March 23, 2021
Arcohe Families,
On Friday, March 19th, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) revised their recommendations to schools to reduce the amount of space needed between student desks from six (6) feet to three (3) feet for students in grades TK – 5th. Distancing for Middle School students will remain at six feet until the county has reached the Orange status. At the Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, March 22nd, the board voted to accept these guidelines locally. During the meeting, the board gave the direction to the Superintendent to formulate a schedule to allow all students (TK-8th) to return to campus on Monday, April 12th for full-day, in-person instruction. The schedule for the remainder of the year will be Mondays – Thursday, 8:10 – 2:45 and Fridays, 8:10 – 1:30 (early dismissal). The last day of school will still be Tuesday, May 25th.
To prepare for this change to the schedule, we need to know whether your family will elect to move to a different platform for the remainder of the year. We are going to assume you child will either stay on in-person learning or on the Edgenuity program, unless you call the office and tell us otherwise. If you want to make a change, call the main office or email Erica Reuscher at Reuscher@arcohe.net so she can change your enrollment status. We will continue to provide bus service, but since space will be limited, if you can provide your own transportation, we would appreciate it. If you are still in need of busing, please let the office know.
Along with the new three foot guidance comes a requirement that students and adults wear face masks at all times when indoors with the exception of while eating. Over the past few months, some people have elected to use face shields as their sole face protectant, but the CDC guidance stipulates face masks must be worn unless the person has a note from their medical doctor exempting them from this requirement. People can elect to wear both a mask and shield, but a shield alone will not suffice.
As we get to the end of this school year and hopefully the end of these trying times, we urge families not to let their guard down and continue to do the things we have been asked to do such as use proper hygiene, adhere to social distancing guidelines and stay home when sick. Our goal has been both to open school and stay open. We can only do this if we work together and act in the best interest of the whole. I thank you for your continued support.
Respectfully,
Troy Miller
Superintendent/Principal
Arcohe School