MUST READ: Resumption of Classes and New Dismissal Times
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009HEADMASTER’S BULLETIN, ISSUE 4, SY 2009-2010
Download the PDF Version: issue-4-june-232
June 23, 2009
To the School Community,
While we are still on our A(H1N1) suspension of classes, I am sending out this communication via the internet (email, facebook and the school website).
Below are important announcements for every member of the school community.
RESPONSIBILITY OF PARENTS/GUARDIANS TO CHECK THE TEMPERATURE OF THEIR CHILDREN
The school cannot keep the students safe from the A(H1N1) virus if parents and guardians at home do not exercise diligence on their part. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the parents who exercised prudence by keeping their children at home when they had a fever or when they came from abroad.
Please remember these 2 things:
1. PARENTS AND GUARDIANS MUST ENSURE THAT THEIR CHILDREN WHO HAVE A(H1N1) SYMPTOMS STAY AT HOME.
Check for fever, and other flu like symptoms.
2. PARENTS AND GUARDIANS SHOULD ENFORCE A STRICT SELF QUARANTINE FOR STUDENTS COMING FROM ABROAD.
No school work, test, report, field trip, activity can be more important than ensuring the health and safety of our students. The key to keeping us A(H1N1) free is for parents and guardians to exercise these simple items mentioned.
Let’s not trivialize the abovementioned steps as the entire community may be affected by our lack of prudence.
RESUMPTION OF CLASSES
According to my letter to parents last June 20 (Headmaster’s Bulletin, Issue 3), Reedley may choose to resume classes earlier than June 30 if there is any revision of the official A(H1N1) response guidelines, particularly a revision indicating that the suspension of classes is not the appropriate response for a confirmed A(H1N1) case in school.
Please be informed that classes will resume this Tuesday, June 30, since as of the writing of this memorandum, the Department of Education and the Department of Health have not released any formal revision of it’s A(H1N1) response guidelines.
Though the media has been flooded with unofficial statements and sentiments that the response guidelines are no longer appropriate and should be changed, the respective government agencies have not officially issued any such revision.
THEREFORE: CLASSES FOR ALL LEVELS WILL RESUME ON TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2009.
SPECIAL HOMEWORK FOR THE A(H1N1) SUSPENSION
No student will be academically penalized due to the A(H1N1) suspension of classes. However, Reedley believes that this time at home should be used constructively and students can do some work at home to prepare them for their return on June 30.
So the teachers of Reedley have prepared worksheets and some assignments that students should accomplish. Below are instructions for parents and students on how the homework will be disseminated to each and every student.
FOR GRADE SCHOOL 1 TO 7:
Self study worksheets will be sent to the email accounts of parents registered in the official school records. Parents who do not have their email addresses in the official records will be texted by the school. These parents will be given the go signal to pick up the Self-Study folders at the school’s lobby (Student Entrance) starting tomorrow June 25 from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm.
FOR UPPER SCHOOL I TO IV:
Upper School students should log in http://risupperschool.multiply.com. The homework may be downloaded from that site.
REVISED A(H1N1) SCREENING PROCEDURES FOR REEDLEY
In our efforts to manage the A(H1N1) spread, the school has decided to decentralize the temperature screening areas of each wing.
In the event of another positive A(H1N1) case, the school should be able to contain the suspension of classes to particular wings or levels.
Grades 1 to 5 (students in G/F Raffles Wing and 2/F Lincoln Wing) will have their temperature screening in the Ground Floor Lobby.
Grades 6 to 7 students will have their temperature screening at the Kennedy Wing Student Activity Center.
Upper School students will have their temperature screening at the 3rd floor.
Students are advised to IMMEDIATELY GO TO THE TEMPERATURE screening area upon reaching the school premises. Students should use the water closets in their wing for better containment.
However, this does not apply to TARDY students who will be kept in the lobby for processing by the Prefect of Discipline for Upper School or the Head of Student Affairs and Discipline for Grade School.
NEW DISMISSAL TIMES EFFECTIVE JUNE 30
This announcement is not related to the A(H1N1) virus. But last week we noticed that traffic was manageable for some days and heavy for some days.
The traffic situation was expected to be more congested from the previous School Years due to adoption of the single session wherein the school no longer had a morning or afternoon classes.
Throughout the week, the school adopted and experimented with various strategies here and there, and we have seen a continuous improvement in our traffic situation. One more serious strategy is the rescheduling of dismissal times to ensure 40 minute dismissal intervals in between Lower, Middle and Upper School.
SO EFFECTIVE JUNE 30, TUESDAY THE FOLLOWING DISMISSAL TIMES WILL BE FOLLOWED:
There will be no change in the start of classes for all levels.
Upper School will still be at 7:40 am for ALL DAYS.
Lower and Middle School will be at 8:20 am for ALL DAYS.
ESL dismissal likewise remains the same, where Upper School ESL is dismissed at 3:00 pm, while Middle School ESL is dismissed at 4:00 pm.
With this change of dismissal times, I am sure it will take some time for us to adjust. Let us remain level headed and cool under pressure, knowing that this is simply an adjustment period. I am positive that our traffic flow for dismissal time will greatly improve after a week of implementing this new scheme.
Thank you very much. Let us have a good re-start of the School Year this June 30. Let us look forward to keeping our school A(H1N1) free.
Sincerely,
(sgd)
Mr. Jerome Castro
Headmaster
Reedley International School
