Gunnison Valley Elementary

 

 

GOB5 Gunnison High School

 

Welcome back to school!!! 

We hope you have enjoyed your summer. We are excited for a new year. 

  • The first day of school is August 20th starting at 8 am.
  • School is excused each day at 2:20 p.m. 
  • For the first three Fridays (Aug. 21, 28 & Sept. 4) school will be excused at noon. 
  • Kindergarten will not start until Thursday, August 27th.  
  • Preschool will start Monday, Sept. 14th. 
  • Please bring a water bottle, mask and backpack.
  • Know that we do not love all the changes  we have had to make this year.  We are extremely grateful that we are able to return to in-person learning.  We will do whatever it takes to keep the school open. 
  • Regulations change daily. We will do our best to keep up and keep students safe. 

First day of school

In the past many parents have walked with their students to class, I regret that we will not be able to allow this this year. We will have many adults at the front of the building waiting to take your child to class if they need assistance. Students will be able to meet their teacher at the back to school drive by on Wednesday, August 19 from 6-7.  Teachers will hand out information and greet their new students. 

Face coverings

Masks are required at all times when inside the school. This applies to parents/visitors as well. Students will be allowed to remove their face covering during lunch, at recess and during outside PE. Students will be given frequent mask breaks throughout the day. If you need a mask, please let us know… we will give you one. 

  • Students will be provided a lanyard to hang their mask on so it doesn’t end up on the floor. 
  • Teachers will be generous in giving kids a break from their mask, if needed. This will be done at the teacher’s discretion.
  • We recognize that it will be a new experience for everyone to wear masks, so we will be patient and work with students to teach them to be safe. If ANY student is struggling and needs a short break from their mask then accommodations will be made.
  • Find some fun face-masks for your student just follow the school dress code by having appropriate graphics.

Water Bottle

Please send a clean water bottle with your student each day. The drinking fountains will be turned off and students need a drink throughout the day. If you do not have one, we will provide one for you at the beginning of the year. Water bottles will be sent home nightly to be washed. 

Student registration

Power School will be available on August 1st  for you to log in and complete/edit your student/s online registration. Please complete registration as soon as possible. All registrations need to be completed by August 31, 2020. Registration works better on a computer or iPad.  If you need access to a computer or iPad, please stop by the office between 8 a.m.- 3 p.m. We are happy to help you. 

Please follow the instructions below to complete registration:

  • Log into the South Sanpete School Website      www.ssanpete.org
  • Click on the link on the right sidebar that says: PowerSchool Login 
  • Log into your PowerSchool account. If you forgot your login information and need help           contact the office. 435-528-7880
  •  Click on the left side that says online registration    
  •  Click on your student’s name and complete their registration
  •  Complete all pages of registration.
  •  The last page will be shaded red, be sure to type your name and check the box before  submitting   (See below)

 

Lunch and breakfast

The lunch application is online. Please fill it out when completing your student’s registration. It is located on the school forms page above your student’s name. (See below)




To avoid the first day of school rush in the office, you may bring your lunch money in before the first day. The secretaries are at the school, Monday –Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.  You can also pay online. Go to ssanpete.org / family resources/ parent resources/ lunch pay online. 

Prices…..breakfast $1.25 / lunch $2.10... reduced breakfast $.30 / lunch $ .40

 

Transportation

If you are bringing your student to school, please do not drop them off before 7:20 a.m. the doors will not be open. All students need to come through the front door. Please use the student drop off lane. Do not pull in the bus lane or drop your students off on the curb. 

If you are picking up your student from school. please wait in your car, parents will not be allowed to wait in the school. 

Bus routes will start the same as they did last year. Adjustments will be made as needed. You can find the routes at ssanpete.org. Look under departments then transportation. 

Masks will be required on the bus and students will have assigned seats. Hand sanitizer will be available on the bus. 

In order to keep all students safe, students will not be allowed to switch buses to go to an alternate location after school.  

If you are picking up your student and they normally ride the bus home, please make all after school pick-up arrangements before students come to school. We usually only have one secretary in the office and it is impossible for her to make all the changes that are called in.

We have many children with allergies. Please do not send food on the bus with your children. If they have snacks in their backpack, they need to wait until they are off the bus to eat them.  

Community Council

The duties of the Gunnison Valley Elementary Community Council are to advise and make recommendations to the school, school district administrators and the South Sanpete School Board regarding our school and our programs, district programs, and other issues relating to the environment of the school. The Community Council has six members; four parents, one teacher, and the principal.  Membership on the Community Council is limited to parents of children who will be enrolled in Gunnison Valley Elementary School. Nominations for two parent positions may be submitted until September 16, 2020. Nominations to the Community Council may be done in writing or by phone 435-528-7880.  Any parent of a child currently enrolled in Gunnison Valley Elementary School may make nominations.  You may nominate yourself or someone else.  Nominees will be contacted before their names are placed on the ballot.  You can find more information on the website ssanpete.org. look under schools, Gunnison Valley Elementary, Parent Involvement. 

 

Late Arrival

If your student is late, please remind them to check in at the office before they go to class. 

 

Checking students out of school

When you need to check your student out of school, please come into the office to sign him/her out. Please DO NOT go directly to the classroom. The office personnel will call him/her to the office.  

 

School visits

During the current pandemic we discourage classroom visits. You are welcome at any time to visit with the principal.  All visitors must check in at the office and follow all regulations. 

Lost and Found

Please put your student’s name and phone number on his/her coat, jacket and backpack. Every year we take MANY items to D.I. We would love to return items to their owners instead. It also helps us avoid student conflicts when students have matching items. 

 

Pledge of Allegiance

The state legislature has passed a law requiring all schools to have the students recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of each day in every classroom. 

 

Dress Code

The following are highlights from the district’s dress and grooming policy that particularly apply to elementary age students. The entire policy is available on the Internet at www.ssanpete.org, policy JFCA. These dress standards will be enforced at school and all school activities. 

* Hairstyles that are conspicuous, extreme, or odd shall not be allowed when they 

draw undue attention and distraction or disruption.

* Hair color shall be within the spectrum of natural hair colors. Modest color streaks are allowed.

* All clothes must be clean and modest. 

(No tank type shirts, halters, bare midriffs. Shirts must cover students’ mis-section. Shorts and skirts need to be close to the knee.)

* No pajamas or other sleeping attire (unless specified as a dress-up day or activity)

* No obscene, Lewd, Sexual innuendos, racial, ethnic, indecent, vulgar, violent, or inappropriate saying, writing, diagrams, or pictures are allowed on clothing or personal belongings, e.g. notebooks, backpacks, gym bags, water bottles, lockers, badges, patches, etc. 

* No head covering of any kind are allowed to be worn in school buildings during regular school hours. This includes all types of hats, bandanas, hooded shirts or coats, sweatbands, etc.

* No skate shoes, bedroom slippers, or bare feet are allowed at any time. 

*  flip-flops are not allowed due to health and safety concerns. {Because of recess and P.E. 

activities, this is especially important in the elementary school.} Open toes shoes are also a danger for elementary aged children.

 

Violence and Bullying Incidences

Violence and bullying cannot be allowed in our schools. The complete policies are available at www.ssanpete.org, policies JG, JGA, and JH. The age of our students is considered as we deal with discipline problems, but we would like you to remind your children that guns and knives are not allowed. This includes toy knives and guns. 



Concussions

The long-term consequences of concussions are a concern for parents and schools. The school board has adopted a policy dealing with concussions. The policy is available at www.ssanpete.org, policy JL. Our fourth and fifth graders play dodgeball, which has some risk of concussion associated with it. If you do not want your child to participate in dodgeball please contact the school. 

General District Policies

The following are other policies you may be interested in. Again, they are found at www.ssanpete.org

* Student Conduct and Discipline Policy JG

* Attendance and Truancy Policy JE

* Electronic Devices Policy JGB

* Bullying and Hazing Policy JGA

 

Family Education Right and Privacy Disclosure

School directory information including student’s name, address, phone number, email, photos, honors and awards, and dates of attendance may be released on a limited basis to the PTA, the Utah Health Department, the local newspaper, GVES newsletter, and other similar groups or for similar purposes, but for the most part this information will remain confidential. If you do not want this information used, please contact the principal, Arleen Jensen, at 528-7880

School Accident Insurance

Student accident insurance is available for students. If you would like a flyer or more information please call  the office. 

  

   

Important Dates: 

  Aug. 19 Back to school drive by…  6 p.m. GVES parking lot

  Aug. 20 School starts 8am-2:20pm

  Aug. 27 Kindergarten starts

  Sept. 1 School Pictures

  Sept. 7-8     Labor Day.. No School 

  Sept. 14  Preschool starts

  Sept. 16 Community Council Nominations due

  Sept 21-22 Parent-Teacher Conference 

  Oct. 19-20 Fall Break

 

 

                          

 

 

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Hello Parents/Guardians,

Here are some procedures we will be implementing this year at Gunnison Valley Elementary: (Please note that these procedures are subject to change as new information becomes available).

4 basic practices EVERYONE MUST follow:

  1. Wash hands often with soap and water.
  2. Physical distance from others - 6 feet when possible.
  3. Wear a mask at school.
  4. STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK.

General:

  • Parents are expected to perform daily wellness checks on their children and SHOULD NOT send kids with symptoms to school. THIS IS CRITICAL! (Fever, cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, muscle aches, diarrhea in children, etc.)
  • All volunteers/visitors will be required to sign in at the office and will be limited and might not be allowed into classrooms.
  • Volunteers/visitors must wear a face covering. Please do not come to the school if showing any symptoms.
  • There will be no in person school-wide assemblies until further notice.
  • Students will be trained on new protocols for each area of the school.
  • Students and teachers will sanitize or wash their hands each time they enter or exit a classroom.
  • There will be increased sanitation in bathrooms and on playgrounds.

Registration:

  • Log on to ssanpete.org on the right hand side click on the PowerSchool login.  Then choose the registration link on the left hand side. 
  • School will begin Thursday, August 20. The day will begin at 8:00 and end at 2:20.
  • School times will be:
    • Monday through Thursday grades 1-5, 8:00-2:20 PM
      • AM Kindergarten 8:00-10:40
      • PM Kindergarten 11:40-2:20
    • Each Friday until Labor Day will be an early out for all grade levels: 8:00-12:00.
      • AM Kindergarten 8:00-9:30
      • PM Kindergarten 10:30-12:00
    • The amount of school days has not been adjusted.

Face Coverings:

  • Masks are required at all times when inside the school. This applies to parents/visitors as well. Students will be allowed to remove their face covering during lunch, at recess and during outside PE.
  • Students will be provided a lanyard to hang their mask on while they eat or participate in recess, PE, or during a break.
  • Teachers will be generous in giving kids a break from their mask, if needed. This will be done at the teacher’s discretion.
  • We recognize that it will be a new experience for everyone to wear masks, so we will be patient and work with students to teach them to be safe. If ANY student is struggling and needs a short break from their mask then accommodations will be made.
  • Face masks must follow the school dress code by having appropriate graphics.

Transportation

  • South Sanpete School District will continue to pick up and drop off students at the regular stops. 
  • All students, drivers and staff will wear face coverings on the bus. 
  • Students will have assigned seats.
  • Students from the same household will sit together. 
  • Hand sanitizer will be available on the bus. 
  • Bus drivers will sanitize their buses after each route/trip. 

Transitions, Hallways, Recess, Playground and Other:

  • Face coverings are required, unless transitioning to a face covering optional location (such as recess or lunch).
  • We will teach the students how to move safely in the hallways, classrooms, and at recess while keeping appropriate physical spacing.
  • Students will maintain distance as much as possible and walk on the right half of the hall.

Classroom:

  • Social distancing will be practiced as much as possible.
  • Students will have assigned seating (this also applies to the lunchroom, specialty class and special service classes).
  • Group work will be limited and students will wear face coverings when in this setting.
  • We will train students on proper sanitizing techniques, social distancing and the proper way to wear a face covering. We encourage all parents to begin this practice at home as well.
  • Students will be asked not to touch each other and teachers will correct behavior as needed.
  • Materials will not be shared.
  • Water bottles are allowed in the classroom and we invite all students to bring a clean water bottle each day labeled with their name.
  • We ask that the water bottle has a "flip top" or a "pop-up top" rather than a "screw on" top. We will remind students to take home water bottles and wash them each day. They should be refilled at home as much as possible as we are developing procedures for how to refill a water bottle in the classroom because all drinking fountains will be turned off.
  • Scheduled times for classes in the bathrooms so we don’t have a run on the bathrooms before and after recess.
  • Scheduled times to get things from lockers instead of having everyone go at the end of the day.

Breakfast/Lunch:

  • Students will have assigned seats in the lunchroom.
  • Students will be distanced on their tables.
  • Grade level lunch times will be staggered to provide as much distancing as possible.
  • Face coverings may be removed while eating.
  • Lunch tables will be sanitized prior to the next group of students coming in.

Specialty Classes:

  • Rooms/equipment will be sanitized between classes.
  • Seats will be assigned.
  • Students and teachers will sanitize their hands upon entering and/or exiting specialty classrooms.

Before/After School:

  • The school doors will be open at 7:20 for students to enter and go to breakfast or directly to their classrooms. 
  • Students who need to eat breakfast, will go to the gym and line up, maintaining appropriate distance and then sit at tables in the designated areas maintaining appropriate physical distance. Students that arrive early to school must wear a face covering upon entering the school. 
  • Students will enter through the main doors and exit through the exterior doors closest to their classroom. Kindergarten and preschool students will enter and exit through their exterior classroom doors. 
  • Parents must drop students off outside and wait outside after school. No parents will be allowed in the hallways.
  • Hand sanitizer will be made available at the entrance of the school. 

Attendance:

  • The easiest way to protect students, teachers, and employees from COVID-19 is to ask any person who is sick to stay home and not come to school. The students may be afraid to miss school if they are sick, for fear of having their grades or citizenship grades affected. Students may also be worried about falling behind in their classwork. However, even mild symptoms may mean they have COVID-19 and can spread the virus to others.
  • We will be lenient with our attendance policy. Please contact the school if your student is sick or has symptoms and needs to stay home to isolate. Teachers will provide classwork and allow the students to make up anything they miss.

What if a student exhibits COVID-19 symptoms at school?

  • Students will be placed in a quarantine room.
  • Parents will be contacted and asked to pick up their student.
  • The school nurse will be contacting parents with protocols for returning.
  • Please see the COVID Screening Flowchart for more information.

How will the school respond to potential outbreaks?

  • Schools will consult with the school nurse and the Central Utah Health Department regarding procedures for responding to a positive COVID-19 case by an employee, student, visitor, or those who have come into contact with an individual testing positive.
  • Schools will coordinate with the local health department for temporary school closures due to COVID-19.
  • The school nurse or administrator will send a letter to parents if an outbreak occurs.

There will be more questions and they will be addressed as they come up. We ask that you are all patient, supportive and understanding as we work through the process of reopening. We will do our best and work extremely hard to train our students with these new procedures and protocols. Safety of students, staff and patrons are of the utmost importance to us! Please note that information is changing frequently so we will adjust as necessary.

For more information on COVID-19 and School Safety please see the manual produced by the Utah Association of Local Health Departments, the Utah Department of Health, and Governor Gary Herbert.

We encourage you to read more about South Sanpete School District’s ‘Reopening Plan’’ at www.ssanpete.org

We are so excited for the opportunity to see all the students soon. We believe this is going to be an awesome year!

Thank you for ALL you do!

 

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