Welcome back from Winter Break! It was a cold day, and there are many more cold days in the forecast. We know it’s not cool to wear coats when you’re in middle school, but if we have a fire drill (yes, that’s a hint) or something else in the near future that requires students to be outside unexpectedly, the temperature is bordering on dangerous if you don’t have a coat. Students have lockers assigned to them if they need a place to store it during the day.
We have several upcoming things to be aware of as parents:
First, the end of 2nd Quarter and 1st Semester is next week on January 14th. Please have your student do whatever they need to do for the grade they want now and not next week. Deadlines for late work and large projects often land this week and not next week, so looking at grades now instead of at the end of the term is especially important. We’ve asked teachers to go over what can and can’t be made up, upcoming deadlines, etc. now with students as well so that there is no confusion.
Second, we will be heading into some of the preparation for next year shortly after 1st semester ends. This primarily means course selection. If you want to start the conversations with your student about what classes they are interested in, it can avoid the last-minute panic of selection during the week or two of course selection toward the end of the month. The information on our website will be updated in the next week or two so that you can start exploring early.
That’s all for now, but we’ll be sending out more time-sensitive information over the coming weeks. For now, just get things wrapped up and where you want them grade-wise for the 1st semester. If you have any questions about a class or grade, it’s much better to reach out now while there is still time to do something about it.
The National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony will be held on October 27th. Students need to be here by 5:40 pm and parents should be here by 6 pm.
We won’t test your student until you have completed pre-registration using the link below. Students not tested will be able to return to school Monday, May 10. The online registration takes the place of the paper forms noted in previous communication.
IMPORTANT BEFORE PRE-REGISTERING
Choose ‘School Site’ as the location
Just put date of exposure as today – it won’t affect anything
Ignore anything that says you’ll test at the Maverik Center – it’s still here at Elk Ridge
Ignore anything that says you’ll test between 4-7 pm – it’s still during school on Monday, May 3
First quarter ends this Friday and Fall Break is next week, October 19th – 23rd. The 26th is also a no-school day for students for grade transmittal. Have a safe, well-deserved break!
Choir Concert
Our choir students have been working very hard to prepare for their fall concert. Please look for more information, in the form of an email, from Mr. Goodrich to view the concert.
Chromebook Sleeves
In order to minimize damage to Chromebooks, all students are being provided a Chromebook sleeve this week during their 1st period class. Virtual students can pick them up this coming Friday, October 16th, from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm.
Extra Memory Books for Sale
We have a few extra memory books. If you would like to purchase one, come to the school on Friday, October 16th for $25.00 between 9:30 am- 12:30 pm There is a limited supply.
Community Council Members
We needed at least 4 members from the community, and four members were nominated. We’ll confirm their willingness to serve on the council, and let you know when our first meeting will be held ASAP.
Updated Quarantine Protocol
As announced last week, students exposed to coronavirus where both students are wearing masks can return to school with a negative test administered on the 7th day or later. We will notify you if the exposure was with or without masks, and will send you an email confirmation as well. Please don’t hesitate to call if you have any questions. More info can be found here.
Managing Quarantine Expectations & Opting to Self-Quarantine
We make every effort to keep students caught up when they are out on quarantine, and good communication is at the heart of quarantine success. But it’s definitely not as good as being here or being in a class actually designed for virtual instruction. It is intended to be a short-term solution and not a replacement for in-person or online instruction. Our goal is to lessen how behind a student is when they return, and to include them in the in-person class as much as possible. That said, it’s the splint and not the cast, and your student is still enrolled in an in-person class.
If you are opting to keep your student out for self-isolation longer than a normal quarantine, please keep in mind that quarantine is meant to be a short-term solution, and while we will do what we can to involve them, it’s designed to hold students over and not to replace the in-person class.
Quarantine Schoolwork Point of Contact
If you have been out on quarantine, you probably already know this, but Lisa Hogan is our point of contact for schoolwork help and questions when on quarantine. She can connect you with teachers, counselors and more, and will be keeping tabs on you until you can come back.
Quarantine Process at ERMS
We get a lot of questions about symptoms and quarantine. If you have any questions, feel free to use this tool to see current guidelines we have from the health department and quarantine types specific to your situation. We use a modified version of this tool when determining exposure and length of quarantine. This tool is for your information only and does not collect any data. Please contact the school if you have symptoms or confirmed exposure to a positive COVID case.
Stress and Anxiety Group
Feeling stressed out or anxious? We want to help! Let one of our counselors know and we’ll make sure we connect you with resources and others that can support you.
