Here is an overview of the information for in-person learning. We’ve highlighted new/updated information that was sent out since our last newsletter by MCPS or the school with *New* or *Updated*.
| THINGS TO COMPLETE PRIOR TO MONDAY: 1. Sign the MCPS attestation for this week – Please feel out by Sunday night. 2. Have your arrival/dissmissal signs 3. Review the daily B.E. In-Person Learning Checklist |
**Updated** MEAL CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK:
MCPS is distributing meals at various sites. Please see the home page for site locations and up-to-date information. You can find the menus online: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/food-and-nutrition/menus/
Bethesda ES Menu: May 24-28
Monday : Turkey Ham+ Cheese on WG Bread (Cold)
Tuesday: Yogurt w Granola
Thursday : Turkey Frank 1 Ranchero Bean (Hot)
Friday : Pizza (Hot)
**Updated** WHO IS RETURNING THURSDAY (4/8):
These are the additional students who will be returning Thursday 4/8. Note that this return date was moved from 4/6 to 4/8 to accommodate Spring Break travel and ALL students will learn virtually 4/6-7:
- Group A in-person Grade 4/5th grade students.
Please note there is a waitlist, you must be CONFIRMED for in-person learning to start tomorrow in the building. You would have already recieved an email from the school confirming acceptance for in-person learning.
| THINGS TO COMPLETE PRIOR TO MONDAY: 1. Sign the MCPS attestation for this week. 2. Have/Make your arrival/dissmissal signs 3. If you haven’t already, fill out BE transportation survey 4. If you haven’t already,fill out BE Meal Service survey (only if you need MCPS provided meals) 5. Get your student’s backpacks ready with grade-level supplies, masks, water bottles, and chromebooks/chargers. (grade level supplies linked below) 6. Print out and review the daily B.E. In-Person Learning Checklist |
**UPDATED** COVID-19 POOL TESTING (FROM MCPS)
**We are awaiting clarification on how to submit the opt-in consent forms for students at BE. We will update this section when we get updated information.**
We must all do our part to prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 virus in our schools. This includes participating in school-provided COVID-19 testing to identify cases where the student or staff member may not be showing symptoms. Families must OPT-IN to take part in pool testing. COVID-19 pool testing for students and staff participating in in-person learning will begin after spring break in phases. Weekly tests will be available for all students and staff who complete the required consent form. Each self-administered swab test will be placed in a common tube for that classroom or pool and sent off to a central testing laboratory. A dedicated health professional will oversee and assist in testadministration and collection in each school. The test detects whether the virus that causes COVID-19 is present in that pooled sample. Schools will receive results within a few business days and families will be notified of next steps if there is a positive case in their child’s classroom or pool. A consent form, available in seven languages, is available at this website (English | español | 中文 | français | tiếng Việt | 한국어| አማርኛ | português). If you do not complete the consent form, your student will be opted out of testing. (Awaiting information on the best way to submit the consent form).
Watch this video for five things you need to know about COVID-19 testing in our schools.
**NEW** THERMOMETERS WILL BE SENT HOME:
Additionally, thermometers are being sent to all MCPS schools and will be sent home with students when they return to school buildings. Schools will receive thermometers over the next two weeks and will notify families when they are being sent home with students.
**NEW** COVID-19 CASE DASHBOARD & NOTIFICATIONS:
The MCPS COVID-19 dashboard will help the community keep track of key health metrics and positive cases in our school communities. All school notification letters are posted on this site. The dashboard will be updated to display the cumulative number of positive cases reported for students and staff. These updates will be available in early April. MCPS is also exploring the impact of the updated classroom distancing guidance provided by the CDC. More information will be shared with the Board of Education at an upcoming meeting.
**UPDATED** MCPS CHROMEBOOKS:
If you have issues with your chromebook you can bring your chromebook to school for repair. Virtual students will continue to take their chromebooks to Gude Drive. All in-person students must use MCPS-issued chromebooks for in-person learning. If your child doesn’t have a MCPS-issued Chromebook, please make arrangements to get a Chromebook by emailing Stacey Heintze at [email protected].
**UPDATED** LUNCH/FOOD SERVICES: It is encouraged that students bring their lunch to class when in-person, but MCPS will continue to provide free meals for both in-person (in school) and virtual students (at food distribution sites). Starting March 12th, BE will no longer be a curbside food distribution site.
MCPS is expanding the number of mobile (school bus) distribution and non-MCPS Grab & Go meal sites. Please visit the MCPS meals webpage frequently for the most up-to-date list of sites: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/reopening/meals/
WHAT TO DO IF MY CHILD IS FEELING SICK:
1. What to do if my child is not feeling well?
Anyone who is not feeling well, is not to participate in Partial In-Person instruction. The student may attend school virtually and will be marked present for attending school virtually. You are to notify your child’s teacher, Ms. Seymour ([email protected] ), and Ms. Heintze ([email protected]), letting us know the reason for the absence.
What to do if my child is home sick from in person instruction with a cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or loss of taste or smell?
See 1. Anyone who’s child is home from in person instruction with a cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell should also contact their child’s doctor. Covid testing may be indicated. Prior to returning to school, a student with any of these symptoms should also notify the school nurse Michelle Neary ([email protected]) to determine when they are safe to return to school.
What to do if my child is home sick from in person instruction with ONLY one of the following symptoms- fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat, feeling tired, or congestion/runny nose?
See 1. If your student is home sick with only one of these symptoms then your student may return to school when their symptom has improved. Please note that students with only fever must be fever free for 24hrs without the use of fever reducing medication before returning to in person instruction.
What to do if my child is home sick from in person instruction with MORE than one of the following symptoms– fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat, feeling tired, or congestion/runny nose? See 1. Anyone who’s child is home sick from in person instruction with multiple symptoms should also contact their child’s doctor. Covid testing may be indicated. Prior to returning to school, a student with multiple symptoms should also notify the school nurse Michelle Neary ([email protected]) to determine when they are safe to return to school.
STUDENT ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL SIGNS:
In-person students should arrive to school with a 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper with the following information: Name, Grade, Teacher, My child goes home by: _____ (Indicate BUS -route number and color, CAR or WALK). The PTA created a printable color-in handout for students to make this sign. You can access the printable here!
DAILY MORNING IN-PERSON LEARNING CHECKLISTS:
The PTA has compiled a daily checklist for you to review with your student prior to arriving at the school building. There is a checklist to guide you through the attestation and health checks that you will do daily with instructions on what to do if you do not meet all criteria for in-person learning. There is another daily checklist to serve as a reminder for what your student will need to bring to and from school every day. Thank you to Claire Mattzie for your volunteer work to help the PTA create this useful document for our families.