August 2020

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AUGUST 2020

View current and past e-Communicators by visiting www.seamanschools.org/eCommunicator


Important Dates

Aug 4: Kindergarten Orientation, 5:30-7:30 pm - Virtual
Aug 4: Family Choice Remote Learning Q & A, 5:00 pm - Virtual
Aug 17: First Day of Fall Sports Practice 
Aug 18: SMS Family Camp Night 4:30-6:00 pm - Seadogs
Aug 19: SMS Family Camp Night 4:30-6:00 pm - Viperfish
Aug 20: SMS Family Camp Night 4:30-6:00 pm - Wobbegongs
TBD: Freshman Orientation, 6:00 pm
TBD: Sneak Peek at Elementary & PreK Buildings
Aug 27: First day of school


2020-21 Online Enrollment

If you haven't done so already, please complete online enrollment for your student(s). All USD 345 students must be enrolled and tech fees must be paid in order to receive laptops. Students registered for Family Choice Remote Learning will still need to enroll in PowerSchool. 

Click here to login to your parent PowerSchool account. 


Ready to Reopen (R2R) FAQs

R2R
We have some great questions coming in regarding the hybrid learning environment and other school reopening details. Keep submitting those questions through our FAQ form and we'll post those answers on our Ready to Reopen page: www.seamanschools.org/R2R

Submit FAQs here: https://forms.gle/9QV1uqWN6onnKkbL6

2020-21 Calendar

There will be no printed wall calendar this year, due to the lateness of the changed calendar dates for this school year. Online calendars will remain your most current resource for dates and events. The hybrid calendar below shows the student group days assigned for in-person learning as well as an overview of no school days. 

Click here to view the 2020-21 Hybrid School Year calendar.

Hybrid Calendar

Hybrid Learning Environment
Changing Student Group Selection Criteria

Criteria for consideration:
In the hybrid learning environment, students are divided into A and B student groups by last name alphabetically, which identify which on-site days they will physically attend the building for instruction in the classroom. The A group of students will attend on Monday and Tuesday and the B group of students will attend on Thursday and Friday. Circumstances may arise for families that conflict with the initial grouping assignment. Below are the predetermined criteria that may be used when soliciting a change to the initial grouping assignment. Building principals will determine changes based on these criteria and ensure classroom numbers are low enough to maintain 6ft social distancing.

Hybrid Schedule

Last names A-K will be student group A.
Last names L-Z will be student group B.
  • Families with children of different last names may request to be in the same group.
  • Parents or guardians with work schedules that conflict with school groups may request a change of group.
  • Families with childcare schedules that conflict with school groups may request a change of group.
  • Circumstances related to transportation of students.
  • Special circumstances will be considered.

Request procedures:
  1. Complete Google Form request to make a request for a different student group based on the above criteria.
  2. Change request will be reviewed.
  3. Parents/Guardians will be notified by email.  
  4. Email questions to Theresa Dunham at [email protected].


Community Childcare Needs Survey

We understand the hybrid learning environment may create a need for childcare in our community. Please complete this survey to help us assess needs for childcare while in a hybrid setting. We are working to identify viable partnerships and structuring a plan to support families.

Survey Link: https://forms.gle/F2xJT3swQWmuRsu88


Elementary Devices

Laptop
The district’s 1:1 technology initiative will be expanding to elementary this year to help support the hybrid learning environment. All K-6 grade students will be issued a device, while all 7-12 students will continue with their current 1:1 MacBooks. K-1 students will receive iPads, and grades 2-6 will receive MacBooks to use at school and at home. More information on device distribution will be coming from principals. 


Family Choice Remote Learning

Our USD 345 Family Choice Remote Learning (FCRL) deadline has been extended to Wednesday, August 5 at 4:00 pm.

What is Family Choice Remote Learning?
Family Choice Remote Learning (FCRL) is an alternative to on-site learning during 2020-2021 for those families who choose to not send students to brick and mortar schools during the pandemic. Students will be guaranteed experiences in the core curricular areas and will have access to electives to the extent possible. FCRL students will follow a daily schedule as determined by FCRL grade level teachers. Initial registration will include one semester of FCRL. At the end of the semester, students may register again for the second semester of FCRL or return to in-person learning, as determined by health and safety guidelines.

Click here if you would like to register for Family Choice Remote Learning. Registration for the first semester closes on August 5, 2020.

Click here to view the Family Choice Remote Learning program overview.

Click here to complete the agreement.

Still have questions?
We will host a virtual Q & A session on Tuesday, August 4. Join us to learn more about Family Choice Remote Learning.

Aug 4 Virtual Q & A Schedule
Early Childhood-Grade 6: 5:00-6:00 pm
Grade 7-12: 6:00-7:00 pm

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89103196923?pwd=NE41RWhSYkVIV25NOHRhQUpwVFZjUT09
Meeting ID: 891 0319 6923
Passcode: FCRL

This meeting will also be recorded and archived.

Grab-and-Go Meals

The Child Nutrition Department has extended the summer grab & go meal services offered at no charge to any child age 1-18 to August 14. Meal distribution occurs at two drive thru sites: Mathes Early Learning Center (2032 N Kansas Ave) and Seaman Middle School (5530 NW Topeka Blvd) from 11:00-11:20 am, Monday-Friday until August 14, 2020.

Inclement Weather Plan: If there is a severe weather warning at 10 am, on the day of service, meal service will be suspended for that day.


Free & Reduced Applications

Children need healthy meals to learn and Seaman School District offers healthy meals every school day. Your children may qualify for free or reduced price meals. Please submit your application today! Call 785-575-8650 for more info. Qualifying for free or reduced meals will also reduce your school fees. 

Full Meal Costs
Breakfast: $1.85
Lunch: $2.65 (K-6)
Lunch: $2.90 (7-12)

Reduced Meal Costs
Breakfast: 30¢
Lunch: 40¢

Click here to view school fees. 

Families can qualify for Free or Reduced Price meals by application, or by Direct Certification from the State of Kansas (the family receives food assistance). To reduce school fees a Consent by Disclosure must be on file with the Food Service Department by either qualification method. This form is available online with the Application Packet for Free or Reduced Price Meals.

Click here to download free & reduced applications.

Kindergarten Orientation

Kindergarten parents should have received an email from their building principals with information on the August 4 Virtual Kindergarten Orientation. Please check your email, or contact your building principal for more information. 


SMS Family Camp Night

Incoming 7th graders and new 8th graders will have the opportunity to visit SMS prior to the start of school. Students will also receive their laptops at this event. 

The event details are as follows:
Time(s): 4:30PM-6:00PM
Date: 8/18/2020 Seadogs (this time can include new 8th grade students)
Date: 8/19/2020 Viperfish (this time can include new 8th grade students)
Date: 8/20/2020 Wobbegongs (this time can include new 8th grade students) 
Participants: 1 student with 1 family member

Click here to read more.

COVID-19 Response

If/when the district is notified of a positive COVID-19 patient, the custodial staff will be informed so impacted areas are thoroughly disinfected. If possible, custodial staff will close the area and wait 24 hours or as long as possible prior to disinfecting. However, if that is not possible or school is in session, the cleaning will occur immediately.

Please refer to the following exposure guidelines for information on how the district will respond to COVID-19 positive cases. As you can see, the district will be responsible for contact tracing within our buildings. It is very important to monitor your health on a daily basis and if your student has symptoms, please stay home to protect our school community. 

COVID Exposure Guidelines


2020-21 Safety Measures

Here are the general actions we will utilize to help us slow down the spread of COVID-19 in our school community:
  • Social distancing – 6 feet of separation will be kept between others with only infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity
  • Masks (and shields if desired) will be worn at all times inside school buildings and outside when social distancing can not be achieved
  • Hand-washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (use of hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol can be used when soap and water are not available)
    o Arrival and dismissal
    o Before and after eating
    o Before and after recess
    o After using the restroom
    o After touching your face
    o After touching shared objects
  • Monitor your health and stay home when you are sick

These steps will help us optimize education, promote health and safety, and mitigate risk for everyone in our community. While we can’t completely eliminate the risk of COVID-19 we all have a shared responsibility to reduce the risk of transmission.

Additional safety measures the district has taken include: 
  • 2 cloth masks per employee
  • 2 cloth masks per student
  • 1 plastic face shield for each employee
  • Sneeze guards installed in offices
  • 50% students onsite per day (hybrid)
  • Hand sanitizer in all classrooms and conveniently accessible in other areas
  • Hand washing every hour
  • Mandatory temperature checks for staff, students, and visitors upon entry
  • Mandatory mask wearing for all students, faculty, staff, vendors and other visitors with the exceptions listed in EO 20-59
  • 6 foot social distancing enforced
  • Individualized supplies
  • Isolation rooms for symptomatic children/staff
  • Plans for symptomatic people
  • Signage
  • Daily cleaning and disinfecting
  • Daily health screening for students and staff

As an added precaution, no outside groups will be allowed to use USD 345 indoor facilities beginning August 10 and until further notice. 


Mask Requirement

USD 345 will require all students, faculty, staff, vendors and other visitors to USD 345 school attendance centers to cover their mouth and nose with a mask or other face covering at all times except as described below:

a. While eating;
b. While working—other than to prepare food or meals—in a room or office that is (1) not open to students or visitors and (2) in which all individuals present can maintain a 6-foot distance from other individuals with only infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity;
c. While engaged in an activity during which it is unsafe or impossible to wear a mask or other face covering;
d. Children who are not students and are 5 years of age or under—children age two years and under in particular should not wear a face covering because of the risk of suffocation;
e. Persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a face covering—this includes persons with a medical condition for whom wearing a face covering could obstruct breathing or who are unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance;
f. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, or communicating with a person who is deaf or hard of hearing, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication;
g. Persons for whom wearing a face covering would create a risk to the person related to their work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines; and
h. Persons engaged in any lawful activity during which wearing a mask or other face covering is prohibited by law. 

Board Digest

SMS Documentary Showcase
Following each board of education meeting, the Director of Communications recaps the board meeting in the Board Digest. Click here to review the latest board meeting. 

The Seaman USD #345 Board of Education will meet at the Seaman Education Center, 901 NW Lyman Rd, in the Ann Minihan Board Room on the second Monday of each month at 6:00 PM with the exception of March and April, which will be held on the third Monday, and any regular scheduled meeting may be adjourned to another time and place when necessary.

Regular meetings for the 2019-20 school year:
August 10, 2020
September 14, 2020
October 12, 2020
November 9, 2020
December 14, 2020
January 11, 2021
February 8, 2021
March 15, 2021
April 19, 2021
May 10, 2021
June 14, 2021
July 12, 2021

Parents and other community members frequently request help in knowing the best way to communicate with the school. The communication guideline chart below will serve as a helpful resource. By contacting the following people in the prescribed order, questions will be answered more efficiently and effectively.
Click here to view the Concern Chain of Command.