03/30/2020

Dear Parents, Guardians and Students:

As you are aware, we are entering our 2^nd week of “At home learning” and that regular school instruction has been suspended until April 20^th as per the Governor’s Executive Order. We will remain closed until directives are issued to reopen schools. It is very possible and likely that we will remain in this “at home learning” form of education for the remainder of the school year, which will be determined via discussion between the Governor and the Colorado Department of Education.

We are fully aware and understand that this shift in education will be challenging for parents, students, and teachers alike, and we are committed to being as flexible as possible to support all families who we know are dealing with significant disruptions to their life and livelihoods not associated with school and learning. Anxiety, uncertainty, frustration and fear have all made their way into our lives to some degree and we all acknowledge that reality and how it affects all of us.

Yet Education must continue for all our students and our teachers will continue to be hard at work preparing authentic classroom lessons (as close to the classroom instruction as possible) and continuing to provide various communication avenues for you, the parents and students.

Lessons will continue to be offered in the formats previously distributed

• paper/pencil packets
• Online lessons via Google classroom activities, Plato, Kahn Academy etc. In addition, teachers are currently working on creating their own direct instruction videos.

Please refer to each teacher’s plans as provided to access any links or video presentations.

*Parents and students, it is very important to know that assignments must be completed and returned as expected. This work is the only way we are able to assess your child’s/children’s mastery of the skill sets/content knowledge needed to be successful at the next grade level. In other words, successful completion and return of work will be critical for helping to determine next year’s grade promotion.

There are still many unknowns about important school events, which typically occur in mid-April and May.

I will keep you updated in regard to said events as we receive more guidance and directives from the Governor and Colorado Department of Education.

Thank you for being patient, understanding and considerate because all of us are new in this life changing event. Let us all work together respectfully and compassionately. Thank you so much. Please communicate with your teachers should you need anything. I am available for you also.

Respectfully,

Michael Moore

Superintendent Huerfano RE-1 schools

At home learning letter 3-30-20

Parents, students, teachers and community. I ask that you please understand that all of us are going through some trying times filled with many new updates from the Governor and public health departments as well as trying to educate our students via Google classroom, internet, long distance learning, paper packets, due dates for assignment turn in etc. This is new to many of us, as well as to you, the parents and students. It can be fraught with emotions, high anxiety, misunderstandings, confusion, frustration etc. We all are suspect to these feelings.
Folks, all we can do at this time is have a lot of patience and understanding for each other. We understand many of you are experiencing something new….helping to organize assignment schedules, completion of school work and being an at home instructor. Our teachers too are experiencing new things and are adapting, modifying and working out kinks in assignment distribution, communications and technology issues.
During these frustrating weeks, if you have any questions I urge you to please contact your child’s teacher via the communication methods they have provided you in the 1st round of packets that were distributed (email, zoom, skype, classroom apps, phone etc.)
As you are aware, this type of at home learning will continue until a potential return to school on Monday April 20th. I add potential return because there is noise coming from Denver that we may not be back in school the remainder of the year. it is just chatter at this point thus we will continue to educate as we are until the expected April 20th return date. However, please understand that it is possible (anything is possible) we may not return on the 20th. for everybody’s sake I hope the 20th will be a reality. So, again I will ask everybody to please have patience and understanding. Also, if you are experiencing difficulties becoming a “teacher at home”, do not hesitate contacting your child’s teacher or teachers. We will help the best we can.

Thank you so much.
Superintendent Mike Moore

Meals can be handed out to children from 0 to 18 and do NOT need to be a student of Huerfano Re-1. Home school, GOAL Academy or other, you are welcome to pickup a meal. THE CHILD MUST BE PRESENT WHEN PICKING UP MEAL.

We will be serving breakfast and lunch beginning March 31 (Tuesday) at 2 drive through locations, Peakview and Gardner  Please be respond to our survey, so we are able to correctly approximate how many sacks to create. These sack breakfasts are for students. Unfortunately, adults are not eligible for free sack breakfast or lunch.

To help us better plan for this, we ask to help us plan on how many meals to initially order for:  (click here https://forms.gle/wHn5gFyqLvoW7YAGA   OR fill out the form below)

Dear Superintendents and BOCES Directors:

Today, Gov. Jared Polis issued an executive order that suspends in-person instruction at all public and private schools from March 23 to April 17. You can read the press release and executive order here.

Commissioner Anthes and Gov. Polis will host a conference call with all of you tomorrow or Friday to answer your questions. Look for more information on that soon.

 Superintendent’s Seat

Re-1 thanks our school personnel, parents/students and local medical personnel

I want to make sure that everyone fully understands that my number one priority is, and always has been, the safety, health and well-being of our school community of students, parents and all employees. Our employees, students and parents are incredible people. We must all help each other. We must all be supportive and positive while avoiding negativism and non-productive comments.

Please let us all beat this wave of uncertain times and viral threat that lie ahead.

During these uncertain times, several groups of people have risen to the occasion and many beyond expectations. Thus, I would like to recognize their efforts.

Please be aware that the school closures in Colorado may see a prolonged time of closure. I believe we will see new guidelines come forth from the Governors office and CDE within a matter of days. Please stay tuned and please be patient, supportive and realize we all have a stake in helping to prevent the transmission of the virus.

As you are aware the school board has unanimously made the decision to close the school as a precautionary and proactive step in preventing the spread of the Corona Virus, effective March 16th through March 29th.

We are committed to your child’s education, therefore teachers will provide two options, either online resources, including google classroom OR a paper based solution to complete work for this week.

Teachers will be working on Monday to get work ready for students and have scheduled pick up times for Tuesday March 17^th 11am – 3pm and 4pm – 6pm.

We’d also like to inform you that Charter Cable is offering free Internet Access for up to 60 days.  For more information, you may call them at 1-844-488-8395.

Thank you.

Free Charter-Spectrum Internet Notice

2020 Parents’ Guide to Google Classroom

Notice from the Superintendent:

It was determined from this evening’s emergency board meeting to close Huerfano Re-1 Schools beginning Monday March 16, 2020 through Sunday March 29, 2020 as a result of concerns with exposure to and transmission of the COVID-19 Virus, also known as the “Corona Virus”.
On Friday, March 27th, The board will reconvene to discuss if further closures are needed.

Emergency Board Meeting 3-13-2020

1. Call to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call
4. Approval of March 13, 2020 Agenda

5. Discussion Items
5.1. Potential school closure dates over concern of the spread of COVID-19 Virus

6. Action Items
6.1. Agree to Close all Huerfano RE-1 Schools beginning March 16, 2020-March 27,2020

7. Information Item

8. Adjournment

A notice from Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment – Planning for Schools and Child Care Closure

School Closure Requirements – 3.11.20

Novel Coronavirus – Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Planning for Schools and Child Care Closure
The state may modify or update closure criteria based on new information Guidelines for emergency school or child care closure.

It will be important to work closely with your Local Public Health Department as you begin considering closing school or child care. Public Health is not currently recommending that schools or child care proactively close unless they have a confirmed case of COVID-19 in a staff or student. The following guidance should be considered a requirement for all schools and child care in Colorado, and schools and child care in partnership with their local public health agencies can choose to close at an earlier time in order to prevent further COVID-19 transmission.

State ordered closure criteria

• Any school* in Colorado with a single confirmed case of COVID-19 in a staff or student will close for a minimum of 72 hours for cleaning and social distancing
• Any schools that are closed will partner with their local public health agency to conduct contact tracing and further COVID-19 testing.
• Any school with a second confirmed case of COVID-19 in a staff or student within a 30 day period requires a second minimum 72 closure for cleaning, testing and public health investigation.
• Any school with 3 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in staff or students within a 30 day period requires a closure for a minimum of 14 days.
• If 3 schools in a district have confirmed cases of COVID-19 within a 30 day period, all schools within the district are required to close for a minimum of 14 days for cleaning, testing and public health investigation.
• Other factors to consider when making decisions to close one or more schools, include:
  • Families with students in multiple buildings
  • Shared facilities
  • Shared transportation
  • Central kitchens
  • Shared staff

Cleaning guidance
Increase deep cleaning to at least 2 times per week and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces like doorknobs, tables, drinking fountains and handrails. For instructions regarding disinfecting see here. For an additional list of recommended products visit:
https://www.americanchemistry.com/Novel-Coronavirus-Fighting-Products-List.pdf

District guidance

If an immediate family member, caregiver, or guardian of a student tests positive for
COVID-19, the site leader and superintendent should determine if that individual was recently on campus. The student should be tested, and decisions regarding school closure should be based on information gathered. Schools may choose to close for 24 hours based on the immediate family member, caregiver, or guardian’s positive test while waiting for the student’s test results. If the student tests positive, follow the state ordered closure criteria above.

How long to close a school or child care
Decisions to reopen a school should be done in consultation with your local Public Health Department.

Consideration/challenges for when schools and child care are closed

• Children being fed – access to meals
• Child protection issues – younger children unsupervised because parent(s) has to work
• Children/youth congregating in other sites
• Parent absenteeism from work in order to care for children
• Children with special needs can have more difficulty learning when returning to school after extended absence
• Availability of substitute teacher pool
• Setting and size of school/district
• Addressing fear and stigma associated with being sick
• Privacy concerns

*Also refers to preschools and child care centers School Closure Requirements – 3.11.20