What's Happening at the "D"
DeKeyser Elementary V7 #5
"Firsts are best because they are beginnings... " - Jenny Han
This past week, our Kindergarten and first grade students had their first face to face (f2f) week of school.
Here are just a few of the things I noticed with our kindergarten and first graders in their first week f2f:
The good manners of our students! I have heard "thank you" and "please" from our kindergarten and first grade students so much this weed! Kudos and Thank You to our parents for teaching these important phrases to our students! If you wonder if they are using them at school, the answer is YES!
Students were excited to come back face to face with their teacher and friends! Very few tears this year, which was nice to see. I believe that students had time to get to know their teacher and classmates online during our remote learning, which helped the first day jitters and any uncomfortable feelings students have shown in previous years!
Students were engaged in learning tasks and proud of it! When I asked students about their learning, they were beaming! I hope they shared the same excitement with you when you asked them about their days at school!
I'm confident when our Second through Sixth graders return, I will notice the same with the older children.....
Second Through Sixth Grade
On October 9th, a letter was sent home to second through sixth grade parents about the face to face learning plan. Please refer to the letter for important information on returning face to face, transportation, and School Age Child Care.
With the end of the marking period being October 30th, we will welcome back our second, third, and fourth graders on November 2nd.
On November 9th, our fifth and sixth graders will return to f2f learning. The hybrid model the district has chosen, having students with their teacher every day provides the consistency that is very important for our learners.
You may have many questions about face to face learning. Below you will find information on how things run with the hybrid schedule and safety procedures.
More specific information will be coming in the next weeks for our second through sixth grade! Keep an eye on your email.
It's a great time to be a dolphin!
Warmly,
Mary Beth Merlo
NWEA - MAP testing
Kindergarten and first grade children will be taking the test in person. Second Grade through sixth grade remote learners and all the Virtual Academy students will be taking the assessment virtually.
If taking the test virtually, teachers will be live on teams to help monitor the testing.
Parents: Please allow your child to take the assessment on their own! It may be tempting to help your child with answers. As a parent, I understand how that feels!
Please understand if you help your child now it will not benefit them in the long run!
The assessment is taken several times a year. When the student takes the test in person without parent help, the scores may be different, which may confuse and upset children if their scores are lower than when taken with parent help. Getting accurate information about your child's achievement will help us understand where there may be gaps in learning enable staff to meet the needs of students.
Will My Child Have to Wear a Mask?
Face coverings provide an essential shield to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 from spreading from child to child, adult to child, child to adult or adult to adult.
Face coverings will be used by all individuals in schools at all times. This includes hallways, indoor common areas and classrooms.
The only exceptions will be taking a water break. When removing the face covering, they should only be touched by the strings and students should be careful not to rub their eyes, nose or mouth.
Below is a sign being displayed at schools that shows the proper way to wear face coveringsHow can you help get your child get used to wearing a mask at school?
Building Protocols
Our school staff members have been working collaboratively to establish the health measures that will be in place when our students return. These protocols include:
· Distancing in hallways and classrooms
· Regular, scheduled handwashing with soap and water
· Limiting the sharing of personal items and supplies to small groups and disinfecting between use
· Keeping student personal items limited and making sure they are individually labeled and placed in student cubbies, desks, containers or backpacks.
Our staff will be modeling proper protocols for our students, including line ups, movement in the halls and distancing. In addition, we have placed reminders throughout the schools about the importance of taking simple steps to support our health and safety measures. Your child may have seen evidence of these protocols through various signage in the building.
The signs are in place to encourage students to wash their hands frequently, maintain appropriate distancing, help locate disinfecting stations and reminders on wearing face coverings. There is also signage on each UCS school entrance reminding everyone about COVID-19 protocols.
SELF SCREENING/REPORTING AN ABSENCE
Self-screening students before school is essential to the health and safety of the school community.
Before your child leaves in the morning, ask these simple questions:
1. In the past 10 days has the student tested positive for COVID-19?
2. In the past 14 days has the student come in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19?
3. Is my child experiencing one or more of the following symptoms:
· Temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher when taken by mouth
· Sore throat
· New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing
· Diarrhea, vomiting or abdominal pain
· New onset of headache, especially with fever
The answer should be no to all of these questions. If not, your child should remain at home for their protection and the health and safety of his/her classmates and the adults in your local school.
Please call our attendance line at 586-797-4400 to report the absence. Be sure to include the specific symptoms that your child is experiencing/reason for the absence.
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
School officially begins at 9:10 (AM SESSION) or 1:20 (PM SESSION). Teachers will open outside classroom doors at 9:00 (AM Session) and 1:10 (PM Session). Please do NOT leave your child unattended!
As a reminder, due to our security protocols, parents will not be allowed in the classroom.
Arrival Procedures:
· Students will wait on a social distancing spot outside of their teacher's classroom door while they wait for their teacher to welcome them into the classroom.
· If you are driving your child to school and walking them to the classroom we are highly encouraging ONE ADULT ONLY per student (and no siblings)
· Students must wear a mask.
· Masks are required for all adults and children over the age of 2 years old.
· The playground is not to be used while waiting for the teacher to open the classroom door, or after either morning or afternoon sessions.
Dismissal Procedures
Car Riders:
· Parents who are picking up students after school are encouraged to stay in their cars until dismissal. This will help us maintain social distancing and reduce overcrowding in the pick-up areas.
Classes will be dismissed from their exterior classroom door at the following times:
· AM Kindergarten- 11:50 am / PM Kindergarten – 4:00 pm
· AM First Grade - 11:50 am /PM First Grade – 4:00 pm
Bus Riders will be escorted to their bus.
What If I Need to Pick My Child Up From School Early or Check Them In Late?
- For the safety of our staff and students, parents/visitors will not be allowed in the building unless they have an approved appointment.
- If you need to check your child out of school early, you will need to walk up to the main entrance, buzz the intercom and request your child be released.
- Be prepared to show ID so we can verify you are authorized to pick up the student.
- The student will check out with the office staff and then walk out the front entrance to the parent.
- If your child needs to check in late, simply walk him/her to the front door, buzz the intercom, state the reason for being late, and the student will be allowed to enter the building.
What if my child forgets something at home?
If your child forgets an item at home, you may bring that item to school. Walk up to the main entrance and buzz the office. Let the office staff know that you are dropping off an item for your child. Place the item inside the first main office door in a bag labeled with your child's name on the table.
Visitors and Volunteers
We love having parents volunteer in our schools. Unfortunately, we need to limit the interactions among adults and students to reduce the possible spread of COVID-19.
Visitors are not permitted at school at this time, this includes at drop off and pick up. If you do have a need to meet personally with school staff, please call ahead to make an appointment. Before you arrive, please make sure you have completed a self-screening process (see appendix for self-screening document), wear a face covering and use hand sanitizer as you enter the building. Be sure to have your photo ID available.
UCS Food and Nutrition Services
All students attending in-person programs will be provided meals by the UCS Food Services department. Meals are temporarily available at no cost through funding provided bythe USDA. All elementary students in the AM and PM programs will be provided a grab and go breakfast and lunch at the end of their schoolday. Please refrigerate these meals once they come home. If you prefer that your student does not receive this service, please ask your teacher to remove them from the meal count.
Transportation News
Students are eligible for transportation service if their residence is 1.5 miles or farther from the school. Elementary students should not walk further than 0.5 mile to reach a bus stop and secondary students should not walk further than one mile.
The Transportation Department and schools will be contacting families directly regarding pick up and drop off times and locations.
While On the Bus
For students receiving bus service, the commitment to health and safety for in-person learning starts and ends each day at their bus stop.
Prior to entering the bus, students will need to use hand sanitizer provided by the district and wear face coverings. The students should look to their driver for instruction on proper seating and distancing while on the bus and the process for exiting the bus at arrival at school.
UCS Wellness
Utica Community Schools has created a wellness page for parents that provides resources to make sure we are all caring for our physical, mental and social well being. The page includes resources for self-care, supporting your child and remote learning strategies.
The page is located at http://www.uticak12.org/ucs_wellness
About Us
Our DeKeyser Community creates a safe and engaging culture of learning where thinking is visible, valued, and actively promoted.
Email: marybeth.merlo@uticak12.org
Website: http://dekeyser.uticak12.org
Location: 39600 Atkinson Drive, Sterling Heights, MI, United States
Phone: 586-797-4400
Twitter: @principalmb