Safety of Students and Staff is our #1 Priority: COVID 19 Preparedness Plan - Shared last week in the email from Superintendent Peterson. Outlines health and safety expectations ALL schools MUST follow.

• All students and staff must wear a mask - masks will be provided

• Wash hands often

• Social distancing

• Monitor health daily - those with symptoms stay home

• Cleaning and disinfecting protocols

In Person Learning: This is defined as every student coming to school every day. We are not as bound to the occupancy requirements as we are in hybrid (see below). The health and safety measures laid out in the Safe Learning Plan will be in place, and there will be very specific changes to every aspect of your child’s day.

• Students and staff will wear masks and follow social distance guidelines at school

• Students will be assigned an arrival time and entry door based on their transportation plan (buser, walker, rider)

• Students will go directly to their homeroom class (Pod)

• Students will remain in their Pod for the entirety of the school day

• Lunches will be delivered to classrooms

• Students will take breaks outside with their Pod only

• Student dismissal will be staggered based on their transportation plan

Hybrid Learning: We are working through capacity issues to determine the maximum number of students who can safely attend in person under a hybrid model that states we can operate at 50% capacity. A reminder that 50% capacity does not mean 50% of students. Instead, it means 50% of the space can be filled, per the fire marshal, while maintaining social distancing requirements.

• Elementary- Under the hybrid model, we are developing a plan to bring students to school 5 days a week meeting the 6 feet of social distancing throughout the day. This model will also result in very specific changes to every aspect of your child’s day (as listed above). In this model, there’s potential for the student day to end earlier than 2:30, possibly as early as 1:30.

• Middle - Under the hybrid model we would be able to bring in 50% of our students. Students will be assigned to one of two groups based on the last name listed for their household in Infinite Campus. Group 1 will attend school Monday, Tuesday and every other Wednesday. Group 2 will attend Thursday, Friday, and every other Wednesday. This schedule may look different for some populations.

• High - Under the hybrid model we would be able to bring in 33% of our students. Students will be assigned to one of three groups based on the last name listed for their household in Infinite Campus. This schedule may look different for some populations.

Distance Learning (Schoolwide): Following distance learning last spring, we learned from our challenges and will capitalize on our successes. Regardless of the scenario, distance learning will be an increasingly important part of our students educational experience. One clear message shared by students, teachers, and families was the need for a common online platform used at each level. We also commit to increased collaboration with teachers and peers, a high level of engagement, and rigor in our online environment.

Distance Learning (Option): Consistent with the MN Department of Education Safe Learning, Mankato Area Public Schools has a deep desire to keep our students and families connected in our school community. Therefore, every family has the option to choose distance learning if that is their preference beginning this fall. If your family chooses distance learning, your child may or may not have a teacher from your home school and may or may not be grouped with students from your home school.

Making A Choice: Be watching for a message through the Parent Portal including the Census Verification form that will include an opportunity to indicate which option you are going to choose with each of your children this fall. Please complete the census form and questionnaire as soon as your family is ready to make the decision. The accuracy of our plan is based on the results of your survey responses, and this information will be significant as we plan for the fall.

We Care: We care for the educational, emotional, and physical health of all students and take each component seriously. We are committed to providing a quality experience regardless of the challenges we face and look forward to providing more information to you next week.

Minnesota state law requires a child to be screened prior to kindergarten entry. Early Childhood Screening is required for public school entrance. Additional information can be found on our website.

If your child has not yet been screened, call now to make an appointment:

507-387-2125

Tiered Busing Plan Continues

On December 16, 2019, the school board approved a transportation plan that will establish a tired busing system for the 2020-21 school year. Since that time, the district’s tiered busing implementation team has been working diligently to establish the new routes and other details for implementation. While we do not know for sure yet how school will be delivered in September, we do know that we will continue the implementation plan for tiered busing that was approved in December 2019. We will send you more information in August, once the start of school is more clearly defined.

Bus Registration Reminder

If your child is eligible for busing (Live at least 1.0 mile from school for grades K through 5 and 2.0 miles from school for grades 6 through 12), and plan to use bus services, please email tbaumg1@isd77.org the following information:

Student(s) name

Student's home address

Student's school beginning September 2020

Student's grade

Parent name

Parent phone number

One email listing all eligible students in your family will successfully register the students for busing.

If you have a child who will be in kindergarten at Kennedy in the fall of 2020, we'd like you to get them registered with the school district.

Use this link to access the district web page.

If you need help, you can call or email Central Registration staff for assistance.

Phone: 507-387-2125 or centralregistration@isd77.org

Knowing which students will be attending Kennedy in the fall helps us in our planning process, thanks in advance to taking care of this.

Principal:

Steve Rustad

Email:

srusta1@isd77.org

Assuring learning excellence and readiness for a changing world

Email: ke@isd77.org
Website: https://ke.isd77.org/
Location: 2600 East Main Street, Mankato, MN, USA
Phone: (507) 387-2122
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ISD77MAPS/
Twitter: @ISD77MAPS