SMS Staff Says Hello! 

We are working hard to ensure provincial and district safety protocols are in place to welcome some of our students back next week.  We understand this is a family decision, and respect your choice during this unusual time.  We have over 50% of students returning for our one day a week of in-class learning which is designed to support the home learning opportunities offered to all students.

This post has very important details regarding the rules and guidelines in place as our students return.  But first……….say hello to our fabulous staff by single clicking the link above where it says SMS Staff Says Hello!  Whether you are returning or not, please know how much we have been thinking about you and have missed you!  Thanks to our staff, students and parents for their hard work to have learning continue during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the restrictions we have in place will seem unusual for students, and strict, we have confidence that once they get into their CORE classroom with their teachers, it will be a positive experience.  Our number one goal is safety.

Scheduled Days

It is VERY important that students are on the school grounds only on the day their CORE teacher is providing in-class support for the home learning opportunities, unless other arrangements have been confirmed with Mr. Matheson or their LRT (Tier 1 workers and some students with an IEP).  Students who have not registered to attend may not be on the school property.  We have worked hard to meet out 20% capacity per day rate.  Students are not to come during the day or at lunch to visit friends.  We know how much our students have missed friends (we have, too).  We will be very strict about this.

 

Students are to bring their home learning supplies and lunch in one backpack which they will keep with them in their classroom.  They must also bring their own water bottle as the fountains will be closed.   The water refill station will be in operation.  Please ensure students have writing materials and a notebook. Lockers will not be used.  Schedules have been developed to facilitate safety and spacing throughout the school. Specific requests for days or friendship groups could not be met.  Our schedule is as follows:

 

Mondays:  Hiebert/Brunwald, Olson, Tait/Chalabi,  Craig, Lynka, Rodwell, Maddigan,

Half of Lafortune/Dalgaard (please see Mme Lafortune’s email to families as our late French Immersion grade 7 CORES are divided into two days),

Tuesdays:  Kenny, Bushell, MacThio, Limber, Gauthier, Vezina, Lazar

Wednesdays:  The school is closed to in-class learning for extra cleaning

Thursdays:  Penner, DeWitt, Whitehead

Half of Hobart/Russell/Weir  (please see Mme Weir’s email to families as our Grade 8 French Immersion classes are divided into two days)

Half of Lafortune/Dalgaard (please see Mme Lafortune’s email to families as our late French Immersion grade 7 CORES are divided into two days)

Fridays: Lawson, Verney, Kallies, Cecco

Half of Hobart/Russell/Weir  (please see Mme Weir’s email to families as our Grade 8 French Immersion classes are divided into two days)

Chromebooks, Textbooks and Library Books

If you are returning to school next week, please bring textbooks and library books back with you.  On May 28, Mme Reed will send email notices to parents of all students with books outstanding.  We’ll have a collection bin for library materials ready for your return.

We lent out over 100 chromebooks to help with home learning.  If you have a chromebook at home that you no longer need, please bring it with you to the school on your scheduled day.  If you are not returning to school in June, please email Ms. Mueller to arrange a safe time to drop it off.  Due date for all chromebook returns is June 19th. 

 

SAFETY COMES FIRST AT SMS

Controlled Space

Because we are a controlled space, we are able to have more than 50 people in our building.  To maintain recommended numbers, all outside doors will be locked during the day.  The safety protocols put in place by SD 83 follow provincial recommendations.

 

Safety Protocols

All protocols follow provincial and district guidelines.  Below is a summary to review prior to sending your student to school.

• Students will not be allowed to enter the building except on designated days and only if parents stated “Yes” to returning June 1 on the district survey or spoke to an SMS staff member to make arrangements.  This is to ensure we do not go over the provincial recommendation of 20% in our building each day.  
• If you did not make arrangements for your student to attend as above, you are welcome to do so for the week beginning June 8th by contacting the office staff directly.  If your family said “yes” to returning but will not be in attendance on any of the scheduled days, we ask that you contact the office.
• If you require bus transportation and did not indicate so on the district survey, please contact the transportation department at 832-9415.

Prior to sending your student to school:

Child Health Screening – Parents/caregivers are required to keep symptomatic children home. Children showing symptoms of COVID-19 or with a temperature greater than 38°C must not be allowed at school.  Parents are asked to complete the following health check with their child at home prior to leaving for school.  Please do NOT send your child if the answer is yes to anything.  Staff will go through the same questions once again upon arrival.

*This health check must be completed each morning before your child leaves for school.
Date:	Name:
Time:	Division/Teacher:
Do you have a fever?	Yes                             No
Do you have a cough?	Yes                             No
Do you have congestion?	Yes                             No
Do you have nasal drip?	Yes                             No
Are you sneezing?	Yes                             No
Is anyone in your household ill?	Yes                             No

 

Arrival Procedure:

Students will be asked not to walk to, or be dropped off, at the school site before 8:15am.  At 8:15, staff will begin the health check and attendance process at each of the four designated entrances.  By 8:25 all students should be checked in and the doors will be locked.  Late arrivals are STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.  Students who wish to gain access to the building after the day begins will wait outside the front entrance for a health check from a school team member. Your cooperation with getting students to school on time is greatly appreciated.

Physical distancing of 2 meters must be maintained at arrival and dismissal. Parents and guardians will not be permitted inside the building without a scheduled appointment.

Students are to physically distance at their designated entrance when they arrive at school.  Designated entrances are as follows:

 

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
Main Entrance	Dalgaard Lafortune Rodwell	Limber Gauthier	Russell Dalgaard Lafortune	Russell Kallies
Side Entrance Near Music	Olson Craig	Vezina Lazar	Weir Hobart	Weir Hobart
Rear Entrance Near Portables	Tait/Chalabi Maddigan	Kenny	Whitehead Dewitt	Cecco Verney
Rear Entrance Near MacThio/ Bushell	Lynka Hiebert Brunwald	Bushell MacThio	Penner	Lawson

 

Isolation Room for students who become symptomatic during school hours:

Students who are awaiting authorization to walk home or pick up due to exhibiting symptoms will wait in the designated “isolation” room.  A nearby washroom will be designated for students awaiting pick up.

Student Behavior

• In addition to the expectations we already have at school, students will also be expected to adhere to the new safety guidelines in place. Students that cannot follow the rules we have put in place to ensure everyone’s safety will not be allowed to participate in in-class instruction.
• Students will have an expectations review by teacher/administration and a firm reminder that joking, horseplay, teasing and any purposeful attempt to spread germs will be handled with seriousness and consequences.

Masks

Masks are a personal choice.  Students and staff may wear them if they choose,.

Dismissal Procedure

Students will be dismissed in the following order:

2:20 – students walking home will be asked to leave the building at 2:20 and to leave the property immediately

2:25 – students getting picked up by parents will be asked to leave the building at 2:25 and to leave the property immediately

2:29 – students who are taking the bus will be asked to leave the building at which point they will begin lining up according to social distancing and administration/supervisor instructions.

 

If you would like extensive details about the safety protocols, please visit the SD 83 website.

We look forward to seeing some of our fabulous students next week.  As always, feel free to contact the office if you have questions, suggestions or concerns.