Dear Paragon Families,

As we inch closer to Monday, August 24th, our first day of school for the 2020 school year, we are hard at work to finalize plans and details to ensure both safety and high quality instruction for all students.

Thank you to those who were able to attend the Hybrid and Virtual Academy Orientation meetings this past week. If you were unable to attend, you can view the videos here:

Hybrid Orientation Video

Hybrid Orientation Slideshow

Virtual Academy Orientation Video

Virtual Academy Orientation Slideshow

Please read the full newsletter for important updates and important dates to remember. There is a lot of information here, so feel free to contact us with any questions. As a reminder, the office is open every day from 9-4. We look forward to being back with you all in just over a week!

Sincerely,

Mr. Kriesch

Chromebook Pickup - August 18, 19, 20 from 5:30-7pm (Please be sure all paperwork is completed through the parent portal prior to coming to this event.)

New Family Orientation - Thursday, August 20th at 7pm. Please join the link 5 minutes prior to the start time.

Google Meet joining info

https://meet.google.com/baw-agoh-qrx

Or dial: +​1​ ​5​0​5​-​7​3​8​-​1​2​7​9 PIN: 8​8​2​ ​4​0​9​ ​2​8​2​#

First time using Meet? Learn more

First Day of School - Monday, August 24

• Cohort A - In Person Instruction begins at the school
• Cohort B - Remote Instruction begins (Cohort B - first day of In Person Instruction is on August 27th)
• Virtual Academy - Virtual Instruction begins

Our commitment to having 100% of our students equipped with a tech learning device will ensure that no matter what requirements the State of Michigan issues, we will keep your student engaged and learning throughout the school year. Paragon will be distributing Chromebooks this Tuesday through Thursday, August 18, 19, and 20, from 5:30-7:00 pm.

In order to receive a Chromebook all paperwork must be completed in the Parent Portal.

Know that all of our plans are developed with the well-being of our students and staff as our No. 1 priority. Our goal is to provide a safe and welcoming learning environment that meets all of our scholars needs using guidance provided in the Michigan Safe Schools Roadmap, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics. We will adjust plans, as needed, based on any updates to this guidance.

See below more information about what to expect for in person instruction. You can also learn more by clicking on the Orientation Videos and PowerPoint presentations.

Arrival:

• All students will enter the building through the two main entry doors. K-4 will enter through door 8 and 5-8 will enter through door 1.
• Temperatures will be taken curbside for each student by a trained staff member wearing appropriate PPE. Any student with a fever at or above 100.4 will not be allowed to attend school and must be picked up by their parent/guardian.
• All students should arrive at school wearing a face mask. If a student does not have a mask on, one will be provided to them.
• Parents will not be allowed to enter the interior of the school building. Two visitors will be allowed into the main office at any given time. All entrants to the office must have a mask on and complete a brief health screening questionnaire.

Lunch:

• All lunches will take place in classrooms.
• There will be no communal lunch bins or sharing of lunch items.
• Students will need to provide their own water bottles.

Recess:

• All students will still receive pre-scheduled recess times.
• One grade level will be allowed outside at one time.
• Classes will stay together while outside in their designated playground area.

Specials:

• Students in K-5 will have Music, Art, Technology/STEM and Physical Education.
• Students 6-8 will have Music, Art, Technology/STEM, Physical Education and Spanish.
• Students in PE will play games that ensure social distancing and safety.

Dismissal:

• Paragon will continue using Driveline this coming school year.
• Students must wear masks when they exit their classrooms.
• Parents will not be permitted to walk up to the playground to pick up their students.
• Students will be asked to use social distancing.

Safety procedures:

• Paragon will be following CDC and Michigan Return to School Roadmap guidelines to ensure the safety of all staff and students.

Social distancing:

• While students are in the classroom and hallways, we will do our best to ensure that a minimum of six feet of social distancing is met.

Masks:

• Adults must wear masks when in the building, unless alone in their workspace.
• Students can remove masks while outside during recess with proper social distancing.
• 6th-8th grade students must always wear a mask, except during lunch.
• K-5th grade students do not need to wear a mask in the classroom but must wear one in the hallway and other common areas.
• Students in younger grades who receive additional services from Special Education or Intervention may be asked to wear a mask while working with teachers who are not their classroom teacher if social distancing cannot be maintained.

Movement between in-person and virtual learning:

• If Governor Whitmer pushes the state of Michigan back into Phases 1 – 3, we would be required to move all students to remote instruction. If Governor Whitmer moves us up to Phases 5 or 6, we could return to regular in-person instruction. This will be determined by executive action.

Special education:

• Special education students will still receive all supports and services per their IEP.

Lockers:

• The lockers will be assigned to ensure they are distanced from one another.
• Lockers will be used by one person.
• All students will have to take all belongings from their lockers home at the end of their in-person day. Anything left will be discarded during cleaning at the end of each day.

Transitions/passing periods:

• Students will be staggered to travel seamlessly as a cohort.

Chromebooks:

• All students will receive a Chromebook to use at school and at home.
• To receive a Chromebook, parents will have to complete our technology user agreement.

Arrival Updates

Student drop off begins at 7:30 am. Parents must use the curbside drop off. Students will not be allowed to wait outside the school building prior to doors opening. Families, please ensure students are ready to get out of the vehicle when you stop to unload in the Blue Zone. You should be able to unload your vehicle in 15 seconds or less. Parents must remain in their vehicles. Parents will not be allowed to park and walk up. We will have many staff ready to assist and walk students to their classrooms. Instruction begins at 8:00 am. Please arrive in plenty of time to allow your student to be in his or her classroom by 8:00.

Tardies

Students arriving at 8:00 or later will be marked tardy. Doors will be locked at 8:05, and students arriving after 8:05 will need to be buzzed into the building.

Dismissal Updates

Important dismissal processes:

· We will have 2 lanes of loading zones for parents. There is no walk-up pick up at this time.

· Dismissal begins for all grades at 2:55

· All students will stay in their homeroom classes and will only come outside once their families have arrived for pick-up.

• Each family is provided a unique 3 digit number card. This number will remain the same for the entire time your family is at Paragon. These number cards MUST be picked up at the school during the Chromebook Distribution Days, Tuesday through Thursday, August 18, 19, 20 or the first morning of school. Each family will receive 3 bright orange number cards printed on heavy cardstock. Any person who picks up your child will need one of the cards that have been given to you. All families must have their number cards at pick-up by the first day of school or we will not be able to use the system effectively.
• We will be limiting the amount of time we wait for children to come outside once their number has been entered. If your child is not ready to load in the amount of time we have set aside, you will be asked to pull over to the curb and wait for them to come out in the reserve zone past the flag pole. This will ensure that our car line is constantly moving, thus helping dismissal go more smoothly.
• We will only be loading students in the Blue Zone. Once the Blue Zone is loaded, we will let one lane of traffic out at a time. This adjustment will again allow for a smoother dismissal as you do not need to merge with another lane of traffic.

Things to Remember

• New dismissal number cards can be picked up at the Chromebook Distribution Days, Tuesday through Thursday, August 18, 19, 20 or the first morning of school. – share these numbers and cards only with those who pick up your children – You MUST have your card with you each day.
• There is no longer the option to park and walk-up to get your student at the end of the school day.
• You must have your number card with you each day.
• No student will be outside until their number has been entered into the Drive Line system.

Please visit your parent portal on the school website (paragoncharteracademy.org) to fill out all of the important back to school paperwork. There is a new NHA Student Device Agreement form loaded in the parent portal that will need to be completed before chromebooks are distributed this fall or your child will not receive their device. These forms must be completed at least 24 hours before they receive their chromebook or your child will not be able to receive their chromebook.

For your reference the Student Device Agreement is below. Please complete the form online through parent portal.

It's that time again! Time to complete your free and reduced lunch forms!

The free and reduced lunch form is required for ALL PARAGON STUDENTS, regardless of whether or not students will be in person for learning.

Lunches will still be available for those who are choosing the virtual select option. More information will come as we finalize the details for lunch pick up.The free and reduced lunch form helps to determine the amount of grant dollars from the state and federal government that will be distributed to Paragon Academy students. We have adjusted our budget as we expect a reduction in our per pupil school aide for the coming school year. These funds are used in a variety of ways, including intervention staffing, an at risk social worker, technology, online programming, etc.

Please see the document below that outlines important information about the free and reduced lunch program, frequently asked questions and the link to the lunch apps website.

Thank you so much for supporting our school by ensuring that your form is completed as soon as possible!

Please stop out to the school M-F from 9-3 to pick up your Art to Remember orders and/or Yearbooks.

Why We Exist:

Paragon exists to provide an exemplary education that positively impacts lives and creates pathways to a successful future.

What We Do:

• Develop high moral character
• Create proficient, critical thinkers

How We Succeed:

• Clear and high expectations for teachers, support staff and students
• Quality coaching for teachers and staff
• Viable curriculum
• Strategies to connect college and career pathways for students

Email: 15.bkriesch@nhaschools.com
Website: www.paragoncharteracademy.org
Location: 3750 McCain Road, Jackson, MI, USA
Phone: (517)750-9500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParagonCharterAcademy/
Twitter: @paragoncharter