Arcadia This Week 12/7/2020

Hello, everyone,

Here’s what’s up this week at Arcadia!

Monday, 12/7: Day 1

Tuesday, 12/8: Day 2

Wednesday, 12/9: Day 3

Thursday, 12/10: Day 4

  • Finance Committee Meeting (see Upcoming Events for joining info)

Friday, 12/11: Day 5--Asynchronous Day

  • For the asynchronous day, just a reminder to students that each class will have a brief assignment that you need to complete to be counted as
    “present” for attendance.

  • For support, the paraprofessional staff will be available! Links to their meets are available at the bottom of the MS and HS schedules

 

Current Schedule for December and January (through January 8th)

November 30-December 22: Distance Learning

December 11: Asynchronous Distance Learning Day

D

December 23-January 3: Winter Break

January 4-8: Distance learning

January 8: Asynchronous Distance Learning Day

January 11: TBD (hybrid or distance learning, depending on circumstances)

 

Announcements

Three Announcements from the Minnesota Department of Education

MDE #1: Free COVID-19 Saliva Testing

Minnesota is proud to offer at-home COVID-19 saliva testing for any person who wants to be tested, with or without symptoms, at no cost. This saliva test is just as accurate as the nasal swab test and is available at no cost for every Minnesotan, whether or not you have insurance. With the COVID-19 positivity rate climbing higher than ever before, expanding access to COVID-19 testing to all communities across the state is critical to keeping Minnesotans informed and safe. More information about this partnership with Vault Medical Services is available Minnesota Department of Health’s website, including information on how to order test.

MDE #2: COVID-19 Exposure Notification Mobile App Now Available in Minnesota

On Monday Nov. 23, the Governor announced the availability of a new COVID-19 exposure notification mobile application, COVIDaware MN, and encouraged all Minnesotans to use it. The app is aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 by helping Minnesotans protect themselves and their loved ones. The voluntary, anonymous application will alert a user if another user with whom they have had close contact during the virus’ infectious period tests positive for COVID-19.

When Minnesotans download the app and allow notifications, COVIDaware MN generates a random, privacy-protecting key for a user’s phone. To help ensure that these random keys can’t be used to identify you or your location, they change every 10-20 minutes and the app does not track individuals’ locations or their positions relative to one another. Using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, the user’s phone and the phones of other users they are near anonymously exchange these privacy-protected keys. If a person receives a positive test, MDH will provide a unique code the person may enter into the app, if they choose. If they enter the code, users with whom they’ve been within six feet for 15 or more minutes over a 24-hour period in the past 14 days will receive a notification of an exposure and instructions from MDH on how to keep themselves and their families safe. COVIDaware MN will exchange random keys with anyone who downloads COVIDaware MN or similar applications developed by other states that use the same technology framework.

More than 20 states and territories have launched apps based on Google and Apple’s exposure notification technology. More states are expected to adopt this technology as part of their COVID-19 response efforts.

Minnesotans can learn more about the app on the COVIDaware MN website, and download it from the Google Play or App Store. The more individuals who download the app, the more effective the tool will be to notify Minnesotans about potential exposures.

MDE #3: Gender Identity Public Comment Open Now through December 13

The Minnesota Department of Education will be revising data collection systems to allow public schools district and charter schools greater flexibility in reporting students’ gender identity, including the option to designate a gender other than male or female.

View the Gender Identity Data Collection and Reporting document to learn more. Minnesotans are invited to comment on the implementation process between November 30, 2020 and 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, December 13, 2020.

Operation Joy 

Operation Joy is a community-wide gift sharing program of the Community Action Center (CAC). Through the generosity of hundreds of community members, approximately 850 Northfield area children will receive gifts through Operation Joy this year. 

While this year may look a little different due to the pandemic, our goal remains the same: to provide a joyful holiday experience for all children in our community. To learn more, to give to Operation Joy, or to receive support this holiday season, please visit communityactioncenter.org/operation-joy. 

If you have questions, contact Lisa Percy (507) 573-2610 or email percy.lisa@communityactioncenter.org.

Attendance Form

Please report attendance-related information (appointments, illness) through our website! Go to “Current Families” and then “ Report an Absence.” You can fill out as much as is relevant. If your child is staying home ill, please make sure to report symptoms, as we are required to track a lot of information on illness this year! If you’d rather just save a link to the form somewhere accessible to you, here is a link to the form.

 

Upcoming Events

Dec. 15: Arcadia School Board Meeting (online at: https://meet.google.com/tmk-nfcx-szi

Otherwise, to join by phone, dial +1 513-796-6467 and enter this PIN: 493 475 105#)

Dec. 21: Asynchronous Learning Day

Dec. 22: Asynchronous Learning Day

Dec. 23: Winter Break Begins

 

Sincerely,