PLEASE BE SURE TO ALSO CHECK YOUR SCHOOL HOME PAGE FOR SCHOOL-SPECIFIC MESSAGES

RETURN TO SCHOOL DATES AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION

UPDATE FROM FOOD & NUTRITION SERVICES

October 7, 2020

Dear Solon Schools Families,

As we transition to blended learning with some students on campus and others continuing virtually at home, we want to share information about the changes in the school lunch program for all students.

Our menu has been redesigned to ensure students receive a nutritionally balanced meal every day, successfully serving the needs of our students wherever they have lunch—in the cafeteria, the classroom or at home.

Please be sure to read through the following for details about purchasing lunches, signing up for home delivery on virtual days and completing the 2020-21 federal Free & Reduced Lunch Application, especially if your family circumstances have changed. 

On-Campus Learners:

• Solon High School: Beginning October 19, lunches will be served from kiosks stationed throughout the building. To receive a meal from the Solon High School cafeteria, please complete a meal request form by 8 a.m. every day your child wishes to buy lunch. ACCESS THE FORM HERE. 
• All other schools will take lunch counts during first period or at the beginning of the day. No order form is necessary. Lunches will be delivered to classrooms and served in the cafeteria per your school’s specific lunch plan.
• Allergen Free Meals: Allergen-free meals (free from the major eight allergens) are available upon request at the checkout. If your child has an allergen on file with the district, they will automatically receive the allergen free meal. If you wish to change your child’s allergen needs, please contact Lynne Hutchison, MS, RDN, LD, at (440) 349-7703 or LynneHutchison@solonboe.org.

 Virtual Learners:

• All Schools:The School Lunch Home Delivery Program has been extended through the end of the semester and will continue to serve those learning from home.
• If you had been receiving home delivered meals during the full-remote period and wish to continuefor the remainder of the semester, you do not need to do anything. Your delivery will continue.
• If you had been receiving home delivered meals and wish to discontinue deliveries or change your delivery address, please complete the form found HERE.
• If you previously did not receive home delivered meals, but wish to start, please complete the form found HERE.

All lunches include foods from the major food groups—protein, grains, vegetables, fruits, and dairy—and are carefully planned to meet or exceed federally mandated guidelines by:

• Emphasizing whole grain-rich foods
• Offering at least 1/2 cup of fruits and vegetables every day
• Focusing on lean protein options to support growth and development
• Providing choices for low-fat flavored and unflavored milk
• Limiting the number of desserts offered to allow for an emphasis on nutrient-rich foods
• Minimizing sodium, while maximizing flavor

To further support our commitment to you, we promise to:

• Provide a wide variety of fresh, nutritious foods that are enticing for all ages.
• Feed ALL our students through flexible dining options, such as classroom delivery, centralized kiosks for quick Grab & Go meals, and home delivery for virtual learners.
• Uphold food safety and sanitation standards recommended by the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, the Ohio Department of Education, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

We appreciate your support and thank you for purchasing your child's meal through the Solon City Schools' Food & Nutrition Services Department!

You May Qualify for Free & Reduced Lunches

If your family circumstances have changed recently, please consider filling out a Free & Reduced Lunch application. This application can be completed at any time.

To access the online application: https://sdms.solonschools.org/sdms2/

Step-by-step instructions are available at: https://www.solonschools.org/cms/lib/OH01814653/Centricity/Domain/481/QuikApps_Parent_Experience_User_Guide_2019-20.pdf

Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer Program

The program is administered by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services and provides additional monetary assistance to households with children who are eligible for free or reduced-priced meals. For more information, consult ODJFS web page at https://jfs.ohio.gov/ofam/p-ebt.stm 

Lunch Prices for the 2020-21 School Year

Until further notice, students' lunch accounts will not be charged for ordered lunches due to temporary funding assistance through the USDA under the CARES Act for pandemic relief. This is available for all students until the funding is depleted. 

Grades K-6: $3.40

Grades 7-12: $3.65

ASSESSING YOUR CHILD'S HEALTH EACH DAY BEFORE SCHOOL AND MEDICATION REMINDERS

October 3, 2020

Dear Families of In-Person Learners,

We are all looking forward to seeing your students back in the classroom with us beginning Monday. Our staff has worked hard to put in place all of the layers of protection that we outlined for you in our back to school plans. 

It will be critical that you assess your child’s health every morning before school. We need your partnership to maintain a school environment that is as safe as possible for our students and staff. The health of our school community depends on all of us being responsible and honest about any symptoms students may be experiencing. Now more than ever, students should not come to school if they are sick, have a fever or are not feeling well. 

Prior to school each day, please be sure that you check to be sure your child is not experiencing any of the following:

• Fever greater than or equal to 100.4°F
• New onset and/or worsening cough
• Difficulty breathing
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Chills
• Muscle pain
• Excessive fatigue
• Headache
• Nasal congestion or runny nose

We understand that some symptoms of COVID-19 are very similar to other more typical illnesses such as colds or the flu and allergies. We urge you to contact your child’s health care provider if you ever have questions or are uncertain about whether a symptom is related to a current condition, such as allergies, or is a possible sign of something more serious. 

Students who become ill, or exhibit the symptoms above, during the school day will need to go home. Please be sure you have contingency plans in place so that your child is picked up in a timely manner if you receive a call from the school clinic. 

Ongoing Health Reminders:

If your child requires medication during the school day (such as daily prescription or emergency medications), please remember that these medications cannot be administered without the proper documentation (MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION AT SCHOOL FORM), which includes the parent and prescriber signatures as well as the appropriate action plans (https://www.solonschools.org/domain/34)

More information is also available in the Medication Policy Letter to Families (MEDICATION POLICY) 

If you have questions or need to make arrangements to drop off a medication at school during clinic hours, please contact your school clinic directly. Please indicate on the bottle the number of pills you are supplying.  

RoxburyClinic@solonboe.org 

ParksideClinic@solonboe.org 

LewisClinic@solonboe.org

OrchardClinic@solonboe.org

Your school has shared additional information about the daily protocols for face masks, handwashing, sanitizing and distancing. Teachers will review all of this at school with your child on Monday. We will continue to share necessary information next week.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support. We will see your child on Monday!

RETURN TO SCHOOL - K-6 OCTOBER 5 & 7-12 OCTOBER 19

September 18, 2020

Dear Solon Schools Families,

We want to begin by thanking you for your support, patience and partnership during our start to the school year and as we continue to work through this pandemic together. This message outlines a staggered return to in-person learning 5 days a week for our K-6 students on October 5 and an adjusted alternating schedule for grade 7-12 students on October 19.  Although it is lengthy, please read the entire message so that you understand the rationale behind these decisions. As we have stated since our return-to-school plans were first announced in July, it has always been our intention to welcome back as many of our students as we can for in-person learning. That still remains our goal. 

The realities of the COVID-19 pandemic highlight how interconnected and interdependent we are. Our ability to have our students stay in school is dependent on how well families follow the safety protocols. 

• Follow proper mask wearing protocols at all times.
• Maintain physical distancing outside of school.
• Wash your hands and practice proper sanitation protocols.
• Avoid large gatherings and social interactions.

We have compared our existing plans to the updated guidance from the Cuyahoga County Board of Health we received on September 14. The new CCBH recommendations provide clear information for a pathway to return to school referencing sustained trends linked to Ohio’s Public Health Advisory System and health research regarding a return to school.  

Our priority remains balancing the safety, educational and social-emotional needs of our students. To accomplish this, we are transitioning to provide in-person and virtual learning for students whose families still request that option as follows:

OCTOBER 5

Grades K-6 - All-In: 5 Days a Week at School, for those families who selected the all-in option. (Preschool remains 4 Days a Week at School, for those families who selected the all-in option.)

OCTOBER 19

Grades 7-12 - Alternating Schedule: 2 Days at School, 3 Days Virtual for families who selected the all-in option.

Monday/Tuesday - Students with Last Names A-K Attend School In Person

Wednesday/Thursday - Students with Last Names L-Z Attend School In Person

Friday - All Virtual

Data and trends show that student age matters: Students who are older and more social and mobile are at higher risk for contracting and transmitting COVID-19 and younger students appear less likely to transmit COVID-19 to each other or to adults.  Additionally, the most recent CDC and CCBH guidelines underscore the need to create discrete cohorts (groups) of students as much as possible to further mitigate the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in school communities. 

The alternating schedule for students in grades 7-12 is an additional phase of our return plan that allows us to create smaller groups of students to reduce risks and possible exposures. Due to the complexity of middle and high school schedules, we are not able to group students by classrooms. Virtual learning for the majority of our older students continues to be successful except for the lack of in-person connections that the students need.

The October 5 and October 19 dates were selected for several reasons:

• The October 5 and 19 return dates give the district the time it needs to make  the multitude of operational and educational adjustments necessary to shift to in-person learning.
• It is prudent to observe the case data to make sure that our return is as safe as possible, while at the same time giving our parents the time they need to make any necessary arrangements.
• The end of the quarter is a critical time for our older students and the quarter is a logical breakpoint to make this transition.
• The additional two weeks for grades 7-12 is needed to hone our transportation and food service routes with the alternating schedule for grades 7-12 and to incorporate any changes for all grades based on changes in family decisions about whether their children will return in person. 

Even when some of our students return in October, we know that more than 30 percent of our students will continue to learn remotely. Our technology continues to improve and we are committed to ensuring a more seamless educational experience for all of our students regardless of whether they are learning from home or in the classroom.

We understand there will always be some level of risk to in-person learning. Daily  protocols aligned with medical guidance from Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals as well as state and local public health orders and recommendations will mitigate the risk as much as possible. The multiple layers of protection in classrooms, common areas and buses outlined in our original back-to-school plans, including desk shields, distancing, sanitization, and strict adherence to face mask and handwashing protocols, are in place for our students’ return. Families may still choose to opt out and have their child remain virtual for the semester.

These return plans are contingent on continued COVID-19 case decline and low positivity rates with testing. If cases climb and positivity rates increase, we will need to return to fully remote learning. Additionally, positive case reports in our schools will result in students and staff members quarantining for up to 14 days in accordance with public health orders, which would necessitate remote learning for some of our students. 

Shortly, you will receive an overview message from your child’s school. If you opted for your child to return in person, you will receive a Return to School Confirmation Survey to confirm that is still your choice based on current conditions.  For our families who selected virtual for the semester, your children will remain as virtual learners through December 18. 

More information will follow next week. In the meantime, if you have any questions not answered in our Back-to-School FAQs, please reach out to your building principals next week.

TECHNOLOGY TAKE-AWAYS DURING REMOTE LEARNING

September 2, 2020

Dear Solon Schools Families,

As we reach the mid-way point of the second week of school fully remote, our technology team has identified some trends in the technology issues some of our students are experiencing. We have heard from families that are having limited or no issues connecting and others who have needed assistance. The tips below may help, but if you continue to have difficulties, please be sure to reach out to your child’s teacher, the building technology resource teacher or the principal.

We understand that some students are experiencing speed and connectivity issues in Zoom while trying to access a class or while they are in a class. Our investigation of these incidents is showing that students are most often encountering these issues when they are using multiple apps on their Chromebooks.

Although teachers may ask students to also open other applications during their Zoom sessions, it is the non-education related applications many students appear to be using that are causing the most significant connectivity issues. Students are running Netflix, YouTube, multiplayer online games, off-topic Google Hangouts and conducting Google and YouTube searches on inappropriate topics. All of these applications running during a class time would cause audio and video issues during a Zoom meeting.  

We urge families to remind their students that when they log into their Chromebook each day, they are confirming that they will adhere to the technology use policy just as if they were in the school building. School-issued devices are to be used for educational purposes related to their Solon classes only. Our teachers will remind students about this as well.

With that being said, there are additional steps students and parents can take to help improve connectivity and our team continues to work directly with Zoom to identify fixes for any issues that may arise for our students.  

Zoom Tips

For optimal functionality, Zoom recommends that students start fresh each day by restarting Chromebooks. 

Remove any Chrome Extensions that are not needed for learning. To remove an unnecessary Chrome Extension: In Chrome, look for the 3 dots in the upper right of your screen, select More Tools, and then Extensions.

Follow these steps when HAVING ISSUES logging into a Zoom Meeting:

• Restart the Chromebook if it is the first session of the day
• Log in to the Chromebook
• Go to the Zoom website:  zoom.us
• Press Sign-In in the upper right of the screen
• Scroll down and push the Sign In with Google button
• Now go to the teacher’s Google Classroom and click the meeting link
• Do your best not to run any other apps while in a class meeting. We understand that teachers may ask students to complete other tasks while in the Zoom meeting.

Additional suggestion: Remove your home WIFI from the Chromebook (Select Forget the WIFI) and then re-add the WIFI network.

If you have a different device at home that you can try, feel free to do so and see if that corrects the problem. Or, if you have tried the suggestions above, please go ahead and use the Chromebook Exchange to see if a different device solves the problem.

CHROMEBOOK REPAIR & EXCHANGE

It is important that students have a fully charged and working Chromebook each day. If your child’s district-issued device experiences a technical problem not related to logging in, please be sure to complete the Chromebook Repair & Exchange Form and swap the broken device for one in good working order. 

Solon High School students will exchange Chromebooks in the SHS media center daily from 7:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. 

Students in grades K-8 can exchange Chromebooks at Arthur Road School from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day school is in session. 

CHROMEBOOK REPAIR & EXCHANGE FORM: https://forms.gle/2X2VroEhwWiEJGvd7

SOLON SCHOOLS TECHNOLOGY RESOURCE CONTACTS

SOLON HIGH SCHOOL: Brynt SInes bryntsines@solonboe.org  440-349-7711

SOLON MIDDLE SCHOOL: Whitney Ames whitneyames@solonboe.org  440-349-7417

ORCHARD MIDDLE SCHOOL: Jerry Burris jerryburris@solonboe.org  440-349-7471

LEWIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Nancy Erkkila nancyerkkila@solonboe.org  440-349-8020

PARKSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Whitney Ames whitneyames@solonboe.org 440-349-7417

ROXBURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Jerry Burris jerryburris@solonboe.org  440-349-7471

INFORMATION ON COVID-19 AND OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY

August 29, 2020

The Solon Schools have been consulting closely with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health regarding the steps we take when we learn someone in our school community tests positive for COVID-19.

Recently, the CCBH confirmed that a member of our district office team tested positive for COVID-19. The Solon Schools are working with the CCBH on the necessary contact tracing and public health investigation. As part of this public health investigation:

• The person who was diagnosed with COVID-19 is being interviewed by public health.
• The person is staying home from work until they are no longer infectious.
• The person’s activities when they could have spread COVID-19 are being assessed.
• The people who were close contacts of the person with COVID-19 are being instructed to stay home, quarantine and work remotely for 14 days after the exposure. 

If the CCBH contacts you as part of any COVID-19 investigation, please cooperate fully to ensure the safety and health of our entire community. It is also important that we show kindness and understanding to those who are diagnosed with COVID-19 or are close contacts.

Spread of COVID-19 is currently happening in our community. This is why it is so important for all students and staff to adhere to the key public health prevention strategies to reduce the chance for transmission of COVID-19.

Cases of COVID-19 among students and staff in our school community must be reported to the school or district immediately. Governor DeWine outlined an impending public health order that will expand reporting requirements for schools in regard to COVID-19. This includes notifying the CCBH, families and the public of positive cases within 48 hours. In anticipation of the requirements, we are sending this message today as well as launching a new COVID-19 dashboard on our district website. We will not necessarily send an all-school or all-district communication each time we learn of a new case of COVID-19. We will, however, notify directly the families of students and staff members who are considered high-risk contacts of someone diagnosed with COVID-19. All cases of students and staff members will be logged on the COVID-19 dashboard at https://www.solonschools.org/COVID-19 beginning August 30.  

If you have questions or want more information about COVID-19, please visit the CCBH web site at COVID-19 School Guidance or call them Monday-Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at 216-201-2000.

SOLON MIDDLE SCHOOL - PLAN FOR RETURN TO PRACTICE and PLAY

August 28, 2020

Dear Solon Middle School Families,

As we have discussed leading up to the start of the 2020-21 school year, we are making measured and phased decisions regarding the return to in-person learning and participation in activities and athletics. 

It is our intention to bring all of our students whose parents selected in-person learning back to school as soon as it is safer to do so -- even if it is prior to the end of the first quarter. We are hopeful we will see the necessary sustained trends reflecting improvement over several weeks. 

Our district administrative team is in continual contact with the public health experts at the Cuyahoga County Board of Health discussing protocols, contact tracing and an anticipated return to in-person school as well as practice and play for our student athletes.  

As a precursor to that in-person return, we are continuing an incremental transition with our fall athletic programs. SMS teams will be moving to Phase 2 training and appropriate practice over the next two weeks under the Ohio High School Athletic Association recommended safety protocols. The intention is to return to competition starting the week of September 14 for cross country and the other sports the week of September 21, as long as conditions continue to improve. Based on discussions with our Athletic Director and coaches, we will need the next two weeks to conduct the necessary evaluations and proper preparation. Our Athletic Director and coaches will continue to work to schedule additional games for our teams to play. This includes rescheduling games from earlier in the season. 

Please see the attached new schedule for Phase 2 training and practice. 

In order for this plan to succeed, we need the support of our parents to communicate with and monitor their children. Parents, like coaches, must always support the use of masks, social distancing, hand-washing and avoiding social gatherings. Our moving forward is predicated on students following the protocols and continued improvement in accordance with CCBH recommendations. However, we believe it is important for you to know we are taking the necessary steps to prepare for both return to school and extracurricular participation.

For more information on our decision-making process and the CCBH recommendations, please see the items we shared with the community at Monday’s board meeting at the end of the SHS message below.

SOLON HIGH SCHOOL - PLAN FOR RETURN TO PRACTICE and PLAY

August 27, 2020

Dear Solon High School Families,

As we have discussed leading up to the start of the 2020-21 school year, we are making measured and phased decisions regarding the return to in-person learning and participation in activities and athletics. 

It is our intention to bring all of our students whose parents selected in-person learning back to school as soon as it is safer to do so -- even if it is prior to the end of the first quarter. We are hopeful we will see the necessary sustained trends reflecting improvement over several weeks. 

Our administrative team is in continual contact with the public health experts at the Cuyahoga County Board of Health discussing protocols, contact tracing and an anticipated return to in-person school as well as practice and play for our student athletes, musicians and actors.  

As a precursor to that in-person return, we are continuing an incremental transition with our fall athletic programs. These teams will be moving to appropriate practice next week under the Ohio High School Athletic Association recommended safety protocols with the intention to return to competition starting on September 14, as long as conditions continue to improve. Based on discussions with our Athletic Director and coaches, we will need next week to conduct the necessary evaluations and the following week for proper preparation. Our Athletic Director and coaches will continue to work to schedule additional games for our teams to play. This includes rescheduling games from earlier in the season. A similar process is under way with planning for our music and drama programs to resume rehearsals as soon as possible. 

In order for this plan to succeed, we need the support of our parents to communicate with and monitor their children. Parents, like coaches, must always support the use of masks, social distancing, hand-washing and avoiding social gatherings. Our moving forward is predicated on students following the protocols and continued improvement in accordance with CCBH recommendations. However, we believe it is important for you to know we are taking the necessary steps to prepare for both return to school and extracurricular participation.

For more information on our decision-making process and the CCBH recommendations, please see the items we shared with the community at Monday’s board meeting below:

SOLON BOARD OF EDUCATION INFORMATION ITEM-8-24-20 MEETING

CUYAHOGA COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS

For the first time since Governor DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health launched the county-by-county COVID-19 Ohio Public Health Advisory System this summer, Cuyahoga County on August 20 dropped from a Risk Level 3 Red to Risk Level 2 Orange Public Emergency. At Level 2, the state advisory system indicates Cuyahoga County has increased exposure and spread, and the county should “exercise a high degree of caution.”

This change from red to orange is good news and a positive indicator that COVID-19 prevalence trends in our area are starting to improve. However, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health is maintaining its recommendations for the return to school and in-person participation in extra-curricular activities, citing the need for sustained improvement over several weeks. Throughout Ohio, several counties have bounced back and forth between different color risk levels, so clear trends over time are needed to alter the recommendations for school decisions, according to CCBH.

The state color-coded risk advisory system is a “data-driven framework” that provides context for assessing and responding to the spread of COVID-19. However, the CCBH’s recommendations utilize this system as one of several indicators to drive the decision-making process.  

Late last week, the CCBH reiterated the multiple ways it is assessing the risk associated with school decisions:

• Lower Positivity Rates – Showing a sustained decline of COVID-19 test positivity below 5 percent for multiple weeks.
• Fewer New Case Reports – Showing a sustained decline in new case reports.
• County Risk Level of Orange or Below for Several Weeks – Remaining at a lowered risk level for multiple weeks shows sustained improvement in the seven different indicators that reflect impact of COVID-19 in our community.
• Increased Testing Capacity for Children – Availability of more testing for children and teens. There remains little to no testing for teens and children under 18, complicating the outbreak response in school settings and limiting the outbreak response to symptom-based investigations only.

As we continue our communication with the CCBH, we will use its guidance to drive our own decision making. Should the CCBH guidance recommend a return to in-person learning prior to the end of the first quarter, we would shift to our in-person learning model as quickly as possible.

SOLON BOARD OF EDUCATION INFORMATION ITEM-8-24-20 MEETING

START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR – ONGOING DECISION MAKING

It is hard to believe that the start of the 2020-21 school year is just days away. We have been working all summer on our return to school plan, which includes several contingencies to ensure continued high-quality education for all of our Solon students.

As you know, we are start the year on Wednesday under our fully remote contingency plan. Since the start of the pandemic, we have heeded the recommendations and orders of public health officials and the Governor. At each step of our back-to-school planning we have consulted with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health. We have received tremendous support from CCBH in regard to readying our buildings and procedures in compliance with recommended social distancing and prevention measures. Our classrooms, schools, buses and other areas that support student learning are ready for students to return as soon as it is safer to do so.

Members of our Solon Schools administrative team are in constant communication with the CCBH each week. In all of the conversations, it is clear that everyone in the both our school community and in the public health community recognizes the significant importance of in-person learning and participation in activities and athletics for students’ overall well-being.

Throughout the pandemic, our response has been incremental and measured to assure that the safety and health of students, staff and the community at-large remains the top priority. With that being said, we continue to make phased changes and adjustments where we can safely and with the support of public health experts.

Our students with the most intensive instructional needs will now be attending school in person. Our student athletes in non-contact sports this week will be back to modified Phase 2 skills training and our golf and tennis athletes are beginning competition. We are continuing to evaluate with the CCBH a return to competition for all of our fall sport athletes.

We will continue to work as a team to provide additional opportunities for all our students that keeps them engaged and gives them hope for an eventual return to normalcy. We will also return to the aspects of our return-to-school plan that allow for in-person learning and participation when we can.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL - TECH TAKE-AWAYS

August 26, 2020

Today’s first day of remote learning is one we think our students will always remember. We have heard from families throughout the day sharing their children’s experiences. While we know there were some bumps in the road, we had many more reports of students who are engaged and excited to be back in their Google Classrooms.

Our technology team is working on the issues raised today so we can provide suggestions along the way to improve the learning experience for our students.

The three big tech take-aways from today are:

1. Please remind your student to turn off and restart their Chromebook at least once per week. This will eliminate lengthy updates that could launch during the school day.
2. Google Classroom is always a student’s home base. Students who are unsure where to connect to a class or lose a connection, should head back to their main Google Classroom link. 
3. Zoom delays and audio issues: Students who see a “Connecting” swirl message for more than two minutes, should close Zoom and then reopen it. Students who see a “High CPU issue is affecting your quality” message, should completely shut down the Chromebook and log back in. If they are experiencing poor sound quality, they should try unplugging their headphones and using the Chromebook mic and speaker. 

Our teachers understand that students are anxious about technology glitches that can impede their participation in the class. This is all new for them as well. Teachers will be flexible and understanding if students “leave the classroom” due to a technology interruption. 

Our team is working to have issues raised today ironed out by the end of the week. We will also continue to suggest solutions for additional technology hurdles that may arise for students. 

In the meantime, please be sure to reach out to your child’s teachers or building principal with other questions or concerns.

FIRST DAY ZOOM ACTIVATION OF STUDENT ACCOUNTS - IMPORTANT TECHNOLOGY UPDATE

August 25, 2020

Zoom has just run an update that changed the settings for our Solon student accounts.

All students will now need to activate their accounts on the first day for their first class. This only needs to be done once, so after they activate the account at the start of the school day tomorrow (or Friday for our Kindergarten students), they will not need to take this step to launch Zoom again.

Please use the following link with simple step-by-step directions and a short video to see how to activate their student account.

FIRST DAY ZOOM ACTIVATION GUIDE: https://www.solonschools.org/cms/lib/OH01814653/Centricity/Domain/4/First%20Day%20Zoom%20Activation%20Guide.pdf

TECHNOLOGY & LOG IN SUPPORT RESOURCES FOR REMOTE LEARNING

August 24, 2020

Dear Solon Schools Families,

In preparation for your child’s first day of school in a remote learning environment, we want to be sure you have the resources you need for your child to find success accessing their online classrooms. Most Solon students can find their teachers’ Google Classrooms independently with ease. Some of our newer or youngest students may need more support the first few days. 

Following is a step-by-step guide to logging into and accessing the learning platforms Solon students will use. If your child is not able to log in or is unable to access instruction, please contact the technology resource teacher for your child’s school. Contact information for the technology team is listed below. They will be able to answer your log-in issues from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. 

Remember, we recommend that students use district-issued Chromebooks. This helps with fewer steps logging in and makes troubleshooting easier if students are having difficulty. 

If your child needs help with what they learn each day or with assignments, please be sure they ask questions during class or contact the teacher directly.

REMOTE LEARNING RESOURCES    

PARENT and STUDENT GUIDE TO ONLINE LEARNING:

https://www.solonschools.org/cms/lib/OH01814653/Centricity/Domain/11/Parent%20and%20Student%20Guide%20to%20Online%20Learning.pdf

HOW TO LOG IN TO YOUR DISTRICT CHROMEBOOK (VIDEO):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NEYavy5fGj39epn_dESY34KrhSf_p2BY/view

HOW TO NAVIGATE TO GOOGLE CLASSROOM (VIDEO):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HucyjLKoHTi7ToTG3GMek-VDAV-YCgaN/view

GOOGLE CLASSROOM BASICS (VIDEO):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hOYTIxoky24PvYKT6fYY7pZxFIYVwhzY/view

ZOOM BASICS (VIDEO):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SwdP4fxh9LA_HOJnpT3yG-j4sgy1dj9B/view

CHROMEBOOK REPAIR & EXCHANGE

It is important that students have a fully charged and working Chromebook each day. If your child’s district-issued device experiences a technical problem not related to logging in, please be sure to complete the Chromebook Repair & Exchange Form and swap the broken device for one in good working order. 

Solon High School students will exchange Chromebooks in the SHS media center daily from 7:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. 

Students in grades K-8 can exchange Chromebooks at Arthur Road School from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day school is in session. 

CHROMEBOOK REPAIR & EXCHANGE FORM: https://forms.gle/2X2VroEhwWiEJGvd7

SOLON SCHOOLS TECHNOLOGY RESOURCE CONTACTS

SOLON HIGH SCHOOL: Brynt SInes bryntsines@solonschools.net 440-349-7711

SOLON MIDDLE SCHOOL: Whitney Ames whitneyames@solonschools.net 440-349-7417

ORCHARD MIDDLE SCHOOL: Jerry Burris jerryburris@solonschools.net 440-349-7471

LEWIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Nancy Erkkila nancyerkkila@solonschools.net 440-349-8020

PARKSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Whitney Ames whitneyames@solonschools.net 440-349-7417

ROXBURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Jerry Burris jerryburris@solonschools.net 440-349-7471

BACK-TO-SCHOOL INFORMATION K-4

August 21, 2020

Dear Lewis, Parkside and Roxbury Families,

It is hard to believe that the start of school is just days away. It was so nice to see many of you today for the first day of supply and Chromebook pick-up.  

We know the start of every school year brings nervous excitement about the class placements, making connections and building new friendships. That may seem more challenging with a fully remote start, but our teachers, counselors and building staff have been hard at work studying best practices to create and implement our own “virtual learning playbook” to foster the most engaged and connected digital learning environment possible for your child. Just as we spent time establishing classroom culture in the brick and mortar school buildings in the past, we will be doing the exact same thing with our virtual classrooms this year.

On Monday, your child’s teacher will send a video message welcoming all of the students to the class. Everything you need to prepare for your child’s first day of school will be posted on the teacher’s webpage on Monday afternoon as well. This will include the links to their Google Classrooms and a how-to video showing exactly how to log in to their Google and Zoom accounts and access Google Classroom. To find you teacher’s webpage, go to the Solon Schools website at www.solonschools.org and select your school. Hover over your school name to find the direct link to Teacher Webpages.   

Unfortunately, the slowdowns at the U.S. Postal Service have affected delivery of placement letters for us as well. The letters were mailed mid-week and we have heard from many of you that they have not yet arrived. If you have not received the letter and are unable to see your child’s classroom placement in PowerSchool, please feel free to contact your school to find out who your child’s teacher is for this year. We know that is a critical first step to preparing for the year.

If you did not make it to the supply pick up today, please be sure to come to the school on Monday or Tuesday between Noon and 3 p.m. to receive textbooks, important supplies and your child’s Chromebook. We also ask that you complete the online Chromebook Agreement using the following link: https://forms.gle/63obj1ZaDYpytrbF9

We wish you a wonderful last weekend of summer and we will connect again on Monday!

BACK-TO-SCHOOL INFORMATION 5-12

August 21

Dear Orchard, Solon Middle School and Solon High School Families,

It seems impossible that the first day of the 2020-21 school year is Wednesday. The sounds of students in the school today for supply pick up, although too brief, was a great touch point for us all. We look forward to seeing the remainder of our students on Monday or Tuesday to get their books, important materials and Chromebooks.  

We know the start of every school year brings anxious excitement about team placements, class schedules and making connections. Building classroom relationships with teachers and peers may seem more challenging with a fully remote start, but our teachers, counselors and building staff have been studying best practices to create and implement our own “virtual learning playbook” to foster the most engaged and connected digital learning environment possible. Establishing classroom culture will be just as important this year virtually as it was in the past with a traditional start.  

Everything you and your child need to prepare for your child’s first day of school will be posted on the teacher’s webpages at the beginning of the week. This will include the links and passcodes to their Google Classrooms. Finding teacher webpages is not a problem for the majority of your students, but if your child does need help, a quick link to all teacher webpages is easy to find by going to the Solon Schools website (www.solonschools.org), selecting your school and hovering over the “Students” tab.   

Unfortunately, the slowdowns at the U.S. Postal Service have affected delivery of schedules for Orchard and SHS as well. If you have not received the letter and your child is not able to see their schedule in PowerSchool, please feel free to contact the school.  

If your child did not attend supply pick up today, please be sure they come to the school on Monday (Orchard, SMS, SHS) or Tuesday (Orchard, SHS) between Noon and 3 p.m. to receive textbooks, important supplies and their Chromebook.

For Orchard families, we also ask that you complete the online Chromebook Agreement using the following link: https://forms.gle/63obj1ZaDYpytrbF9

We wish you a wonderful last weekend of summer!

MESSAGE FOR SOLON SCHOOLS FAMILIES & STAFF

August 8, 2020

Dear Solon Schools Families and Staff,

As you know, we have been working closely with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH) to plan for a safe start to the school year. Part of this planning includes the steps we take when we learn someone in our school community tests positive for COVID-19.

Late yesterday, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health confirmed that a Solon student athlete has tested positive for COVID-19. We are happy to report the student athlete is doing well.

Contact tracing and notification of high-risk contacts are under way by the CCBH to determine the extent of spread. Given the date of the student athlete’s onset of symptoms and the last date of practice, no players or coaches would be considered high-risk contacts from that practice alone.

If the Board of Health reaches out to you about being a close contact of a COVID-19 positive individual, please cooperate fully to ensure the safety and health of our entire community.

Community spread of COVID-19 is currently happening in our community. This is why it is so important for all students and adults to adhere to the well-known public health mitigation strategies for COVID-19 prevention, including:

• Wearing a face mask
• Social distancing of at least 6 feet
• Frequent hand washing with soap and water
• Hand sanitizing when soap and water are not available
• Staying home when you do not feel well
• Staying home when you have a fever of 100.4° F or higher
• Disinfecting high-touch surfaces regularly – these include doorknobs, light switches, counters, keyboards and phones
• Do not share food, drinks, cups or utensils
• Avoid gatherings of more than 10 people

If you have questions or want more information about COVID-19, please visit the Cuyahoga County Board of Health web site at www.ccbh.net or call them Monday-Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at 216-201-2000.

Additionally, if you or your child is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please contact your family health care provider immediately. (CCBH Symptom Screener)

DEADLINE FOR FIRST SEMESTER VIRTUAL OPT-IN FORM

August 2, 2020

Dear Solon Schools Families,

We know the news of our students starting school fully remote this year is still sinking in. It is for us as well. Although we always knew that the public health conditions in Ohio and our area could warrant a shift to remote learning at any time, we were hoping to at least get started with our blended plan like you were. We remain in constant communication with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and will continue to heed the guidance of public health experts.  

Our district and school administrative leaders are meeting this week and we will share more specific details soon about what you and your child can expect with our fully remote learning this fall. Additionally, our teachers will be planning and participating in professional development and training throughout August.

Our school building leadership teams are moving ahead with classroom placement based on families’ decisions for their children to learn virtually all semester or to return to the classroom at school when that becomes possible. If you want your child to remain a virtual learner for the entire first semester, please be sure to submit the Virtual Learning Opt-In form by 11:59 tonight. To submit the form, go to: https://forms.gle/2GTYbMrgVhj6SC5Q6.

This selection is for the entire first semester. If there is a chance you want your child to attend school in person when we are able to welcome them back to the building safely, no action is required and you would not submit opt-in form.

However, if you previously submitted opt-in form and have changed your mind/only want your child to remain virtual if the district is all virtual, please send an email to info@solonboe.org. Enter REMOVE [[CHILD’S NAME]] FROM THE SEMESTER VIRTUAL OPT-IN in the subject line of your message. Be sure to include the child’s name, grade and school in the message requesting that your child be removed from the list.

We will continue to update you.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL START WILL BE FULLY REMOTE

July 31, 2020

Dear Solon Schools Families,

Receiving word last evening that the Cuyahoga County Board of Health recommends that schools begin the year remotely was sudden, but not unexpected. The CCBH made this recommendation because the overall health of our community is more at risk because of the spread of COVID-19.

Since the inception of this pandemic in March, we have been in continual communication with the CCBH and have been heeding their guidance. We have always relied on the Cuyahoga County Board of Health for necessary guidance related to the health, safety and well-being of our students and staff. In keeping with their guidance now, we will need to start the year remotely for the first quarter. This includes the cessation of in-person athletics, band and extra-curricular activities for the first quarter effectively immediately. 

This announcement about a necessary shift to fully remote learning has always been a part of our district return-to-school plan. Our plan clearly articulates the chance that classes, buildings and even the entire district would likely need to shift to all remote at some point during the year based on public health recommendations. Such a shift to fully remote would always be based on our protocols for student and staff safety in relation to COVID-19 in our schools and community.

It is our hope and intention to return to the in-person model with a virtual option as soon as health department guidance deems it prudent and we can logistically make the switch back to in-person learning.

With that being said, we are continuing with our planning for the 2020-21 school year. We still want families to submit the opt-in form if they want their child to learn virtually for the entire first semester by Sunday night at 11:59 p.m. We are building our class placements based on those family preferences. 

LOOKING AHEAD

We have been analyzing family selections for the virtual learning option and some distinct trends have emerged. These trends, along with evolving information from public health experts, have framed our ongoing discussions with our teachers through our Solon Education Association.

Our administrative team has been working with our teachers’ association to create the most effective instructional model while at the same time providing the necessary flexibility for some of our teachers who would not otherwise be able to return to the classroom this year. We believe our Solon teachers are some of the best educators in Ohio and the nation and we also believe our students benefit from our ability to keep them working in the district and with our students.

Throughout this planning process, our primary goals have been student and staff safety and keeping our students learning with Solon teachers and our Solon curriculum. To best support learning for all students with our Solon staff, we will be creating some all-virtual classrooms or teams in grades K-8 if possible. Most of our classrooms will be blended with a combination of both in-person and virtual students, and some classes might have in-person students only. Due to the complexity of high school student schedules, the only all-virtual classes at SHS will be when the entire school transitions to remote learning.

Later today, you will receive a message from your child’s school providing additional details about what the school day will look like in our buildings and for students at home. If you are choosing the virtual learning option for your child, please be sure to submit the opt-in form by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 2. The Frequently Asked Questions on the Back-to-School 2020 page of our website is also updated today.

If you have questions after you receive the information from your school, please be sure to reach out to the building principal. 

We will be in regular communication with you over the coming days and weeks to keep you updated on what the return to school will look like in a fully remote environment.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

LEWIS-PARKSIDE-ROXBURY

Dear Lewis, Parkside and Roxbury Families,  

As you know, our school must start the year in fully remote learning. However, as we prepare for the return of students for the 2020-21 academic year, we want to provide families with as much information as possible. It is our hope that the information detailed below will help your family make the best decision in terms of the Virtual or In-Person educational option we still need you to make so we can complete our classroom placement process. Toward that end, we have attempted to address several questions with as much detail as we know at this time.  

Please understand that the day-to-day experience at school when we are able to return to in-person learning will be unlike it has ever been in the past. We will implement numerous changes to how students arrive, how they move through the building, where they will eat, and more, all in an effort to provide as much physical distancing as possible. These changes are necessary as the safety of our students and staff is our top priority.

Although lengthy, we think the information below will give you a better sense of what a student’s day will look like. As always, if you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s building principal directly. Thank you for putting your trust in us to educate your children and keep them safe during these unprecedented times. 

START TO THE YEAR:

• On August 26: First day of school grades 1-4.
• On August 28: First day of school for Kindergarten.  

IN-SCHOOL HALLWAY TRAFFIC AND MOVEMENT:

• Students will walk single file and socially distance through the hallways. 
• Line decals will be placed in the center of the halls as visual reminders.

LUNCH:

• Students will eat lunch in the classroom.  
• Students will be able to bring their own lunch or purchase a school lunch.  
• All lunches that are purchased in school will be grab-and-go bag lunches that are brought to a hallway kiosk for student pick up during their lunch time.   
• Students who are learning remotely will have the option to pre-order and pick up lunches. This will apply to all students for the first quarter during full remote learning. More information about this process will be sent closer to the start of the year.

RECESS:

• Students will have recess daily.
• Recess will be restructured to minimize interactions among large groups of students and reinforce physical distancing. 
• Our lunch and recess monitor staff will receive additional training and assistance in facilitating student play and interaction at recess.
• New protocols are being put in place to sanitize playground equipment between recess periods.
• While students will wear their masks at recess, there will be opportunities for mask breaks during recess time away from other students.

SAFETY AND SANITIZATION:

• ALL students and staff will be required to wear a face mask.
• ALL student desks will have a desk shield.
• ALL students will be spaced a minimum of 3 ft. apart.
• Teachers and students will clean surfaces several times per day with a Board of Health approved food-grade non-toxic sanitizer. 
• ALL students and staff will be required to sanitize their hands when entering a new room or building location.
• Time will be made throughout the day for multiple hand-washing sessions.
• Each classroom/area will have hand sanitizing stations.

INSTRUCTION:

• Our teachers will be working diligently to adjust their instructional strategies to maximize student learning while limiting direct contact within the classroom.
• Students who choose the virtual option will be held to the same standards as those who attend school. 
• ALL students (virtual and in person) will follow their classroom’s daily schedule. 
• Students will receive ALL services/instruction in real-time throughout the school day whether virtual or in person. This includes students with IEP or 504 needs as well as other situations. 
• Instruction and services will not occur outside of the typical school day. 
• A Sample Elementary Daily Schedule as well as a Half-Day Kindergarten Schedule are outlined below. 

KINDERGARTEN:

• Your Kindergarten selection (Half-Day or Full-Day) is your child’s placement for the entire 2020-21 school year. 
• If you choose to switch from Full-Day to Half-Day or vice versa prior to the August 2nd deadline, please email the Registrar’s Office (leeluikart@solonboe.org). Please be sure to include your child’s full name, your name and a contact phone number and email address. Please put KINDERGARTEN SELECTION CHANGE FOR MY CHILD in the subject line.
• In lieu of in-person Kindergarten Screening, you will receive a Google Form that will help us get to know your child prior to the start of school. 
• Kindergarten students will begin school on August 28.  
• Keep in mind that Kindergarten tuition will remain unchanged for the school year. If you opt for full-day Kindergarten virtually, the fees will remain the same. This year we have restructured the instructional model for our full-day and half-day students so that children who are enrolled in a full-day kindergarten program will receive a full day of instructional opportunities.
• A Sample Elementary Daily Schedule as well as a Half-Day Kindergarten Schedule are outlined below. 

ATTENDANCE:

• Each parent MUST complete the before-school health screening tool prior to leaving home for the day.  The health screening tool will be provided closer to the start of school.

• ALL parents will be required to contact the Attendance Line if their child will be absent. This is required for both in-person and virtual learners.
• This will be required for ALL families during full remote learning as well. 

ILLNESS:

• This year, more than ever, it is important that students who are sick, have a fever, or do not feel well do NOT come to school. 
• Those students who become ill during the in-person school day will be sent to the clinic and parents will be asked to pick their child up from school in a timely fashion.
• There will be a designated quarantined space for those students exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION:

• Twins or siblings in the same grade level will be placed in the same classroom.

• There will be ongoing pick-up and drop-off of materials for virtual learners. This could be happening as frequently as weekly or bi-weekly.
• Information about materials pick-up to start the year for remote learning will be communicated to all families.

Sincerely,

Julia Howell, principal, Lewis Elementary

Mariann Moeschberger, principal, Roxbury Elementary

Amanda Sullen, principal, Parkside Elementary

SAMPLE Elementary Daily Schedule

NOTE: This is a tentative schedule. Exact times of instructional blocks would vary based on grade level. 

Sample Half-Day Kindergarten Schedule

ORCHARD MIDDLE SCHOOL

Dear Orchard Families, 

As the district communicated earlier this evening, we must begin our school year fully remote. However, we are continuing to prepare for the return of students for the 2020-21 academic year and I wanted to provide parents and students with as much information as possible in regard to the daily functioning of Orchard Middle School.  

Please understand that the day-to-day experience at Orchard Middle School when we are able to return in person will be unlike it has ever been in the past. We have had to implement numerous changes to how students arrive, how they move through the building, where they will eat, and more, in an effort to provide as much physical distancing as possible while making sure that safety is our top priority for our students and staff. As always, we want all of our students to leave Orchard every day having had a positive, memorable experience. 

I know the information below is lengthy. But I hope that it will give you a better sense of what a student’s day will look like at Orchard Middle School. As always, if you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly.  

Cari Mineard, principal, Orchard Middle School

STARTING THE DAY – STUDENT ARRIVAL:

Orchard is not able to provide any before-school morning activities this year. Students will be permitted to enter the building beginning at 8:30 a.m. All students must wear face masks at all times throughout the day (except at lunch and breaks at recess).

STUDENTS WHO RIDE THE BUS:        

Transportation will drop off students at a designated location to be determined.  Students will walk from their drop-off location and enter the building in their designated door. 

PARENT DROP OFF AND WALKERS:

Students will not be permitted in the building until 8:30 a.m. and will enter the building through their designated door.

The parent drop off will be at several locations to allow for separation and traffic.

Those locations for parent drop off will be determined, and more information will follow.  

ONCE STUDENTS ENTER THE BUILDING:

Students will be asked to report directly to their homeroom classroom between 8:30 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. each morning. 

Each door will be designated based on the students’ homeroom. The door your student will be assigned to enter will be communicated when students receive their schedule. If a student enters the building without wearing a mask, one will be provided for them.

SUPPLIES AND LOCKERS:

Students will carry their supplies in their backpacks with them from class to class.  Students will visit their lockers with their homeroom to place their coat and musical instruments only in the morning. 

LUNCH:

One team of students will eat in their classrooms and one team of students will eat in the cafeteria on a rotational basis. Students will be able to bring their own lunch or purchase a grab-and-go bagged school lunch. More information will follow with details of this process.

RECESS:

Each team of students will have recess throughout the day. Recess will be modified to allow for social distancing. There will be opportunities for mask breaks during recess.

SAFETY AND SANITIZATION:

• ALL students and staff will be required to wear a face mask when in the building.
• ALL student desks will have a desk shield to provide an extra layer of protection.
• ALL students will be spaced a minimum of 3 ft. apart.
• Teachers and students will clean these surfaces at the END of each period with a Board of Health approved food-grade non-toxic sanitizer.
• ALL students will be required to sanitize their hands when they enter each class.
• Each classroom will have hand sanitizing stations.
• Students will wash their hands during each 80-minute rotation. 

INSTRUCTION:

• Our teachers will be working together to adjust their instructional strategies to maximize student learning.
• Our students who choose the virtual option will be held to the same standards as those who attend school in person. 
• ALL students (virtual and in person) will follow our daily bell schedule. This will be the case for all students in full remote learning to start the year.
• Students will stay in their homeroom and rotate together to their core classes. 

Full-Day Orchard Daily Schedule Example

*Note:

• This is a tentative schedule. Exact times of instructional blocks would vary based on grade level and team. Order of rotation of core subjects will vary.
• Special Education students will receive real-time services throughout the day as well.
• If learning remotely, there will be ongoing pick-up and drop-off of materials. More information to follow. 

SPECIALS AND ACTIVITY

Students will have the same special each day for approximately three-week periods. For example, students will have three weeks of music, three weeks of art and then three weeks of physical education.

In addition, students will only participate in one additional activity during the first semester. They will choose either art, band, orchestra or music and movement.  Students will attend this extra activity once a week with classmates on their team in addition to their specials class rotation.  

END OF DAY – STUDENT DISMISSAL:

Students will exit the building the same door that they entered the building. Students will exit in a staggered fashion based on the transportation status. More details on times will be shared closer to the start of school.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION:

ATTENDANCE:

Each parent MUST complete the before school health screening prior to leaving for the day.  The health screening tool will be provided closer to the start of school.

ALL parents will be required to contact the Orchard Middle School Attendance Line if their child will be absent, both in-person and virtual learners. Families should also call the attendance line if their child is ill or will be absent during remote learning as well. We have eliminated all attendance awards.

ILLNESS:

This year, more than ever, it is important that students who are sick, have a fever, etc. do NOT come to school. 

Those students who become ill during the in-person school day will be sent to a designated clinic and parents will be asked to pick their child up from school in a timely fashion.

There will be a designated clinic space for well children and a dedicated quarantine space for those students exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.

CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES:

More information will follow as we determine the best way to engage our students remotely in some of our activities. 

SOLON MIDDLE SCHOOL

Dear Solon Middle School Families,

As the district communicated earlier tonight, we must begin our school year at SMS fully remote. However, as we prepare for the return of students for the 2020-21 academic year, we wanted to provide parents and students with as much information as possible in regard to the daily functioning of Solon Middle School.   

Please understand that the day-to-day experience at SMS will be unlike it has ever been in the past. We have had to implement numerous changes to how students arrive, how they move through the building, where they will eat, etc., in an effort to provide as much social distancing as possible while making sure that safety is our top priority for our students and staff. As always, we want all of our students to leave SMS having the best middle school experience possible.

It is my hope that the information below will give you a better sense of what a student’s day will look like at SMS. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly. Thank you for putting your trust in all of us at SMS to educate your children and keep them safe during these unprecedented times. 

STARTING THE DAY AT SCHOOL – STUDENT ARRIVAL:

-        All SMS before-school activities will be virtual vs. live, so all students will be permitted to enter the building beginning at 8:30 a.m. only. All students must wear face masks throughout the day. 

STUDENTS WHO RIDE THE BUS:        

-        Transportation will drop off students who ride bus in the front of the building. NO parent drop-off will be permitted in the front of the building –       ONLY in the main parking lot. Bus riders will immediately enter the school and report to a designated door before they enter and report to class. They must maintain social distancing while outside the building and when entering the building.

PARENT DROP-OFF AND WALKERS:

-        Students will not be permitted in the building until 8:30 a.m. and will enter the building through their designated door.

ONCE STUDENTS ENTER THE BUILDING:

-        Students will be asked to report directly to their 1st period class once they enter the building between 8:30 and 8:40. Students will not be permitted to linger and socialize in the halls or large spaces in the building. 

-        All students will enter the building through a designated door. Each door will be designated based on the students’ homeroom. The door your student will be assigned will be communicated when students receive their schedule. If any students enter the building without a mask, one will be provided for them. 

LOCKERS AND SUPPLIES:

-        Students will carry their supplies in their backpacks with them from class to class throughout the day.  Students will ONLY be permitted to use their lockers before and after school during inclement weather.  

SMS BELL SCHEDULE FOR 2020-21:

-        A, B1, B2, C, D1, and D2 = Lunch Periods (Lunch times start earlier and end later this year to allow for cleaning time between lunches.)

-        ES = Executive Session (Students organize materials and homework during this time. Times are staggered to allow teams to dismiss at different times to give more room to move in the hallways.

-        Keep in mind that this schedule is subject to change once we review its effectiveness.

7th Grade Schedules

8th Grade Schedules

 HALLWAY TRAFFIC AND MOVEMENT:

-        We have designated stairwells as UP ONLY and DOWN ONLY. These will be clearly marked with signage.

-        Students will be asked to ONLY walk on the RIGHT side of the hallway in single file when possible when travelling from class to class.

-        We have reduced class time slightly and increased classroom passing times to account for the extra time students will need to get from class to class. If we determine this needs to be adjusted after the first few weeks of the school year, we will certainly make the appropriate adjustments.

LUNCH:

-        One team of students will eat in their classrooms and one team of students will eat in the cafeteria on a rotational basis. Students will be able to bring their own lunch or purchase a grab and go bagged school lunch. More information will follow on details of this process and for all students during fully remote learning first quarter.

SAFETY AND SANITIZATION:

-        ALL students and staff will be required to wear a face covering in the building at all times.

-        ALL student desks will have a desk divider to provide an extra layer of protection.

-        ALL students will be spaced a minimum of 3 feet apart.

-        Teachers and students will clean these surfaces at the END of each period.

-        ALL students will be required to sanitize their hands when they enter each class. Each classroom will have hand-sanitizing stations.

INSTRUCTION:

-        Our teachers have been working diligently to adjust their instructional strategies to both   maximize student learning and limit direct contact within the classroom.

-        Our students who choose the virtual option will be held to the same standards as those who attend school. 

-        ALL students (virtual and in-person) will follow our daily bell schedule. This will be the case for all students during fully remote learning as well.

-        When possible, we will create balanced teams, whether virtual or live in-person. Teams may change throughout the year as students may choose to change to our virtual option during the school year.

END OF DAY – STUDENT DISMISSAL:

-        Students will exit the building the same door that they entered the building. Students will exit in a staggered fashion based on the transportation status. More details on times will be shared closer to the start of school. 

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION:

ATTENDANCE:

-        ALL parents will be required to contact the SMS Attendance Line if their child will be absent, both in-person and virtual learners, and during full remote learning first quarter. We have eliminated all attendance awards. 

ILLNESS:

-        This year, more than ever, it is important that students who are sick, have a fever, etc. DO NOT come to school. 

-        Those students who become ill during the in-person school day will be sent to the Clinic and parents will be asked to pick their child up from school in a timely fashion.

-        There will be a designated quarantined space within our building for those students exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.

CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES:

-        We understand the importance of keeping students engaged in the overall middle school experience as much as possible.  To do so, we are making every effort to hold club meetings and engagements virtually this year when possible. 

We look forward to seeing our students! Thanks in advance for all of your support.

Sincerely,     

Scott Hatteberg, Principal, Solon Middle School

SOLON HIGH SCHOOL

Solon High School Parents and Students,

As the district communicated earlier this evening, Solon High School must begin the year fully remote. However, as we prepare for the return of students for the 2020-21 academic year, I wanted to provide you with as much information as possible in regard to the daily functioning of Solon High School.  It is my hope that the information detailed below will help your family make the best decision in terms of the Virtual or In-Person educational option. To that end, I have attempted to address several questions we have already received with as much detail as we know at this time.  

Please understand that the day-to-day in-person experience at SHS will be unlike it has ever been in the past.  In-person students will not be permitted to socialize in the hallways or common areas throughout the day. Additionally, to provide as much social distancing as possible, we have had to implement numerous changes to how students arrive, how they move through the building, where they will eat, etc. I am fully aware that some of these changes will be frowned upon by our students.  However, we feel they are all necessary as the safety of our students and staff is our top priority.

It is my hope that the information below, I know it is lengthy, will give you a better sense of what a student’s day will look like at SHS, both for our virtual and in-person learners. As always, if you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly.  Thanks for putting your trust in all of us at SHS to educate your children and keep them safe during these unprecedented times. 

IN PERSON DAILY SCHEDULE: STARTING THE DAY – STUDENT ARRIVAL:

STUDENTS WHO RIDE THE BUS:        

• Transportation will drop off students who ride the bus either in the front of the building or at the pool lobby.  NO parent drop-off will be permitted in the front of the building or at the pool lobby.  Bus riders will immediately enter the school and report to the cafeteria and commons to be supervised in a socially distanced setting.

STUDENT DRIVERS:

-         ALL student drivers will be assigned a specific parking spot when purchasing a parking permit.

-             ALL student drivers will ONLY be able to enter the parking lots through the pool side lot.  Students assigned spots in the Board Office/commons lot will drive behind the building to their spot.

-             Students who park in the Board Office/commons Lot will ONLY be able to enter the building through the commons doors (Door 11)

-             Students who park in the pool Lot will ONLY be able to enter the building through the pool doors (Doors 32 - 33)

-             ALL student drivers will remain in their cars and will not be able to enter the building until 7:25 am.  [ONLY students in athletic study tables or who have a note from a teacher to take a test or work with a teacher will be allowed in before 7:25]

PARENT DROP OFF:

-          ALL students being dropped off by a parent will enter the parking lot by the Board Office

-          Parents will be required to drive to the commons doors (Door 11) – NO Drop Off in front of building or by the pool lobby

-          Students will not be permitted to enter the building until 7:25 am.  [ONLY students in athletic study tables or who have a note from a teacher to take a test or work with a teacher will be allowed in before 7:25]

-             When parents exit the lot by Board Office, they will ONLY be permitted to turn RIGHT onto Inwood Drive.

-             EXCEPTION: Students in Zero Period will be dropped off at pool lobby (Doors 32 - 33) btwn 6:30 and 6:40 am

WALKERS:

-             Students will not be permitted in the building until 7:25 am and will enter the building through the commons door (Door 11), pool lobby (Doors 32 - 33) or front doors (Door 3).  [ONLY students in athletic study tables or who have a note from a teacher to take a test or work with a teacher will be allowed in before 7:25]

-             EXCEPTION:       Students in Zero Period can enter the pool lobby (Doors 32 - 33)  btwn 6:30 and 6:40 am

ONCE STUDENTS ENTER THE BUILDING:

-         Students will be expected to report directly to their 1st period class once they enter the building between 7:25 and 7:45.  (Bus riders will be released to their 1st period class at 7:25)  Students will not be permitted to linger and socialize in the halls or large spaces in the building. 

LOCKERS:

-             Students will ONLY be permitted to use their lockers before or after school.

-             We will NOT be assigning any students a locker this year.  If your child would like a locker, we will be sending a form home prior to the start of the school year and students will be assigned lockers in a socially distanced manner.  Please note, students will be able to request a locker at any time throughout the year.  More details to follow.

DAILY BELL SCHEDULE – MAJOR TAKEAWAYS:

-             ALL students will be eating in their 5AB class.  The only exception will be Excel TECC students and those juniors and seniors who have opted into our BLOCK OUT LUNCH option this year based on their individual schedule.  We will communicate with Excel TECC students where they will eat in a separate communication.

-             There will be NO Senior Commons this year. ALL study halls will be held in our commons, cafeteria and large study hall space.  All students will be assigned a socially distanced seat with a desk divider.

-             SENIORS who have a study hall 1st or 7th period will still be allowed to arrive late and leave early.

-             We will still provide student tutors during study hall, information will be shared with students the first week of school.

SHS BELL SCHEDULE 2020-21

Zero Period:                                    6:45 – 7:30

Period 1:                                          7:50 – 8:39

Period 2:                                          8:46 – 9:35

Period 3:                                          9:42 – 10:31

Period 4AB:                                     10:38 – 11:27

4C LUNCH:                                       11:34 – 12:09 (in 5th period class)

Period 5AB:                                     12:09 – 12:58

Period 6:                                          1:05 – 1:54

Period 7:                                          2:01 – 2:50    

2:50                     Release student drivers, walkers, parent pick-up

2:55                     Release bus riders

HALLWAY TRAFFIC AND MOVEMENT:

-             We have designated 3 stairwells as UP ONLY and 4 stairwells as DOWN ONLY.  These will be clearly marked.

-             Students will be asked to ONLY walk on the RIGHT side of the hallway in single file when possible when travelling from class to class.

-             Students will NOT be permitted to linger in the halls or socialize in the halls between classes.

-             We have added two minutes to passing times to account for the extra time students will need to get from class to class.  If we determine this needs to be adjusted after the first few weeks of the school year, we will certainly make the appropriate adjustments.

-             Again, students will NOT be permitted to visit their lockers between classes.  We are encouraging all classes to use online textbooks when available.

LUNCH:

-             Again, ALL students will eat during 4C with their 5AB class.  We have added 15 minutes to our lunch period so students have time to purchase a bagged lunch from the 7 Food Service Kiosks that will be located throughout the building.

-             Students will NOT be permitted to linger in the halls or socialize outside of their 4C lunch - 5AB class.

-             Students will be able to bring their own lunch or purchase a school lunch.  Families will be asked to pre-order a school lunch in advance for the week so our Food Service staff can plan accordingly.  More information will follow on details of this process.

SAFETY AND SANITIZATION:

-             ALL students and staff will be required to wear a face mask in the building at all times.

-             ALL student desks will have a desk divider to provide an extra layer of protection.

-             Teachers and students will clean these surfaces at the END of each period.

-             ALL students will be required to sanitize their hands when they enter each class. Each classroom will have hand sanitizing stations.

INSTRUCTION:

-             Our teachers have been working diligently to adjust their instructional strategies to both maximize student learning and limit direct contact within the classroom.

-             ALL elective classes will run at SHS. These teachers are working to adjust their strategies and lessons to maintain social distancing, student safety, etc.  For instance, our PE classes have adjusted so students are participating in physical and mindful activities daily.

-             Our students who choose the virtual option will be held to the same standards as those who attend school. 

-             ALL students (virtual and in person) will follow our daily bell schedule.

-             Please refer to the district FAQ document for further information on how virtual students will be learning.

END OF DAY – STUDENT DISMISSAL:

 Student Drivers/Walkers/Parent Pick-Up will be released from 7th period at 2:50 pm

 PARENT PICK-UP:

-             ALL Parent Pick-Up will be on the streets directly across from the front of SHS (ABC streets). 

-             Parents will not be able to exit from the ABC streets onto Inwood in front of the high school.

-             We ask parents to follow all posted parking rules on the ABC streets

-             Traffic will be limited on Inwood so students can safely cross the street.

STUDENT DRIVERS:

-             Student Drivers assigned to the pool lot will exit through the pool lobby (Doors 32 - 33). 

-             These drivers will ONLY be able to GO STRAIGHT OR TURN LEFT OUT OF POOL LOT

-             Student Drivers assigned to the commons lot will exit through the commons (Door 11). 

-             These drivers will ONLY be able to TURN RIGHT OUT OF BOARD LOT/COMMONS LOT ONTO INWOOD

[NOTE: If student drivers have not exited the pool lot by 3:05 they will be held in their cars and not able to leave the lot until ALL busses have left]

WALKERS:

-             Walkers will exit the building through the front doors (Doors 2, 3, and 4)

BUS RIDERS will be released from their 7th period class at 2:55 pm

-          Some buses will pick students up in the front of the building and some will pick up by the pool.

-          We will inform students of their bus dismissal location on the first day of school.

VIRTUAL DAILY SCHEDULE:

 NOTES:

•  If a student has a study hall he/she will NOT be required to login during that period
• Students with Special Education needs would meet with their Interventionist during their scheduled Intervention period (study hall)
• If learning remotely, there may be ongoing pick-up and drop-off of materials. This could be happening as frequently as weekly

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION:

ATTENDANCE:

-         ALL parents will be required to contact the SHS Attendance Line if their child will be absent, both in-person and virtual learners.

ILLNESS:

-             This year, more than ever, it is important that students who are sick, have a fever, etc. do NOT come to school. 

-             Those students who become ill during the in-person school day will be sent to the Clinic and parents will be asked to pick their child up from school in a timely fashion.

-             There will be a designated quarantined space within our Clinic for those students exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.

CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES:

-             We understand the importance of keeping students engaged in the overall high school experience as much as possible.  To do so, we are making every effort to hold ALL club meetings and activities virtually this year.

-             Please reference the list below for specific information about Clubs and Activities we will offer this year

PRESCHOOL

Dear Solon Preschool Families,

As the district communicated earlier tonight, we must begin our year here at the Preschool fully remote. However, as we prepare to welcome our preschoolers back for the  2020-21 academic year, I wanted to provide parents with as much information as possible regarding the daily functioning of Solon Preschool.  It is my hope that the information detailed below will help your family make the best decision in terms of the Virtual or In-Person educational option.    

Class Times – Whether your child is attending virtual or in person, the class time is the same except for full-day students. Children who are part of the full-day program will receive their programming between 8:00 and 2:30. Exact times for virtual instruction and therapies will be decided by teacher, therapist and parent.

AM Preschool – 8:00-10:30 (drop off between 7:50-8:00)

PM Preschool – 12:00-2:30 (drop off between 11:50-12:00)

Daily Schedule – Below is an example of the schedule for students who attend in person.  Students who are virtual will follow a similar schedule with adjustments made when needed due to the nature of virtual learning. Times of activities will vary. The afternoon schedule will include the same activities. 

7:45 - 8:05 Arrival, Sign-In, Potty

8:05 - 8:35 Gross Motor

 8:35 - 8:50 Class Meeting

 8:50 - 9:50 Choice Time/Center Time

 9:50 - 10:05 Circle Time

10:05 - 10:20 Snack

10:20 - 10:25 Good-bye songs/rhymes

10:25 Pack – Up

Arrival Procedures

All students will have their temperature taken prior to exiting the car or bus.  Preschool staff will come to the car and remove the child and escort them to their classroom.  Children will wash their hands as soon as they enter the classroom. Staff will wear masks and we ask parents to also have on a mask. 

Dismissal Procedures

All students will be brought to their car by Preschool staff.  Parents should be standing outside the car and be prepared to safely place their child in the car.  Parents must be wearing a mask.

Face Coverings

All staff will be wearing a face covering.  Students should wear a face covering.  Students who are struggling with wearing a face covering should arrive to school with a face covering and we will work to help them wear the face covering.  We understand for some children this will be something we work on daily. 

 Social Distancing:

• Students will be taught procedures for social distancing during arrival, dismissal, instructional time, and other school transitions.

• Large gatherings for parties etc. will not take place in person this year. Virtual or remote options will be utilized whenever possible.
•  Students and staff will be physically spread out throughout our building as much as possible for learning.  All available spaces are currently being assessed and will be transformed to a learning space, as necessary.  Placement of furniture is also being assessed, and all student seating within each space will be spread out as much as possible.
• Assigned bathrooms and playground times will be instituted to ensure minimal interaction between students and sufficient time to sanitize items between use.

 Thoroughly Clean and Sanitize School Environment to Limit Spread on Shared Surfaces:

• There will be a concentrated effort on disinfecting high-contact common areas throughout the school day.
• Disinfecting supplies will be available in each learning space and routines will be established for their use to clean toys, desktops, workspaces, counters, etc. throughout the school day.
• An Electrostatic Sprayer has been purchased for our school to sanitize large spaces efficiently.
• Students will have their own supplies within the classroom. A supply list will be sent to parents.
• Drinking fountains will not be used. We will have disposable cups available for students to get drinks of water throughout the day. 

Hand Washing Procedures

•       Children will be taught and will practice proper handwashing
•       Each bathroom will have a visual reminder of proper handwashing
•       Handwashing will happen frequently during the day

It is my hope that the information above will give you a better sense of what a student’s day will look like at Solon Preschool.  As always, if you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.  Thank you for putting your trust in all of us at the Preschool to educate your child and keep them safe during these unprecedented times. 

Terry Brownlow, Solon Preschool Principal

July 30, 2020

Dear Solon Schools Families and Staff,

We were prepared to send you the school-specific communications tonight detailing the return to school to help you make your choice between in-person and virtual learning. 

However, we have just received word that the Cuyahoga County Board of Health is recommending that all schools in our county start the school year remotely “due to the elevated risk posed to students, staff and family members.”

Clearly this directive will have an impact on our opening plans.  Please bear with us as the district meets to assess our next steps.  We will communicate more information with you tomorrow and early next week.

July 28, 2020

Dear Solon Schools Families,

Tomorrow you will receive a message from your child’s school with more specifics about the return to school, including a sample schedule for the day. This information is intended to help you make your decision about whether your child will start the school year in person or virtually for the first semester. We are extending the deadline for you to make that decision until August 2 at 11:59 p.m. to give you the weekend to fully consider this choice.

We understand that the COVID-19 pandemic presents so many unknowns – even as we look just a few weeks into the future. Together as a school community, however, we are all doing the very best we can to make decisions that will keep each other as safe as possible.

If you are already certain that your child will learn virtually for the first semester, you may complete the Virtual Learning Opt-In Form here: https://forms.gle/5ZXsbVi5JDRNVfid6

Thank you for your patience and support as these complicated school plans come into clearer focus. With input from public health and medical experts, we are continuing to refine and expand on the information (much of it contained in your submitted questions) that we believe you want and deserve in order to make your final decision.