Dear Greenfield Community,
The Greenfield School District will be implementing a “Wellness Break”, beginning November 18th and ending November 30th, due to an increase in faculty/staff and student quarantines. This wellness break will encompass five scheduled days of learning, November 18th - 20th and November 23rd and 24th. The district will still be recognizing the previously scheduled Thanksgiving Break, November 25th – November 27th , as days off.
The district has not seen an increase in positive cases among students and staff within our buildings, but we are seeing an increase in the number of quarantines of both faculty/staff and students due to exposures to Covid-19 from outside our buildings. The district cannot effectively have in class instruction without adequate teacher and support staff each day, and that is why instruction is transitioning to virtual learning.
The education process will continue during this break. Teaching will be done virtually by our teachers, with assignments being given and required to be completed and returned for a grade. Students will be expected to be engaged in the learning process during this time. Chromebooks are being sent home with students who have access to the internet and homework packets are being sent home with kids who do not have internet access. All staff will be at school and be available to be contacted by email or phone if any questions arise concerning homework assignments.
We will be providing “Grab and Go” meals, beginning Wednesday, November 18th, for all students who are interested. These meals will be made available on the five days of instruction during the Wellness Break. All meals Pre-K to 12th Grade will be available to pick up through the bus lane, behind the High School Building, from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm. If interested in these meals, please call one of the administrative offices by 10:00 am, Wednesday morning, so we can get an accurate count on the number of meals to prepare. Meals will continue to be free to all students.
Students who attend Vo-Tech at the Lamar Career and Technical School will continue to attend classes there the remainder of the week. The Lamar School District is not in session next week, so Vo-Tech students will not attend Vo-Tech, November 23rd and 24th.
The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) is allowing for schools who have transitioned to virtual instruction to participate in MSHSAA sanctioned activities. Since the district’s move to virtual instruction is due to the lack of substitutes available to meet district needs in the classroom and number of students quarantined because of close contact, not because of an increase in active cases among students or staff, Greenfield Schools will continue to hold practices, participate in games, and participate in any other extracurricular activities previously scheduled. Any student or staff member who is quarantined, will not be able to attend or participate in any activity while quarantined.
As mentioned earlier, we are not seeing an increase in positive cases within our school, in either our student population or staff but we are seeing an increase in quarantines due to exposure outside of the school. We attribute that to our students and staff being very safe during this pandemic and following safety guidelines put into place earlier in the year. While closed for the Wellness Break, all classrooms, restrooms, and common spaces will be heavily disinfected to ensure a safe return after Thanksgiving Break. Once we return, the district will continue to stress good hygiene, personal care and proper social distancing throughout our buildings.
Sincerely,
Dr. Chris Kell
Superintendent
Greenfield R-IV