Munhall Bulletin
October 30, 2020
Munhall Elementary School
Email: heather.miller@d303.org
Website: http://munhall.d303.org/
Location: 1400 South 13th Avenue
Phone: 331-228-2600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Munhall-Elementary-1459358344296891/
Twitter: @MunhallD303
Principal Note
PTO Fall Dance Party
I hope families and students have enjoyed some of the activities provided during the PTO Virtual Fall Festival. The events conclude tonight with a virtual dance party on Zoom from 7:00-7:30. All families should have received the Zoom link via email this week. Students and families are encouraged to dress up in their Halloween costumes and do a little Halloween boogie.
CogAT Testing
Between November 9 and November 20, 2020, 3rd and 5th graders will be taking the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). The test consists of three short sections, 90 minutes of total test time, broken into nine 10-minute tests. Munhall will have a more specific schedule of days and times for your child once all details are finalized.
The CogAT is not an achievement test. Instead, it measures a student’s verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning abilities, which can facilitate learning and problem-solving. The scores may be used to adapt instruction and programs to the needs and abilities of students. Information is also used as a piece of information for student programming such as Academically Talented. For more information on Academically Talented students click here: https://district.d303.org/programs/academically-talented. Student results will be sent home in January. We appreciate your support of our academic programs and your partnership in facilitating your child’s learning.
In-person Students
If your child is attending school in-person at the time of the test they will take it in school.
Remote Students
If your child is a remote student, you have the opportunity to have them come to the Haines Center to take the CogAT. You will have the option to choose a morning or afternoon session between November 16-19. The CogAT must be taken in-person. There are no remote options. If you do not wish for your child to be in a school at this time to take the CogAT, there will be optional CogAT dates offered during the summer of 2021. However, students can only take the CogAT once every nine months.
· To see the remote schedule, and select a time, click here. Information about test day procedures can be found here.
· If your child will need transportation to Haines click here (choose a test day and time first)
· If your child will not be coming to Haines to take the CogAT, or to receive information on summer of 2021 options, please click here.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Outdoor PE and Mask Breaks
I want to emphasize the importance of getting our students outside and providing them opportunities to have breaks from their face coverings. Therefore, even as the weather turns colder, we will continue to go outside for PE, and mask breaks. Continue sending your child to school with appropriate attire to keep them warm on cold days.
Munhall Will Soon be Serving Breakfast
Starting November 10th, Organic Life will be offering breakfast at all Elementary Schools. Students will have the opportunity to order breakfast in the morning with their classroom teacher. Organic Life will prep the breakfast bags and deliver them to classrooms at the end of each day for students. This helps to support students eating a breakfast before coming to school the next day.
This new breakfast option will be available to Munhall students starting on Tuesday, November 10th. Breakfast will also be included in the remote meals. Breakfast meals are free for all students just like the lunches.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
End of 1st Trimester
It is almost unbelievable to think we are approaching the end of the first trimester, indicating we are a third of the way through the school year. November 13th marks the end of the first trimester. However, report cards will not be posted until November 30th. As the report card date approaches we will communicate detailed information about how to access report cards through Home Access Center.
Veteran’s Day Assembly
All in-person and remote Mustangs will take part in an asynchronous Veteran’s Day assembly on Wednesday, November 11th. The assembly will take place at 9:00, and students will watch the assembly in their classroom, or have a link provided by their remote teacher.
No School—November 3rd (Election Day) and November 9th (Remote Learning Planning Day)
There will be no school for students on Tuesday, November 3rd and Monday, November 9th. This year, November 3rd is officially a state holiday in Illinois, being that it’s election day. On November 9th, students will not attend school in order for our staff to have a planning day.
Time Change—Fall Back
Please remember that we have a time change this weekend. Our clocks will be turned back an hour, which means more daylight in the morning.
Organic Life Lunch Supervisors Needed
Are you interested in serving as a lunchroom supervisor at Munhall? If so, we are ALWAYS looking for parents who want to support! This year Organic Life responsibilities include lunch supervision only, as Munhall teaching staff covers recess supervision. Hours typically run from 10:40 am-1:00 pm. Applicants can requests anywhere from one to five days of employment. If interested, please contact Kathie Travis at 331-228-5711 or Kathie.Travis@d303.org.
Have a great weekend!
Jarrod Buxton, Principal
The District CogAT Parent Letter is attached as a PDF download at the bottom of this newsletter.
NURSES CORNER
Answers to questions you may have regarding school exclusion guidelines for Covid-19. The most recent Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) guidelines for Covid-19 school exclusion as of 10/27/20 https://www.isbe.net/Documents/IDPH-COVID19-Exclusion-Decison-Tree.pdf Please remember that these guidelines may change over time.
1. If a child has a known condition causing the symptoms, e.g., allergies, migraine, etc. can this be taken into consideration?
Every symptomatic person should be evaluated by their healthcare provider on a case-by-case basis and decisions to test for COVID-19 should be based on their personal health history. Each episode of new symptom onset should be evaluated. Diagnostic testing is strongly encouraged whenever an individual experiences COVID-like symptoms; it is possible to have COVID-19 and other health conditions at the same time. Early diagnosis can prevent further transmission. Individuals who have undergone testing should remain home away from others while waiting for COVID-19 test results
2. If a student is sent home sick with suspected COVID-19 symptoms (see link to IDPH Guidelines for symptoms), must all their siblings/household members be sent home as well and quarantined for 14 calendar days?
Yes, if one of the household members is being evaluated for COVID-19, the rest of the household must be quarantined until an alternative diagnosis is made by an MD or a negative result received.
3. If the close contact and the COVID case were both wearing their cloth face coverings when the exposure occurred, is the close contact still required to be quarantined?
Yes, while there is strong evidence that face coverings significantly reduce the risk of infection, the likelihood of transmission cannot be ruled out. (IDPH,10/27/20)
4. Why are some people told to stay home for 14 days and others for 10 days?
Zoom Dance Party
Join Zoom Meeting
https://d303-org.zoom.us/j/81955480717?pwd=Mk5VRlBOSVJuUzhMQVlENFRXWHBnUT09
Meeting ID: 819 5548 0717
Passcode: 086497