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Fort Osage Plans and Information For COVID-19
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May 14, 2021
This afternoon, the Jackson County Health Department announced that public health orders mandating mask-wearing in our county have expired.
Fort Osage has been following the Jackson County Health Department guidelines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In compliance with the expired health orders, masks will no longer be required for students or staff in the Fort Osage School District, regardless of vaccination status. While masks are no longer required, the Jackson County Health Department strongly recommends that all individuals who are not fully vaccinated continue to wear masks.
While cases are currently low in the Fort Osage School District, the District will continue to monitor cases and re-evaluate our safety plans if necessary. The updated guidelines do not impact quarantine procedures in Jackson County or for Fort Osage students and staff.
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Email to Parents May 4
May 4, 2021Per the newly released Jackson County Health Department COVID-19 guidelines, the Fort Osage safety protocols have been updated. The following guidelines are currently in place at Fort Osage:
- Masks are not required outdoors
- Masks are still required indoors
- While social distancing is no longer required by the health department, quarantining due to close contact is still in effect.
- Fort Osage will continue to maintain social distancing, when possible, in order to limit the number of people required to quarantine.
The updated guidelines do not impact quarantine procedures in Jackson County or for Fort Osage students and staff. The Quarantine Guidelines are listed below:
Students (Grades K-12)
Students will quarantine if they were 3 feet or closer for 15 or more minutes. When participating in physical activity (like PE or recess), during lunch, and during times when mask wearing cannot be maintained, 6 feet or closer for 15 or more minutes will be used to determine student quarantine.
Adults
Adults will continue to quarantine if they were 6 feet or closer for 15 or more minutes. Vaccinated persons with an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they meet all of the following criteria:
- Are fully vaccinated (i.e., ≥2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series, or ≥2 weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine)
- Are within 3 months following receipt of the last dose in the series
- Have remained asymptomatic since the current COVID-19 exposure
Persons who do not meet all 3 of the above criteria should continue to follow current quarantine guidance after exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
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Email to Parents April 16
April 16, 2021
Dear Fort Osage Parents:
In order to align with the CDC and Jackson County Health Department’s recent guidance,the Fort Osage School District is updating it’s COVID-19 safety protocols regarding student quarantines.
Elementary Students (Grades K-6)
In classrooms, students will quarantine if they were 3 feet or closer for 15 or more minutes. 6 feet of distance will still have to be maintained during physical activity (like PE or recess), during lunch, and during times when mask wearing cannot be maintained.
Middle School and High School Students (Grades 7-12)
In classrooms, students will quarantine if they were 3 feet or closer for 15 or more minutes. 6 feet of distance will still have to be maintained during physical activity, during lunch, and during times when mask wearing cannot be maintained.
Adults will continue to quarantine if they were 6 feet or closer for 15 or more minutes.
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Email to High School Families February 25
February 25, 2021
Dear Fort Osage High School Families:
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your understanding, patience and support of the Fort Osage School District and our staff with the ever-changing educational landscape due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the past month the transition of our 5th-8th grade hybrid students back to in-person four days per week has gone well. We have continued to monitor our active cases, quarantines and substitute fill rates and are prepared to welcome back our high school hybrid students to in-person learning four days per week.
All 9th through 12th grade hybrid students will begin four days per week in-person starting Monday, March 8th. This means all Fort Osage High School in-person students will attend classes in school Monday through Thursday. Fridays will remain a virtual learning day for all 9-12th grade students which will allow for small group instruction and additional student support. For families who selected all virtual learning for the second semester nothing will change.
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Email to All Virtual Learning Families March 1
Dear Virtual Families:
I wanted to share with you that the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) is moving forward with plans for spring testing.
This includes Grade-Level MAP testing for students in grades 3-8 and
End-of-Course (EOC) assessments for high school students as well as eighth graders enrolled in Algebra l.
DESE is requiring virtual students to report to school to complete these assessments. The schools are working on testing schedules at this time. When these schedules have been finalized, you will be contacted by your child's school to let you know the date, time, and location for testing.
If you have immediate questions, please contact the testing coordinator for your child's school.
Blue Hills
Natalie Myles (816) 650-7442
Buckner
Ashley Springer (816) 650-7339
Cler-Mont
Cynthia Sellars (816) 650-7353
Elm Grove
Karol Kleine (816) 650-7403
Fire Prairie
Chantay Van Winkle (816) 650-7162 (Grade 5)
Fire Prairie
Marandi Diehl (816) 650-7161 (Grade 6)
High School
Katie Parris (816) 650-7036
Indian Trails
Cassaday Hood (816) 650-7649
Osage Trails
Valerie Seedorff (816) 650-7313 (Grade 7)
Osage Trails
Becky McIntyre (816) 650-7132 (Grade 8)
We hope you find this information helpful as you plan for the upcoming months.
When these schedules have been finalized, you will be contacted by your child's school to let you know the date, time, and location for testing.
If you have immediate questions, please contact the testing coordinator for your child's school.
Blue Hills
Natalie Myles (816) 650-7442
Buckner
Ashley Springer (816) 650-7339
Cler-Mont
Cynthia Sellars (816) 650-7353
Elm Grove
Karol Kleine (816) 650-7403
Fire Prairie
Chantay Van Winkle (816) 650-7162 (Grade 5)
Fire Prairie
Marandi Diehl (816) 650-7161 (Grade 6)
High School
Katie Parris (816) 650-7036
Indian Trails
Cassaday Hood (816) 650-7649
Osage Trails
Valerie Seedorff (816) 650-7313 (Grade 7)
Osage Trails
Becky McIntyre (816) 650-7132 (Grade 8)
We hope you find this information helpful as you plan for the upcoming months.
Sincerely,
Deann Clawson
Director of Curriculum and Assessment
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Message to Families February 5
February 5, 2021
Dear Fort Osage families:
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your understanding and patience and support with the Fort Osage School District and our staff with the ever-changing educational landscape due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As you may recall, parents were given an opportunity to select between in-person and virtual learning for second semester back in October. As we communicated to families then, we have continued to assess the active COVID-19 cases, quarantines and substitute fill rates to determine when to begin transitioning our hybrid students to in-person four days per week.
All 7th and 8th grade hybrid students will begin four days per week in-person starting Tuesday, February 16th. This means all Osage Trail in-person students will attend classes in school Monday through Thursday. Fridays will remain a virtual learning day for all 7th and 8th grade students which will allow for small group instruction and additional student support. For families who selected all virtual learning for the second semester nothing will change.
We will continue to monitor our active cases, number of quarantines, and substitute teacher fill rate to determine when 9th-12th grade hybrid students may transition to four days per week in-person. This transition would take place no sooner than early March.
We will communicate 9th-12th grade transitions with families as soon as decisions are made. It is our goal to provide as much notice as possible so families can plan accordingly. -
Message to Families January 21
January 20, 2021
Dear Fort Osage families:
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your understanding and patience and support with the Fort Osage School District and our staff with the ever-changing educational landscape due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As you may recall, parents were given an opportunity to select between in-person and virtual learning for second semester back in October. As we communicated to families then, we have continued to assess the active COVID-19 cases, quarantines and substitute fill rates to determine when to begin transitioning our 5th-12th grade hybrid students to in-person four days per week.
All 5th and 6th grade hybrid students will begin four days per week in-person starting February 1st. This means all Fire Prairie in-person students will attend classes in school Monday through Thursday. Fridays will remain a virtual learning day for all 5th and 6th grade students which will allow for small group instruction and additional student support. For families who selected all virtual learning for the second semester nothing will change.
We will continue to monitor our active cases, number of quarantines, and substitute teacher fill rate to determine when 7th-12th grade hybrid students may transition to four days per week in-person. After Fire Prairie, the next group of students to transition back in-person four days per week would be our 7th and 8th grade hybrid students at Osage Trail Middle School. This transition would take place no sooner than mid-February.
The last group of students to transition back in-person four days per week would be our 9th-12th grade hybrid students at Fort Osage High School. This transition would take place after Osage Trail and no sooner than early March.
Your child’s bus route, pick up and drop off time will likely not be affected when transitions occur. If there is a change for your child’s route, you will be contacted directly by transportation. We will not be able to guarantee social distancing on the buses, but we will take as many precautions as possible. While on buses, drivers and students will be required to wear masks. We will disinfect all surfaces on the buses at the end of each route. Students will have assigned seats. When possible, siblings will be seated together on the bus.
We will communicate 7th-12th grade transitions with families as soon as decisions are made. It is our goal to provide as much notice as possible so families can plan accordingly.
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Email to parents December 17
December 17, 2020Dear Fort Osage Families:
We wanted to provide you with information regarding the start of second semester as well procedures for documenting COVID-19 over winter break.
School Calendar Reminder
As a reminder, the last day of school for the first semester is Friday, December 18 (it will be a full day of class). Classes will resume on Wednesday, January 6th.
2nd Semester Learning
As previously communicated, we are planning to begin the second semester in the same learning format we are ending the first semester.
- Woodland Early Childhood students attending in-person four days per week
- Kindergarten through 4th grade in-person students five days per week
- 5th through 12th grade in-person students with a hybrid schedule.
- Career and Technology Center students in-person five days per week with the exception of the FFA and Marketing programs that follow the high school schedule.
- Lewis and Clark Academy students in-person five days per week
- Families who selected virtual learning, virtual five days per week
Once we return to school second semester, we will monitor our active cases, quarantine rate, and sub fill rate to make a decision, when it's possible to begin transitioning our hybrid students back additional days. The transition will be no sooner than mid-January beginning with our 5th and 6th grade students.
The next grade levels to transition back will be the 7th and 8th grade students followed by the high school students. There will be a minimum of two weeks between transition periods. When 5th-12th grade students return from hybrid learning they will attend four days per week. In order to provide additional support for students we will maintain virtual learning on Fridays. We will give as much advance notice as possible regarding upcoming transitions.
COVID-19 Cases Over Winter Break
Over winter break, if your child tests positive or comes in direct contact with someone who tests positive, we ask that you complete our COVID-19 contact form at this link: https://forms.gle/LemEtH47k8rtfBB39. School phone messages will not be checked until January 4th.
We will continue to contact trace and personally notify by phone all close contacts to positive cases who need to quarantine during the winter break. However, we will not send schoolwide emails regarding positive cases during break. We will return to our normal practice on January 6th when school resumes.
COVID-19 testing by the District will take place through December 18th and then resume January 6th.
We want everyone to enjoy a relaxing and healthy break and strongly encourage everyone to follow the health and safety guidelines including wearing masks, washing hands, maintaining social distancing, and staying home when sick.
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Email to Parents November 24th
November 24, 2020Fort Osage Families,
We are aware of various area school districts who are electing to go all virtual with additional groups of students. Fort Osage does not plan to go to an all virtual model at this time. We continue to monitor the situation very closely and ask parents to make plans for their family should Fort Osage need to make a change to all virtual learning. This could be a specific school or the District as a whole.
Even though we have seen an increase in our positive COVID-19 cases and quarantines, our current data doesn’t indicate a need to change our in-person learning platform at this time. A decision to transition to all virtual learning is based on the number of active cases in schools, number of student and staff quarantines and substitute teacher fill rates. We have continued to have conversations with health officials and evaluate things on a daily basis in order to make changes if needed.
Additionally, pending board approval, we are making a change to the 2020-2021 calendar. The last day of in-person and virtual classes for first semester will now be Friday, December 18th (a full day of school). December 21 and 22 will now be no school days. We want to avoid calling staff and families as much as possible during winter break to inform them of direct exposure and quarantine timelines. The last day of school will still be May 26th.
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Email to Parents November 11
Dear Parents/Guardians:
We want to thank you for your continued support.
As we promised families in August, we offered the selection between virtual and in-person learning for the second semester. As a result, 77% of our students will be learning in-person and 23% will be learning virtually.
We are aware of our current reality regarding a recent uptick in active COVID-19 cases and quarantines across the metro. Our goal, as always, is to maintain safety protocols while engaging and supporting our students in their learning. Decisions regarding schedules, teaching assignments, transportation, food service, and childcare must be made prior to the second semester in order to plan effectively. With long range planning in place, it allows for the option to bring back hybrid students additional days when possible.
The following is the District’s plan to increase the number of in-person learning days for our hybrid students during the second semester. The plan is subject to change based on various factors including the active cases and quarantines in our schools and our ability to fill substitute teaching positions.
- Woodland Early Childhood students will be attending in-person four days per week as they have been first semester.
- Our Kindergarten through 4th grade in-person students will remain in school five days per week as they have been first semester.
- Our 5th through 12th grade in-person students will begin second semester in the hybrid schedule.
- We will begin implementing a phase in process to bring in-person students back additional days as early as mid-January. The first grade levels to transition back will be 5th and 6th grade students.
- The next grade levels to transition back will be the 7th and 8th grade students followed by the high school students.
- There will be a minimum of two weeks between transition periods.
- When 5th-12th grade students return from hybrid learning they will attend four days per week. In order to provide additional support for students we will maintain virtual learning on Fridays.
- Career and Technology Center students will be attending in-person five days per week with the exception of the FFA and Marketing programs that follow the high school schedule.
- Lewis and Clark Academy students will be attending in-person five days per week as they have been first semester.
- All families who selected virtual learning for their child will have virtual learning five days per week.
With the changes being made we know that some families will be impacted. More information will be coming out prior to the winter break. This information will include:
- Your child’s teacher or class schedule if you selected a change in your child’s learning platform.
- Your child’s second semester class schedule for our Osage Trail and High School students.
- Some K-6 students will have a different teacher for the second semester. Those students are limited and will be contacted by their school prior to December 22.
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Email to Prek-4 Grade In-Person Families August 27
Dear parents:
We are excited for the first day of school on September 8th. We know that we have shared a lot of information recently both from the district and from your school. We appreciate the time you are taking to read through the information to help us get students ready to go. Below are a few important details regarding the 2020-2021 school year and an online document that we need for all parents to sign.
Virtual Learning FERPA Parental Consent Form
As we novitiate through the ever changing COVID-19 pandemic, we are preparing for the possibility that any or all students may need to learn virtually at some point in the school year. All Pre-k through 12th grade parents are being asked to review and sign our Virtual Learning FERPA Parental Consent form. This form will need to be completed by September 7th. A parent only needs to complete one form for all their students. You can find the form online at https://permission.click/B3a70/us.Early Out Fridays
The past few years Fort Osage has done early out Thursdays for staff professional development and collaboration. With our 5-12th grade students in a hybrid model of in-person learning, we are changing the early out Thursdays to be early out Fridays for the 2020-2021 school year. This means that your students will be dismissed from school early each Friday. For our Buckner, Cler-Mont and Indian Trails families your students will be dismissed at 3:05 p.m. on Friday afternoons. For our Blue Hills and Elm Grove families your students will be dismissed at 3:35 p.m. on Friday afternoons.Meet the Teacher Nights
Our schools have been reaching out to families to schedule a time to come to school in order to meet your classroom teacher and drop off school supplies the week of August 31-September 4. If you have not heard from your school, please reach out to them.Woodland Early Childhood Center 816-650-7480
Blue Hills Elementary 816-650-7440
Buckner Elementary 816-650-7300
Cler-Mont Elementary 816-650-7350
Elm Grove Elementary 816-650-7400
Indian Trails Elementary 816-650-7645 -
Email to Virtual Learning Families August 27
Dear parents:
We are excited to have your child learning with us virtually this first semester. Our teachers and staff have been working hard over the last two weeks to get everything ready for online learning. Below is important information to help you and your child be ready for the first day of school on September 8th.
Virtual Learning FERPA Parental Consent Form
All Pre-k through 12th grade parents are being asked to review and sign our Virtual Learning FERPA Parental Consent form. This form will need to be completed by September 7th. A parent only needs to complete one form for all their students. You can find the form online at https://permission.click/B3a70/us.Early Out or Late Start Fridays
Fort Osage has had early out Thursdays for staff professional development and collaboration for the past several years. With the move to the hybrid schedule to start the school year, the early out Thursdays have changed. Students in 5-12th grade will have late start Fridays for the 2020-2021 school year. Students in K-4th grade will have early out Fridays for the 2020-2021 school year. For our virtual families, this means that teachers will not be holding classes or be available for students during these times each week.For our Buckner, Cler-Mont and Indian Trails Families: Teachers will be engaged in professional development and collaboration starting at 3:05 p.m. each Friday.
For our Blue Hills and Elm Grove families: Teachers will be engaged in professional development and collaboration starting at 3:35 p.m. each Friday.
For our 5-6th Grade Families: Teachers will be engaged in professional development and collaboration from 7:45-8:30 a.m. each Friday.
For our 7-8th Grade Families: Teachers will be engaged in professional development and collaboration from 12:00-1:00 p.m. each Friday.
For our 9-12th Grade Families: Teachers will be engaged in professional development and collaboration from 7:05-7:45 a.m. each Friday.
Classroom Teachers for K-6th Grade
Teachers have started calling families. If you have not heard from your child’s teacher, you should by Monday. If you have not heard from your child’s teacher by Tuesday, September 1, please contact your school directly. Remember if you have not completed your online registration and residency requirements, you will need to complete that process before you child is assigned a teacher.Chromebook Pick-Up Reminder
All families who will be learning with us virtually for the first semester have been contacted with information on when to come and check out their child’s chromebook. As a reminder for families, that information is posted on our Road-map to Reopening website at https://www.fortosage.net/Page/603. Students will need their chromebook for the first day of school on Tuesday, September 8th.Virtual Learning Family Information Website
We have created a special website just for our virtual learning families that we information to help you navigate this new learning style. Information that can be found on the site includes:- Sample schedules by grade level
- Technology resources including information for parents on google classroom and SeeSaw
- How to access the school library
- Technology Support
- Student expectations
Information will continue to be added for parents. You can access the Fort Osage Virtual Learning Family Information website at: https://sites.google.com/fortosage.net/fosdvirtualfamily/home?authuser=0
Student Schedules for 9-12 Grade
On Friday, August 28th student schedules and teacher assignments will be coming out. Please look for an email tomorrow on how to access your student’s schedule or teacher assignment.Student Schedules for 7-8 Grade
On Friday, August 28th student schedules and teacher assignments will be coming out. Please look for an email tomorrow on how to access your student’s schedule or teacher assignment.If you have any questions, please contact your school directly at:
Blue Hills Elementary (K-4) 816-650-7440
Buckner Elementary (K-4) 816-650-7300
Cler-Mont Elementary (K-4) 816-650-7350
Elm Grove Elementary (K-4) 816-650-7400
Indian Trails Elementary (K-4) 816-650-7645
Fire Prairie Upper Elementary (5-6th Grade) 816-650-7158
Osage Trail Middle School (7-8th Grade) 816-650-7151
Fort Osage High School (9-12th Grade) 816-650-7030 -
Email to In-Person 5-12 Grade Families August 27
Dear Parents:
Thank you for your patience as we have worked through switching our in-person learning for our 5-12th grade students to a hybrid model. We have some important information below for you regarding the start of school.
In-Person Learning Day Assignment
Specific emails were sent to let you know the days your students will be learning at school.
Student Schedules
On Friday, August 28th student schedules and teacher assignments will be coming out. Please look for an email tomorrow on how to access your student’s schedule or teacher assignment.Virtual Learning FERPA Parental Consent Form
All Pre-k through 12th grade parents are being asked to review and sign our Virtual Learning FERPA Parental Consent form. This form will need to be completed by September 7th. A parent only needs to complete one form for all their students. You can find the form online at https://permission.click/B3a70/us.Early Out/Late Start Fridays
Fort Osage has had early out Thursdays for staff professional development and collaboration for the past several years. With the move to the hybrid schedule to start the school year, the early out Thursdays have changed. Students in 5-12th grade will have late start Fridays for the 2020-2021 school year. Students in K-4th grade will have early out Fridays for the 2020-2021 school year. Additional details on Fridays for our in-person 5-12th grade students is detailed below.Friday Learning Expectations for 5-6 Grade Students
Teachers will be providing ongoing instruction on Fridays for our 5-6th grade students while they are learning at home. Teachers will be engaged in professional development and collaboration from 7:45-8:30 a.m. each Friday. After 8:30 a.m. Teachers will be scheduling individual conferences and small group instruction for students. They will also be available for questions and support as needed by students. More detailed information on what learning from home days will look like, and more scheduled specific information, will be coming from your child’s teacher in the next week.Friday Learning Expectations for 7-8 Grade Students
Our 7th and 8th grade students will follow a virtual schedule on Fridays from 7:30-11:30 a.m. They will then have a break from 12:00-1:00 p.m. while teachers are engaged in professional development and collaboration. From 1:00-2:50 p.m. teachers will provide pre-arranged intervention with students or connect with students who have not been logging in for that week. More specific details on what Tuesdays and Thursdays learning from home will look like will be coming from the school in the next week. A complete bell schedule for students can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/OTMSHybridScheduleFriday Learning Expectations for 9-12 Grade Students
For our 9-12th grade students there will be ongoing instruction provided on Fridays. The teachers will be involved in professional development and collaboration from 7:05-7:45 a.m. Students will be expected to follow a virtual schedule from 7:50 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. There will be a break from 11:20-11:40 a.m. You can view their weekly schedule at: https://tinyurl.com/HSHybridScheduleIf you have any questions, please contact your school directly at:
Fire Prairie Upper Elementary (5-6th Grade) 816-650-7158
Osage Trail Middle School (7-8th Grade) 816-650-7151
Fort Osage High School (9-12th Grade) 816-650-7030 -
Email to Parents August 19
Dear parents:
We wanted to provide you with an update for back to school planning. We are excited to welcome students back, either in-person or virtually, for the first day of school on Tuesday, September 8. We have been busy completing class schedules and preparing all staff for a successful start to the school year. Below you will find information regarding the start of the school year.
Chromebook Pick Up
Whether in-person or virtual, parents will need to sign the AUP agreement prior to students being able to access any digital resources, including SeeSaw and Google classroom. The $25 chromebook insurance fee will need to be paid for students in 2nd-12th grades prior to being issued a device. You can complete both the AUP and the Chromebook insurance on our website at https://www.fortosage.net/Domain/73. Schools are finalizing schedules for pick-ups and will be getting more information out to families this week. You can find the chromebook pick up schedule at https://www.fortosage.net/Page/603.
Wellness Checks for In-Person Students
Students and staff should perform daily temperature and symptom checks each morning AT HOME. Anyone with a fever greater than 100.4 should stay home. Any student or staff experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms prior to loading the bus or reporting to work or school should stay home.
COVID-19 SYMPTOMS:
Students will be sent home with 1 severe symptoms OR 2 or more mild/moderate symptoms.
- Severe:
- Fever
- New Cough
- Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
- Loss of taste or smell
- Mild and moderate symptoms
- Headache
- Body ache
- Chills
- Sore throat
- Nasal congestion/runny nose
- Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea
- Fatigue
Students experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should notify the building nurse. Upon arrival to class and again midday, staff will check students for visual signs or symptoms of illness.
Schedule pick up for 7-12th graders
For both virtual and in person learners, grades 7-12 are working on a virtual schedule pick up for families. For students in grades 10-12, the high school is still working on plans for student parking. Information from both schools will be shared the week of August 24th.
Meet the teacher Prek-4th grade in-person
For students who are doing in-person learning, teachers and schools will be in contact between August 20th and August 28th to share teacher assignments. Meet the Teacher opportunities will be scheduled for families between August 31st and September 4th for you to set an appointment to come up to the buildings to meet the classroom teacher and drop off supplies.
Meet the teacher K-6th grade virtual
For students who are doing virtual learning, teachers and schools will be in contact between August 20th and August 28th to share teacher assignments. Meet the Teacher opportunities will be scheduled for families between August 31st and September 4th.
Meet the teacher 5-6th grade in-person
For both virtual and in person learners, we are working on a virtual meet your teacher opportunity. Information from the school will be shared in the next week.
Hybrid Schedule for grades 5-12
Schedules are being finalized for dividing students to Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday in-person classes. The district will share schedule assignments with families the week of August 24th.
5th, 7th and 9th grade Orientations
Fire Prairie, Osage Trail and the High School are working on plans for the incoming 5th, 7th and 9th grade orientations. 9th grade orientation will be held virtually. The 5th and 7th grade orientations will be held in person in two sessions. Information will be coming from the schools in the next week.
Transportation
Please consider taking your child to school instead of sending them on the bus if you are able. We will not be able to provide social distancing on the buses, but we will take as many precautions as possible.
- Students will be required to wear masks.
- Drivers will wear masks when students are on the bus.
- Students will have assigned seats.
- When possible, siblings will be seated together on the bus.
- We will disinfect all surfaces on the buses at the end of each route.
Bus drivers have been contacting families who have indicated their plan to ride the bus. We will then be routing students and will share out bus stops with families in late August/early September.
We will be posting information, as it is available from the school, on our website for our Roadmap to reopening at https://www.fortosage.net/Domain/216. This site will have information once it is shared by the schools.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to prepare for the first day of school. If you have questions, please feel free to contact your school directly.
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Email to Parents August 4
Dear parents-
We have an important update to share with you about the start of our school year.
Per our email last week, Fort Osage will begin school on Tuesday, September 8 pending Board approval. We are working diligently to schedule students in-person or virtual based on the parent’s selection for the fall semester.
Families who selected virtual learning will have virtual learning 5 days per week.
For in-person learning the District wants to implement the model that brings the greatest amount of direct teacher to student contact while maximizing space. Based on the current classroom numbers for each grade level the District is implementing the following plan for in-person learning:
- PreK students will be in school 4 days a week per their regular schedule.
- Students K-4th grade will be in school 5 days per week.
- We are implementing a hybrid model for students grades 5-12. With our current in- person selections by parents a reduction in classroom rosters was needed. In this model, Fire Prairie Upper Elementary, Osage Trail Middle School, and Fort Osage High School students will attend school in-person 2 days per week and learn virtually from home 3 days per week. Students will be in person on Mondays and Wednesday or on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students will be engaged in their learning virtually from home the other three days each week. Our intention is to keep household families on the same schedule. A list of frequently asked questions can be found at https://tinyurl.com/FortHybridFAQ.
- Students at the Career and Technology Center will attend programs in-person 5 days per week (with the exception of marketing and agriculture which will follow the hybrid model).
- Students at Lewis and Clark Academy will attend in-person 5 days per week.
With the new information that we’ve provided today, we will consider change requests to your originally selected fall learning option (in-person or virtual) based on availability. Changes from virtual to in-person will be limited due to our commitment to maximize space. There is no guarantee that filling out the form will change your original selection. Please fill out the form at https://forms.gle/YxoUJBmKkRT6Bs8U7 only if you are interested in our consideration for changing the platform you originally selected for the fall by Friday, August 7 at 5:00 p.m.
We know our teachers are eager to engage with all students again and look forward to welcoming them on September 8. More specific information regarding class schedules, teacher assignments, technology check out, back to school nights, etc. will be shared in the coming weeks once they are solidified.
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Email to Parents July 31
First, we want to thank you for your continued support of the Fort Osage School District. Our in-person summer school program went very well and we were encouraged by the learning that we saw occurring in the classrooms. Students and teachers did a great job following safety procedures while being actively engaged. It was incredible to see students once again connecting with teachers.
COVID-19 has provided a great deal of challenge, stress, and uncertainty for our schools. As we look forward to our students’ return, we know this year will look different than any we have experienced before. Our goal continues to be providing you with updated information on a regular basis.
The Jackson County Health Department recommends that the start of school be moved to Tuesday, September 8 due to the increased spread of COVID-19. Our focus during the pandemic continues to be on safety and meeting students' needs. Fort Osage has made the decision to begin the school year on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, pending board approval.
We are continually monitoring data and recommendations from the Jackson County Health Department to help guide our decisions. Our goal on September 8 is to start school with the selections made by parents for first semester, either in-person or virtual.
For those students who selected in-person learning the District is prepared to move to a hybrid model (only coming to school in person two days a week) or a distance learning model (learning virtually at home) if necessary. We are asking parents who selected in person learning to be prepared for their children to move to a hybrid or distance learning model at any time during the year.
We know you may have additional questions during this time. In the coming weeks we will be sending more specific information to families regarding the start of the school year.
We are confident our team will be successful in meeting our students’ needs. Things are changing rapidly and we will continue to answer your questions as soon as decisions are made.
