LEE MIDDLE SCHOOL
2020 Reopening of Schools
The Best Way to Receive Communication from LEE Middle School
REMIND101: PM Bus Route messages (TEXT @4322k8 to 81010)
LMS Website (Weekly newsletter updates)
Telephone: 770 251 1547
Fax: 770 253 8381
Stronger Together!
Your child's health and safety has been and will continue to be a priority for Lee Middle School and the Coweta County School System.
School reopening guidelines have been developed with the guidance of the Georgia Department of Education, the Georgia Department of Public Health, and the Coweta County Emergency Management Agency.
Building and maintaining positive relationships among students, staff, and parents will continue to take all of us working together. As conditions change, know that we will update all stakeholders as quickly as possible.
In the meantime, I hope these questions and answers will help. Don't hesitate to send us an email or give us a call if we missed something or if you have a question or concern.
We will make this a great year!
Dr. Cindy Bennett, LMS Principal
The information below is subject to change based on new guidelines and recommendations from the CDC, the Department of Public Health and Coweta County School System.
Please Review This Information About Covid
Please keep your child at home if your child has the following symptoms...
What will a typical day look like?
Arrival to school
- Please check your child's temperature BEFORE bringing them to the school or before allowing them to ride the bus to school to ensure that they do NOT have a fever.
- Students may arrive at school no earlier than 7:30 am each morning. We will not have adult supervision in the building until 7:30 am.
- Parents or guardians who drop off their children in the morning will need to remain in their vehicle.
- Parents and guardians will not be allowed to enter the building, even on the first day of school.
- If a student is late to school, the student will enter the building by themselves and someone from the front office will check the child in.
- Students cannot be dropped off in the bus rider line in a car. If students are car riders, they must go through the car rider drop off area at the front of the school. The bus drop off area is only for students who ride the bus.
Dismissal from school
- Dismissal begins at 3:30 pm. Students will be dismissed from the front of the building and will exit the school using three separate locations within the building to maintain social distancing.
- Parents and guardians will remain in their car while waiting on their child.
- Parents and guardians are not allowed to exit their vehicle or enter the building. This may delay the car rider line a little, but we will work as fast as we can to get students to their vehicle in a safe and orderly fashion. It is imperative for you to discuss the importance of transportation with your child prior to dismissal (i.e. vehicle type, designated driver etc.).
Hallways/Transitions
- As per our established PBIS expectations, students will be directed to walk on the right side of the hall and space themselves 3 tiles apart from others.
Lunch
Classes will alternate days/weeks to eat lunch in the cafeteria or in their classrooms.
While in the cafeteria, students will skip seats and face the same direction to allow for social distancing.
Students will be expected to maintain social distancing while waiting in the lunch line.
Unfortunately, we will not be allowed to have visitors at lunch until further notice.
Classrooms
Teachers are setting up their classrooms to maximize distancing for students.
Students will keep their items with them during the day and will not share materials.
Students will report to connections classes daily. All connections classes will encourage physical distancing where feasible and limit student contact.
Any instruments, equipment or materials used will be disinfected between classes to keep materials sanitary.
Orientation
This year's Orientation will look very different from previous years and could possibly include a "virtual visit" to our school.
Parent nights will be announced via our social media platforms and a calendar will be provided to encourage strong participation.
Teachers will set up conferences via phone, email, and Google Meet as needed.
Effective August 6th teachers and support staff will reply to emails within 48 hours.
Student schedules are available on Infinite Campus Parent Portal on August 3rd.
Bus route information is forthcoming and will be posted and shared on all social media platforms including our website by August 3rd.
Student medication
Parents who need to drop off medication for their child can do so by appointment the week of teacher pre-planning (August 3rd-5th) or the first day of school (August 6th). All medicine shall be in its original container or prescription bottle and LABELED ACCORDINGLY. Written instructions for prescription medication must be from a doctor or a physician's assistant authorized to prescribe medicine. Instructions as to: how to administer, the amount to be administered, the time to be administered, the frequency etc., must be shown. The Authorization to Carry Medication Form should be completed and brought to school with the medication (this form is located on our website under the nurse tab). Additional information will be communicated to parents by our nurse prior to August 6th.
Middle School Athletics
District representatives and athletic directors are working to provide guidance in accordance with GHSA guidelines for all student athletes. We will communicate the plan for middle school athletes as soon as we receive it. Seventh and eighth grade students (virtual and/or face-to-face) are eligible to participate in tryouts providing they meet academic requirements and submit appropriate paperwork, including a physical.
EMPOWER Online Academy for Virtual Learning
- The Coweta County School system has created a virtual learning platform in which students can register and participate in virtual learning sessions led by Coweta teachers. Parents will need to register their student for the virtual learning option and must commit to virtual learning for a period of at least one semester.
- Click here to see the system's online learning platform. Registration will be from July 6-17th, and the registration form can be found on the Empower website (www.onlinecowetaschools.net)
- For students who receive special education services, parents who register for virtual learning will contact the special education office (in our central office) and they will arrange a meeting to discuss a plan for each student.
- For students who receive gifted and other services, the system will have a teacher serve students by providing services for the week (probably not per day). This will depend upon the number of parents who choose the virtual option. Once they know who has registered, a schedule for services will be set.
How will students who receive special services, EL, 504, special education or gifted, be served using a virtual platform?
- While the virtual learning option may look and feel different, students will receive comparable services in the virtual learning environment where practicable. For students who receive special education services, parents who register for virtual learning can contact the special education office (in our central office) and they will assist with questions and if needed to arrange a meeting to discuss a plan for each student.
If my child enrolls in Empower online learning, can they participate in extracurricular activities?
Yes. Students who are not on campus for classes but choose to participate in extracurriculars will need to be prepared to be screened upon arrival for COVID like symptoms.
Also, not all courses taught in the traditional format at LEE will be offered online through Empower. For example, Band, Chorus, and Drama are not offered online.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I need to pick up my child early?
In the event a child needs to be picked up early, the parent or guardian will enter the school and remain in the lobby; until the child comes to the front lobby to leave.
Students and parents are subject to temperature checks and may be asked to complete a health screening checklist.
What about the use of water fountains and restrooms?
All water fountains will be temporarily shut down to stop the spread of germs around the school. All students are encouraged to bring a CLEAR water bottle to school.
Water filling stations may be available for students to refill their water bottles during the day, but students will be encouraged to fill their bottles at home each morning.
All restrooms will continue to be available. However, some restroom facilities will have specific stalls, sinks, or urinals closed off and marked appropriately to ensure social distancing.
Will my child have to wear a mask?
No. Students are encouraged but are not required to wear face masks.
Students and staff are strongly encouraged to wear a face mask especially in the hallways or crowded areas where social distancing might be difficult.
Bandanas cannot be used as a face mask at school.
Will the school employ social distancing measures?
Yes, as much as possible. Coweta County School System employees, students, parents, and visitors will be encouraged to stay approximately 6 feet away from others, if possible, and avoid contact with others.
Schools will implement several practices where feasible to follow best hygiene practices and assist in social distancing which includes encouraging hand washing, face coverings, exclusive personal items, electronics, books, educational games or learning aids.
Minimizing student traffic flow and developing traffic flow patterns to maximize social distancing, increasing desk spacing where possible.
Students at increased risk of severe illnesses should implement individualized plans for distance learning.
Will my child's teacher have to wear a face mask?
Staff will not be required to wear masks while in classrooms or during instruction when a social distance can be maintained.
Staff are required to wear them in areas where it is difficult to maintain physical distancing (arrival and dismissal, hallway transitions, lunch, etc.).
Can I visit my child at school?
Until further notice, parents, guardians, volunteers, or mentors will not be allowed on campus. The only people allowed on campus will be school system employees.
If a visitation is absolutely essential and approved by school administrators, visitors will be subject to a temperature check and questionnaire. These instances will be on a limited basis.
Can I have something delivered to the school? (ex. food, gifts, etc.)
- Until further notice, outside food or packages will NOT be allowed at school (examples: food from outside school, gifts, flowers, balloons, etc.).
What about field trips?
- All field trips have been temporarily suspended. However, virtual field trips are a great way to augment learning and will be encouraged.
What about student organizations and meetings?
Until further notice, all group meetings (ex. PTO, School Council, parent meetings) and after school organizations/clubs (ex. BETA Club, Jam, etc.) are postponed.
Virtual formats will be encouraged.
What protective measures will be taken on my child's bus?
Bus drivers will clean bus seats, handles, and railings before each route.
Students will be separated on the bus to the best extent possible.
Will all students be screened for covid symptoms and have their temperature checked daily upon arrival?
CCSS and LMS will continue to follow the local health department and CDC guidelines. All staff members will be screened upon arrival on campus. Please remind your students they may be asked to have their temperature checked or to answer the COVID screening questions. Students who do not comply will be required to be picked up from campus by the parent or guardian and will not be able to go to class until a phone or online conference with the parent, administrator, and student is held. Your help supporting us in this “new normal” will go a long way to help us continue our positive learning environment with ease.
How will my child be protected at school?
We will have a number of measures to keep students safe while at school.
These measures include:
- Providing more room to allow for space at lunch with clearly marked seating areas designed to promote social distancing.
- Class changes and bells will be staggered to decrease the number of students in the hallways at one time.
- Desks and tables will be separated in the classroom to the best extent feasible. This may include having all desks facing the same way, removing additional unneeded furniture, and spacing desks out farther than normal.
- Large group activities where social distancing is not possible will be limited.
- Custodians will clean all areas frequently, paying special attention to items touched regularly by students (ex. door handles, vending machines, desks, etc.)
- Students will keep their items with them during the day and will not share materials.
- Lockers will not be used.
- Both arrival and dismissal procedures have changed to ensure that students are not gathered together and that they are staggered to the greatest extent possible.
- Sanitizer locations will be placed around the school.
- Students will be taught health and safety lessons on handwashing, distancing, not using the materials of others and other safety measures.
- Random screening and temperature checks will be conducted according to the latest CDC and health department recommendations.
What if a child begins to display symptoms of COVID exposure at school?
A list of COVID-19 symptoms to screen for can be found here.
If a student displays COVID symptoms at school, or has a temperature above 99.5 degrees that does not decrease over time (multiple checks will be taken) and/or displays other symptoms that cannot be explained, the child's parents or guardians will be contacted immediately to pick up the student.
The student will be moved into an isolation room until picked up by a parent or guardian. Parents or guardians will be given a reasonable time to pick up their child. If a parent cannot be reached or a student is not/cannot be picked up within a reasonable time frame, 911 will be notified and the child will be transported via EMS to a local hospital.
Parents should contact their child’s school regarding any subsequent diagnosis of a child sent home from school, or who otherwise has exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 or other illnesses.
Parents should notify LEE if anyone in the household has tested positive for COVID-19.
The student will not be able to return to school until released by the system's lead nurse (who can be contacted by calling 770-254-2799. Calls will be returned as soon as possible). Even if the child has a doctor's note, the child will still have to be cleared by the system's lead nurse.
Any siblings or any other student living with a student who is sent home for fever or other symptoms may stay at school, unless they also display symptoms. Any siblings or any other student living with a person who tests positive for COVID-19 will also be required to quarantine, and may not return to face-to-face instruction until cleared to do so by the system’s lead nurse.
All emergency and clinic cards need to be updated with current contact numbers and returned to school as soon as possible. Please include the name and numbers of any person (family or otherwise) who is able to pick up your child.
If a case of COVID-19 is diagnosed, local health and school system officials will be notified. Department of Public Health guidance will be followed, and local health and school officials will determine the next steps the school will follow, which may range from deep cleaning areas to school closing.
Local public health officials will determine when or if letters will be sent home. The privacy of student, family and employee health matters will be maintained.
- These guidelines are subject to change as CDC regulations and guidance are provided throughout the school year. We will be flexible this year in our attempt to provide the safest learning environment for all children.
LMS Contact Information
Asst. Principal: Amy Addison - email: amy.addison@cowetaschools.net
Asst. Principal: John Crosby - email: john.crosby@cowetaschools.net
Counselor: Christie Barnes - email: christie.barnes@cowetaschools.net
Counselor: Kysha Garrett - email: kysha.garrett@cowetaschools.net
In-School Coordinator: Toni Smith - email: antoinette.smith@cowetaschools.net
Secretary: Stacey Duffessy - email: stacey.duffessy@cowetaschools.net
Registrar: Tammye Brown - email: tammye.brown@cowetaschools.net
Bookkeeper: Connie Millard - email: connie.millard@cowetaschools.net
Attendance: Karen Eskins - email: karen.eskins@cowetaschools.net