Email highlights
Team Chesterfield families and staff members,
Our second cohort of Project Restart students is now eligible to return to in-person instruction starting Oct. 12!
That decision was made earlier this week by the School Board, after the Public Health Committee reported health metrics being used to guide the phased-in return of students to in-person instruction continue to be favorable. The School Board also approved the inclusion of third-grade students in Cohort No. 2. This cohort now includes all students in prekindergarten through third grade.
Cohort No. 2 will return in a hybrid model, as will future cohorts. Some students will attend Monday/Tuesday; others will attend Thursday/Friday. Wednesday will be a cleaning day in between in-person groups, with students connecting online via Morning Meeting (elementary) or Advisory Period (secondary) and then working primarily asynchronously the rest of the school day. More details can be found here.
Important to know about this week’s decision
Potential timeline for return of Cohort Nos. 3 and 4
The School Board meets again on Oct. 13. During its work session that day, the Board will receive another update from the Public Health Committee. If the report on community health metrics is favorable again, the Board will be able to consider the potential inclusion of Cohort No. 3 for in-person learning. Cohort No. 3 includes students in grades 4-5.
Face coverings and masks
Face coverings/masks will be required for all students and staff in schools and on school buses, and each school will take steps to monitor expectations associated with social distancing guidelines.
Students who are unable to wear a face covering/mask for health or other reasons must have a doctor complete an Individualized Healthcare Plan form. This form can be located here. Accommodations will be made for a student with a health plan. If this form or a comparable letter from the student’s licensed healthcare provider is not on file, a student will be expected to wear a face covering/mask during the school day.
The wearing of face coverings/masks will be enforced while in school and on a bus.
Transportation
Social distancing guidelines will reduce capacity on buses by nearly 50 percent for secondary students and 66 percent for elementary students. As a result, we are developing planned second waves of arrivals/dismissals, as some buses will need to do multiple routes for a single school.
Students may ride the bus to school this year. However, we encourage families who are able to assist us with transportation during this time. If a family is able to transport their child to and from school, it would be appreciated and would help support reducing bus ridership numbers and social distancing guidelines.
Please let us know how your child plans to get to and from school by updating the transportation section in your ParentVUE account.