August 31, 2020
Dear ROMS Parents and Guardians:
I hope that you have had an enjoyable summer and are ready for the 2020-21 school year to begin. While we are very much looking forward to welcoming all students back to school, this is an unprecedented situation and school will look different for students. The purpose of this communication is to provide families with as much information as possible about our planning process. Please understand that this information may need to change and adjust as the situation does. We are committed to ensuring that you have timely information about any changes that may need to be made.
We request that you read the information below very carefully as it is critical to ensure a safe and organized September for all.
School Start up:
Each student will attend an orientation in the first week on the following schedule:
Grade 6: Thursday, September 10--- 9:30-11 am
Grade 7: Thursday, September 10----1:15-2:45 pm
Grade 8: Friday, September 11---9:30-11 am
Limited bus service will be provided only upon request for the orientation day. To request service, please email transportation@saanichschools.ca.
The purpose of the orientation day is to provide information about class placement and to review health and safety routines. Please don’t send any school supplies with your child on their orientation day, your child’s teacher will share the plan for school supplies on that day.
We ask that parents/guardians please drop off their children no more than 15 minutes early and remain off the school grounds for health and safety reasons. Please make an appointment through the school office to meet with school staff if necessary.
Please send your student to school wearing a mask (if this is not possible masks will be provided).
Further information regarding supports for students impacted by immune suppression will be available to families early next week.
Full school days and bus service will begin on Monday, September 14. Please ensure that you have registered for the bus through the Saanich Schools website.
Structure of the School Day
The beginning and end of the school day may be staggered for some students/classes but will be very similar to the schedule in previous years. The school schedule will be available on the school website by Tues, September 1.
Students will spend the bulk of their day with their homeroom class of no more than 30 students.
Students will have break time with a partner class (maintaining cohorts of under 60 students). Breaks will be divided so that cohorts have separate spaces to enjoy their breaks.
Students will continue to participate in elective classes (including band) and physical education. If they are taught by a staff member outside of their cohort, PPE and/or physical distancing will be used.
Health and Safety Routines
Administrative staff will develop routines and schedules in the following areas:
Hand washing and hand sanitizing
Hallway movement directions and routines
Entering into different doors and/or staggered times
Requiring masks in hallways/common areas/buses and anywhere where students are not in their cohort. Students will be provided with two reusable masks at the beginning of the school year
More information regarding daily health checks and other health and safety measures will be shared with families early next week
Cohort identification - students will be given a coloured wristband to wear for the first few weeks in order to identify their cohort. This will help us ensure that they stay in their cohort when they are outside at recess and lunch as they will be given a designated area to play in.
Action Items for Parents
Review the above routines with your student
Notify the school by Friday, August 28 if you have an alternative plan for your student (i.e Distributed Learning)
If you require bus service for the orientation day (September 10/11) please contact transportation@saanichschools.ca by September 2.
We understand that the COVID pandemic has been extremely stressful for families and that there is significant apprehension regarding the start of school. We are committed to working alongside families and students to make this experience as positive and rewarding as possible. As always, we look forward to having students back at school learning and having some fun along the way.
Sincerely,
Karen MacEwan, Principal