Category: Wally the Wapiti

General news and announcements from the desk of Wally the Wapiti.

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COVID-19 Skylert Wally the Wapiti

Skylert: Negative COVID Tests, Community Council

Fall Break and End of 1st Quarter

First quarter ends tomorrow 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!

Negative Test Results

If your student has been on quarantine and wants to return after 7 days, the following must apply:

  • The exposure must have been when both students were wearing masks (noted in quarantine email)
  • The student must have a negative COVID test administered on the 7th day or later from the last date of exposure
  • The student must bring a printed copy of the results that includes ALL of the following:
    • Student Name
    • Date of Test Administration (on 7th day after last exposure or later)
    • Notice of Negative Result

All negative results will be verified with the health department, but students will be allowed to return with the printout of results while we wait for verification. We are told that screenshots of results are no longer acceptable. More info on the new quarantine procedures can be found here.

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 tomorrow, 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 tomorrow, October 16th for $25.00 between 9:30 am- 12:30 pm There is a limited supply.

Community Council Meeting

Our first community council meeting will be held on October 28th at 4 pm via Zoom. A link will be posted on our website and sent out via Skylert. If you have any questions or topics, please let us know and we’ll make sure it’s on the agenda.

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.

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COVID-19 Wally the Wapiti

Updated Quarantine Protocol

This message was sent to parents on 10/8/2020 regarding changes made at the state level to quarantines due to exposure in schools.

At Elk Ridge specifically, all those currently on quarantine were notified via email today if the change affected them or not based on whether a mask was worn at the time of exposure. All future quarantines will include that information at the time of notification.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The Utah Department of Health, under the direction of Governor Herbert, has approved adjustments to the 14-day quarantine. Students who have been quarantined due to an in-school exposure, while wearing a mask, may return to school if they are symptom-free, and have a negative test result after day 7 of quarantine. The test may be taken on day 7. State officials and medical experts indicate that this new guidance aligns with the best medical practice. 

The following are key points provided by the State:

  • Masks are effective at preventing transmission in classroom settings
  • This only applies to mask on mask exposure
  • Only applies to exposures that occurred in school
  • % of individuals who will develop symptoms do so on: 
    • Day 7 -75%, 
    • Day 9 – 90% 
    • Day 11- 95%
    • Testing picks up positive cases two days before symptoms onset; therefore, testing on day 7 means there is less than a 10% chance that an individual will contract after day 7
  • This is for individual exposures, and does not pertain to the threshold recommendations for classroom or school virtual learning 

The COVID-19 School Manual will be updated to reflect this change but the change takes effect immediately and applies to students who are currently on quarantine.  A student who was exposed at school to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 may return to school or related activities if he or she meets ALL of the following:  

  1. The school verifies the student and the person who tested positive were both wearing a face mask.
  2. The quarantined student has a negative COVID-19 test (rapid tests are acceptable, antibody tests are not) at least 7 days after the last exposure to the person who tested positive.
  3. The student does not have symptoms of COVID-19.

Additional Information

  • These guidelines only apply to exposures that occur at school. 
  • If the student does not meet ALL three criteria or chooses not to get tested, he or she should continue to quarantine at home for 14 days from the last day of exposure. 
  • Anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19 and comes back to school must continue to watch for symptoms. If students get symptoms, they should isolate at home and call their healthcare provider.

Testing Information

  • We are working with the Salt Lake County Health Department and other test providers to make additional testing sites available in our communities. 
  • Rapid tests are acceptable
  • Antibody tests are not acceptable
  • State Covid Hotline number can provide additional information on testing 1-800-456-7707
  • Contact your primary care provider
  • Utah Testing Sites Locator

More information will be forthcoming as it becomes available. 

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COVID-19 PTSA Skylert Wally the Wapiti

Skylert: Swag, Retakes, Red Ribbon Week

School Masks & Shirts

With the Wapiti Store not an option for the foreseeable future, we’ve decided to use those resources to provide students with either an Elk Ridge mask or water bottle, and a shirt. For those students who are learning from home, either full-time or just while on quarantine, we’ll have an official pickup time this Friday, Oct 9th from 10 – 11 am just inside the front door. If you miss that window for some reason, just let us know in the main office.

It’s Red Ribbon Week!

Red Ribbon Week starts today, and our PTSA has a lot of excitement in store. To get in on the fun, follow this Instagram account. Red Ribbon week runs from 10/5 to 10/9. The theme is “We’ll get through this together.” Each day has a different activity:

  • Monday: Don’t go crazy on social media (Crazy Sock Day)
  • Tuesday: Together we can do hard things (Dress Like Twins Day)
  • Wednesday: Team kindness (Team Jersey Day)
  • Thursday: It’s a great day to be a Wapiti! (Wapiti Gear Day)

Take a picture dressed in each day’s theme and tag @elkridge_redribbon on Instagram to be entered to win cool prizes!

Picture Retakes (Including Virtual Students)

Retakes for student pictures will take place on October 7th from 8 – 9 am. For those coming from home, just stop by the main office upon arriving. The order form can be found here and in the main office. You can order them online using this Picture Day ID: EVTG2DGJR

District Virtual Change Requests due Oct. 6th

If you are hoping to move from virtual to in-person or from in-person to virtual, you must submit that request in Skyward by Oct. 6th. Instructions were emailed out, and can be found here. 

Space for such moves will be extremely limited, and will be based within the existing virtual learning staffing and framework established by the district.

Community Council Nominations and Vote

We will hold a vote next week via Skylert if needed. You can nominate people here, and get more information on the school community council 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.

Chalk Art Festival

Our Chalk Art Festival will be happening on Friday, October 9th, and students can participate in person or from home. Applications for in-person and online participants can be found here. In-person participant applications were due to Mrs. Gonzales by October 1st. Contact her if you are still interested in participating in any form.

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.

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COVID-19 Registration Wally the Wapiti

2nd Quarter Virtual/In-Person Changes

What follows was sent to parents by the Jordan School District regarding format change requests for 2nd quarter from in-person to virtual and vice versa. Please note that a request does not guarantee the change will occur, as open seats across the district are very limited.

Due to minimal availability in both virtual and in-person courses, virtual and in-person placement changes will be limited.

If you would still like to request a potential change for 2nd quarter, please complete the Quarter 2 Virtual/In-Person Change form. Even if you have already been added to a wait-list at your local school, you will still need to complete the form.

The Quarter 2 Virtual/In-Person Change form must be completed by Tuesday, October 6th at midnight to be considered for a possible change to your student’s 2nd Quarter virtual or in-person placement.  This deadline can not be extended.  Only complete this form if you are requesting to change your student’s current online schedule to an in-person schedule and vice-versa.  A separate form is required for each student.  

Skyward instructions:

You will need to log in to Skyward Family Access in a web browser.  This form does not work in the mobile version of Skyward.  If you need assistance with your Skyward login and password, please contact your school.  Once logged in, select the link for “Online Forms” in the tabs on the left.  Select the student for whom you want to submit a request. There are two steps that need to be completed.  On step 2, you must select “Submit Term 2 Learning Option” to complete the form.   You will receive a confirmation email after you have completed the form.  If you do not receive this email, please contact your school.  

 *** (The drop down options here are:  1)  Online to In-Person, 2) In-Person to Online, 3) Partial In-Person & Online)

As the parent/guardian of the student for which this form has been completed, I acknowledge that my student will participate in the option selected for the duration of 2nd Quarter, upon approval of this request.  I understand that completion of this form does not guarantee approval of this request.  Approval is based on space availability for both in-person and virtual classes. 

*** Parent/Guardian Acknowledgement:   (Yes)

Your request for term 2 has been completed for this student.  Completion of this request does not guarantee approval of the request.  Approval is based on space availability for both in-person and virtual classes.  If you request option 3, you must email your school counselor which courses your student wants to take, either in-person or virtually.  If your request has been approved, you will be contacted by your student’s school counselor.  Once committed to in-person or virtual learning, your student must continue with that selection for the duration of 2nd quarter.

*** These sections will be the drop down menu options in the skyward form. 

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PTSA Wally the Wapiti

Red Ribbon Week

It’s Red Ribbon Week!

Red Ribbon Week starts today, and our PTSA has a lot of excitement in store. To get in on the fun, follow this Instagram account. Red Ribbon week runs from 10/5 to 10/9. The theme is “We’ll get through this together.” Each day has a different activity:

  • Monday: Don’t go crazy on social media (Crazy Sock Day)
  • Tuesday: Together we can do hard things (Dress Like Twins Day)
  • Wednesday: Team kindness (Team Jersey Day)
  • Thursday: It’s a great day to be a Wapiti! (Wapiti Gear Day)

Take a picture dressed in each day’s theme and tag @elkridge_redribbon on Instagram to be entered to win cool prizes!

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COVID-19 PTC's PTSA Skylert Wally the Wapiti

Skylert: Community Council, Red Ribbon Week

PTC Survey

Now that parent-teacher conferences are over, we want to know how it went and what we can do to improve communication. If you could take this brief survey, we’d love your feedback!

Community Council Nominations

Would you like to be involved in the big picture planning at Elk Ridge? If you or someone you know would like to join, let us know using this form. Depending on interest, we’ll send out a voting form once nominees are confirmed. Thanks for you nominations in advance!

Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon Week starts next Monday, and our PTSA has a lot of excitement in store. To get in on the fun, follow this Instagram account. Red Ribbon week runs from 10/5 to 10/9.

Picture Retakes 

Retakes for student pictures will take place on October 7th. More information to come.

Chalk Art Festival

Our Chalk Art Festival will be happening on October 9th, and students can participate in person or from home. Applications for in-person and online participants can be found here. In-person participant applications are due to Mrs. Gonzales by October 1st at 3 pm.

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.

Categories
Wally the Wapiti

Chalk Art Festival

It’s time for the Chalk Art Festival, and we can’t wait to see what you come up with. This year’s theme is: “Courageous, Caring, and Cactus.”

Because we have students in person and at home, we’ll be running both a social media and at-school event.

The festival for all students will take place on Friday, October 9th.

For those participating at school, you will come in on a Friday to decorate your section of the front of the school. Use this link to apply by October 1st at 3 pm:

In-Person Festival Application

For students participating at home, you can find all the information you need to make a submission using this link:

Social Media Festival Application

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Gonzales.

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Wally the Wapiti

SBO Election Videos

It’s time to vote on this year’s Student Body Officers. Use the links below to access the videos for your grade. You’ll cast your actual votes during your language arts class on Monday, September 28th.

7th Grade SBO’s
8th Grade SBO’s
9th Grade SBO’s

Enjoy, and vote wisely! For students participating virtually, your ballot has been emailed to your school email address.

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COVID-19 PTC's Skylert Wally the Wapiti

Schedule a Parent-Teacher Conference

UPDATE: If you are having issues entering the meeting, please go back to the Zoom link list and try again. A few links required passcodes and have been fixed.

Parent-teacher conferences are this week, and will be held virtually. We appreciate your patience with another new process. By the end of this school year, we’ll be capable of so much more than we ever thought possible.

Important Note: Meetings with teachers don’t have to just happen now during the conference, and are not required. If you ever want to meet with a teacher, just email or call to set up a time. We want meaningful, two-way communication and we’ll take it whenever it works for you.

Another Important Note: We ask that appointments be kept to around 5 minutes. If you need a meeting with a teacher that will take longer than that, please reach out to the teacher directly.

One Last Important Note: If the technology doesn’t work on your end or ours, don’t panic. We’ll figure it out and schedule it once it does. Just let the teacher know.

For students in virtual classes, visit this sheet for Zoom meeting links and information. All in-person students should follow these steps:

Step 1: Video Recaps

With conferences, there is often a lot of information that applies to the whole class. Each teacher has made a video of what’s happening in their classes for you to view prior to scheduling an appointment.

Video Recaps

If you still have a question after viewing the video recap for a particular teacher, move on to Step 2.

Step 2: Schedule an Appointment

If you still have questions or something to discuss with a teacher, use the button below to book an appointment. Teachers will be primarily available:

  • Wednesday from 4 – 8 pm
  • Thursday from 4 – 7:30 pm
  • Additional times vary by teacher
Schedule an Appointment

Keep in mind that appointment slots may fill up quickly. It’s okay. If you are unable to find an appointment slot that works for you, please contact the teacher to set up an appointment. Communication can happen all year, and at almost any time.

Step 3: Join the Meeting

When your appointment time arrives, go back to the sheet where you signed up for the appointment to click the Zoom link for that teacher.

Join a Zoom Meeting

You will enter a waiting room where the teacher will be able to see who is waiting and bring you into a private meeting at your scheduled time. Drop-ins are accepted, but only if an appointment hasn’t shown or no one signed up for the slot.

Step 4: That’s It

Really, that’s all. And not to sound like a broken record, but if you don’t get the time you need or the technology breaks, just let us know and we’ll get you in touch with the teacher. Our goal is to communicate with you about your student to whatever degree is needed, so just reach out and we’ll get it figured out.

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COVID-19 PTSA Skylert Wally the Wapiti

Skylert: Parent Conferences, Curbside Lunch

Parent-Teacher Conferences Update

Parent-teacher conferences are September 23rd and 24th. Due to COVID-19, conferences will be held virtually this year. We will send out more information on Monday and post it on our website, but here are the basic steps for you as a parent:

  1. Review recap videos from teachers (available Monday afternoon) for general information about each class
  2. If you need to meet with a teacher, make an appointment (links on the website Monday afternoon)
  3. At the time of your appointment, connect via Zoom.

While drop-in conferences are possible between 4-8 pm on Wednesday and 4-7:30 pm on Thursday, an appointment ensures the teacher is available. If you are unable to connect with a teacher for any reason, please contact the teacher to set up a time to meet. Our goal is meaningful two-way communication, so please reach out if this format doesn’t work for any reason.

In order to meet with as many parents as possible, we are asking that meetings be no longer than 5 minutes. Please also only set up an appointment if you need to speak to the teacher live and email or phone communication that happens normally won’t suffice. As a reminder, you are always able to set up an appointment to call, email or video conference with a teacher, regardless of the time of year. Read next Monday’s Skylert, check back on our website, and watch for information from your teachers for appointment and Zoom links for next week’s conference.

Curbside Lunch/Breakfast Service

Elk Ridge, along with South Hills and Joel P. Jensen, will be offering curbside and walk-up lunch/breakfast to-go meals for any JSD students regardless of grade level who are attending school virtually.

Prepared meals (lunch today, breakfast tomorrow) will be available in front of the school from 10-11 am. As with in-person lunches, all meals for students will be free of charge through the remainder of 2020. Menu options will vary based on what is being served in school each day. Students attending in-person should eat at the regular time in the cafeteria.

Last Chance to Get Prepaid Memory Books

Memory Books have arrived! If you have already purchased a memory book, just swing by the main office to pick it up. If your student is at another school, you can pick up your memory book at the main doors of Elk Ridge on Sept. 16 (Wed) from 5 pm – 7 pm.

At this point, we do not have extra memory books for sale. If some become available, we’ll let you know. The books look simply amazing, and we appreciate our PTSA’s ongoing efforts with this and so many other things!

PTSA Ambassador Application Deadline Extended

You can now submit your application to the PTSA Ambassadors until September 24th. It’s a great way to get involved and serve others. Talk to Kimberly Gilbert with any questions.

PTSA Newsletter & Reflections Contest

Our PTSA Fall Newsletter and annual Reflections contest are now live. Visit this link to view the newsletter and get information on the contest.

Quarantine and Symptom Check Online Tool

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.

Online Courses

Online courses are up and running, and you should be underway. If you have any lingering logistics with online courses, please let us know and we’ll do what we can to help.

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.

Friday Appointments

If your student is coming to the building on Friday, please remember that in order to limit people in the building, we ask that parents remain at home or outside. If you are dropping off your student, arrange a time to pick them up or have your student call home when finished. Thank you for your understanding!

Friday Priorities

In a word, Friday is about differentiation. Our goals each Friday are to:

  1. Meet individual needs of students
  2. Provide flexibility via individual or small-group instruction (virtual and in-person)
  3. Extend learning from earlier in the week and prepare students for the upcoming week
  4. Preparation and collaboration according to normal Fridays

What Work on Friday Should Be

  • Based on what teachers have seen earlier in the week
  • A time to meet the individual needs of students
  • Reworking and demonstrating learning
  • Activities at the level of the student

What Work on Friday is NOT

  • Another day of class as usual, but online
  • A day off of school
  • Busywork

The Question to Always Ask

Whether you are a parent or a teacher, the ultimate litmus test regarding what you are doing on Fridays is:

Is what happens on Friday helping my student succeed?

This year is full of unknowns. Fridays were set aside by the school board to help teachers be more responsive to the needs of students, and to actually give them time and space to do so. 

It should not be business as usual. It should be better business than ever before. It’s a day for the hopes and dreams of educators everywhere to become a reality: to have time to effectively and thoroughly differentiate for our students. Not everyone needs the same thing on Friday, and the goal is for Friday to become a day personalized to what each student needs.