Yealey Elementary School Newsletter

 Yealey Families -

I hope you've been able to enjoy the snow this week.  It has been such a long time since we had snow like this to play in!  I know my daughter is not happy - she loves playing in it and can't right now.  She is doing great - on the road to recovery after the surgery last week.  I truly appreciate everyone who sent well wishes our way.  

As you may have heard, the board voted last night to return to four day a week instruction for all hybrid students beginning March 1st.  They then plan to determine if five days a week can begin at the March 11th meeting based on the impact of the four days.  The board was also informed that the guidelines  of 6 feet social distance can not be followed in all areas of the schools.  I want to be sure to give you a clear picture of what returning all hybrid students will look like here.  If after reading this, you feel like you would like to switch your child from hybrid to virtual, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/aSo594QdH2K9VkJj9

We will be able to accommodate moving students to virtual but will not be able to move any students to in-person instruction.  With all hybrid students returning four days a week we will:

• have to eat breakfast in the classrooms like we have been but there will be more kids in each room
• have more students in 14 out of the 22 homerooms than square footage allows to keep students 6 feet apart
• have students between 4-5 feet apart when eating lunch in the cafeteria and they will not all be facing one direction but will be facing each other.
• potentially will have to move students to new homeroom teachers.  grade levels affected by this will be given the chance to volunteer for the move but if we don't receive enough volunteers students will be chosen.  (no student that was chosen previously and has already moved this year will be moved again)
• buses will not have space to keep students 6 feet apart

The main thing I want you to know is that we will not be able to keep kids 6 feet apart.  In the Fall when we made this move there were less hybrid students and arrangements could be made to keep everyone socially distanced.  But, now, there are just too many students to accomplish that. We will continue to wear masks, clean common areas between grade levels, and use hand washing/sanitizing often.  And, when the weather cooperates we will be outside as much as possible.  We are excited at the prospect of getting back to a more normal schedule but I really just wanted to be sure you are making an informed decision about what returning to four days a week will look like. 

If this is not something you would like, please complete the form above by Monday so that I have a compete list of all hybrid students coming back on the 1st.  We will work out schedules and any homeroom switches after we hear from you by Monday.  

I'm sure you will be watching the weather for more snow next week.  It looks like our winter wonderland may continue!  Enjoy your long weekend - NO SCHOOL MONDAY!

See you Tuesday,

Mrs. Turner