Mariner Minutes
January 8th, 2021
Principal Message
Happy New Year! I hope that everyone's 2021 is off to a positive start. Thank you all for your patience and understanding with this week's remote learning. We will be returning to our in-person learning on Monday January 11th. This week will also be a shortened week as January 15th is a previously scheduled teacher in-service day and is no school for students. The 14th marks the end of the second quarter and first semester.
MAP testing will begin the week of January 19th and will extend to January 29th. This testing session will give us a more valid and reliable understanding of our students' growth from the beginning of the year to now. The last MAP window will be in the spring and will serve as the final measure for the year on the growth of our students. Our teachers utilize this data to better inform their instruction to our students.
The last thing I would like to mention is a change to the Coivd-19 protocols. The Erie County Health Department has informed us that they have adopted the CDC recommendation of a 10 day quarantine period instead of a 14 day period as it has been previously. With that being said, please continue to notify us in the event anyone in the household is experiencing Covid-19 symptoms, is awaiting a Covid-19 test result, and/or has been diagnosed with Covid-19 so that we can help provide you with further information and take necessary steps within the school to continue to ensure a healthy and safe in-person learning environment.
Lunch Update for This Week
There will be no hot lunch on Monday January 11th and Wednesday January 13th. Please send children to school those days with packed lunches. Thank you and I apologize for the inconvenience.
Ohio State Day
For Monday January 11th, students may wear Ohio State and or Ohio State colors. They may wear OSU sweatpants or OSU color sweatpants since it is a gym day. Please wear gym pants and not jeans if OSU and/or OSU color sweatpants are not an option.
Winter MAP Test
Part of short remote time is to allow students to begin reviewing skills and standards to prepare for the MAP test window. The winter MAP test window will be from January 19th through January 29th. I will provide a detailed schedule of which tests will be administered on which days. As with any performance, quality rest, a balanced breakfast, a positive attitude, and of course a best effort are all part of being prepared. Please check out the
Family Tool Kit for more information about the MAP test.
Recess
It seems that winter has arrived. We will continue to go outside for recess as often as possible. The guidelines posted below will dictate whether students go outside for recess. Please be sure to send students in properly dressed for the weather with coats, hats, and gloves. If a student does not have proper clothing for the weather (no coat) they will not be allowed outside and will remain in the office for the duration of recess.
Here are some guidelines we will follow:
- Outdoor recess if Real Feel temperatures are 25 degrees or above.
- Inclement weather (rain, snow) we will not go outside (if it is lightly snowing we may still go outside)
- Recess grounds (blacktop, playground, GaGa Ball pit) need to be in safe condition - not ice or snow covered, no major puddling, muddy
Change of Routine
As a reminder, if you are sending a note/call regarding a change of routine (transportation, early dismissal) please provide details if it is a transportation change and/or involving students dismissing with another family. Thank you!
School Lunch Update *November 23rd Update*
The Free School Lunch program that was provided through the federal government has been extended through the school year. Please reference the flyer for further information.
Symptoms and Quarantine Information Update
Erie County Board of Health has provided some updated information regarding quarantines and what to do following a COVID-19 test and/or positive result. Please read these to become familiar with those updated guidelines.
Attached is a document which gives instructions and guidelines in relation to quarantining. This is a reference guide for future reference.
Also attached here is a daily symptoms checklist provided by the Erie County Health Department. This document also provides the most up-to-date guidelines regarding symptoms and how to proceed with presence of listed symptoms. Please carefully look it over and please use this as a reference each morning.
Temperature and Symptoms Checks Reminder
Please continue practicing temperature and symptoms checks EVERY morning in order to ensure our students, staff, and families remain safe. If the temperature is 100.0F or higher and/or Covid-19 symptoms are present (symptoms list in the plan) the student, as well as siblings, needs to remain home. Please ensure consistency with following this policy!
If you have questions regarding symptoms, quarantines, or other Covid-19 related areas, please feel free to contact Mr. Mitchell or the Erie County Health Department.
Masks and Hygiene
The Ohio Department of Health issued a mask mandate for all students K-12 for the 2020-2021 school year. St. Mary School will require masks in accordance with the state mandate as well as for the preschool (please reference preschool update in this newsletter for further guidance). Parents, please begin to work with your children on wearing masks properly and becoming comfortable wearing them.
Update: students may wear the gaiter scarf type face coverings, although the cloth masks are recommended.
Also, please practice proper hygiene as well. Please visit https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/index.html for guidelines.
If there are any questions regarding face coverings, please contact Mr. Mitchell at gmitchell@stmaryvermilion.org
Upcoming Events
January 11th - Return in-person learning
January 14th - End of second quarter/first semester
January 15th - No School - Teacher in-service
January 18th - No School - MLK Day
January 19th - January 29th - MAP Testing
