Sparling School Newsletter

Welcome to the 2020/21 school year! The Sparling Staff is excited and prepared to greet our students to a safe and caring learning environment. Although the start to this school year may look different the feelings of anticipation and excitement for the first day are still there. We are excited to reconnect with students and families. This newsletter includes important information to review before our September 3 start date and we encourage you to take the time to read through the BRSD Re-Entry Plan. Sparling is prepared to ensure that the multiple layers of safety are in place including; cohort groups, staggered arrival/dismissal, hand sanitizing stations, staggered breaks to maintain cohorts, and personal protective equipment. A couple more important notes:

• The first day for students who have indicated “in-school learning" will start on September 3, 2020. The first day for students who have indicated “at-home learning” will start on September 8, 2020.

• Our teachers will be in touch with students and their families prior to September 3, 2020 to share first day of school information, review arrival/dismissal procedure, and welcome you to their class.

It is important that we continue to work together as a Sparling Community to ensure a positive, safe, and caring start to the school year. Remember we are only a phone call or email away if you need support or have any questions.

Thank you,

Mrs. Gutmann

For the start of the 2020/21 school year we will be implementing a staggered Arrival/Dismissal to help support physical distancing for our staff and students. We kindly ask that you ensure your child is dropped off/picked up during their timeframe if they are not utilizing bus services. At this time Bus Students will walk to their designated entry/exit of the school. Handivan students will be utilizing the front entrance.

Please remember

• Students will need to enter and exit the school at their designated door.

• Students are to line up with their class upon arrival and a staff member will welcome them into the building. There will be a labelled pylon placed outside to line up at and in case of inclement weather students will be allowed to enter the building and proceed to their classroom

• Upon arrival students will need to use hand sanitizer or wash their hands when they enter the building

• Students in Grade 4 & 5 will need to ensure they are wearing a mask before entering, as well as any students who wish to wear one.

• Students will be dismissed during their specified timeframe out their designated exit

• Parents are welcome to pick up their students near their exit doors but please ensure you are physical distancing and following health protocols/guidelines. If possible please have your child meet you at a designated location or at the vehicle.

• Our playground is closed at the start and end of the school day and will not be available for student use at this time.

Arrival: 8:20am - 8:30am

Dismissal: 2:55pm -3:05pm

Nature Kindergarten (Mrs. Veale)

Kindergartion/Grade 1 (Mrs. Syrnyk)

Grade 2 (Mr. Murphy)

Grade 3/4 (Mrs. Rybalka)

Shine Bright Early Learning

Arrival: 8:35 - 8:45am

Dismissal: 3:05pm -3:15pm

Grade 1 (Ms. Schultz)

Grade 2/3 (Mr. Lowe)

Grade 4/5 (Mr. Skinner)

Remember we are here to support you and if you or your family needs to discuss an alternate arrival/dismissal plan, please contact us. If a student is arriving late to school please call the front office apon arrival and we will greet them at the main front entrance. If a phone is not accessible there is a door bell if required.

At this time school visitors, parents/guardians, and volunteers will not be allowed in schools. We are encouraging individuals to communicate through email, phone, or virtual meeting. If an in-person meeting is required we ask that an appointment is booked with our front office. We will be booking appointments, as much as possible, at the end of the school day to help support having minimal visitors during the day for safety purposes.

Appointments can be made by calling 780-672-0106

All students and staff must complete the Daily Self-Assessment with questions developed by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health. We will be sending a hard copy of this form from your child’s homeroom teacher on the first day of school. It is also available on our BRSD website and the link is provided below. Please note, families are not required to submit the form to the school each day and if the answer is “yes” to any of these questions that student is not to attend school. If the student will be absent, please notify the school.

Schools must keep records of children’s known pre-existing conditions. If your child has pre-existing conditions, please complete the Medical Health Information Form and provide a copy to the school as soon as possible. This information should be available to all school staff so that they are aware of these conditions.

Medical Health Information Form

Daily Self Assessment Form

Please note our Kindergarten Teachers will be reaching out to families at the end of August to confirm your orientation time and go over important information.

Nature Kindergarten (M/W with Alternating Friday)

Orientation Day: September 9, 2020

First Full Day: September 14, 2020

Click Here For Nature K Calendar

Tues/Thurs Kindergarten (T/Th with Alternating Friday)

Orientation Day: Sept. 8, 2020 AM ONLY

First Full Day: September 10, 2020

Click Here For Tues/Thurs Calendar

The Shine Bright Early Learning Program will run:

Monday - Thursday

Time: 8:30 - 11:30

Sept. 17, 2020: Staggered Entry Day

Last Day: June 16, 2021

Please watch our website in August for our Early Learning Handbook. Our teacher will reach out to all families in early September to arrange your staggered entry time and answer any questions you may have.

If you have a 3 or 4 Year old child who has been recommended to apply for Program Unit Funding (PUF) support by a medical professional, AHS or current Speech and Language Consultant, please contact the BRSD Division Office to be considered for the limited program spaces for the 2020-21 school year. Please see the link below for the Pre-K application. This application can be emailed to inclusion@brsd.ab.ca or dropped off in the Division Office Mailbox

We are pleased to share that our Grab/Go Breakfast program will be continuing, with all health and safety protocols in place. With this in mind we will be offering to start the year only pre-packaged items such as granola bars, yogurt, apple sauces, fruit cups, and cheese sticks.

Please note according to the BRSD Re-Entry Plan we will no longer have microwaves available for use. There are a few links below for some great lunch ideas to help support with this change.

https://www.thepinningmama.com/no-sandwich-lunch-box-ideas/

https://fabulesslyfrugal.com/recipes/cold-lunch-ideas/

https://www.momables.com/cold-lunch-ideas-kids/

Email: contact@ourschool.com
Website: sparling.brsd.ab.ca
Location: Sparling School, 52 Avenue, Camrose, AB, Canada
Phone: (780) 672-0106
Facebook: facebook.com/ourschool
Twitter: @ourschool