Welcome back letter from Mrs. Miner

 
 
Brenda Miner         1924 Phillips Principal          Butte, MT   59701
 
 
We are so excited to see your child this year! We have been working hard this summer to plan for a safe and fun school year. Our goal is to provide a quality education, while maintaining a safe environment in which to learn. August 31st and September 1st will be an introduction for the elementary schools.  More Details to come!   Some students’ homerooms may have changed from the fall in order to ensure safety for all our students and staff.  You will be notified if there is a change of their homeroom.   Below are some items that will help you plan for the upcoming year.   
 
Morning Arrival
 
• Students may be dropped off in the drop off zone on Garrison, between 8:00 – 8:20 (No Earlier) • Parents should drive south on Garrison and pull forward as far as possible.  Students should then get out and walk to their designated entrance. (Map to come) • Students should not play on the playground in the morning.   • Students will come directly into the school building using their designated entrance.   • A staff member will be stationed at each door to greet your child. • Once in the building, students will go directly to their classroom. • Masks are required for entry into the building • No visitors will be allowed in the building
 
The School Day
 
• Students will attend classes with their teacher and classmates for the entire day.   • Students will have bathroom breaks and recess with their classmates.   • Cleaning procedures are in place for all areas within the school • Students will be required to wear their mask in school.  Please have your child practice wearing their mask for extended periods now. • Students will eat breakfast and lunch in the classroom.  We qualified for the free breakfast and lunch program for all Emerson students.  The students will still need to order their breakfast or lunch with their teacher.  We are required to keep a count of the number of students eating.  Students may bring a sack lunch.   • Students will have homework, as we are getting out of school 1 hour early.  Please plan a time for your child to complete this outside work and help them to return it to school the following day.   • Students will be asked to limit items they bring to school.  Their homework will be the priority.   
 
Afternoon Dismissal • Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd & 3rd grades will be dismissed by 1:00. • 4th, 5th & 6th grades will be dismissed by 2:00. • Each Friday, all students will be dismissed by 11:30. • Students will use the same doors to exit and enter the school.
• Students being picked up by their parents will wait in line (social distancing) near a designated area close to the gates.  A map will be posted next week displaying the pick-up areas ensuring safety for our students.  • Bus students will walk to the bus area, waiting in a line (social distancing) until their bus arrives.  • Masks are required during the dismissal and on the bus.
 
Student and Staff Safety • Each classroom will become a “hive.” (Our hive will limit the number of people/students interacting with each other).  This will require us all working together to maintain a safe environment. • Students will need to have their own supplies, so please let us know if you are unable to purchase items on the supply list. • A personal sanitizer, water bottle and maybe a small pack of tissues for their personal desk should be added to each supply list. o They will be allowed to refill the water bottle as needed. • Students will not need a backpack, as we cannot use our lockers, and our classrooms will be full.  The students will be asked to keep their supplies with them at their desks.  The teachers will provide organization options depending on the grade level and needs.  A foldable bag would be a good substitute, or the students can carry items in their hands each day. • A safety checklist will be sent home for you to reference prior to sending your child to school.   
 
 
Remote Learners  o Students will be expected to check in with their teachers daily.  o Students will need a device that will support Microsoft TEAMs, as that is the platform where assignments will be posted and graded.  o Videos of lessons will be posted for students to view.  o TEAMs meetings will be set up at least weekly to support students in remote learning.  o Students who choose remote learning will follow the district grading policy.  o Distance learning will not begin until after Labor Day.    In addition to these areas, protocols are being developed to address an outbreak of COVID in varying instances, whether by student, classroom, or school. Because our plan maintains groups of students staying together throughout the day, we are doing our best to limit exposure within our school. Please understand that our plans are fluid, however, and we will continually evaluate and make improvements to ensure that we are doing what is best for both students and staff.    Sadly, we will have to postpone our Bee Bucks Carnival that we had moved to the fall.    However, I will be working with teachers and parents to figure out a “modified” carnival so that students can be rewarded for last year’s hard work.      Updates will be posted on the Butte School District Webpage, www.BSD1.org, so please visit it often. You can also email me any questions that you still might have.       
Sincerely,
 
Brenda Miner, Principal