Dismissal Tips & Reminders (4/9/21)

Dear Carlos Gilbert families -

After a week of in-person learning, here are some quick tips and reminders.

Tips for dismissal:

• Keep crosswalks clear at all times. Do not pull vehicles forward to a stop on a crosswalk.

• Do not leave vehicles unattended in the pickup line.

• Because of a district-wide shortage of crossing guards, there is not a guard stationed at the 4-way stop at Catron & Griffin Street. Parents have volunteered to help keep these crosswalks safe while the district works to get a crossing guard assigned. If you would like to volunteer, please email sara@carlosgilbertptk.com.

Reminders:

• Parents are not allowed in the school building at this time. Call 505-467-4703 to contact the front office.

• Students should bring their chargers and headphones along with their devices every day.

• If Chromebooks, iPads, or chargers are not working properly, parents/guardians should contact the SFPS Technology HelpDesk at 505-467-HELP (4357) or ithelp@sfps.k12.nm.us.

Though this first week back in the school building was not completely smooth, we’re learning as we go and making improvements every day. Please practice patience, and we’ll continue moving forward together. Blackhawk strong!

SFPS Family Checklist: Planning for In-Person Learning

This message is from SPFS and shared with our community by Principal Pietrocci

Santa Fe Public Schools Reopen Tuesday, April 6th

Welcome Back! We are so happy for students to return to in-person learning! For those students returning in-person, we are thrilled and can’t wait to see you! For those remaining in remote learning, we will continue to provide rigorous remote instruction and opportunities to connect with the classroom community.

Below are some recommendations and guidelines to support families as we return to in-person learning.

GUIDELINES FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING

Before coming to school each day:

• Check in with your child each morning for signs of illness. If your child has a temperature of 100.0 degrees or higher, they should not go to school.

• Keep your child home if they have any of the following symptoms: chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

• If your child has had close contact to someone that has tested positive within the past 14 days, they should not go to school. Follow guidance on what to do when someone has known exposure.

Current Contact Information:

• Make sure your information is current at school, including emergency contacts and individuals authorized to pick up your child(ren) from school. If that list includes anyone who is at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, consider identifying an alternate person.

Chronic Medical Conditions:

• Make sure the school nursing staff have current orders for medications/medical procedures needed at school.

• Bring medications needed directly to nursing staff. Do not send it in your child(ren)’s backpack.

• Make sure your child(ren) is up-to-date on school immunizations.

Plan for transportation:

• If you wish your child to use the school bus transportation system the student’s address must be updated in PowerSchool

• You may check your student’s eligibility and his/her designated bus stop using the Bus Route Search Tool at: Transportation Homepage

• Charter School students may utilize the hub services, which can be viewed in the same web link by clicking on Charter School Bus Routes.

• If your child rides a bus, plan for your child to wear a mask on the bus and talk to your child about the importance of following bus rules, maintaining social standing at the bus stop, and abiding by spaced seating rules while on the bus.

• If carpooling, plan on every child in the carpool and the driver wearing masks for the entire trip.

• If you have any questions please contact the Transportation Office at 467-3500/ 467-3501 or email Peggy Doolittle pdoolittle@sfps.k12.nm.us or Sonia Araiza saraiza@sfps.k12.nm.us

Food Services:

• Breakfast and lunch will be provided free to all students for the remainder of the school year.

• If your student brings a sack lunch to school and purchases milk, we will need to charge $0.50 cents for the milk because it is a la carte, and not part of a USDA approved meal. An account must be set up to purchase the milk a la carte. MySchoolBucks is not in service, so only cash or check please.

• If your child will remain in remote learning, curbside distribution will be taking place at designated school sites. Please check our website for specific locations. Meals During Covid 19

• Masks will be required while in the cafeteria line and when picking up meals curbside.

• If you need help accessing school meals, please call (505) 467-3601.

Attendance:

• Attend school everyday with your learning group (in-person or remote)!

• Be on time and on-campus all school day from Tuesday, April 6, through the end of the school year.

Dress for cooler temperatures in the building

• Dress in layers: Classroom windows, doors, and air conditioning dampers will be open to circulate fresh air, leading to fluctuating temperatures during the school day. Students who need jackets, other clothing or school supplies can get help through your school site.

Technology:

• Bring your fully-charged device to class with you every day!

• Because some of your classmates are still learning remotely, you’ll be spending part of each school day on your device. (Submitting assignments electronically may still be required by your teacher as well as accessing your class materials.)

Masks:

• Bring an approved face mask and wear it all day

• (Wearing a face mask at all times is the expectation while attending school in-person. The only exception is when you’re eating or drinking, or students who have a physician’s order stating that they cannot wear a face mask”).

• Students who have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or a 504 Plan, must have an IEP team or 504 committee meeting to consider possible accommodations.

• Extra face masks will be available at school if you forget.

• Label your child’s masks clearly in a permanent marker so that they are not confused with those of other children.

Water Bottle Fillers in the Building:

• Send your child to school with a full water bottle.

• Students won’t be allowed to use water fountains, but filler stations will be available to fill up reusable bottles.

Social Distancing:

• Students and staff will be expected to social distance to the greatest extent possible, which means no large group activities or gatherings.

• Remind your child to maintain physical distance while at school.

Student Supplies & Materials:

• We are limiting the use of shared supplies and materials at school. Consider packing extra items if your child may want to share supplies with a classmate.

• Students should avoid sharing toys, playground equipment, musical instruments, supplies, books, and other materials.

Handwashing & Sanitization:

• Please stress the importance of handwashing. Students will be washing their hands/using sanitizer throughout the school day.

• School custodians will make it a priority to clean high-touch surfaces, clean during transitions and utilize a schedule to clean restrooms throughout the day.

• Students are allowed to bring individual hand sanitizer.

Visitors in the Building:

• We are limiting visitors onto our campuses; they must have clearance by the front office to enter the school building. If a parent or guardian needs to pick up their child early, please call the front office in advance and the school will have your child ready for pick-up.

MENTAL HEALTH & SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

Prepare Your Child Emotionally for the Transition

• Talk with your child about how school will look different (e.g., desks far apart from each other, teachers maintaining physical distance, possibility of staying in the classroom for lunch).

• Ask your child what they are feeling and thinking about going back to school (and it looking a little different than before), what worries they have, and what they are excited about. Normalize that feeling nervous or uncertain is okay.

Keep Checking In

• Continually check in with your child about how school is going and about interactions with classmates and teachers.

• Remind and encourage your child to talk/visit with their school counselor if they have concerns or need to talk.

• Reach out to your child’s teacher, principal, or counselor if you have concerns.

Ways to Reduce Stress and Anxiety

• Changes can be overwhelming for children (and adults!). Help your children recognize when they are feeling overwhelmed, anxious or dysregulated.

• Ask your children if they’ve learned any mindfulness or strategies in school. If they have, let them teach you what they are, and encourage them to use those techniques, both at home and even at school.

  • 5 Mindful Breath Practices for Children

  • “Box Breathing”

• For elementary aged children, check out Second Step’s Imagine Neighborhood, a free podcast is designed to help kids and families tackle the big feelings that come with growing up.

• CDC’s “Helping Children Cope”

CDC- Covid Family Planning for In-Person Learning

Back INTO School with Principal Pietrocci (3/26 letter)

Dear Carlos Gilbert Families,

We are very excited to welcome your children back to school on Tuesday, April 6! If you have questions after reading through this important information, please contact me or your classroom teacher. Please pay particular attention to the drop off and pick up section. This is the area that we will need your help with on a daily basis to keep us all safe.

Classrooms Opening on April 6

All of our classrooms will be opening on April 6. If your child's teacher is not available to begin on April 6, district staff or substitute teachers will fill in until staff who are fully vaccinated return to school, no later than April 19.

New Weekly Schedule

Beginning the week of April 6th, we will have a new weekly schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday school begins at 7:50 am and ends at 2:50 pm, and on Wednesdays school begins at 7:50 am and ends at 12:30 pm. Our tardy bell will ring at 8 am.

Drop Off and Pick Up

Drop off is from 7:40-7:50 am. Students will go directly to their classroom unless they need to eat breakfast in the cafeteria (if they will be eating breakfast they should arrive at 7:40). For everyone’s safety, parents will not be allowed to walk their child into the building, so please remain at your vehicle for drop off.

For dismissal, also please stay in your vehicle in the parent pick up line, and we will send the student to you. It would be helpful if you could write your child’s first and last name and grade on a piece of paper, and as you approach we will be able to call the student via two way radio more quickly. We will have the students waiting in different designated areas at dismissal to ensure social distancing. Thank you in advance for your patience and help keeping everyone safe. Students are allowed to walk or bike to school if their parents have given them permission.

Daily Essentials for Students

• Backpacks: Backpacks will be needed for all of the items that the students will need to transport from home to school and back home daily.

• All students must bring their fully charged iPad or Chromebook along with the charger every day. Please label both of these items.

• Sweaters and/or Jackets: please check the weather daily to ensure that your child has warm clothing for outdoor recess and lunch. If it is not raining or snowing heavily, we plan to be outside during recess and lunch.

• Two approved face masks. Bandanas and Gators are not allowed.

• Water Bottle: Our water fountains will remain off, but our water bottle dispensers are turned on. Please label the water bottle.

• Workbooks, pencils, notebooks, white boards and any other learning materials your teacher asks the student to bring

• Healthy snacks

Lunch

Most classes will eat outside, some classes will eat in the cafeteria at designated socially distanced spots and facing one direction. If the weather does not allow for outside eating, we may need to eat in the classroom and separate students as much as possible. Students may pick up lunch in the cafeteria or bring their own lunches. Breakfast and lunch are free for all SFPS students at this time. Students will have 25 minutes to eat and 15 minutes for recess.

Lunch Schedule:

• Kinder, 1st- 11:05-11:45

• 2nd, 3rd- 11:35-12:15

• 4th, 5th, 6th- 12:05-12:45

Safety Protocols

• Masks are required unless students are eating or drinking. If a student's mask breaks or becomes soiled, teachers have extra masks in their classrooms to provide to students.

• Students will be washing or sanitizing their hands throughout the day.

• Parents, family members, and visitors are not allowed in the building. If you need to pick up your child early please call the front office at 505-467-4703, and we will bring your child outside to you.

• Please screen for any signs of illness and check your child’s temperature before sending them to school every day. If your child has any signs of illness (even mild symptoms) please keep your child home to learn remotely, and contact the nurse’s office at 505-467-4705.

• Air purifiers have been installed in every classroom.

• Classes will be separated from other classes as much as possible as well as during recess and lunch periods.

• Signage is posted on the floors and hallways reminding students to maintain social distancing.

• Restrooms have dividers between the sinks.

• Non-essential furniture has been removed from classrooms to maximize the distance between students' desks.

• Desk spacing will vary depending on classroom size and student enrollment.

After Care

Aftercare services will not be available this quarter due to staffing constraints.

Remote Schedule

If your child is remaining in remote learning, your child’s teacher will send you their schedule as it may change due to the change in our schedule for full re-entry.

We appreciate all of the support you have provided during this memorable year. We are very grateful to be able to open our doors and welcome our children back to school!

Sincerely,

Kim Pietrocci, CG Principal