Dear SMCS Parents,

I hope you and your families are safe and well. Thank you for your continued support during this very transitional time. On Tuesday, TEA released draft guidelines for returning to school in August. These guidelines are available here.  The guidelines are very general. 

Right now, we plan to start school in August face to face. We will have processes and procedures in place to protect the health and safety of students and staff. Here are the processes and procedures that we are working on. Please keep in mind that these processes and procedures could change based on guidelines that we receive from the state and/or the archdiocese. 
  • Students and staff will be asked to fill out a screening questionnaire before returning to school in August. Click here to see a draft/sample questionnaire. 
  • Teachers and staff will be required to wear face shields, and all visitors to school will be required to wear a mask or a face shield. Upper school students will also be required to wear a mask in the hallways when they are changing classes. 
    • All visitors will be screened and have their temperature taken at the security desk before entering campus. Campus visitors will be limited to parent volunteers, parents coming to meet with teachers, and parents picking up students. 
  • The morning drop off procedures for parents and students will not change. Staff will continue to be outside to open car doors and greet students, but they will be wearing face shields and gloves. 
  • There will be two automatic hand sanitizer dispensers at the front entrance of the school and students will be asked to sanitize their hands as they enter the building.
  • Temperature screenings will be done for all students and staff daily.
    • Students in PK4 and above will enter through the front doors of the school and go to the gym where staff members will be taking temperatures. Lines will be formed by alphabet groups, and there will be staff members to guide students and markings on the floor to assist with social distancing. 
    • Students in PK3 will be dropped off by their classroom door near the flagpole, and their temperature will be checked by one of their teachers. 
  • Students will go to their homeroom classrooms after their temperatures have been checked.
  • Morning prayer and announcements will be done through the intercom system.
  • Students, teachers, staff, and campus visitors will be encouraged to sanitize and/or wash their hands frequently.
  • MS students will not utilize lockers and will instead store their school supplies in their backpacks. Students will keep their backpacks with them in their classrooms. Teachers will actively seek to reduce the amount of materials that need to come home with students each day, and students should only bring to school what is absolutely necessary.
  • Classroom furniture will be spread out, and students will all sit facing the same direction whenever possible, to assist with social distancing.  
    • In early childhood classrooms, students will not be asked to sit on the carpet.
  • We will have additional cleaning and disinfecting of commonly-touched surfaces in classrooms and in common areas throughout the day. This cleaning will include door handles, common desks/tables, shared supplies, etc. Shared classrooms will be cleaned and sanitized after each group. 
  • To start the year, lunch will be eaten in homeroom classrooms. Students will have the option to bring lunch from home or to buy lunch from ECI. ECI will deliver lunches that are purchased to the classroom at the appropriate time.
  • Students will continue to have recess outside, and each grade level will have a bag of recess equipment that will be cleaned and sanitized after each use. PK3 and PK4 will be able to use their playground equipment, and it will be cleaned and sanitized after each use. 
  • We are in the process of creating new dismissal procedures that allow for social distancing while students wait for their carpool numbers to be called. More information on dismissal procedures will be shared before school starts.  The outside carline procedures for dismissal will not change. 

We are also working on processes and procedures to address individuals confirmed, suspected, or exposed to COVID-19. These processes will follow the guidelines listed on the TEA document on pages 3-5. Click here to see these guidelines. 

In the event that we need to transition to distance learning, we will follow our Continuity of Learning Plan. This plan can be viewed here . We will also have Chromebooks available to check out from the school for families that need additional devices at home during distance learning. 

Thank you again for all of your patience and support during this time. It is greatly appreciated. We will continue to send updates and information as it becomes available.

Please know that your families are in my thoughts and prayers. Stay safe and healthy.

Blessings,
Dr. Cox


 

Upcoming Dates and Events

Friday, August 21
Meet the Teacher from 9-11 am for all students
Class of 2020 Graduation Mass at 7 pm in the Church 
(Doors open at 6:30 pm)

Monday, August 24
First Day of School for the 2020-2021 School Year



PK4 - Briargrove Park Playground 8/22 
9:30 am
K - Briargrove Park Playground 8/22 
9:30 am
1st - Place TBD 8/22 10 am-12 pm
2nd - Briarbend Park with Unicorn SnoCone Truck 9:00 am
3rd - Donuts at Levy Park the Saturday after school starts 9-11 am
4th - Briarbend Park 8/23 4 pm


SUMMER READING 2020
Grade

K
REQUIRED READING: 
I Like Me! by Nancy L. Carlson
Suggested Reading:(nightly reading including)
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
No, David by David Shannon
Please have students bring book in the first week of school.
 
1st
REQUIRED READING: 
Biscuit Finds a Friend by Allysa Satin Capuccili
Suggested Reading: (nightly reading including)
Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
The New Kids on the Block by Jack Prelutsky or any Jack Prelutsky book
Please have students bring book in the first week of school. 

2nd
REQUIRED READING: 
Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride by Kate DiCamillo
Suggested Reading: (nightly reading including)
Lily's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
Julius the Baby of the World Kevin Henkes
A Pizza the Size of the Sun by Jack Prelutsky or any Jack Prelutsky book
Please have students bring book in the first week of school.
3rd
REQUIRED READING: 
The One in the Middle is the Green Kangroo
by Judy Blume
Suggested Reading: (nightly reading including)
Judy Moody was in a Mood. Not a Good Mood. A Bad Mood. by Megan McDonald
Beezus and Romona by Beverly Cleary
Something Big Has Been Here by Jack Prelutsky or any Jack Prelutsky book
Please have students bring book in the first week of school
Project - Test done in class
4th
REQUIRED READING: 
Crenshaw by Catherine Applegate
Suggested Reading: (nightly reading including)
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Whoosh! by Chris Barton
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstien
Please have students bring book in the first week of school
Book Project Test - done in class
5th
REQUIRED READING: 
Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
Recommended Reading:
Jerry Spinelli: Crash, Stargirl, Knots in My YoYo String, Wringer
Gary Paulsen: Lawn Boy, Woodsong, The Winter Room
Classics: Julie of the Wolves, Sounder, A Year Down Yonder, Rascal
Newer Classics: Surviving the Applewhites, Shooting the Moon, Pictures of Hollis Woods
Please have students bring book in the first week of school
Test
6th
REQUIRED READING:
Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick
Recommended:
Homeless Bird, Tuck Everlasting, Mockingbird, The Shakespeare Stealer
Esperanza Rising, Tangerine, Crispin:Cross of Lead
Authors: Avi, Katherine Peterson, Sharon Creech
Please have students bring book in the first week of school
Test
7th
REQUIRED READING: 
Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
Recommended:
Choose two or more books from the HAISLN 7-8 2020 list
Please have students bring book in the first week of school
Take notes on the character development of Holling Hoodhood
There will be a writing assignment/project in the first weeks of school.
8th
REQUIRED READING: 
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Recommended:
Choose two or more books from the HAISLN 7-8 2020 list
Please have students bring book in the first week of school
An notate your novel following the provided criteria
There will be a writing assignment/project in the first weeks of school.

St. Michael Catholic School
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