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Another week has passed, and we continue to miss you and our students!
We hope this message finds you and your loved ones healthy.
The announcement of the closure for the remainder of the year has created questions that we've been working to answer. Below you will find answers to many of them. However, we thank you in advance for your patience as we navigate this new normal and the challenges to plan and implement plans that go with it.
Most of the below information will also be going out today to our families. However, we wanted you to see it first. We sincerely appreciate you and your efforts during this uncertain time! We are thankful for our amazing team!
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Classroom Cleanouts
Each building has created a plan to allow for staff to strategically and safely enter the building to cleanout classrooms in preparation for summer. Specific details will be shared by building principals, but please do not enter buildings outside the hours of 9-3 on your assigned day. This will allow our custodial team to continue keeping our facilities sanitized. We ask that all classrooms be summer ready by the end of the day on May 8.
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Last Day of Instruction & End of Year Grades
Due to the COVID-19 closure and various logistics the closure has created, the following are the "last days of school" for our students:
Seniors: May 1
Grades 6-11: May 13 (This date is earlier than elementary and EC due to the need to collect chromebooks, textbooks, etc. at the secondary level.)
Elementary: May 19
EC: May 19
**Take note, RHS students enrolled in dual credit are continuing through the course as if it were seated.
As previously indicated, elementary work distributed during the closure is optional and will not be assessed. Therefore, a 4th quarter grade card will not be distributed for grades kindergarten through 5th grade.
For students in grades 6-12, work done during the closure can only positively impact grades. Final 4th quarter grade cards will be distributed electronically on May 21.
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Student Item Exchange
Seniors:
RHS is creating a system for seniors to drop off and pick up items from school on May 4 and 5. Details will be shared from RHS on Friday, April 24.
All other students:
Each building is creating a process for students to both drop off items that belong to school (Chromebooks, library books, etc.) along with pick-up personal items (school supplies, medications, etc.) currently at school.
This will take place during the weeks of May 11 and 18.
Please watch for communication from your school building for specific dates and details.
We thank our team in advance for your assistance with this effort. As stated above, each building has a plan they will be sharing with employees on how to safely and efficiently get this completed.
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RHS Class of 2020 Related Events
 Our hearts go out to the class of 2020 as the end of their final year of high school has been so disrupted. Over the course of the COVID-19 closure RHS and district administration have worked hard to keep the interest of the class of 2020 in mind when making decisions. Our hope is that the decisions that have been made and listed below allow this class to continue to create as many end of high school memories as possible while also adhering to social distancing requirements to keep everyone healthy.
The information below is an overall summary of plans. Specific details will be shared with RHS students and families by Mr. Overstreet tomorrow, Friday, April 24.
Graduation Events:
To ensure all 2020 graduates are honored and celebrated, RHS will host two graduation ceremonies. The first will be a Drive-Through Graduation on Saturday, May 9 where families can pile in their car (or several cars) together with their graduate and head to RHS where staff will be waiting (6 feet apart) to greet each graduate, parking lot style! Dressed in caps and gowns, 2020 graduates will drive up to a graduation station set-up in the RHS parking lot complete with a podium to receive their diploma from Board of Education members and RHS administrators. Graduates' names will be announced over the PA system in the parking lot, and FREE professional pictures will be taken.
In addition, a traditional graduation ceremony has been scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 1, 2020 at JQH Arena on the MSU campus beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Baccalaureate and Project Graduation events will also take place. Details are still being determined.
WHY are you planning two graduation ceremonies?
In these uncertain times, we are unable to get a complete picture of what social distancing requirements will look like in the coming months. While we hope to be able to host the traditional graduation ceremony on August 1, it is not guaranteed. Also, many of our 2020 graduates will be unable to attend the traditional planned ceremony on August 1 due to their new college, military or work responsibilities. The Drive-Through Graduation event gives us an opportunity to celebrate all 2020 graduates while still following social distancing guidelines, and will take place prior to new responsibilities beginning for these students.
Senior Awards Night:
A celebration of senior awards and scholarships will take place virtually on May 4. Additional details are coming soon.
 Prom: RHS will plan to host a traditional prom on Friday, July 24 as long as social distancing guidelines will allow. RHS administration continues to work with the student prom committee to determine a location and other details of this event. Once determined, they will be shared.
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Summer School & STRIPES 360 Programming
Virtual summer school will be offered for students currently in grades 6-11 beginning May 27. Registration details will be distributed in the coming weeks. Students participating will be allowed to keep their school-assigned Chromebook at home to use for summer classes.
Our ability to offer seated summer school opportunities at school for students is still to be determined as it is dependent on social distancing requirements. If we are able to offer seated classes this summer, they will take place in July. In order to hire the required teachers, implement the needed curriculum, complete the registration and paperwork process and to meet student needs we will need to make a decision about hosting seated summer school by Memorial Day. This decision will be made in consultation with our local health department and other regional, state and federal agencies. We will continue to keep our families informed of our decision process.
Summer programming through STRIPES 360 is still being evaluated using the same resources mentioned above in regards to summer school. As soon as we have decisions in the coming weeks they will be shared as we know many of our families utilize this program during the summer months.
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Kindergarten Screening
We hope to be able to host kindergarten screening at the end of July. As we are able to determine specific dates, they will be shared. At that time those who previously scheduled will be contacted to reschedule. Additional appointments can be taken as well. Kindergarten screening allows the district to learn information about each incoming student to best meet their needs for the upcoming school year. It also allows us to plan for the number of teachers and resources needed.
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Preschool Enrollment
 Republic Early Childhood Center will register preschool students for the 2020-21 school year on Monday, May 4 starting at 7:00 a.m. We will be registering students on a first come, first serve basis using an online form. Details about class offerings, securing your spot, payment details and a link to the registration form can be found at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ua4-EEpmB2s3kfq1dEYm0cvHJD464FpIvhm5WiCC994/edit?usp=sharing. We look forward to offering online registration to our preschool families!
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Free Meals: NEW DISTRIBUTION TIME AT RMS
Republic School District will continue providing free, daily grab-and-go lunch and breakfast (for the next day) pick-up at RMS and other designated locations across the community for Republic children through June 19.
However, we will be changing our distribution time at RMS to Monday-Friday, 11:30-12:30 p.m. starting Monday, April 27.
We will continue to provide meals at our remote locations (listed below) Monday-Friday 11:00-11:30 a.m.
Alpine Village
S. Lewis Street in Battlefield near the Prairie Oak Village Apartments
Old Stone Apartments
Hines Street Pharmacy
Calvary Baptist Church
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Employee Volunteer Form
The form found at the below link was created to provide an opportunity for any district employee that would like to volunteer to assist during the COVID-19 school cancellation. If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the form. Volunteers are being contacted as needed. Thanks to those who have already answered the call to pitch in!
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Send Us Your Photos
We'd love to see what's happening in your classrooms and work environments during this closure! You are helping us continue to make our mission possible, and we want to showcase that work! PLEASE email pictures to your principal, supervisor and Josey McPhail!
**HIGH SCHOOL: Please also send your photos to Kristin Howard to help with the yearbook!
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Community Resources
Republic area churches and organizations are mobilizing to provide various resources for citizens. Further details can be found at 417OUTREACH.COM.
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For questions or comments please contact me via
email or by calling 417-732-3605.
Sincerely,
Josey McPhail Director of Communications
Republic School District |
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