Shutesbury

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March 12, 2021 

Dear Shutesbury Elementary School Families, 

Although we are not yet ready to detail all of our specific health and safety plans for the return to full day learning on April 5th, several families have reached out wanting to know a little more information before making their decision for the mode of learning going forward for their child. I will be holding a virtual informational meeting on Monday, March 22 at 6:30 p.m. Initial data from our survey show a very heavy preference for in-person learning. Many classrooms will have only 1 or 2 students remote as of April 5th. I wanted to share the following basic information for your review before completing the survey by Monday, March 15. 

● Lunch will be eaten outside everyday unless there is severe (lightning/stormy) weather. If there is severe weather, I plan on supervising the students in the gym, sitting at desks more than 6 feet apart, one class at a time. 

● All students and teachers will continue to be masked at all times-- except snack/lunch and mask breaks. 

● 6 feet of social distancing with classroom desk placement and even more space during outdoor lunch. 

● Installation of outside wifi boosters so many classrooms plan on having outdoor classroom spaces and spending much of their time outside. 

● Strict hand washing/sanitizing routines enforced 

● Regular sanitizing of any shared spaces and equipment 

● Continued no visitor policy within the building 

● Isolated classroom “pods” with specified entrance/exit/bathrooms ● Weekly health meetings with the Shutesbury Board of Health 

● Set up of a large outdoor tent in the lower field for classroom and lunch use ● Separate scheduled recess times/places

 As of April 5, 2021 the school day at Shutesbury Elementary School will be 8:30 a.m. - 3:10 p.m. (M, Tu, Th, F) and 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. When making the decision that is best for your family, please take the time to consider the following: 

● Remote programming is likely to change to accommodate for great changes in demand. For example, remote students will most likely have asynchronous specials and may have more of a live streamed classroom experience for the last 10 weeks of the school year. 

● If you choose to change your student’s learning mode, we will require up to 4 weeks (as required by DESE) to accommodate any change after April 5. 

We understand this is a hard decision on top of a tumultuous year. We continue to work to the best of our ability to provide the best educational experience we can. Please fill out the learning mode survey by March 15th. I look forward to meeting with you on March 22nd at 6:30 p.m. 

There will not be school for students on Friday, April 2 due to teacher prep for full day, in-person learning. 

Sincerely, 

Jackie