This and That:
Distribution: A HUGE thank you goes out to Frank for making distribution happen this week despite the smoke! After our third day of AQI readings that would prohibit our usual distribution plan, he got up at ridiculous-o’ clock on Wednesday to bring all the tables and bags outside for plan B. By the end of the day on Friday, we only had two bags of materials remaining! Additionally, another HUGE thank you to Amy, Melinda, Heidi, April, and Sue for engaging families with distribution AND their support in deploying 35 iPads this week (in addition to the 20 from last spring) and 15 hot spots (in addition to those issued in the spring). It has been an enormous team effort to get these digital tools in students’ hands. Our Elk Meadow team ROCKS!!
Hybrid Q&A: I started a Q&A document earlier this week to begin answering your questions regarding the early pivot to hybrid and still hold my promise of not having a staff meeting last week. There is A LOT of important information in this document, and I need each of you to read it carefully. Even if you think you have read all of it, I have continued to modify and update the answers. Everyone… please read this document for detail in the next couple of days.
Transition to Hybrid Document: K-3 Teachers… here is a link to the transition to hybrid document I sent out in an email earlier in the week. A couple of you reached out asking about the student hours (they showed 3:30 ending time for students). The correct end time for students of 2:30 is now accurately reflected in these documents.
Attendance: We will start taking attendance on Monday 9/21. Please follow this link for more details and direct questions towards April and Jessica.
Face Mask vs. Face Shield Guidance from ODE: In general, face coverings (masks) are preferred over face shields, as they may provide better containment of small aerosols that can be produced while talking. Clear plastic face shields remain an acceptable alternative in some instances because they enable students to see whole faces. This avoids potential barriers to phonological instruction and reinforces social-emotional cues.
Staff Bathrooms: We have a modified plan for staff bathrooms. The staff that was originally assigned to a wing bathroom can either choose to use the appropriate wing bathroom OR your assigned adult bathroom. Adult bathrooms are assigned as follows: staff in the front half of the building can use the staff bathroom in the office and the staff in the back half of the building can use the staff bathroom near nutrition services. No one should use the bathroom in the health room. You should assume the person before you was contagious and clean well before and after you use the restroom.
**COVID/ Safety related information- READ COMPLETELY and CAREFULLY. A couple new topics are being added each week:**
Visitors and Volunteers Policy: The following are the guidelines we will follow relating to visitors and volunteers as per the ODE “Ready Schools, Safe Learners” document.
•Staff understands the guidelines/policies around visitors/volunteers.
•For the time being, NO visitors or volunteers are allowed beyond the lobby/main office. The district is working on protocols to address which visitors and volunteers will be permitted beyond the welcome lobby/main office during our COVID restrictions.
•We will log visitors/contractors/itinerant staff for contact tracing
•Contractors/authorized visitors will be required to wear face coverings, be screened for COVID symptoms, maintain 6 ft distancing, and wash hands upon entry and exit.
•We have communicated to staff and families that teacher conferences, meetings (with parents and between staff) should be maximized through video conferencing or telephone calls.
Face Coverings Policy: The following are the guidelines we will follow relating to face coverings as per the ODE “Ready Schools, Safe Learners” document.
- Face coverings or face shields will be worn by all staff, contractors, other service providers, visitors, or volunteers. Individuals may remove their face coverings while working alone in private offices. ** PLEASE NOTE – this is a change from earlier guidance that said we could have face coverings off when sitting and able to maintain six feet of distance. Even in team meetings with distancing, masks need to be worn.**
- Face coverings or face shields will be worn by all students in grades Kindergarten and up
- If a student removes a face covering or demonstrates a need to remove the face covering for a short period of time, we will:
- Provide space away from peers while the face covering is removed. In the classroom setting, an example could be a designated chair where a student can sit and take a 15 minute “sensory break;”
- Students should not be left alone or unsupervised;
- Designated area or chair should be appropriately distanced from other students and of a material that is easily wiped down for disinfection after each use;
- Provide additional instructional supports to effectively wear a face covering;
- Provide students adequate support to re-engage in safely wearing a face covering;
- Students cannot be discriminated against or disciplined for an inability to safely wear a face-covering during the school day.
- Partner with counselors, SPED staff, 504 coordinators, nurses, ELL staff, behavioral coaches and/or families to problem-solve face-covering issues.
To Do:
•List Week 1 Non-attenders ASAP Please list the students/families that you had NO response from last week. Here is the link.
•Carefully read Hybrid Q&A document
•K-3 Teachers: Make an appointment with Mike in the next week to talk about room arrangement and furnishings.
Important Dates:
- Monday, September 21st: Start taking attendance
- Wednesday, September 23rd: Staff meeting (please let me know ASAP if 1:30 does not work)