It's hard to believe that we are already approaching the end of the first quarter on October 30. There have been many wonderful moments at EMS, and we are so grateful to have the opportunity to work with your children.
As we approach the end of the quarter, I would like to make all families aware of two important topics:
Learning model. If a family wishes to change learning models, we encourage it to be done at quarter break. So, if you would like to switch from "fully remote" to "2 days of hybrid," now would be the time to communicate your preference. Please contact Pat Hulbert at 864-8486, extension 41011 if you have any questions or if you wish to change learning models.
Grades. Please enter PowerSchool Parent Portal to check on your child's academic progress. I prefer to be as proactive as possible with respect to all things, including grades. If you have any questions regarding grades, please reach out to your child's teacher.
On Wednesday we had another great meeting with Engage EMS. I appreciate the conversation and the questions. Engage EMS meets on the second Wednesday of each month from 6-7:30 p.m., and meetings take place at the school. All families are enthusiastically encouraged to attend.
If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know.
With Gratitude,
James
From the Health Office
Reminders about Drop-Off Times
Earlier in the school year, we messaged home that parents should drop off around 7:45 a.m. This was to help give us time to screen students outside. As screening will be going away soon, and the inclement weather is setting in, we now strongly encourage that drop-off time be as close to 7:50 a.m. as possible. Thank you!
Immunizations
In September, letters were mailed to families whose children were out of compliance with required immunizations. In that letter we asked families to follow up with their primary care provider, submitting a provisional admittance form, OR signing a medical or religious exemption form and returning it to the school nurse.
We still have families that have not returned this required paperwork, and following the state flowchart, we now legally have to send an exclusion letter to these families that clearly states that we do not have the required paperwork. A last notice will be mailed to those families who are still missing this required paperwork this school year. Please return either a signed provisional admittance form or a signed exemption form by October 30, 2020; after that time we will have to exclude these children from school.
COVID-NEWS FAQ: Edition 1
Traveling Outside of Vermont: Important Guidelines to Follow
Are you and your family thinking about traveling outside of Vermont? If so, here is a link to the Vermont Travel map that shows cases per million; it is color coded and intended to be used to determine if you need to quarantine upon return or not.
Link to the State of Vermont Travel Map:
https://accd.vermont.gov/covid-19/restart/cross-state-travel
What are the quarantine guidelines when returning to Vermont?
If traveling by personal vehicle to a county with less than 400 active cases per one million residents of COVID-19 (GREEN area on the map) , you do not have to quarantine once returning to VT.
If traveling to a county with more than 400 active cases per one million residents of COVID-19 (YELLOW or RED areas on the map), you must quarantine for a total of 14 days or 7 days with a negative COVID test.
Traveling by airplane, regardless of the color of the place you are traveling to, is considered high risk and the same quarantining guidelines should be followed as traveling to a RED area.
What if the color changes in the county you’re visiting before you return to Vermont; what do you do?
If the color changes — Please use the color of the county on the day you leave VT to help you determine whether or not you need to quarantine when you return to VT.
What does this mean?
An example: You plan to travel and are leaving today. You check to see what the color of the county you’re traveling to is and it’s GREEN. It is now Sunday and you’re planning to travel home but you notice the county you have been in all weekend is all of a sudden red. As long as you have traveled in your personal/private vehicle, you do not need to quarantine once you’re back in VT since the color was green when you left VT.
Are you hosting friends/family from another county and are unsure as to whether or not your household (not your guests) should be quarantining as well?
Hosting friends/family members from outside of VT — While your guests may need to quarantine based on what color the county is that they’re traveling from, you and your family who reside within the household do not need to quarantine as well. Quarantining guidelines are only applicable to the traveler, and therefore students CAN still come to school when someone in the house has traveled from any other area.
This also applies to family members who may have traveled. The family member who traveled should follow quarantine guidelines. Those who stayed home can still go to school and out into the community as usual, but the person who traveled should not.
Family PS/Unified Classroom Update
Good afternoon families,
I have included the available resources for PowerSchool and Unified Classroom support for both you and your children. Please reach out with additional questions.
Cheers,
Margaret Talbot
Technology Integrationist
Family Screencasts:
Overview of seeing Teacher Feedback in the Powerschool Family Portal
How to set notifications within your Family Powerschool Portal (also included in FAQ below)
Student Screencasts
Overview of Student Unified Classroom Home Page
Overview of Student’s view of assignments
Additional Resources
Family and Community Partner Support Website
Website with Technology supports for families
MS PowerSchool and Unified Classroom FAQ 2020
Powerschool and Unified Classroom support for families
Question and Answer format
BSD Student Technology Support 20-21
Student Technology supports
Updated weekly based on student questions
