Boone Meadow Friday Flyer

Week two is in the books, and we are all settling in to the routines to support successful days for our learners.

We have a variety of upcoming events throughout the upcoming weeks, plus various important items to consider. In addition, I'm including a "FAQ" section below to address some varied questions of late regarding CoVID mitigation.

• Afternoon Car Riders: Please be sure to display or show your family number in the front window (hang from rear view mirror, sun visor, etc...). By making the 3-digit number easily visible, dismissal is increasingly efficient. Thank you for your assistance.
• Curriculum Night is next week - Please mark you calendars and watch for information from your child's teacher for the evening of Thursday, August 19th. Curriculum Night is an opportunity for parents/guardians to attend a 30 minute session with their child's teacher to learn some of the nuts and bolts of your child's classroom. You will learn about the instructional and logistical components of your child's upcoming year.
• School Picture Day is Thursday, August 26th. More information located below.
• NWEA testing began for many of our students. Our testing window for NWEA is August 9th-27th. Please watch for information from your child's teacher. Results will be stored and will then be available for access via your child's PowerSchool account when completed later in August or early September.
• Jog-a-thon (JAT) planning is underway! Last year, PTO had to step away from this annual event due to the high level of mitigation last year. We will be hosting JAT on September 22nd. Details will unfold to families in early September.
• Eagle Fest is scheduled for Friday, August 20th at Jennings Field (near the ZCHS Football Stadium). See the flyer below to learn more about this family friendly tradition to support ZCS high school and middle school athletic programs.

Enjoy your weekend,

Tom Hundley, Principal

Q: How are you addressing CoVID mitigation in the school this year? Do you think kids should wear masks? Why aren’t all adults required to wear masks?

A: The ZCS Board of Trustees decided that all individuals under the age of 12 will be masked until further notice. As a district, we strongly recommend those 12 and older who are not fully vaccinated wear a mask. This is a fluid situation, so guidance is subject to change if circumstances change. The School Board and our district leadership team will keep the community informed should there be a change to our current guidelines. in the meantime, increased ventilation/filtration, cleaning, hand washing, etc... will continue as practiced last school year.

Q: With elementary aged students wearing masks, is contact tracing still occurring?

A: Yes, contact tracing will still occur when applicable. Decisions for quarantine and isolation come from our State and Local Health Departments. We, as an organization, are legally bound by the State to conduct close contact tracing as defined by the health departments. The criteria set forth by the health departments also applies to organizations other than schools as well.

Q: What is the criteria for contact tracing?

A: Contact tracing occurs for those individuals within 6’ for at least 15 minutes (per day) of a C-19 positive person. If close contacts have prior C-19 Diagnosis, consultation will be made with Boone County Health Department to determine if quarantine is warranted. Currently, individuals who have been positive within the past 90 days do not need to quarantine as long as they are asymptomatic.

A contact-traced individual without proof of vaccination or prior C19 diagnosis will quarantine for 14 days.

However, the contact-traced individual may get a C-19 (PCR) test on day 5 or after exposure for an earlier return.

• If the test is negative, the individual may return on Day 8 if symptom free.
• If positive, a 10 day isolation begins from the date of testing or onset of symptoms.

Q: If the school quarantines my child due to close contact to another student or staff member that has tested positive, does that mean they have or will contract CoVID?

A: To be quarantined does not mean the individual has COVID. Rather, it means they were exposed and should take precautionary measures to help prevent potential spread. By not doing so, we run the risk of even more positive cases throughout the school and our community at large.

Q: What about symptoms? What symptoms must we watch and keep our child from school?
A: Every morning, families should take note of if their child is showing symptoms of illness. We know this can be complicated, frustrating, and inconvenient as we strive to keep our learning environments as healthy as possible. Fevers, sore throats, new onset of intense headache, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, coughing or shortness of breath, or new loss of taste or smell are the common symptoms and students will be required (per health department mandates) to quarantine for ten days from the start of symptoms. Student may return to school/activities sooner with a physician document stating they may return OR a negative PCR CoVID test. (This is regardless of vaccination status)

Q: If one child is home with symptoms, must my other children stay home as well?

A: Siblings of ill students will need to be picked up if at school. Siblings will need to follow quarantine guidelines.

Q: Why masks?

A: I recognize there is a debate over this. I hear it daily, and our Board of Trustees determines whether masks are in place or not.

We do know that masks do not guarantee that an individual won’t be exposed, but health departments, CDC, and majority of health organizations do report that it helps reduce exposure and assists with reducing spread. Our ZCS Board of Trustees enacted this cautionary measure to assist us in exposing less students, families, and staff to help prevent us from needing to close school doors due to viral spread.

More information regarding COVID protocols is located here on the ZCS website.

ZCS C-19 Protocol

Cripe Photography will be on BME campus to take student photos on Thursday, August 26th.

To order with a debit or credit card, please follow the link below. All pre-ordering will close after Thursday, August 26, 2021. You do not need to turn in any receipt or form for an online order. Your student will be bringing home a paper form to pay by check or cash. Proof ordering will be available 4-6 weeks after the photo day.

https://cp-school-portraits.hhimagehost.com/V2/Home/LoginConsumer?EK=170727

COVID Policy for the 2021-22 school year:
Cripe Photography has instituted a "No Contact" policy for school photos. Our photographers will not be in contact with the students, therefore will not be fixing hair, collars or other clothing. Photographers will try their best to have the student fix what is needed.

If you have any questions or concerns please fill out our Customer Service Contact Form

August 19- Curriculum Night, 5:30-8:00 PM (more details to come)

• 5:30-6:00 Kindergarten
• 6:00-6:30 1st Grade
• 6:30-7:00 2nd Grade
• 7:00-7:30 3rd Grade
• 7:30-8:00 4th Grade

August 25 - Dine for Dollars - Smoothie King (4-8)

August 26 - Picture Day

September 2 - 4th grade to Camp Tecumseh (extended day study trip)

September 6 - Labor Day (no school)

September 8 - Dine for Dollars @ City BBQ

September 22 - Jog-a-thon; Dine for Dollars @ Papa Johns

October 4-8 - Fire Safety Week

October 5 - End of Quarter 1

October 6 - Dine for Dollars - Panda Express

October 7 - Picture Retake/Make-up Day

October 11-15 - Fall Break

October 20 - Dine for Dollars - Bub's Burgers

October 26 - Regular school day w/ Family/student conferences (PM)

October 27 - E-Day & Family/Student Conferences

November 3 - Dine for Dollars @ Marco's Pizza

November 7 - Daylight Savings Time ends

November 11 - Veterans Day

November 24-26 - Thanksgiving Break (no school)

December 6-17 - NWEA testing window

December 17 - End of Quarter 2/Semester 1

December 20-31 - Winter Break (no school)

January 17 - MLK Jr. Day (no school)

January 18 - Teacher professional development day (no school for students)

February 14 - Valentine's Day

February 21-25 - Presidents' Day/February Break (no school)

March 15 - End of Quarter 3

April 1-8 - Spring Break (no school)

May 25 - Last day of school

May 26- June 3 - Make up days (if needed)

May 30 - Memorial Day (no school)

Elementary school lunch continue to be provided free of charge for the 2021-2022 school year.

Click here for more information regarding ZCS Food Services Department.

At this time, due to CoVID 19 restraints, we are "pausing" on volunteers and visitors. When volunteers are needed and approved, appropriate staff members will reach out to you in effort to welcome your support and assistance.

If you plan to volunteer of visit in the future, please note the following information.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR VOLUNTEERS

We value partnerships with our families and welcome parents and guardians to serve as volunteers in our schools. Each ZCS building typically offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities.

Examples include:

• Field Trip Chaperones
• Out of Town/Overnight Chaperones
• Tutors
• Volunteer Coaches
• Classroom Helpers (PTO parties/room parents)
• Library Helpers
• After Prom Workers
• Field Day/Jog-A-Thon Volunteers
• Book Fair Sales/Athletic Ticket Sales

During the school day, all volunteers are expected to sign in at the front office. Prior to the volunteer opportunity, all volunteers must sign a Non-disclosure Acknowledgement Form and have successfully completed a Full Criminal History Background Check. Necessary background check paperwork is available on the ZCS website at the Volunteers/BRAVO link and should be submitted at least 10 days prior to the intended volunteer date. Volunteers must also view the state mandated confidentiality/bullying video, provided on the Volunteer/BRAVO website. The volunteer will pay the fee* for the full background check which will expire after 5 years. The link to apply for the full background check can be accessed on the Volunteers/BRAVO link on the ZCS main webpage. For more information, contact the Volunteer/BRAVO Coordinator.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR VISITORS

During the school day, all visitors must enter via the front door and sign-in at the front office. Visitors need to be prepared to present a government issued photo ID which will be scanned against the National Sex Offender Registry. All visitors will be issued a visitor badge/tag to be worn inside the building at all times.

Examples Include:

• Lunch Guests
• Classroom Guest Speakers
• Classroom Special Events (Grandparent Day/Famous Hoosiers/etc.)
• Parent/Teacher Conferences

We ask that all visitors schedule an appointment to meet with teachers, counselors, administrators and all other staff members so that we may best serve everyone. Visitors other than parents/guardians must be prearranged and organized through the main office.

*ZCS thanks all volunteers for generous support of our youth and schools. Thank you, too, for supporting assurance of student and staff safety by completing and paying for a volunteer background check.

Email: thundley@zcs.k12.in.us
Website: http://www.zcs.k12.in.us/bme/
Location: 5555 S Main St, Whitestown, IN, United States
Phone: 3178732226
Twitter: @ZCSBoone_Meadow