Dear 5th Grade Parents and Guardians,
Happy Monday! While Daylight Savings and rainy weather make for a gloomy start to the week, I have exciting news that will hopefully brighten things. Beginning next Monday, March 22, our 5th graders will be joining us full-time (Monday-Friday) at the elementary campus.
I hope your 5th grader has enjoyed having classes onsite at the middle and upper campus. They have truly inhabited the Life Skills of flexibility, perseverance, and curiosity as they explore what will be their new campus next year. That said, it feels good to return to a feeling that is more typical, a little at a time, and I'm so happy we will be together this spring at elementary after departing a year ago.
We feel confident that we can have all K-5 elementary students back on campus safely. We will continue to use all the mitigation strategies your student is already familiar with, including maintaining stable groups, wearing masks, staying physically distanced, handwashing/hand-sanitizing, daily symptom screening (via SchoolPass), and COVID-19 testing. Regarding masks in particular, we've received updated recommendations from our contacts at LACDPH, suggesting that double-masking (wearing two face masks) increases their effectiveness or to use one KN95 mask. We highly encourage double-mask wearing as a preventative measure for all students and faculty. Week of March 22: Updated Schedules Students who are currently onsite: You do not need to do anything in order for your student to attend the week of March 22. Simply drop your 5th grader off at the elementary campus at the new time listed below. Please note the drop-off/pick-up time adjustments for full-time onsite learning.
Students who are offsite but would like to transition onsite for the week of March 22: Given the location change, we wanted to offer the opportunity for all students, even those who opted to stay home through March, to join in this week on the elementary campus. Please let us know if your offsite student (Zoomie) will now be onsite during the week of March 22 by emailing K-5CovidInfo@wildwood.org by 2 p.m. on Friday, March 19.
All families will have the opportunity to evaluate their onsite plans for April following spring break with a new participation survey sent closer to that time.
Updated Drop-Off and Pick-Up Schedule: Los Angeles County Department of Health (LACDPH) is allowing us to define the entire 5th grade as one stable group. Based on this, we have adjusted the schedule starting on March 22 so that all three 5th grade classes (5A, 5B, 5C) have the same drop-off and pick-up times, while still staggering with other grades at elementary. Please note that if you have a sibling, you may drop everyone off at the earliest time.
All School Meeting (ASM) Fridays: Please stay tuned for information on All School Meeting time adjustments for onsite weeks after spring break.
Updated Route Map: Click here for the updated route map of the elementary parking lot, as well as updated classroom spaces. Fifth graders will be dropped off in the lane close to Big Yard. Their classroom spaces will be in the Commons and two of the Pod rooms (the former Dolphin and Seal Pod, to be specific). These are large rooms with plenty of ventilation. Please have your student wear layers as windows and doors will be open, even on these chilly, rainy days.
What to Bring: We do not have our lunch service right now. Please make sure your student comes with a packed lunch and snack each day, in labeled containers. They are able to fill their water bottle with filtered water. COVID-19 Testing Before Coming Onsite and During the School Day All students returning to the elementary campus are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result within the week before their return.
If your student is currently onsite, you will not need to submit results, as they will be tested this week during their school day (and a consolidated report goes to Christina Kyong, lead pandemic coordinator).
Students who are currently offsite can either arrange for testing on their own, or plan on being tested on campus on Tuesday, March 23. If you would like your student to be tested and you haven't already completed your form and initial one-time telemedicine consultation appointment for Mend Urgent Care, please do so. Click here for more information about getting a copy of results from our testing with Mend Urgent Care.
Week of March 22—Testing During the School Day: Although we will be away for spring break the following week, we will still offer testing for students during the school day during the week of March 22. Please note that this testing will be with Mend Urgent Care. Daily Procedures and Reminders Click here for a quick checklist of reminders before departing for campus including reviewing the daily parent/guardian checklist, completing the wellness check, drop-off/pick-up procedures and placards, and what to pack with your student. You can also find updated information, including schedules, required forms, important links, and documents on our Elementary School Distributed Learning webpage at wildwood.org/eledistributedlearning. Please bookmark and check this page regularly.
Lastly, as we approach spring break, please be aware that your actions and choices over during this time off could impact your child and potentially their classmates, as well as alter our plans. Please continue to adhere to the CDC travel guidance and the LACDPH Health Officer Orders.
As always, feel free to contact K-5CovidInfo@wildwood.org with any questions.
We appreciate your patience, support, and constant encouragement.
Warmly,
Katie Rios Director of Elementary School Wildwood School |