specials on Fridays.
Students will have a break in between each special. They will need to leave the meet at the end of their first special and rejoin at the start of their second special.
1st Grade Specials Times:
8:10-8:30 and 8:40-9:00
Google Meet Code: TMSE1
2nd Grade Specials Times:
8:10-8:30 and 8:40-9:00
Google Meet Code: TMSE2
3rd Grade Specials Times:
9:10-9:30 and 9:40-10:00
Google Meet Code: TMSE34th Grade Specials Times:
9:40-10:00 and 10:10-10:30
Google Meet Code: TMSE4
5th Grade Specials Times:
9:10-9:30 and 10:10-10:30
Google Meet Code: TMSE5
Important Health Information
- Masks are mandatory for ALL students and faculty at TMS-E. Please send your child to school with a clean, labeled mask daily.
- Temperature checks for all students will occur first thing each morning.
- We ask that you do not send your child to school with any of these symptoms:
NEW Cough
NEW loss of taste or smell
NEW Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
Temp of 100.4 or greater
Runny nose or congestion
Nausea/Vomiting
Diarrhea
Muscle or Body Aches
Chills
Fatigue
Headache
Sore throat
**If your child has any of these symptoms, he/she will be placed in an isolation room and you will be asked to pick your child from school as soon as possible.**
· Notify Nurse Kristina if your student has a positive Covid-19 test or exposure to Covid-19.
· If your child has been in close contact with someone with Covid-19 or suspected Covid-19 at the school you will be notified.
Contact Info
· The school needs updated reliable contact information and individuals listed that can pick up your child in the event they need to go home.
Medication
· Any 8:00 am medications should be given at home before your child leaves for school.
· If your child uses an inhaler please discuss with your child’s physician if they are able to self- administer or self-carry the inhaler at school. This will be at the physician’s discretion.
· If you have medication to sign in to the school nurse you will need a Parent/Physician Authorization form (PPAF) completed by the medical provider.
New Procedures for Safety TMS-E
MASKS
Masks are MANDATORY for ALL STUDENTS.
Students arriving by car will go directly to their classrooms unless they are eating breakfast. If they are eating breakfast, they will walk to the cafeteria.
7:20 Coach Rust will be in the gym to monitor early bus arrivals. At 7:30, he will send them to the Cafeteria /classroom.
CLASSROOM
All teachers will have a seating chart. Classrooms with desks are spread apart. Classrooms with tables have limited seating at the tables. During the staggered schedule, there will not be more than 2 students at a table and up to 2 students will gather for small group instruction.
LOCKERS/CUBBIES
Students will be allowed to use the lockers and cubbies with safety measures in place. Their teacher will provide specifics to them.
DISMISSAL
Students will be dismissed by bus number and by classroom to reduce traffic in the hallways. Cars must have a sign with the last name displayed on the dashboard of the car.
Hallways
Hallways will be marked with social distancing floor stickers (6' apart) and one-way traffic flow markers. Entrance and exit doors will be labeled as such.
WATER FOUNTAINS
Water fountains are turned off.
We ask students to bring in 2 water bottles. Also, water bottles have been purchased/donated for students and will be made available as needed/in the event the student does not bring their water bottle.
BREAKFAST & LUNCH
Our cafeteria is preparing breakfast and lunch for those students wishing a TMS-E meal, but we must know in advance of your plans to eat a prepared meal. (Please refer to our weekly breakfast/lunch reservation email form.)
Breakfast eaters will be served breakfast in the cafeteria.
Lunch will be served to students in their classroom. When possible, teachers will plan this lunch period at an outdoor location with social distance. (Your child is always welcome to bring their own lunch from home, but remember, no food sharing, please.)
RECESS
Students will not need to wear their masks during the 20-minute recess period. Only one class may use the playground at a time. The other grade-level class will use the blacktop or other area for playtime.
RESTROOMS
Teachers will schedule specific bathroom break times. These times will be communicated to the custodian and incorporated into the daily cleaning schedule. Teachers will supervise their class to ensure social distancing. Markers will be placed on the bathroom floors and hallways to assist with 6' separation.
HALLWAYS
When students make the rare transition through the hallway, they will maintain an arm's length distance from one another and will be lined up in the seating chart order. These transitions will last fewer than 15 minutes.
PE
PE coaches are planning activities for both inside and outside. Inside activities will maintain distancing between students and equipment will be periodically sanitized. All activities will take into account safety and distancing rules for the students.
Temperature Check
All temperatures will be checked using the appropriate device while students are in their respective classrooms/cafeteria. Those students who have a fever will be sent to the TMSE isolation room and parents will be called to pick up their student immediately.
Student (Late) Check in
School begins at 7:55 am. If your child arrives late, you must sign them into the school building. The staff will give you instructions at the front door.
Student Check out
Please call ahead and speak with Mrs. Robinson if you must check out your student early. We will require everyone to show their driver's license when picking up a student. If you have additional people to add to your child's approved pick up list, contact Mrs. Robinson.
Message from Mrs. Edwards, TMSE Counselor
I know your kiddos are probably experiencing many emotions about coming back to school. I am sure they are excited, but they also might be a little bit worried. Here are some tips that can help ease their transition back to school:
-They are going to want to hug their friends and teachers on their first day back, but sadly we aren’t going to be able to do that right now. Have them practice greetings that do not involve touching. Air hugs, air high fives, waving and elbow touches are a few examples.
-Check in with your child frequently and listen to their concerns. Make sure to validate their emotions, letting them know that their concerns and frustrations are understandable.
-Encourage your child to do more of what they enjoy most, whether it is reading, playing outside or other activities.
-Ensure that your child is getting enough sleep and try to keep your routines and schedules consistent.
-Teach your child different breathing exercises that they can do when they are feeling anxious. Have them practice visualizing a “happy place,” mine is the beach. When they are thinking of their happy place, have them imagine what they would hear, taste, smell, touch, and see. Don´t stay in your happy place for too long though because you don´t want to miss what your teacher is doing.
-Sneak a surprise note in your child´s lunchbox or backpack. It is amazing what a few words of encouragement can do!
As always, if I can do anything to help you, please don’t hesitate to let me know.