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Dear Martin Luther Families,
The last weeks leading up to the first day of school have been a flurry of activity. Staff members continue to visit with families and students to communicate what the upcoming school year will look like and how they plan on doing their best to serve your children with as much normalcy as possible and at the same time integrate new mitigations to create the safest environment as well. We pray that with the staff, students, and your help adhering to new mitigations; we will be able to continue to have in-person learning. Everyone needs to do their part in order for us to achieve in-person learning. One of the biggest things that you can do is monitor your child’s health and keep them home when they are ill. Even with everyone’s help, times may arise where we will need to move an individual class or the whole school to a virtual model for a set period of time. Should we have a positive COVID-19 case within our school we will be working closely with the Winnebago County Health Department to make such decisions. We are now less than a week away from the first day of school, and I wanted to share with you some reminders, a revised reopening plan, and highlights of any changes within the plan.
May we continue to put our strength in the one whom it comes from.
“God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever”
Psalm 73:26
Principal Steve Hennig
Reopening Updates
Health Screening
As a result of recent changes to CDC and DHS recommendations (CDC Screening), we will not be taking temperatures of students as they arrive each morning. We ask that parents and guardians take on this responsibility along with the responsibility of monitoring the overall health of the children. Below is a quick screening checklist to assist you. Should any of these symptoms apply to your child, keep them home!
Screening Checklist
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Students that are sent home due to a fever alone may only return to school once they are fever-free without medication for 24 hours.
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Students that have a fever and exhibit other symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath) may not return to school for 24 hours after symptoms and fever have disappeared.
Arrival Times & Locations
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K-8 families may begin arriving by 7:30a.m.
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PreK families may begin arriving by 7:50 a.m.
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Families will be assigned a morning drop-off location.
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EAST entrance- Gr. 7-8
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Main entrance FAR Right DOOR- Gr. 5-6
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EAST entrance- Gr. 3-4
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Main entrance FAR Left Door Gr. 1-2
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Main entrance FAR Left Door-Kind.
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7:50-8:00 AM
School Dismissal
Face Coverings and Face Shields for Faculty, Staff, and Visitors
● Students that are 5 years old or older at Martin Luther will be required to wear a face-covering when in the classroom. (Not provided by the school)
● Teachers at Martin Luther will be required to wear a face-covering unless they are to maintain an adequate physical distance.
● Students will be required to wear a face-covering when they enter the building at the beginning of the school day and depart the building at the end of the school day.
● Teachers will teach students on the first day of school the proper way to wear a face covering.
● Students need to be able to put face coverings on independently.
● Students may have cloth face coverings.
● All parents, volunteers, and visitors must wear a face-covering during their visit (not provided by the school).
School Registration Items
Martin Luther School Reopening Plan
08-21-20
*The guidelines and procedures within this document supersede normal operating procedures found in the Parent/Student Handbook
Guidelines for Reopening:
To minimize the risk of illness/exposure for faculty and students and to maximize the likelihood of continued classroom operation, Martin Luther School has set forth a list of guidelines with which to begin the school year. It was with the best intentions of safety, balanced with a sense of “normalcy” for students, that the faculty reviewed the county, state, and federal recommendations and fashioned a plan under which we feel Martin Luther can fully operate. It is our prayer that parents recognize the spirit in which these guidelines are given, and do their best to cooperate with them, while also encouraging their students to understand and uphold the guidelines as we begin a new, and very different-looking, school year on August 26.
Martin Luther Goals
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Keep Martin Luther students learning daily within the physical school building by avoiding excessive illness and shutdowns, which would then require distance learning situations.
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Serve all Martin Luther families, while recognizing the wide and varied thoughts/concerns surrounding the reopening of schools for the 2020-2021 school year.
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Ensure a safe learning environment with as few distractions as possible, in order to continue providing sound, Christian education for our students, reaping benefits for both time and eternity.
Before Arriving at School
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Before leaving your home, please check your child’s temperature using a thermometer.
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Fever-reducing medicine used in the morning to reduce a child’s fever so they can attend school is prohibited. We realize other medications may be necessary for a child in the morning that may simultaneously reduce a fever, but medications may not be taken specifically to reduce the fever.
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Consider your child’s overall wellness each morning. Does my child have any of the following symptoms?
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Cough, shortness of breath, headache, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, shaking with chills, nausea, and/or other symptoms consistent with COVID-19
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If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms please keep your child at home.
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If your child has a condition that may cause these symptoms (For example cough, runny nose, shortness of breath), like allergies or asthma, the school and teacher should be notified.
Face Coverings and Face Shields for Faculty, Staff, and Visitors
● Students that are 5 years old or older at Martin Luther will be required to wear face coverings when in the classroom. (Not provided by the school)
● Teachers at Martin Luther will be required to wear a face-covering unless they are to maintain an adequate physical distance.
● Students will be required to wear a face-covering when they enter the building at the beginning of the school day and depart the building at the end of the school day.
● Teachers will teach students on the first day of school the proper way to wear a face covering.
● Students need to be able to put face coverings on independently.
● Students may have cloth face coverings.
● All parents, volunteers, and visitors must wear a face-covering during their visit (not provided by the school).
Arrival Times & Locations
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K-8 families may begin arriving by 7:30 a.m.
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PreK families may begin arriving by 7:50 a.m.
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Families will be assigned a morning drop-off location.
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EAST entrance- Gr. 7-8
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Main entrance FAR Right DOOR- Gr. 5-6
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EAST entrance- Gr. 3-4
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Main entrance FAR Left Door Gr. 1-2
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Main entrance FAR Left Door-Kind.
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7:50-8:00 AM
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Parents are required to remain in the parking lot until their children are cleared by screening at the entrance. For this reason please escort your children to the appropriate door but remain outside.
Arrival Procedures
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Everyone entering Martin Luther facilities must use hand sanitizer upon entering the building. (This includes staff, teachers, students, and visitors.)
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As a reminder, it is important to check your child’s temperature prior to leaving for school each morning.
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Students that are sent home due to a fever alone may only return to school once they are fever-free without medication for 24 hours.
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Students that have a fever and exhibit other symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath) may not return to school for 24 hours after symptoms and fever have disappeared.
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If your family arrives at school after 7:50, students must enter through the main school entrance
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When entering the classroom, students will follow the teachers’ morning procedures.
Busing
Parents/Guardians, Volunteers, and Visitors in School
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For the safety of all in the school, we will limit visitor entry.
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All visitors should practice physical distancing when possible.
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Individuals may not enter the building if they have recently been sick or are experiencing symptoms of sickness.
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Our school will need volunteers throughout the school year in the following areas:
Classroom Instruction
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Students will remain in homeroom classrooms the majority of time to lower the risk of exposure, but we cannot guarantee six feet of physical distance between desks.
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Teachers will teach and remind students regularly of best hygiene practices in a Christian loving manner so as not to instill fear or anxiety.
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Teachers will build into their schedules frequent opportunities throughout the day for students to wash their hands and clean surfaces.
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Teachers will follow best practices and keep student safety in mind as they set their desk arrangements.
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The teacher will remain in the front of the classroom for the majority of their instruction (at least 6 feet away from the students).
Technology
Lunchtime
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Students at Martin Luther will eat lunch in their classrooms.
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There will be no microwaves or refrigerators available.
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Absolutely no sharing of food between students at lunch or at snack time will be allowed.
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At this time, we will not be offering hot lunch.
Water Bottles and Snacks
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Students should bring a water bottle to school. Consider purchasing water bottles that can be capped or the drinking spout can be hidden.
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Hallway bubblers (drinking fountains) will not be used by students to drink from, but they may fill up their water bottles from the bottle fill-up stations.
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Students may bring snacks each day but they may not be shared with other students.
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Birthday treats must be individually wrapped and factory sealed.
Recess
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Recess is important for a child’s physical, social, and emotional well-being. Outdoor recess has always been encouraged and will continue to be encouraged.
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Recess times and locations will be staggered so that classroom units do not cross over.
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Students will use hand sanitizer or wash hands prior to going to recess and upon return to the building.
Bathrooms
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In order to minimize contact within the building, all restroom facilities will be utilized and classrooms will be assigned to a particular restroom.
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Whenever possible, hand-washing after recess or before lunch will be done inside the classroom rather than in the restrooms.
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Outer restroom doors will be propped open where it is possible.
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Bathroom breaks, apart from recesses, may be scheduled into the day to avoid congestion.
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Reminders of good hygiene will be reviewed in the classroom and posted regularly in the restrooms and throughout the school.
Music
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Choir and Choir Chimes - Students will not have these during the 1st semester of the school year. A decision regarding Choir and Choir Chimes for the second semester will be made prior to Christmas Break.
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Piano Lessons - We plan to host piano lessons at Martin Luther this school year. Piano teachers will be wearing face coverings during their lessons and will sanitize the piano and bench prior to the next student’s arrival.
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Band - The FVLS and WLA Middle School Band Programs will communicate their safety plans to the schools and the participants in the coming weeks. Martin Luther will ensure this plan fits into our overall safety expectations.
Physical Education
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When possible, P.E. classes will take place outside.
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Physical distancing will be followed as students move in and out of the locker rooms.
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P.E. equipment will be sanitized regularly.
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Classrooms will avoid intermingling with other classrooms during Phy. Ed. when they have to be indoors to minimize the risk of exposure.
Field Trips
Chapel
School Dismissal
After-School Care
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At this time a decision has been made to not offer After School Care for students as we re-open in late August. We do not feel that we can offer a program that ensures the safety and well being of the students or those that staff this program.
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This decision will be reviewed throughout the fall and Lord willing at some point in time during the year we will be able to offer this service again.
Extracurriculars and School Activities
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The Fox Valley WELS Athletic League has decided to move fall sports to the spring. Winter sports practices will begin prior to Christmas Break. All decisions regarding non-athletic after-school activities (Math Bowl, Forensics, Musicals, etc.) will be considered individually and communicated when necessary.
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All decisions regarding activities that may occur during the school day (Grandparents’ Day, Holiday festivities, etc.) will be considered individually and communicated when necessary.
Cleaning and Disinfecting Procedures
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Daily cleaning of the hallways, bathrooms, classrooms, locker rooms, and high-touch areas (door handles, light switches, bathroom faucets, etc.) will take place using approved cleaners that kill the virus. Throughout the day, high-touch areas will be sanitized and disinfected by custodial staff, teachers, students, and volunteers.
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Martin Luther will be using CDC approved cleaners and the students may assist the teachers and custodians in the cleaning of their own workspaces.
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Although it will be rare, if a classroom is used the night before for a meeting/activity, the desks will be cleaned and disinfected prior to students' arrival.
Onsite symptoms of Sickness While at School
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If a student displays symptoms of sickness during the school day (fever, new cough, unable to participate in normal classroom activity, lethargy, and/or any additional symptoms related to or consistent with COVID-19 the student will be directed to a designated isolation area.
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Parents/guardians will be notified and should pick up their children promptly.
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Parents/guardians should utilize a local or online COVID-19 screening protocol to determine whether or not the child needs to be tested for COVID 19.
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If a child is tested and tests negative for COVID-19, the child may return to school as long as no fever is present.
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A child that tests positive for COVID 19, along with any siblings, will need to remain at home for a set period of time (hereafter the “Quarantine Period”.) Currently, the Quarantine Period is 14 days. However, the Quarantine Period may change based on recommendations by the CDC or other governmental agencies, and/or changes in the law.A
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A child who is sent home due to illness, but is not tested for COVID-19, will need to remain home at home for the Quarantine Period.
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If any school family has a household member that tests positive for COVID-19, such family must notify the school. Additionally, such family’s students may not come to school: (1) until they have tested negative and provided they were quarantined from the “positive” family member; or (2) if they are not tested until the Quarantine Period has passed and the students remain symptom-free.
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All other scenarios will be addressed with the consultation of our local Health Department.
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Health Resource Link Winnebago County COVID 19 Resources
Travel
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During this pandemic, health agencies and government authorities strongly suggest that you limit your travel.
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If you must travel, please take all necessary precautions to keep your family safe. If your family decides to travel and that travel puts you at greater risk of contracting the virus, Martin Luther reserves the right to ask your child to remain at home for a designated period of time.
Overview of Virtual Learning Model
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If Martin Luther is required to shut down classrooms, or the entire school, distance learning will replace classroom learning on the following platforms: PK-2nd grade - SeeSaw; 3-8th grade - Google Classroom. At that time, teachers will provide further details, including (but not limited to) required school hours, homework pick-up/drop-off, accountability, and grading.
Summary
Our goal is multi-faceted. First and foremost, we want to provide school families and the faculty with a safe learning environment on campus. Simultaneously, we want to provide school families and students with a practical and reasonable learning experience. These guidelines will continually be reviewed in light of new research and emerging developments. At any time they may be modified to meet the needs of our school.
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