Parents and Families: Today at around lunchtime, the Missoula County Health Department and the Board of Health made the following announcement: Masks Now Strongly RecommendedMissoula County has met its intermediate vaccination goal of 60% eligible having received at least one dose. The Health Board in April directed the Health Officer to rescind the mandate and issue recommendations upon meeting this goal. Those recommendations are issued in the attached document and effective immediately as of May 10, 2021.
Missoula County is among the top in the state for vaccination progress. The Board and Health Officer commend its many vaccinating partners and citizens' cooperation with masks and the progress with vaccinations that have brought Missoula to this place of low COVID transmission and high vaccination rates.
The Governor's signing of HB 257 occurred simultaneous to Missoula County meeting it's goals and rescinding mask rule as planned by the Health Board. Mr. Rouse has posted signs on the doors of the school stating that wearing face masks is recommended (not required). He has met with each class to let the students know that the wearing of face masks is now optional. For the younger students, he told the students that their parents would talk to them about whether or not they needed to wear a face mask at school anymore. John P. Rouse, Principal
Notice is hereby given that on May 4, 2021, a mail ballot election for the following districts will be held:
School Districts: · Potomac School District #11 o Trustee Election 1 Yr Term (choose 1) o Trustee Election 3 Yr Term (choose 1)
Ballots mail to all active and provisional voters on April 14, 2021 and are due by 8:00 p.m. on May 4, 2021. Inactive voters may request a ballot before 12:00 p.m. May 3, 2021 with the Missoula County Elections office. Please visit the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page (http://www.MyVoterPageMT.com) to check your voter registration status.
School district electors, as defined in Title 13, are those who reside in the District and are registered to vote by the close of registration on April 5, 2021.
Absentee ballots for the May 4, School-Special District Election may be acquired at the Elections Office at 140 N Russell Street weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. from April 14 – noon on May 3.
Voters who miss the Close of Registration deadline may late register for the Annual School & Special District Election at 140 N Russell Street from April 6, 2021 through May 3, 2021. Currently, between noon and the close of business on the day before Election Day, voters can complete & submit a voter registration card, but they will need to return to the local election office on Election Day to pick up and vote a ballot. Same day voter registration is currently also available at the Elections Office on Election Day – May 4, 2021.
On Election Day, drop off locations open at 7:00 a.m. and will continue to be open until 8:00 p.m. DROP OFF LOCATION ON ELECTION DAY: Potomac Greenough School, 29827 Potomac Rd, Potomac, MT 59823
Notice is hereby given that regular* registration for the Annual School & Special District Election to be held on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 will close at 5:00 p.m., on Monday, April 5, 2021.
Ballots will be automatically mailed on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 to active electors only.
Voters who miss the Close of Registration deadline may late register for the Annual School & Special District Election at the Elections Office (140 N Russell Street, Missoula, MT 59801) from April 6, 2021 through May 3, 2021. Between noon and the close of business on the day before Election Day, voters can complete & submit a voter registration card, but they will need to return to the local election office on Election Day to pick up and vote a ballot. Same day voter registration is currently also available at the Elections Office on Election Day – May 4, 2021.
All active, provisional, and inactive electors of the included districts in Missoula County Montana are entitled to vote in said election.
**Note: An application for voter registration properly executed and postmarked on or before the day regular registration is closed must be accepted as a regular registration for 3 days after regular registration is closed. Inactive electors may reactivate by appearing at the Elections Office in order to vote, by requesting an absentee ballot in any election, or by notifying the County Election Administrator in writing of the elector’s current address in the county.
Please visit our current election webpage at www.MissoulaVotes.com or contact the Elections Office at (406) 258-4751.
DATED this 26th of March Missoula County Elections
Run Date: March 28, April 4 and April 11, 2021 (Not more than 40 days or less than 10 days before election 3x). Potomac School Wellness Action PlanBackground: As a partial requirement to participate in the summer food program, the school district is required to have a School Wellness Action Plan. The Potomac School District has a School Wellness policy (See Policy 2510-R under school board policies). Prior to developing our School Wellness Action Plan, we formed a School Wellness Committee that is composed of staff members and students. The committee completed an assessment of our current school wellness efforts using a survey instrument developed and disseminated by the Montana Team Nutrition Program at the Montana Office of Public Instruction. The survey was completed independently by the committee members. The results of the survey were presented to the Potomac School District Board of Trustees and the Parent Teacher Club (PTC) for their consideration and input. The survey included five goal areas: Nutrition Guidelines,Nutrition Education, Nutrition Promotion, Physical Activity, and School Wellness. The goal areas from this survey that contained ratings indicating that a particular indicator has not been met are addressed in the Action Plan.Note: The School Wellness Action Plan shown below is a draft version. After it has been reviewed by the school board and the PTC, it will be updated and finalized. Potomac Elementary School29750 Potomac Road Bonner, Montana 59823
Phone (406) 244-5581 Fax (406) 244-5840 www.potomacschoolmontana.us “Potomac School equips each student for his/her future within a culture of excellence that values the small community experience."
School Wellness Action Plan 2020-21 (Draft as of April 1, 2021)
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Announcements
Potomac School District's Return-to-School Plan
August 11, 2020 Our first day of school is Wednesday, August 26th. This school year is obviously going to be a different type of year because of the impact that the Covid-19 virus is having. We have been working over the summer to be prepared for whatever conditions might exist when school opens. We have prepared a Return-to-School Plan. We have emailed out copies of that plan to those parents/guardians for whom we have email addresses. The Plan and associated documents have also been posted on our webpage.
The Plan provides some detail as to the precautions we will be taking at school to create and maintain a healthy environment for students and staff members. As noted in the plan, wearing face coverings in the classrooms is optional for both students and staff members; however, all adults (staff members, volunteers, and visitor) must wear face coverings anytime they are inside of school district buildings and the community center, except for staff members while they are in their work area—classrooms, offices, or kitchen.
While we are looking forward to the return of our students on the 26th, we understand that some students will need to remain home until the conditions at school are such that families feel safe sending their students to school. In the packet of materials that were emailed out was an Opt-Out Form. This form needs to be completed and returned by the parent/guardian for any student(s) who will not be returning to the classroom on August 26th. By completing this form, the parent/guardian is indicating their intention of keeping their student(s) home from school until the end of the first quarter of school (October 22nd). The Opt-Out Form will need to be resubmitted at the beginning of each quarter. A copy of the Opt-Out form is on the school district’s webpage as well.
From the initial surveys that were sent to parents, it appears that only about ten students will be remaining at home when school opens. There were nine students whose parents indicated that they were still undecided about their students returning to the classrooms. For those students whose parents submitted the Opt-Out of In-Class Instruction Forms, we will be providing live streaming of the classroom instruction as it is taking place at school.
Also, in the packet and on the webpage is a Health Screening and Liability Waiver Form that needs to be reviewed, signed, and returned to this school. This form is an acknowledgement that the school will be conducting temperature screening of students, staff members, volunteers and visitors. Our hope is to keep our school open for our students. We will utilize social distancing as much as possible in our facilities and stress good personal hygiene including handwashing, appropriate use of hand sanitizers, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently contacted surfaces. A critical step in this process will be for every parent/guardian to conduct a quick Health Assessment on their student(s) before sending them to school. An easy-to-use Daily Health Assessment is also available in the information that was included in the email documents and on the webpage. Thanks for your patience and understanding during these unusual circumstances. |
| Attachments:
Potomac_Return_to_School_Plan_081120_final.pdf
Getting Ready for the New School Year
The first day of school at Potomac School District #11 for the 2020-21 school year will be August 26th. As you are aware, these are unusual times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the month of June, the administration, staff members, and school board members, spend a great deal of time developing some policies and procedures that will provide the framework and guidance for us as we prepare for the opening of our new school year. At this point in time, most of the decisions regarding the reopening of schools have been left up to local school boards working within some parameters from the governor's office and the public health department. The governor recently issued a directive requiring the wearing of face masks in public settings. At this time, this directive does not apply to schools. We are planning to begin our school year with our regular classroom instruction in place. We will be practicing social distancing to the extent possible in our school facilities and at school functions. There will be some adjustments in how we provide our meals in the cafeteria and how we provide for library and recess times to allow us to spread our students out. Some of the steps we will take to provide a safe environment for our students and staff members will include:
We are still awaiting updated information regarding athletic events and other larger group gatherings from the appropriate organizations and agencies. For those families who need to keep their children at home rather than send them to school due to health concerns for the student or a family member, provisions will be made to allow the opportunity for the student's learning to continue at home. These situations will be addressed on an individual basis upon request from the family. We believe that our flexibility and our small class sizes allow us to serve the needs of all students in the Potomac school district. Should you have questions regarding how the school can address any special needs of your child, please contact John P. Rouse, principal, anytime at jrouse@potomacschoolmontana.us or call 406 244-5581 extension 201 beginning August 3rd. |
The School Calendar for the 2020-21 School Year Was Modified by the Board
The Board of Trustees took action during their April board meeting to revise the previously approved 2020-21 school calendar to reflect the scheduled spring break week that matches the March 15-19, 2021 spring break as shown in the MCPS school calendar. In order to accommodate this change the break that was scheduled in the original calendar around Easter weekend has been removed and two additional days were added to the end of the calendar in June. Under the newly revised calendar for 2020-21, the last day of school for students will be June 10th. |
| Attachments:
2020-2021-school calendar_revised042020 .docx
Governor Bullock extended the Public School Closure Until April 24th
Governor Steve Bullock just announced at 2:00 PM on April 7, 2020 that he is extending the Stay-At-Home order and the Closure of Public Schools for the state of Montana until April 24th. He also encouraged all Montanas to wear cloth face masks when you go out into public places. Also continue washing your hands and utilizing social distancing |
eBooks Available
Parents, Although the public library is not allowing anyone to check out or return library books during the virus pandemic, you or your child can access eBooks online through two easy-to-use apps--Overdrive and Libby. You must have a Missoula Public School library card to check out and read books from these sites. You may contact John Rouse at the school at 244-5581 or jrouse@potomacschoolmontana.us, if you would like him to look up your child's library card number. Thanks. John Rouse, principal |
Thank you to Parents
Potomac School Parents, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for your hard work and patience during this time of our school closure. I know that for many people--adults and children--this is a stressful period. I am hearing from our teachers that most of our students are doing well with their school work at home, and we recognize that this is because you are taking your role as parent seriously by creating at learning atmosphere at home that gives your child the structure and guidance he or she needs to continue learning during these unusual times. Most teachers are creating lessons that take advantage of the many resources that are available to us including Youtube videos created by the teachers. These video segments allow our students to feel like they are still connected to their teachers and their classes. Also most of our teachers are providing the entire week's worth of lessons early in the week, so students can pace their work throughout the week. Please help your child with the pacing of the work, so he or she does not get overwhelmed or fall behind. Finally do not hesitate to contact your child's teachers if the student or you have any questions. Thanks again. John Rouse Principal |
Ms. Olson's Class - Website
Ms. Olson has created a class web site that is accessible by her students' parents. Please see the link below: |
March 27th Potomac School Closure Update--The governor extended the school closure until April 10th
Governor Bullock has extended the school closures in Montana until April 10th. We will continue offering instruction through distance learning. A variety of different online programs are being used by our teachers to provide our students will the best instruction possible under the circumstances. You or your student should be receiving regular communications from his or her teachers either through e-mail, telephone, or papers sent home with the meal deliveries at the bus stops. If you are not receiving these communications, email the teacher or contact me at jrouse@potomacschoolmontana.us. Parents- Please continue providing a routine structure at home for your children that includes set times during the day for them to complete their schoolwork. We strongly encourage your children to read at least 40 minutes a day in addition to that required for their assignments. Also, there our art activities being offered by our art teacher, Asha MacDonald. See "Art with Asha" on Youtube. Istation is a program that our teachers use in both math and reading. Your children are familiar with the program and know how to use it. Please allow them to access this program. Istation has added a new component called Home-to-School Connection that will allow your child to continue progressing through the Istation activities and assessments. Plus, Istation’s Parent Portal offers online access to supplemental home activities and skill-building lessons that a parent can go over with their child and includes printable materials for use at home. Parents can also track progress with personalized data profiles. The Parent Portal can be accessed on any device with a browser, such as a smartphone, tablet, or PC. In order for the program to accurately determine the level at which your child needs to be working, it is important to have accurate assessment data. Please do not assist your child, when he or she is taking an Istation assessment. The link to begin access to Istation's home to school program is below. You will be asked to load the Isation app on your device. It should work fine on the school's Chromebooks or Ipads. |
IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION FOR POTOMAC SCHOOL PARENTS...PLEASE READ
IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION FOR POTOMAC SCHOOL PARENTS...PLEASE READ
Potomac School Parents, As we are continuing through this period of some degree of uncertainty resulting from the virus outbreak, our staff members have been working hard to find the best ways to continue to serve the educational needs of our students. This letter is to outline what you can expect from our teachers during the period of school closure. Although the governor initially closed schools until March 27th, one of his recent communications used language that implies that the closure will “likely” extend beyond the 27th of March. We anticipate that the closure will extend longer.
Our teachers are committed to serving their students to the greatest extent possible given the circumstances. The manner in which lessons, instruction, and follow-up support will be offered to the students varies depending upon the grade level of your child and the courses he or she is taking. Teachers will use the email addresses that we have on file to communicate directly with parents during this time. Each of your child’s teachers will be contacting you by email. These emails will contain important information regarding the tasks, assignments, and activities your child will be expected to complete. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for your child to continue to complete these assignments. If your child struggles or needs additional support, your child’s teacher will be available for support. If your child does not attempt to continue to learn during this time period, he or she will likely fall behind in terms of student achievement. These activities are not suggestions for your child, they are, in fact, regular assignments that are expected to be completed by the student. Each teacher will develop a method for assessing the degree to which each student is successfully completing these assignments, and that assessment will be used to determine the student's progress.
On Wednesday, March 25th, from 7am to 7pm, Mr. Rouse will be available at the main building of the school. During this time, students and/or parents will be allowed to enter the building to collect textbooks and supplies that the student needs.
Our teachers are taking advantage of technology to provide the best activities possible for their students. We will be using programs like Google Classroom, Khan Academy, Istation, and the online portions of our English Language Arts program to provide interesting and challenging lessons. Because for many of our students having access to some type of device-- desktop computer, Chromebook, iPad, or smartphone will be important, we are allowing families to check out Chromebooks or iPads from our school (one unit per family).
Mr. Rouse will be available Wednesday, March 25th, 7am to 7pm to allow a parent to sign a “Consent To Use” document and pick up the device/charging cord. Mr. Rouse will facilitate this process in order to respect social distancing and to limit the numbers of people in the building. Please come to the front entrance of the main building (West side of the building). Please park your vehicle only on the side of the street closest to the school to allow traffic to continue to flow on Potomac Road. During the time of the school closure, students may drop off any school work for their respective teachers by simply dropping their work in the library book Drop Box located at the school library building. Please be sure the student’s name is on the materials, and that they are bundled together with a rubber band. Do not put technology equipment at the drop box. Simply keep the equipment until we reopen the school.
Because of the dedication of our staff members, your child can expect opportunities during this time period to speak directly with his or her teacher either via the computer or directly over the phone during normal school hours. Please allow your child time to talk with his or her teacher when contacted by phone or by device. It is important to maintain personal contact with each student to provide the child with a sense of security in knowing that his or her teacher is there.
Because the school facilities will be closed during this time, if you have questions please do not hesitate to call Mr. Rouse at 406 540-2013.
Thanks,
John P. Rouse, Principal
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January 20th is a school holiday
Potomac School District #11 is closed on Monday, January 20th, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day |