Hero Headlines HMS Staff News
August 3, 2020
General Announcements
2. This is in the DESE/ADH guidelines, the moral of this story is DON'T buy stuff to divide your kids in your classroom. Fire code with all of these things is also an issue. This increases the amount combustible materials.
Plastic or plexiglass barriers are added levels of protection. However, such separation is not a substitution for face coverings which are the optimal protection for containing the spread of COVID-19 while in public. Using plastic or plexiglass dividers to allow presenters a break from wearing a mask is permissible, but that break should be brief as barriers are not a replacement for face coverings in regard to the level of protection.
3. You are not allowed to use cleaners that contain bleach, including Clorox wipes (if they have bleach). The district will supply sanitizer spray to anyone that wants a bottle. Caveat: DO NOT throw bottle away, we will refill them.
4. We have guidelines for PD that require every person to wear a mask 100% of the time, even if more than 6ft. apart. We will be enforcing this - so please be patient with us and remind your neighbors to keep their masks on at all times!
Face Masks vs. Face Shields
Department of Health Guidance:
Face Shields vs. Face Covering: Comments from Dr. Tumlison at ADH:
Face shields are not as good as masks at blocking what is coming out of an individual’s mouth. Thus, they should be used in lieu of face coverings only the length of time necessary. But not as a general substitute. Regarding teachers using them to teach phonics, where seeing the mouth/lips is crucial: yes, I think it would be fine to substitute the face shield for the mask/covering for that period of time needed to teach phonics or whatever was needed to see the lips. But not just generally in the classroom. Also, I am thinking that most children learning phonics will be under the age where masks are required. So, I would say in those situations where a student wearing a mask needed to have their lips seen, just have them take the mask off temporarily, then put it back on when they are done speaking. We are now about limiting exposure, not eliminating it.
Please protect others by wearing a mask under your face shield. The face shield you are using is too flimsy and has too many openings. The face shield needs to be tight across the forehead and more rounded by the sides.
Conscious Discipline Corner
New STAFF LMC website
Here are her proposed safety guidelines. Of course, we will continue to amend these as we get closer to the start of school and learn more. The parent/public site is linked within this site.
Teaching & Learning Updates
Upcoming Dates
August
6th - 7th math work session with IFs
TENTATIVE: 6th & 7th - Building open to parents for walk-through (9-3pm)
11th - First Teacher Day - info to come
11th - School Board meeting (5pm)
24th - First student day
SpEd Update
ESL Update
Current Grant Opportunities
- shared by Dr. Shawna Lyons, Grant Coordinator
- Funding, competitions, & award opportunities - lots of STEM, robotics, innovation awards.....
Hellstern Middle School
Website: http://hellstern.sdale.org/
Location: 7771 Har-Ber Avenue, Springdale, AR, USA
Phone: 479-750-8725
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hellstern-Middle-School