Principal’s Message
February 5th, 2021
Dear Credit Meadows Families,
I am sure you are aware that we will be returning to in-person learning on Monday, February 8th. We are eager to see your children again and not through a computer. I am personally excited to meet the CMES students in-person and have the school bustling with children and staff. It has been a quiet month and I am looking forward to getting to know everyone!
CMES Staff will be spending the first couple of days reviewing our updated Health and Safety Protocols with students and ensuring that each child feels comfortable being back.
Below you will find some important reminders and some new information:
COVID 19 Screening
Parents/guardians and students are reminded that all students must complete and pass their daily self-screening prior to coming to school each day. Students are expected to stay home if symptoms or possible exposures are identified and parents must phone the school to inform us of their child’s absence. To assist with screening each day, parents can use the province’s COVID-19 school screening tool at https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/. Screening your child every day before leaving for school is one of the best ways to help keep our schools and community safe. Students who arrive at school unwell or present as unwell during the day will be isolated until they are able to be picked up. We ask that parents have a plan in place in order for students to be promptly picked up. This will assist in keeping everyone safe.
NEW: Mask Requirements
In addition to UGDSB’s current protocols around masking for students in Kindergarten to Grade 12+, additional masking requirements have also been put in place by the Ministry of Education. Masks will now also be required outdoors where physical distancing of 2 metres cannot be maintained. As a result, students will be required to wear a mask during recess. Should a student need a “mask break” they will be welcome to use an area away from peers and staff where they can safely remove their mask for a time.
If students’ masks are wet or dirty they will need to be replaced. As students will be wearing their mask outdoors, I would suggest sending your child with more than one mask so they can change it after recess if needed. We want to make sure students are comfortable. Additionally, please note that all of the current wording refers to mask/ masking/ mask requirements as opposed to non-medical face coverings. Please ensure your child comes to school wearing a mask. Parents/Guardians are also encouraged to wear a mask when picking up/dropping off their children on school property.
Inclement Weather
A reminder that as a result of Covid 19 protocols, if buses are cancelled in Dufferin County due to inclement weather, all schools in Dufferin County, including Credit Meadows ES, will be closed to students. As we are in the midst of winter with much more weather to come, it is important to remember this.
Website Calendar
Please regularly refer to the CMES website for important updates and events. We have included special events on the CMES calendar including SPIRIT DAYS! Friday, February 12th will be wear PINK, RED OR WHITE!
Parking Lot Reminder
A reminder to all our families, as mentioned in previous emails that the front parking lot in front of the school is closed and is a walking area only. The lower parking lot is still open but has limited parking as we have a large staff at CMES & UGDSB Staff, as well as the YMCA Daycare Staff. If you use this lower lot and especially with the darker and wetter weather coming, please move into and around the lot slowly, abiding by the stop sign at the cross walk and always watching for pedestrians. Please use the lower lot as a drop off and go and do not block the flow of traffic by leaving your vehicle in a no parking zone. Orangeville Police periodically park in our lower parking lot to keep an eye on things and to help deter speeding on Blind line, especially around our school zone.
Return of Borrowed Technology
If you borrowed a Chromebook and charger from the school for the remote learning period, we ask that you send it back to school with your child on Monday. The equipment will be cleaned, quarantined and redistributed. We thank you returning it promptly so that it can be used in classrooms again!
Have a lovely weekend and we look forward to seeing everyone Monday!
Dianna Secord
Principal
Categories: News