Micro Elementary Parent Newsletter
February 14th
Message from Principal Parrish
Greetings Micro Families!
I hope this newsletter finds you well. Plan B has gone well for the first two weeks. We appreciate all of the support we continue to get from parents, grandparents, family members, and childcare facilities to help students stay connected on their remote learning days. We are looking forward to March 1st when JCPS (K-5) will resume Plan A. All face-to-face students will attend school Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday of each week. Wednesdays will be asynchronous learning days for ALL students, with the exception of the live Morning Meeting that students will participate in with their teachers beginning at 9 AM. The virtual option remains for all families that have chosen the virtual route.
Thank you for your continuous support of our school. Your flexibility is also appreciated. With all of the challenges posed by Covid-19, it has been great that our parents have remained understanding and patient.
Feel free to reach out to me through email (tjparrish@johnston.k12.nc.us), Class Dojo Message, or call the school (919-588-4300).
Thank you for everything that you do to support our school,
Mr. Parrish
PTA News
- Cow Patty Bingo Information will be going out next week.
- Be on the lookout for Spring Spirit Wear Flyers, too.
School News
- The Johnston County Board of Education has approved a plan to return Pre-K-5 to Plan A for four days per week beginning March 1. Wednesdays will be used as asynchronous learning days to allow for deep cleaning of schools.
- If you need to sign your child up to ride a bus to/from school, please contact the Front Office (919-588-4300).
Johnston County Public Schools is pleased to announce that kindergarten registration for school year 2021-2022 will begin on February 15 and continue through March 5 for Kindergarten students who need a seat for the 2021-2022 school year. Your child must be five years old on or before August 31, 2021, to enroll. If you or someone you know has a child who will be eligible for Kindergarten in the 2021/2022 school year, please visit www.johnston.k12.nc.us/register to begin the online registration process. We look forward to welcoming our kindergarteners! See flyer below:
Cold Weather/Recess Information
• When properly clothed, elementary school-aged children can participate in safe, vigorous play in an outdoor environment in most weather conditions. Increased caution should be practiced when temperatures reach below 40 degrees including the wind chill factor.
• When temperature and wind chill falls below 35 degrees including the wind chill, students are kept indoors.
* Below 40 degrees: Gloves and hats with previously recommended gear necessary.
* Below 35 degrees: Indoor recess or physical activity.
• Micro Elementary honors parent requests that a student be allowed to stay indoors and based upon health reasons.
- If you need change your child's daily transportation (from car rider to bus, bus to car rider), please send in a handwritten note to your child's teacher. Changes in transportation cannot be made over the phone unless it is an emergency. Changes through email/Dojo must be done before noon.
- We will be holding our February Virtual Parent Academy on Thursday, February 18th! Please use the sign-up link below to get the attendance information for the zoom! Topic information will be coming out soon! https://forms.gle/2mVpsnwraNqHESwJ8
- At Micro we value consistent attendance. We prefer students to arrive to school on time (before the 8:55 tardy bell) and stay the full day.
- Students should not be checked out after 3:25 pm unless the parent/guardian has a doctor’s appointment card or have received prior approval from an administrator. Checkouts at the end of the day are disruptive to instruction and to our dismissal procedures. For the safety of our students and in order to preserve instructional time, early dismissals should be kept to a minimum.
- 5th Grade Parents: The application for 5th graders interested in attending Innovation Academy at South Campus went live this month. Find the link to apply HERE. Click here to view a BROCHURE and a PROMO VIDEO. The application window closes on February 15th. Check the JCPS for information regarding virtual parent information night on February 4th from 6:00-8:00. We invite you to join other fifth graders across the county to explore the Innovation Academy at South Campus and the AVID program offered at several of our middle schools. Use this link:
- https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vQQullInni6IhfxfzKG5f06AXzlVWpSaLPbiiopA7h2203oextf59qneLYo-v9YXskLLVmfrb2Qkder/pub?start=true&loop=false&delayms=3000&slide=id.gb0e6ae89fc_0_11
- Parents are encouraged to complete Lunch Applications at www.lunchapplication.com.
- However, lunch and breakfast will be free for all students during the 2020-2021 school year.
- View our staff and student handbook: Click Here
- January Student Character Assembly Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Jxm7LXWesajwGVGtPSZtQNYSx0ONOOw0/view
Spanish Information Night
- Ms. Melgar (our area parent involvement assistant) is hosting an information session next week for Spanish-speaking parents. This presentation will provide information to the parents about the programs available to the students in Johnston County. The meeting will be done virtually via google meet on Wednesday, February 17th,2021, from 6:00 pm-7:00 pm. See flyer below.
Micro Elementary Information (Covid Related)
Please keep your child(ren) home and alert your school if they:
Test positive for COVID-19.
Show symptoms of COVID-19. Students should remain at home if anyone in their household shows Covid-19 symptoms.
May have been exposed to COVID-19.
Are waiting to get tested, or waiting for COVID-19 test results.
If your child has symptoms of COVID-19 or tests positive for COVID-19, they should remain home and access their class assignments through remote learning while awaiting guidance from the Johnston County Health Department. Please contact the school and/or your child's teacher in these situations. These steps help to keep children and staff safe.
Note: Children may still need to stay home for other illnesses that have symptoms that are similar to COVID-19, such as strep throat, stomach illness, or pink eye. Contact your child care provider or school for information on when your child can go back to school in these situations.
All students and staff will be required to wear a cloth mask while they are in the school building. Classrooms and hallways are designed for social distancing. Enhancement classes (art, media, PE, music) will take place in homerooms this year. Lunch and breakfast will be eaten in the classrooms. These measures are in place to limit student transitions as a precaution for student safety.
Guidance on handling suspected, presumptive, or confirmed cases of COVID-19 will come from the Johnston County Public Health Department, and the Public Health Toolkit (K-12).
Guidance on staff and students returning to school will come from the Johnston County Public Health Department, the Reference Guide for Suspected, Presumptive, or Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 (K-12), and the Public Health Toolkit (K-12)
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Covid and Returning to School
Face coverings are required by all, unless your child has a developmental, medical or behavioral condition and cannot wear a face covering (including, but not limited to, any person who has trouble breathing or is otherwise unable to put on or remove the face covering without assistance). Public Health Toolkit pg. 5 (NCDHHS) Students will be allowed socially distanced breaks to remove face coverings for short periods of time during the day. Contact the school nurse if you meet one of the face covering exemptions for nexts steps.
2. What are the face covering guidelines for schools?
Wearing a cloth face covering is required for all PreK-12 students and for all teachers and school staff, unless a stated exception applies or the individual is eating, drinking or strenuously exercising. Face coverings must fit snugly against the sides of the wearer’s face, as well as, safely cover their nose, mouth and chin. A gaiter that meets these expectations is also approved. Individuals with face coverings that do not meet these expectations will be provided a face covering at school.
3. What if my student has a medical exemption to wearing a mask?
Schools will work individually with parents of students who have a medical or behavioral exemption to wearing a mask.
4. Are COVID screening questions and temperature checks required daily?
All students and staff will be required to have a daily health screening and temperature check when they arrive at school. Any visitors who enter the school building will also be required to do a health screening and temperature check.
5. Which symptoms require my child to remain at home?
Any student who is displaying any of the following symptoms should remain at home:
Fever, chills, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, new cough, new loss of taste or smell. A child with any of these symptoms should be checked by a healthcare provider. Please note that if anyone in your child's household has any of these symptoms, they should stay at home until they receive documentation from a medical provider that it is safe for them to return to school.
6. My child had a fever last night, but does not have a fever this morning. May I send my child to school today?
If no COVID-19 test has been taken, there must be at least 3 days since the child had a fever (without using fever reducing medicine) before returning to school. If a COVID-19 test result is negative, the child may return to school if there is no fever without the use of fever reducing medicine and have experienced no other symptoms for 24 hours.
7. What is the protocol if my child’s teacher or classmate tests positive for Covid-19?
If a student/employee is determined to have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19, they must remain out of school for 14 days since the last date of exposure. In such cases, you will be contacted.
8. How often will my child's school be sanitized?
All school facilities and school buses will be sanitized each day with an electric fogger and approved disinfectants. High touch services will be frequently wiped down throughout the day. Students and staff will have disinfectant wipes available to help clean areas prior to use and following use of equipment or space. Hand sanitizing stations have been installed in all classrooms and placed throughout each campus. Additional deep cleaning will happen on Wednesdays.
9. Will visitors be permitted on campus?
Visitors on school campuses will be limited and not allowed past the main office. All visitors will be administered screening protocol and temperature check. Visitors will be required to adhere to the same safety protocols as staff (e.g., face coverings, social distancing).
10. Will my child be screened before boarding the bus?
Currently all students have to be screened or have an attestation form prior to boarding the bus. We ask that parents screen students daily before sending students to the bus stop.
11. Will my student eat lunch in the cafeteria?
Students will eat lunch in the classroom.
12. Are face shields allowed instead of cloth faces coverings?
For individuals who have medical, developmental or behavioral difficulties wearing a cloth face covering, plastic face shields that wrap around the sides of the wearer’s face and extend to below the chin are an allowed substitute. Face Shields (CDC) Contact your school's nurse if you are requesting an adaptation.
Area Schools with Drive-up Parking Lot Wifi Access
North Johnston Middle
Pine Level Elementary (no password required)
Princeton Middle/High
Selma Elementary
Glendale-Kenly Elementary
Upcoming Dates
February 8th: Progress Reports go out
February 8th-12th: Love the Bus Week (Say THANK YOU to your bus driver!)
February 15th: President's Day (regular school day)
February 17th: Remote Learning Day
February 18th: Parent Academy
February 26th: February Character Assembly
March 1st: Return to Plan A
March 15th: 3rd quarter report cards
Backpack Buddies and School Supplies
Here is a link request school supplies: School Supplies Request Please complete it if your child has any school supply needs.
Here are the links for Backpack Buddies. Virtual Backpack Buddies can be picked up at school.
English: Backpack Buddies Sign-Up (English)
Spanish: Backpack Buddies Sign-Up (Spanish)
Articles
Area Parks and Recreation Sports Information
https://forms.gle/6ordbFstBZrG35qt9
Questions Call: 919-291-3741
Click link below for information for Kenly Parks and Rec