Dear Bolinas Stinson School Families,
As we move into the third week of the school year, I want to acknowledge that these are strange and difficult times for us to navigate as a unified school community. We are striving to adhere to health and safety recommendations for the health and safety of our kids, as well as respect personal choice.
While we are joyful that our school is open and our kids are back to a regular school schedule, this is an especially difficult time for us because of the constraints around access to campus based on vaccination status.
Our primary goal while educating students is to keep them safe and healthy. I apologize for any inconvenience or if our school policy has made anyone feel unwelcome. We are doing everything we can to provide options to all parents and guardians to stay connected and included in their child’s learning experience. I look forward to working cooperatively to find solutions and ways forward together.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE! WORKING TOGETHER TO PROMOTE STUDENT COOPERATION AND PROPER MASK WEARING AT SCHOOL.
In order to promote student cooperation with proper mask wearing while at school, we need to be united as a community in modeling and providing a consistent message to our students. By working together, we are helping them to understand the importance of proper mask wearing, and providing our students with clear expectations.
Why do we need everyone's cooperation?
Science shows us that masking keeps us safer than without.
Our job is to keep everyone healthy and safe (staff, students, and our community).
We are all in this together, and we need everyone's cooperation.
We have individuals on campus who are especially susceptible to illness and need to ensure 100% compliance by everyone on campus.
The Bolinas-Stinson School District is continuing to implement Health Department guidance to have students and staff wear masks indoors and outdoors.
Student, staff and visitor masking requirements:
All people on campus must remain masked both inside and outside (except when eating outside).
No buffs or scarfs - only masks for face coverings (we have masks in the office for students who need one)
Students must wear their masks correctly at all times (under the nose is not acceptable):
If a student needs repeated reminders to wear their mask correctly:
Students will be sent to the office to get a new mask that fits better if theirs is too loose.
If they are outside or at recess, students will be asked to sit out of the activity and take a mask break at a picnic table (on the Bolinas Campus).
If a student continues to wear their mask incorrectly (under the nose is common, but not allowed), they will have to sit out of the activity .
If a student continues to wear a mask incorrectly, after repeated conversations and troubleshooting, they can be sent home for chronic non-compliance.
Students may choose to take a mask break if they get overheated or out of breath.
They need to move away from the group (outside of the activity) to a table with no one near them and clearly let others know they are taking a mask break.
Eating Safely: Students should sit with only 4 students at a table (sitting at the corners) when they are unmasked and eating.
Students should not be walking around or visiting each other at this time.
Students should not share food.
Please talk to your child about the above rules to help keep us all safe and healthy.
PROOF OF VACCINATION TO BE ON CAMPUS ~ WORKING TO KEEP US ALL CONNECTED
Due to current health and safety guidance, BSUSD requires all visitors, volunteers to provide proof of COVID vaccination prior to entering campus. Please send a picture of your COVID vaccination card to Johanna Scutt at johannas@bolinas-stinson.org before coming onto either the Bolinas or Stinson Campus.
We understand that individuals may not be comfortable or unable to comply with this new requirement and want to be inclusive to all members of our school community regardless of their vaccination status.
Teachers will be providing links to simultaneous zoom sessions of back to school night, so that everyone can participate in their child’s Back to School Night in real time if unable to attend in person.
Paper copies of Back to School information will also be sent home by your child's teacher.
WE HOPE YOU JOIN US FOR OUR BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHTS, EITHER IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY.
Tuesday, August 31st, 5:30-6:30 PM: Stinson Campus ~ K-1st Back to School Night
Childcare provided for ages 3-7 in Pre-K Classroom & yard
Thursday, September 2nd, 5:30-6:30 PM: Stinson Campus ~ Pre-K Back to School Night
Childcare provided for ages 3-7 in Pre-K Yard
Tuesday, September 7th, 5:30-6:30 PM: Bolinas Campus ~ 2nd-8th Back to School Night
Childcare provided for ages 3-9 in Library & Blacktop
Thank you for your understanding and help keeping our students, staff and families healthy. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions or suggestions.
Warmly,
Michelle