Elementary School Newsletter - October 4th, 2021
October is an underrated month. The weather is as good as it is going to get in St. Louis which still appears to be in the upper 70's. Pop up costume stores come out of nowhere. And this year your Cardinals are still playing baseball! Let's make it a great month!
COVID POLICY UPDATE:
As we continue to move through another year with COVID-19 we are constantly reviewing data and guidance around how to handle the nuances of keeping the spread at bay. Right now we are finishing up language to propose a modified quarantine plan to our policy for board approval. We anticipate that it will be reviewed and hopefully approved in the next 24-48 hours. We know that there is frustration for those families who have already been impacted with quarantines and we understand how this does not seem sustainable for the entire year ahead. It is our intent to add the modified quarantine option to the standard quarantine process so we have more flexibility when it is safe to do so. We will push out the updated plan once we have formal approval from the board. We appreciate your continued partnership on keeping our environment a safe and healthy place for our kids and staff!
FALL BOARD EVENT:Join us on October 14th from 6:30-8:00 in the courtyard. This will be an opportunity to meet and chat with some of the board members of PCS as we kick off the fall season. We will aim to keep this a covid friendly outside event- with a fire pit and some light appetizers for your enjoyment! Please RSVP to events@premiercharterschool if you plan to attend. This will help us get an idea of numbers for the food. Thanks!
Reminder: Masks/Face Coverings
Properly wearing a mask is one of the most important things we can do to keep one another safe and healthy. All employees regardless of vaccination status will wear a mask covering their mouth and nose while in the school building. All students will wear a mask covering their mouth and nose while in the school building. All visitors will wear a mask covering their mouth and nose while in the school building. Extra face coverings will be kept on-site to replace face coverings that may become soiled during the day.
Mask Safety
Wash your hands before putting on your face covering
Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face
Make sure you can breathe easily
Do not put the face covering around your neck or up on your forehead
Do not touch the face covering, and, if you do, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer to disinfect
Exemptions to Mask Requirement
An individual is not required to wear a mask while eating, drinking, or engaging in active outdoor recess or outdoor physical education. However, individuals must remain at least 6 ft. away from all other individuals for the entire time a face covering is removed. Any student who is unable to wear a mask for medical reasons must bring a note from their doctor describing the reason for requiring an alternative face covering.
Failure to Bring Mask to School
The first time a student forgets to bring their mask, the school will provide a mask. However, on subsequent occasions, the student will need to contact a parent or guardian and ask that the mask be brought to school. Students will not be permitted to enter the classroom without a mask.
Any visitor who does not have a mask will be provided one prior to entering the school building.
Refusal to Wear a Mask
No student may refuse to wear a mask without a signed note from a physician.
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The PCS Dress Code is as follows:
Pants/Jumpers- Khaki is the only color option for pants and shorts. Jumpers and skirts may either be khaki or navy blue.
Shirts- Navy blue collared shirts must be worn or white shirt with a navy jumper.
Spirit Wear- Can be worn at all times. Students will be allowed to wear shirts and hoodies that have the PCS logo.
Shoes- Students should wear shoes that do not leave marks on the gym floor on the days they have PE.
Hats and hoods are not to be worn in the school building at any time.
Dress Down Days- Periodically, we allow the students to have dress down days when we relax the dress code. On those days, students are allowed to wear clothes that are school appropriate, with these guidelines: Dress so as to not disrupt the learning environment No inappropriate messages/pictures/logos Pants and shorts should be pulled up to the waist Any suggestive clothing is not acceptable for school.
*The PCS Administration has final authority in determining if a student’s clothing is within the guidelines of the PCS Dress Code. At PCS, we believe that families choose to send their students to our school because of our high academic and personal standards. We believe that our dress code is a large component of our high expectations. As such, enforcing our dress code policy is a high priority. School administration reserves the right to issue whatever consequences they deem to be most appropriate:
*If at any point a family requires assistance in the acquisition of clothing meeting the PCS Dress Code, they are encouraged to contact their child’s grade level administrator. Clothing will be available through the nurse’s office for emergencies only. Students do not have the option of getting clothing from the health center for dress code purposes.
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Picture Day is coming up next week on Thursday October 14th. More information has been sent out very recently.
The Fall Book Fair is coming at the end of October. The website will be updated with more information.
Attached are the most recent COVID numbers.
Thank you so much and have a great week!
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Tyson Strickler
Elementary Principal314-645-9600, ext. 610tstrickler@premiercharterschool.org
