Dear Family,

I hope at first glance you noticed our mascot for this year has kept his mask on!   In speaking with our PTA President, Rebeca Villareale, we discussed how our families might like to see how an actual day will work within our school.  I would like to provide you with the best picture we can of how our day will operate to date.  Please note that guidance changes frequently so this overview is to give you a sample on how our day will look:

Before School:

• Parents will ensure all student belongings have the child’s name on it.

• A packed lunch will be preferred or our students will have the opportunity to be provided with a free lunch again this year.

• Parents should complete the screener, when appropriate, on student health and past excursions out of state before the student leaves for the bus stop.  If this is not completed your child will be sent to the nurse to be assessed.

Busing:

• Students at the bus stop should wear their masks and maintain social distancing.

• Upon entering the bus this year, students entering first will go straight to the back and load back to front.

• Kindergarten students will be provided with a tagging system to ensure our bus drivers can identify our students, where they are on the bus, and verify a kindergarten parent is at the stop to receive the child on the way home.

• While riding on the bus all students will remain seated and masked at all times.

• At school, students will exit the bus from front to back.

• A teacher will meet students at the bus door and ensure students unload using social distancing.

• Students will enter through door #3 in front of the K-3 playground.

• Students will be directed, depending on grade level, to use one of four stairwells to go up to their homerooms.

• Staff will be present at the door to assist with kindergarten students until they know how to get to their rooms.

Drop-off

• Students being dropped off will use the faculty parking lot.

• There will be teachers there to assist students to the proper entrance door #3.

• Please ensure if driving your student to school they have everything they need right next to them to ensure getting out of the vehicle as quickly as possible independently.

Once students arrive:

• Students will enter the building and go directly to their classroom where they will be greeted by their teacher.

• All coats and backpacks will remain on the back of their chairs and under desks so they do not intermingle with other students' belongings in closets.

• Students will be assessed visually by our teaching staff to ensure the safety of all students.  If a teacher feels more assessment is needed they will be directed to the nurse’s office for a second assessment.

• During homeroom, our custodian will clean all used stairwells for the beginning of the day.

• Stairwells will then be designated during the day so only one-way traffic will occur until dismissal.  All stairwells will be labeled for students.

• BLUE and YELLOW stairwells will be used for coming down to the main floor.

• RED and GREEN will be used for travel up to the second floor.

• Custodians will clean the stairwells during the day at least three times.

During the day:

• Student travel will be limited as much as possible.

• The hallways will be divided and marked to ensure students stay to the right of the hallway at all times.

• Most specials will be delivered in the classroom, art, health, library media.  PE and music will be conducted outside or in the gym or music room.

• Instrumental music lessons will be conducted virtually by opposite cohorts.  If a green day, music lessons will be provided to the gold cohort via google meets.

• This year, no snacks will be allowed during the day.

• Please have your children bring a labeled water bottle to school each day.  The water fountains will be closed except for the non-contact bottle fill stations.

• During the course of the day, there will be mask breaks for students.  These breaks will not exceed ten minutes and will be held outside weather permitting.

• At dismissal, all four stairwells will be used for students to descend to the buses, YMCA, and parent pick-up.

Lunch:

• A free lunch can be provided by selecting it from home using the district app.  You may select multiple days' lunches at a time.

• Students not selecting lunch and needing it will be provided with a base selection, so it is imperative to ensure if ordering they order before leaving for school so your child has a choice in their selection.  

• Lunches will be delivered to the classroom before the start of the lunch period so that students will get the full thirty minutes to eat.

• Students will clean their hands before and after their meal.

• Custodians will be upstairs to collect the garbage so that classrooms will be clean to start the afternoon.

• Staff covering the classroom will clean the desks while each child cleans their hands before going to recess or starting the afternoon session.

• Stairwells will be cleaned after each recess period to ensure safety.

Recess:

• Students will still have a thirty-minute recess each day.

• Students will be either indoor or outdoor.

• Indoor recess will be all in the classroom.  There will be no games or Legos used during recess.  There will be a movie available, drawing using students' own materials, or reading available to them.

• Outdoor recess will see students sectioned off. K-2 students will use the front of the building field, playground, and the front parking lot. Grades 3-5 will use backfield and upper student playground.

  Dismissal:

• Students will be called down to the main floor in the following manner to ensure social distancing:

  • YMCA student’s first

  • Students being picked up by an adult

  • Bus by bus upon arrival.

Bus home:

• Students will enter the bus and load from back to front regardless of grade level

• Kindergarten students will use a tagging system to alert the driver to a kindergarten student.  No Kindergarten student will be let off the bus unless an adult is there to receive them.

• Masks will be worn at all times while on and riding the bus.

Student Pick-up:

• Parents will no longer be allowed to enter the building

• You must call ahead of time to indicate you will be picking up a student.

• Parents coming to pick-up students will park in the staff parking lot.  No cars will be allowed in the main lot.

• Parents will social distance in the alcove on the south side of the building by the CAD painted storage container.

• Parents will provide their name to the teacher in charge of pick-up.  You may be asked to provide identification.

• Once identified the student will be brought to you at the door.  

• While waiting, please maintain social distancing.  

After Student Dismissal

• The custodial staff will be divided into three shifts to provide better cleaning when students are in the building.

  • Mr. Gus, our head custodian, will handle the normal day shift 7am to 3pm

  • The second shift will be from 11am to 7pm.  This will allow our custodial staff to assist with lunch, cleaning during the day, and to begin cleaning for the next day.

  • Our third shift will be the normal night shift to complete the nightly cleaning from 3pm to 11pm.

  • Our custodial staff has done a tremendous job preparing our school for when our students return.

How we prepared for your children:

• Our school developed a school-based team to review and discuss our operations on a consistent basis to ensure the safety of all students and staff.

• Excess classroom furniture has been removed to ensure we can maximize social distancing within the classroom.

• Signage has been purchased so that students understand how to travel and move throughout the school.

• There will be extra PPE available for students forgetting or needing replacements during the day.  We are asking each child to have 1-2 spare masks in a zip lock bag labelled with their name on it that can be kept in their backpack in the event their main one becomes soiled.

• There is a drop box at the front door for students forgetting anything.  If you need to place something in the drop box, ring the bell, let our secretary know what is in the box and it will be retrieved after the parent has left the vicinity. 

• Students coming down to the nurse during the day with any signs of COVID will be sent to our therapy room.  This room is located right next to the main entrance.  The student will be assessed and a determination will be made to have the child remain in this room or enter the main nurse’s office.  This area has been developed to keep our office staff safe as students transfer from classrooms to the nurse’s office. 

As we look forward to the beginning of the new year it is important to note that your staff has prepared and is ready for the new year.  This year will bring many new changes and we will continue to keep you as informed as possible.  Please do not hesitate to email me at mmcgovern@rocktwp.net with any questions or concerns.   We need our entire family to make this year as comfortable and productive for our students and staff as possible regardless of whatever changes are thrown our way.

Respectfully,

Michael J. McGovern

Principal