Update 15: School year kicks off with a positive orientation/welcome week
(09/11/2020) The energy from students and staff filled the hallways throughout the welcome/orientation events this past week. Students are ready to return to school, and learn!
Just a reminder, elementary students are starting school next week, on Tuesday, Sept. 15, in the hybrid learning format. Cohort A will be in-person Tuesday and Wednesday with Cohort B learning online; then on Thursday and Friday Cohort B will be in-person with Cohort A learning online. Middle and high school students will start in distance learning next week, Monday, Sept. 14, and transition to hybrid learning Monday, Sept. 28. Refer to the calendar for a visual representation of learning formats and cohort days.
This week’s updates include:
- Is my student well enough for school?
- Distance learning how-to videos
- Free meals to be offered while federal funding available
- A look into cleaning and disinfecting
- Face coverings: process for face shield accommodation or exemption
Continue to refer to ahschools.us/ReturnToSchool for the latest information. School supply lists and more are also on district and school websites.
Is my student well enough for school?
If your student is sick and exhibiting symptoms of a cold, such as a sore throat, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, headache and body aches, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest people stay home and not go to school until symptoms have run their course. This means limiting exposure to others outside of your home and community.
In the event that your student has flu-like symptoms, such as a fever or chills beyond those of a common cold, the MDH and CDC suggest not returning to school until 24 hours after a fever (with no fever-reducing medications), and no sooner than ten days after the first symptom – whichever is longer.
For more information, check out the infographic, Can my child go to school today? and the district’s screening tool.
Distance learning how-to videos
A variety of how-to videos in relation to distance learning tools and technology have been created. Check them out.
Elementary school students and parents/guardians:
Middle and high school students and parents/guardians:
- Google Classroom overview
- Google Classroom for families
- Students: Navigating Anoka-Hennepin Google Classrooms
- Students: Customizing Gmail notifications
Free meals to be offered while federal funding available
Anoka-Hennepin’s child nutrition department is continuing its participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program aimed to provide nutritious meals to students. Starting Monday, Sept. 14, all meals will be free for students until Dec. 31 or until funding is exhausted. The USDA is providing the financial resources for the program.
Please go to ahschools.us/2020Meals for information on the district’s procedures for accessing meals both in-person and to-go.
Anoka-Hennepin is still encouraging families to fill out the free/reduced meal application as it’s unclear if the USDA program will last until its intended end date, Dec. 31. There are also a number of other educational benefits received by students who qualify.
Disinfecting and cleaning schools
Check out this video on cleaning and disinfecting processes at Anoka-Hennepin. More information at ahschools.us/SafetyMeasures.
Face coverings: process for face shield accommodation or exemption
Face coverings is one of the district’s health and safety protocols and a strategy required by a state order and School Board policy.
Please complete this form (Spanish) to inform your school/site that your student, due to a medical condition, is interested in wearing a clear plastic shield instead of a face covering or requests an exemption entirely.