Bell Schedule

 

Family Welcome Letter 2023-24

8/1/23

Greetings to our wonderful Newman Families!  August is now upon us, and we again find ourselves thrilled about the upcoming school year.  Hopefully, you have all had an excellent summer, full of relaxation.  Your Newman school team is busy preparing for learning and is very excited to see everyone again.  Our strong partnership, communication, and work together will allow us to continue to do what is best for our incredible Newman Mustang Family.  Thank you for everything.  We are so grateful that you are all Newman Mustangs.   

Our theme for this school year is “Academic Rockstars,” as we all work together to help our students learn and achieve.  Please look at the information below and reach out with any questions or concerns. We are so excited to see you all and hope you have a fabulous rest of your summer.  This year is going to be a “Rockin’ Year”!  

 

• Enrollment:  If you know anyone who needs to enroll their student or have an incoming kindergarten student, please have them contact us immediately for enrollment assistance. 

 

• Classlists:  We will be posting classlist on the front doors on Wednesday, August 16th at 4:00 p.m.  

 

• Open House / Supply Drop off / Title 1 Meeting: On Thursday, August 17th from 4:30 - 6:00, we invite all students and families to come to school, drop off their supplies, meet their teachers, and reconnect with our Newman School Family. We will provide Ice-cream treats for everyone who comes and can’t wait to see you.  If families would like to attend our Annual Title 1 meeting to learn more about different resources and plans, please join us in the Library at 4:00 p.m. Open House is a wonderful opportunity to Meet & Greet.  

 

• New Team Members:  We are grateful this year to have the majority of our team back with us, and fortunate to welcome some excellent new staff members.  It is a privilege to announce that Marcie Newpher will be our librarian.  She brings her elementary teaching experience and a genuine passion for students and the library.  She is excited and ready to begin. We also are so happy that Lita Pepion is returning as our Native American Liaison.  She came to us late last year, and is available to help all of our students. We are also lucky to have Killian Stone as a new member of our CSCT Team. He has excellent experience and is ready to support our students. Thank you for making these new Newman Mustangs feel at home. 

 

• First Day of School:  Our first day of the 2023-2024 School year will be Tuesday, August 22nd.  Breakfast is available and free for all students, starting at 7:30 a.m.  School starts at 8:00 a.m., and we kindly request that all students be here, ready to learn, by 8:00 a.m.  Once again, this year, we are asking all 2nd - 5th grade students to be dropped off in the morning behind the school at Newman Lane, walk up the path and enter into entrance # 2.  Kindergarten and 1st grade students and their siblings drop off in the front of the school.  Families, please pull SLOWLY into the bus lane, pull up as far as you can, STOP your vehicle, and have your child exit directly onto the sidewalk.  Once your child is safely away, please slowly exit the bus lane.   Please do NOT park in the bus lane and come into the building.  Families are welcome into the building, we just ask that you park across the street and use the crosswalk to come into the front.  Upon entering the building; please check in and sign in at the office.   Thank you so much for your support with all of this.  As mentioned before, the theme this year is  “Academic Rockstars,” we invite all students to dress up on the first day in their favorite music or rockstar clothing.           

 

This School Year is going to be Rockin.  See you soon! 

Always feel free to call with any questions or concerns. 

 

Thank you Newman Parents and Families for all you do!!! 

Riverstone Health's Orchard Elementary Clinic NOW AVAILABLE to NEWMAN families!

• Patient Information Form
• Patient Health Information
• Consent for Treatment Form
• Authorization to disclose health info Form

More information will be coming as we get it, but I wanted to share this news with you NOW! The clinic at Orchard Elementary will now be able to be accessed by all south side families from infants to adults during the school day from noon to 4pm. Students that have filled out the correct paperwork can be picked up by parents and taken directly to Orchard for assessment and prescription (if needed). They can provide well child check-ups annually to ensure the health of your child - children should be seen EVERY YEAR by a healthcare physician from age 4 to 18 yrs of age. This does not need to take the place of your usual doctor - and it is recommended you stay with your usual healthcare provider if you have one - but this does allow for easy access to medical personnel if and when needed. Take a quick tour by stepping in the front door with me...play the video below...

 

Bullying harms many people in many ways. Billings Public Schools, along with the Montana Office of Public Instruction, stand together to strive to build a safe environment and stop bullying in our schools. Contacting us when there may be an issue is the first step to prevention and support. If you have, or if someone you know has, been bullied or is being bullied, below is a form to begin the process that will allow BPS to begin to investigate the situation. We are here to help.
 
Only as a community can we identify and support those being bullied, redirect behavior, and change the attitudes of those who tolerate bullying.

Report it:

Harassment / Intimidation / Bullying / Hazing Incident Reporting Form

UPDATED COVID-19 PARENT INFORMATION

SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 MAY INCLUDE ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING:

• fever (temperature greater than 100.4), chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty
• breathing, body/muscle aches, fatigue, headache, new loss of taste/smell, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, congestion or runny nose, and sore throat.

*Testing is strongly recommended for any person experiencing symptoms of COVID-19

As the parent/guardian of a student in Billings Public Schools, your cooperation, support, and attention to the following information is of utmost importance for the safety of all:

DAILY PARENT/GUARDIAN RESPONSIBILITIES

●  Do NOT send your student to school if they are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above! Please communicate to the school office the reason for your child’s absence. If your child arrives at school with symptoms of illness, you will be contacted immediately to pick him/her up. Your child must be symptom free without the use of fever reducing or other over the counter symptom resolving medications in order to attend school. Please respond promptly if you are contacted to pick up your child for an illness related concern. Your child will NOT be allowed to ride the bus home. Your child will be required to remain in a supervised designated isolation area until your arrival. The school will make every effort necessary to ensure that you are contacted and that your child is picked up in a timely manner.

●  Please ensure that the school has the most up to date contact information for yourself and other emergency contacts at all times.​ If you will be unavailable to pick up your child in a timely manner due to your work or other commitments please develop a backup plan and communicate that plan with your child’s school.

●  Masks are mandatory!​ Please ensure that your child comes to school with a clean face covering every day.

●  Practice and discuss illness prevention tactics with your family​:

• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water and use hand sanitizer often. Avoid touching your mouth, nose or face.
• Practice proper coughing and sneezing etiquette (into elbow or tissue). Avoid close contact with others.

​Please be cautious and avoid situations which may increase your child’s risk of exposure to COVID-19 within the community.

SYMPTOMS AND TESTING

1) Does my child have one or more symptoms of COVID-19?

a) YES​:

● YOUR CHILD MUST STAY HOME FROM SCHOOL! ​If your child is sent to school with any of the symptoms above or if your child develops any of the symptoms above while at school you will be contacted to pick up your child immediately.

• ●  Testing is recommended for anyone experiencing suspected symptoms of COVID-19.

  The following options are available:

  • ○  Contact your healthcare provider’s office for recommendations regarding testing.

  • ○  Riverstone Health offers free drive-through testing. As of Monday, October 12,

    this testing site will be relocated to 2173 Overland Ave in the United Way facility (previously located at the Shrine through 10/08/2020). Testing is available at the new site Monday through Friday from 8:30-12:30 ​or until the daily allotment of tests have concluded.

    b) NO:

• ●  Your child may attend school.

• ●  Monitor your child closely for any developing symptoms of illness.

• ●  Continue to be vigilant with prevention measures including wearing a mask, frequent handwashing and hand sanitizer use, social distancing and avoiding close contact with others, frequent cleaning/disinfection of commonly touched surfaces, avoiding touching eyes, nose, and mouth, and good coughing and sneezing etiquette (into elbow or a tissue).

2. 2)  Either my child and/or other family members have received testing and are waiting for results. Can my child attend school?

   *The family member with symptoms of COVID-19 should be isolated in a designated area in the home and close contact with others in the home should be avoided as much as possible while awaiting the results of testing.

   1. a)  My child has symptoms and was tested: ​Your child must remain home from school until the results are known.

   2. b)  A parent or other family member has symptoms and was tested, my child does not have symptoms: ​At this time due to rapid and sustained spreading of COVID-19 in our community, students in BPS may not attend school until the test result for the ill family member is known and confirmed to be negative. ​In an effort to prevent possible spread of COVID-19 by asymptomatic students who have potentially been in close contact with someone who may test

   3. c)  Parent or other family member has symptoms and was tested AND my child also has symptoms: ​Your child must remain home until the test results are known.

3. 3)  My child has symptoms of illness but I have either opted not to have my child tested or my child’s healthcare provider recommended that I not have my child tested. When can my child return to school?

   1. a)  It is ​required​ that your child MUST remain home until he/she has been completely fever and symptom free for greater than 24 hours without the use of over the counter fever reducing or other symptom reducing medications. Your child will NOT be allowed to return to the classroom if he/she is still experiencing possible COVID-19 symptoms.

   2. b)  It is ​strongly recommended​ that the same isolation requirements as a positive case be followed. This means that in addition to the requirement above your child should be isolated at home until at least 10 days have passed since the symptoms first appeared.

   3. c)  If your child has seen their healthcare provider for the symptoms of illness and your child has been diagnosed with a non-COVID related illness (strep-throat, influenza, etc), please follow the instruction of your healthcare provider regarding when your child may return to school. Documentation from the healthcare provider indicating an alternative diagnosis for your child’s symptoms and stating when the child may return to school will be required.

4) Someone else in the family is experiencing suspected COVID-19 symptoms but has opted not to receive testing or seek diagnosis for symptoms from their healthcare provider, can my child attend school?

a) No, your child should not attend school. Due to rapid and sustained spreading of COVID-19 in the community, please treat the undiagnosed ill person as if they have a positive case of COVID-19. This means your child should quarantine for 14 days and if any symptoms develop during that time, testing for COVID-19 is recommended. If your child develops symptoms and you opt not to have your child tested, please refer to 3)a,b,c above.

TEST RESULTS AND RETURN TO SCHOOL

1. I had my child tested and my child’s COVID-19 test result was negative. When can my child return to school and what documentation is needed by the school?

   1. Your child may return to school once he/she is feeling well enough to do so and he/she has been fever free and without vomiting or diarrhea for greater than 24 hours. If your child is diagnosed by their healthcare provider with a separate health concern, they may return to school once exclusion criteria for their diagnosed illness has been met (for example: if diagnosed with strep throat, the person must remain home until after antibiotics have been started).

   2. You must provide documentation of the negative test result before your child returns to school.

2. My child tested positive for COVID-19. What should I do? When can my child return to school? What documentation is needed by the school?

   1. We request that you contact the designated public health official in your child’s school and notify him/her of the positive test result as soon as possible to facilitate prompt notification of potential close contacts. Your child’s confidentiality will be protected during the process of notification of close contact individuals.

   2. If your child has other siblings they live with that are in school, the siblings are considered “close contacts” and should immediately begin the mandatory 14 day quarantine.

   3. Follow the recommendations of the county health department or your healthcare provider regarding care and isolation of the sick child in your home. Your child must remain in isolation until ALL 3 of the following criteria have been met:

      1. At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.

      2. Symptoms have improved/resolved.

      3. At least 24 hours have passed without fever (without the use of fever-reducing

         medications).

   4. Your child may return to school when all of the above criteria have been met. You will be

      provided with a “Release of Isolation” note by Riverstone Health- please provide this document to the designated public health official in your child’s school.The school reserves the right to send your child home if such documentation is not provided or if your child still has significant symptoms and is too ill for return. Your child does NOT need to have proof of a negative test result before returning to school.

      FAMILY ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE CONCERNS

1. My child or someone else in the home has tested positive for COVID-19 or is ill with suspected

COVID-19. How can I protect my family?

1. Isolate the sick individual from other family members in the home as much as possible. Well family members should avoid contact with the sick individual as much as possible. Refer to the following CDC site for detailed information on caring for the sick person in your home: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/care-for-someone.html

2. Precautions should include the following:

   • ●  If possible have the person who is ill remain in a designated area of your home (use a

     separate bedroom, bathroom, etc). If space must be shared with other family members, make sure the room has good air flow to help remove respiratory droplets from the air (open a window to increase air circulation).

   • ●  If the individual requires direct care, the caregiver should wear gloves if he/she will come into contact with the sick person’s blood, stool, or body fluids such as saliva, mucus, vomit, and urine. Dispose of gloves immediately after the contact and wash hands.

   • ●  The caregiver and the ill person should both wear a mask when in a room together.

   • ●  Individuals in the home should wash their hands and use hand sanitizer frequently and

     avoid touching any part of their face, particularly after any contact with the sick individual

     or after touching any surfaces that have been near the sick individual.

   • ●  Commonly touched surfaces in the home should be disinfected frequently, however, only

     clean the area around the sick individual when needed (such as when soiled) in order to

     limit contact with the sick person.

   • ●  Monitor the health of other members in the home closely for developing symptoms.

2. If someone in the home has COVID-19, how long do we need to quarantine?

   1. All other people living in the home are considered “close contacts” and must quarantine for a minimum of 14 days (if the sick individual can completely isolate from the other family members) meaning they should not leave the home to go to work, school, or public places and no visitors should be allowed in the home.

   2. If another member of the family becomes sick with COVID-19 during the 14 day quarantine period, the above precautions for isolation of the sick person should be repeated and the 14 day quarantine period starts over for well family members.

3. Is there a way to shorten the length of time my child is in quarantine for being identified as a “close contact”?

   1. No, there is no way to shorten the length of quarantine. The 14 day quarantine is mandatory.

   2. The 14 days ​begins on the day of the last known contact with the infected person​. As soon as

      you become aware that your child has been identified as a “close contact” your child must

      remain home for the remaining duration of the quarantine time period.

   3. Your child cannot be released from their quarantine even if they have a negative COVID-19 test

      result during their time of quarantine. The entire 14 days must be completed to ensure no development of symptoms in accordance with the incubation period ​(the time from exposure to development of symptoms) for COVID-19.

4. Can my child still do activities during quarantine?

   1. During quarantine your child should not leave the home to go to school, work, or public places and no visitors should be allowed in the home. Your child should not have in-person contact with their friends or any family members outside your home, particularly if you have family members who are considered to be high risk individuals.

   2. Your child may not attend sports practices or games or other extracurricular activities.

If the sick person cannot be isolated from others in the home then the 14 day quarantine for family members starts after the ill person’s 10 day isolation time has ended.

5. When can my child return to school after quarantine and what documentation is needed?

   1. Monitor your child closely for developing symptoms during their time of quarantine. If he/she develops any symptoms of COVID-19, testing is recommended. If the result is positive, your child will then be required to complete the requirements for a positive case before return to school (see “Test Results and Return to School” section 2.b,c)

   2. If your child does not develop any symptoms, he/she may return to school after the quarantine time is complete. If you are contacted by Riverstone Health and instructed to quarantine, you will receive a quarantine letter stating the date your child is released from quarantine. Please provide the designated public health official at your child’s school with a copy of the quarantine letter from Riverstone Health as confirmation of your child’s return date. See section 2b under “Contact Tracing” if you are not contacted by Riverstone Health.

6. Can my child go to school if another family member is in quarantine for being identified as a “close contact”?

   1. Yes, your child may attend school ​unless​ the person and/or your child develop symptoms of illness.

   2. If the family member who is in quarantine or the child develops symptoms, testing is recommended. Please refer to sections 2-4 under “Symptoms and Testing” for further guidance.

      CONTACT TRACING- updated 10/30/2020

1. Who is considered a “close contact”?

   2. A person will be considered a close contact regardless of whether one or the other or both persons were wearing masks during the period of close contact.

   3. You may also be considered a close contact even if the interaction with the positive individual was short in duration if a high risk activity was involved (for example: hugging, kissing, sharing food/drink).

2. How will we be notified? How will I know if my child has been potentially exposed at school?

   *Neither Riverstone Health nor Billings Public Schools will release any identifiable information to you regarding the individual with the positive test in accordance with privacy laws.

   1. You may be contacted by Riverstone Health and informed that either you or your child has been identified as a close contact. You will be provided with instructions regarding mandatory quarantine.

   2. You may be notified by a friend, family member, coworker, etc that they have tested positive. If you know you or your child meet the criteria above to be considered a “close contact,” please immediately begin the 14 day quarantine. You should be contacted by Riverstone Health within a few days for further instruction. However, as stated above, you will only be contacted by Riverstone if the person with the positive test result provided information to identify you as a close contact. If you do not hear from Riverstone Health, follow the directions in this document under “Family Isolation and Quarantine Concerns” sections 3 through 6. The only exception will be that your child will not have received the “release from quarantine” document from Riverstone Health. Please notify the designated public health official in your child’s school that you are quarantining for close contact and he/she will facilitate obtaining confirmation regarding your child’s return date.

a. On October 21, 2020, the CDC adjusted the definition of a close contact for contact tracing purposes to the following: “Someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period* starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.”

c. If the school’s designated public health official identifies your child as a “close contact” you will be contacted and your child must immediately begin a 14 day quarantine at home. The school official will provide you with the date your child is allowed to return to school if no symptoms develop.

3. If my child is considered a “close contact” regardless of whether masks are worn or not, why are masks mandatory at school?

1. Mask wearing is a medically proven method of preventing the spread of illness from infected respiratory droplets. Wearing a mask protects others from the potential spraying of respiratory droplets by the mask wearer onto others or onto nearby surfaces. Some examples of this include a surgeon wearing a mask while performing surgery or a sick individual being instructed to put on a mask upon entering their doctors office during flu season.

2. Mandatory mask-wearing in schools offers additional protection for all students and staff. Even though mask-wearing will not affect whether or not a person needs to quarantine as a close contact, it does perhaps affect the likelihood that the person in quarantine will actually become ill with COVID-19. Since individuals with COVID-19 may be contagious prior to the development of symptoms, mandatory mask-wearing in schools is an effort for each person to protect those around them and visa-versa.

4. If my child has already had Covid-19, does he/she have to quarantine if identified as a close contact?​ (updated 11/24/2020)

a. According to CDC guidelines, individuals who have tested positive in the past 90 days and remain asymptomatic​ following exposure are currently not required to quarantine as a close contact.

b. BPS school deputies will not differentiate which students do or do not need to quarantine based upon the 90 day rule when contact tracing in the schools. ANY student who meets the definition of a close contact will be placed in quarantine. If you believe your child should not be required to quarantine based upon the 90 day rule, you must take the following steps before your child may return to school:

● Contact Jana Ream at 247-2120 or Kaylee Stark at 247-2129 at Riverstone Health to determine whether or not your child has to quarantine. If there is documentation indicating that your child meets the criteria to not have to quarantine, then Riverstone will send an email directly to the deputy at your child's school with detailed information stating that your child is not required to quarantine and may return to school.

● Until the school deputy receives this email, your child must remain in quarantine at home and may not attend school.

● If allowed to return to school, your child must remain asymptomatic. If your child develops any possible symptoms of COVID-19 he/she will be sent home from school.Immunity is not guaranteed so it is strongly recommended that you contact your care provider or public health for guidance regarding evaluation and testing if symptoms occur. Students may not attend school if experiencing symptoms of illness.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES For more information please visit the following websites:

https://covid.riverstonehealth.org/

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Updated 11/24/2020 RC RN