Superstar Families, 

 In light of the COVID-19 Pandemic, please understand that the information and dates contained within this newsletter are tentative and subject to change. I know that getting used to the “New Normal” is not always easy, but I hope that we will get through this together. Our focus has always been and remains the safety and well-being of our students and staff. As state and local mandates change, we will make adjustments as needed. Please understand that this is a fluid situation and changes are inevitable.

Important Dates:

As mentioned, August 11th -14th will be a series of staggered first days of school for students:
Tuesday, August 11 – Students with last names A-D
Wednesday, August 12 – Students with last names E-K
Thursday, August 13 – Students with last names L-Q
Friday, August 14 – Students with last names R-Z
Monday, August 17 – All students report to school
Pre-K Dates
August 19 – ½ students
August 20 – ½ students
August 21 – All students report to school

Arrival Procedures:

Car Riders: Students may arrive on campus beginning at 7:05 am. All car riders must follow the car rider line and be dropped off at the designated car rider location. Under no circumstance should a child be dropped off in any of our front parking lots. Car riders must arrive by 7:20 am in order to eat breakfast. Parents will not be allowed to walk their child in the building. All students can either report to the cafeteria to pick up a grab-n-go breakfast or report directly to their classrooms.

Information Changes:

Contact the school office at (504) 302-1000 if you have moved or any contact information has changed

Safety Precautions:

• Students in Pre K, K, 1, and 2 have the option of wearing a mask. However, Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 must wear a mask when moving about the classroom or building.
  • All students must practice social distancing in the classrooms, school building and on the bus.
  • Initial temperature checks will be done daily at each entry point. Students who have a temperature of 100.4 or higher, will need to be picked up immediately.
  • Students will need to bring their own filled water bottle to school. The water fountains will be closed.
  • Students will wash their hands or use sanitizer throughout the day.
  • Access to the campus will be limited to students and staff members only at this time.
  • All buildings and work spaces will be cleaned throughout the day.

Masks for Sale  

We will be selling W. Smith Elementary masks for students and adults. The cost is $5.

Class Assignments:

Your child’s homeroom teacher will begin calling home August 6th to introduce themselves and gather important information from each of our Smith Families. Teachers and staff members will be directing students to the appropriate classrooms as they arrive on campus. No visitors will be allowed on campus at any time during this Pandemic for the safety of all of our students and staff.

School Supplies:

We will NOT have a School Supply night this year. We ask that parents send in school supplies over the first three days of school. Please make sure to send the basic necessities: pens, paper, notebooks, binders, etc. on the first day. You can send the other items on the second and third days.

Virtual Back-to-School Night:

Back to school night for kindergarten through fifth grades will be posted to our school website in a prerecorded video on the evening of August 6th to introduce students and parents to the grade level team and their classrooms.

Transportation:

If possible, we are asking that parents bring and pick up their children daily. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we have limited seating on the buses and would like to reserve those spaces for students who have no other form of transportation. However, if your child will be a bus rider, please allow your child to ride the bus on the first day of school. This will allow us to give your child the proper bus tags. Information will be posted to our school and district website concerning bus routes, as it becomes available. 

Uniforms:

All students are expected to arrive on the first day of school in full uniform. Uniforms are required for all students. Please refer to the St. Bernard Parish Uniform Policy prior to purchasing school uniforms. Stores may advertise articles of clothing as “uniforms”; however, they may not meet the district uniform policy.

Face Coverings:

Face coverings can be of any color but cannot contain writing or symbols which may be perceived as inappropriate.

Stay Up-to-Date:

As a reminder, this is an ever-changing situation and we are constantly updating our websites and Facebook pages. Please continue to monitor our district/school’s websites and Facebook page for the most current information. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me at (504) 302-1000.

Ms. Bailey