Pocahontas Elementary School

Alma Spikes Chromebook Distribution: First and Second Grade: District Tech will be on Campus Monday, August 24th at 10:00 for first and second grade parents that need to complete the Chromebook checkout. They will be located in front of the cafeteria. Parents can complete the Chromebook agreement online or on paper. Doing so before coming to campus will help speed up the process. If the form is completed online, parents will not need to bring anything with them, that information is available to tech immediately. Kindergarten: District Tech will be located in front of the cafeteria during the 1:00 pick up time for Kindergarten parents. Tech will also be on campus for the Drop-In Orientation on August 27th from 3:30-7:00. Parents can pick up their child’s Chromebook at that time if they wish. Parents can complete the Chromebook agreement online or on paper. Doing so before coming to campus will help speed up the process. If the form is completed online, parents will not need to bring anything with them, that information is available to tech immediately. Social Distancing and or Masks are required at all events.

Dear Parents, This is an odd thing to announce for Alma Spikes Elementary because it is the opposite of what we have always been about. However, I am notifying parents of the following requirements: Parents are not allowed to enter the building. (Drop-In Orientation is approved with special considerations to follow.) Flowers/Gift deliveries to the building are not allowed. Lunch/Food deliveries to the building are not allowed. If a student isn’t eating from the lunchroom, they must bring their lunch to school with them. If they do not bring their lunch with them, they will be required to take a tray from the cafeteria. Pick ups or drop offs during the day: Parents will interact with the office at the stand in front of the office window. You will not enter the building or the office. There is an intercom located at the stand directly connected to the office. There is also a drop box located at the stand if items need to be exchanged. Shawn Carter Principal, Alma Spikes Elementary

Alma Spikes Elementary-Change to Mask Collection Plan I have been reviewing our plans as we are about to kick off the first day of school. I believe a change in our mask collection plan is necessary. New Plan Details: Each student will be assigned two masks to rotate on a daily schedule. The third mask provided by the district will be held in reserve for replacement needs. Masks will be collected in the classroom each morning and students will be given their second mask to wear for that day and evening. Collected masks will be washed/disinfected at school each day to be distributed the next day. Masks will go home with each student every afternoon and need to be worn back each morning. Each mask will be connected to the student with a safety lanyard. This is in hopes of helping students keep up with their mask and will prevent masks from being swapped. It is extremely important for each student to keep up with their assigned mask and return each day with that mask. Students are welcome to provide and wear their own mask from home. Those masks will not be collected or washed/disinfected at school. It will be the parents’ responsibility to clean their own masks.

Kindergarten Assessment Week: August 24-28 Incoming Kindergarten students that have registered should have a letter stating which day to attend for assessment. If you have an incoming Kindergarten student and do not have this assessment date assignment it means that we do not have the student registered. You need to visit school to register and get your assessment day assigned. On assessment days (August 24, 25 and 26): Kindergarten Teachers will gather the students at the front of Alma Spikes. Parents will deliver their child to the assigned teacher. At that moment, parents should tell the teacher who will be picking the child up at the end of the day. Parents cannot enter the building. Students will be given a temporary mask for the day if they need one. Students are free to wear their own. Students are assigned to one classroom being supervised by one Para. Teachers will rotate from one classroom to the next, assessing each student. Social distancing and proper mask protocol will be followed. Students will have lunch and recess. Parents will be able to pick up students at 1:00 if they would like to. Pick up will be through the office. Parents can approach the stand in front of the office window. Press the talk button. The office staff will need the child’s name and who the assigned assessment teacher is for the day. The student will be escorted to the front door and delivered to the parent/identified pick up. District Tech will be located at the front of the building during the 1:00 pick up time. Parents can pick up their child’s Chromebook at that time. Parents can complete the Chromebook agreement online or on paper. Doing so before coming to campus will help speed up the process. If the form is completed online, parents will not need to bring anything with them, that information is available to tech immediately. Tech will also be on campus for the Drop-In Orientation. Kindergarten Drop-In Orientation will be Thursday, August 27, from 3:30-7:00. Parents will be able to meet their child’s assigned teacher and drop off school supplies. Class list will be posted on the windows that morning. Covid guidelines will be followed. The number of individuals in the building will be monitored and limited, masks will be required. As of now, this will be the only time parents will be able to visit classrooms. Disclaimer: Plans can change due to restrictions or requirements.

If you did not pick up a Chromebook during one of our drive-thru pickup days, students may pick them up on the first day of school. Technology Staff will be located at MDW, PJHS, & PHS at 8am (Alma at 10am), on the first day of school to hand out Chromebooks to any student that has yet to receive one. A signed online form or a signed paper form must be present in order for them to receive their device. If you do not submit one online, please send a signed paper copy with your child on the first day of school. You can fill one out online here. https://bit.ly/2Yj06rs

Press Release

Kindergarten Registration! If your child turned five on or before August 1, 2020, they are eligible for Kindergarten. Visit Alma Spikes asap to complete the required paperwork and be assigned an assessment date for next week. Every incoming Kindergartner needs one.

Hey Parent! Great news! The Tumblebook library is up and running for students. Go to the address below and use the provided username and password to access the online library. www.tumblebooklibrary.com Username: aspikes Password: reads

Alma Spikes Elementary would like to thank Farmers and Merchants Bank for providing our staff lunch and back to school gifts today.

Alma Spikes Orientation-Open House 2020-2021 Preschool, First Grade and Second Grade will be taking drop in visitation on August 11, 2020 from 1:00-7:00 pm. Any student that did not attend Alma Spikes last year in K-2 should come to register. This includes incoming Preschool students, incoming Kindergarten students and students opting for the virtual classroom. Any student that did attend Alma Spikes last year should find their name on the classroom placement list. Students and parents will be able to go to their classroom to meet the teacher and drop off supplies. Classroom placements are posted at the front of the building. There are of course some guidelines to follow. Paraprofessionals will be posted at the entry doors to limit the number of people in the classrooms at one time. So please be patience. Masks will be required inside any building. Social distancing is required while waiting to enter the building. Designated entry points will be identified. Our goal is to continue involving our parents as much as possible, while complying with regulations. We appreciate your help toward this goal. Remember: Kindergarten registration will take place tomorrow the 11th, but classroom visits are not planned until Kindergarten Open House on August 27th.

VOTE SEPTEMBER 8

You can now electronically submit the Chromebook 1:1 Program Agreement and Opt-Out Forms at the bottom of our Chromebook page under Submit Online. https://www.pocahontaspsd.com/o/district/page/chromebook-1-1--2

Alma Spikes Elementary classroom postings will now be on August 10th.

Virtual Classroom Survey. Please complete as soon as possible. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3NTNRDT We truly need this information by Wednesday, August 5th. This will push back classroom placement postings.

Virtual learning with Mr. Jerry Martens. https://youtu.be/Tvb_N3oElgY

Supply List 2020-2021

Alma Spikes Orientation-Open House 2020-2021 Details Preschool, First Grade and Second Grade will be taking drop in visitation on August 11, 2020 from 1:00-7:00 pm. Students and parents will be able to go to their classroom to meet the teacher and drop off supplies. Classroom assignments will be posted at the front of the building on August 5, 2020. There are of course some guidelines to follow. Paraprofessionals will be posted at the entry doors to limit the number of people in the classrooms at one time. So please be patience. Masks will be required inside any building. Social distancing is required while waiting to enter the building. Designated entry points will be identified. The staff will be meeting on this Monday to design any other details for the Open House. Our goal is to continue involving our parents as much as possible, while complying with regulations. We appreciate your help toward this goal. Remember: Kindergarten Open House will be August 27th. Registration will take place on the 11th but classroom visits are not planned for Kindergarten on August 11th.

I failed to add this line to the bottom of the last post. However, since it applies to all plan, I'll post it as a stand alone announcement. All Plans are subject to change with newly established guidelines and/or restrictions .

Alma Spikes Mask Rotation Plan: The district has stated that they will provide three cloth masks for each student and teacher. This plan is based on rotating those mask. Students will wear face masks any time they are transitioning around the building. Their mask will be attached to a safety lanyard so it hangs around their neck when not in use. This will make it easier to keep the mask with them and prevent them from accidentally using someone else's mask. As students leave the building for recess, they will place their mask and lanyard in their class's laundry bag. The collected mask will be laundered and dispensed back to them the next day. (We will use disinfecting hypo allergenic detergents.) At the end of recess, teachers will gather their classes on the playground (socially distancing) and dispense a laundered mask and attached lanyard. IMPORTANT! Students will be responsible for wearing their mask home and back to school the next day. Students arriving to school without their mask will be given one to wear until recess, when they will be given their classroom mask as normal. I suggest that students attach their mask to their backpack or school bag each afternoon after leaving campus or the school bus. Playground duty teachers will wear their mask when they are unable to socially distance on the playground. Students will be encouraged to play with their classroom cohort group and/or socially distance from individuals outside their cohort. These measures should allow students to play outside without a mask. Water fountains will be used for bottle refilling only, no direct drinking from a fountain will be allowed. Water bottles CAN NOT be glass and should be clear.

Alma Spikes Classroom Arrangement Plan. Recommendations are allowing students in classrooms to be separated into groups. I'll refer to these groups as "cohorts". Teachers will be dividing students into cohorts with less than 10 students each. Each cohort will be assigned to certain areas within the room. These areas can change and/or rotate as long as they are cleaned between cohort usage. Grouping into these cohorts should allow students and teachers the ability to go without masks inside their cohorts. We are reviewing clear protective dividers to be used during small group instruction so mask would not be required there either. Mask will be required during transitions outside the classrooms. My next post will be outlining the building mask plan. All Plans are subject to change with newly established guidelines and/or restrictions .