Director's Corner

 
 
COVID 19 RESOURCES
03/24/2020
Good afternoon parents,
We just received the following updates from the Connecticut State Department of Education: 
  • Connecticut schools/IDCS will be closed until April 20. IDCS will be taking Spring Break from April 13 to April 17. Neither teachers nor students will be working this week or on Good Friday, April 10, which is a statewide holiday.
  • The statewide SBAC tests have been waived; consequently, IDCS students will not be taking this test. 
I realize this is a very difficult and challenging time for everyone. The IDCS staff are working diligently to ensure that they are preparing and delivering student work as effectively and successfully as possible. Please contact your child's teacher if you have any questions about the school work. Please contact me if you have any general questions or concerns. We miss and love our students and our IDCS community!! Be well and be safe. 
Sincerely,
Ellen Retelle 
March 22, 2020
 
Dear Parents/Caregivers, 
 
I hope you are all well. IDCS will have one more student packet and Chromebook pick up.  
STUDENT PACKETS: On Monday, March 23, PreK, K/1 and 2/3 student packets and Grade 4/5 Math books (no packets for 4/5) can be picked up from 8:30-6:00. GRADE 6 and 7/8 work is all online; no student packets have been prepared for Grades 6, and 7/8. 
 
CHROMEBOOKS: Parents, who have requested Chromebooks for Grade 2 to Grade 8, can start picking up Chromebooks from 10:30 on Monday, March 23. All parents, who are picking up a Chromebook will receive an email requiring them to accept responsibility for loss or damage to the Chromebooks. 
 
 
 
PICK UP PROCEDURES FOR MARCH 23: If you are picking up your child/ren's work and/or food, we are going to practice social distancing and wear masks/bandanas and gloves to keep everyone as safe as possible. If parents/caregivers, can please also wear a mask or bandana and gloves. We would appreciate it.   
We are going to use the morning drop off procedures for parents/caregivers to pick up their child/ren's work and/or chrome book and/or food.
WE WANT TO KEEP EVERYONE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.    PLEASE DO THE FOLLOWING: 
  • Parents/caregivers drive down to the school in a single file.  
  • Write your child/ren's name, teacher, and grade on a white piece of paper large enough for us to read it. 
  • Write food on the paper if you are collecting food.
  • Write chromebook (pick up for chromebook starts at 10:30) on the paper. We are only distributing Chromebooks to parents who have requested them. You must request them by 4:00 on Sunday. Send Dr. Retelle an email by 4:00 Sunday, March 22.  
  • Hold the white piece of paper on the passenger's side window so the IDCS staff member can see it. 
  • A staff member will bring the student packet, Chromebook and/or food to your car. 
  • Please do not ask IDCS staff questions or converse with them. We want to distribute the packets and Chromebooks as efficiently and quickly as possible. 
  • PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR.
THE FOLLOWING IS A CHANGE: NO STUDENTS or PARENTS WILL BE ALLOWED TO GO INTO THE BUILDING on MONDAY, MARCH 23.  At this time and until Connecticut schools reopen, only IDCS staff will be allowed into the school building. I apologize for the change, but it is necessary. 
I will continue to communicate with families at least twice a week. 
Be safe and be well,
Ellen Retelle 
-
Ellen Retelle, Ph. D., Director
Integrated Day Charter School
68 Thermos Ave
Norwich, CT 06360
O: 860-892-1900
C: 860-985-2866
 

Dear IDCS Students and families,

I have been thinking of all of our students and staff, our IDCS families and community this weekend.  We are experiencing unusual and challenging situation...it is a time that we need to stay connected with our friends and families and with our IDCS community. Every 2-3 days I will communicate with families (via email, school messenger, IDCS website, and the parents' Facebook Page) to keep us all connected and to share information.  My school cellphone 860-985-2866. I am always available, don't hesitate to contact me. 

 

 

PLEASE READ BELOW:

Today's email includes:  

  • how & when we are distributing the students' work packets;
  • how & when we are distributing food and who can receive food;
  • student medicine if parents request it;

Student Work Packet Distribution: All of the grade level tables will be set up outside; parents/caregivers will be able to line up at least 3 feet away from each other and in front of the tables. Staff will check off the students' names, get the packets, and give them to the parents. Monday hours are 8:30am-6:00pm. Custodial staff will assist with traffic, if necessary. 

 

Students who want to retrieve something from the building: Staff handing out packets need to direct parents/students to Dr. Retelle. Dr. Retelle will decide on a case by case basis to allow or not allow a student into the building. 

 

Food Distribution: With school closing on short notice for a significant amount of time, we understand the difficulties that come with it as far as planning for your children. IDCS will still be providing breakfast and lunch meals to our students. Meals will be bundled so you will receive both breakfast and lunch for multiple days. Pick up times are between 8:30am-12:00pm Monday and Wednesday only.

Mondays pick up will include breakfast and lunch for Mon-Tue (3/16-17/2020)

Wednesdays pick up will include breakfast and lunch for Wed-Fri (3/18-20/2020). Next week the pick up days and times will be the same.

Kitchen staff are distributing food from the gym (same door that PreK-Grade 2/3 students are dismissed). Any families with IDCS or non-IDCS students under the age of 18 can pick up food at IDCS.  If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or Ellen Retelle at [email protected].

 

 

 

Informative websites and links: 

World Health Organization (WHO)  https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Uncas Health District: https://uncashd.org/2019-novel-coronavirus-microsite/


Thinking of all of you...Stay well and safe. 

 

Sincerely yours,

Ellen Retelle, Ph.D.