PRE Newsletter
August 30, 2020
Teachers will be sharing with you specific schedules and information for their classroom. More information will be coming this week, including videos that will help families understand the procedures that will be in place.
I know that I have sent the A/B Hybrid calendar several times, but I have attached it again today as I want to make sure all families understand how it works. Families who have last names beginning with A-K will attend on A days. Families with last names beginning with L-Z will attend on B days. C days are designated as deep cleaning days in the building, and teachers will be meeting with their whole class virtually.
This has definitely been a whirlwind time in our lives as we prepare to start the school year. We all want to see our PRE families again in a safe manner while dealing with the pandemic that we are currently experiencing. Please know that our top priority is to maintain a safe learning environment.
Resepctfully,
Kristel Fulcher
PRE Principal
Specifics about In-Person Hybrid Model
Arrival
Entering Procedures--Front:
Students will form four lines near the front entrance. Colored tape will be placed in a line from the door with six feet spacers marked for students to social distance as they stand in line. Students will begin entering the building at 8:25.
· Students in grades K-2 will line up on the left side (facing the building)
· Students in grades 3-5 will line up on the right side (facing the building)
· Identified staff members take the temperature of each student. If the temperatures are within range, the student moves into the building where they will use hand sanitizer from sanitizer stations placed near the entrance.
· Students will continue to walk down the hallway to their classrooms
· Staff members will be placed in the hallway to monitor as students walk to their rooms.
Entering Procedures--Back:
Students will form lines near the back doors. Colored tape will be placed in a line from the door with six feet spacers marked for students to social distance as they stand in line.
· Students in grades K-2 will line up on the K-2 side.
· Students in grades 3-5 will line up on the 3-5 side.
· Identified staff members take the temperature of each student. If the temperatures are within range, the student moves into the building where they will use hand sanitizer from sanitizer stations placed near the doors.
· Students will continue to walk down the hallway to their classrooms
· Staff members will be placed in the hallway to monitor as students walk to their rooms.
Back to School Night
· Teachers will be on site doing live Zoom meetings for families. This will be recorded and available for all families.
· Teachers will hold their live Zoom meetings for 30 minutes on the evening of September 3. Sessions will be held at 5:30 and 6:00.
· Videos of the classroom setup will be emailed to families before school starts so that students will have an idea of what the classroom will look like when they arrive.
Birthday Treats
All birthday treats will need to be store-bought and pre-packaged.
Classroom Materials/Manipulatives
If students use any classroom materials or manipulatives, they will need to sit for a minimum of 24 hours or be sanitized before others can use them. Students should only use an electric pencil sharpener or their own hand-held pencil sharpener.
Classroom Set-up
· Desks are spaced six feet apart and are arranged to have all students face the front of the room.
· Students will be assigned seats.
Dismissal
Dismissal will be announced over the intercom.
Specific details are in place to ensure a well-monitored and systematic dismissal.
Drills
Drills (tornado, fire, crisis) are still required by state law, but there is some flexibility in how we perform our drills this year. Safety in all areas continues to be a top priority.
Communication
Teachers will send out weekly information to families on Fridays and will use both email and the app, SchoolWork, to communicate. The app, SchoolWork, will be the main form of communication so that families and students have one location to go to get assignments, videos, Zoom links, etc.
Field Trips
There will be no field trips outside the building this year. Teachers are researching virtual options that would be a direct benefit to the curriculum.
Greeting/Hugging Students
Teachers are determining an alternative to high fives, handshakes, hugs, etc. and will communicate this to students.
Handwashing/Sanitizing
Students are to wash their hands and/or sanitize every hour. Pod sinks will be available as well as sinks in shared bathrooms. Please coordinate this with your team. Classroom hand sanitizers can be used as well. We will be showing a video of how to properly wash your hands to students and will continue to reinforce. If a child touches the outside of their mask, they will be asked to immediately wash their hands or use hand sanitizer.
iPads
Every student will be issued a district iPad with accessories. Student iPads, chargers, and crayons should go home in the plastic case every day.
Isolation Room
All buildings in the district assigned a designated area for use as an isolation room. This room can be used for both staff and students. Any person demonstrating symptoms of COVID-19 will utilize this room.
Items that a Parent Wants to Bring to School
“Johnny left his water bottle at home…”
There will be boxes outside the main door for parents to place items. Parents are asked to call the school letting us know what they are dropping off and who it needs to go to.
Lockers
Lockers will be used by students and will have access in a staggered manner.
Lunch for Students
There will be three lunch choices for students in the morning.
Lunch times are staggered with two grade level classes going to lunch at a predetermined time with the other two sections going five minutes later. This is to allow for less congestion in the hallway.
Lunch will be held outside as often as the weather allows. Students are asked to bring an old towel to school to use when going to lunch. Students will take their towels to lunch, go through the lunch line, and then head out the front door. Students will find their number spot within their labeled classroom area. They will spread out their towel and sit on it. Then, they will remove their mask and carefully place it on their towel. Students will stay on their towel when they eat. Before students leave their towel area, they will be expected to put on their mask. Students will then dump their trash and line-up in a designated area. Teachers will walk around the building to enter through a door with a card reader that is closest to their classroom.
Towels need to go home once/week to be laundered.
If the weather is not conducive to have lunch outside, students will eat in their classrooms with overflow to the pod area. Lunchroom aides plus other staff will be supervising lunchtime.
Masks/Face Shields
Students will receive a mask from the district, and staff will receive two masks as well as a face shield and desk shield. Masks should be worn at all times.
Students will be able to remove their masks several times during the day…recess, lunch, PE (we will be using the MVHS grass soccer field when weather permits; the gym is large enough to space out safely when inside), and sometimes during music.
Recess
Outdoor: Classes will be assigned to sections of the playground and will use one section of the playground each day in order to maintain cohorts. Each grade level will create a schedule for the playground, rotating sections each day.
Students need to use hand sanitizer before and after recess.
Each teacher will supervise their students during recess times.
Indoor: Teachers will determine activities for indoor recess that will limit touching of materials. Masks will need to be worn during indoor recess.
Specials
The specials schedule will be on a weekly schedule this year. This is to limit exposure when we are in the building.
During the hybrid model, specials teachers will travel to classrooms. The exception to this is PE. Students will be going outside for PE when weather permits during any in-person model. Music will either be in the classroom or have the option to hold class outside in designated areas. Specials teachers will have application activities for students when they are not in school.
Specials teachers will follow their regular schedule on “C” days during the hybrid model, so they will be Zooming with their classes on “C” days.
Student Supplies
There will be no community/shared supplies this year. Families have been asked to label all supplies.
Visitors
There will be no visitors in the building this year. If anyone needs to enter the building (copy machine person), then they will have their temperature checked and asked if they have any COVID-19 symptoms or been exposed to anyone with COVID-19.
Water Bottles
Each student should bring a filled water bottle to school every day. The manual water fountains will NOT be working, but we have water filling stations to fill water bottles. Teachers will schedule a time during the day to fill water bottles. It would be a good idea to send a backup water bottle.