Re-entry plans announced for area schools
August 12, 2020
Mary Hagens
Exeter R-VI and Southwest R-V School Districts completed and posted their re-entry plans for the 2020-2021 school year online last week.
In his letter to parents, Exeter Superintendent Dr. Ernest Raney stated, “We value the partnership we have with parents as we work to provide the best learning opportunities for our students.” Cooperation between the schools and community has been an essential element of all of the Barry County re-entry plans. The back-to-school plans for Exeter, Southwest, and the other area districts were composed by administrators with input from the community compiled through recent parent/guardian surveys or meetings.
Like the other Barry County districts, Exeter and Southwest are committed to providing the safest possible learning environments while ensuring that all students are provided with equitable and viable educational opportunities. In every school, students are being asked to use proper handwashing procedures, to follow physical distancing guidelines when possible, and to drink from refillable water bottles rather than traditional water fountains. Faculty and staff members will follow CDC protocols for health and wellness and will be required to wear masks when physical distancing is not possible. All schools will offer both in-class and virtual learning opportunities for every grade level in order to give parents and guardians a choice in how their students return to school. Two very important requests from the area schools are that parents and guardians keep their contact information up-to-date and that they check the school websites and social media pages for important new announcements.
A link to Dr. Raney’s letter and Exeter’s Return to Learn plan is posted on the District’s Facebook page for easy access. When school begins on August 25th, students and parents can expect to see many adjustments in procedures and expectations. Faculty and staff will be required to wear masks or shields. Students who ride the bus will be required to wear face coverings and will have seating assignments. While masks are not required in class or during passing periods, students are strongly encouraged to wear them whenever physical distancing is not possible. Other changes implemented include an emphasis on hygiene procedures, a staggered bell schedule, assigned seats in class, additional lunch shifts, modifications in daily routines, and reduction of large group gatherings. If parents have questions about any of the guidelines, they are encouraged to call the school office.
In preparation for the August 13th start of school, Southwest Superintendent Tosha Tilford posted a letter to parents, guardians, and staff members on the Southwest R-V website, along with the school’s re-entry plan. Students and parents may consider either face-to-face or virtual learning options.
At Southwest, all staff and students 5th grade and up are required to wear face shields or masks during transition periods and when physical distancing is not possible; all students must wear a mask on the bus. The policy is, “When you move, you mask.” All students will have their temperatures taken as they board the bus, receive a face shield (which they are to keep all day), and sit in assigned seats. At the end of the day, bus riders will return the face shields for sanitizing. Other adjustments include assigned seats in the classroom, proper handwashing techniques, modified cafeteria seating and schedule, and procedure for pickup and return of Chromebooks. Additionally, all cell phones and smart watches must remain in students’ lockers during class. Any questions on the guidelines should be directed to the school office.
A brief review of last week’s information:
• Guidelines for Cassville Schools can be found on the district web page under the COVID-19 tab. An important note is that while face coverings for students are required on the buses, they are strongly recommended but not required in the classroom; students’ families may make their own choices.
• A link to Wheaton’s guidelines is provided on their Facebook page. Students in grades 7-12 are required to wear face coverings when social distancing is not possible; masks are strongly encouraged for students in grades K – 6.
• Purdy’s re-entry plan can be found on their district’s website under the red COVID-19 Information and Updates tab. The guidelines state that all staff and students must wear masks or face coverings while on the bus or at school.
• Shell Knob’s complete Restart Plan can be found on the district’s Facebook page along with updates from the Superintendent, Dr. Fransen.
• On July 30th, a link to the Monett R-I School District’s re-entry plan was posted on Facebook. Monett requires that students in grades 3-12 and staff members wear face coverings. Masks are strongly encouraged for students in grades PreK – 2, and all students wear face coverings on the bus.
Parents or guardians should contact their child’s school for answers to any questions.
Exeter R-VI and Southwest R-V School Districts completed and posted their re-entry plans for the 2020-2021 school year online last week.
In his letter to parents, Exeter Superintendent Dr. Ernest Raney stated, “We value the partnership we have with parents as we work to provide the best learning opportunities for our students.” Cooperation between the schools and community has been an essential element of all of the Barry County re-entry plans. The back-to-school plans for Exeter, Southwest, and the other area districts were composed by administrators with input from the community compiled through recent parent/guardian surveys or meetings.
Like the other Barry County districts, Exeter and Southwest are committed to providing the safest possible learning environments while ensuring that all students are provided with equitable and viable educational opportunities. In every school, students are being asked to use proper handwashing procedures, to follow physical distancing guidelines when possible, and to drink from refillable water bottles rather than traditional water fountains. Faculty and staff members will follow CDC protocols for health and wellness and will be required to wear masks when physical distancing is not possible. All schools will offer both in-class and virtual learning opportunities for every grade level in order to give parents and guardians a choice in how their students return to school. Two very important requests from the area schools are that parents and guardians keep their contact information up-to-date and that they check the school websites and social media pages for important new announcements.
A link to Dr. Raney’s letter and Exeter’s Return to Learn plan is posted on the District’s Facebook page for easy access. When school begins on August 25th, students and parents can expect to see many adjustments in procedures and expectations. Faculty and staff will be required to wear masks or shields. Students who ride the bus will be required to wear face coverings and will have seating assignments. While masks are not required in class or during passing periods, students are strongly encouraged to wear them whenever physical distancing is not possible. Other changes implemented include an emphasis on hygiene procedures, a staggered bell schedule, assigned seats in class, additional lunch shifts, modifications in daily routines, and reduction of large group gatherings. If parents have questions about any of the guidelines, they are encouraged to call the school office.
In preparation for the August 13th start of school, Southwest Superintendent Tosha Tilford posted a letter to parents, guardians, and staff members on the Southwest R-V website, along with the school’s re-entry plan. Students and parents may consider either face-to-face or virtual learning options.
At Southwest, all staff and students 5th grade and up are required to wear face shields or masks during transition periods and when physical distancing is not possible; all students must wear a mask on the bus. The policy is, “When you move, you mask.” All students will have their temperatures taken as they board the bus, receive a face shield (which they are to keep all day), and sit in assigned seats. At the end of the day, bus riders will return the face shields for sanitizing. Other adjustments include assigned seats in the classroom, proper handwashing techniques, modified cafeteria seating and schedule, and procedure for pickup and return of Chromebooks. Additionally, all cell phones and smart watches must remain in students’ lockers during class. Any questions on the guidelines should be directed to the school office.
A brief review of last week’s information:
• Guidelines for Cassville Schools can be found on the district web page under the COVID-19 tab. An important note is that while face coverings for students are required on the buses, they are strongly recommended but not required in the classroom; students’ families may make their own choices.
• A link to Wheaton’s guidelines is provided on their Facebook page. Students in grades 7-12 are required to wear face coverings when social distancing is not possible; masks are strongly encouraged for students in grades K – 6.
• Purdy’s re-entry plan can be found on their district’s website under the red COVID-19 Information and Updates tab. The guidelines state that all staff and students must wear masks or face coverings while on the bus or at school.
• Shell Knob’s complete Restart Plan can be found on the district’s Facebook page along with updates from the Superintendent, Dr. Fransen.
• On July 30th, a link to the Monett R-I School District’s re-entry plan was posted on Facebook. Monett requires that students in grades 3-12 and staff members wear face coverings. Masks are strongly encouraged for students in grades PreK – 2, and all students wear face coverings on the bus.
Parents or guardians should contact their child’s school for answers to any questions.