This is the second in a three-part series of Bluffton school reopen plans by building. For the elementary information, click here. Tomorrow we will post high school details.

By Josh Kauffman
middle school principal
It is with great anticipation and excitement that we welcome you back to the 2020-2021 school year.

After an abrupt end to our 2019-2020 school year, we hope that this year is better than last and that we can collectively have as good of a school year as possible for our students, staff, and families. 

In order to do so, I would invite you all to review Dr. Denecker’s letter to parents dated Aug. 18 on the school’s website.

The letter outlines both our in-person and remote learning options for families and highlights the full remote learning change on Fridays for the 1st quarter for all students. It is my hope that my letter gives specific day-to-day routines and operations, provides guidance on policies that have changed, and addresses what students and families can expect at Bluffton Middle School.

As with many things in 2020 thus far, these guidelines can change as this COVID-19 crisis changes. Often times these changes could happen with minimal notice and we must all be ready to be flexible and adapt to meet the requirements, while still serving our students.

Our plan will be to communicate changes as fast as possible so that you may plan as a family accordingly. If you do not have the school alert system app, please install this on your phone. You will need to visit the school’s website atwww.blufftonschools.org to sign up.

On the website’s home page, under the “Parents” heading, click on “Parent Alert System” and follow the simple steps to subscribe to alerts. Feel free to contact the office if you have any questions. Here is a rundown of what you can expect:

Face covering
Masks or gaiters are required for all students.

Masks or gaiters are required for all students that ride a bus.

Mask breaks will be given for short periods of time when students can walk outside and/or be socially distant in a large inside area.

Each student will be provided both a mask and a gaiter during registration days.

Universal Safety Precautions
All staff and students will be required to have their temperature checked at the beginning of each day. Any person with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher will be sent to the nurse for further examination.

Hand sanitizer will be available in high traffic areas and classrooms. Handwashing for 20 seconds will be encouraged.

Signs, posters, and other methods to reinforce the importance of frequent hand washing/sanitizing and proper prevention strategies will be posted throughout the building.

Cleaning protocols are established paying close attention to high touch areas and shared materials.

The sharing of supplies and materials will be minimized to the extent possible with all shared items being sanitized between each use.

Water fill stations have been installed. Drinking fountains have been disconnected. Please send in a water bottle for your child each day. This will be what they use to get water at lunch also.

Hallway traffic flow in the middle school will be reviewed with students on day 1, including directions on stairwells, left and right side of hallways, and rotation between teachers.

Classrooms
Safety protocols for sanitizing the classroom will be followed by teachers and staff.

Disinfecting will occur at the conclusion of each class period before students rotate to their next class. Students will clean their own space prior to exiting class so the next student sits in a clean working space.

Students will be spaced out as far as possible, seated facing one direction, and will utilize plexishields in rooms/labs with tables.

Seating charts will be consistent to assist in contact tracing.

Book bags and personal water bottles will be allowed throughout the school day. These will travel with students as they go about their day.

6th and 7th grade students will travel to each class with the same group they start the day with every day with the exception of specials.

8th grade students will be seated alphabetically by last name to aide in tracing.

Chromebooks
Each student will be given a chrome book in grades 6-8 to take home each day/night.

Students should plan to charge these every night and bring their chargers and devices to school with them Monday-Thursday.

There will be spares for students to check out and return in the office before school lets out should they forget theirs.

Restrooms
One student at a time may use the restroom during class time.

Students will fill out their planners, sign, and date them prior to leaving the classroom.

Students may utilize the restroom in between classes and handwashing will be encouraged.

Students will use hand sanitizer from their classroom before and after using the restroom.

Art/Music/Physical Education/Library
Students will not share art materials and supplies with other students.

In music, any instruments for use will be sanitized before and after using.

Physical education and library will be held in their designated areas and will follow safety requirements of sanitizing their area after and before student arrival.

Use of outdoor spaces and larger venues on our campus will be done as much as possible.

Main Office Visits Procedures/Visitors
Visitors are not permitted unless approved by the principal.

If students need to leave school per the nurse, they will be picked up from the nurse’s station in the elementary.

Parents entering the middle school office will be required to wear a mask and should only do so in the event of an emergency.

Students will be asked to use their own phone to call home from the office area. In the event they do not have a phone, exceptions will be made.

Meet the Teacher and Open House
“Meet the Teacher” and Open House are cancelled for this school year. Teachers will be posting a video introducing themselves and their classrooms.

Arrival/Lockers
School doors will open at 7:30 a.m.

Students should plan to enter the building every day wearing their mask or one will be provided.

Students should report directly to their homeroom unless they are eating breakfast or need to put their coat in their locker.

Parents and adults are not permitted to enter the building unless granted permission by the principal.

Student locker use will be reserved for beginning and end of the day only to put coats away.

Materials, book bags, water bottles, and phones will be carried throughout the day. Phones should remain off and kept in book bags at all times.

Middle school students will enter the main entrance doors or the bus entrance doors upon arrival.

Student temperature checks will occur during first period during announcements.

Hallways
We will have an “up” stairwell and a “down” stairwell.
(Main Entry-up, Gym Doors-down)

Students in 6th and 7th grades will move as a class to their next class

8th grade will stagger and social distance

All classes will follow and outlined diagram of the traffic pattern

Dismissal
Students will dismiss from exits that they have in the past.

Parents are not permitted to enter the building unless granted permission from the principal.

Masks should be worn during dismissal until outdoors.

Breakfast/Lunch/Birthday treats/Incentives
Students will sanitize their hands before and after lunch.

Assigned seating (by student and classroom) will be required at lunch.

Grade 6 will eat as a grade-level inside the lunchroom. (1st lunch)

Grade 7 will eat as a grade-level inside the lunchroom. (3rd lunch)

8th Graders will eat in classrooms on the main floor. (2nd lunch)

Breakfast will be available for students in the cafetorium that arrive before 8 a.m.

No self-service foods or pump condiments. Individual packaged condiments will be served.

No visitors will be permitted to eat with students.

Birthday treats will be provided by the school this year and we will celebrate student birthdays each month in the last week of each month. Treats should not be brought in from home.

Remote learners can pick up lunch in the cafetorium from 12:00-12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Fridays. Lunches are served for everyone-those who purchase and those who qualify for free or reduced lunch.

“Recess” time will be held inside classrooms with students being allowed to work on school work, utilize chromebooks, or read.

Incentives will be done “in house” this year inside classrooms.

Transportation
Masks are required by bus drivers and all students.

Hand sanitizing stations are on each bus. Students need to utilize when entering the bus.

Disposable masks will be provided to students if they forget their mask.

Students will be assigned to seats. They will not be allowed to change seats once seated.

Siblings will sit together.

Windows may be opened to allow for fresh air ventilation.

Cleaning and sanitizing protocols will be followed. Seats and high-touch surfaces (handrails,isles, and windows) will be sanitized.

Field Trips are suspended until it is deemed safe to schedule.

Progress Book
All student (online and in school) grades will be updated weekly on Progress Book in grades 6-8

We will provide student and parent login information during the first week of school.

We encourage parents to utilize the text notification feature of progress book to keep track of student progress.

Remote/Online Learning Expectations
Google Classroom will be used as the remote learning platform for all classes.

Students are expected to be actively participating and staying on top of their studies each week.

Grade-level websites have been created and will be readily available to parents/students on our school website.

Teachers will post a weekly syllabus for each class by 8:00 a.m. Monday mornings. Outlining the week ahead. Assignments will be turned in each week.

Parents of online learners may pick up a chrome book and required text books at the middle school on Friday, Aug. 28, from 8-4 p.m.

W.I.N/Advisory Periods

WIN Period replaces CPR and stands for “What. Individuals. Need.” This will be a time each day where students will focus on academics, interventions, goal-setting, and progress monitoring academics/grades. Students will be able to meet with teachers individually in a conference-style format.

Advisory Period will focus on our new “Pirate Pact” and have a social emotional focus geared towards lessons on core values, mental health, relationship building, and character development.

Advisory Focus (Pirate Pact Emphasis):
Quarter 1 – School 
Quarter 2 – Home/Family 
Quarter 3 – Community 
Quarter 4 – Future/Career/Jobs

If at any point you have any questions or concerns, I invite you to call, email, or schedule a time to meet with me. It is my sincere hope that despite all the changes, that we can remain optimistic, positive, and offer every student what they truly deserve and that is an exceptional educational experience every day they are at Bluffton Middle School.

It will take us all working together to do so and I look forward to working with each of you to make that happen.

 – Josh Kauffman, principal
419-358-7961 
[email protected]