Monday, August 31, 2020

August 31 Message: Arrival, Dismissal, Meals

Greetings from Onondaga Road

It’s in the Mail! 

mailbox
This time of year is so exciting!  I know our kids are ready to find out about their new teachers and classmates, so be on the lookout for a letter in the mail from me this week!  Most of the packets were mailed on Friday, and we have just a few more to mail on Monday.  In addition to your child’s teacher and room assignment, there is a LOT of information in your packet.  If you have any specific questions after taking time to read ALL of the information, please give us a call at the Onondaga Road School Main Office.

 

Preparing for School Meals

lunch bag
If you choose to have school meals, breakfast and lunch will be delivered to the classrooms. Lunches can be pre-ordered through our new Nutri-Slice online system. A description of the app and how to use it is  included in the back to school packet you will receive in the mail, or you can click here to find it directly on the school website.



School Bus Transportation

schoolbus clipart
Information about the district mobile app called Traversa Ride 360 is also included in your back to school packet.  If you opted for  school bus transportation, you will need to use the app to find details specific to your child’s bus route.  Here is a guide to using the Traversa Ride 360 mobile app.


Screening Sheets

checkmark
Each family is responsible for completing a Screening Sheet for each child at the start of every school day.  Families have been provided four screening sheets in the mailed packet, and then pads of home-screening slips will be sent home on the first day of school. These slips, which indicate that a child’s temperature has been taken prior to arrival at school, the temperature is less than 100℉, the child is symptom-free, etc., will be given to school staff upon entering the building. If, on occasion, you accidentally forget to send your child’s screening slip, their temperature will be taken. If the temperature is over 100℉, they will be escorted to the nurse. Students who arrive with completed screening slips will walk directly to their assigned classroom. Students riding the bus are asked to have their screening form visible for the bus driver to see each morning.  Think of this as a daily entry ticket!


Transporting by Car or Walking

car clipart
First, and for safety’s sake, I am highly discouraging any students from riding a bike to school at this time. Considering the high volume of vehicle traffic we will experience at arrival and dismissal, a bicycle would be a great safety risk.

If your child is actually walking to or from school, s/he will use the front main door entrance.  Any parents/students walking will also receive a car-pick-up tag, and parents are required to have this tag if you are walking/escorting your child at dismissal time. (See below for dismissal procedures with the tag numbers.)


Arrival/Dismissal by Car Drop-off and Pick-up

cartag images

Because of the large number of families picking up students this year, we are using a car tag system.  Families transporting students will receive another mailing later this week which will include arrival/dismissal details and a number tag that looks similar to this:

You will get two car tags and enough corresponding backpack tags for your child(ren). We ask that you securely fasten the tag to your child's backpack. IF you plan to pick up your child but did not indicate that on the parent survey, you must contact me to make arrangements. If you plan to pick up your child more than a couple of times a month, please contact us so we can issue you a tag. If you plan to carpool, we must have a note indicating with whom your child is allowed to ride home. If your child plans to actually walk to/from school, we also must have a note granting your child permission to do so. If you have any questions about any of this after reading this information here and after you receive your car tag in the mail, please give me a call or send a brief email and I will try to help you!

School:  315-487-4653
Mrs. Clark’s email: jclark@westgenesee.org.



Details for Arrival and Dismissal


8:40-9:00 - Drop-off Time for Students Arriving by Car 

  • Please do not arrive early or drop children off prior to 8:40, as there will be no supervision.  Please avoid arriving early because waiting in your car will cause traffic to back up into Onondaga Road.

  • If you arrive after 8:55 you must wait until all buses are gone before entering the parking lot.

  • Parents are asked to stay in their cars. Of course you would be permitted to assist a child with a car seat or seat belt if needed, but we ask that you stay as close to your car as possible and refrain from walking your child to the door.  There will be staff outside to guide the children.

  • We will utilize two entrances: All cars enter the bus loop entrance to the school, and then “Even” numbered car tags will go to the left to the bus loop, students will enter the front door, and cars exit to Onondaga Road.  “Odd” numbered car tags will enter the right  side parking lot door, and cars will exit via Kent Place.

  • When you exit, please consider turning right, either from Kent Place or from the bus loop, onto Onondaga Road.  This will expedite dismissal, as turning left will be difficult in the traffic.


9:00-9:10 – School Bus Drop-off Time

  • Buses pull into the bus loop at 8:55.  Students exit the buses at 9:00 and enter the building to start the school day!


Late Arrival Procedures

  • If you arrive after 8:55, you must wait until all buses have gone before entering the parking lot.   

  • After 9:15 and the doors have been locked with no supervision outside, a parent/guardian must walk your child to the main entrance, check-in at the main office and sign their child in. Please DO NOT drop children off at the sidewalk/door when there is nobody supervising outside!

  • Students will need the Daily Home Screening Sheets; if not their temperature will be taken prior to going to class. 

 

2:15-2:30 - School Bus Dismissal Time

  • Students will board buses beginning at 2:15, and buses will depart from school at 2:30.  NOTE:  Parents picking up students from school must wait until after all buses leave before pulling into the parking lot.  

 

2:30 – Pick-up Time Begins (for parents picking up students) 

  • All student pick-ups will take place at the same door as noted for arrival:  All cars will enter the bus-loop entrance to the school, then “even” number tags will go to the left toward the bus loop and use the front door, and “odd” number tags will go straight and use the right side (parking lot side) door, then exit via Kent Place.  No parent will exit their car or enter the building.  Students will be escorted to cars for dismissal.

  • Anyone who indicated “self-transport” on the survey for dismissal will receive a car tag and student tag in the mail. 

  • If you plan to participate in a regular car pool, please call the main office to make arrangements. 

  • The procedure for picking up students will take a lot of time at first, so thank you for being patient while we work out this routine.  

Early Pick-up

  • If you need to pick your child up before dismissal for an appointment, etc., you must send a note to school with your child stating the time you will need to pick up.  NOTE: There is a 2:00 deadline for picking up students early.  In this case, parents will come to the main door (office) to sign your child out.


Thank you for taking the time to read this information carefully.  It really is going to be a team effort to keep one another safe and healthy!


Sunday, August 23, 2020

OR August Update

Greetings from Onondaga Road! We’re working hard on our reopening plan, and I hope this update will provide a few more answers as we go along…

Welcome, Class of 2033!  

Kindergarten screening will take place on Tuesday, August 25. All registered Kindergarten students received a phone call and a letter in the mail regarding your screening appointment.  Please pay close attention to the time, as we are following social distancing and safety protocols.  The school nurse will be present at the main entrance for temperature checks (parents and students) prior to entering the building!

Masks 

Students will be required to wear masks throughout the day. Teachers will give students "mask breaks" during the day (when all students are seated and the teacher is not moving about the room) and students will obviously be able to remove their mask when they eat. Face shields cannot be worn unless they are in addition to a mask. 

Classrooms 

Due to the limited number of students we can have in a classroom, we have had to make several adjustments and shift teachers to different areas of the building. Teachers and staff are in the midst of "moving out" and "moving in." This is a very daunting task, and I cannot thank our entire staff enough for all of their hard work over the last couple of weeks. 

Class Rosters 

Keeping in mind all social distancing spacing, class sizes could range between 10-24 students depending on the size of the room space. All social distancing requirements will be followed in all settings. We are currently working on class rosters and look to have that completed at the end of this week. You will receive a letter in the mail early next week.  

Instruction

Due to the additional classes we had to create,  many different grades could be working as a team and teachers could be rotating between classrooms throughout the day to deliver instruction. Certified teachers within those teams will be delivering the bulk of the academic instruction and core curriculum.  In an effort to limit student movement throughout the building, special area teachers will come to the classrooms. When the weather is nice, physical education will take place outside. 

Arrival Procedures

School begins at 9:00 a.m. You will receive information about drop-off and pick-up procedures in the mail.  Parents may drop off their children between 8:40 and 8:55. Students cannot begin unloading from cars until 8:40. Parents must stay in their car at all times. Buses will enter the parking lot at 9:00. If parents are late in dropping off their children, they will wait to enter the parking lot until after the buses have unloaded. Students will be given a designated door to enter. 

Daily Screening Sheets

Families will be provided with Screening Sheets. These slips, which indicate that a child’s temperature has been taken prior to arrival at school, the temperature is less than 100℉, and that the child is symptom-free, will be given to school staff upon entering the building. If a child does not have the screening slip, their temperature will be taken. Students will then walk directly to their assigned classroom.

Dismissal Procedures

tag sample
Bus dismissal will be at 2:15-2:30. After all buses depart from school, parents can enter the parking lot beginning at 2:30 for student pick-up. Parent pick-up number tags, similar to the sample pictured below, will be provided for all students being picked up. Each family will get two car tags with the same number. Students will be provided with a backpack tag with the corresponding number. School staff will be able to easily identify the correct car in the pickup line outside of school. If a parent is designating someone else to pick up a child on a particular day, it will be up to the parent to make sure they provide that person with their pick-up tag ahead of time. This is for safety purposes, as we need to be sure each child gets into the right car. Again, parents must stay in their car at all times. More information will be sent in the mail next week.

Lots more to come!  Stay tuned…

Sincerely, 

Jeannette Clark