Welcome back to the start of an unknown school year. Here are a few things we do know so far, and as we know more please follow our school facebook page, McKinley Elementary Cougars, for updated information, and your email inbox. There are a lot of things that we need to adjust and change this year due to guidelines and increased safety measures. We appreciate your patience, and positive support as we navigate this new territory. Before school begins I will share a plan of the changes and processes we will now need to follow. Please take time to review these as a family, and know we will make the best of this situation. "When life gives you lemons, you can make lemonade" and that's what we plan to do.
Here is a link to a google sheet where you can submit any questions you might have. Ask any questions you might have, I might not have all the answers, but I will try my best to address them, or find the answer for you.
Some important information:
Our district leadership team has developed a very cohesive Return to Learn plan. You can find the details of the plan@www.besd.net
* 1st 2 weeks of school for 1st through 5th grade will be minimum days meaning the kids are dismissed at 12:30, they will be served lunch or have a grab bag lunch to take with them. Kindergarten will start after Labor Day, the A.M. sessions will come on Tuesday and Thursday and the P.M. sessions will come on Wednesday and Friday for 2 hours in the morning. Students who qualify for all day kindergarten will come every day and be released with the minimum day. Just sending some of this information out now so you can plan ahead for child care needs. We plan on "normal" days and school hours starting Sept. 14th.
* If you would like to choose online learning for your child you have until August the 7th to declare this, please go to the district website and follow the on line registration link. You will register at your neighborhood home school and then choose online learning.
* Online learning is a trimester duration at a time, so if you choose to do online learning you will make that declaration each trimester, you will not be able to go to online learning mid trimester or vice versa.
* We are working with our individual school teams to come up with detailed processes to ensure safety for all including wearing masks, sanitation stations, and increased procedures.
* Registration for all students opens up on August the 4th. Since our boundaries are closed, we will need EVERYONE to bring in proof of residency to the school. The proof of residency is the physical address of where the child lives. Examples include a tax notice statement, electric bill, utility bill come on mortgage statements, rental agreement. Things that we cannot accept: bank statements, a cell phone statement, credit card bills as these can be mailed to any address. Please mail a copy, or come in to show proof starting August 4th.
*Please go to our school website to register your students online, beginning Tuesday, August 4th. www.mckinley.besd.net
* We are in need of masks to hand out to students who forget theirs one day, or need a new fresh one, any help regarding mask donations or fabric donations would be greatly appreciated! Donations can be dropped off starting August 4th when the office is open.
Thank you, and we can't wait to have social distancing appropriate "spirit finger" welcomes with your children!! Happy summer, and please feel free to reach out to me for any questions or concerns.
Sincerely, Mrs. Arehart
