Logan-Rogersville R-VIII

LR understands how important Before/After School CatCare is to our working families. We know when school is in session, CatCare needs to be in session as well. As we begin the 2021-2022 school year, we want families to know that health and safety are a top priority for students participating in the CatCare program.

Will Before/After School CatCare be available at each of the three elementary schools?
Yes. Before/After School CatCare will be available at all three of the elementary schools. Students must be dropped off and picked up at the school they attend. There will be no bus transportation from one school to another for Before/After School CatCare.

Will masks be required in CatCare?
Students and staff will be required to wear masks while in CatCare when physical distance is not able to be maintained since students are no longer with their classroom grouping (cohort).

What other precautions will be taken during CatCare?

Frequent hand washing opportunities will be provided throughout the morning, and good hygiene practices will be encouraged. Students will be assigned to a group to help with physical distancing and contact tracing. Routine cleaning/sanitation will take place before, during and after each session.

Will my child’s school supplies be shared by everyone?
School supplies will not be shared this year. School supply lists are available here.

How will my student’s specials classes look this year?
Will return to their normal classrooms for 2021-2022. Classrooms will be provided with the appropriate cleaning supplies.

Will children get to go to recess?
Yes. Schedules will be created by Principals to limit the number of student groups on the playground at the same time.

Can I attend school parties or have lunch with my student?
School parties will look different for 2021-2022. The LR PTA is brainstorming with Principals and we are confident they will make the school tradition of class parties a positive experience for students this year. Parents will be allowed to have lunch with their student in a specified location depending on the Return to Learn response level at that time. Visitors may be restricted for 2021-2022 depending on the response level at that time.

Will my child’s class go on field trips or have guest speakers?
Field trips will be determined based on the current level of the Return to Learn plan. Teachers will work to provide rich experiences through virtual trips and online guest speakers when necessary.

LR is committed to providing quality meals for breakfast and lunch during the 2021-2022 school year. The following procedures have been put into place to ensure the health and safety of students and employees while providing nutritious meals on a daily basis.

How will my child be protected during meal time?
All staff are trained in food safety and will adhere to public health guidelines. LR is working on the least amount of touch points as possible and will work to limit contact points with meal service. 

How will physical distancing be practiced during breakfast and lunch?
Breakfast:

• Elementary (PK – 5): will be provided in the classroom. Students will enter the school and go directly to the classroom, or directly to the cafeteria to pick up their breakfast for the classroom. Breakfast plans may adjust as needed.
• Secondary (6 – 12): will be a combination of grab-n-go and seated (physical distancing) in the cafeteria. Grab-n-go is a reimbursable meal students can take to their classroom. All students are provided the option for breakfast at LR, regardless of how late a bus or student arrives.

Lunch:

• Elementary (K-5): schedules will be created by each Principal to allow for physical distancing and cohorting. Some students will eat in the cafeteria with their class, and other classes may eat lunch in their classroom, possibly on a rotation schedule.
• Secondary (6-12): students will have options to eat lunch in alternative classrooms/spaces in order to accommodate for physical distancing. Modified and/or additional lunch periods may also be provided.

Will students and staff be required to wear a mask?
The CDC has deemed transportation a high risk area for viral load and given an order mandating masks be worn while on school buses. LR is sharing with parents the guidance from our health leaders and echoes the health leaders’ recommendation that students should wear a mask in school. LR strongly recommends that parents send their children to school in a mask and talk to them about the importance of wearing their mask properly to ensure everyone can benefit from this layer of protection. Administrators and staff will support students’ efforts to wear a mask.

What will be the protocol for a sick student?
We have worked with our local health departments to establish a response to student or staff illnesses. Guidelines for fever free will be 24 hours WITHOUT fever reducing medications. Parents must contact their child’s school when students are absent or become ill. Students with COVID symptoms at school will be immediately placed in a safe space, masked, and with the nurse/counselor until parents arrive.

How do I bring medicine to school?
When you have the medicine and the doctor’s consent form, please drop off medications at the school office or arrange a time to meet with the school nurse.
 

If students get sick or have to self-quarantine, how will they access instruction?
Alternative methods of instruction will be made available when in-person instruction is not possible. Alternative methods of instruction may include, but are not limited to virtual courses. 

We have a high-risk medical situation in our family, what are our options besides in-person school for 21-22?
Students needing an alternative to in-person instruction, due to a high-risk medical situation may contact their child’s school. Procedures are in place to partner with families to determine what is in the “best educational interest” of a student.

We understand that during this unusual time, many students are faced with additional stress and/or anxiety. As always, we want to partner with families to support students in the best way possible. Please contact your child’s counselor if your child is experiencing any issues.

If my child is anxious or concerned about returning to school, what can I do to help?
Talk to your child and find out the reason for their concern. Provide them reassurance and answer their questions, share information pertaining to their concern and seek answers if you are unaware. As always, reach out to your child’s school for additional assistance.

How will the social-emotional health of my child be addressed when classroom instruction resumes?
Counselors will focus on the social-emotional health of students. Activities will be focused on awareness, identification, and assessment of potential concerns that would warrant further communication.

Counselors will collaborate with teachers on classroom activities to address student mental health upon return to school.

Teachers will provide classroom lessons on school expectations and structure around health, safety, and physical distancing practices to help students re-adjust to an in-person school schedule.

What type of services are available for my student through the school?
School counselors are wonderful outlets for kids when they are feeling stressed or overwhelmed with school or life in general. We encourage parents to talk to their children daily in order partner with the school counselors to meet the needs of students. Please let us know about any concerns.

Without a universal mask mandate, modified quarantine measures are not available.

LR recognizes the importance of providing special services to eligible students. Health and safety are a top priority for all students.

Will special education students, EL students, gifted students, and others be pulled out of the room for instruction?
We plan to maintain student grouping (cohorts) and physical distancing when feasible. In order to meet the individual needs of each student, some students will receive services in the classroom and others will receive appropriate services outside their regular classroom. 

How will my student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) services be delivered?
Given current health department guidelines for August, we plan to implement each in-person student’s IEP as written, i.e., if the student’s services are written for the special education environment, they will receive services in that setting. If services are written for the regular education environment, we will provide services in the student’s regular classroom. Safety precautions will be taken between groups of students coming in and out of the special education setting. Should health department guidelines change, we may need to adjust these practices; however, all potential changes will be discussed with the parent/guardian.

How will IEP meetings take place in the fall?
IEP meetings will be held either in-person or virtually to accommodate parents. Any in-person meetings will be held in a location where social distancing guidelines can be appropriately followed.

LR plans to provide students the opportunity to participate in extra and co-curricular activities. While offering these opportunities, the district will prioritize the health and safety of students and staff by adhering to the county health department recommendations and the guidelines from MSHSAA (Missouri State High School Activities Association). We understand that as we abide by those recommendations some, if not all, of those opportunities may be limited in the extent to which they can be provided.

When competitions/games begin, will spectators be allowed?
LR will follow Greene County Health Department guidance on occupancy. Spectator attendance could be limited. We are working on partnerships to broadcast activities and contests.

What is MSHSAA and the Big 8 Conference planning?
MSHSAA and the Big 8 Conference Executive Committee may further outline guidelines on how athletics and activities will be offered at district high schools and middle schools. As a district, we understand the importance of offering these opportunities to our students and will continue to make every effort to do so. However, we know there may be decisions made by local, state, or national organizations that may prohibit some, if not all, extracurricular activities from taking place.

What can parents/guardians do to help?
Moving forward, this will be a collaborative effort and safety is our priority. All coaches and students must, prior to reporting to any district site, self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms and exposure. Should they have any current symptoms of COVID-19 or if they come into close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19, they must stay at home and contact their doctor, school, and county health department for guidance.

Will participation in sports and activities be allowed if a student is a full-time online student?
For several years, LR has maintained the position that students must be enrolled in at least four (4) in-person classes / approved programs of study such as GOCAPS and OTC. Eligibility of full-time online LR students is under consideration for MSHSAA activities. We will provide an update and decision on eligibility as soon as possible. Currently...Full-time virtual students at LR are not eligible for sports and activities.

If the high school or middle school is online instead of in-person, will games and activities still go on?
If at any point during the school year, it is deemed necessary to halt in-person school, all activities and sports must also be deemed as unsafe for students and coaches.

For the most up to date information from the MSHSAA website, click here.

LR strongly encourages parents to transport their students to school to help with physical distancing on school buses.

Will my child be required to wear a mask on the bus?
Yes, the CDC has ordered masking on all public transportation, which includes public school buses. CDC Order. 

How will physical distancing work on a bus?
Family units will sit together and no more than two (2) non-family members per seat. The seat behind the driver will be vacant and students will load and unload in a particular order to allow for the least amount of intermingling as students enter and exit the bus.

How often are school buses disinfected?
Buses will be disinfected after each route morning and afternoon, A & B, and mid-day routes.

What additional sanitization precautions are being used on the bus?
Hand sanitizer will be provided and used each AM route as students board the bus. Teachers will have students wash their hands or use hand sanitizer as they leave class each afternoon to help speed up the boarding process at the schools. 

Will transportation be provided for special requests (bus passes) for the 2021-2022 school year?
No. To help the county health departments with contact tracing, we must have an accurate and consistent bus roster. Therefore, only a primary and secondary address/bus stop will be allowed. We understand the inconvenience, but we also will not be able to accommodate bus passes.