COVID-19 UPDATES
August 7, 2020 – Dear Rosendale-Brandon Families,
The start of the school year is right around the corner. Next week you will be completing the process of registering for the 2020-2021 school year. Some of you have already indicated your preference for your children attending virtually or face to face. Regardless of your choice, you need to register your child(ren) on Wednesday, August 12.
We want to provide you with additional information related to our return to school plan. This information is general in that it relates to the District as a whole. Building specific information will be sent to parents as our administrators and leadership teams work to finalize them. As stated in our initial plan, this information is subject to change as we receive updated information.
Building:
- Every classroom will have a sanitation station and cleaning throughout the day
- School buildings will have increased circulation of outside air
- Internal doors will be kept open to avoid creating high touch surfaces
- Adjusted student pedestrian patterns and relocated classrooms within buildings to provide distancing
- Removal of furniture and reconfiguring teaching spaces to create space for distancing
- Installation of signs such as hand hygiene, social distancing, and covid-19 symptoms installed throughout the buildings
- Physical barriers will be used in offices and in some classrooms
- Dedicated space in each building for isolation as recommended by county health professionals
- Custodial services increased and checklist used to record cleaning and sanitizing of areas
- Only visitors for essential purposes will be allowed in schools and will be required to wear a face covering*
Before the School Day
- Parents are asked to screen their children at home; if they are displaying any symptoms of illness they should be kept home
- Staff are asked to screen at home and if experiencing symptoms, stay home
- Students taking the bus are required to wear face coverings* and sit with family members in assigned seats
- Buses will be cleaned after each route
- Parents are encouraged to transport their children to school even if they are on a bus route
During the School Day (Face to Face Learning)
- Students in grades 4K-12 will attend school 5 days a week
- Face coverings* are required for children 5 years and older
- Face coverings* are encouraged for children under 5 years of age when physical distancing is not possible
- Elementary and middle school students are in core groups. Students remain with their group to the greatest extent possible and teachers rotate to the classrooms
- High school students transition throughout the day with safety measures in place
- Teachers will monitor students throughout the day for symptoms
- Students should bring water bottles as all water fountains will be turned off. Hands-free bottle filling stations will be available
- Maintaining social distancing will be followed as much as possible
- Access and directional flow will be regulated when students are entering and exiting the building and transitioning during the day
- Field trips and large school gatherings will not take place at this time. This will be re-evaluated as the year progresses
- Teaching will include limited use of manipulatives. Items such as books or classroom equipment that cannot be cleaned will be quarantined for 72 hours before it can be reused
- Larger spaces and outdoor areas will be used for instructional delivery whenever possible
Virtual Learning
- Virtual learning will be provided for all students in grades 4K through 12
- Students are virtually present 5 days a week
- Virtual instruction will be conducted via live lessons and recorded videos
- Quality high speed internet vital to the success of students learning virtually
- Students will log into the classroom where other students are attending in person and follow live instruction
- Attendance will be monitored
- It is the responsibility of the student to be on time, follow the daily schedule, and complete all of the teacher assigned tasks and activities
- District will maintain the same high expectations for virtual students as we do for face-to-face students
- Grading will be the same as those attending in person
- Grades will count towards a student’s GPA at the middle and high school levels. Virtual high school students are required to earn the same credits for graduation as face-to-face students
- Some classes may not be available in the virtual setting due to the nature of the coursework
In the Event of a Positive Case
- A HIPAA aligned general notice will be sent out and the Fond du Lac County Health Department will be notified so they can begin contact tracing
- More information / guidance will be released by the state and county in the next few weeks. Protocols will then be updated and shared
- DPI Protocol for handling those with COVID-19 Symptoms
- FDL County response to positive COVID-19 case in schools
Our School Personnel will continue to meet and update our plan as we receive information from state and local agencies. As we receive this information, it will be communicated out to you.
Thank you for your continued support as we work to create the best learning environment for our students.
Sincerely,
Wayne Weber
Superintendent
*Face covering means a piece of cloth or other material that is worn to cover the nose and mouth completely. A face covering includes but is not limited to a bandana, a cloth face mask, a disposable or paper mask, a neck gaiter, or a religious face cover. A face covering does not include shields, mesh masks, masks with holes or openings, or masks with vents.
- Individuals seeking accommodations due to medical conditions, intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, or other sensory sensitivities that prevent the individual from wearing face coverings will need documentation from a healthcare professional and/or have the accommodation indicated in their IEP where applicable.
- Even with a healthcare provider exception, we would still need to analyze whether the recommended exception would be safe in the workplace and school setting. Other safety practices would need to be put in place. Accommodations will be developed on a case by case basis.
Additional Resources:
Fond du Lac County Health Services COVID-19 Resource Website
Wisconsin DPI COVID -19 Information for School Health Services
Wisconsin Department of Health Services COVID-19 Resource Website
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Resource WebsiteAs we work together, we know that we will not be able to completely eliminate the risk of COVID-19 but try to mitigate risk while delivering an effective education. As a group we have agreed to these three main topics:
- The Fond du Lac County Health Department will provide supporting metrics to help determine at what level of capacity activities and school can safely take place. Schools will be provided ongoing, additional recommendations and guidance to ensure best practice.
Description of Capacities:
*Open with precautions (In-Person Learning)
*Partially Open with precautions (Blended Learning)
*Fully Remote – all school buildings are closed (Virtual Learning)
NOTE: Each District, school, classroom, etc. will be impacted differently because of positive COVID-19 cases. This will be fluid and based on testing, contact tracing and the ability to mitigate risk because of increased infection in each unique environment.
- The group will work to identify areas of commonality to provide consistent and predictable expectations.
- This group is dedicated to meet throughout the summer to plan together. The Fond du Lac County Health Department and school leaders are dedicated to creating a data driven, collaborative plan to make the best decisions possible.
Together we strive to open our schools and facilities to provide the best education, social and emotional experiences for our students, families and community. We are all responsible for our health, the health of our children and participating in practices that mitigate the spread of virus and disease. Only together will we be able to open schools and keep them open. What we do matters!
Campbellsport School District Oakfield School District
Fond du Lac Christian School Ripon School District
Fond du Lac School District Rosendale-Brandon School District
Lomira School District Saint Mary Springs Academy
North Fond du Lac School District Winnebago Lutheran Academy
June 22 – I am sure there are lots of questions about what “school” will look like in September. As a district, we have been holding off finalizing plans until we received much needed guidance from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). That guidance was released this morning and can be viewed at https://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/2019-novel-coronavirus. Please note that the DPI has stressed this guidance should be considered “fluid” as the health situation in the state changes.
The administrative team and school board will be utilizing this guidance, as well as input from families and staff, as we construct a plan to return to school this fall. Parents, please watch for survey information in our upcoming parent emails. There is much to consider when creating a plan that keeps students and staff physically safe; cares for student and staff social-emotional and mental health needs; and meets the educational needs of every student. As you will see in the guidance document, one of the assumptions regarding public health is that a COVID-19 vaccine is not likely to be in broad circulation during the next 12-18 months. This means our education plans need to be more fluid than ever as we will likely see periods of quarantine over the next two school years.
We will work diligently over the next few weeks to develop a plan of action so we can all get our minds wrapped around what school will look like moving forward. Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we work through this process. As always, communication is important during any uncertain times. Please reach out to your child’s building principal with any questions or input you may have.
June 16 –After much deliberation it is with great disappointment that we have made the decision to alter our normal Summer School experience this year. In considering the recommendations provided by the Health Department and CDC, we have determined that it is not feasible to offer an in-person experience at this time. We will be offering some structured activities to help prepare students for the upcoming academic year. CLICK HERE TO VEIW THE OPTIONS.
VIEW PAST COVID-19 UPDATES HERE
ANOTHER SHOUT OUT!
Superintendent Wayne Weber
In last month’s article, I gave a shout out to our teaching staff for their efforts in coming up with a means to educate our students during this time of school closure. This month, I believe another shout out is in order. This time, it’s a shout out to our parents!
When the initial school closure was announced,
COVID-19 UPDATES
April 22, 2020 – The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) recently launched a customer service phone line for people who need help locating phone or internet service during the COVID-19 public health emergency. More information available here.
April 16, 2020 – Mr. Weber emails this letter to parents based on today’s update from Gov. Evers.
April 15, 2020 – Help Us Help You! Find out more here.
April 6, 2020 – Families with district-provided MiFis are reminded that students should be using their assigned Chromebook with the MiFi. All district owned devices do run internet content filtering software for the protection of our students. Thank you for your cooperation during this time.
March 27, 2020 – Sometimes staff/students will need to work on their Google Drive files when access to the internet is not available. This document will show you how! https://bit.ly/33R6JCR
March 17, 2020 – Governor Evers announced all WI public schools are closed indefinitely.
March 16, 2020 – Beginning on Wednesday, March 18, all buildings and grounds in the Rosendale-Brandon School District will be closed for all events, school-related or not. The District will remain closed until face-to-face classes resume April 14. (Spring break is April 9-13.) April 14 is our projected date of reopening which is subject to change based on the fluidity of the situation. Virtual learning experiences will begin on Thursday, March 19. School office staff will be available for phone calls and email correspondence but buildings will be closed to walk-in visitors.
All 5K-12 students have been issued a Chromebook as a resource for virtual learning. Our 4K students will have other materials sent home. If you do not have reliable internet access, please respond to the internet survey previously shared in our parent emails, or contact your child’s school office. Your child’s teacher(s) may have already been in contact with you regarding what to expect during this virtual learning experience, but if not, he/she will be shortly. We have encouraged staff to be flexible as this is uncharted territory for all–students, teachers, parents. We ask the same of you. There will be a learning curve for all of us. As always, two-way communication is the key as we work through situations that may arise. Please communicate with your child’s teacher(s) with questions, concerns, or compliments. If students have technology trouble, they (or an adult) should contact their teacher. If they are not able to contact their teacher, they should call the appropriate school office. The teacher/office personnel will contact the appropriate technology support.
One thing to keep in mind is setting limits for the use of Chromebooks and other electronic devices as well. Students will not be required to be on a device 24/7 for educational purposes, regardless of what they may try to tell us parents ;). For our students grades 6-12 we are aiming for daily lessons of 20-25 minutes per content area and shorter times for our younger students.
In addition to virtual learning, the Rosendale-Brandon School District will be providing free meals to students in need while schools are closed due to COVID-19. At this time, the District will be offering free meals to Rosendale Brandon School District families thanks to support from private donors. If those funds are depleted, additional information will be shared.
- Free meals for school-aged children can be picked up outside the Laconia High School main entrance, Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning Wednesday, March 18. This location was chosen because it is centrally located in the District.
- All meals will be served in a grab-and-go fashion and will include milk. Individuals will not be allowed to enter school buildings, and meals should be taken off site to be consumed.
- All meals will be free regardless of current eligibility status or location of school enrollment. No identification or proof of enrollment is needed.
- For special diet restrictions, please contact our Food Service Director Andrea Schneider at schnand@rbsd.k12.wi.us or 920-872-5305.
- Delivery can be arranged for special circumstances. Please contact our Food Service Director Andrea Schneider at schnand@rbsd.k12.wi.us or 920-872-5305.
- IMPORTANT: Meal pickup times and details may be adjusted as needs are evaluated. Please visit our website or Facebook page for updated information as it becomes available.
Please know that we are dedicated to serving our students and families and look forward to your continued support and our continued partnership as we provide the best possible experience for our children.
March 13, 2020 – The Wisconsin Department of Health Service has called for statewide school closings beginning Wednesday, March 18, and extending through at least April 6. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as work through this evolving situation. We will continue to keep you informed as this situation continues to unfold.
Who Would Have Thought…
Superintendent Wayne Weber
Never in my wildest dreams…or nightmares…would I have thought that a Safer at Home Order would be put in place, essentially shutting down all but essential services! It seems like one of the fictional shows that my kids watch. Unfortunately, it is our reality. No one enjoys it, but it is our reality at the moment.
As I write this article,
Wisconsin internet customers unable to pay due to circumstances related to Covid-19 (the pandemic, coronavirus or the Public Health Emergency) may request their internet service remain on for the duration of the Keeping Americans Connected pledge, currently through June 30. In order to keep internet service on the customer must call their provider and indicate their inability to pay their bills due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic and mention the company’s commitment to the Keeping Americans Connected Pledge.
The Keeping Americans Connected Pledge only relates to internet and telephone service, not video or cable service.
Wisconsin residents with questions or concerns about the pledge or issues remaining connected related to non-payment should call the Commission’s Internet and Phone Helpline 608-267-3595.
