Coronavirus COVID 19 Updates
3/18/20
Richmond Family Updates
Due to the Governor’s orders to close schools until the health emergency is over, we will continue virtual learning. Until we learn more, we will not be clearing out lockers, but will be open through Friday 7:30-3:30. The week after Spring Break, we will have office hours 8-12. We’ll continue to communicate as information is shared with us.
Parent Video
3/16/2020
March 16th, 2020
Dear Parents:
First of all, I’d like to thank you for your patience and positive support of our staff during this time. We’d like to provide the information we currently have.
Starting tomorrow, March 17th, teachers will be providing families with the lessons for the day or week. They will provide you with the block of time they will be available for phone calls or emails. During other times they will be connecting with other staff, creating lessons, assessing work or communicating with students or other parents. If we do not hear from you or your child, someone on our staff will contact you to see how we can best support virtual learning.
We encourage you to engage with your child’s home learning experience. This will ensure the fidelity of this school to home connection. Feel free to communicate with your child’s teacher/s.
Teachers will be expecting students to be available for learning during the day. If your child is sick and unable to work or connect with the teacher, please call our office to report them ill (262.538.1360). We are recording these days as instructional days and need to report attendance as we would during a face to face contact day.
Per the Health Department, our building cannot be used for instruction or extra-curricular activities. If you need something in the building, call the office beforehand and we’ll work to get your items to the office.
We welcome you to check our website or facebook (Richmond School District Sussex) for updates. Feel free to post your child reading and their grade and teacher on our fb page.
At this point, school will be closed until April 5th at the earliest. We will provide updates once the Governor, DPI and the Health Department share them with us. All activities during this time are canceled. Our office will be opened 7:30AM-3:30PM this week. We will be closed during Spring Break and modified office hours will resume on March 30th.
Again, thank you for your support and understanding as we work through providing a safe alternative learning experience.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jeanne A. Siegenthaler
Richmond School District Administrator
3/13/2020
Due to the safety of staff and students, only staff will attend school on Monday for Professional Development. Virtual learning will begin on Tuesday, March 17th.
March 13th, 2020
Dear Richmond Families:
With recent developments, we have decided to move forward with virtual learning starting next week. Staff will have professional development on Monday, March 16th with limited staff contact, and virtual learning (unless other individual student arrangements have been identified) will start on Tuesday, March 17th – Friday, March 20th. Spring break will continue as planned from March 23-27. Any plans for re-opening school after spring break will be determined and communicated in the coming days. I had been meeting with the staff this week to prepare in case this were to transpire. Teachers will be working next Monday to prepare lessons and will be communicating with you. We appreciate your support as we learn this new process.
We have a survey to find out if students have wifi and technology access at home. Only fill this out if you do not have internet access and/or need a device for home virtual learning. Families needing a device can check out a Chromebook at school.
All programs, Board meetings, awards banquets, sporting activities, etc., will be canceled until March 29th. We will be postponing the Richmond Musical until a further date. Musical practice will be held today.
During this period, we strongly encourage families to follow the guidance and recommendations provided by the CDC regarding safe hygiene and travel. Students and staff who travel to any Level 2 or Level 3 country, or any area in the United States with a significant outbreak, will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days before returning to school or work.
We understand the burden that this may place on families. My goal, per the CDC, is to reduce the exposure and virus spread as much as possible. I truly thank you for your support and understanding as we work through this together.
Resources from the American School Counselor Association on Coronavirus.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jeanne A. Siegenthaler
Richmond School District Administrator
3/12/2020
Dear Richmond Families:
Thank you for your support with the recent changes in information on COVID-19. We have been taking direction from the Health Department and CDC. I care greatly about the health and safety of all staff and children here at Richmond.
I am fortunate to have contact with all local superintendents. Over two dozen administrators met last week about this topic, and this morning and afternoon I was on a conference call with about 20 committed and dedicated school leaders who all want to take direction from public health authorities and communicate the same message to our parents and staff members. At this point in time, we will be in session.
Our current attendance rate for student illness is at <2.5%. Our staff is preparing for the possibility of virtual or non-traditional education, if the need arises to close school. We will currently cancel all band and school performances through April 3rd. If school is open after spring break, all staff and students who travel to a CDC level 3 or 2 country will need to be quarantined for 14 days after their arrival back to the US. As an area consortium, we will reassess together to determine needs after Spring Break.
The decisions that have had to be made recently have been unlike any other topic that has come into our schools in the past. I appreciate your patience and partnership as we work through this pandemic together.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jeanne A. Siegenthaler
Richmond School District Administrator
3/12/2020
At this point, I am sure that everywhere you turn you are seeing recommendations on proactive measures to take in regards to the COVID-19 virus. In an effort to stay ahead of communication and acknowledge the situation, we have been in contact with local and state officials regarding possible cancellations of events.
At this time the professional guidelines call to restrict public events to no more than 250 attendees. Because the Arrowhead feeder tournament sees less than 250 people per game, we are not cancelling any games at this time. As all schools are, we will remain vigilant and listen to healthcare professionals.
This pandemic has created unprecedented circumstances that require evolving decisions and actions. Should our recommendation change before the completion of the tournament we will let you know right away.
