Important Information About Back to School at MPS (September 5th, 2020)

Posted September 5, 2020

Hello Everyone!

We are very excited to welcome students back to school this coming week (A to L last names on Thursday, September 10th and M to Z last names on Friday, September 11th). We have appreciated the support and patience of our MPS school community throughout this return to school process. Below is some important information to highlight some of our back to school routines, some of which might have been adapted to comply with Board, COVID-19, and Public Health guidelines. Our goal is to focus on student well-being, while ensuring that all health and safety measures are being followed.

Please see the following Virtual Tour videos:

Please see the following maps:

The First Day of School:

  • The first day of school for students A-L is Thursday, September 10th
  • The first day of school for students M-Z is Friday, September 11th
  • Prior to the morning of Wednesday, September 9th, you will receive a call from your child’s teacher; this will allow you to know who your child’s teacher is and to know where your child’s class will be meeting on the first day. It is important to note that some of these calls might come up on the display as an Unknown Caller. Please note: some teachers have already begun making these calls to families.
  • Each class will be assigned a class area on the yard (see the map above). On the first day, there will be a sign with each teacher’s name and class to show students where to meet.
  • As students arrive, they will go to their designated class spot; teachers will come to meet their students at this location.
    • There will be staff available to help students locate their specific class location.
  • On the first day of school, parents/guardians may walk their child to their designated class area (while wearing a mask and maintaining physical distance protocols). After dropping off their child, parents/guardians will then leave the yard. 
    • After the first day, parents/guardians will be expected to drop off their child at the yellow bus line while following physical distancing protocols
  • If it rains on the first day, students will go to their home room classrooms. There will be staff to help to direct students to their new classrooms. Parents will not be allowed in the building.
  • There will be a table set up on the first day. If you have any questions, if you are not sure who your child’s teacher is, or if you have medications or Plan of Care forms to drop off, please stop by this table.

Morning Arrival:

  • All parents/guardians must screen their children every day before leaving home for symptoms of COVID-19. If there are symptoms, children need to stay home from school. If COVID-19 is suspected, testing is recommended.
  • Arrival Routines – Walkers:
    • Walkers should arrive as close to the bell as possible
    • If you are dropping off your child, please say goodbye to your child at the yellow bus line
    • Students will meet their class at their arrival location on the yard (the area of the yard where they met their teacher on the first day of school) and stay in their “class bubble”
    • Staff on duty will help to direct students to their arrival location and will help students with understanding physical distancing protocols
    • When the bell goes to start the day, students will remain in their class area. The staff on duty will send each class individually to line up in their line location; where they will meet their teacher, who will bring them into the building.
    • Please note, if you drive your child to school, please do not park in the parking lot from 8:30 to 8:40 am, as this is when buses will be entering the parking lot. Please park on the road and walk your children to the yellow bus line.
  • Arrival Routines – Bus Students:
    • Bus transfers take place at 8:35 am. Students will leave their bus and after entering the yard, they will meet their class at their assigned arrival location on the yard (the area of the yard where they met their teacher on the first day of school) and stay in their “class bubble.”
    • Staff on duty will help to direct students to their arrival location and will help students with understanding physical distancing protocols.
    • When the bell goes to start the day, students will remain in their class area. The staff on duty will send each class individually to line up in their line location; where they will meet their teacher, who will bring them into the building.

What If I Need to Pick Up or Drop Off My Child?

  • Only essential visitors are permitted inside the school at this time (e.g., maintenance personnel); all parents/guardians and visitors will not be permitted inside schools during the pandemic, except in case of emergency
  • Signing Students In (i.e., late):
    • When the parent/guardian arrives in the parking lot, they will call the office (519-638-3095) to say they have arrived at the school
    • Office staff will greet the child by either going to meet the student at the parking lot or by having the student come to the office using the exterior Office doors (transfer of the student will consider the developmental age of the child)
    • If the child comes to the Office, they will stop at the office door to show they have arrived in the building before heading to class
  • Picking Students Up (i.e., an appointment):
    • Parents/Guardians will inform the office in the morning of any early pick-ups; please call the office to share this information
    • When parent/guardian arrives in the parking lot, they will call the office (519-638-3095) to say they have arrived at the school
    • Office staff will send the child out to meet their parent in the parking lot by either sending the student on their own using the Office door, or Office staff will walk the student to meet their parent (transfer of the student will consider the developmental age of the child)

Dismissal Time:

  • Classes will exit the building using their designated exit door
  • They will be dismissed one at a time by their teacher
  • If classes are outside, they will be dismissed by their teacher from their outdoor location
  • Parents/Guardians of JK to Gr 3 students are required to provide pick-up information to their child’s home room teacher (more information will be shared by your child’s teacher)
  • Walkers:
    • Will either leave the school property or they will wait in the Walker Line (by the Kindergarten Bunker; following physical distancing protocols) to wait for their pick-up person
    • Parents/Guardians who come to pick up their children will not be allowed to cross the bus line onto the yard and must follow physical distancing protocols
    • Parent/Guardians are also reminded to pick up their child promptly at the end of the day
    • If you are picking up your child, please remember to park along the side of the road and not in the parking lot, as that is where the buses will be parking and loading
  • Bus Students:
    • Bus lines will remain in their “bus cohort” and not blend with other bus lines on the yard
    • For the first few weeks of school, after being dismissed, bus students will line up with their bus line in their designated spot on the hard top (following physical distancing protocols)
    • When the buses arrive, the bus transfer will take place and then bus lines will be sent one at a time to load 

We are very excited to see everyone in person soon! If you have any questions, do not hesitate to connect with your child’s teacher when they call or please reach out to us at the office (519-638-3095 or at [email protected])

Thanks!

Mr. Dickieson and the Staff at Maryborough PS

 

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