January 21 Reopening Update (Spanish)
January 21 Reopening Update (English)
Para Español utilice el botón “Seleccionar Idioma” en la esquina superior derecha de la página.
Dear Alma Families,
We look forward to seeing you on our Family Zoom call this evening, Thursday, January 21st, at 5 pm (Join here). Even more so, we are looking forward to seeing your scholar return to in-person learning on Monday, February 1st. Please see below for information regarding our reopening.
School Hours:
- Monday-Thursday 7:50 am-2:30 pm In Person
- Fridays: Fully Remote
Attendance:
- If your scholar will be absent, please call the front desk of your child’s school; if the absence is related to symptoms of COVID-19, please inform the front desk when you call and a school nurse can follow up to support your family, as needed.
Emergency Contact Information:
- Please make sure that all contact information for yourself and emergency contacts is up to date, and update as needed.
Classroom Teachers:
- We made shifts to our class lists based on the number of scholars who opted in to in-person learning. This means that your scholar may have a different teacher than they have had so far this year. If your scholar’s teacher will change, your scholar’s new teacher will reach out next week.
Meals:
- Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
- Scholars are permitted to bring their own lunch from home, however, please minimize objects traveling between school and home.
- Reusable water bottles are permitted. They will stay at school Monday through Thursday and may be brought home over the weekend for cleaning.
Transportation:
- Busing
- Busing will be provided for scholars who live more than 1.5 miles away from their campus.
- COVID-19 protocols will be in place on the bus. All staff and scholars are required to sit in an assigned seat and to wear a mask at all times on the bus.
- Please determine a plan to pick up your child from school in the event they develop symptoms of COVID-19 while at school. If this situation arises, they will not be permitted to take the bus home.
- Family Drop Off/Pick Up
- If you choose to drop off or pick up your child from school, you must do so outside the building to minimize the number of adults in the building.
Uniforms:
- Alma K-2 scholars wear uniforms to school. Learn more about the Alma uniform here.
- Please order your uniform directly from Superior Logos, 13 Brooks St., 508-717-6776.
- If purchasing a uniform this year is a hardship, please reach out to Marie Tavares, our Families Helping Families coordinator for support at marietavares@almadelmar.org
Visitors to School Buildings:
- At this time, Alma is not permitting any visitors to the school building.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.
In Service,
Kaitlin Goldrick Taylor DeLoach
Ottiwell Campus Principal Douglass Campus Principal
kaitlingoldrick@almadelmar.org taylordeloach@almadelmar.org
COVID-19 Information For Families
Daily Home Screening for Scholars: Check your child daily for signs of illness using our Symptoms Screening Checklist. If you need a new copy, please reach out to your school nurse.
If your child has any of the following symptoms, or is a close contact with a positive COVID-19 case, DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL, and inform the school nurse.
❏ Temperature of 100.0 or higher
❏ Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
❏ Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
❏ New loss of taste or smell
❏ Sore throat
❏ Headache (when in combination with other symptoms)
❏ Muscle aches or body aches
❏ Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
❏ Fatigue (when in combination with other symptoms)
❏ Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known cause, such as allergies)
❏ Close contact (within 6 feet for 10-15 minutes) to a positive COVID-19 case
❏ Traveled to a state designated as high risk (per MA travel advisory)
If your child presents at the school nurse’s office with any symptoms of COVID-19, you will receive a call to pick up your child and be referred to your scholar’s health care provider for further instructions. They will need a medical note to return to school.
Masks:
- Masks are required to be worn by all scholars and staff unless they have provided a doctor’s note documenting a medical or disability exception.
- Masks will be worn all day, including on the bus, with the exception of meals water/mask breaks.
DO wear a mask that:
- Covers your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin.
- Fits snugly against the sides of your face.
- Has two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric
DO NOT choose masks that:
- Have exhalation valves or vents which allow virus particles to escape
- Face shields can be worn over a cloth or surgical mask but not in place of a mask
- Neck gaiters are not permissible
Please remember to wash reusable masks regularly and discard single-use masks after wearing.
Hand Hygiene: Hand hygiene remains one of the most important ways to stop the spread of illness. Scholars and staff are required to exercise hand hygiene (hand washing or sanitizing) upon arrival to school, before and after meals, before putting on or taking off masks, and throughout the day. If hand washing is not feasible, hand sanitizer will be available at key locations throughout the school and its use will be supervised by adults.
Immunizations and Physicals: All students (in-person, hybrid, and remote) must remain up to date with their required immunizations and physical exams. This includes the new requirements for the Meningococcal vaccine for grade 7, upon entrance.
Questions: If you have any questions regarding health and safety practices, please contact the front desk. If you have questions about your child’s symptoms or medical needs, please contact the school nurse.
Thank you, and stay well!
Taylor McNamara MSN RN
School Nurse
508-205-9003