KRAMER E-NEWS 11/13/2020

Happy Friday.  I hope everyone has had a great week.

Remote Learning Decisions for THS & TMS Due to Staff Shortages

Talawanda officials have made the very difficult decision to fully transition THS and TMS to a remote learning plan from now until January 18, 2021.  Students would return on January 19,  2021, pending updated data as we continue to monitor the spread of Covid-19. Talawanda is currently experiencing a severe spike in the number of Covid-19 quarantines and positive cases.  All districts in Butler County are experiencing a shortage of substitute teachers, educational assistants, and cafeteria workers due to Covid-19.  Talawanda has already exhausted the small number of workers (including administrators and members of our curriculum team) that we have available to reassign to assist where we need help the most.  Specifically, we have become unable to operate our kitchens at the secondary level this past week due to staff quarantines.  Talawanda plans to keep the elementary schools/face-to-face school going as long as we have the staff available to operate them.

By moving secondary schools to remote learning, we hope to utilize some employees from THS & TMS to assist with the staff shortages we are also experiencing in our elementary schools.  We understand that childcare for younger children is a big issue for our families, and we hope to alleviate this stress by doing everything we can to try and keep our elementary schools open.

We wish we could continue to operate in person in all of our schools, but Covid-19 is making an impact and we have made a decision that we believe is the best one, for now, considering the circumstances we find our district in.  The health and safety of both our students and staff are among our very highest priorities and are a primary factor in the decisions made this week.

Kramer Picture Day

Kramer Picture Day will be Monday, November 23, 2020.  Lifetouch will have additional information to share.  All safety precautions will be taken for face to face and remote learners.

Quarantined Student

If your child is a Face to Face student and is sent home and quarantined, we are providing materials to work on from home.  Please continue to check SeeSaw (grades K&1) and Google Classroom(2-5) for work.  Teachers may also send hard copies of materials home.  Our school social worker, SRO, or principal can bring materials to your house and drop them at the door.  Please also look for emails from your child’s teacher.

If your child is quarantined and you are not receiving any work or need assistance, please contact your child’s teacher or Mr. Merz.

Attention Remote Learners & Community Members who use Kramer Elementary for the TSD Food Program:

Every Monday cars may enter the Kramer property at 2:15.  

You will enter the bus loop and then drive toward the gym/delivery entrance.

Staff members will be present to distribute food.

Vehicles will drive in on the right side and exit on the right side. 

Please see this new flyer for the Food Distribution Program

Kramer PTG Skate Night at Goggin

Please see the flyer for additional information.  Sunday- November 15.

Breakfast and Lunch Program

Please see this flyer about the breakfast and lunch programs in TSD.  All breakfast and lunches are free for the 2020-21 school year.  

Fees

School fees & Chromebook insurance for face to face learners can be paid on the Talawanda website via EZPay.  Remote learners can pay Chromebook insurance through EZPay.  Any questions, call the office.

School News and Information
Elementary Lunch Menu- Updated for November

Don’t forget to send a water bottle with your child to school.  We have bottle filling stations at Kramer and the students can refill their water bottles.  Also, if your child is packing their lunch, please place their first and last name on the lunchbox.  

As temperatures get cooler and students wear hats, gloves, jackets and coats please make sure you put your child’s name in their items.  This will help if the item is left outside at recess or on a bus.

If you need assistance with hats, gloves, coats or other items please contact Mr. Merz, Nurse Chelsea or Mrs. Pike.

merzj@talawanda.org

daughteryc@talawanda.org

pikec@talawanda.org

Important Reminder for All TSD Parents:

Talawanda School District needs your partnership in keeping our students, staff, and families safe during the pandemic we are experiencing.  It's critical that parents do a wellness check on each child every day before school.  If your child exhibits any symptoms for COVID-19, please keep your child home from school.  See the checklist below.

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of reported symptoms – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Symptoms can include:

Fever or chills

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Fatigue

Muscle or body aches

Headache

New loss of taste or smell

Sore throat

Congestion or runny nose

Nausea or vomiting

Diarrhea

Symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19)

COVID-19 TRAVEL ADVISORY & SELF QUARANTINING

We understand that families may be traveling during the holiday season.  The Ohio Health Department & the Butler County Health Department recommend that people self-quarantine for 14 days upon returning from a state that is listed as a hotspot for Covid-19.  A hotspot is a state that is reporting positive Covid-19 rates of 15% or higher.  Please see the link to the map, as the states listed can change.

Travel Advisory States from ODH

Mrs. Jutte and Mrs. Marconi Information

Mrs. Jutte and Mrs. Marconi would like to remind both face to face and remote parents that they are here to help.  Please see their letter. 

People United for Self Help- PUSH

PUSH has funding for furnace and water heater repairs or replacements. Grants are available to low-income, homeowners in the Talawanda School District for critical and emergency home repairs. Call Jeanne or Sabrina at 513-523-8100 for more information

Talawanda Community Events Page

Please use this link for the Talawanda Community Events Page.

Enjoy the weekend! Stay healthy and stay safe!

Jason Merz

Principal

Calendar

November 17- Conferences

November 19- Conferences

November 25-27- Thanksgiving Break

December 21-January 1- Winter Break

January 18- MLK Day- No School

February 12- Teacher Professional Day- No School

February 15 - President’s Day- No School

Mary 15 - Teacher Work Day - No School

March 16- Conferences

March 18- Conferences

March 22 - 26- Spring Break - No School