Dear Parents,

As you know, the DCSD has developed a tentative Return to School Plan that was shared during the September school board meeting and can be found on the district website, https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/covid-19/covid-19/update-34-dcsd-announces-re-opening-plan/. The district has also developed a chart to outline the re-entry phases, https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/documents/coronavirus/reopening/re-opening-plans.pdf  The plan is contingent on the COVID data and is specifically based on the level of community spread over a 14-day period. Based on the superintendent’s plan, once we reach the appropriate level, the district will transition from distance/remote learning to a Hybrid A/B model if health conditions improve.

The COVID cases change daily so pinning down an exact start date has been a challenge; however, it is important to me at Henderson Mill that we begin planning for our much-anticipated return whenever the time comes.

Henderson Mill has a School Safety Committee that has been planning the logistics of our return.  In Phase II of the district’s re-entry plan, staff only will return.  In Phase III, students will return for 1 day.  During this phase, we anticipate the following:

• Teachers will only have ¼ of their class, (about 6 students) if the family choses to attend face-to-face for 1 day a week.  There will be different students each day. (M,T,Th,F)

• Students will need to bring their Chromebooks or personal devices.
• Students will wear a face covering (masks only) when in school.
• Students will practice social distancing – 6 feet away from others

• No carpet time or small groups

• Students will wash their hands and/or sanitize hands often

• Directional cues throughout the building
• No sharing of school supplies or materials

Teachers will continue to provide instruction via Zoom.  The face-to-face students will login on their devices along with their virtual classmates. Teachers will provide instruction simultaneously to both groups of students. Our face-to-face students will have bathroom breaks, lunch and stretch breaks during the day.

The instructional schedule for remote learners will be adjusted to align with the traditional school schedule of 7:45-2:15.

While we all anticipate the return to school, we will not return to our traditional familiar setting of carpet time, community supplies, etc. just yet. With an abundance of caution, we will move through the re-entry phases as we begin to return to school as we know it.

As your leader, I am grateful for your support and patience as my team and I work behind the scenes to do everything within our power to create a positive environment for students, staff, and parents. I assure you that the safety of the staff and students is our highest priority.  The School Safety Committee is developing procedures for Henderson Mill that will include breakfast and lunch, recess, dismissal, etc. and these procedures will be shared once they are finalized.  I am reminded daily that these are unprecedented and uncertain times, but we will get through this together.

Please tune in to the school board meeting on Monday, October 19 to hear updates from our superintendent, Cheryl Watson-Harris.

 

Cassandra Moore 

Principal