Back to School - Semester 2

Dear parents and families,

I hope that this message finds you warm, safe, and healthy during this wintry intersession week. I am writing to share an important update on student modes of learning during our second semester. 

Over the last few weeks, we have started to see the results of Tulsans doing their part to minimize community spread. Our case rates have been falling steadily for more than a month, and our 7-day rolling average is back to levels we haven’t seen since the fall. Given the pattern of decline in COVID-19 infection rates in the Tulsa-area, our board of education made the decision to begin a phased return to in-person learning that would bring students in all grades back to their classrooms by Thursday, Feb. 25. 

The board of education has approved the following schedule for students to return to in-person learning:

*Incoming 6th and 7th grade students at Central, Rogers, and Memorial middle schools will receive additional information from their schools.

Students will have in-person learning on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays and participate in distance learning on Wednesdays. Tulsa Virtual Academy students will remain in distance learning for the remainder of the year.

Parents will continue to have the option to choose which learning mode their children use. 

• If you want to keep your child in distance learning, log onto SmartChoice at enroll.tulsaschools.org and use the “Semester Two Commitment” form to select the distance learning mode. 
• Please be sure to use the drop-down menu in the upper right corner of the “welcome” screen to choose the 2020-2021 school year. 
• If you have already completed this form and want to keep your child’s selected learning mode in semester 2, you do not need to complete it again.
• Please let us know which mode your child will use by Friday, Feb. 19.

I want to share some key considerations for you to keep in mind as you make decisions about your child’s learning mode:

• All students and adults are required to wear face masks in our school buildings and district office sites; 
• Adults entering our buildings must complete a temperature screening, and both adults and students must complete a self-administered health screening;
• We have installed advanced air filtration and air scrubber systems that exceed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s standards;
• We have thorough cleaning and sanitizing practices in place in all of our buildings, including hand-cleaning stations for students and adults; and
• We have processes and protocols for responding to potential COVID-19 exposure including isolation areas for individuals feeling unwell, contact tracing, and notification for anyone with possible close-contact exposure.

It is important for you to talk with your child about ways to minimize physical contact with their peers and school staff. While we will work to create as much safe distancing as possible during the school day, it is unlikely that we can provide the six feet of distance recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Also, if you have reliable transportation to drive your child to school, we encourage you to do so as distancing will be difficult on our buses.

I encourage you to review some of the resources below and reach out to your child’s school for more information:

• Returning to in-person learning at pre-kindergarten and kindergarten
• Returning to in-person learning at elementary schools
• Returning to in-person learning at secondary schools
• How will Tulsa Public Schools keep students safe?
• Parent guidance for responding to potential COVID-19 exposure

I am confident in the rigorous health and safety standards we have in place in all of our schools, and I know that our teachers, school leaders, and support professionals are looking forward to welcoming your child back to the classroom. You can also always find information and updates about learning modes, student experiences, and parent resources for the 2020-2021 school year at www.tulsaschools.org/backtoschool.

Be safe: keep wearing your masks, washing your hands, and watching your distance.

Best, 

Deborah A. Gist

Superintendent

Estimados padres y familias,

Espero que este mensaje los encuentre cálidos, seguros y saludables durante esta semana invernal del periodo de transición. Le escribo para compartir una actualización importante sobre los modos de aprendizaje de los estudiantes durante nuestro segundo semestre.

Durante las últimas semanas, hemos comenzado a ver los resultados de que los habitantes de Tulsa hagan su parte para minimizar la propagación de la comunidad. Nuestras tasas de casos han estado cayendo de manera constante durante más de un mes, y nuestro promedio móvil de 7 días ha vuelto a niveles que no habíamos visto desde el otoño. Dado el patrón de disminución en las tasas de infección por COVID-19 en el área de Tulsa, nuestra junta de educación tomó la decisión de comenzar un regreso gradual al aprendizaje en persona que traería a los estudiantes de todos los grados de regreso a sus aulas para el jueves. 25.

La junta de educación ha aprobado el siguiente horario para que los estudiantes regresen al aprendizaje en persona:

*Estudiantes entrantes al 6 ° y 7 ° grado en las escuelas intermedias

Central, Rogers y Memorial recibirán información adicional de sus escuelas.

Los estudiantes tendrían aprendizaje en persona los lunes, martes, jueves, viernes y participarían en el aprendizaje a distancia los miércoles. Los estudiantes de Tulsa Virtual Academy permanecerán en educación a distancia durante el resto del año.

Los padres seguirán teniendo la opción de elegir qué modo de aprendizaje usan sus hijos.

• Si desea mantener a su hijo en el aprendizaje a distancia, inicie sesión en SmartChoice en enroll.tulsaschools.org y utilice el formulario de “Semester Two Commitment” para seleccionar el modo de aprendizaje a distancia.
  • Asegúrese de utilizar el menú desplegable en la esquina superior derecha de la pantalla de "welcome" para elegir el año escolar 2020-2021.
• Si ya completó este formulario y desea mantener el modo de aprendizaje seleccionado por su hijo en el semestre 2, no es necesario que lo complete nuevamente.
• Por favor háganos saber qué modo usará su hijo antes del viernes 19 de febrero.

Quiero compartir algunas consideraciones clave que debe tener en cuenta al tomar decisiones sobre el modo de aprendizaje de su hijo:

• Se requiere que todos los estudiantes y adultos usen cubrebocas en nuestros edificios escolares y en las oficinas del distrito;
• Los adultos que ingresan a nuestros edificios deben completar un examen de temperatura, y tanto los adultos como los estudiantes deben completar un examen de salud autoadministrado;
• Hemos instalado sistemas avanzados de filtración de aire y depuradores de aire que superan los estándares de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades;
• Contamos con prácticas exhaustivas de limpieza y desinfección en todos nuestros edificios, incluidas las estaciones de limpieza de manos para estudiantes y adultos; y
• Contamos con procesos y protocolos para responder a una posible exposición al COVID-19, incluidas áreas de aislamiento para personas que se sientan mal, rastreo de contactos y notificación para cualquier persona con posible exposición por contacto cercano.

Es importante que hable con su hijo sobre las formas de minimizar el contacto físico con sus compañeros y el personal de la escuela. Si bien trabajaremos para crear la mayor distancia posible durante el día escolar, es poco probable que podamos proporcionar los seis pies de distancia recomendados por los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades. Además, si tiene transporte confiable para llevar a su hijo a la escuela, lo invitamos a que lo haga ya que será difícil distanciarse en nuestros autobuses.

Le animo a que revise algunos de los recursos a continuación y se comunique con la escuela de su hijo para obtener más información:

• Regreso al aprendizaje en persona en pre-kinder y kinder.
• Regresar al aprendizaje en persona en las escuelas primarias
• Regreso al aprendizaje presencial en las escuelas secundarias
• ¿Cómo mantendrán las Escuelas Públicas de Tulsa a los estudiantes seguros?
• Orientación para los padres para responder a una posible exposición al COVID-19

Confío en los rigurosos estándares de salud y seguridad que tenemos en todas nuestras escuelas, y sé que nuestros maestros, líderes escolares y profesionales de apoyo esperan darle la bienvenida a su hijo al salón de clases. También puede encontrar información y actualizaciones sobre modos de aprendizaje, experiencias de los estudiantes y recursos para padres para el año escolar 2020-2021 en www.tulsaschools.org/backtoschool.

Esté seguro: siga usando su cubrebocas, lavándose las manos y cuidando su distancia.

Saludos, 

Deborah A. Gist

Superintendent

• Parents and guardians must complete the Student Health Screening Questionnaire before school.
  • If the response to any of the screening questions is “YES,” students should be kept at home.
  • This screening should be completed at home and done verbally; parents do not need to provide answers or responses to the school.
• Students must have a mask that covers the nose and mouth before they can board the bus.
• While every child should bring a mask to school, we will provide masks for students who need them.

• By car: Parents and guardians should stay in their cars when dropping off and picking up students.
• On foot: Parents and guardians should leave their students with school staff at drop-off and pick-up students outside of the building at dismissal.

• Only students, teachers, and essential district support professionals and partners can enter the building.
• Parents and guardians picking up students early may enter the front office.
• Parents and guardians can make appointments for any meetings that cannot take place online or by phone

• All students and adults must wear masks that cover the nose and mouth.
  • Click here for tips to help young children wear a mask. (Español)
  • Students will have opportunities for mask breaks across the day.
• Students will spend the day with their classmates and will not mix with other groups.
• Sharing of school supplies will be limited to student “pods,” and materials will be disinfected at the end of each day.
• Student transitions between spaces in the building will be limited.
• Student lunch-times will be staggered by class to allow for distancing in the cafeteria.
• Students will have extra time during the day for hand-washing and sanitizing, including before and after meals.
• Students will be outside more and will be able to use school playgrounds.
• High-touch areas - such as doorknobs, handrails, and sinks - will be sanitized throughout the day, and shared spaces, playgrounds, materials, and equipment will be cleaned and disinfected between uses.

• Shared spaces, materials, and equipment will be cleaned and disinfected between uses.
• High-touch areas - such as doorknobs, handrails, and sinks - will be sanitized throughout the day.
• School buildings will be cleaned and disinfected at the end of each day.
• Any person entering the building must wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth.

• Masks must cover the nose and mouth.
• Masks should be two or more layers.
• Masks must be worn any time or place where other people are present.
• Masks may be removed at mealtimes, outdoors, and during mask breaks.
• Parents will be notified for the first two incidents of students not following mask requirements; a third incident may result in students returning to distance learning.

If your child is exposed to COVID-19, the school will contact you directly. Please make sure your child's school has an updated email and phone number for you.

*"Close contact" as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period at less than 6 feet of distance from a person with a confirmed or potential case of COVID-19 starting from 2 days before the onset of illness.

• Parents and guardians will complete the Student Health Screening Questionnaire and keep students home if the answer to any of the screening questions is “YES.”
• Parents and guardians will make sure their child has a comfortable mask that covers the nose and mouth.
• Parents and guardians of bus riders will make sure their child is wearing a mask before boarding the bus.

• Parents and guardians will drop-off their child at their assigned entrance; drivers should stay in the car.
• Students will be required to have their masks on before entering the building.
• Parents and guardians will not be able to enter the building.

• Breakfast in classrooms
• Assigned seating and “pod” groupings
• Limited transitions between spaces
• Outdoor learning and activities
• Periodic mask breaks
• Lunch in cafeteria*
• Scheduled time for handwashing
• Outdoor recess
• Social emotional learning

*School lunch periods will be staggered to provide for distance seating as possible. School leaders will determine lunch periods and student groupings for each school.

English / Español

• Parents and guardians will complete the Student Health Screening Questionnaire and keep students home if the answer to any of the screening questions is “YES.”
• Parents and guardians will make sure their child has a comfortable mask that covers the nose and mouth.
• Parents and guardians of bus riders will make sure their child is wearing a mask before boarding the bus.

• Parents and guardians will drop-off their child at the school entrance; drivers should stay in the car.
• During the first week, teachers and staff will meet students at the door and walk them to classrooms.
• Students will be required to have their masks on before entering the building.
• Parents and guardians will not be able to enter the building; older siblings who attend the same school may walk their younger siblings to class.

• Students will be assigned to a “pod” with 3-4 other students and will stay with their “pod” throughout the day.
• Students will safely remove their masks to eat breakfast in the classroom.
• After breakfast, students will put their masks back on and begin learning.

• Parents and guardians will pick-up their child from the designated area; drivers should stay in the car.

• Students will spend their day with a 3-4 student “pod,” and a typical day might include:
  • Breakfast in the classroom
  • social emotional learning time
  • Outside play and learning
  • Mask breaks
  • Lunch in the classroom (may vary by school)
  • Outdoor recess
  • Handwashing time

• Talk with your child about the importance of wearing a mask.
• Discuss your child’s feelings about in-person learning.
• Talk with your child about what will happen during drop-off and pick-up. Answer any questions they might have.
• Attend the Pre-K and Kindergarten Zoom Orientation for your child’s school to learn more about your school’s specific details and guidance.
• Additional information: English / Español

• Parents and guardians will complete the Student Health Screening Questionnaire and keep students home if the answer to any of the screening questions is “YES.”
• Parents and guardians will make sure their student has a comfortable mask that covers the nose and mouth.
• Students are required to wear mask on the bus.

• Students will be required to have their masks on before entering the building.
• Parents and guardians will not be able to enter the building.

• Breakfast will be picked up at grab and go stations near designated entrances
• Tables and desks will face the same direction, where possible
• Assigned seating for each class to help with contact tracing purposes
• Students will not have access to lockers
• Continued use of digital platforms and resources with students
• Limited transitions
• Lunch in cafeteria*
• Supper meals will be offered as students depart for the day and to extended day students if after school programs are in the building.

*School lunch periods will be staggered to provide for distance seating as possible. School leaders will determine lunch periods and student groupings for each school.

• Philbrook Museum of Art (free admission for youth under age 17)
• Tulsa City County Library
• Postsecondary Readiness Website
• Student Handbook
• ICAP
• TPS Rides
• Tulsa City County Library
• College & Career Resources