Back-to-School Information - Lower and Middle Schools

July 30, 2020

 

Dear Lower and Middle School Families,

 

We are looking forward to getting back to school in less than two weeks! Our Administrative Team is preparing for a successful return to campus. We have had some recent questions about returning to school and thought it would be helpful to provide current information.

 

 

Teacher assignments will be posted in the Paladin Portal on Tuesday afternoon, August 4. Here’s how you can access this information:

Once access is open, you will be able to see your child’s homeroom teacher and full list of classes under his/her progress tab. Log in to the Paladin Portal, click on your child’s name, and select the progress tab. 

For Middle School students, you can see a schedule with meeting times by clicking the schedule tab > view full schedule. You will then need to advance the calendar to the start of school.

On Tuesday evening, all teachers in grades PreK through 8th will post a welcome video for students to view. Welcome videos will be linked in an email. Also, we will post an informational video that covers carpool procedures, the school lunch program, uniforms, school supplies, and other back-to-school information. 

 

On Wednesday morning, from 9am until noon, PreK through 8th grade teachers will make welcome phone calls to students assigned to their homeroom. Please update your phone number in the Portal if you have made a recent change. 

 

Tuesday, August 4:            Class schedules are available in the Paladin Portal

                                           Welcome video links posted in a school email

Wednesday, August 5:       Meet and Greet phone calls to parents (9am to noon)

Thursday, August 6:           First Day of School for High School

Monday, August 10:           First Day of School for PreK through 8th grade*

 

 

 

All grades have been gender mixed this year to lower class sizes and promote distancing between desks. This change only affects grades 4-8, since all other grades are already gender mixed. Class lists and homerooms have been recently adjusted to lower class numbers to facilitate better spacing in each classroom in both schools.

 

 

We will begin the school year in a "Yellow" Course of Action, meaning there is no morning or aftercare provided. Middle school students will need to be dropped off between 7:30-7:45am, and lower school students between 7:40-8:00am. Lower school students will need to be picked up by 3:10pm and middle school students by 3:30pm. Parents need to remain in their cars during carpool, as there will be NO WALK-UP pickups allowed during carpool.

 

The pink and green Lower School carpool tags will be sent home with students on the first day of school. School personnel will be at the first four-way stop during pickup on the first day to direct lower school parents.

 

The white middle school carpool tags will also be sent home with students on the first day of school. Middle school parents are asked to create your own carpool tags for the first day of school by writing your name in large print on a standard piece of paper. Middle school students will remain in their classrooms until parents arrive and students are called down, so we need your sign clearly displayed. Click here to view complete carpool procedures. 

 

 

We are planning to follow a regular school day when we return to campus. We will begin the day with announcements and prayer, followed by the academic schedule. Students in grades 2-12 will be asked to wear face coverings at the beginning of the school year, while we are in the "Yellow" Course of Action. Travel in the hallways will be limited, with established traffic patterns.

 

 

We have a three-step approach to keeping students healthy in the classroom. We will employ barriers, face coverings, and physical distancing. We will look to employ two of the three in any given scenario. Students will be allowed to remove their face coverings when barriers and social distancing are in place.

 

All faculty, staff, and students in grades 2-12 will need to have an appropriate, hands-free face covering with them each day for situations where social distancing is more difficult. Face coverings are optional in PreK-1st grades. We will be sending out an informational video soon regarding the use and storage of face coverings.

We suggest that students practice wearing a face covering prior to the first day of school. All measures regarding face coverings will be continually evaluated, based on local, state and federal information and guidelines. 

 

 

Parents will be required to take each student’s temperature every morning and complete a quick online health screening checklist prior to the student’s arrival to campus. This step is critical to ensure that students come to campus healthy. Information and training on how to use the online health screening App will be shared closer to the start of school. Faculty, staff, and our school nurse will implement additional on-campus screening as warranted.

 

Lunch 

 

The dining areas for lunch have not changed. Additional areas will be used as needed to space students out during lunch times. Lunch schedules for each grade will take into consideration social distancing, as needed. 

 

Students will continue to have the option to bring their own lunch or purchase a boxed lunch from the school.  If you provide a lunch, please note that your child will not have use of a microwave this year. Registration for the lunch program is available on the resource page in the Paladin Portal.

 

 

Water bottles and snacks can be brought to school each day and should remain in the student’s backpack until needed. Water fountains will not be in use this school year. Water bottle refilling stations will be accessible.

 

 

We will not be using lockers in the Lower or Middle Schools so that we can maintain healthy distancing. Students will keep books and supplies in their backpacks and other predetermined locations during the school day. We will be working with our teachers during Pre-planning and adjusting plans through the first weeks of school to best serve our students.

 

 

Supply kits have been ordered for every student in grades PreK3-5th, as we have done in the past. Each kit will contain supplies necessary for their grade, as well as hand sanitizer and a zipper pouch to minimize communal sharing. As in previous years, families will be billed $55 per kit, for the number of students they have in the Lower School.

 

Supply lists for grades 6-8 are listed on the Paladin Portal Resource Board. Under the tile labeled, “Middle School Supplies & Summer Work,” you will find the most current lists for your child’s classes. If a list for a particular class is not provided, the teacher does not require special supplies aside from a 1.5” binder, college-ruled paper, pens, and pencils. However, due to COVID-19 procedures, these supply lists are subject to change, to lighten students’ loads. Teachers will advise students on the first day of school what is required. 

 

 

The Paladin Shop will be opening by appointment only for the next few weeks. A SignUpGenius is available HERE. Each family can sign up for a 20-minute time slot. Only one family will be allowed in the Paladin Shop at a time. Before arriving to school, each volunteer and each family will be asked to take their temperature and ensure no one has a fever or any symptoms of illness. Upon arrival, volunteers and shoppers will need to go to the Lower School front office to sign in and be screened. Face coverings will be required for all visitors.

 

We understand that this is an unusual and unprecedented beginning to our school year! We will be sending out additional information as we prepare for the first day of school. We ask for your patience and prayers as we work towards a really great school year together!

 

God bless,

 

Lenny Forti

Principal, PreK-8th Grades