The big week is finally upon us!

The positive energy is palpable here at Bel Aire--I had a fantastic day with the teaching staff. We worked on team-building, reviewing Covid protocols, and preparing for the first day of school. We also hosted the Mosaic Project staff for some whole school Equity and Inclusion work. The Bel Aire team is ready to go!

The first day of school is on Thursday, August 19th, and instruction will be in person. Thursday is an early release day, with school starting at 8:00 and dismissal at 1:35.

Friday, August 19th, is a regular school day. 8:00 to 2:35.

Log in to your Alma portal after 4:30 pm on the day before school to see class placement. Click here for info on how to access your Alma account.

A few other updates since last week:

1. Back To School Night will now be at 6 pm on 9/2 instead of 4:30 pm.
2. Students may enter campus from any of the three entrances. Parents are not permitted on campus.
3. We'll use the "Test or 10" method of pushing out lesson materials to iPads of students that may be sick or quarantining.
4. Please keep sick or symptomatic children home from school.

More information on these four items can be found later in this newsletter.

Covid-19 Guidelines

Reed Union and Bel Aire will have multiple layers of protection to ensure student and staff safety. Our safety protocols follow the county Public Health guidelines and are not limited to the following:

• Students and staff will wear masks indoors and outdoors
• Stringent cleaning protocols in classrooms and other student areas
• Air quality assessments and optimization strategies
• Daily health self-assessment for staff and students. Those with symptoms will remain at home.
• Training for proper mask-wearing
• Covid testing and quarantine protocols
• Visitors to campus will be limited, vaccination required.

Click here for a full version of the Marin County School Guidelines.

I hope to see you at the "Principal's Coffee" Zoom tomorrow at 4!

Sincerely,

Principal John DiCosmo

Please be sure your child brings the following items:

• A healthy snack & lunch (Please do not send in any food or snacks containing nuts)
• Water bottle
• A comfortable and well-fitting face mask (we can provide if one is needed)
• Comfortable clothing and shoes

Parents may drop off at any of the three campus entrances but are not permitted on campus at this time. We do not have designated entrances for grade levels this year. We will have a crossing guard on duty to ensure that students can safely cross Karen Way.

While it's unfortunate that parents are not permitted on campus, we will have support staff positioned at the three student entrances to help guide students to their classrooms. We will also have signs to direct students to the correct buildings. Additionally, teachers will be outside of their rooms and on the lookout for their new students. Students are permitted on campus at 7:45 am, and Homeroom begins at 8:00 am.

The school day ends at 2:35 pm, and parents can meet students off-campus at the exits.

Please follow all safety protocols & traffic laws when dropping students off and picking them up. This includes:

• parking in a legal parking spot (please pull all the way over to the curb)
• avoid blocking driveways

In addition, please understand that many of our neighbors are experiencing more neighborhood traffic than is typical (due to designated entry/exit locations). Please make every effort to be respectful in any interactions.

Finally, as a best practice for supporting safety, we request parents to designate a location a block or more away from the entry/exit locations to prevent both vehicle and student congestion and traffic.

Any students who are sick or symptomatic must kept home from school. To keep learning materials accessible for students, Bel Aire will make use of the "Test or 10' document. The "Test or 10" document is a self-guided curriculum that a student can use while quarantining. It is based on grade-level standards and is designed to be completed as independently as possible. It can be shared with a parent/guardian and even pushed to that child's district device.

Wednesday, August 18th at 4 pm

Zoom Link

Submit questions in advance here: https://forms.gle/xK1mvRESuEQrQ3GP9

8:00-2:35 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

8:00-1:35 pm Wednesdays (Early Release Day)

Choice Lunch service begins Monday, August 23. For the first two days of school, please be sure to send your child with a healthy snack, water bottle, and lunch.

Email: jdicosmo@reedschools.org
Website: www.reedschools.org
Location: Bel Aire Elementary School, Karen Way, Belvedere Tiburon, CA, USA
Phone: (415) 388- 7100