September 6
No School- Labor Day
September 8
Board Meeting, 4:30 pm
September 9
Parent Night, 5-7 pm
September 13
Parent Council Meeting, 6 pm, Walkabout Brewery
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Geometric Drawing, Mia Jimenez-Acosta, 6th grade |
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From the Director
Greetings Madrone Trail Community!
It was so amazing to see everyone again, and even more amazing to witness the students seeing their whole class again for the first time in person in over a year.
As expected, there were some hiccups; the smoke being one and the pick up process another. We believe both will improve soon. In fact, the pick-up process went from taking 45 minutes on Monday to 25 minutes on Thursday. Just a reminder, we won’t allow anyone not on the official pick up list for your child to pick up your child, unless we have a written note or a call to the office from you. We had some issues in the pickup line and at classrooms due to this.
Everyone hates the smoke and we don’t want kids outside for a prolonged amount of time when the air quality index is higher than moderate (AQI >100). This caused us to have to shift students to the gym or keep them in their classrooms instead of waiting in the courtyard with their teachers. This will surely get better soon and we appreciate your patience.
I want to remind every parent that screening for primary COVID-19 symptoms begins at home. Please do not send your child to school if they have any of the following; cough, temperature greater than 100.4, chills, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, new loss of taste and smell. We have to work together to protect everyone. If we discover these symptoms at school, it impacts more than just your child. It is also very important to consider getting your child tested for COVID-19 if they have any of these symptoms. An individual is contagious to others for 48 hours before the onset of symptoms, so if it turns out your child has COVID-19 and was at school we may have to quarantine many students if we determine they exposed others. Exposure is defined as being within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes without a mask. The smoke further exacerbates this as students will be eating in their classrooms when it is too hazardous to do so outside and it’s impossible to eat with a mask on.
We are taking every precaution we can to minimize any risk, including installing MERV-13 filters in our ventilation, cleaning nightly, and keepings kids masked while indoors. We would also be keeping many windows open in each classroom if it was not smoky, but given it is, we need to keep them shut. Faculty are also refraining from eating during faculty meetings because in the event just one tests positive for COVID-19, it would require us to quarantine every teacher that was within 6 feet, regardless of vaccination status.
As a reminder, there is a difference between isolation time for people who have COVID-19 (10 days) and quarantine time for people who are a close contact of someone who has COVID-19 (14 days.) Student or teacher, a positive test means 10 days of isolation and a wait time of 24 hrs after symptoms have ceased to return to school. An exposure means more time as it can take 4-5 days for symptoms to present.
Many have asked me what would happen if ________. Below is the link that lists the necessary actions we must take under various scenarios. Please read through them if you are curious, but also know we are fully aware and work with the Jackson County Health Department very closely to ensure we are doing everything right. Regardless of precautions, our County is not in a good place right now. There is not a single ICU bed open in Jackson County or Josephine County at present.
I know wearing a mask is not fun or popular, but it is the best protection for your child. I have heard many positions, but ultimately we are a community and we must all do what we can to protect the community. Please know your child is not wearing a mask all day. They are only required when indoors. Even if they were required all day, experts do not believe masks negatively impact health. My uncle is a brain surgeon and has to wear an M95 for periods over 12 hours sometimes during surgery. The masks that the Oregon Department of Education is requiring are not nearly as cumbersome as M95s. I have been wearing a KN95 mask all day, inside and out, because my wife and I are expecting our first child soon and I just can’t risk not being allowed to witness my child’s birth because I have COVID-19.
Next week we have Parent Night. Please see the information below about it. I hope to see you there. Once again, thanks to all the parents/guardians for being patient and flexible as we navigate both COVID-19 and Smoke protocols. We are doing our very best to keep all students, staff, and parents safe when they come to school.
~John Bissey
Director
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Parent Night- NEXT WEEK
We will be having a Parent Night next Thursday, September 9 from 5-7 pm. This is for parents only, please no children. We know this is difficult for some so each teacher will be recording their class meeting if you are unable to attend. There will be a chance to sign up for committees throughout the evening. As per current guidelines regarding gatherings of the public, all parents will need to wear a mask indoors and outdoors. We are planning for the All School Welcome to be outdoors, unless it is too smoky.
The schedule is as follows:
5:00-5:45 pm: K-4th Class meetings
5:45-6:15 pm: All School Welcome
6:15-7:00 pm: 5th-8th Class meetings
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Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures- UPDATED
This school year we will continue to keep cohorting, social distancing, and other safety procedures in the forefront of our decision making about how drop off and pick up will occur. There will be some similarities to last year, with some updates.
Drop Off: Parents/Guardians have two options this year for drop off.
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They can pull up to the far gate (by the Kinderyard) or middle gate and drop off their students as we did last year. Please use only these gates and not the gate by the rainbow crosswalk. There will be no staff at the gates monitoring symptoms and mask wearing this year. Instead, the class teachers will do the check-in procedures as the students enter the classroom.
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Parents/guardians can also park and walk their students to class. Parents will need to follow current guidelines regarding mask wearing if they do enter campus. Please do not park in staff parking spots (first row of spots on the left as you pull in) or block the area between the orange cones in the field so people can park deeper in the field if needed.
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Students can be dropped off starting at 7:45 am. Students dropped off between 7:45 am and 8:15 am will go to the playground where they will be supervised by a staff member. Because we will have multiple cohorts mixing at that time, we ask that students who are dropped off this early wear masks while on the playground.
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If it is too smoky to be outside, students will go to the gym until time to go to their classrooms.
Pick Up: As with drop off, parents/guardians will have two options this year.
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They can use our pick up lane (the track) and have their students delivered to their car as we did last year.
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They can park and walk in. Please do not park in staff parking spots (first row of spots on the left as you pull in) or block the area between the orange cones in the field so people can park deeper in the field if needed.
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To make the pick up line go quicker, we will have 1st-5th grade out in the courtyard and 6th-8th grade in the field. If you are walking in, please wait for the classes in the courtyard and pick them up from there. Do not go to the classroom. Pick up time will be between 3:15-3:30 pm. Please arrive in the pick up line or the courtyard no earlier than 3:00 pm.
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If it is too smoky to be outside, classes will stay indoors in the following locations: K, 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th- in classroom. 2nd- in Gym. 6th- in Handwork Yurt. 7th- in Music Yurt.
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Please ensure your child's pick up list (the people who are allowed to pick your child up from school) is updated so we can be sure we are sending students home with the correct people. If there is a change of plan and someone new (like a fellow parent) is picking up your child, call the office and let Sherrie know.
Please be patient with us the first few weeks as we get into the rhythm of our new pick up routine. There may be more adjustments as we work out the kinks.
Also, please note drop off and pick up time is not the time to engage in conversation with your child's class teacher, as they will be busy getting ready for the start of the day, and ensuring all students get to where they need to go in the afternoon. If you would like to discuss something with a teacher, please email them to arrange a time to meet or talk on the phone.
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Drop Off in the morning
Drop Off Lane: Upon entering the parking lot, stay to the right and let your student out at the far or middle gate. Proceed around the track and exit the parking lot.
Park and Walk: Upon entering the parking lot, stay to the left and go around and park. You may park on the left side of the double row of cars, or in the field. Everyone who parks needs to use the Rainbow Crosswalk to enter campus (not the far gate.)
Kindergarten parents, look out for an email from your class teacher about drop off and pick up procedures that are specific to each class.
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Pick Up in the afternoon
Pick Up Lane: Upon entering the parking lot, stay to the right and go around the track, forming a line. At 3:15 pm we will begin calling for students and loading them in cars in the 3 marked spots near the exit of the parking lot. 6th-8th grade students will load up near the backstop fence before the 3 loading spots.
Park and Walk: Upon entering the parking lot, stay to the left and go around and park. You may park on the left side of the double row of cars, or in the field. Everyone who parks needs to use the Rainbow Crosswalk to enter campus (not the far gate.) 1st-5th grade classes will be in the courtyard, and 6th-8th grade classes will be in the field.
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Registration Packets
Registration packets will go out next week. Please take the time to fill them out and update the information in there. It's very important we have current information for each student. If you need a replacement packet or have questions about it, contact Miss Sherrie in the office, sherrie.gasper@madronetrail.org
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A Message from the Athletic Director
Hello Madrone Trail families,
We are currently working on more sport and extracurricular activities here at Madrone Trail. While we have a lot of great ideas, the fact is some things take time. We had wanted to start a soccer club here at Madrone Trail, however the condition of our field does not allow for that at this time. With that being said we will be having many different opportunities throughout the year. Currently Dance Club is forming and Basketball Club will be on most Saturdays throughout the school year beginning September 18th. I will also be updating our families on sport opportunities in the Valley, especially ones that focus on the teaching aspect of sport and skill development.
Please Note:
- All extracurricular activities at Madrone Trail have a $50 fee. (Scholarships will be available if needed) T-shirt included
- Extracurricular activities will stick to ODE COVID-19 guidelines pertaining to that activity.
- Completed participation forms are needed prior to the first scheduled activity. Interested students will have one sent home with them.
Basketball Club info @ Madrone Trail
Focus will be on skill development with plenty of scrimmage opportunities
Saturdays; beginning September 18th (Co-Ed)
5th-6th Grades (10-11:15 am)
7th-8th Grades (11:15-12:30 pm)
Community Sport Opportunities
Medford Parks and Rec.
Indoor youth soccer (Co-Ed)
Ages 4-8
Registration deadline Oct. 4th
Cost: $48 Medford residents/ $54 Non-residents
Indoor Youth Basketball (Co-Ed)
Ages 5-8
Registration deadline Oct. 18th
Cost: $42 Medford residents/ $48 Non-residents
Rogue Valley YMCA
Flag Football, Soccer, or Volleyball (Co-Ed)
Flag Football or Soccer 1st-6th Grade; Volleyball 3rd-6th
Registration deadline Sept. 22nd
Cost $65
Junior Comets
Fall Flag Football (Co-Ed)
2nd-6th Grade
Registration Deadline Sept. 11th
Cost $45 for 1 child $80 for 2 $105 max per family
Volleyball (Co-Ed)
3rd-6th Grade
Registration Deadline Sept. 10th
Cost $45 for 1 child $80 for 2 $105 max per family
If you have any questions feel free to email me anytime,
~Jeff Roberson
Interventionist/Athletic Director
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Smoke Procedures
Unfortunately, at this time of year we have to deal with smoke in the valley. Our standing policy for smoke is that if it is in the green or yellow zone (AQI <100) the students can be outside. If it is in orange or above (>100) we will have indoor recess and games class. This will be an hour to hour call, since the smoke levels can shift quickly depending on wind and weather patterns.
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Volunteering
This year we are able to have volunteers in our classrooms once again. Volunteers will need to follow current mask and vaccination guidelines, as well as fill out a Volunteer Application if they haven't already. Teachers will invite volunteers into their classroom at their discretion. Click the button below to sign up to be a volunteer through the MSD website.
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MADRONE TRAIL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
www.madronetrail.org
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Madrone Trail Public Charter School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or age in its programs and activities. |
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