Hello!
I am excited for school to resume for the coming 2020-2021 school year and I look forward to seeing all our students and families. My goal is to keep you informed with what is happening at Morningside as I get updated information and we begin making plans. I will email on Wednesday each week with updates (updates will also be posted on our website), please feel free to email me back if you have any questions.
After reading through the information below, please take a minute and click on the link here to take a 2-question survey on whether you are planning on having your child start school face to face or via distance learning on August 24th. Please note that your responses aren’t binding, I know your circumstances may change, our school board’s policy may change, and the world may change; your responses to the survey will just give me an idea of where our families are thinking they may attend school on August 24th.
What will school look like in the fall?
There is not an easy answer to this question, the situation is fluid, flexible, and continuously evolving. We are following health department guidance and recommendations. For all students in grades 1-5 school begins on Monday, August 24th, and Kinder begins on Thursday, August 27th. Our focus is to have all students back to a “normal” schedule here at school, this will include distance learning being available to students and families that are not yet ready to come back to school face to face in August. Distance learning is a tool that we use to improve accessibility for all students.
Safety
Health department for face coverings and social distancing will always be followed inside the building. All school employees will wear face coverings. Students will also be asked to wear face coverings when in transition or when they are not able to socially distance from others. In the classroom, student seats will be moved to allow as much physical distancing as possible. Visitation to the school will be limited to school employees. Parents are welcome to come to the office to pick up and drop off students as well as meet with administration and teachers by appointment. Visitors will not have access to hallways, meeting spaces, playgrounds, or classrooms.
Cleanliness
Students will not share classroom materials. Hand washing and hygiene will be taught and reinforced with all students and high touch surfaces (including desks) will be cleaned many times throughout each day. Classrooms and common areas will be sanitized daily and as needed. The lunchroom will be reorganized to accommodate distancing while eating, we may also use a “picnic” format for lunch on good weather days to allow for even more distancing.
Distance Learning
We understand that during this global pandemic some families and students are not yet ready to come back to school. Distance learning will be available for all students. All teachers will have a parallel track of distance learning available, more information about what this will look like will be coming in August, this way synchronous and asynchronous learning can take place to meet student needs. Teachers have been working on this and will continue to get their online and physical classrooms ready during their contract days prior to the first day of school.
Please take a minute to take our survey here. If you are in contact with a family that is new to Morningside, please feel free to send my emails on, they may not be added to our email lists until registration (more information on registration coming soon).
Thank you for your support,
Anne Reese