Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools

Covid-19 Update 10/29/20 Today, the Galesburg-Augusta Community School District learned of a high school student who has tested positive for COVID-19. As in every situation, close contacts have been identified. Please know, whenever a student that tests positive has siblings within the district, all members of the household are asked to quarantine. You can read the full statement here: https://5il.co/mmc6 Total COVID-19 positive cases per building, staff, students and the district totals are now available on our website under “COVID-19 Dashboard.”

*** Schedule Changes For NEXT Week *** On Monday, November 2nd and Tuesday, November 3rd, the Cardinal cohort will be in person, with the Gold cohort learning online. On Wednesday, November 4th and Thursday, November 5th, the Gold cohort will be in person, with the Cardinal cohort learning online. There will be no school next Friday, November 6th. *** We would also like to let you know that our meal distribution will be on Friday next week, due to the schedule change. *** Thank you. 🙂

Covid-19 Update 10/26/20 Today, the GACS District learned of a kindergarten student who has tested positive for COVID-19. The student is part of the Gold Cohort and was in attendance last week, therefore, we do need to put several staff and the Gold Cohort group in quarantine. All individuals (adults and students’ families) have been notified of their quarantine. Because the teacher will be quarantined and it is very difficult to get guest teacher coverage, the Cardinal Cohort from the impacted classroom will learn virtually this week and next week. All students from the quarantined classroom can return as normal the week of November 9, 2020. Read the full statement here: https://5il.co/mhi5 Total COVID-19 positive cases per building and the district totals are now available on our website: http://galesburgaugustami.apptegy.us/o/gacs/page/covid-19-dashboard--13

*** School Board Candidates for the November Election UPDATE *** We have four School Board vacancies up for grabs on the November ballot. Four (4) of our current board members' terms will expire on December 31, 2020. Archie Silkworth, Carolyn Martin, Benjamin Overgaard and Stephanie Knobloch. • Archie Silkworth and Carolyn Martin both decided not to run for reelection. • Benjamin Overgaard and Stephanie Knoblock are running for reelection, however, due to Covid shutdowns they missed the deadline for turning in their paperwork in July. They are both now running as write-in candidates. • Marcie Barber, Penny Seume, Jessica Eberstein, and Krista Simmons, are also registered as write-in candidates. • Additionally, Abby Calala is listed on the ballot. G-A is very excited about the level of interest from our community members in serving and supporting our students and staff! We have 7 individuals running for 4 open positions. Six (6) of the 7 are write in candidates. You may vote for 4 candidates for the School Board. 🙂

Drive-thru Flu Vaccine Clinic on Saturday October 24, 2020 KALAMAZOO, MI— Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department is hosting a drive-thru flu clinic on Saturday October 24, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the parking lot of the Stones Church, located at 1225 W. Paterson St., located in Kalamazoo. People will remain in their vehicles the entire time. Per CDC guidelines, all vehicles will be asked to park for 15 minutes following vaccination. Clinic will run while supplies last. The senior high-dose will not be available. Walk-up vaccination is possible for those without vehicles. People must bring a picture ID and insurance cards for everyone 6 months of age and older who will be receiving their flu shot. The flu vaccine is covered by most health insurance plans; however, the health department is offering the vaccine at no cost to people who are uninsured or underinsured. In addition to the drive-thru clinic, the flu vaccine is also offered by appointment at the health department by calling 269-373-5203 or visiting www.kalcounty.com/hcs/fluvaccine.

*** School Board Candidates for the November Election *** We have four (4) School Board vacancies up for grabs on the November ballot. Four of our current board members' terms will expire on December 31, 2020. Archie Silkworth, Carolyn Martin, Ben Overgaard and Stephanie Knobloch. • Archie Silkworth and Carolyn Martin both decided not to run for reelection. • Ben Overgaard and Stephanie Knoblock are running for reelection, however, due to Covid shutdowns they missed the deadline for turning in their paperwork in July. They are both now running as write-in candidates. • Marcie Barber, Penny Seume, and Krista Simmons, are also registered as write-in candidates. • Additionally, Abby Calala is listed on the ballot. G-A is very excited about the level of interest from our community members in serving and supporting our students and staff! We have 6 individuals running for 4 open positions. Five (5) of the 6 are write in candidates. You may vote for 4 candidates for the School Board.

NOTICE OF REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING The Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools Board of Education will be conducting a Regular School Board Meeting via video conferencing due to the current Covid-19 Pandemic. DATE OF MEETING: October 19, 2020 HOUR OF MEETING: 6:30 P.M. To join Zoom Meeting by computer o Enter: https://zoom.us/j/3416004497 into your web browser o Then click Open Zoom Meeting o Enter password: 123456 Meeting ID: 341 600 4497

Covid-19 Update 10/16 Today, the Galesburg-Augusta Community School District learned of a high school student who has tested positive for COVID-19. The student was already in quarantine and the exposure occurred outside the school setting. Therefore, no contract tracing will need to occur. ** No closure of any buildings is needed at this time. ** You can read the full statement here: https://5il.co/m7de Total COVID-19 positive cases per building, staff, students and the district totals are now available on our website under “COVID-19 Dashboard.” To see our Covid-19 Dashboard please click the link below: https://www.g-aschools.org/o/gacs/page/covid-19-dashboard--13

Parent/Guardian Survey: Improving our Pandemic Learning Models of Instruction and Safety Procedures. We need your feedback and input as our District's Board of Education, Administrators and Staff evaluate our current Continuity of Learning Plan. Your input will help determine what changes may need to be made to our instructional models and safety protocols. Please fill out the survey linked below. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScjz2OEQyFPftz5oWRdDymyRFSIiKX5z64A3mpYhR9KLUG06g/viewform

Covid-19 Update 10/7/20 Today, the GACS District learned of a HS student who has tested positive for COVID-19. The student is in isolation, & their close contacts have been identified, notified, and are in quarantine. The MS & HS remain open. We believe we have isolated all individuals & the building is safe for continued learning. The Primary School (including all programming, the enhancement center & daycare) will reopen on Monday, October 12, 2020. Please find the full statement below from Galesburg-Augusta Community School District and Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department regarding the recent COIVD-19 outbreak: https://5il.co/lvkv

NOTICE OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING In accordance with Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-154 (COVID-19), The Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools Board of Education will be conducting a Committee of the Whole School Board Meeting via video conferencing. DATE OF MEETING: October 5, 2020 HOUR OF MEETING: 6:30 P.M. To join Zoom Meeting by computer o Enter: https://zoom.us/j/91622622034? into your web browser o Then click Open Zoom Meeting o Enter password: 12345 Meeting ID: 916 2262 2034 Notice of Meeting: https://5il.co/lppg

*** Covid-19 Update *** ~ MS & HS will reopen on Monday, October 5, 2020 ~ All extracurricular activities (including practices, games, and performances) will be postponed this week and will resume on Monday, October 5, 2020 ~ Primary School will reopen on Monday, October 12, 2020 ~ This includes all programming, the enhancement center, and daycare The health and wellbeing of our staff, students, and their families are of the greatest importance. We thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate these challenging times. Please click the link below to read the full statement from GACS District and Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department regarding the recent COVID-19 outbreak: https://5il.co/lol0

G-A Community School District and the Kalamazoo County Health & Community Service Department (KCHCS) statement regarding the recent COIVD-19 outbreak: Out of an abundance of caution, GACS District has decided to close all school buildings due to individuals testing positive for COVID-19 within the Early Childhood Special Education classroom (ECSE). At this time, there are three positive cases associated with this outbreak. The KCHCS uses the CDC outbreak definition, which is when two or more cases are epidemiologically linked. Per the CDC guidelines, individuals who have tested positive have been isolated, and individuals who have been identified as a close contact have been notified and quarantined. To date, there is no known exposure outside of the ECSE classroom. KCHCS is working closely with GACS on all public health recommendations for the school district, ECSE Center, and those identified as affected individuals. GACS District is tentatively scheduled to reopen on Thursday, October 1, 2020. Further communication will be sent confirming this reopen date.

This weekend you received an email regarding one of our G-A family members who has tested positive for Covid -19. Those individuals who were considered a close contact were already advised to quarantine. As the weekend has progressed, we want to be proactive with the health department and further investigate the information we have received. Therefore on Monday, September 28th, 2020 all district programs including preschool, daycare, the enhancement center and K-12 buildings will be closed for in person instruction. Teachers in K-12 will be providing online learning opportunities for their students. Please follow your at home learning schedule. For further details, access your teachers Seesaw or Google Classroom. Please know that the health and safety of our staff and students is of utmost importance.

*** Free Meal Delivery & Pick Up TOMORROW 9/23 *** On Wednesdays, we will be delivering 5 days worth of meals. ~ The buses will leave the high school at 10 AM. ~ They will run their normal PM bus routes delivering meals. Please keep an eye out for your bus! ~ If your child is a virtual student or does not have a bus stop, you may pick up your meals at the PS or the MS. If you would like to be added to a bus stop or have questions about your closest stop, please contact the bus garage at 269-484-2015 or melissa.daniels2@garams.org. Meals will also be available for pick up at the Primary School & Middle School on Wednesdays 10:30 - 11:30 AM.

NOTICE OF REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING In accordance with Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-154 (COVID-19), The Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools Board of Education will be conducting a Regular School Board Meeting via video conferencing. DATE OF MEETING: September 21, 2020 HOUR OF MEETING: 6:30 P.M. To join Zoom Meeting by computer o Enter https://zoom.us/j/91622622034? into your web browser o Then click Open Zoom Meeting o Enter password: 12345 Meeting ID: 91622622034 Notice of Special School Board Meeting: https://5il.co/l6lf School Board Meeting Agenda 9.21.20: https://5il.co/l6ls

*** Meal Delivery TODAY *** We will be delivering 5 days of breakfast & lunch. Buses will be following our regular morning bus routes, like this last spring. This first week the buses will leave the high school at 1:30 PM and stop at their normal morning stops. Please keep an eye out for the bus! Meals will also be available for pick up TODAY at the Primary school 2:30 - 3:15 PM. ** NEXT week, meal delivery will start at 10:00 AM. **

G-A Community Schools Bus Procedures 🙂 https://www.wevideo.com/view/1817394084

* Kindergarten, 4th Grade & 8th Grade Open House Information* August 31 (M) ~ 8th Grade Open House 5 – 8 PM September 1 (T) ~ 4th Grade (Pfeiffer) Open House 4:30 – 6 PM September 2 (W) ~ Kindergarten Open House 2:30 – 4:30 PM September 2 (W) ~ 4th Grade (Dooley) Open House 4:30 – 6 PM September 3 (Th) ~ 4th Grade (New Teacher) Open House 4:30 – 6 PM ~ 1 Parent/Guardian per student ~ Masks are required ~ More details to follow *Please note that we will not have school wide open houses this year.

*** K-12 Registration Day & Device Pick Up TOMORROW *** Tuesday, August 25th 8AM - 7PM GAHS (Student parking lot. Enter the back of the HS.) 1076 N. 37th St Galesburg, MI 49053 - Drop In Style - Come anytime 8AM - 7PM - ALL K-12 students need to pick up their enrollment packet & device (Chromebook) - 1 Parent/guardian per student allowed - Students do not need to be present - Masks are required - PLEASE BRING A PEN WITH YOU TO FILL OUT FORMS 😉 Questions? Please contact your school office. Thank you.