October 2, 2020
Dear Shaler Area families,
As we begin our transition to the hybrid instruction model on Monday, October 12, we want to ensure the health and safety of all of our students and staff. Please remember that all students are required to wear a face covering (including on the school bus), and families are to perform a daily symptom screening for their student(s) before sending them to school.
Face Covering Requirements
All students and staff must wear face coverings in accordance with Department of Health regulations.
"Face covering" means a covering of the nose and mouth that is secured to the head with ties, straps, or loops over the ears or is wrapped around the lower face.
A "face covering" can be made of a variety of synthetic or natural fabrics, including cotton, silk, or linen, and, for the purposes of the order, can include a plastic face shield that covers the nose and mouth.
Face coverings fall under the same requirements outlined in the student dress code and may not promote sexual activity, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, hate messages, or violence. Please see your building’s student handbook for additional restrictions. Students wearing a face covering that is determined by administration to be unsafe, inappropriate, or disruptive to the educational process will be given an alternative face covering.
Face coverings can only be removed when:
Eating or drinking when spaced at least 6 feet apart; or
When wearing a face covering creates an unsafe condition in which to operate equipment or execute a task; or
At least 6 feet apart during “face-covering breaks” to last no longer than 10 minutes
Daily Symptom Screening
Parents/guardians are required to complete a daily symptom screening of their student(s) before sending them to school.
Your student must stay at home, if the they:
Have one or more symptoms in Group A OR
Have two or more symptoms in Group B OR
Are taking fever reducing medication. (i.e. Advil, Motrin) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Group A
1 or more symptoms | Group B
2 or more symptoms |
Cough
Shortness of breath
Difficult breathing New olfactory disorder (loss of smell) New taste disorder (loss of taste) | Fever (measured or subjective) Chills Rigors (sudden feeling of cold with shivering) Myalgia (muscle pain or muscle ache) Headache Sore throat Nausea or vomiting Diarrhea Fatigue Congestion or runny nose |
If your student experiences any of these symptoms during the school day, they will be evaluated by the school nurse and may be sent home.
Each year, we encourage families to have an emergency plan in place, but it is especially important this year. Please take the time to create or review your family’s emergency plan in the event of an emergency school closure (due to an unexpected power outage, water main break, inclement weather, or other emergency) as well as the possibility of a 14-day quarantine if student is identified as a close contact of a COVID-19 case.
Bus Assignments
Bus assignments for students who did not opt out of district transportation will be available today, October 2, on Infinite Campus. Log in to your Infinite Campus account, click “More” on the left-hand side menu, and then click “Transportation.” The information is accurate based on the latest Cohort report. If you have a concern your student’s bus schedule may be incorrect, please contact our district Transportation Department at [email protected].
Student Orientation
As a reminder, we will host an orientation day for students in kindergarten, 4th grade, 7th grade, and 9th grade. In-person student attendance during orientation is required if your student intends on participating in the hybrid instruction model. If your student plans to participate in virtual instruction (Cohort C), they will remain at home and log in to their lessons for the day through Infinite Campus. District transportation will be provided for students in grades 4, 7, and 9 who did not opt out of district transportation. Lunch will not be provided on these orientation days. Below are the orientation days and times.
Cohort A (Last Name A-K) — Thursday, October 8, 2020
9th Grade - SAHS - 7:18 am - 10:45 a.m.
7th Grade - SAMS - 7:40 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
4th Grade - SAES - 8:12 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Cohort B (Last Name L-Z) — Friday, October 9, 2020
9th Grade - SAHS - 7:18 am - 10:45 a.m.
7th Grade - SAMS - 7:40 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
4th Grade - SAES - 8:12 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Kindergarten Orientation - Thursday, October 8, 2020 and Friday October 9, 2020
2 sessions per day (9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.)
Report during your assigned time
One Parent/guardian must accompany the child.
Space will be limited in each session to allow for social distancing.
All students will transition to in-person instruction the week of October 12. The first day of in-person instruction for Cohort A is October 12. The first day of in-person instruction for Cohort B is October 15.
Next week, our teachers, administrators, and Information Technology Department will be focused on the technology needs associated with our transition to the hybrid instruction model. While we are preparing for this transition, we know that there will be unanticipated issues that will arise. This is new for all of us, and there will be a learning curve for our teachers and students. We ask for your continued patience and support as we refine and improve our model to provide the best educational experience for our students.
Sincerely,
Sean C. Aiken
Superintendent of Schools
Bryan E. O’Black, Ed.D.
Assistant Superintendent