Hawk Happenings
Registration Edition
Here's what's happening at Spring Lake...
Hello Spring Lake Families!
We hope you are having a great summer, staying safe and finding fun things to do with your family. We want to communicate a few things with you as we are getting closer to opening our school in August under very unique circumstances. Below you will find information about the registration process, options for families and plans for a safe reopening.
Our theme this year is “Grow As We Go”. We will be focusing on having a growth mindset and on the idea that we can thrive and find success even in difficult circumstances. In our Spring Lake "garden" we have a wide variety of learners with different needs. We know that student social and emotional well-being are the most important factors, the water and sun of our garden. Students need to feel safe, valued and included in order to put down strong roots. As a staff, we are committed to the social/emotional well-being of students and know it is the key to long-term academic success. This will be our #1 focus as we bring students back to school.
Our amazing teachers have been on a steep trajectory of growth over the past few months. They have spent the summer taking classes and being trained on how to better utilize technology to provide a "Blended Learning" experience for students(a well-balanced mix of face-to-face and virtual learning). Teachers have done this in order to provide a higher quality experience for students this fall whether it be face-to-face in the classroom or at home with distance learning. They are working to "weed out" ineffective practices, nourish and improve upon what is good and create an environment where students don't simply survive, but THRIVE.
The other day I was reflecting on the history of Spring Lake Elementary and wanted to share the following:
I am proud of our past. Our school has a rich legacy and a strong, supportive school community that has been in place since I taught 4th grade here in 2002 when the school first opened. Many wonderful teachers, administrators, students, parents and staff have contributed to this legacy.
I am proud of who we are in the present. In the face of a devastating pandemic, our school community pulled together and supported one another, our teachers rose to the occasion, giving 110% to pull off a whole new learning platform and our students showed remarkable strength and resilience.
I am confident and excited about the future of Spring Lake. I love the quote "New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings" (Lao Tzu). We acknowledge how difficult and painful the last several months have been for many families. However, we are excited for a new beginning in education and see the potential for real transformation in our schools and classrooms. I know we can rise to the challenges that lie ahead and have the potential to emerge from our current situation even stronger and better than we have been before.
We are excited for the 2021 school year and invite you to join us for either in-person or remote learning. We are here to support your family in every way possible.
Warmest Regards,
Mrs. Jordan
Registration for the 2021 School Year is Underway
School registration opens Monday, July 13th, and will run until July 30th. You will be able to access the link to register your child on our Spring Lake Website under the Registration Tab or on the Nebo School District Website. Parents of returning students were also sent an email with registration information and a code for logging in (call us if your code isn't working - we can help!)
You will be able to do absolutely everything regarding registration online. On our new platform Infinite Campus you will input or update your contact information, email addresses, phone numbers, etc., pay school donations, ($25.00/student) and e-sign all the required forms for the school year. New families with students coming to Spring Lake will be able to scan and upload their information (proof of address, immunization records, and birth certificates) for registration.
During registration you will be asked to make a choice between At School Learning (face-to-face, every day on-site, masks required) OR Remote Learning (at home learning with an assigned remote teacher doing online assignments and tasks). More information about this is included below.
On WEDNESDAY, JULY 29TH, we will open the school computer lab for anyone who needs help registering or scanning/uploading documents to the system. We will be available from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. We will also have Spanish speaking staff here to assist families. If you would prefer to call for help before then, we are open Monday - Thursday from 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM and we can walk you through the process or answer questions over the phone.
Students will be able to find out their teacher around the first week of August. We will let you know the exact date within the next two weeks. As you can imagine, balancing the remote learning registrations with face to face registrations will require more time to place students in classes.
New Parent Handbook and Safety Protocols Coming Soon!
Reopening Information
Hopefully you all received the email letter from our Superintendent (sent on July 9th). It outlines guidelines and requirements for students to safely return to school in August and offers options for families who are not yet comfortable sending their children back to school. Please see the following section for Frequently Asked Questions.
I know there are many concerns and individual situations that need to be addressed. We are working as teams and committees to prepare safety protocols for opening the school. I am in the process of redesigning our parent handbook with the new protocols and will be sharing that by the end of the month.
It is important for students to be at school and learn face to face. If this can’t be done, we totally support the Nebo District remote learning choice that will follow State Standards and be taught by a certified teacher. We want to support all families to design a plan that will work best for each situation.
For those who return to school, we are planning detailed protocols for sanitizing, classroom set up, lunch procedures, social distancing, as well as breaks where students can be free from wearing their masks off and on throughout the day. We want learning to take place and to be as normal as possible. We also want school to be fun! We have been brainstorming ways to create new traditions and activities that will be motivating while also keeping students safe. We welcome your ideas and suggestions!
Please have confidence in what we are doing and know that we are here for you! We love our students and can’t wait to be with them again! We are ready to teach, ready to help, ready to do what is best for students.
Nebo Fall Reopening Frequently Asked Questions
ENROLLMENT
When will families make a final decision about At-School or Remote Learning?
Families will be asked to make a final decision about At-School or Remote Learning during the registration process.
How and when will registration take place?
All registration will take place online. The window for registration is July 13-30 for all schools.
If you need in-person help, your individual school will let you know when those services are available.
For school-specific information and to access the registration link, go to your school’s website starting July 13.
Can my student switch between At-School and Remote Learning within the school year?
Yes, at each term break, students can transfer from one type of learning to the other. This decision will need to be made before the last two weeks of each term. Deadlines are as follows:
October 19 (for Term 2)
January 5 (for Term 3)
March 15 (for Term 4)
INSTRUCTION
What will Nebo’s At-School Learning option look like?
All students will receive instruction at the school every day – full time.
Parents perform daily wellness checks of each student before school attendance.
Physical distancing will be implemented when possible. Open spaces (auditoriums, cafeterias, common spaces, etc.) will be utilized to reduce group sizes and increase student safety.
Students and employees will wear face coverings (i.e. masks, shields) when physical distancing is not possible.
Bus students will wear face coverings and be assigned a seat.
Increased sanitizing practices and routines will be implemented.
Individualized Education Program (IEP) and 504 Plans will be met.
Special accommodations will be made for unique classroom settings (choir, band, PE, keyboarding, etc.) and additional information is forthcoming.
To support contact tracing, students will have assigned seating.
Large group gatherings will only take place after consulting and coordinating with the local health department.
Opportunities at ALC, Utah Students Connect, MTECH, etc. continue to be available for students in grades 9-12—see a school counselor.
What will Nebo’s Remote Learning option look like?
Remote Learning is where the student and the educator are not physically present in a traditional classroom environment. Information is relayed through technology such as discussion boards and online assessments.
Elementary students will receive instruction through an assigned Nebo Remote Learning teacher.
Grade K-3 instruction will follow the Utah Core Standards with an emphasis in reading, writing, and math.
Grade 4-6 instruction will follow the Utah Core Standards with an emphasis in reading, writing, math, and science.
Secondary students, grades 7-12, will receive instruction through Utah Students Connect courses. All required courses and many elective courses will be available.
Utah Students Connect teachers may not be a teacher at your local school.
This instruction is a rigorous learning experience. Students will be given a letter grade, WITHOUT a pass/fail option.
Opportunities at ALC, MTECH, etc. continue to be available for students in grades 9-12—see a school counselor.
At-School and Remote Learning decisions will be made for the entire term.
Decisions will need to be made before the last two weeks of each term. Deadlines are as follows:
October 19 (for Term 2)
January 5 (for Term 3)
March 15 (for Term 4)
Remote Learning support for Canvas will be provided to students/parents.
Individual Education Programs (IEP) and 504 Plans may require the IEP and 504 teams to reconvene.
What are attendance requirements?
Students are expected to attend every day; however, leniency will be granted for COVID-19 related absences.
What happens if a school is temporarily closed?
In the event that a single school or the entire district closes, students will continue to receive instruction from their assigned teacher(s).
This summer all teachers are being trained on best practices of blended learning in order to best serve their students.
Why did our district choose to offer a full week schedule?
Along with health and safety, student learning is a top priority. Daily face-to-face instruction in a classroom setting provides increased opportunity for student learning. Furthermore, daily in-school instruction equitably supports students.
Other factors considered in the decision making include social, emotional, and mental needs of students, the strain on families, and the professional toll on employees.
MASKS & OTHER FACE COVERINGS
Why are students being asked to wear face coverings?
State guidelines require face coverings to be worn when physical distancing cannot be observed.
In order to allow all students to come back to school every day, face coverings are a vital component of the plan.
When will my student be asked to wear a face covering?
Whenever students are unable to maintain physical distancing (i.e. bus, class transitions, in classrooms, etc.).
When the teacher or another individual in the classroom is in a risk category.
What if my student has respiratory or other medical concerns?
Reasonable individual accommodations will be made. Please contact your school’s principal.
Who provides face coverings?
Families should provide clean face coverings every day for their students.
If a student comes without a face covering, the school will provide one for the day.
Can I opt my child out of wearing a face covering?
When physical distancing is not possible, face coverings will be worn except as accommodations are made through an Individualized Education Program (IEP), 504, or Student Health Care Plan.
NUTRITION
If we choose the Remote Learning option, will my student receive breakfast and lunch?
Yes, your student will have the option of ordering a grab-and-go breakfast and lunch.
Pick up will be at the neighborhood school.
Contact your neighborhood school in August for details and ordering instructions.
What do breakfast and lunch protocols look like at school?
Each school will communicate their individual plans to provide student meals.
Planning for flow patterns and transitions will be considered for large student gatherings and movement.
Physical distancing will be implemented when possible. Open spaces (i.e. cafeterias, common spaces, etc.) will be utilized to reduce group sizes and increase student safety.
SANITATION
What are the sanitation protocols at my student’s school?
Each school will communicate the details of sanitizing classrooms, cafeteria, and other student areas with their patrons.
Hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, soap and water, or similar disinfectants are readily available to staff/students/visitors in controlled environments to ensure safe use.
Frequently touched surfaces and items will be disinfected daily.
Students will be trained on sanitization protocols.
Visitors will be required to wear a face covering in schools.
Visitors going beyond the office will be subject to a temperature check.
Increased sanitizing will occur in restrooms, locker rooms, and other high traffic areas.
Playgrounds will be sanitized daily.
Students will use water bottles rather than drinking fountains—protocols for refilling will be developed.
SPECIAL NEEDS
What if my student needs specific health accommodations?
School teams, including parents, will systematically review all current plans (e.g. Individual Healthcare, Individualized Education Programs (IEP), and 504 Plans for accommodating students with special health care needs and update their care plans as needed to decrease their risk for exposure to COVID-19.
For other healthcare concerns, please contact your student’s school.
TRANSPORTATION
How will students remain safe on the bus?
Parents will be asked to do a daily wellness check before students enter the bus.
Sick students will be asked to stay home.
Bus drivers will follow the same health and safety measures as employees at schools.
Sick bus drivers and attendants will be asked to stay home.
Students will wear face coverings while on the bus.
Bus drivers and attendants will be trained on COVID-19 safety measures.
Buses will display COVID-19 symptom charts to continue educating students.
Parents are asked to provide face coverings for students; if a student forgets a face covering, one will be provided.
Buses will be filled to capacity and physical distancing is not possible on all routes.
Will my student have an assigned seat?
Yes, each student will have assigned seating.
Family members will be asked to sit together.
Assigned seating helps with contact tracing in the event of an outbreak.
Will the bus be sanitized?
Buses will be sanitized each day by wiping down highly touched areas and all seats.
WELLNESS CHECKS
How do I do a wellness check for my student at home? How often?
EVERY DAY, an at-home wellness check should be done for your student before school.
Parents/guardians will check daily for the following COVID-19 symptoms:
Fever at 100.4 or greater
Chills
Cough
Runny nose or nasal congestion
Sore throat
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Headache
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Nausea and vomiting
Muscle and body aches
New loss of taste or smell
If your student has exhibited any of these symptoms in the last 48 hours, please do not send your student to school.
What if my student exhibits COVID-19 symptoms at school?
Students will be placed in a quarantine room.
Parents will be contacted and asked to pick up student.
Please see the COVID Screening Flowchart for more information.
What if my student gets hurt or sick at school but does not exhibit COVID-19 symptoms?
Schools will limit the number of students in the office or health/nurse’s room by managing minor injuries and first aid in designated areas away from the quarantine room(s).
How will the school respond to potential outbreaks?
Schools will consult with the school nurse and the Utah County Health Department regarding procedures for responding to a positive COVID-19 case by an employee, student, visitor, or those who have come into contact with an individual testing positive.
Schools will coordinate with the local health department for temporary school closures due to COVID-19.
Schools will communicate updates to parents.
Where can I find resources on COVID-19
Information on quarantine and isolation (also see documents attached):
coronavirus.utah.gov (see specifically "frequently asked questions")
health.utahcounty.gov (information specific to Utah County)
Utah County COVID-19 helpline: 801-851-4357
Utah Department of Health (whole state) hotline: 1-800-456-7707
Testing Information:
IHC COVID-19 Hotline: 1-844-442-5224
testutah.com 801-683-0790
Free IHC Emotional Support: 833-442-2211