Paularino News Panther Pride
April 9, 2021
Good, Better, Best; Never Let it Rest Until Our Good is Better and our Better is BEST!
Principal's Update
Dear Paularino Families,
Last week, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District School Board of Education approved the return of all elementary schools to Level 1 Full-Day Instruction beginning on Wednesday, April 21.
Spring Break is April 12th - April 16th. There is no school. When students return, Monday April 19th and Tuesday April 20th we will continue our hybrid schedule with AM/PM cohorts. Wednesday April 21st is our first day of full day instruction. School starts at 8:05am and ends at 2:20pm.
While I am looking forward to the opportunity to welcome students back full time, I also understand that this will be one more transition for our community and students to endure. Schedules will be adjusted and new routines will be developed for families and staff. The time and effort our team is putting into designing and implementing new routines, procedures, and safeguards has been cumbersome. Yet, despite all of this, we are all looking forward to providing our students a full day of support in academics and social-emotional learning.
I am incredibly grateful for our team and community. We have found solutions to every challenge we have faced this year through collaboration and innovation. Teachers have been busy preparing within their classrooms. Our school district has given guidance on how to bring all students to campus full day safely for instruction and some normalcy. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and grace as we navigate yet another transition for our school.
Please stay connected and informed by reading your emails. We’ve experienced a lot of change this past year, but our community has demonstrated flexibility, collaboration, creativity, and RESILIENCE! We’ve experienced smooth and SAFE transitions before and we will do it again! Thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Schwartz
Spring Break
April 12 - April 16 is Spring Break. There is no school during this week. We will see you back on campus Monday April 19th.
Full Day Instruciton
Level 1 Updates
Grades TK-6 Bell Schedule:
7:55 am - Gates Open
8:05 am - School Starts
2:20 pm Dismissal Monday through Friday
Masks, social distancing, and hand sanitizer/washing will continue to be required at all times, except when students are eating and drinking.
Arrival procedures
Gate assignments are the same: TK-2 by the front office and 3-6 by the marquee. Bus riders and walkers will use the side gate on Coolidge.
All parents/guardians will remain in their cars while students unload and walk through the gates.
Gates open at 7:55 am.
All students will walk to their classrooms and should be at their desks by 8:05 am.
Students who arrive after 8:05 am will be marked tardy.
Classrooms
Classrooms have been arranged with multiple protective measures for students and staff.
All desks continue to contain the plexiglass barriers.
Students are seated with 6 feet distancing when possible, but no less than 3 feet.
Specialist Classes: Science, Music, P.E.
We are SO excited for NO more Zoom Specialists classes!!!
Students will receive instruction within the specialist’s classroom/outdoor space.
Students will be separated from one another with 6 feet distancing when possible, but no less than 3 feet from person to person.
Cleaning will be conducted in between classes.
Recess
The field, playground, and blacktop spaces have been divided into areas by grade level.
Grade levels will be assigned an area each day, and a rotation will take place for students to experience all areas each week. Suggested activities and appropriate equipment will be provided for each area for students to participate in a safe, socially distanced manner.
Supervision will be provided to support and reinforce recess and lunch expectations.
Students will wash or sanitize their hands before they go to play, and will wash or sanitize their hands when they return to the classroom.
Lunch
Lunch schedules have been modified so that we have three lunch periods (grades
TK, K and 1, grades 2 and 3, and grades 4, 5 and 6).Only 3 students will sit at one table at a time.
Students will be 6 feet apart from another at the same table and from table to table.
Students will eat at the tables and we will also have “picnickers” spread around on yoga mats to keep socially distant while eating.
Students will have a cold Grab & Go lunch available to them each day. If your child would prefer something different, please pack them a lunch and send it with them to school.
Dismissal
Monday through Friday dismissal is 2:20 pm.
Gate assignments remain the same: TK-2 by the front office and 3-6 by the marquee. Bus riders and walkers will use the side gate on Coolidge.
Grab & Go breakfasts will be available at dismissal for the next day.
All parents remain in their cars.
Attendance
If your child is feeling ill or has symptoms such as cough, stomachache, fever or chills please keep them home and consult your physician.
If your child will be absent, please call the attendance line at (714) 424-4742 and leave a message with your name, your child's name, reason for absence, and a phone number.
Dress code
Please send your student to school with appropriate clothes and shoes for the school day. Per our dress code, flip flops are not permitted on campus and are a safety concern when students play at recess and lunch.
As the weather gets warmer please make sure your child is wearing school appropriate clothing.
Suggested preparation steps for families:
Establish good bedtime routines. Students will be tired. They will need help building their stamina. Help them (especially PM Cohort students), by going to bed at a reasonable time.
Pack at least one extra mask each day.
Pack a water bottle.
Every student will have access to a free Grab & Go Lunch that they may eat that same day. Grab & Go breakfasts will be available at the end of the day at dismissal for the next day.
If your child is eating lunch from home, have it packed and ready that morning. Lunch drop offs are not permitted at this time. No visitors (including parents) on campus.
Thank you for your continued support and trust.
Upcoming NMUSD Summer Sessions
Information was sent out earlier this week about the upcoming NMUSD Summer Sessions. More information on how to apply or register for each program will be available in coming weeks. Information will be posted on the NMUSD Summer Programs page.
Additionally, the Special Education department offers an Extended School Year Program for qualified students For more information please visit the NMUSD Special Education page.
Yearbook Dedications
Yellow yearbook dedication fliers went home this week with your child. If you would like to submit a dedication for our 2020-2021 yearbook please return the flier to your child’s teacher by April 23rd. Please remember there is one dedication per student, and each dedication has a maximum of 20 words. Thank you to our PTA. They are graciously purchasing yearbooks for all students. Thank you PTA.
Food Distribution
Virtual Wellness Center
Please click to access our new virtual Wellness Center. You can also find it on our Paularino website.
Student Symptoms
Join the PTA
This year is critical for school and parent partnership. Please consider joining the PTA.
We look forward to a wonderful year. Go Panthers!
Amazon Smile
Please consider signing up for Amazon Smile. Once you sign up for Paularino to be your charity, Amazon Smile will donate proceeds to our school every time you shop! Click here to sign up.
Box Tops for Education
COVID-19 Dashboard
In an effort to continue to provide accurate and up-to-date information related to COVID-19 in our schools, a District dashboard was created that identifies the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases by school. The number listed includes current positive cases of staff and/or students within the past 14-day period. This information is updated daily and is located on the District webpage (www.nmusd.us/CovidDashboard)
There is no need to be alarmed or wonder if your child has been exposed when you see a positive case at your child’s school site. The District follows protocols, which includes collaboration with the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), who assist with contact tracing and help identify students or staff who need to quarantine. In the event of a positive case in our schools, as appropriate and under the direction of the OCHCA, the school nurse, principal, or District staff will notify any staff or students who are considered to be a close contact (less than 6 feet apart for more than 15 minutes) with a COVID-19 positive person. Each case is unique and in some cases, while uncommon, notification to low risk contacts MAY be necessary, based on the direction from the OCHCA. If you do not receive notification regarding a COVID-19 case, we do not believe your child has been exposed. Due to privacy laws, we cannot provide names or any other information about the people who test positive or those who have been in close contact.
Please see page 18-21 of the NMUSD School Reopening Plan for additional information.
Level 2 Hybrid Schedules
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
AM Cohort: 8:00am - 10:30am
PM Cohort: 12:00pm - 2:30pm
When students are not on campus they are expected to be completing asynchronous work.
See the full AM schedule here.
See the full PM schedule here.
See the Wednesdays schedule here.
For an updated student daily schedule, visit our Paularino website and click the “Level 2 Hybrid” tab then “Daily Schedules”.
A few safety reminders
When dropping off and picking up your students all adults and children over the age of 2 must wear a face mask. This is for your safety and the safety of others. It is also the law. Please remember to keep a social distance from others outside your household as well.
Many parents have been walking through the parking lot to drop off or pick up their students which is very dangerous for pedestrians and drivers. Please use the sidewalk for the safety of all students, staff, and parents.
When in the car line please remain in your car. This will help the car line to move faster with children getting in and out on their own. A staff member will be there to assist if needed.
If walking or parking to pick up your child please wait by the sidewalk of the MPR or the sidewalk by the exit driveway. With added adults on the sidewalk of the car line it is difficult to maintain a social distance and keep all children safe near moving vehicles.
Thank you for your cooperation to keep all students, staff, and families safe.
Arrival/Dismissal Procedures
Student safety is a top priority. Changes to arrival and dismissal procedures are in place to help support social distancing, as well as to keep students safe.
ARRIVAL PROCEDURES
Gates will open 10 minutes prior to the start of the cohort.
7:50am for AM Cohort
11:50am for PM Cohort
Parents/guardians will walk students to the assigned gates with appropriate social distancing for students to enter campus. If driving, please pull all the way forward to unload your student. Students will walk through the gates to their class line on the blacktop.
DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
10:30am for AM Cohort
2:30pm for PM Cohort
Parents/guardians will wait at the assigned gates with appropriate social distancing for students to exit campus. Students will stay with their teachers and move to an assigned area on the grass to wait for parents/guardians. If driving, please pull all the way forward for your child to get in the car.
Please be on time to pick up your child. Students are not allowed in the front office and will need to wait outside until picked up.
Parents needing assistance from the front office staff will wait outside the office until a staff member is able to greet them.
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Attendance
Paularino Elementary
1060 Paularino Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Phone: 714-424-7950 Fax: 714-424-4741
Attendance Line: 714-424-4742 http://paularino.nmusd.us