Northwestern Local Schools

Welcome to our In-School back-to-school toolbox. We hope to provide some answers to the many questions all our families have as we get ready to start the 2020-21 school year. Additional details will be added to this page as they become available. Please check back often.

Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions

School Start Date: School will start Wednesday, Sept. 2.

Class Lists: If your students don't already know their teacher assignments, please reach out to the Elementary office at
937-964-3240.

School Supplies: Supply lists can be found here https://www.northwestern.k12.oh.us/o/nes/browse/65024

Staggered Start: Preschool and Kindergarten students will have a staggered start. If you do not yet know your students' staggered start date, please call the Elementary office at 937-964-3240 and ask for either a preschool or kindergarten teacher to assist you. *UPDATE: Preschool and Kindergarten students will stagger their start days - starting Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, Sept. 2-4. Whichever ONE of these days your student is assigned, they will repeat as a second week of staggered starting the following week - Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, Sept. 9-11. Beginning the week of Sept. 14, Preschool students will resume a normal schedule of Monday through Thursday, and Kindergarten students will resume a normal schedule of Monday through Friday.

Open House/ Orientation: Our traditional open house/orientation times won't happen this year. Instead, please check out the Virtual Open House videos posted to the district Back to School 2020 page on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

Morning Drop Off: Drop off starts at 8:20 a.m. and ends at 8:40 a.m. If families work together and follow drop-off directions, the process can move quicker and be more efficient. Drivers need to pull as far forward as possible rather than dropping students near a door, and drivers should not exit their vehicles in the drop-off line.

Afternoon Pick Up: Pick up begins at 3:30 p.m., and all parents need to use the pick-up line rather than coming in the building. Students waiting in the school will be physically distanced in the hallway while they wait to be called to their car. Anyone with an after-school appointment who needs to leave more urgently than the pickup line will allow should send a note and call to set up an appointment to sign their child out between 2:30 and 3 p.m. to help spread out office pickups and maintain physical distancing in the office. Students needing to leave for these late day appointments will not be counted absent for a half day. Information about getting a pickup pass is available here https://www.northwestern.k12.oh.us/article/282197?org=NES.

First Day of School: Parents will not be permitted in the building to walk their students to their classrooms on the first day of school.

Kindergarten Orientation: *UPDATE: Kindergarten students will have orientation days prior to the start of school. Parents have been contacted for their scheduled orientation time.

Birthday Celebrations: Parents who want to provide a snack or treat for their students' birthdays can still do so, but they will need to call the office in advance to make an appointment to drop off items. All birthday treats must be prepackaged. Parents will not be permitted to attend these celebrations.

Class Parties - School-wide class parties, such as the Autumn and Valentine's Day celebrations will not be scheduled for this year. Individual classrooms will instead make their own plans for fun activities these days.

Grade Level Performances: Musical shows are not scheduled for this year. However, we'll share information if plans can be made to have virtual performances as the year progresses.

Parent/Teacher Conferences: We'll share details about dates and times as those are scheduled. Conferences will be scheduled in person or virtually, based on the comfort of each family.

Changing Classes: Students with multiple teachers will still change classrooms. Teachers at each grade level are working out details of how each classroom will stagger transitioning to another classroom to minimize congregating in hallways and maximize physical distancing. Teachers will wipe down desks between one group of students leaving a classroom and the next group of students taking their seats.

Quarantine Procedures: We are working with the Clark County Combined Health District to meet the local and statewide regulations. These procedures will be followed on a case-by-case basis because we know each situation can vary.

Remote Learning: During various times of the year, we know some students or the entire district could need to participate in school remotely. We are working to finalize details for how to check-in during remote days. Please check back here Monday, Aug. 31 for those specifics.

Doctor/Dentist/Other Midday Appointments: This process will work the same as it has in the past, with parents sending in a note or calling to schedule a time to pick up their students from the office.

Recess: We will be taking full grade level recesses with additional teachers monitoring the playground. If students are able to maintain 6-foot physical distancing, they will be able to take off their masks. If they are playing closer than 6-feet apart, they will need to have their masks on. Indoor recess will look similar to past years. Teachers will arrange details for their individual classrooms.

Mask Wearing: Masks are required for students, staff and visitors in the building. Students who arrive to school without a mask will be provided one. Our staff will show kindness to our students if they are struggling with masks and work with them to be successful - either in the classroom, in the guidance counselor's office or with administrators. *UPDATE: Though Preschool students will not be required to wear masks, it is highly encouraged that they do wear masks. Teachers ask that preschool students bring a mask with them to wear during times when students and teachers are working in close proximity.

Mask Breaks: These could look different for each classroom and grade level, but teachers will find time for students to take short mask breaks throughout the day.

Cleaning Processes: Custodians will be sanitizing common areas after use. We will be paying close attention to high-touch areas, such as door handles and railings, and shared materials. We will prioritize what needs sanitized, and this could look different each day.

Physical distancing: Signage has been placed on floors as a reminder to students to stay 6 feet apart whenever possible. Distancing reminders can be found throughout the school, including in bathrooms, the cafeteria and kitchen.

Breakfast: Students who eat breakfast at school will still be able to do so. They will go to the cafeteria as they normally would and sit in one of the marked seats to eat.

Lunch Pricing: Lunch pricing details can be found here https://www.northwestern.k12.oh.us/o/nlsd/page/food-service--223.

Lunch: Microwaves will not be available in the cafeteria this year. When feasible, after students finish their lunches, they will be dismissed to the playground or gym, depending on weather conditions. *UPDATE: Stickers will be placed on cafeteria table benches where students can sit at least 5 feet apart from each other student on the same side of the table. There will be a divider placed lengthwise, running the full length of each row of tables. This divider will separate students on benches on opposite sides of each table during each lunch period. Seating areas, including dividers, will be cleaned before each new group of students is seated.

Lunch Payment: We will be doing a "change-less" register in the lunch line. We encourage families to utilize EZ-Pay to load funds to your students' lunch accounts. If they bring cash in for lunch, the amount will be applied to their account in its entirety.

Drinking Fountains: ONLY water bottle filling stations will be available. Please consider sending your child with a sweat-proof, leak-proof water bottle.

Latchkey Procedures: AM Latchkey will be available with the same drop off process and 6 a.m. start as in the past. There will be NO PM Latchkey this year.

AM Latchkey Signup - Sign up for AM Latchkey here https://forms.gle/K6GQh5yZZKaTBkMb7

Chromebooks: All students will be assigned a Chromebook to take home and bring back to school every day.

Busing: The transportation department will contact families about their transportation times. Masks will be required on buses and students will be seated in family groups and physically distanced as much as possible. More details about transportation will be available Thursday, Aug. 27 in the Transportation FAQ.

Picture Day: Picture Day will take place during the school day. Details will be released once dates are set.

Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions

Scholarships for Graduating Seniors are updated regularly at the following link: https://sites.google.com/nwlschools.org/counseling/scholarships

CTC Applications: CTC is accepting applications now for the 2021-2022 school year. Applications are due on January 31, 2021. Apply at https://mypath.scctc.org/

New Program at CTC: The Jaguar Academy is a new program for students who will be in 10th grade for the 2021-2022 school year. This is a preview program to help students get ready for their career path at CTC during the 11th and 12th grade years. Apply now at https://mypath.scctc.org/

School Start Date: School will start Wednesday, Sept. 2.

Schedules: Students can pick up their schedules Tuesday, Aug. 25, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the front office.

Locker Assignments: Locker information is on the top of each student's schedule. It includes the locker number and combination. Students will practice opening their locker with teacher assistance the first week of school.

Junior High Supply Lists

High School Supply Lists

Parking Passes: Parking passes can be purchased in the main office. Students are reminded to bring their completed and signed paperwork along with $10.00 when purchasing their parking pass. Parking pass permission forms are available on the website (Jr./Sr. High School >student forms) or in the main office (7-2:30 PM -- M-F).

Morning Busing: Students arriving by bus in the morning can eat breakfast and/or go directly to their first period class, where they will be monitored by their first period teacher. Students will not gather in the gym or hallways in the morning.

Drop Off Procedures: Students can be dropped off in front of the building between 7:10 and 7:30 a.m. Students can eat breakfast and/or go straight to their first period class. Anyone arriving after 7:30 a.m. should report to the front office.

Pick Up Procedures: Pick up begins at the front of the building at 2:32 p.m. No students will be permitted to stay in the building after 3 p.m.

Class Change Between Classes: A two-bell system will be used to release students during class exchange. Half of the students will be released at each bell allowing for less traffic in the hallway. Students will be encouraged to stay on the right side of the hallway to limit interaction between students.

Locker Use: Students will each be assigned a locker to use. We will encourage students to use their locker before school, during Pride, and after school. Students can carry a bookbag as needed to and from classes.

Lunch Plans: Students can either bring their lunch from home or buy their lunch from the school cafeteria. All students will be 6 feet apart while eating in the cafeteria. At the request of the Clark County Combined Health District, students will choose a seat at a lunch table and that will become their assigned seat in the lunch room. An additional lunch period has been added to help maintain physical distancing. Some overflow seating will be available in the gym. Students will not be required to wear their masks while eating, but will be required to wear them once they have finished eating.

7th grade students will eat at 10:50 a.m. each day.

8th Grade students will eat at 11:20 a.m. each day.

High school students will eat at 11:50 a.m. or at 12:20 p.m. depending on their class schedule.

Lunch Pricing: Lunch pricing can be found here https://www.northwestern.k12.oh.us/o/nlsd/page/food-service--223

Drinking Fountains: ONLY water bottle filling stations will be available. Please consider sending your child with a sweat-proof, leak-proof water bottle.

Chromebooks: All students will be assigned a Chromebook to take home and bring back to school every day. Students are reminded to charge their Chromebook every night.

Washington, DC, Trip: The 8th grade trip has been cancelled at this time.

Athletics Plans and Guidelines: Student Athletes need to be registered through FinalForms at https://northwesternspringfield-oh.finalforms.com/

Mask Wearing: Masks are required for students, staff, and visitors in the building. Students who arrive to school without a mask will be provided one. Our staff will show kindness to our students if they are struggling and work with them to be successful - either in the classroom, in the school counselor's office, or with administrators.

Mask Breaks: These will be supervised by classroom teachers throughout each day.

Choir: Details regarding Choir will be released as updates to state regulations are announced.

Performances: We are hopeful we will still be able to have some kind of musical performances, though they might look different than in the past, for example, they could be virtual. More details will be released about performances throughout the year.

Musical: At this point, we are not planning on having a musical this school year. We will share information if this plan changes.

Schedule Change Needs: Students with last names A-K should contact Miss Poynter. Students with last names L-Z should contact Mrs. Fraker.

Picture Day: Picture Day will take place during the school day. Details will be released once dates are set.

Learning At Home Resources

Google Classroom Help Videos - https://sites.google.com/nwlschools.org/virtual/home

Preschool Information

Preschool Enrollment: Families are being contacted to complete enrollment by appointment.

Preschool Screening Plans: We will be screening during the staggered start.

Staggered Start: We will have 1/3 of the kids come on Wednesday 9/2, 9/3, 9/4 and also 9/9, 9/10, 9/11. Teachers will be communicating which days the students will need to come over the next couple of weeks.

Note: There will be no virtual schooling for preschool students

Student Services Information

For all questions pertaining to your child's service needs, please contact Student Service Director, Ryan Leach. leachr@nwlschools.org or (937)964-3241.

Florida Virtual Resources

Visit our website for FV Introduction: https://www.nwlschools.org/o/nlsd/page/florida-virtual

Will my child have technology available to them? Yes, they will have access to a district provided chromebook.

Will there be NW Staff to help with instruction and provide my child support? Yes, those staff members will soon be determined.

We are currently working on getting online class lists uploaded and courses loaded. If your student has opted in to this option, they will be contacted with this information soon.

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