Blended Learning Update
On Wednesday, November 18th, the Board of Education considered a recommendation at its meeting and approved changes to learning schedules for the remainder of the first semester, which ends January 15. You can watch the meeting online here. The new schedules include:
- Elementary students in grades K-5 will continue the blended schedule through the end of the semester. See the Elementary School In-Person Calendar here. Distance learning days have been added around the upcoming holiday breaks to limit the spread of illness. Distance learning days are the three days after Thanksgiving (November 30-December 2); and before and after winter break (December 21-22 and January 5-6).
We will continue to practice health and safety precautions at school and if at any time we reach critical illness or staffing levels, we may need to close an elementary school or schools for a period of time until the situation improves.
- Virtual Campus students will continue with their daily schedule for the remainder of the first semester.
- Parkway Early Childhood students will continue on their current schedule with the same distance learning days as our elementary schools as outlined above.
Cougar Curbside
November Sustainable Schools Challenge
This month, we're focusing on reducing our waste!
Waste reduction is a great way to start thinking about sustainability because we all deal with waste everyday at home, school, and work. We also all have the ability to make simple changes to reduce our waste everyday, if we know where to look.
Try peeking into your home or school trash can or recycle bin and think about what items are inside. Could any of those items in the trash have been reused or recycled? Could a reusable alternative have been used instead to prevent that trash? Consider picking one item that you commonly see in your trash that could be reduced and set a goal for the week to reduce it.
This month's mini challenges work toward our goal for reducing waste. At the end of the month, one elementary, middle, and high school with the most points towards waste reduction will win $100.
November Mini Challenges
Green (1 point; no photo required)
Take the pledge to reduce waste this month!
Greener (10 points; submit photo through Points Reporting form)
- Try to have a waste-free lunch (only reusable, recyclable, or compostable items)
- Carry a reusable bottle or mug and ditch the plastic bottles
- Create a sign to remind people what can and cannot be recycled at home or school
- Play an online recycling sorting game
- Try one of these tips for reducing plastic bag waste during COVID-19
Greenest (20 points; submit photo through Points Reporting form)
- Take your old electronics and batteries for recycling
- Donate old clothes/fabrics to a charity drop-box at your school or local thrift store
- Write to a local business, grocery store, or your city government about reducing the use of single-use plastics
- Start composting at home
- Try a design challenge:
Beyond the 3 R's
Rethink: Do you really need the item? Can you choose a reusable product or one in reusable/recyclable/environmentally preferable packaging?
Refuse: Say no to single-use straws, cutlery, plastic bags. Remove yourself from junk mail lists and pass on the unnecessary free pens and keychains.
Reuse: Switch out disposable items for reusable alternatives, reuse old t-shirts as rags, wrap gifts with newspaper - get creative!
Repair: Try sewing holes in socks or buttons back on instead of throwing out clothing, superglue that broken bowl, or have your cracked phone screen replaced.
Recycle: As a last step, recycle right - don't contaminate your recycling with trash.Composting your organic waste recycles it back into healthy soil.
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Online Book Fair
Dear Parents and Families:
The Scholastic Book Fair is back! While the Fair will be exclusively held online this year, we still plan on making it a fun and joyous experience for our kids. Features include:
- Carman Trails Elementary's own online store, with a large selection of titles, at the right price points
- A Virtual Fair so you and your kids can experience the magic of the school shopping experience. Browse titles by grade, meet popular authors, and discover the comfort and joy of our Fair
- Every dollar you spend will benefit our school directly (25% back in rewards!)
Save these dates and view our school’s Fair site:
Fair Dates: Thursday, November 12, 2020 – Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Online Store: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/carmantrailselementarysch
We can't wait to "see" you at the fair!
Danielle Peterson and Ellen Woerner
Carman Trails Elementary’s Book Fair Co-Chairs
Transportation Change
Nurse's Notes
Parkway Nurse's October Newsletter
Coronavirus-Evaluation of Symptoms
All students and staff should complete a daily health screening before coming to school.
If your child has any symptoms, including known exposure to COVID-19, flu, or cold symptoms, they should stay home and call your school.
When will your child be sent home from school?
- If your child has 1 low risk symptom they will be sent home and may return to school in 24 hours after symptom resolution if there is no known COVID-19 exposure
- If you child has 2 low risk symptoms OR 1 high risk symptom they will be sent home and require a medical evaluation
When will we need a doctor's note?
- Healthcare provider confirms alternative diagnosis for symptoms
- Medical clearance required from your healthcare provider or Department of Health for student to return to school after medical evaluation
When can my child return to school after COVID testing?
- If negative, the student may return after 24 hours without fever and symptoms improving
- If positive, the student may return to school after 10 days since symptoms onset, 24 hours without fever, and symptoms improving
When can my child return if they are found to be a close contact?
- The student may return after 14 days from last contact with COVID positive individual, unless symptoms develop
- If symptoms appear the student should receive a SARS-CoV-2 PCR test
Please check out the Parkway Nurse's October Newsletter. This is a great source for health information, resources, and safety tips!
