GUIDELINES FOR THE RETURN TO SCHOOL
Review school-specific return dates below

As we learn more about the Delta variant and receive new guidance from federal, state and local health authorities, I want to emphasize that we are in constant contact with health experts and will err on the side of safety and common sense as we prepare for the return to school this fall.

Please keep that in mind as you review the return to school guidelines shared below. If the past year and a half have taught us anything, it is that we must be prepared for swift and dramatic change in regards to COVID-19. As in the past, we will be ready, and we will notify you immediately if changes become necessary.

A RETURN TO IN PERSON, FULL TIME INSTRUCTION
  • All instruction will take place in person, in school, five days per week.
  • At this time, remote, synchronous instruction will not take place, except in extreme circumstances. This means that at this time we are not anticipating the need for an option for students who are absent to “log in and participate” in classroom instruction. We are required by the state to report in-school attendance.

  • NOTE: If your student has health concerns due to COVID, and will be unable to attend in school instruction please contact Assistant Superintendent Matt Young at myoung@cuyhts.org.  

RETURN DATES
  • Middle and High school students will return Wednesday, August 18.
  • Elementary students grades 1-5 will return Thursday, August 19.
  • Kindergarten and Pre-K screening will take place August 19 & 20.

COVID SAFETY
  • Masks will be optional in school.
  • Masks will be required on school transportation.
  • We will attempt to adhere to the CDC recommendation for 3’ social distancing.
  • We recommend students continue to bring water bottles to school. We have increased our number of filling stations and will have water fountains available.
  • Air purifiers will be in use in classrooms.
  • We will take advantage of moving activities outside as much as possible when the weather cooperates, including:
  • Lunch
  • Class activities
  • Recess/Phys Ed
  • Additional cleaning staff will be on-site throughout the day to continually sanitize our buildings, following COVID-safe practices.

TESTING & REPORTING
  • We are still required to conduct our own contract tracing by the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.
  • We are still required to report positive cases to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.
  • Parents are to notify Tracy Deal at tdeal@cuyhts.org if their child tests positive.
  • We have COVID-19 test kits available for any parent who would like one.
  • If your child is showing symptoms please keep him or her home until the symptoms clear.
  • Quarantine requirements are no longer in place.
  • Masks are strongly recommended by the CDC and ODH.

CUYAHOGA COUNTY STATISTICS

Again, the plan listed above is our current plan for our return this fall. Please continue to follow Tom Talks in the event any changes become necessary.

COFFEE TALKS RETURN | Tomorrow (7/31), Coffee Talks will return at 10:00 am in the Bahner Ray Media center and via Zoom. Tomorrow, Mr. Janatovich, Middle/High School Principal will be joining me for a discussion about the start of the school year, including the above COVID protocols that will be in place.

Next Saturday (8/7), Mrs. Houchen will be joining us for an update on the start of school for the Elementary building. Upcoming meetings will have Mr. Young reviewing state and national testing data and how that drives our instruction.


Thanks,

Tom
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR PARENTS
This is a friendly reminder for you and your child to log into Final Forms and update your child’s information for the 21-22 school year.

Final Forms is our yearly family registration portal which must be completed before the first day of school. You can also update your child's information at any time if you have a change in contact information or address. The Final Forms link can be accessed by clicking on the word anywhere in this article, or on our website cuyhts.org under "Parent Resources." If you have any questions, please contact us at (216) 429-5700. 

ATHLETES: All Fall athletes need to have their Final Forms completed by August 1, 2021.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FROM REPRESENTATIVE CROSSMAN

State Representative Jeffery Crossman, Ohio House District 15, will be hosting a legislative update on August 8th at 6:00 pm at the Parma Library located at 6996 Powers Blvd. in Parma. 

The meeting is free and open to the public.
ESSER III FUNDS

We have received confirmation of the amount of additional COVID money the district will receive from the State and Federal governments in the form of grants. These funds have to be spent on items related to the recent COVID pandemic and include but not limited to: closing instruction gaps, environmental systems that focus on air quality are among a few.

We have added two instructors in the Elementary building in an effort to reduce class sizes and allow for more individualized instruction. In the Middle/High School we have added a Multi-Tiered System of Supports Coordinator to target our Response to Intervention (RTI), and work with all Middle/High School student in identifying learning gaps and creating action plans to close those gaps. Dr. Brian Friedt, who previously served the district as an Intervention Specialist, has moved into the MTSS position and will be presenting information about his position at an upcoming School Board meeting as well as a Coffee Talk.

These funds will also allow us to plan for the addition of air conditioning in the remainder of the Elementary building. Unfortunately the appropriation of funds have come too late in the summer for that to happen before the start of this school year. This project will take place at the beginning of next summer's break, pending approval from the State and School Board.
CELEBRATING OUR OUTSTANDING STUDENTS, STAFF AND ALUMNI

A special thank you to our custodians, cleaning staff and summer help for the outstanding job they've done to prepare our buildings for the coming school year. Recent visitors to our school campus were impressed by the condition and overall appearance of our facilities.
THE CUYAHOGA HEIGHTS SCHOOLS
Cuyahoga Heights Schools | www.cuyhts.org