DAVIS HILL COMMUNITY UPDATE
REOPENING PLAN INFORMATION (10/27/2020)
Dear Davis Hill Community,
I want to thank you so very much for your patience, support, perseverance and kindness through this most challenging time period. Today's update is specific to providing you with Davis Hill's Reopening Plan document. We have received approval from our Central Office to share these plans at this time. Please see the plan link below. I also recorded a brief video review of the plan for anyone interested. This link is also available below. This plan is a supplement to the District Transition To Hybrid Plan.
I will be looking to book an 'Open Meeting/ Principal's Coffee' link for Friday as well to answer any questions. I just have to double check my schedule and I will send out information.
I want to remind anyone who has not completed their 'Remote/ Hybrid' survey at this time that they are due to be completed tonight. Dr. McCall's latest reminder email was sent last night (10/26/20). I have included a copy of that email as well for your review (I have included a copy of all of Dr. McCall's recent emails from last Friday and this weekend).
Kindly,
Jay Norton, Principal
#OnceADragonAlwaysADragon
REPOPENING PLAN
1. The sample schedule provided is just that, a sample. Specific grade level schedules will be flexible and provided by your classroom teacher as the move to hybrid draws closer.
2. The information provided should be viewed as fluid and flexible. Provided unforeseen circumstances, changes with respect to the pandemic and/ or other factors, parts of the plan may require adaptations. If major changes to the plan are enacted, I will inform the community.
VIDEO QUICK REVIEW OF PLAN
DISTRICT UPDATE- DR. MCCALL'S REMINDER EMAIL (10/26/20)
October 26, 2020
Dear Wachusett families:
I would like to take this time to thank all families for the questions and comments concerning the transition from Remote to Hybrid Learning that is scheduled to occur in the WRSD the middle of next month. If you have not had the opportunity to review our Transitioning to Hybrid Plan, much of the information requested can be found in the document.
Please note that parents must submit their learning model and transportation selections in PowerSchool by the end of the day tomorrow, Tuesday, October 27th. Please see the instructions linked below for more information:
Instructions: Hybrid Learning & Transportation Selections
We want to remind families that in order to have our transportation routes and student schedules ready by the scheduled November 18th opening of schools, if we do not receive your selections in PowerSchool by the October 27th deadline, we will assume that your child(ren) will not need school transportation and will participate in the Hybrid Learning pathway.
Thank you and be safe,
Darryll McCall, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Wachusett Regional School District
DR. McCALL's EMAIL FROM SUNDAY- 10/25/20
October 25, 2020
Dear Wachusett families:
I hope you have had the opportunity to get outside and enjoy the outdoors this weekend. I am writing to you today to answer a few questions that have been posed over the past two days in reference to hybrid and remote-only learning. We currently plan on beginning the Hybrid learning model in the WRSD on November 18th.
Question: At the k-8 level, will the hour at the end of the day be the only contact that remote-only students will have with their teachers?
The time at the end of the day will be used for teachers to connect with students who were not in school on that day, but it will not be the only time when remote-only students work with teachers. Wednesday mornings will be another time when the three cohorts will work together, as all students will be remote on that day. There will be opportunities during the school day for remote students to connect with their teachers, and this will be further defined after WREA negotiations.
Question: What time will the schools dismiss when students return to in-person learning?
All schools k-8 will release an hour earlier than their typical time. Students will still be responsible for completing assignments during the last hour of the day. WRHS will release at 11:30 and students will participate in remote classes through the end of the school day.
Question: How will teachers be delivering instruction for hybrid students on days when they are remote?
There will be a mix of asynchronous assignments, as well as some synchronous connections with the classroom teacher on days when those students are learning remotely from home. This may look different based upon the grade level or subject area taught. There will be defined times when teachers connect with students concerning assignments, remote lessons, and synchronous learning opportunities.
Again, thank you for your support and patience as we continue to reimagine the educational process and provide our students and staff with a safe learning environment.
Thank you and stay safe,
Darryll McCall, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Wachusett Regional School District
DR. McCALL'S EMAIL FROM FRIDAY 10/23
October 23, 2020
Dear Wachusett families:
We are pleased to have had additional opportunities this week to provide families with information about the reopening of schools. These took the form of our Transition to Hybrid Plan and two virtual town hall meetings held on October 21st and 22nd. If you missed either meeting, you can access them on the WRSD homepage (www.wrsd.net).
I also have the following new information to share with you today as a result of our most recent negotiations with our teachers union:
- All students, whether they are participating in the Hybrid or Remote-Only pathway will be taught by the same teachers they currently have. The only exceptions, as in any school year, would occur if teachers choose to take a leave of absence.
. - The school day will be shortened by one hour for our K-8 buildings to provide the opportunity for teachers to work with students who select the Remote-Only pathway. The high school schedule would remain unchanged with students attending a half day in-person and being remote for the remainder of the day.
- Sample schedules will be shared with families next week as part of each school’s reopening plans.
Please note that parents must submit their learning model and transportation selections in PowerSchool by this coming Tuesday, October 27th. Please see the instructions linked below for more information.
Instructions: Hybrid Learning & Transportation Selections
We want to make our families aware that in order to have our transportation routes and student schedules ready by the November 18th opening of schools, if we do not receive your selections in PowerSchool by the October 27th deadline, we will assume that your child(ren) will not need school transportation and will participate in the Hybrid Learning pathway.
Thank you and be safe,
Darryll McCall, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Wachusett Regional School District
HEALTH OFFICE INFORMATION
Return to School Reminders from Health Office
All Medication orders must be renewed each school year. New Medication orders and medication/s should be brought in by appointment to the school nurse by an adult. Students are not allowed to transport medications to school. (the two exceptions are: Epipens or rescue inhalers that a student carries in their backpack)The school nurse must be notified of any self- carry medications.
Medication order forms can be downloaded off the school website using the
Health tab on the website. Allergy action plans can also be downloaded
ALL medications administered at school must have a physician order and parent permission (signature on form). This includes prescription and over the counter medications. Please see medication policy on the website.
All students must be fully immunized by the first day of school. The only exceptions are written documentation from a doctor for medical exemptions or a written document by parent/guardian stating due to religious beliefs your child has not been vaccinated. The exemption forms must be renewed at the beginning of each school year. Those not fully vaccinated may be excluded from school if a immunization preventable disease occurs at school. Please remember that the influenza vaccine has been mandated by MDPH . You must send in one of the two exemptions if your child will not be receiving the influenza vaccine by December 31 2020.
All new students including kindergarten students are required to have an updated physical and immunization record on file.
Students entering the 4th grade need to have an updated physical and immunization record on file in the health office. Please send in as soon as they get their physical.
Students in 5th grade who did not send in an updated physical and immunization in 4th grade will need to send in ASAP.
Students in grades 2-12 will be required to wear a mask, K and one students are strongly encouraged to wear a mask.
Please contact the health office - Sandra Berquist for any questions or concerns about any health related issues.
Thank you,
Sandra
Sandra Berquist BSN RN NCSN
Davis Hill School Nurse
Email: sandra_berquist@wrsd.net
COVID-19 INFORMATION/ IN PERSON LEARNING
Dear Davis Hill Community,
To help families prepare for the eventual return to in-person learning, it is important that the following information pertaining to student illness is reviewed before students start school. As the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the medical community learn more about COVID-19, it is possible that this guidance will change. The information below is based on the most recent, reliable medical guidance.
Parents whose child has one or more of the following signs/symptoms of illness, that are also associated with COVID-19, should keep their child home from school. It is also recommended that parents contact their primary care physician for further evaluation:
Fever of 100.0° F or higher accompanied by chills
Persistent cough that is not due to another known cause such as chronic cough
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Headache in combination with other symptoms listed here
Muscle aches or body aches
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Fatigue in combination with other symptoms listed here
Nasal congestion or runny nose that is not due to other known causes such as allergies and is in combination with other symptoms listed here
Click here for the CDC’s COVID-19 Information Page
The following information, related to when child(ren) may return to school, is based on the WRSD School Reopening Plan and Department of Health guidance:
If a student is referred for further medical evaluation for symptoms of illness, they may only return to school with a note from their doctor or following a 10-day quarantine IF symptoms have improved AND they are fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.
Close contact is defined by the CDC as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic clients, 2 days prior to positive specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.
If a student is considered to be a close contact, they may only return to school following a 14-day quarantine period, even if a negative COVID-19 test result is received.
It is recommended that anyone who is considered close contact gets tested for COVID-19 four to five days following exposure.If a student has tested positive for COVID-19, they may return to school 10 days following documentation of the start of symptoms if they are fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication AND if their symptoms have improved.
Important: All documentation must be faxed or emailed to the health office prior to returning to school.
As the District refines and finalizes school reopening plans, it is understood that there may be situations unique for families that require further discussion. Your child’s school nurse is available to discuss these situations, as well as to provide further explanation for the protocols outlined in this message. Please be aware that the WRSD school nurses have been integral in shaping the District’s protocols and procedures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and they are a valuable resource for parents and guardians.
I appreciate the questions and concerns that have arisen in our outreach to the families of students. Our ability to work together and collaborate during this difficult period of time is integral to our success.
Kindly,
Jay Norton, Principal
Davis Hill Elementary School
Email: jay_norton@wrsd.net
Website: http://www.wrsd.net/davishill/
Location: 80 Jamieson Road, Holden, MA 01520, United States
Phone: 508-829-1754
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavisHillDragons/
Twitter: @DHPrincipal