PRE Newsletter
November 13, 2020
Important Dates
November 16 Last day to order PRE PTO Spirit Wear
November 20--Enrollment deadline for 2nd semester learning model changes (see information below)
November 25-27 Thanksgiving BreakDecember 23-January 4 Winter Break
A Special Note from Nurse Sarah
Hello PRE families,
As cases in Johnson County increase, I wanted to reach out to you to go over COVID information, guidelines, mitigation practices, and how you can help from the outside. Here at PRE, we are following all distancing guidelines, wearing masks, and limiting class exposure. I am asking, pleading, to all of those that live in the community, to follow the same practices.
To keep our kids in school, we need to take this pandemic seriously, and follow the guidelines set by the county and the state.
1. Mitigation Practices-in order to decrease your risk for COVID, avoid quarantine, and help slow the spread there are 3 things you must do: WEAR a mask, Distance yourself 6 feet from others, and Limit your exposure to other people to less than 10 minutes. If all 3 are followed, your risk is considered very LOW.
2. If your child displays COVID symptoms, we ask that they not come to school and be COVID tested or seen by a physician immediately. On the district website, under the Department/Health Services/COVID-19 tab, you will find all the information about symptoms and school exclusion. Please see the link here: www.usd232.org/Page/8472
3. I do have a very limited supply of COVID tests that I can use to test the students in our building. It is a saliva based PCR testing. There are specific criteria to be eligible. Here are the most important: Parents will have to sign a consent for the testing, ORL students cannot be tested, and the student will have to have symptoms to be tested here at school.
4. Rapid antigen testing is not accepted as a standalone test at this time, students are required to have PCR type testing completed.
5. I have referral cards for COVID testing at the health department. It is drive-up, free, and they have been returning results in about 48 hours. The referral card essentially acts like the un-fun version of a Disney fast pass: you don’t have to schedule an appointment and can just show up at the health department any time during their testing hours. Be prepared to present the card when you arrive. These are an option for students on campus, if you cannot get the student into their pediatrician.
6. Please be aware that if a student has a pending COVID test, they may NOT be on campus.
7. Please contact me immediately, if there is direct exposure to a COVID positive patient or the student is COVID positive.
8. If your student is at home and you have COVID concerns, please send me an email with information about your circumstances. If your COVID concern occurs during the evening, on a weekend or school holiday, I will follow up with you the next business day or as soon as I am able.
9. About the contact tracing process: When I receive information about an illness that meets certain criteria, I submit a report that places that case in the contact tracing queue. Typically, cases are not assigned to the building nurse to trace and I am not notified who is assigned. After the contact tracing is complete, the tracer returns the information to the Health Services Coordinator and then she notifies the building about return dates. Tracing can often take multiple days if we are waiting for a return call or waiting on COVID test results. In summary, the process can be long and I will likely not have information that I can share with you right away.
Only with help from the surrounding community can we slow the spread. Please push through the fatigue...by showing your Pandemic Stamina. Continue to take precautions to protect those around you. If we slow the spread outside, it will help us keep the kids inside!!!
Please let me know if you have questions. Thanks again. Just know we are all working tirelessly to protect students and staff at PRE.
Thanks for the support,
Nurse Sarah
(913) 667-1800
Masks or Gaiters?
Just as face masks vary in size and quality, neck gaiters (fabric worn around the neck that can easily be pulled-up around the nose and mouth) can also vary in both size and quality. The key is to find the combination that affords the best fit and level of protection. With both types of face coverings, it is essential and expected that the mouth and nose always remain covered unless classes are taking a structured mask break. Fabrics that are multi-layered are best whether using a mask or a neck gaiter.
Please check to make sure that the fabric in either is thick enough to afford a good barrier and that the covering fits snugly against your child's face. We have plenty of extra masks on hand in case students are having difficulty keeping their masks from slipping down. Again, it is always a good idea to have plenty of clean face coverings to rotate throughout the week.
Learning Model Change for Second Semester Open
USD 232 Families:
Parents who desire to change their student’s learning model for second semester may do so from November 9-20 through Skyward Family Access. Families who want to continue with their children’s current learning model do not need to take any further action, but do have the option of completing the form to confirm the learning model choice for their student(s). Depending on the number of learning model changes, students may be assigned different teachers for second semester.
Requesting a Change for Second Semester
There are two learning model options to assist parents in making the best possible choice for their children; On-Site or Optional Remote. Parents will utilize Skyward Family Access to make the change in learning models. Selections must be received by Friday, November 20, and will take effect second semester, January 20, 2021.
** IMPORTANT: The parent/guardian who is normally responsible for enrollment will need to make the selection in Skyward Family Access. Attached to this message are directions to assist parents
.
Do I need to make a selection?
Only if you want to change your child’s learning model for second semester. Parents who do not want to change their student’s learning model do not need to take any further action. However, we have provided a “no change” option for parents who still want to complete the online form.
Parents have two choices: On-Site or Optional Remote.
- Parents who desire in-person instruction for their children would choose the On-Site Learning Model, knowing that the school district could shift between two additional learning environments during the school year based on the community/school spread of COVID-19. Under our On-Site Model, the district could start in or move between three learning environments: On-Site (in-person) to Hybrid, or to Remote learning.
- Parents who would rather have their children participate in off-site instruction should select the Optional Remote Learning Model. The students in this model would be in optional remote learning full time for the remainder of the school year.
Next Steps for Parents:
- Log-in to Skyward Family Access
- Select Learning Model for the Spring 2021 Semester
- Repeat, as needed, for each student
- Complete before Friday, November 20, 2020
Questions?
To learn more about your choices of Learning Models, visit our website.
Please contact your child’s school with school-specific questions.
Skyward Family Access
The district will utilize Skyward Family Access to complete registration / enrollment.
Forgot your user name/password?
The Skyward Family Access parent account is based on the parent email address on file with the school. First, try using the “Forgot your Login/Password” to reset your password. This link is on the login page for Family Access. If that process is not successful, please contact your child’s school directly to ensure it has your most current email address on file.
Other Information
Once the selection process is completed, each school will begin the process of building new schedules for students enrolled in the On-Site and Optional Remote Learning Models for the second semester.
Language for Form
Please review the two learning models (https://www.usd232.org/Page/8382) you want to consider. After review, please select the preferred learning model for your student(s) for the second semester of the 2020-21 school year. Please note: parents who want their student to continue in their current learning model can select the “no change” option.
This process will reflect your FINAL CHOICE of learning model and will start at the beginning of second semester (Jan., 20, 2021) and will remain effect for the rest of this school year.
Action Needed: It is time to select/confirm a learning model for your student for the second semester of the 2020-21 school year. This action by be completed by Friday, November 20.
Car Loop Assistance
Spirit Wear
Shutterfly
Ordering cards for the holidays? Support PRE by placing your orders this year through our Shutterfly Storefront. You can create cards, photo books, keepsakes, gifts, home décor and more—and Shutterfly will donate 8% to Prairie Ridge Elementary. Please help spread the word by sharing our Shutterfly Storefront with your friends and family. Happy Holidays and happy shopping! http://pre.shutterflystorefront.com/
Amazon Smile
Did you know you can support the PTO with AmazonSmile?
When you select Prairie Ridge Elementary PTO, for each eligible purchase, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the PTO! On your computer, go to https://smile.amazon.com. If you use your mobile device, this can be configured under "Settings". Shop and feel good!
Food Drive
We are limited with what we can do this year but our Community Service Coordinator, Kristin Repp, organized a successful food drive to help stock up Shawnee Community Services. Thank you everyone for your generous donations!
Special thanks to Jennifer Williamson and American Family for loaning their trailer!