Gator Gazette
Volume 6: February 18, 2021
Principal's Update
I have a couple important reminders for families to help with our continued success. First, should someone in your household be waiting on COVID test results, please keep your children at home until the results are in. This will be helpful in minimizing the number of children/staff who need to quarantine.
Secondly, we need some help with our morning drop off procedures. We now have nearly 300 cars coming through the front loop each morning.
- It is so important that all cars drop off their children at the first available space in the designated drop off area. This area expands from the sidewalk at the end of the wing on the right of the school and goes all the way around to the end of the front circle. On rainy days, the children should have an umbrellas or other rain gear to keep them dry. Unfortunately, when a driver decides to wait to unload until he/she is in the circle, it holds up multiple cars from unloading in a timely fashion.
- Additionally, it is very important that the children be ready to exit the car on the curb side as soon as possible with driver's remaining in the car unless the child requires assistance. If it is not possible to exit on the curbside, all children should cross IN FRONT of their driver's car.
- To help reduce the impact on traffic, we are asking families with last names from A - L to drop off in the morning between 7:15 and 7:25 and pick up from 2:04 and 2:15. Families with last names from M-Z are requested to drop off between 7:25 - 7:35 and pick up from 2:15 - 2:30 if at all possible.
Please join me on Thursday, March 11th at 6:00 for Popcorn with the Principal. Unfortunately, you have to supply your own popcorn as our meeting will be virtual :) We will be talking about our Division's Equity Council as well as looking ahead to the summer and fall. Be on the lookout for a flyer in PeachJar.
Black History Family Event
Chromebooks and Hot Spots Collection
March 1 - 5th grade
March 8 - 3rd and 4th grades
March 15 - 1st and 2nd grades
March 22 - PK and Kindergarten
Remaining Asynchronous and Early Release Days
In January, the School Board adjusted the school calendar to add asynchronous days to allow school employees the opportunity to receive the COVID vaccinations. We have two remaining days: February 24 and 26. Please be reminded that these are actual school days with children being expected to participate in the virtual morning meetings and complete their assignments at home to be counted as present.
As you may recall, the School Board added Early Release Days for elementary schools only to allow for teacher planning and collaboration. These are the remaining early release days for Children in both the On-Campus Continuum and Chesapeake Online:
March 11
March 24
April 28
May 12
Yearbook Sales
PTA Board Nominations
President
- Preside of all meetings
- Coordinate the work of the officers and committees
- Submit contact information to VA PTA
- Serve as an ex-officio member of all committees
- Act as aide to president
- Perform duties of president in the absence of the president
- Serve as chair of Family Events
- Record the minutes of all meetings
- Keep the official copy of the Bylaws
- Maintain a membership list
- Have custody of all funds and finances of PTA
- Keep a full and accurate account of receipts and expenditures
- Make disbursements as authorized by the president, executive board, or general membership
- Have checks or vouchers signed by 2 officers
- Present a written financial statement at every meeting
- Prepare an annual financial report
- Have the account examined according to the prescribed procedures
- Submit Audit to VA PTA
- Submit required forms to IRS
- Remit payment for dues to National PTA and Virginia PTA
Next PTA Meeting
Health Mitigation Plan
As we continue to navigate this pandemic, we need to remind our families of our Health Mitigation Plan and ask for your continued help and support. Below are a few of the strategies that are included in our plan to keep our Gators healthy and safe:
- All children have been moved to individual desks that face forward. Clear three sided partitions have been added to these desks.
- All staff and students must wear face masks at all times when in the room with others unless in a designated safe mask break area. Additionally shields are required when closer than 3 feet.
- Increasing the space between students to a minimum of 3 feet apart.
- Enhancing facility cleaning. High-touch surfaces will be cleaned throughout the day.
- Integrating a robust schedule for hand hygiene.
- Keeping children with his/her class for the entire school day to minimize mixing student groups.
- Limiting sharing of supplies to the greatest extent possible. This will require that each student is responsible for providing all of his/her own school supplies.
- Eating lunch with classmates. Lastly, it appears that it will be necessary for at least a portion of each class to eat lunch in the classroom. This may mean that some foods such as nut products may not be allowed in classrooms if there are allergy concerns.
It is critical that our entire school family does their part to help us maintain a safe, healthy school that remains open for learning. Please note that the division's policy requires children to be placed in Chesapeake Online classes if they repeatedly refuse to wear a mask (unless approved for a mask exception).It is imperative that we all make sure we are following the protocol, including keeping children at home if they have two or more symptoms associated with COVID-19 or if anyone in the household is currently being evaluated for COVID.
Visitor Parking Adjustments
Parent Parade Sign Ups
A reminder that all families who are picking up their children on a regular basis must register for our Parent Parade. https://forms.gle/8BPvPXZ5Wcw8nVGU6
Please note families only need to register for Parent Parade one time as all children in a family are included in one survey. Any families should pick up the Parent Parade cards from the School Office during normal operating hours - between 7:30AM and 3:15PM. Note: If you previously registered for the Parent Parade during this school year, you do not need to register again.
Also, please be sure that the party responsible for picking up your children in the afternoon has the orange card and that all children also have the corresponding tag on their backpacks. Please call the office if you need additional cards or tags.
GFE Bus Routes
Meal Distributions
As you may recall, Chesapeake Public Schools was notified that children will be able to eat for free through June. Families that may be eligible for meal benefits are asked to go ahead and complete the application for meal benefits to assist with other needs - https://cpschools.com/school-nutrition-services/free-and-reduced-meal-application/
School breakfast and lunch will be served daily, at no cost to children who have transitioned back to campus through a traditional schedule.
Grassfield Elementary
Email: gfegators@cpschools.com
Website: www.cpschools.com/gfe
Location: 2248 Averill Drive, Chesapeake, VA, USA
Phone: (757)558-8923
Facebook: facebook.com/GrassfieldElementary
Twitter: @GFE_Gators