SIGSBEE CHARTER SCHOOL

October 12- October 16

respect, responsibility, resilience

Monday, October 12th. A Day

Spa day/snack day 

Tuesday, October 13th B Day. 

Wednesday, October 14th A Day  

Thursday, October 15th B Day. 

Friday, October 16th A Day   

Breakfast/Lunch Sign Up 

(please click on title above and fill out by Sunday evening)

We were recently notified that SCS will be receiving free breakfast and lunch from the National School Lunch Program for the remainder of the year!

SECOND QUARTER SCHOOLING OPTIONS

We will be finalizing plans for second quarter learning options this week, based on the survey responses we received.  Though we gave ourselves two weeks to collect responses, it took an additional week to make contact with all of the families who did not respond to our initial requests.  It is important for us to have ALL responses because the options change based on even the slightest variation of numbers.

At this time, what we can tell you is:

• The Board of Directors supports getting as many students back on campus who want to return, as often as we can accommodate them.  However, all safety/health guidelines must stay in place, including the 6' spacing.  This may prevent 100% attendance for those who requested it, depending on grade level and physical classroom space. This is the piece we are working on.
• The survey responses indicated that: 64%  of families want their children at school 5 days/week;  19% would like a part-time option, 17% want to remain 100% virtual. We now have a 97% response rate.
• It is extremely difficult for the teachers to manage all three formats of schooling at the same time: full-time on campus, part-time A/B and 100% virtual.  
•  We will definitely continue to have a full-time virtual component as it is extremely helpful to be able to provide instruction to students who are quarantined or ill while they are out.  
• We are working with the on campus responses to see how we might accommodate everyone else.  Decisions will be made this week as each group of teachers are working diligently to come up with arrangements.
• In other words, if you opted for 100% virtual, you will be able to continue with that through second quarter.
• If you opted for part-time or full-time on campus schooling, we will let you know this week if we can accommodate you in that way.
• Not all grade levels will be doing the same thing.  For example, if we can fit one grade level of students who want to be on campus 5 days per week, we will do so even if we cannot do the same for other grades.  This relies largely on how people responded to the survey.

Can we change our minds?  This is a question that has already come up.  You can always ask to move your child into the 100% virtual classroom at any time this quarter.  However, because the critical piece is physical spacing, we are going to have a problem if families want to change from 100% virtual to on campus.  We are moving furniture, classrooms, and schedules based on what you just reported to us.  This format will be in place through the end of the semester.

POSITIVE COVID CASES

What you should know.

As you all know, we have already seen two positive Covid cases at our school and an uptick in cases in the school district.  The information posted below will continue to be in the Scoop for your review.  This will help you to navigate this new territory.

If you want to track the cases in the school district, you can visit the MCSD Covid Dashboard.  This will give you data on the number of cases and whether they were student, staff or teachers.  I will be as transparent as possible with you.

I want to once again commend our students and staff for their vigilance in upholding the schools' safety and health protocols. Because these individuals implemented the protocols with fidelity and abided by directions given, the exposure levels in both cases was significantly less than what may have occurred.  For limited exposure to continue, it is vital that students stay masked, 6' apart, wash their hands, and stay home when exhibiting symptoms.  We are all in this together and one person's actions affects the outcome for many.  Conversely, please withhold any judgment about positive cases.  The nature of this disease makes it possible for people to test positive even when they've taken precautions.  Our goal is to keep everyone healthy and learning through a very difficult situation.

I also want to commend our Sigsbee families for being cautious and keeping children home when they are showing signs of illness or when you think they've been exposed to a positive case.  This gives our staff and other families great comfort and allows us to keep our doors open.  At some point, if we have an upward trend in cases within the school, we may not be able to staff the classrooms.  We need to mask up for our children, our families and our staff.  I have nothing but positive praise for the families who have contacted us and are being cautious.  Thank you.

CONGRATULATIONS MR. HELKENN

Mr. Helkenn, fifth grade mathematics teacher, has been elected by his colleagues as Sigsbee Charter's Teacher-of-the-Quarter.  Mr. Helkenn is a second-career teacher, coming to Sigsbee from the world of design into the Mathematics classroom.  He works tirelessly to support each child and ensure that they are successful.  In fact, he volunteered to teach a daily math lesson throughout the summer to keep his students learning after they had been quarantined.  Below is the nomination written by his colleagues.  I believe it says it all:

Imagine yourself an interior designer in the twilight years of your life deciding on a career change- one that puts you face to face with 66 children everyday. Mr. Helkenn has replaced the details that were once important like fluffing pillows, measuring crown molding, and lugging around paint swatches for a plan book, whiteboard markers, and fraction tiles. He is known for his wit and flexibility, but many might also know of his dedication to learning, or his ability for compassion and empathy towards his students. He analyzes his students needs and dares to take risks to ensure that they succeed. He looks critically at the student outcomes to measure the effect of his teaching.  In only his third year of teaching, Mr. Helkenn is making his mark!We nominate Douglas Helkenn, because he has earned the esteemed title of Teacher of the Quarter… I dare say TEACHER OF THE YEAR!  Keep those swatches in the bin!