Community Conversations
January 2022
Dear Methacton Families,
I hope this message finds you and your family healthy and doing well. The COVID pandemic has certainly provided an enormous amount of challenge for each of us. While we can all recognize that COVID-19 is not going away, and as more of us come to the realization that similar to other viruses, our society and our schools will continue to adapt and find a pathway through all of these challenges, we must still remain cognizant of the need to monitor our own health, take care of ourselves, and respect the health and safety of others around us.
The surge in COVID positive cases beginning in mid-December 2021 and lasting for the month of January was certainly challenging for students, parents and staff alike. I want to thank our entire school community for pulling together and helping us keep our schools open. We appreciate everyone’s efforts and cooperation during these challenging times.
While we are now seeing our school, community and county positivity and incidence rates decline, we are unfortunately not below the threshold of HIGH transmission to allow for mask- optional environment at this time. You may recall from a previous message on masking that on December 16, 2021, the Board of School Directors approved 2 metrics that would allow persons inside school buildings to choose between wearing a mask or not wearing a mask. The first metric is date driven, beginning January 31, 2022 for grades 7-12 and February 28, 2022 for grades K-6. Following these dates we can consider metric two. The second metric is community transmission levels (positivity/incidence rates). We will need to have two consecutive weeks below the HIGH community transmission or less than 100 cases per 100,000 or less than 10% positivity. Please know that an advance notice will come from my office indicating if and when a mask-optional environment is to take effect.
Second, as per the updated county exclusion guidelines and their recommendations to schools, we will initiate a new process beginning Tuesday, February 1, 2022. Our nurses will continue to be the point of contact for all matters COVID -19 related. However, based on the county recommendations, we will continue to have school nurses conduct contact tracing as they have for the cafeteria and high-risk activities (athletics). For all other locations, we will issue an email notification to the child’s primary contact informing them of potential exposure on the bus – as an example. This change is positioned to improve the turnaround time for notification to parents so that further health decisions can be made as families see appropriate. It also provides encouragement to parents to increase the monitoring of their child for potential COVID symptoms. To this end - the following is a sample email letter that would be distributed.
Dear __{School Name}___ Parent/Guardian:
The Methacton School District considers the health and safety of students and staff a priority. With that in mind, we are sending this email to you as your child’s primary parents/guardian contact for awareness purposes only.
Please know that an individual on your child’s bus was diagnosed with COVID-19 with the date of potential exposure being _{insert date}___.
This notification does not mean that your child is a close contact and it does not mean you should take any action at this time. Students considered a close contact, as per the Montgomery County Department of Public Health exclusion guide, have been contacted.
We do recommend that you continue to monitor your child each day for COVID symptoms prior to sending them to school. If your child develops COVID-19 symptoms, please contact a healthcare provider as you see fit and contact the school nurse.
Now let’s take a look at some of the outstanding events and achievements that took place across the district in January.
ARROWHEAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
WINTER CONCERT
4th GRADE CODING
SONGS FOR LEARNING
EAGLEVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
WINTER CONCERT
Wow! What a great job Eagleville musical staff and students did performing during their Winter Concert! It was wonderful to see the students perform live in front of their families. Thank you to all that attended, and congratulations to all of our performers.
SCIENCE & CIRCUITS
NEW EAGLEVILLE SPACE
WOODLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
WINTER CONCERTS
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
DRESS THE DECADES
Woodland celebrates every school year milestone by wearing fashions from the corresponding decade. The 80th day of school happened recently so students and staff dressed up in 1980’s attire. For the 90th day of school everyone dressed in flannel and jeans as this was the decade of “grunge”.
BEDTIME STORIES
WORCESTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
WINTER PARTIES
WINTER CONCERT
SKYVIEW UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
WELCOME BACK MVA STUDENTS!
MAKEY MAKEY MUSICAL CREATIONS
CAKE, ICING, & SCIENCE AT SKYVIEW
ARCOLA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
MLK DAY OF SERVICE
The MLK Day of Service presented an opportunity to bring a meaningful service project to Arcola. Socks tend to be the number one requested item by individuals experiencing homelessness. On January 17th, MLK Day of Service, volunteers came into Arcola to create Sock Rolls, a pair of socks rolled with a granola bar and a pack of crackers and finished off with a ribbon and a tag from the student. The Sock Rolls were donated to The Giving Tree. Thank you for your service!
SCHEDULING SEASON IS HERE!
On January 24th, Methacton High School counselors visited our 8th grade students to walk them through the course selection process for 9th grade.
NMTCC VISIT
On January 21st, interested 8th grade students visited North Monto Technical Career Center to learn about their program offerings. Thank you for having us NMTCC!
METHACTON HIGH SCHOOL
CHEMISTRY & ORNAMENTS
2021 CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE WINNER
MUSICAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Four students from the band program successfully auditioned into the PA Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 11 Concert Band:
Melinda Jin - Clarinet
Liya Zhang - Flute
Raymond Tai - Alto Saxophone
Darren Brady - Trombone
Five students successfully auditioned into the PMEA District 11 Orchestra:
Melinda Jin - Clarinet
Victoria Fan - Violin
Hailey Chung - Violin
Nathan Choi - Cello
Matthew Chung - Cello
Four students successfully auditioned into the PMEA District 11 Chorus:
Mimi Cavallo - Soprano 2
Quinn Adams - Tenor 2
Max King - Bass 1
Braedon O' Hara - Bass 2MHS THEATRE COMPANY | THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL
METHACTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
Email: information@methacton.org
Website: www.methacton.org
Location: 1001 Kriebel Mill Road, Collegeville, PA, USA
Phone: 6104895000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MethactonSchoolDistrict/
Twitter: @Methacton