Suffield Elementary Newsletter
October 2, 2020
A message from the Principal
The Habit of the week is Habit #2-Begin with the End in Mind. Our "End in Mind" is to keep everyone safe and healthy at school. To do that, sometimes students will need to stay home from school. If that's your child, you'll need to have a plan as well. As you think about school this year, please think about how you will handle it if your child is sent home due to illness or due to contract tracing at school. We want to be proactive and make sure that each family is aware of what could happen.
As some of you have been impacted by this already, I wanted to clarify some things regarding COVID tracing in the school. Whenever we are alerted that a student has some of the symptoms of COVID, that student or staff member must remain home until they receive a negative COVID test or they are cleared by a doctor's note to return to school. When a student or staff member demonstrates these symptoms, others may be sent home as well. This is all determined through our thorough contact tracing. We use seating charts for all classes, lunch, specials, bus, etc. to determine if any students were within 6' for longer than 15 minutes. If this is the case, that student or students are also sent home. The students who were in contact with a person with "possible" COVID must stay at home until the person is cleared by their doctor or tests negative. If there is a positive test, students sent home due to contact tracing must stay home for 14 days. We realize that this sometimes upsets family schedules and routines, but it is a requirement which we must follow to help limit the spread.
We also recognize that sometimes your child may come home and tell you that "a lot" of students were sent home or there were "a lot" of students absent in class. Due to HIPPA laws, we are not able to share any information as to why students are absent or sent home from school with other families. If your child is affected by the contact tracing, you will be notified. If you're not contacted, please note that it has been determined that your child was not in close contact for an extended period of time.
I recognize that this sometimes makes parents uncomfortable with not knowing. I have always been open with you regarding everything going on in the school, but this is one case where I cannot share specifics due to HIPPA. You can be proactive and check the district website for the COVID dashboard. It is here that you will find information regarding any positive cases in our school. You can find that link here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1nUmGdMhIZ80CvTcXNebaKXl4cgrwG2Y36NKOtWEfrA8/present?slide=id.p
As stated previously, if your child is sent home because of contact tracing, you will need to keep your child home from school for 14 days or until you hear from the school that it is okay for him/her to return. In most cases so far this year, it has only been for 1-2 days, although we recognize it could be longer. When home, he/she should do the work the teacher has sent home or work will be assigned when returning to school. If the absence will be for a longer period of time we will start the process of connecting your child to the remote classes.
On occasion, you may receive a text from me outside of school hours, stating that your child may have been in close contact with a student with symptoms and will need to stay home from school the following day. I would only do this if it's brought to my attention after school has let out for the day. Notifying you later in the evening will hopefully allow you to arrange for someone to care for your child the next day. I will follow up with specifics in the morning.
Lastly, if your child is ill, please keep these things in mind. A note from your child's doctor or a negative COVID test result is required in order for your child to return to school if he/she demonstrates these clinical criteria:
To meet the clinical criteria, a patient must meet either criteria 1 and 3, or criteria 2 and 3, below:
1. At least one of the following symptoms:
-Cough
-Difficulty breathing
-Shortness of breath
OR 2 or more of the following:
-Fever
-Chills/Shaking with chills
-Muscle aches
-Headache
-Sore throat
-New change or loss of taste and/or smell
-Gastrointestinal (nausea/vomiting, diarrhea)
2. Severe respiratory illness with at least one of the following:
-Clinical/radiographic evidence of pneumonia, or
-Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
3. No alternative diagnosis that is more likely
The office will clarify this with you when you are calling to report your child off from school or if you're called to pick your child up.
We continue to work hard to keep our school safe and clean so that we are able to keep everyone in school as much as possible!
Thank you for your understanding,
Mrs. Bookman
Below is a photo of our kindergarteners in Mrs. Burkett's class having a brain break!
No School Friday, October 9th - NEOEA Day
Leader in Me Habit of the week
Put First things First. Work first, then play!
Conference Sign-Ups
It’s that time of year when we begin to make plans for the upcoming conferences. Because it’s been so long since our students have been in school, this will be one of the most important conferences you can attend. This year, conferences are being held on Monday, November 2 from 8:00-11:00 am, Thursday, November 12 from 4:30-8:00 pm and on Tuesday, November 17 from 4:30-8:00 pm. We will be available to meet with parents in-person or via Zoom. When choosing a conference time, please type ZOOM next to your child’s name if you would desire this option. The teacher will then share the link with you before your conference. If you wish to attend in person, just write your child’s name and we will expect you at school. The link for you to sign up for conferences will be emailed to you later today.
Fall Cancellation
school fees
KDGN: $94.00
1ST: $104.00
2ND: $106.00
3RD: $106.00
4TH: $110.00
5TH: $110.00
Free & Reduce Lunch
What's for lunch
Hot Dog/Sloppy Joe Sandwich/PBJ Sandwich with String Cheese
Baked Beans/Salad/Fruit/Milk
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020
Popcorn Chicken/PBJ Sandwich with String Cheese
Smiley Fries/Salad/Fruit/Milk
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020
Pepperoni Pizza/Ham Sandwich/PBJ Sandwich with String Cheese
Corn/Carrot Sticks/Fruit/Milk
Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020
Falcon Griddle/PBJ Sandwich with String Cheese
Tater Tots/Salad/Fruit/Milk
Friday, Oct. 9, 2020
NO SCHOOL - NEOEA DAY
Custody Papers
A message for our remote learners
- Material pick-up & drop-off for remote learners will be every two weeks, starting October 5th. The time will be from 9:30-1:30.
- For the first material drop-off please put your child's work in a ziplock bag or envelope with the student's and teacher's name. There will be a bin outside of the school to drop it off. After the first pick-up/drop-off day, you will have envelopes that are either red or yellow. Please use these for returning your child's work the following time.
- As always, if you can’t make it to these pick-up times yourself, have someone else pick-up for you.
- Please keep the office informed if your child will be absent from the live streaming. This is important for attendance purposes. Also, it is important for your child to log in on time so the teacher can let your child into the Zoom session. If your student is late, he/she may not be able to get into the session.
- Other dates for drop-off/pick-up are:
- October 19
- November 2
- November 16
- December 7
- December 21-22 (Drop-off)
- January 5 (Pick-up)
- January 19
Children's Advantage at Suffield
Message From the School Clinic
Parents Important Reminders!
In addition to that mentioned above in Mrs. Bookman's message, please keep these things in mind:
- Students will need to have an extra mask in their book bag every day.
- Students will need to have a NON- GLASS, refillable water bottle every day in school. We do not have water bottles and the fountains are closed. They will be able to refill their bottles at school.
For information on quarantine, please see this link: https://filecabinet5.eschoolview.com/FA9B95FA-CEB2-4E58-B13F-04A2CF21EC8E/79a12f87-e4bd-49c1-9af6-06bd2585cecf.pdf
Loretta Hepler, MA
Suffield Elementary Clinic: (330)552-5252 ext# 2056
Fax number: (330)628-9160
A message from our School Resource Officer-Dinkleman
- Be patient
- Help move traffic exiting the school by allowing them to merge onto the road
- Watch for pedestrians crossing the driveway and the road
- Use your turn signals-Turning right out the drive will expedite the movement of the line.
- Focus on driving, not your phone or car radio
- Slow down-remember when exiting the school, the school speed zone is in effect-20 MPH
Counselor's corner
Hello Field Families!
Getting back into the swing of a schedule is difficult to do, especially after the last few months we have had. Keeping a routine helps establish healthy habits, it can help kids gain confidence and independence,it establishes expectations as well as lower anxiety. Setting up a regular bedtime each night with a nightly routine such as turning off screens, reading together and brushing teeth can make bedtime smoother for all. And just like a nightly routine, morning consistency can make for a great start to each day. Waking up at the same time each morning and having a healthy breakfast can help students be recharged and ready for a day at school. Along with nightly and morning routines, and an after school homework plan can help students stay on top of their homework and help students develop time management skills! Please contact me if you have any questions or need any help setting up routines at home!
~Mrs. Kuzas
Join the PTA
child find
The Field Local School district is in the process of locating, evaluating, and identifying children from birth to age 21, residing in the district, who may be entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), including special education and related aids and services, pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504).
Children eligible for FAPE under the IDEA are those with disabilities such as Autism,
Multiple Disabilities, Deaf-Blindness, Hearing Impairment, Visual Impairment, Speech or Language Impairment, Orthopedic Impairment, Emotional Disturbance, Intellectual Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury or Specific Learning Disability.
Children eligible for FAPE under Section 504 include children who have a physical or
mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. If you know of a child who may have a disability or a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, or if you would simply like additional information, please contact
Megan Longfellow, Director of Special Services at (330) 673-2659 or email her at megan.longfellow@fieldlocalschools.org
dates to remember:
Oct. 5 - Fire Prevention Week
Oct. 5 - Pick-up/Drop-off Day 9:30-1:30
Oct. 9 - No School – NEOEA Day
Oct. 13 - PMC Test
Nov. 1 - All School Fees Due
Nov. 2 - No School-Conferences 8:00-11:00 & Staff Development Day
Nov. 3 - No School-Election Day & Staff Development Day
Nov. 5 - Picture Retakes
Nov. 12 - Conference Night 4:30-8:00
Nov. 17 - Conference Night 4:30-8:00
Nov. 26-30 - No School-Thanksgiving Break
Suffield Elementary
Email: shawn.bookman@fieldlocalschools.org
Website: www.fieldlocalschools.org
Location: 1128 Waterloo Rd., Mogadore
Phone: 330-552-5252
Twitter: @SuffieldE