Reopening Details for Douglass Campus Middle School

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Download Spanish version of Douglass Campus Middle School Reopening Letter

April 30, 2021

Dear Alma Families,

We cannot wait to welcome our 6th-7th graders back to in person learning next Monday, May 3rd! Please see below for some basic information regarding our reopening.

School Hours: Monday-Friday 8:45 am-3:15 pm

Address: 777 Church St., New Bedford, MA 02746

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.

First Day Materials:

On the first day, all scholars should bring their Chromebook/charger and their Alma bag that they received at Orientation. We have extra bags for scholars.

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 strongly encouraged. They will stay at school Monday through Friday and may be brought home over the weekend for cleaning.

Uniforms:

Alma K-5 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.

Transportation (Please Read Carefully!):

Busing
- 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.
- At dismissal, buses will now begin loading at 3:30pm to avoid congestion with families who are picking up their scholar.
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.
- Family Drop Off will begin at 8:45am. Families will drive around the building and drop their scholar off at the front door. Please see the diagram below to see where you should enter and drop off your child.
- Dismissal will begin at 3:15pm for Family Pick Up. If you are picking up your scholar, please arrive between 3:15pm and 3:25pm to pick up your scholar to avoid congestion with bus dismissal. If you arrive after 3:25pm, you may have to wait for bus dismissal to end before you are able to pick up your child.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

In Service,

Taylor DeLoach

Douglass Campus Principal

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!

Contact Information:

Taylor DeLoach

Principal

taylordeloach@almadelmar.org

(508) 202-1913

Marilyn Akinrinlola

Middle School Academic Dean

marilynakinrinlola@almadelmar.org

(508) 203-1704

Margaret Carvalho

Dean of Scholar Support