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August 17, 2020
Dear Families, I hope this letter finds you well. This 2020-2021 school year will be like no other. Choose 2 Connect (C2C) is working to create a complete STEAM program that addresses the multidisciplinary academic, developmental, and social/emotional needs of students in grades 3-8 at Merriam Avenue School and Halsted Middle School. The activities planned are engaging, fun, and will still connect your family to highly qualified Newton Public Schools teachers and the greater Newton community. We will continue to support your child and your family's after school needs, but we have made significant changes. First, we have decided on a C2C Hybrid schedule for both Merriam and Halsted. Hybrid is defined as a blend of in-person activities and online activities. This means on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, C2C Hybrid students, will be in person at their school. Every Tuesday and Friday, all students will be home and participating online through Google Classroom. Second, your child can participate in the C2C Remote program at home. Remote means that all activities will take place online. There will be a dedicated remote teacher and teacher's assistant each day to provide academic support, physical education activities, and STEAM projects through Google Classroom. Students who choose this option will be provided with monthly take-home kits to participate from home in their favorite clubs and activities fully. Reservations will open on Friday, August 21, 2020, at 9:00 am. Reserving a spot for your child(ren) does not guarantee they will attend the C2C Hybrid program. Space is limited, and registration is based on physical space available, available staff, and social distancing guidelines. Please see below for all C2C procedures. Please click here to reserve a spot today. You will be notified via e-mail or phone on September 1, 2020, to confirm your child is registered for the hybrid program, remote program, or placed on a waiting list. Students placed on the C2C Hybrid waiting list may participate in the C2C Remote if space is available. The first day of C2C will be Monday, September 14, 2020. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me at [email protected] or at (973) 383-7440 ext. 2232. Please allow at least 48 business hours for a response. Stay healthy and safe, Elysia Ochs Director of Community Schools |
C2C 2020-2021 Procedures
- Reservation, not Registration. You may reserve a spot for a child(ren), but this does not guarantee they will be placed in the hybrid program. Click here to reserve a spot.
- Please select the days you would like your child to attend.
- Please select a specific dismissal time and method.
- Students will be registered based on the following:
- Physical space available
- Available staff
- District social distancing guidelines
- Physical space available
- Students that cannot be registered for the C2C Hybrid program will be placed on a waiting list in the order of their reservation.
- If your child attends the AM session of school only, they may attend C2C.
- Please select the days you would like your child to attend.
- Health Screenings
- AM only students can enter the program only after a temperature check and health screening starting at 3:00 pm.
- If the child’s temperature is 100.0° Fahrenheit or greater, your child cannot attend C2C in person that day. Remote instruction may be provided if the student can participate.
- AM only students can enter the program only after a temperature check and health screening starting at 3:00 pm.
- Cloth Face Coverings
- All students and staff are required to wear a cloth face covering in accordance with the Newton Public Schools Reopening Plan Section 2.5 Cloth Face Coverings.
- C2C will set up outdoor space, weather permitting, for students to take individual masks breaks that are at least 6 feet from others.
- All students and staff are required to wear a cloth face covering in accordance with the Newton Public Schools Reopening Plan Section 2.5 Cloth Face Coverings.
- Grouping Students
- Students will be grouped as closely to their day-time cohorts as possible. When this is not possible, students will be grouped by grade level. All groupings will be recorded for accurate contact tracing.
- Attendance will be taken for each activity using PowerSchool.
- Students are not allowed to switch between groups.
- Students will be grouped as closely to their day-time cohorts as possible. When this is not possible, students will be grouped by grade level. All groupings will be recorded for accurate contact tracing.
- Attendance
- Children registered for the C2C Hybrid program are expected to attend.
- If your child misses three days, but was in attendance at school, they will be moved to 100% remote so that a student on the waiting list can attend the program.
- If your child misses three days, but was in attendance at school, they will be moved to 100% remote so that a student on the waiting list can attend the program.
- If a child leaves school grounds at PM dismissal, s/he may not return for C2C.
- Students that are required to stay home as per the Newton Public Schools Reopening Plan section 2.1. Attending School may participate in the 100% remote learning, and their hybrid placement will be held for them.
- Children registered for C2C Remote are expected to attend and will be provided with a take-home kit. They are expected to attend at least 4 online sessions a week, each day has four sessions.
- If they do not attend virtual sessions for non-health-related reasons for one week, parents will receive a notification informing that if this happens a second week, the child will be removed from the program. Parents and/or guardians will be responsible for returning materials to the school.
- If there are significant internet connectivity issues, a paper-based program will be considered and approved by the C2C Project Director. Parents or guardians concerned about internet access should contact Elysia Ochs at [email protected] or at (973) 383-7440 ext. 2232.
- If they do not attend virtual sessions for non-health-related reasons for one week, parents will receive a notification informing that if this happens a second week, the child will be removed from the program. Parents and/or guardians will be responsible for returning materials to the school.
- Children registered for the C2C Hybrid program are expected to attend.
- Dismissal
- Walking, only for grades 5-8, at designated dismissal time. There will be no crossing guards after 3:30 pm.
- Pick up will take at least 10 minutes. Please be prepared to wait for your child.
- Scan the QR code at the school's main entrance or use www.c2cnewton.weebly.com to fill out the Pick-up Form.
- Designated escorts are not permitted to enter the building. Return to your car or the sidewalk to wait for your child.
- Students in grades 3 and 4 will be escorted to the sidewalk or car. Students in grades 5 to 8 will walk to the car or sidewalk unescorted.
- Scan the QR code at the school's main entrance or use www.c2cnewton.weebly.com to fill out the Pick-up Form.
- Busing will be limited to 50 students to follow social distancing guidelines.
- Students that are registered for the bus, but do not use it, will be removed after one week of non-use.
- Students that are registered for the bus, but do not use it, will be removed after one week of non-use.
- Walking, only for grades 5-8, at designated dismissal time. There will be no crossing guards after 3:30 pm.
- Food
- Snacks will be provided to all students during their first activity.
- Snacks will be provided to all students during their first activity.
- Supplies
- Supplies can be provided for 151 students.
- Take-Home Kits will be provided to all registered students with standard classroom supplies (i.e., pencils, markers, scissors, rulers, glue). If your child breaks or loses supplies they will not be replaced. Non-consumable supplies such as scissors and rulers will be expected to be returned to the school.
- Students registered for C2C Remote will be given monthly supplies to complete all activities. These kits can include things such as LEGOs, art supplies, science kits, physical education equipment, and other STEAM supplies. Non-consumable supplies will be expected to return to the school.
- Material pick up and drop off days will be announced through the district instant alert system.
- Supplies can be provided for 151 students.