January 13, 2021

Good Morning Onamia Staff & Families,

Reopening of school is critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many children and families are experiencing additional economic hardships, social isolation, and other stressors. Schools are a critical component of communities and have a tremendous impact on the health, well-being, growth, and development of students and families.

In December, Governor Walz announced that elementary schools may choose to operate In-person or Hybrid learning models as long as they are able to implement additional safety strategies to keep students, families, educators, and staff safe starting in the middle of January. As a district, we are excited to share our plans for bringing students back in the building starting on January 13.

Below is the Return to School plan for Onamia Schools based off of the Governors guidance on Prioritizing In-Person Learning for Young Learners. Please remember that the Distance Learning will remain an option for the entire school year for any students and families that select the Distance Learning option. When creating our plan, we have worked with our county and regional departments, as well as Mille Lacs County Public Health, to determine safety protocols and steps for returning students.

To help us finalize class assignments and schedules, please make sure you indicate if your child will be switching learning models by completing our survey. If your child is in the elementary school, please complete the survey by Thursday, January 14. If your child is in the high school, please complete the survey by Thursday, January 21. The link to the survey is https://forms.gle/ZpLpDRfEK8pD1GRz9

All students will be full in-person once they start back. The Minnesota Department of Education only allows schools to phase back to In-Person or Hybrid learning with three grade bands at a time every two week period of time in each respective building, which is why it is a phased process to return students back into the building.

Onamia Elementary Grade Levels Return to School Plan

• January 19 -- Grades PreK-1 returns to in-person learning
• February 1 -- Grades 2-4 returns to in-person learning
• February 16th -- Grades 5-6 returns to in-person learning

No School/Distance Learning for Elementary (grades PreK-6) for Staff Development and Transitional Planning on

• January 18
• January 25 (already a scheduled non-school day)
• February 12

Onamia Secondary Grade Levels Return to School Plan

• January 28 -- Grades 7-8-9 return to in-person learning
• February 16 -- Grades 10-11-12 return to in-person learning

No School/Distance Learning for High School (grades 7-12) for Staff Development and Staff Transitional Planning on

• January 25 (already a scheduled non-school day)
• January 26
• January 27

When returning to school, ALL students should remember to bring:

• Charged Chromebook and charger
• Water bottle
• Mask

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• Bus times for when students return will be around the same time as before we went distance learning. If your child is switching to in person, please call the school for your pick-up time the Friday before you student returns to school.
• As students enter the bus or enter the school, they will have a COVID screening, including getting their temperature checked. If the student doesn’t pass the COVID screening, they won’t be allowed on the bus or into the school and will need to stay home following our COVID guidelines.
• he Panthers Before School Program (Open Gym) in the Elementary Gym will be available from 7:15 am – 8:15 am. Please make sure your child is signed up.
• Elementary parents – if you pick up your child after school, please pick them up in the South Parking Lot.
• The High School doors won’t be open until 8:15 am. each day.
• We will continue to provide Emergency Childcare until the students are back in class. We will not have Emergency Childcare on January 25.
• Students that have first semester learning materials should return these materials on January 22nd or January 26th. Buses will be coming out to pick up first semester learning materials when delivering on those days as well. Items that need to be returned include any textbooks, novels, or teacher supplies as these materials are needed for second semester students. Thank you much for your help in returning these materials.

Thank you everyone and we look forward to seeing you in person again real soon!!

JJ Vold
Superintendent