March 12, 2020
Dear Columbiana Middle School Families,
As you are aware, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic creates a number of new considerations. We have collaborated as a district and within our buildings to ensure the health and safety of our students during this time and to establish a contingency in the event of a school closure. Governor DeWine has ordered that all Ohio K-12 school buildings close as of the end of the day on Monday, March 16th.
CMS will operate on a two-hour delay on Friday, March 13th. Staff will report at normal time in order to prepare for the day and discuss information we will share with students regarding our plan moving forward. Monday, March 16th will be a professional waiver day for our staff in order to prepare for remote learning opportunities. Students will not report to school on this day.
Please know that we take the health and safety of our children seriously and have taken extra precautions in order to avoid the spread of germs. This includes hand washing in the morning, prior to lunch, and again in the afternoon; as well as disinfecting work surfaces, desks, cafeteria tables, railings, door knobs, gym equipment, etc. regularly. Our school nurse, along with teaching staff, have provided students with instruction, regarding common sense precautions such as: appropriate hand washing techniques, how to minimize the spread of germs while coughing or sneezing, reminders to minimize touching their own face, as well as other considerations in the prevention of spreading viruses such as COVID-19.
In the middle school, students will be provided lessons through teacher web pages (similar to blizzard bags that our students are familiar with) or through Google Classroom. Google Classroom may be utilized in situations where the teacher has been regularly using Google Classroom and students are familiar with the system. Other teachers will make use of their teacher web page and email in order to communicate with students through their school email address. This would include the delivery of instruction, content, and assignments. Students would return their assignments through email or the Google Classroom environment.
For students who may not have access to the Internet and/or an electronic device, Columbiana Middle School teachers will make arrangements for hardcopies of assignments to be picked up and returned in a timely fashion through the office. As with blizzard bags, an electronic learning opportunity day would count as hours attended for that course if the work required has been completed to the teacher’s standards. Missing work would reflect a zero for the assignment and an absence for that class period.
Outside activities which make use of our facilities have been temporarily suspended. Extracurricular activities, including practices, will be postponed or cancelled. Decisions regarding addition field trips and large group meetings at Columbiana Middle School will be suspended for the time being.
Unless otherwise communicated, our CMS production of Schoolhouse Rock is still scheduled for Saturday 3/14 at 7:00 pm but will not be available for the public. Immediate family only will be provided admission. The Sunday, March 15 showing has been cancelled. Our custodial staff is making arrangement to sanitize all seats, door handles, etc. prior to Saturday’s viewing for family members. We will practice social distancing during this family event.
The following PTO events have been cancelled or postponed:
-PTO General Membership Meeting originally scheduled for 3/17
-CMS PTO Tacos and Tie Dye, originally scheduled for 3/20
We are currently in conversations with the travel company regarding our 7th /8th grade trip to Washington D.C., currently scheduled for May 7-9. More details to follow.
As decisions are made, I will make the Columbiana Middle School students and families aware as soon as reasonably possible. If you have any questions, please never hesitate to contact me. If you have not done so already, please make sure you sign up for CMS updates through the Columbiana Clippers App on Google and iTunes. Also, feel free to sign up to our CMS Instagram for updates at proud2baclipper.
At times like these, our Clipper Community has always come together to ensure success. This situation will be no different.
I appreciate your support, flexibility, and understanding as we continue to work to keep students safe and prepare for alternative educational experiences for our students in the event of cancellation.
The following links provide helpful information:
The Center for Disease Control (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/
Columbiana County Health Department: https://columbiana-health.org/
Mahoning County Health Department: https://www.mahoninghealth.org/
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Have a great day & Go Clips!
Sincerely,
Jason H. Martin
Principal, Columbiana Middle School
jason.martin@columbianaschools.org
330-482-5354, Extension 34408