Kindergarten in-person learning begins Nov. 9
Oct. 21, 2020
Battle Ground Public Schools is pleased to offer in-person learning to kindergartners enrolled in its traditional public schools beginning Monday, Nov. 9.
With the rates of COVID-19 activity level increasing each week, I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever be able to say this. But together with Clark County Public Health and the other school districts in our region, we have created a path to get our youngest learners into schools safely in cohorts.
I am excited to be able to offer this opportunity to our youngest learners. As an educator of 40 years, I know that nothing will be more beneficial to our kindergartners than to get them in the same room with their teachers. Developing relationships, learning to understand and manage their emotions, forming letter sounds and reading high-frequency words—these are all tasks that are challenging for a kindergartner to accomplish with a screen between them and their teacher.
For 2.5 hours a day, four days each week, we are going to provide an in-person learning experience that will help kindergartners progress. Schedule-wise, it will be very similar to the AM/PM kindergarten experience that we offered just a few years ago.
Please note that families can choose to continue learning remotely, and schools will use the most recent Learning Model Choice survey to identify each family’s preference. After hearing from River HomeLink families about their preferences, it has been decided that all kindergartners attending River HomeLink will continue to learn remotely.
The following information will hopefully answer initial questions you might have. Additional information will be provided by your child’s school and the district as the first day of kindergarten in-person learning approaches.
We are looking forward to finally welcoming our kindergartners into Battle Ground classrooms!
Mark Ross, Superintendent
Battle Ground Public Schools
In-person information
Schedule
The in-person learning schedule will be the same as the current primary remote schedule. In-person learning at school will replace direct instruction (Zoom classes) so that students are in classrooms:
- Group A: 9:00–11:30 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
- Group B: 1:00–3:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
Teachers will provide independent work for the indirect instruction time when students are learning at home.
Transportation
Cascade Student Transportation is working on bus routes. Routes, including student pick up and drop off times, will be available soon on the Traversa Ride 360 online tool. Instructions and a link to the tool is on the Bus Routes webpage.
Schools will provide protocols for student drop off and pick up by parents/guardians. Please note that for everyone’s health and safety, parents will not be permitted to escort children to their classroom.
The district will have crossing guards and walking monitors at Captain Strong, Daybreak and Maple Grove primary schools in strategic locations for students who walk to school. Please check with your school for details and to sign up.
Meals
Students will have access to free grab and go meals at school. AM learners will bring a grab and go lunch home with them from school. PM learners will be provided sack lunch on-site at 12:40 p.m. before learning begins. The district is working out the logistics for providing grab and go breakfast.
Attestation
Per state Department of Health requirements and CDC guidelines, all students, staff, and building visitors must attest to their health upon entering any school building. The district will use the Qualtrics application for attestation. Families and staff can access the app from a computer or cell phone. Guardians will get an email or text message reminder to attest to their child’s health. A description of how attestation will work is on the district website.
If your child displays any symptoms of COVID-19 once in-person learning begins, please contact your child’s healthcare provider, report the symptom(s) to and follow up with your school nurse or principal and refer to the COVID-19 Student Screening Flow Chart.
School Supplies and Chromebooks
Students will be provided with school supplies in the classroom, so they do not need to bring any from home. Students also will NOT need their Chromebook at school.
Students will need to bring a jacket, mask and their own water bottle to school.
Immunizations
Now is a good time to make sure your child is up to date on their immunizations. Students who do not have the required immunizations will not be able to attend in-person learning. Also new this year, state law requires that immunization records be medically verified when they are submitted to schools. Immunization information and requirements are on the district website.
First week(s) of school
It will be important to help kindergartners learn what is expected in the classroom. Students will be taught the expectations, including how to follow physical distancing and other safety protocols, the first week of school and as necessary.
FAQ
Based on guidance from Clark County Public Health and the state Department of Health’s Decision Tree for in-person learning, young learners have been identified as a high-need group that would most benefit from in-person learning. Recent data studies have shown that students in this age group are at a lower risk for the spread of the coronavirus. By keeping groups in cohorts and implementing preventive measures, Clark County Public Health has said this is a safe, cautious and logical next step. Information about our transition plan to hybrid learning for all students and the status of Clark County’s COVID-19 activity level is on the district website.
Students will be required to wear masks in the classroom.
It is possible that your child’s teacher could change. Our goal is to balance the class sizes of AM and PM cohorts AND provide for students who stay remote. We will do our best to accommodate everyone’s needs, but the move to in-person learning may require some students to change classes.
Openings for before and after school child care are currently available for a fee at Maple Grove through a partnership with ESD 112. The ESD is also considering offering child care at Captain Strong and Glenwood Heights. If you are interested in one of these options, please fill out the School Age Child Care Interest form.
Students will have in-person learning with specialists on a rotating basis so that they participate in one specialist subject each week.
Students will be physically distanced on the bus as much as is possible. Siblings will be seated together. Windows could be open when weather appropriate.
- Contact your healthcare provider.
- Report the symptom(s) to and follow up with your school nurse or principal.
- Refer to the COVID-19 Student Screening Flow Chart.
Parents/guardians of students who receive these services will be contacted with more information.
We recognize that some families may not feel comfortable coming to the classroom at this time as the Clark County COVID-19 activity level remains in the high category. If the learning preference that you indicated on the Learning Model Choice form last month has changed, please contact us to let us know.
Battle Ground Public Schools will clean between cohorts according to guidelines of the Washington state Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control.
11104 N.E. 149th Street,
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 200 
360-885-5300