October 7, 2021

 

Dear MSS Parents, Grandparents, Guardians and Community Members,

The Meskwaki Settlement School administrative team, with the recommendation of the Meskwaki health clinic and the approval of the school board, has decided to switch from in-person to virtual instruction for two weeks, starting Monday, for all ages and grade levels.  

From October 11-22, students should be logged on and attending classes every morning via Zoom:  elementary students from 9:00-12:00 and grades 7-12 from 9:00-1:00.  Instructions and details will be sent to each student’s email account as well as to parent email addresses; we will also post information on the school website and on Facebook.  In the afternoon hours of each school day, students should read or complete assignments; teachers will be available to provide extra help or support to the students who want or need it.  If a student will not be able to attend a Zoom session on any of the virtual school days, we ask the parent/guardian to call the school to ask the absence to be excused.  We are recording attendance to report to the Bureau of Indian Education.

Today (Thursday) we will send forms home with students in grades K-6 that we ask parents/guardians to sign and return tomorrow (Friday).  By signing these forms, parents/guardians acknowledge that they and their students are responsible for the computers that will be sent home with the students on Friday.  If you did not get a form to sign, please call the elementary office at 641-484-9000.

Yesterday (Wednesday), some elementary students who had been quarantined tested positive for COVID.  Also yesterday, a secondary student tested positive and two others were assigned to quarantine.  The Meskwaki health clinic is concerned about the strength of this variant because of the number of vaccinated individuals who have tested positive.

Our plan at this point in time is to resume in-person instruction starting on October 25.  

Thank you for your support and flexibility.  We are all in this together.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to any of us here at MSS.

Sincerely,

 

Steve Hanson

MSS Superintendent