Red Zone Directives Dear Parents , As you know Estrie is going into a red zone tomorrow morning, Nov.12. This has many ramifications for all of us at school, at home and for our local business. At Knowlton Academy we have had to act very quickly to make sure all our procedures comply with red zone guidelines . All classes must now remain 2 metres apart at all times, daycare bubbles that have been in effect since the beginning of the year must comply to all children from different classes must be 2 metres apart as well. Hopefully, we can get 2 more lunch supervisors and at least one more daycare educator for this time. We have moved 4 tables into the mini gym . Now both Grade 3’s and both grade 6’s will eat in the mini gym . That way the 2 metre rule can be respected during lunch hour for all students. Our sheltered recess and sheltered lunch groups will remain in effest but the groups can be no bigger than 6 and again if from different classes – 2 metres apart. We are making some adjustments.
Some class lockers will be moved upstairs during this time as well , to be able to space out the Kindergarten tables to keep each of the 3 groups 2 metres apart. They will remain in their class bubbles inside and outside. Entry and exit of students will be spaced between door # 1- #3. Students will stay in their zones instead of lining up and be called one group at a time . The outside cones will be spaced 2 metres apart. Siblings of K students will stand on their own in the playground until parents drive up. THERE WILL BE NO MICROWAVE USE AS LONG AS WE ARE IN THE RED ZONE . Thermos or cold lunch or hot lunch – no heated up food – starting tomorrow – Nov. 12Sec.1 students must wear their masks AT ALL TIMES, even in gym class. Only when they are eating or drinking while sitting down can they remove their masks. Staff must wear masks in all common areas indoors and outside and in the class if less than 2 metres from the students. Please go over the importance of following these rules with your children tonight . It’s hard for them to understand , these are government rules/Public Heath to keep everyone safe and we all must respect them. Please also talk about not fighting with their classmates- being kind – There will really be little tolerance for any of this now , nor for inappropriate language, rudeness and arguing with supervisors or teachers. Non-compliance of rules will result in students being sent home. This will be challenging but we will continue to make learning at KA challenging , interesting and fun . Thank you all for your continued co-operation. You should be getting a letter from the school board as well today. Renalee Gore, for all of us at KA
The KA breakfast Program needs 2 volunteers for Friday Mornings. The hours are 7AM to 7:10 AM arrival until 8:15 AM . The rewards are children having eaten breakfast and their daily thank you’s and my forever thanks. If you can help us out , please let me know at or by calling 450-243-6187 # 10910
Thank you to Frank and Evie Johnston – Main, Margaret Squibb and Josee Laroque for the years you have given us. Thank you Josee for agreeing to continue doing the purchasing .
Please DO NOT drop your children off before 7:55 in the morning. There is no one on duty before this time . If you are in the back car drop off, DO NOT drop your child off if there is no one there yet. Shelley and or I are there at 7:55. Please then go to the spot that you are motioned to only, don’t drop them anywhere else. And another reminder, unless there is a baby ,in a baby seat behind the passenger side , your child should never go out on the driver’s side. If there is a baby there, you must get out of the car and safely bring your child around.
Starting Monday there will be a walker parent pickup sign closer to the school . Please go to that sign ( socially distanced) and your children will be sent to you there.
Thank you all for your cooperation and understanding.
Our Governing Board Is a crucial decision- making and approving body of Knowlton Academy.
We meet 5-7 times a year on Mondays at 6:15 PM. (Our first meeting will be Monday, Sept.28 at 6:15)
The Governing Board at KA consists of 7 parents plus 1 alternate, 5 teachers, 1 support staff and 1 daycare staff. As well I am a non -voting member and our commissioner attends whenever he can. *The alternate parent may attend all meetings but can only vote if they are replacing a voting member who is absent. *
This year we have 4 x 2year terms open, 2 x 1year terms and the alternate position open for parents.
Our Parent participation Committee will also be formed by resolution on Thursday evening.
Chairs will be placed to respect social distancing and masks must be worn in the school until you are seated.
Please bring your own pen in case we need to have an election.
Hope to see you Thursday evening
Renalee Gore – Principal
Meet the Teacher will be held by zoom. You will be contacted with details by your children’s teachers.
For those of you that are wondering why the staff and I are
no longer opening car doors and helping students in and out of their cars we
thought there should be an explanation.
Please know that it was our pleasure to do this, making sure
the children got in and out of the cars safely each day. And I found it lovely to greet the kids
myself every morning at least for the first month until everything was running
smoothly. With all the construction at
the school on top of covid concerns, it is of utmost importance that we be
vigilant with the pick-up and drop off guidelines. This is including students
not getting out or in the driver’s side unless there is a baby seat with a baby
in it, then the parent has to help the child.
With all the covid safety procedures we are doing our utmost
to keep everyone safe at school, students and staff.
That being said on Monday there was a thread of concern on Knowlton.
Com about the staff touching people’s car doors and spreading possible covid
germs. While I do understand the concern, a simple solution would be for those
concerned to wipe their car handles on arrival home. The staff are constantly disinfecting their
hands and we take everything very seriously.
But we are not about to ask each car whether they would like
help or not so I made the decision, I might add very sadly to stop this
practice. Please know that it is for the
reason stated that we stopped this practice.
Here you will find a form that must be signed by you before your child is to return to school following Covid-19 type symptoms. Please make sure the form comes in completed upon the return of your child! If you do not have access to a printer we have printed copies available at the school. If your child is sent home from school we will provide them with a form. Thank you for your understanding.
After going though one day we have to revise/tighten up our
morning and afternoon procedures.
AM
Bus drop off remains in front of the school.
Parent drop off is in back of the school. As we have roofers
here all week, things were even more busy and blocked off, with no parking
spaces for teachers and parents arriving, parking, going with their children to
the front. (first day that’s ok) BUT
Please follow these
procedures from Tuesday Sept.1 on
Please drive up to just past the back entrance, turn around
and drop your children off by the lawn near the daycare door. I will be there tomorrow but the plan is to
hire someone to direct traffic asap.
Please do not get out of your car, drop your children and
leave. I am asking that all children depart the car on the passenger’s side,
closest to the school so there is no danger of cars.
Drop off is at 7:50
on – not before. If we do this calmly
and quickly, it should go smoothly.
Please remember that we are insuring your children’s safety.
PM DISMISSAL
Bus pickup is in
back of the school. Lines are being painted for each bus to have their set
place. Please don’t block the entrance
to Academy Lane or on Victoria was the busses between 2:45 and 3 and need to be
able to get to the back of the school.
All students from
Grade 5 up should have their mask on before their line walks to the busses.
WALKERS
If you are walking to school to pick up your children, (not leaving your car across the street andwalking over but true walkers, then
parents can walk to pick the children up on the grass near where the rope will
be and they will be in a separate line distanced waiting for you and Ms.
Garneau will sign them out and you can take them.
CAR PICK UP
We are asking parents to REMAIN IN YOUR CARS and
when the rope is taken down, you will drive up one at a time and pick up your
child. We are asking that all children use the passenger side doors to get in
to their cars. I don’t want kids in the middle of the driveway as parents are
exiting the school. After you have picked up your child please round the circle
and exit.
Again, I hope to have
someone hired to direct traffic in the afternoon as well. * If everyone
respects and follows these procedures, it will run smoothly in the morning and
afternoon. *
Thank you all for your co-operation.
Recess AM, PM, Lunch
Starting on Wednesday each class group will be assigned a
zone to play in. The zones will be rotated weekly so any equipment used will have
the weekend not being used to be quarantined before the next group will use
them.
As much as we hoped the 1 metre/ 2 metre rule would work,
it’s not realistic to think it will be followed.
Kindergarten 4 groups 4 and 5 K) will have a separate recess
time both in AM and PM so there will be 12 zones for Grade 1- Sec.1.
Day 1 went really well other than this and everyone was
really happy to be back. It was great to
see all your children again and all our new ones as well. They were so missed!!!!
For the first week, students will need a cold lunch and a refillable water bottle. There will be no hot lunch served, no microwave use and the fountains are closed except for the one that refills water bottle.
