Galesburg-Augusta Primary School

Covid-19 Update 10/30/20 Yesterday evening we confirmed that a HS student tested positive for Covid-19. We have completed our contact tracing and all individuals have been placed in quarantine. Unfortunately, it does mean that both our JV and Varsity volleyball teams will not be able to complete their season as they were exposed to the positive individual. We need to stress how important it is, that parents ask their students each day whether they have any symptoms at all and if so, please keep them home. Even if you and your student think it's allergies or "just a head cold." The virus is spreading significantly in the community and we need to be vigilant. You can read the full statement here: https://5il.co/mndd Total COVID-19 positive cases per building, staff, students and the district totals are now available on our website under “COVID-19 Dashboard.”

Covid-19 Update 10/29/20 Today, the Galesburg-Augusta Community School District learned of a high school student who has tested positive for COVID-19. As in every situation, close contacts have been identified. Please know, whenever a student that tests positive has siblings within the district, all members of the household are asked to quarantine. You can read the full statement here: https://5il.co/mmc6 Total COVID-19 positive cases per building, staff, students and the district totals are now available on our website under “COVID-19 Dashboard.”

*** Schedule Changes For NEXT Week *** On Monday, November 2nd and Tuesday, November 3rd, the Cardinal cohort will be in person, with the Gold cohort learning online. On Wednesday, November 4th and Thursday, November 5th, the Gold cohort will be in person, with the Cardinal cohort learning online. There will be no school next Friday, November 6th. *** We would also like to let you know that our meal distribution will be on Friday next week, due to the schedule change. *** Thank you. 🙂

Covid-19 Update 10/26/20 Today, the GACS District learned of a kindergarten student who has tested positive for COVID-19. The student is part of the Gold Cohort and was in attendance last week, therefore, we do need to put several staff and the Gold Cohort group in quarantine. All individuals (adults and students’ families) have been notified of their quarantine. Because the teacher will be quarantined and it is very difficult to get guest teacher coverage, the Cardinal Cohort from the impacted classroom will learn virtually this week and next week. All students from the quarantined classroom can return as normal the week of November 9, 2020. Read the full statement here: https://5il.co/mhi5 Total COVID-19 positive cases per building and the district totals are now available on our website: http://galesburgaugustami.apptegy.us/o/gacs/page/covid-19-dashboard--13

*** School Board Candidates for the November Election UPDATE *** We have four School Board vacancies up for grabs on the November ballot. Four (4) of our current board members' terms will expire on December 31, 2020. Archie Silkworth, Carolyn Martin, Benjamin Overgaard and Stephanie Knobloch. • Archie Silkworth and Carolyn Martin both decided not to run for reelection. • Benjamin Overgaard and Stephanie Knoblock are running for reelection, however, due to Covid shutdowns they missed the deadline for turning in their paperwork in July. They are both now running as write-in candidates. • Marcie Barber, Penny Seume, Jessica Eberstein, and Krista Simmons, are also registered as write-in candidates. • Additionally, Abby Calala is listed on the ballot. G-A is very excited about the level of interest from our community members in serving and supporting our students and staff! We have 7 individuals running for 4 open positions. Six (6) of the 7 are write in candidates. You may vote for 4 candidates for the School Board. 🙂

*** School Board Candidates for the November Election *** We have four (4) School Board vacancies up for grabs on the November ballot. Four of our current board members' terms will expire on December 31, 2020. Archie Silkworth, Carolyn Martin, Ben Overgaard and Stephanie Knobloch. • Archie Silkworth and Carolyn Martin both decided not to run for reelection. • Ben Overgaard and Stephanie Knoblock are running for reelection, however, due to Covid shutdowns they missed the deadline for turning in their paperwork in July. They are both now running as write-in candidates. • Marcie Barber, Penny Seume, and Krista Simmons, are also registered as write-in candidates. • Additionally, Abby Calala is listed on the ballot. G-A is very excited about the level of interest from our community members in serving and supporting our students and staff! We have 6 individuals running for 4 open positions. Five (5) of the 6 are write in candidates. You may vote for 4 candidates for the School Board.

NOTICE OF REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING The Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools Board of Education will be conducting a Regular School Board Meeting via video conferencing due to the current Covid-19 Pandemic. DATE OF MEETING: October 19, 2020 HOUR OF MEETING: 6:30 P.M. To join Zoom Meeting by computer o Enter: https://zoom.us/j/3416004497 into your web browser o Then click Open Zoom Meeting o Enter password: 123456 Meeting ID: 341 600 4497

Covid-19 Update 10/16 Today, the Galesburg-Augusta Community School District learned of a high school student who has tested positive for COVID-19. The student was already in quarantine and the exposure occurred outside the school setting. Therefore, no contract tracing will need to occur. ** No closure of any buildings is needed at this time. ** You can read the full statement here: https://5il.co/m7de Total COVID-19 positive cases per building, staff, students and the district totals are now available on our website under “COVID-19 Dashboard.” To see our Covid-19 Dashboard please click the link below: https://www.g-aschools.org/o/gacs/page/covid-19-dashboard--13

Parent/Guardian Survey: Improving our Pandemic Learning Models of Instruction and Safety Procedures. We need your feedback and input as our District's Board of Education, Administrators and Staff evaluate our current Continuity of Learning Plan. Your input will help determine what changes may need to be made to our instructional models and safety protocols. Please fill out the survey linked below. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScjz2OEQyFPftz5oWRdDymyRFSIiKX5z64A3mpYhR9KLUG06g/viewform

Covid-19 Update 10/7/20 Today, the GACS District learned of a HS student who has tested positive for COVID-19. The student is in isolation, & their close contacts have been identified, notified, and are in quarantine. The MS & HS remain open. We believe we have isolated all individuals & the building is safe for continued learning. The Primary School (including all programming, the enhancement center & daycare) will reopen on Monday, October 12, 2020. Please find the full statement below from Galesburg-Augusta Community School District and Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department regarding the recent COIVD-19 outbreak: https://5il.co/lvkv

*** Covid-19 Update *** ~ MS & HS will reopen on Monday, October 5, 2020 ~ All extracurricular activities (including practices, games, and performances) will be postponed this week and will resume on Monday, October 5, 2020 ~ Primary School will reopen on Monday, October 12, 2020 ~ This includes all programming, the enhancement center, and daycare The health and wellbeing of our staff, students, and their families are of the greatest importance. We thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate these challenging times. Please click the link below to read the full statement from GACS District and Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department regarding the recent COVID-19 outbreak: https://5il.co/lol0

G-A Community School District and the Kalamazoo County Health & Community Service Department (KCHCS) statement regarding the recent COIVD-19 outbreak: Out of an abundance of caution, GACS District has decided to close all school buildings due to individuals testing positive for COVID-19 within the Early Childhood Special Education classroom (ECSE). At this time, there are three positive cases associated with this outbreak. The KCHCS uses the CDC outbreak definition, which is when two or more cases are epidemiologically linked. Per the CDC guidelines, individuals who have tested positive have been isolated, and individuals who have been identified as a close contact have been notified and quarantined. To date, there is no known exposure outside of the ECSE classroom. KCHCS is working closely with GACS on all public health recommendations for the school district, ECSE Center, and those identified as affected individuals. GACS District is tentatively scheduled to reopen on Thursday, October 1, 2020. Further communication will be sent confirming this reopen date.

This weekend you received an email regarding one of our G-A family members who has tested positive for Covid -19. Those individuals who were considered a close contact were already advised to quarantine. As the weekend has progressed, we want to be proactive with the health department and further investigate the information we have received. Therefore on Monday, September 28th, 2020 all district programs including preschool, daycare, the enhancement center and K-12 buildings will be closed for in person instruction. Teachers in K-12 will be providing online learning opportunities for their students. Please follow your at home learning schedule. For further details, access your teachers Seesaw or Google Classroom. Please know that the health and safety of our staff and students is of utmost importance.

*** Free Meal Delivery & Pick Up TOMORROW 9/23 *** On Wednesdays, we will be delivering 5 days worth of meals. ~ The buses will leave the high school at 10 AM. ~ They will run their normal PM bus routes delivering meals. Please keep an eye out for your bus! ~ If your child is a virtual student or does not have a bus stop, you may pick up your meals at the PS or the MS. If you would like to be added to a bus stop or have questions about your closest stop, please contact the bus garage at 269-484-2015 or melissa.daniels2@garams.org. Meals will also be available for pick up at the Primary School & Middle School on Wednesdays 10:30 - 11:30 AM.

Thank you to all parents for making our first full week a success. We appreciate you! There was a Robo Call email that was sent out. Please remember to check your email :)

Kids Heart thank you gifts were handed out today to students and teachers.

*** Meal Delivery TODAY *** We will be delivering 5 days of breakfast & lunch. Buses will be following our regular morning bus routes, like this last spring. This first week the buses will leave the high school at 1:30 PM and stop at their normal morning stops. Please keep an eye out for the bus! Meals will also be available for pick up TODAY at the Primary school 2:30 - 3:15 PM. ** NEXT week, meal delivery will start at 10:00 AM. **

G-A Community Schools Bus Procedures 🙂 https://www.wevideo.com/view/1817394084

Parents do not forget to check your emails for important information.

We are hiring Transportation Aides!! QUALIFICATIONS/DUTIES:  High School graduate  Arrive 5 minutes prior to bus leaving the garage  Assist the students in finding the correct seat as well as filling out the seating chart for assigned seats  Monitor students making sure their mask is being kept on properly  Assist driver with student behaviors  If needed, sanitize high touch surfaces between bus runs If interested, please email Wendy Somers at wendy.somers@garams.org or apply at the link below. https://www.applitrack.com/kalamazoo/onlineapp/default.aspx?choosedistrict=true&applitrackclient=1519&all=1