The district continues to develop their plan for reopening schools, using the Strong and Healthy Start guide to reopening schools from the Vermont Agency of Education as the cornerstone to our work. The state is having schools reopen, at a phase two, which means that in great part schools will be opening in the hybrid model to accommodate things like 3-6' of physical distance for student (limiting the number of desks we can have in the classrooms at the same time), health and safety recommendations about not using common areas like the gym and cafeteria for their intended use because of risk of exposure, the time it will take to deep clean and disinfect all areas and surfaces in school between groups, among others.
HUUSD has agreed to 1:4 model for students. All students will be offered one day on site with their assigned teacher(s) and a smaller cohort of students. How this will look at Moretown School is that we will look at established class lists and split them into two groups; red (Tuesday) and white (Thursday). We are doing our best to make sure siblings can attend the same day to ease as much of the challenges and concerns the "all-new school" is likely to present with childcare etc.
Families will receive a quick email later today indicating red or white assignments. If there are extenuating circumstances that need to be addressed, please reach out to me directly for consideration. There are many moving pieces; I will do my best, but cannot guarantee switches can be made.
We continue to work out schedules around integrated arts/specials, and other specifics including congregate bus stops. You will be receiving information regularly from this point forward as we have formally adopted a hybrid model and now are hammering out the great many logistics that come along with this model.
If you have questions in the meantime, please reach out.
In order to prepare for this significant upcoming transitoin, you can help with these two items:
- Please start practicing mask wearing, if you haven't already. Although many camps and summer activities have made masks optional, they will not be optional at school. Please see below for more on masks.
- Please practice washing hands. Often. Students will be washing hands when they enter school, before and after any time they eat (snack, breakfast, lunch), before and after they play outside, and before and after using any shared materials (which will be minimal).
- Children and Masks
- Halloween is one thing, but when it comes to preventing the spread of COVID-19 among children, masks are serious business, and one size does not fit all
- Face coverings should be worn in settings where children and adults cannot keep a distance of 6 feet between themselves and others. This includes childcare settings, summer camps and schools.
- The Health Department has a two-page fact sheet that gives people the information they need about the use of masks to help protect children.
- Keeping a 6-foot distance can be hard for kids used to running around and playing with each other. In settings where distancing is a challenge, children ages 2 and older should wear a mask. Make sure the mask size is the right fit and teach kids how to safely put on and remove the mask, as well as instruct them on proper hand washing to stop the spread of germs.
- Children under the age of 2 should not wear a mask, because it may present a choking hazard, and the youngsters may not be able to communicate that they are having trouble breathing. The unique needs of each child are also a factor. Children who have medical (such as asthma) or developmental reasons for not wearing a face covering, should not be required to do so.
- Review our Face Coverings for Children fact sheet for more information, including safety tips about what masks are appropriate and advice for helping children adapt to mask use.
Speaking of masks:
- The Harwood Unified Union School District is seeking donations of cloth facial coverings for both students and staff. We are prepared to mask every student and teacher at this time. We would like to offer an opportunity to the community to extend our supply and provide a variety of masks for our students.
- Masks should be multiple layers of cotton fabric (minimum of 3 layers) with loops for ears. We cannot accept any donations of masks designed to tie behind the head.
- For more information you can contact Mandy Couturier at mcouturier@huusd.org. Masks can be dropped at Moretown School in person or in a drop box. Drop off can also be arranged at TBPS through email.
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