Tierra del Fuego, Chile
Photo Credit: Josefina Di Battista
Dear Burns Park Families,
Happy Sunday. We hope that you are enjoying the beautiful weather this weekend.
Starting this weekend and throughout next week is Korea's biggest holiday which is called Chuseok. Literally "Autumn Eve", also known as hangawi, Chuseok is a major harvest festival and a three-day holiday in both North and South Korea celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar on the full moon. Here is a link for your family to learn about and enjoy virtual events for this special time.
https://ii.umich.edu/ncks/news-events/events/virtual-chuseok-dae-party.html
Weather forecasts indicate that we will be cooling down a bit, just as the season’s officially change. We may have some rain this week during lunch time. Some have been concerned about the move to inside eating during the lunch hour. We will watch the weather radar carefully each morning. Since we want to eat outside whenever possible, we will make our decision at 11:00 and send an email at 11:00 if the decision is to eat inside.
Some families have requested that they get their students during this time to eat with them at home or in their car. This will be fine but we will need to sign your child out and then back in at the front door. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. You would be surprised how many times the clouds have parted and we can eat outside when the forecast has indicated otherwise.
On that note, several families have asked about the possibility of finding a way to eat outside during the winter weather. We are strongly supportive of any outside experiences for our children during the school day, during the pandemic and otherwise, and happy to work with you on this. Please send Mr. Hatt an email if you would like to work on a winter outdoor lunch plan.
We continue to see positive results as we work together as a community with high vaccination rates, the use of masks and social distancing, and a lean toward caution as we monitor symptoms and follow WCHD guidelines. Here are revised questions that we ask you to consider each day.
- In the past 24 hours, has your student experienced any of the following NEW or UNEXPECTED symptoms:
- Fever of 100.4 or higher or feeling feverish (chills, sweating)
- New cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Sore throat
- Vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain
- New loss of taste or smell
- New onset of severe headache, especially with a fever
If YES → Stay home, have your student tested (rapid antigen or PCR), or contact your child’s health care provider for a diagnosis other than COVID-19.
- In the past week, has anyone in your household been diagnosed with COVID-19?
If YES, your student is considered a household close contact. See the Washtenaw County Health Department’s FAQ for Parents on Isolation and Quarantine. Keep the infected person isolated from your student. Follow the directions below depending on your student’s vaccination status, and contact your school nurse with questions:
- Vaccinated student: Continue regular activities if asymptomatic. Get a PCR test 3-5 days after exposure and mask up in public indoor spaces for 10 days from last exposure.
- Unvaccinated student: Quarantine for 10 days from the date of last close contact with the infected individual. Get tested at least once during the quarantine period.
- In the past week, has your student been in close contact with anyone outside the home (not at school) who has a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19? The WCHD defines a community “Close contact” as someone who spends 15+ minutes within 6 feet of an infected person. See WCHD FAQ for Parents on Isolation and Quarantine for more information.
If YES → Follow instructions in number 2, above.
Questions? Please contact your school nurse, health care provider, or the Washtenaw County Health Department.
Wednesday, September 22nd, is an early release day for students. School will end and students will be dismissed at 1:18 PM.
Thank you for joining us this past Tuesday for Curriculum Night. It is encouraging to know how important your child’s experience is at Burns Park Elementary and how committed you are to working with us.
We’re looking forward to a wonderful week!
Your Principals,
Chuck Hatt and Leslee Bullock
From Your Burns Park Elementary PTO:
Dear Fantastic BPE Families,
What a great response we’ve had to the call for room parents - a huge thank you to everyone who signed up! While volunteering with school looks a bit different right now, there are still plenty of ways to get involved. Here are a few of the volunteer roles we are actively seeking to fill for the school year - email info@bpepto.org if you would like to hear more!
Yearbook Coordinator(s) - The Burns Park Elementary yearbook is a year long project that documents the class activities, parties, field trips and spirit of the school. The editor works with Ms Kathy Cramer, room parents, and the community to gather pictures and design the book for the year.
Burns Park Run Directors - This team organizes our spring fundraising community event, the beloved Burns Park Run. Our most recent race directors, Kate Flewelling & Elizabeth Villard, are happy to help whoever takes on this great tradition with getting started.
Costume Shop & Winter Clothes Closet help - In October, we collect outgrown Halloween costumes, as well as winter gear, and give them new homes with other families at Burns Park. Our Inclusion chairs, Christine Modey & Hadil Ghoneim, need help collecting, sorting, organizing and distributing items - If you’re interested in volunteering you can reach out to Hadil & Christine at inclusion@bpepto.org
AAPAC Representative(s) - the Ann Arbor Parent Advisory Committee (www.a2pac.org) is a group of parents and guardians whose focus is on supporting children in AAPS who have IEPs or 504 Plans. The school representative brings information from that group to our PTO at our regular meetings.
Again, please reach out to me, Susie Shaefer at info@bpepto.org , or our volunteer coordinators Mayuri Guntupalli and Viki Tijunelis at volunteering@bpepto.org to get involved.
Remember that every parent and guardian with a student at Burns Park Elemenatary is a member of the PTO! That means all are welcome to join any or all of our meetings at 6:30pm on the second Wednesday of the month on ZOOM.
Have a wonderful week!
Your Burns Park Elementary PTO
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