Announcements

Hello Pirate Families! 

We could not be more excited to share this information with you as we prepare to welcome students, in person beginning August 25th, 2021. This information is specific to Mark Twain Elementary, although many cleaning protocols and safety protocols will be the same at all buildings. Please read this information carefully and email me at tlowes@hannibal60.com with any questions that you may have. I look forward to a wonderful 2021-2022 school year! The safety of our students and staff are paramount and implementation of this plan was developed by what is feasible, practical, acceptable, and tailored to the needs and context of the Hannibal community.  

Embedded Safety Procedures:

• Masks are optional, but highly recommended.

• We will strive to do 3 ft of physical distancing in our rooms when possible.

• Masks WILL BE worn on the bus at all times.-This is a federal mandate.  

• Contact Tracing:

• We will have internal contact tracers.
• We will let you know if your child has been exposed to a COVID positive person.
• The school will communicate with the health department but any required quarantines for close contacts will need to come directly from the health department to the parents themselves.  
• This applies only to close contacts, not positive cases. Parents will be given the choice to choose whether or not those close contact students remain home, if not symptomatic. 

• Water fountains will be turned on along with the bottle fillers.  The school WILL NOT provide water bottles. 

• Students will be able to mingle with other students on the playground.  Playground equipment will be disinfected regularly.  

• Parents and volunteers will be welcomed into the buildings.  We strongly encourage each visitor to wear a mask.  

Arrival: Begins at 7:30 am Students will be dropped off at the Bird Street entrance of Mark Twain, this is the front door to the school. Students will be escorted in by teachers and staff. Someone will be by the door until 8:00. If you arrive after 8:00, students can be walked to the front door and buzzed in. Parents will not be allowed in the school building during drop off.

Medicines:  If you have medicine that needs to be dropped off at school, please park on North Hawkins and walk to the front of the building.   Nurse LaRhonda will be at the front of the building to assist you with medications. 

Dismissal: Begins at 3:10 pm Please have the enclosed Car Rider Sheet filled out and displayed during pick-up. If you do not have the Car Rider Sheet, you will need to show a valid driver’s license.  If someone else picks up your child without the Car Rider Sheet, the parent will need to contact the school before 2:30pm and state who is picking up your child.  That person will need to show a driver’s license so we can confirm the name with the license.  Walkie-talkies will be used during dismissal to maintain social distancing and safety of students. Students will remain in the building until their name has been called.  

Parent Pick Up will be the following:

• If you have siblings, the siblings will dismiss on the same side based on the younger siblings Street Pick Up.  For example; two siblings, one is in 1st grade the other in 2nd grade- the 2nd grader would go to the Hill Street Pick Up Line to dismiss.

• Bird Street- Please pull all the way down the hill.  We need to use the whole pick up lane so we are not blocking traffic all the way to Virginia Street.  Please stay in your car.  Teachers will help assist your child in the car if needed.

• Hill Street- Please pull all the way up the hill.  We need to use the whole pick up lane so we are not stopping traffic on St. Mary’s.  Please stay in your car.  Teachers will help assist your child in the car if needed.

If students are walkers - they will be dismissed prior to car riders. If parents are coming to pick up a walker, they are to remain on North Hawkins Ave. The walkers will be escorted safely across the street.   Parents may not congregate in front of the building after school - please remain in your vehicles in the designated area.

This is a great deal of information, however we want to be sure all procedures are being followed by faculty and staff as well as parents and students to ensure the safety of everyone.

Again, do not hesitate to reach out with questions about our safety procedures. 

Sincerely, 

Tomi Lowes

Principal

Mark Twain Elementary

tlowes@hanibal60.com

573-221-0768