Isanti Middle School

2020-21 Back to School - Parent News 8-22-20

Update 8-22-2020

IMS Families,

As we continue to develop and finalize plans we want to keep you up-to-date on specifics through this format. As always, we place the health and safety of our students and staff as our top priority, as our plans strive for consistency, predictability, and routine in our lessons, services and delivery models. We know that this year will be unlike any other. COVID community transmission rates will likely require multiple changes throughout the 2020-2021 school year. Practices, procedures, and protocols will continue to be refined to ensure IMS is as safe as possible for students and staff. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to explore how each change impacts our school community.

In all, we remain committed to our mission to is to motivate individual learners to take ownership of their education and demonstrate exceptional character through highly effective staff delivering outstanding instruction with rigorous and relevant learning opportunities.

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Update Skyward FAMILY Access

Update Skyward FAMILY Access

The start of a new school year is a great time to check the information we have on file for your child. Did you know you can access your student's grades, schedule, or teacher contact information from home? Follow the link below to login to your Family Access account. Contact the IMS Main Office at 763-691-8600 with questions about your login credentials. Also, please make sure that your contact information is up to date. Email is the main form of communication used by Isanti Middle School.

Link to Skyward Family Access

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Student Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures

The following information will help to explain the drop-off and pick-up procedures at IMS.

Please note: Additional staff in yellow vests will be assisting and directing the flow of traffic the first few days of school.

Students may be dropped off at IMS starting at 8:00am. The building open about 8:05. Students are asked to report directly to their first hour class upon entry into the building. This is a significant change from past years. We are intentionally keeping the building closed to students until 8:05 to encourage students to arrive later than has happened in the past.

General Procedures: To provide a safe drop-off and pick-up zone in front of Isanti Middle School, the direction of traffic is indicated by the diagram below. IMS only has one entrance for student drop-off and pick-up. As you enter and exit, please drive slowly and with caution. Please share this information with anyone you have designated to transport your child to or from school. Only vehicles with approved Disability plates/tags are allowed in the bus lot or the Handicap, Emergency Vehicle, Staff lots on the south side of the building for student drop-off or pick-up.

Morning Drop-off: In the morning, students are to be dropped off using the right lane only (Blue lane in diagram). The inside lane (White lane) is to be used as a through lane or to access a parking spot. Vehicles exiting the parking lot need to do so with caution.

Afternoon Pick-up - Staggered Departure: In the afternoon we anticipate releasing students in two waves to reduce the number and congestion of students leaving the building.

Bus student release (3:15): We anticipate releasing Bus riders at the 3:15 bell. These students will go right to their busses and the busses will depart.
Walkers & Riders (~3:22): As soon as the busses begin to depart we will release students who walked/biked to school or are getting picked up. Students are to be picked in the right lane only (Blue lane in diagram). The inside lane is used for through traffic only or to access the CMS parking lot. NOTE: If traffic begins to back up onto Centennial Drive, we ask that vehicles do not park in the entrance turn lane. Students should only be picked up at the sidewalk going around the parking lot.

Various times of the year bring an increase in the number of vehicles transporting students. Everyone must exercise patience. Please keep these important safety issues in mind, and share this information with others who may be transporting your child.

As always, your patience and grace as we start back to school is GREATLY appreciated. With the changes in our transportation plan we have 2-3 times the number of buses coming to our school in the morning and afternoon. Add to this the increased vehicle traffic as we expect more students to be dropped off and picked up each day.

Our commitment to student, staff, and family safety requires the COOPERATION OF EVERYONE!!

Please review the images below for a visual of how this process looks.

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Lockers and Backpacks

Student lockers WILL NOT be assigned to start the year. Instead, students will be permitted to bring a small bag or backpack with them to the classroom where it can be stored under their desk, on the back of their chair, or in a location determined by the teacher. As the year progresses we will look to updated health guidelines to make decisions about the appropriateness of assigning a lockers.

Students participating in extra-curricular activities requiring equipment being brought to and from school will work with their coaches and advisors regarding storing equipment during the school day.

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Cafeteria Spaces and Lunch Procedures

We will continue to offer three grade level lunch shifts this year. However, do to spacing requirements, the need to manage the flow of students into the cafeteria, and additional time to clean and sanitize tables and chairs between the lunches, we are spreading out our lunch times this year.

8th Grade - 1st Lunch (11:04-11:39) right after 3rd period
7th Grade - 2nd Lunch (11:57-12:32) right after 4th period
6th Grade - 3rd Lunch (12:50-1:25) right after 5th period

*Times may change as we are still working on the schedule.

Tables will be spread out even more than they have been in the past. Additionally, seating at each table will be limited to allow for social distancing. Typically 12 students tables will be limited to 6 students, and 8 student tables will be reduced to 4 students.

Hybrid Model: We anticipate ALL students attending each day will be able to fit into the cafeteria.
In-Person Model: We will utilize the auditorium as our secondary cafeteria when we have all students in the building. I am looking to have students who bring cold lunch to school going directly to the auditorium for their lunch. This will allow us to limit the traffic in the cafeteria along with limiting the seating.

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Water Bottle Filling Stations

Students - Please bring a water bottle to school.

All drinking fountains will be turned off at this time. However, the water bottle filling stations will remain in use and will be added to the high touch list of cleaning items. We encourage students to bring water bottles to school to fill throughout the day.

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RETURN TO LEARN WEBSITE

Please continue to explore the Cambridge-Isanti School's Return to Learn Website. This is where you can find general information on Health and Safety, Learning Models, Frequently Asked Questions, and much more. Click HERE to directed to the C-I Return to Learn Website.

As a school district, we continue to coordinate logistics to launch a safe and successful Return to Learn. Since last week, we have updated information on our website related to Early Childhood, childcare, free and reduced meal program, C-I Schools Online, transportation, new school start and end times, etc.

For your convenience, you can navigate directly to these pages by clicking on the links provided here:

Early Childhood
Childcare Page

Tier 1 Childcare Registration deadline - August 21

Food Service and Free and Reduced Applications
C-I Schools Online Program
- Online curriculum videos to be posted on August 20
- Online Registration deadline - August 21
- Online Orientation - week of August 24
- Online Chromebook Distribution - week of August 31
Transportation
New School Start and End Times