Once DPS transitions back to full face to face instruction on October 5th, we are planning for morning breakfast to be available for students at school who are eligible for free or reduced lunch and to those who wish to purchase it. However, during the two weeks of hybrid instruction that is scheduled to begin on September 21st, breakfast will not be served at school. Families can still pick up food packs on Wednesdays including breakfast packs for the entire week.

Your child may order school lunch, and food service is working on the menu for your review. It should be available soon. Unfortunately, white milk is the only available choice for milk at this time. Please contact food services at 517-668-3154 if you have any questions.

We are working to schedule pictures for sometime in January with hopes that we can safely do so. Until we are in Phase 5, we plan to hold off on having pictures taken at school as a safety measure.

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.

• 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 is working diligently on bus stops and routes. If you have questions about transportation for your child, please contact George Gibson or Lisa Smith at 668-3020.

Families can expect that Acadience results will be sent home with students who are coming back for in person instruction the week of September 21st. Students who are continuing online will receive communication from their teacher on when and how they can pick up their child's report. Also, reading intervention services will begin on Monday, September 28th. For those families whose child qualifies for the additional support, they can expect to receive follow-up communication from Jacklyn Sexton soon.

While we are in Phase 4, guests are not allowed in the building at Scott School. Please discuss what the first days of school will look like with your child so the transition is predictable since parents/guardians will not be allowed to come inside. Scott School staff will be inside and outside to help students safely find their classroom. Thank you for partnering with us to make the transition smooth and successful for everyone!

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.

Our district COVID-19 and reopening documents are posted on our DPS website.

• We are on track to follow the Return to School Phase In Plan. Our hybrid schedule will begin on September 21st and go until October 2nd. We are planning to then transition to five days of in person learning at school Monday-Friday on October 5th.

• If you haven't already, please complete this online Scott School Permission Form. This is really important for us to have on file to support your preferences for the items listed on it.

• If your child is going to be "absent" and miss virtual and/or in person school on any given day, 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. While online instruction is occurring, 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, even during virtual school times. Remember, lessons are recorded and placed in Google Classroom so students can still complete their daily learning slides even when they aren't able to join live instruction. Please help your child stay on top of their assignments while learning remotely.

• Eligible special education students have been scheduled to come to school during designated times. Special education teachers will continue to communicate with families about schedule adjustments should they occur. Parents/Guardians can help prepare their child by reviewing CDC guidelines such as mask wearing, social distancing, and frequent hand washing. Mask wearing practice at home also help build stamina and familiarity with this necessary safety measure.

Thank you to those who have reached out and asked what needs our school has. We would be grateful for things such as:

• Disinfectant Wipes

• Hand Sanitizer

• Face Masks (to have on hand for those in need)

• Disposable Gloves

• Paper Towels

Please access the DPS Remote Learning Technology Access page about connectivity and devices if this is a need area for your child. It's important that our students have what they need to be successful learners. Don't hesitate to reach out; we're happy to help as much as possible.

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.

Our school social worker, Mrs. Schwarz, is always willing to assist students and families in any way possible. In addition to working closely with your child's teacher, consider reaching out to her if you have questions or need support. She is truly amazing at what she does! She can be reached at 517-668-3446 or schwarzdea@dewittschools.net.

You can expect further communication from Mrs. Schwarz about a social/emotional questionnaire for families to fill out with their child. Please be sure to help your child complete the questionnaire when you electronically receive as this will help to inform guidance services. Stay tuned!