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In-Person News!
Important Update About The Start Of School
To ensure the safety of our students, families and staff, we have made the decision to initially alter our school reopening plan to limit the number of in-person classrooms for the start of the school year. The modified plan for the start of school is as follows:
- Students who received an in-person learning seat at our day schools - Dr. Janice Adie, Laura Lee Therapeutic and LeBlanc Therapeutic - will still report to these school buildings for in-person instruction, as scheduled, on Thursday, September 17 for the first day of school.
- Students who received an in-person learning seat in the following substantially separate special education programs - Classrooms for Students with Autism (CSA), Life-skills Education and Planning (LEAP) and Language-based classrooms - will still report to their school buildings for in-person instruction, as scheduled, on Thursday, September 17 for the first day of school.
- Students in grades 1-12 (who are not assigned to substantially separate special education programs) who were scheduled for in-person learning will begin the school year in a remote learning setting. Families will be updated with the date for resuming our in-person learning program for these students.
- Preschool and kindergarten students who received an in-person learning seat will still report in person to their school building, as scheduled, on Monday, September 21 for their first day of school.
- All students currently enrolled in remote learning will continue as planned.
Pick Up and Drop Off Procedures
In order to ensure the safe drop off and pick up of your child (children), we have modified our drop off and pick up procedures.
Morning Drop Off: (8:30 - 8:40)
There will be three separate drop off lines to safely drop students without exiting your vehicles at the back of the school. These doors will open at 8:30 and close at 8:40. Children should not be left unattended. You must remain with your child until dropped of at a designated door with a staff member.
Door #1: Kindergarten
Parents should proceed to the back of the Reilly School following the traffic pattern remaining to the far right and continuing around the far cul de sac and to the first drop off door (Door #1).
Door #2: Grades 3 & 4
Parents should proceed to the back of the Reilly School following the traffic pattern past the first left turn (but not as far as the cul de sac) and continuing to the second drop off door (Door #2).
Door #3: Grades 1 & 2
Parents should proceed to the back of the Reilly School following the traffic pattern to the first left and continuing to the third set of doors nearest to the music room (Door #3).
Pre – Kindergarten Drop off / Pickup (8:30 / 11:00; 12:20 / 2:50)
Parents dropping their child (children) off for PreK should park along the side walk in front of the playground (not in the driveway). A staff member will escort your child into the school.
The school will no longer honor a change in the pick up plan after 2:00pm unless there is an emergency.
This year, there is limited busing offered for general education students in grades K -4 who live 2 miles or more from Reilly. As a result, we are expecting a large volume of car riders and walkers this year for students who are In-Person.
We are also lining up all students outside before entering the building. The grade level line locations will be established at the previous mentioned pick up and drop off doors and paw prints have been painted on the ground to help students follow social distancing guidelines properly. Teachers and support staff will be outside during morning drop off.
The first two weeks or so will be an opportunity for us to work out any flaws in this system so hopefully we can get a smooth and efficient dismissal routine down.
Here are a few tips to review before we launch into a brand new school year on Thursday, September 17th:
- Mask etiquette: Teach your children how to wear their masks properly (be sure they remove them using the ear straps, instead of the fabric for optimal hygiene!) Encourage them to practice wearing masks for short periods at home and especially when they are out in public. Provide your children with an extra mask for school. Children need to hear from their parent that masks are one of the best ways to protect ourselves and others from getting COVID-19.
- Encourage proper hygiene: Encourage hand washing often, have some fun with it by singing a song or telling some jokes while they wash. Establish consistent house rules about hand washing, including every time before family members leave home and come into the home from outside, after going to the bathroom, and before and after eating.
- Reading: Keep reading to younger children and encourage older children to read books of their choice. Helpful resources are school and library reading lists. If you have not already, this is a good time to establish a quiet, designated learning area in your home for your child. Ask your child what is needed to be successful completing school assignments at home.
- Socialize again with other children: During this time of stay-home, millions of children around the country have halted playdates and socializing in-person with their peers. While this was essential for health reasons and to help slow the spread of the virus, it can make it tricky when students are back in the classroom with their friends and peers. Now is the time to reorient children to socializing in a safe way. Choose a family you know and trust to have a physically distanced picnic at the school playground or a local park. Most children will bounce back to socializing, but it might be helpful for them to do so with a parent present first, before school starts.
- Get back on a regular sleep schedule: Many students have been on a different sleep schedule throughout the pandemic. They are likely going to bed later and getting up later in the morning. You can start incrementally pushing up bedtime in mid-August to help ease the transition. Try to follow a consistent bedtime routine and avoid electronics.
- Have conversations: Having open, age-appropriate conversations with your children will help them know they are not alone. The adults do not have all the answers, however flexibility is very important in this time of COVID-19. Finally, scientists, health experts, parents, teachers and other leaders are doing everything possible to ensure their health and safety.
- Remember, we're all in it together: Talk with your children and help them understand that anyone can get the virus, no matter where they are from in the world. This is important to reduce any potential stereotypes and ensure compassion and equity in the classroom and beyond.
- School may remain virtual for some: Some families may decide not to send their children to school this season for various reasons. Explain to your children that every family is different and that household members’ medical conditions and other factors influence parental decisions about returning to school.
- Prevent separation anxiety: After spending many long months at home, children may feel nervous about going back to school and being apart from family members. Have conversations about going back to school and try to develop tools for your child to feel connected to home, such as notes in their lunchbox, or a family photo they can bring to school.
- Be available: Your children may react to changes in the school in various ways. Be ready for some behavior changes - such as acting out in younger children and quietness for older children. Remember that pillow time before bed is a good time to listen to your child recount events and feelings from the day. This extra time provides a safe environment for children to express their feelings and you may be surprised how much you learn about them.
We hope these tips are helpful. Preparing children for back-to-school this year will be different, yet some things, such as flexibility, sleep and support, remain the same. If you have any questions or concerns about your child's mental/physical health, contact your pediatrician.
Reilly Elementary Social #Connected
Email: scarabatsos@lowell.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/reilly
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Twitter: @SCarabatsos