Families are expected to go through this screener every morning before their child leaves for school. Please remember to do this so we all do our part to support a healthy environment at school. Also, please complete the online district Permission Form. This is required for all students. Attached is a printable version of the form that you may elect to print, complete, and send to school with your child if you prefer.

It's important to remember that tests scores do not define a student. They are a snapshot picture of performance at a moment in time. It's also important to acknowledge that students have received instruction in various ways due to the pandemic and testing was also conducted online for NWEA for the first time ever. We are giving special considerations to these factors when we analyze this data and hope families do to. The data does provide us with additional information though to help determine instruction plans and supports for students.

DeWitt Public Schools is in need of instructional assistants. Please consider applying if you think you would enjoy working in a school with students, or pass this information along to anyone you know who you think this would be a perfect match for. Thank you!

https://www.applitrack.com/ccresa/onlineapp/1BrowseFile.aspx?id=52766

Until we are in Phase 5, school visitors are not allowed in the building. Also, we do not allow visitors on our playground during recess. This is to ensure the safety of our students while outside. Because Scott is a neighborhood school, it isn't uncommon for pedestrians to walk and ride bikes near our school grounds. By keeping our large playground strictly for our staff and student body, this allows playground staff to keep their attention on our students instead of investigating the purpose of other adults who enter our playground. During school hours, the playground is reserved for students and staff only. Thank you for understanding and respecting this important safety protocol.

Scott is a neighborhood school, and we have many wonderful neighbors who support our school. However, a concern that has been communicated many times this year is vehicles blocking driveways at the beginning and end of the day when drop off and pick up occurs. There are more students dropped off and picked up than typical this year which creates additional traffic on Wilson Street. Please be respectful of our neighbors by refraining from idling (or parking) your car in front of any driveway while waiting in the parent loop line. Allowing space for driveway access for all property owners is important and helps us maintain positive relations with our friendly neighbors and demonstrates respectful driver etiquette. Also, please follow road rules by parking in legal spots when needing to enter the building. There are an increasing number of drop off and pick up by vehicles not using the loop. This is strongly discouraged. Please follow our driving guidelines so pick up and drop off are safe for everyone and to prevent an unfortunate accident from occurring. Keep in mind, our staff needs to be on time to work to teach and support your child, so please allow staff access to the staff parking lot when they arrive to work each day. Thank you for your attention to these concern areas.

Here is the latest and greatest from our awesome DeWitt PTA.

The DeWitt Elementary PTA Needs YOU!

While this year the PTA events and meetings may look a bit different, our support for our teachers will not.

For now, our meetings will be happening virtually. While meeting participation is not mandatory, gathering together helps us to generate new ideas and form a strong connection. The membership dues help the PTA give money back to our elementary schools through teacher grants, fulfilling building needs and so much more!! Remember, by joining the DeWitt Elementary PTA, you are showing that you care about our community and are investing in our students and staff!!

JOIN THE PTA TODAY!

https://dewittpta2018.memberhub.store

Halloween is coming quickly, and we recognize that some families may not observe this holiday. Please communicate with your child's teacher if you do not want your child to participate in Halloween activities. Early collaboration will help with planning so your child feels supported.

Scott School will be hosting individual classroom Halloween festivities in ways that are safe yet fun for students. Here is some information to help you plan:

• Students should wear simple costumes to school because changing in the restroom poses social distancing challenges. Appropriate costume size/shape and comfort are essential.

• Costumes must be suitable for a child to be in all day and not interrupt the learning environment. Since students must wear face masks, costume masks that cover the nose/mouth will not be allowed because we want to be sure students have adequate ventilation. Also, costume accessories should remain home, only costumes that share or depict a positive message may be worn, and costumes must be school appropriate.

• Unfortunately, no parents or guests will be allowed in the building to attend parties to reduce virus exposure possibilities.

• There will be no community food to share with students for parties. Teachers may allow students to bring their own snack or treat to enjoy while participating in their child's Halloween activities which may include a craft, games, watching a movie, etc.

• No trinkets or party favors may be handed out to students.

Celebrating birthdays are so much fun at school even though we have to adopt new ways to celebrate this year. To reduce virus exposure possibilities, the following guidelines will help families plan:

• A special celebration such as a game, extra recess, crowning ceremony, etc. are possible ways birthdays will be celebrated at school.

• Unfortunately, no parents or guests will be allowed in the building to attend parties or have a special lunch with their child.

• Birthday treats, trinkets, or party favors are not allowed to pass out to classmates.

• Birthday invitations should not be passed out at school this year. NOTE: This is an expectation on a typical year too, unless all students in the class receive an invitation.

We are not collecting district Chromebooks at this time. Communication will be sent to families when our district plans to collect devices that were loaned to families for remote learning. Please keep our district devices clean and damage-free. They will be needed to support learning in schools when they are returned. Thank you!

School pictures have been scheduled for Friday, January 22nd with hopes that we are moved from Phase 4 to Phase 5 at that time. This date may be adjusted if necessary to ensure we can follow safety measures and reduce the potential of virus exposure.

As we transition back to in person instruction, it is important that students and families follow our start and end of the day routines and procedures.

• Students riding a bus will be supervised and guided by school staff to enter and exit a bus in a safe fashion. All bused students will enter the building through the doors by the bus loop.

• All breakfast students must enter the school at the front of the building which opens at 8:00 a.m. and go directly to the cafeteria to eat before school starts at 8:15 a.m.

• Students dropped off and walking to school will be expected to maintain social distancing from others and only be able to enter the building at the front of the school by the office. Doors will open at 8:00 a.m. There will be school staff outside to supervise and guide students to safely enter the building, and please do NOT have your child vacate your vehicle until 8:00 a.m. Supervision is not available until then, and it's important students are social distancing at all times. Once drop off students and walkers are inside the vestibule, they will go straight to the cafeteria and sit at designated seats until the first bell rings. They will then be dismissed individually to their classrooms. IMPORTANT NOTE: Student dropped off after bused students have entered the building but before 8:15 a.m., will be directed to use the bus loop doors to enter the building.

• Parents wishing to drop off and/or pick up their child must use the loop to do so. Parking in front of the building is dangerous for our students and discouraged. This also prevents our staff from being on time to work since there are limited parking spots at Scott School. Thanks for your help with this.

• Drop off and/or pick up in the street is never acceptable and local law enforcement help keep our students safe by patrolling Wilson Street before and after school. Also, drop off and pick up at other locations other than our parent loop is discouraged. We care about the safety of our students and appreciate families following our procedures and guidelines.

• If your child is going to be picked up after school in the loop, please be sure to post a large sign on your passenger side dash with your child's first and last name (large and legible font please). This is necessary for staff to efficiently identify vehicles for students to keep our loop moving. We will be using a microphone and speaker to call student names to also help run a smooth pick up. Please don't forget to make your dash sign and keep in in your vehicle for use throughout the school year.

Our DPS Transportation Department has made many changes to bus stops and pick up/drop off times. If you have questions about transportation for your child, please contact George Gibson or Lisa Smith at 668-3020.

Here are a few tips for returning to in person instruction:

• Students must bring a water bottle from home. Drinking fountains in the hallway are not accessible due to the virus.

• Students must wear a mask on school grounds both inside and outside. Please send a couple of additional masks in case there's a need to change a mask during the day.

• Students will be expected to wash hands frequently throughout the day. Teachers will be scheduling these opportunities. Your child is encouraged to also bring a small bottle (travel size) hand sanitizer to keep in his/her desk or bag for use whenever necessary.

• Students will be eating in their classroom while we are in Phase 4. One hot lunch choice will be available and brought by cart to classrooms. Students who bring cold lunch must bring no nut options because we are a no nut building.

• Balls, toys, and other personal belongs must be kept at home to reduce opportunities for students to share items. All school items you send to school with your child must be labeled and community supplies will be eliminated or used only when proper sanitizing is available.

If your child is going to be "absent" and miss school, even if they are a online learner, please be sure to call our attendance line at 517-668-3458. We are required to take attendance even when students are learning remotely, so we want to be sure to account for our students and excuse absences in Infinite Campus. If your child is learning remotely, you should also communicate absences to your child's teacher. We care about our students and worry about them when they aren't in class or online on days they are supposed to be.

To reduce unnecessary exposure to students and staff, volunteers and other guests will not be allowed in the building during phase 4. This protocol may be revisited when we reach phase 5 and additional communication will be shared with families if it is determined appropriate to open our building to volunteers and guests. This includes access to our office. Until then, parents/guardians who enter the building will be required to stay in the vestibule to drop off or pick up items and to sign in or sign out their child. We are hoping this protocol isn't necessary all year because we love having volunteers and guests in our school.

There are some Scott students who have health-threatening nut allergies in our building. Scott School is a 'No Nut' building this year. Pack items that do not contain nuts for your child's lunch and snack when we return to in person instruction. It is critically important that we provide a safe learning environment for all students, and your help with this is needed and appreciated. Please always contact your child's teacher if you have a concern about an allergy or other health condition related to your child that he/she should be aware of. Also, if your child has a medical need, including food or other allergies, don't forget to update your child's Medical Management Plan by completing and submitting the district forms to the office when we return to brick and mortar instruction.

In order for Scott School personnel to administer medication to your child when we return to in person instruction, you must:

• Submit a completed district medication form to our office.

• Be sure all medications are brought to and stored in our office.

• Be sure prescription medication is in its original container accompanied with a physician’s signature.

• Be sure non-prescription medication is in its original container accompanied by a parent’s signature.

• Please communicate with your child's teacher if he/she takes medication daily at school.

• If your child has a medical condition, please be sure to complete a Medical Management Plan for your child and turn it in at the office.

Medication and other medical forms can be found on our DeWitt Public Schools website.

Dear Scott School Families,

I would like to first and foremost thank you all for your continued hard work and partnership as we maneuver these challenging times. Especially with all the new changes, it has been a joy getting to see our students, whether online or in person. Seeing their faces has truly helped to bring a wonderful balance. I have included two resources about anxiety in children that I have found to be very helpful during these trying times. I hope you are all staying healthy and well. Please remember to contact me if I might be able to assist with anything.

Best wishes,

DeAnn Schwarz

School Social Worker

(517) 668-3446

schwarzdea@dewittschools.net

https://sites.google.com/dewittschools.net/schwarzsite/home