Dear Mitchell Families,
On behalf of the Mitchell staff, I want to share with you the COVID guidelines that will be in place as we begin our school year together. As we go through our year together, I will certainly keep you informed and updated if any changes occur.
Universal Masking
Children will be expected to wear their masks at all times, except when eating or drinking, while in the school building. To assist with mask breaks and to help mitigate the spread of the COVID virus, whenever possible, teachers will be coordinating to provide students with opportunities to learn, eat, and socialize outside during the school day. When children are outside, they may remove their masks and will not be expected to keep them on.
Physical Distancing
We will do our very best to maintain physical distancing of 3 feet. Yet, there will be times when 3 feet of physical distance will simply not be possible. Seating charts will be in place in classrooms, the lunchroom and all special area classes. In the event of a confirmed case, our seating charts will allow for timely and effective contact tracing.
Contact Tracing
The procedures and expectations for contact tracing are included in the Health & Wellness section below.
Cohorting
At the elementary level, we will work to maintain cohorts of students by grade level. To the extent feasible, we will maintain these cohorts throughout the day. Students will go to recess as cohort groups and will not mingle with other cohorts while outside. There will be times, specifically at lunch, where two grade level cohorts may be in a space together – see below for lunchtime details.
Breakfast/Lunch
Breakfast and lunch will be free for all students through the entire school year. There are a few important procedures that I want you to be aware of regarding food service.
- Breakfast – As students enter the building, they will have the choice of taking a pre-packaged breakfast off the breakfast cart stationed just inside the front door. Students will eat breakfast in their classrooms.
- Lunch – We will do our very best to utilize outdoor spaces and spread out during the lunch hour. Having said that, I also want you to understand that there may be times when there are two grade levels in the MPR at the same time for lunch – one grade level at each end of the MPR. We will stagger the entrance of each grade level into the building, space kids out in the lunch line, have assigned seats by classroom at tables and ensure kids have the opportunity to wash their hands before eating. Additionally, we will clean and disinfect all tables between lunch sessions. Kids will be expected to keep their masks on from the moment they enter the building and keep them on until they sit down to eat. When finished eating, kids will be expected to put their masks back on. With the above in place, we will minimize close contacts.
- Noon Hour Supervision – To help support our ability to supervise and spread kids out during lunch, I am looking for additional noon hour supervisors. I'm hoping there may be some parents (or others you may know) who are interested in becoming a noon hour supervisor at Mitchell. Here are the details:
- Commitment – I'm hoping to find people who can commit to five days each week. Yet, I'm certainly open to those who may only be able to do a few days per week. A typical work day will run from 11:30-1:30.
- Expectations – Interact and supervise children with a positive, warm and caring approach.
- Pay Rate – The rate for noon hour supervisors is $16.50 per hour.
- If you're interested, please email me at hiltonm@aaps.k12.mi.us as soon as possible. Additionally, please fill out the AAPS Noon Hour Application as soon as possible. The job ID # is 11658 – Noon/Lunch Hour Supervisor.
Bus Transportation
The following rules apply on the bus:
- All drivers, monitors and students are required to wear a mask at all times while riding the bus.
- Hand sanitizer is placed on every bus and all staff and students are required to use sanitizer upon entry to the bus.
- Windows will be open, weather permitting (dress appropriately), to circulate air.
- Assigned seats will be established to ensure distancing and to limit contact.
Arrival & Departure Procedures
Mitchell's parking lot is very busy at the beginning and end of the day. In order to ensure everyone's safety, please take caution when driving through the parking lot.
Please read the guidelines below as there are additional COVID safety protocols.
Arrival
- School begins at 8:45am. Families are NOT permitted to drop their child(ren) at school any earlier than 8:45am unless you've enrolled in before care through Rec & Ed.
- Parents will pull up in the front circle drive, allow their children to exit the car and proceed out of the parking lot. Parents who drop their children off should pull all the way to the end of the front circle drive, allowing other cars to pull up behind you. DO NOT stop in front of the school and do not park in the front circle.
- Students who ride the bus will unload in the back of the building. Buses will line up near the curb closest to Mitchell. This is a no parking zone – please leave this lane open.
Dismissal
- Dismissal is the busiest time of day. Be patient and go slowly – Safety First!
- Dismissal is at 3:48pm. Parents should plan to begin arriving at 3:40pm in the pick up line.
- We will use the Driveline App to manage dismissal for students being picked up. Please watch this video to learn how Driveline works.
- New families will be given a Driveline family ID at the welcome back Meet & Greet or it will be sent home on the first day of school. Upon arrival for pick-up, staff will enter the family ID into the system. This will alert the classroom teacher that the child's parent/guardian has arrived.
- Families who received their Driveline tag last year – The ID is the same. You're all set and will not receive a new tag.
- Students will remain in the classroom during dismissal until their parent arrives at school.
- All students must depart immediately. Students are not allowed to remain on the playground after school and must be picked up by 3:48pm.
Bus Riders
- Students who ride the bus will load in the back of the building.
- Bus riders will be dismissed at 3:48pm and buses will depart by 4:00pm.
Walkers
- Children walking home will be dismissed at 3:48pm and will walk straight home. Again, students will not be allowed to remain on the playground.
Health and Wellness
COVID Safety Protocols
- All staff and students are required to wear a mask at all times inside the building, except when eating and drinking.
- Hand sanitizer stations are placed in every classroom and throughout the building. All staff and students are encouraged to use sanitizer upon entry and exit of classrooms and other spaces.
- Seating charts will be established in every classroom to support contact tracing, as needed.
- All parent/guardian and other meetings, including school events, remain virtual.
Family Responsibilities
- Screen your student for symptoms each morning before sending them to school. Do not send them to school with symptoms.
- Immediately notify the building principal if your student or someone in your household tests positive for COVID-19. Speak with a district contact tracer as needed for an investigation.
- Ensure your student has a mask and water bottle every day. Masks will be provided to those who do not have one.
- Be available to pick your student up from school should they begin to show symptoms while at school.
- Understand that students or staff may need to quarantine if there is a classroom case.
Student Responsibilities
- Wear a mask at all times, except when eating and drinking or when outside.
- Bring a personal water bottle daily.
- Follow school rules and stay in assigned seats.
- Monitor health status and report symptoms immediately to an adult.
What Are The Public Health Protocols for Students & Families?
The Ann Arbor Public Schools is closely following the Washtenaw Community Health Department guidance administered on August 9, 2021. We can expect to see new research, new guidance and new waves of cases throughout the year. I will certainly communicate any and all changes to Mitchell families.
What Happens If There Is A Confirmed Case?
Families must notify their principal immediately of a positive case. Families must cooperate with district contact tracers and follow all isolation procedures. The procedures for close contacts and quarantine are as follows:
- A close contact is defined as being within 3 feet for 15 minutes or more, cumulative.
- If asymptomatic, vaccinated close contacts can attend school with a PCR test recommended 3-5 days post exposure.
- If asymptomatic, unvaccinated close contacts can 1) quarantine at home for 10 days or 2) attend school and get tested twice per week using the Rapid Antigen Test during the quarantine period. Until a vaccine is approved for those younger than 12, this will be the case for most all elementary students.
- If symptomatic, stay home through the quarantine period and until feeling better.
Communication will be made to both close contacts and the classroom community. No confidential information will be shared.
What Happens if My Child Develops Symptoms Related to Covid-19 at School?
1. If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19 at school, they will be brought to our health support room, an isolated location away from the rest of the school population. Children will be supervised.
2. The child's family will be contacted and a member of the family is expected to pick the child up from school immediately.
3. The child must remain home until:
- They receive a negative COVID test,
- Receive a differential diagnosis from a physician,
- 10 day quarantine and symptoms are gone.
We are looking forward to the start of the school year at Mitchell School! Certainly, we will all work together to ensure the health and wellness of all Mitchell students, staff and families. If you have questions now, please reach out and we will help.
Sincerely,
Matt & Alison