Back to school Bobcat Bulletin... some new logistics

Hello Everyone, 

I will reach out again this weekend with more news and details, but wanted to get these out to you.

Here are some important details for back to school:

• Arrival/Dismissal
• School hours will remain the same as in the past, 7:30-2:30.  Buses will arrive at about 7:20, and so this will be the earliest students can arrive.  
• Class will begin at approximately at 7:40.  We hope this 20 minute window will allow us to get everyone in to the building and ready for school
• Students arriving by bus will have been health screened when they board the bus at congregate bus stops, and will enter the building through the newly named OWL ENTRANCE (by the church).
• Students arriving by car will pull up in the loop along the sidewalk all the way to the town offices.  
• Students will be screened in the car, and when the screening is passed, the student will exit car and walk into the building through main entrance and proceed to class.
• Parents/families will not be allowed to walk students to class.
• At 2:30 students will be dismissed by grade level.  Bus riders will exit the OWL Entrance.  Riders will be dismissed from the main entrance, with cars lined along the sidewalk (just like in the morning).
• Meals
• Grab and go breakfasts will be available to students at both entrances as they enter school. 
• Hot lunches will be available to students on-site and off-site each day. More details will come, as well as a menu for September.
•  It is slightly different than in the spring, as meals will no longer be free for everyone, but will be available to charge to accounts.  
• Please complete free/reduced paperwork if you would like to be considered for free/reduced meals.
• Cohorts
• There is much language around cohorts in the Safe and Healthy Start guidance 
• Grade levels will act as cohorts, who can attend recess together (grades 1 and 2 will comprise a cohort, grades 3 and 4 will be a cohort, and grades 5 and 6 will be a cohort)
• Each cohort will be assigned bathroom(s)
• Devices
• All students in 3rd grade through 6th grade were sent home a device in the spring.  These devices will be assigned to these students again this year.  
• Students in Kindergarten, first and second grades may have been loaned a device.  These devices will need to be returned on the first in-person day or before if possible.  
• iPads need to be updated to make sure they are able to run the necessary applications. 
•  More information to come about this, but if you want to drop off devices any time next week, please let me know, I will be at school.
• Students K-3 will be distributed new devices on/before their first in-person school day.
• It is expected that all on in-person/on-site days, students bring their device to school.  The device should either be fully charged or should bring the charging cord as well.
• Direct teaching around tech expectations is one of the priorities during in-person days, to support off-site learning days
• Handbook
• I am working on updating the handbook, as so many things are different this year.  I will send it out with updates as soon as possible.
• Social/Emotional Wellbeing
• We are prioritizing 3 things during in person days (as stated above).  
• The first priority being relationships and community.  
• The other two priorities during time on-site together is technology instruction and any assessments that need to be done at specific grade levels.
• Our goal is to give students a soft place to land... it has been quite some time since we were together in-person and we will be welcoming them with open arms (from 6 feet away).
• School will be different.  It will be important to emphasize this with your child(ren).  We believe it is going to be awesome, with much time spent outdoors, cultivating relationships and community, and learning together, AND different that what they remember.
• Please talk with your children about how they are feeling and what they are thinking.  
• Here is an interview form we would love for you to complete when thinking about your child and your family during this time and readying to return to school.

That's it for this evening, I will have more to communicate by the end of the weekend.

Be well,

Mandy

Below you will find an article about remote/off-site learning tips for families.

How to Help Your Child Succeed in a Hybrid Learning Environment

Here is a link to an article shared by NASSP