Silver Lake Schools
Covid-19 Update and Short -Term Schedule Adjustments (Nov. 19, 2020)
Students, Staff and Parents:
All of us are concerned with the rapid surge in Covid-19 cases in our county, state and region. We continue to monitor our county numbers as well as our district numbers very closely. Our mitigation efforts continue to be very effective in preventing classroom spread but we are seeing an increased number of quarantines especially among our older students, the majority of which are due to household contacts and contacts outside of school. As the virus becomes more prevalent in our communities we do expect the number of quarantines to increase as more of our families are impacted by the virus. We think the quarantine trends will continue to be concentrated among our secondary students who are more mobile and more social both in and out of school than our younger students. Our instructional model at the grade school creates classroom cohorts that have very little mixing and we expect to see few issues among our grade school students outside of household contacts.
We are also concerned that the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday could lead to unintended spread of additional virus among our student and staff populations. Small social gatherings are responsible for much of the rapid spread our community is seeing so we ask that everyone please be safe and cautious over the Thanksgiving holiday. Please socially distance, wear masks and wash your hands frequently even when you are with close friends and extended family.
To help prevent some of the spread potential after Thanksgiving and hopefully reduce some of the quarantines we are beginning to see we are making some schedule adjustments for both the Jr-Sr High and grade school the next two weeks. We will utilize a few remote learning days to help create some space between people and allow for potential issues to be identified. We plan for these changes to be short-term, impacting seven school days and plan to return to full on campus learning in both buildings Monday, December 7th. We will of course continue to monitor our numbers and will make any necessary schedule adjustments that may be needed as we approach the December 7th return. We also hope that during this time-frame the numbers in our county will begin to trend down making it safer for our communities at large and reduce the stress on our local health care systems. (The schedule for the next two weeks is below)
We hope the schedule adjustments allow us to continue to move forward as healthy and safely as possible as we try to balance the educational needs of students and the challenges that come with the pandemic. As always thanks for your grace and flexibility as changes become necessary.
Tim Hallacy
Superintendent
Silver Lake Schools
*During the Remote days we will offer breakfast and lunch for students who sign up for those, more information to follow on that process
Monday, November 23rd:
- 7-12 Remote Learning
- Grade School in regular on campus attendance
Tuesday, November 24th:
- 7-12 Remote Learning
- Grade School in regular on campus attendance
Monday, November 30th: No School/Professional Development
Tuesday, December 1st: No School/Professional Development
Wednesday, December 2nd:
- 7-12 Remote Learning
- Grade School Remote Learning
Thursday, December 3rd:
- 7-12 Remote Learning
- Grade School Remote Learning
Friday, December 4th:
- 7-12 Remote Learning
- Grade School Remote Learning
Monday, December 7th: We plan for PreK-12 to return to Full On Campus Learning but may make adjustments as needed
Community Transmission and Severity Scorecard Nov. 19, 2020
Seamless Summer Option Meal Program
Parents:
Late last week the USDA announced a waiver for schools to utilize the Seamless Summer Option meal program similar to the one we used to feed students for free in the spring. This is a waiver USD #372 qualifies for and our waiver has been approved. Beginning September 4, 2020 all ENROLLED students of USD 372 Silver Lake will receive free meals (in person and Remote learners). The district will be able to operate this program through December 2020 or until the federal money is no longer available, whichever is sooner. This means that all students will receive a free breakfast and lunch if they elect to eat each day. Any extras, ala carte items and 2nd breakfast or lunch will still have the normal charges if the student chooses to take these.
The district will update the meal accounts for all students to reflect free meals as of the date above. Parents don’t have to do anything at this time. Once the program funds are spent, all students will return to their original meal status prior to September 4, 2020. This waiver does not affect meal status and the district will continue to accept free and reduced meal applications.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact Debbie Walburn at dwalburn@silverlakeschools.
Tim Hallacy
Silver Lake Schools
Superintendent
July 20th FAQ for the Start of School
Fan information for upcoming games
(Monday, November 2, 2020)
Fans can find information about attendance at upcoming home and away games here. The information will be updated regularly to reflect current rules and guidelines.
Junior High Girls Basketball vs. Riley County Monday, Nov. 23 at Silver Lake
- No fans allowed
- Livestream: NFHS Network
Junior High MEL Wresting Tuesday, Nov. 24 at Silver Lake
- No fans allowed
- Livestream: Silver Lake District Facebook and NFHS Network
Silver Lake partners with NFHS Network
(Friday, October 30, 2020)
Silver Lake and the Mid-East League have partnered with the NFHS Network to live stream events. Two Pixellot cameras have been in installed, with one in the main gym and one at C.J Hamilton Field. Those who want to view events happening at Silver Lake, and support the school through subscription sales, can subscribe to the NFHS Network and view both home and away events.
Eagle Pride Printing offers inventory reduction sale
(Wednesday, November 11, 2020)
Eagle Pride Printing is holding a limited time sale to reduce inventory. You have the opportunity to choose one of the design options on the order form or creating a design of your own. There are also youth and infant sizes available for purchase. All checks must be payable to Silver Lake High School. For more information, please email Carolyn Worthington at cworthington@silverlakeschools.org.
Grade school kicks off One School, One Book program
(Wednesday, October 28, 2020)
The grade school is getting ready to kickoff the 4th annual One School, One Book program by reading the novel The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.
During the One School, One Book program, families read and discuss the book each night by following a reading schedule. The first night is reading is Nov. 2nd.
If your family did not purchase a copy of the book at enrollment, there are still many options for participation. You could visit the Silver Lake Public Library or the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library to get a copy through interlibrary loan. You can also find the audiobook here.
The library website can be found here, which has the reading schedule as well as the the daily questions. Upon completition of the book, students will view the movie version that was recently released on Disney Plus.
A sequel to the book titled The One and Only Bob was also released this summer. Please contact Mrs. Podlena if you have any questions about this program. Thank you in advance for your participation!