Safety First – Reminders for BG Families (March 25)

BG Families,

Thanks to our students, staff and families for continuing to support us and our new safety protocols and routines. If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at the school (905-573-3505) and we can answer your questions. We will continue to work together to review and practice our routines to ensure our HWDSB protocols are in place.

 

Please see below for some reminders:

 

Student Absences

• Please report student absences in advance using the Safe Arrival.

 

Visiting Schools

• Parent/visitor access is strictly limited this year.
• If you are picking up your child early, we ask that you buzz our door bell and speak with us through the intercom.  We will ask you to wait outside for your child.
• Families are asked not to drop off lunches during the day.  Please ensure that your child has adequate food for both breaks as we are limiting the number of visitors to the school.

 

Parent Communication with School

• Please continue to communicate with teachers and the principal through phone and email.
• Contact the school at 905-573-3505 or [email protected] to speak with a teacher or administrator.

 

Daily Self-Assessment Screening

• Each morning before leaving home to come to school, families are reminded to complete the daily self-assessment on each of their children coming to Billy Green.
• Ontario Covid-19 School and Child Care Screening: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/
• Students are to stay home if they have any of the symptoms on the screener (even just one)
• Students are to stay home if anyone in their household has any of the symptoms on the screener (even just one)
• If your child “fails” the screening, please call us to let us know and we will help support you with next steps.
• Click here for the Symptomatic Child at Home Flowchart: COVID At Home Protocol (March 1 2021)

 

Parking Lot

• For safety, we ask that parents do not use the parking lot for dropping off or picking up their child during our entry and dismissal times.
• Our parking lot is used by buses and closed for car access during entry and dismissal times.

 

Morning Drop-Off

• When students enter the school yard, they are to remember to wear their mask and proceed directly to their designated class location (marked).
• Parents must physically distance (2m) from other families/staff while on school property.
• To limit the number of people on property and maximize physical distancing, we ask that only 1 caregiver bring a child to school.
• Adults are to wear face coverings while on school property.
• In the morning, outside supervision begins at 8:25am.
• Students should arrive as close to 8:40am as possible.
• Our entry bell rings at 8:40am.

 

Afternoon Pick-Up

• In the afternoon, our dismissal bell is at 3:00pm.
• Students should be picked up promptly at 3:00.
• Adults are to wear face coverings while on school property.
• Parents must physically distance (2m) from other families/staff while on school property.
• Please wait outside of the marked areas for the classes.
• Upon dismissal, all students and families are to leave school property in a timely fashion.

 

Pick-Up/Drop-Off Road Safety

• Please respect the speed limit in front of the school
• Cars should not be doing U-Turns in the area near the school.
• When our crossing guards have their signs up, please come to a complete stop and wait for them to return to the sidewalk before proceeding
• For safety, a reminder that we ask that parents not to use the parking lot for dropping off or picking up their child during our entry and dismissal times. Our parking lot is used by buses and closed for car access during entry and dismissal times
• If dropping off your children by car, please consider parking on Ackland St., Audubon St., or Apex Ct.
• If walking your child to their outdoor area, a reminder that adults must wear face coverings while on school property and physically distance (2m) from other families/staff while on school property.

 

Nutrition Breaks

• Students will eat in their classrooms at their work space area.
• There is no sharing of any food or beverages
• We encourage litterless lunches.
• Families are asked not to drop off lunches during the day.  Please ensure that your child has adequate food for both breaks as we are limiting the number of visitors to the school.
• With parent permission (through Parent Portal), students may go home for lunch but may not go to the local stores. If going home for lunch, FDK-Gr3 students must be picked up from the school by a caregiver.

 

Nutrition Breaks – Outside Play Time

• Each class has a designated outdoor play area (2 m from other classes) that has been marked.
• Students are to keep their masks on during outdoor play.
• Please plan for your child to be outside everyday.
• Students should be dressed appropriately for outdoor activities based on the weather.
• On days where cold weather and snow are in the forecast, boots, mittens or gloves, a warm hat and a winter jacket should be worn. Snow pants may also be needed for children who often play in the snow.
• A pair of “indoor shoes” left at school can help to reduce the amount of mud in classrooms from outside.

 

Class Set-Up

• A sink and/or hand sanitizer is available in all classrooms.
• Each student is assigned a labelled work-space area that ensures distancing from others.
• All desks are forward facing.
• All required work materials are located at student’s workspace.
• There will be minimal use of shared materials. These must be cleaned before use by another student.

 

Learn more about COVID-19 precautions at HWDSB at www.hwdsb.on.ca/covid19.

 

~ Ms. Wilson