Cedar Cliff Local Schools Superintendent’s Newsletter August 2020 It is the mission of Cedarville Schools to “Provide students with the best well-rounded education that teaches, challenges and develops the mind, body and character and prepares responsible graduates who contribute within society.” Flexibility Will be the Key! It is the beginning of August. School “officially” begins on Wednesday, August 26, but the beginning of this year comes with an unprecedented amount of uncertainty and questions—for all of us! I would have to admit, I did not expect to have this uncertainty entering into the year when school was finalized at the end of the 2019-2020 academic school year. I was hoping there would be more “normalcy” when we returned. Sadly, this is just not going to be the case. Over 25 years of education I have never experienced anything like this pandemic and all that accompanies the response. I do know and believe this, with all my heart, kids need to be in school — and that is not just about academics. There are a myriad of reasons why students need to be with teachers and around their peers. Those reasons have all been well-documented and espoused over the last few weeks/months. However, there are also a myriad of reasons why, for the health and safety of the students and staff, that students should not be in the building for face-to-face instruction and not be returning. It is for this reason school districts across the state have come to many different decisions on what school should “look like” for the 2020-2021 academic year. Some are planning to come back for a regular start with safety measures put into place, others are planning on a hybrid approach where students and building capacities are limited, while others are planning on an all-remote start with students not in the building. Who is correct is largely predicated on your own personal, professional, and political beliefs. (Flexibility…cont.)
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Cedar Cliff Local Schools
Superintendent’s Newsletter
August 2020
It is the mission of Cedarville Schools to “Provide students with the best well-rounded education that teaches, challenges and develops the mind, body and character and prepares responsible graduates who contribute within society.”
Flexibility Will be the Key!
It is the beginning of August. School “officially” begins on Wednesday, August 26, but
the beginning of this year comes with an unprecedented amount of uncertainty and questions—for all
of us!
I would have to admit, I did not expect to have this uncertainty entering into the year when
school was finalized at the end of the 2019-2020 academic school year. I was hoping there would be
more “normalcy” when we returned. Sadly, this is just not going to be the case.
Over 25 years of education I have never experienced anything like this pandemic and all that
accompanies the response. I do know and believe this, with all my heart, kids need to be in school—
and that is not just about academics. There are a myriad of reasons why students need to be with
teachers and around their peers. Those reasons have all been well-documented and espoused over
the last few weeks/months.
However, there are also a myriad of reasons why, for the health and safety of the students and
staff, that students should not be in the building for face-to-face instruction and not be returning. It
is for this reason school districts across the state have come to many different decisions on what
school should “look like” for the 2020-2021 academic year. Some are planning to come back for a
regular start with safety measures put into place, others are planning on a hybrid approach where
students and building capacities are limited, while others are planning on an all-remote start with
students not in the building. Who is correct is largely predicated on your own personal, professional,
and political beliefs.
(Flexibility…cont.)
I get to hear all the opinions as a Superintendent. I always smile when someone says, “It is
simple, you just…” As soon as someone says, “It is simple,” you often lose me. There is nothing
“simple” about these decisions, the issues, or the ripple effects associated with the path we choose
moving forward.
I have even heard folks say, “Just bring all schools back, allow everyone to get sick, get it
over with and allow ‘herd immunity’ to take effect.” I did the math on that one—consider this:
The CDC states that herd immunity is when 80% of the country or state has had the virus.
Let’s suppose we use half of that number—40% before we all have herd immunity—40%. There are
11.9 million people in the State of Ohio, 40% (roughly) comes to 4,640,000 people getting sick or
contracting the virus. Ohio currently, as of the date I write this, has 93,031 confirmed cases. To get
to 40% (and remember, the CDC recommends 80%) the State would need 4,546,969 more cases
before we reach the 40% threshold. That means, Ohio would need 12,457 more confirmed cases
every day for the next 365 days to reach the 40% threshold. Ohio’s current highest daily number—
1,733 (again, as I write this article). Critics of this argue, “But Mr. Mason, those numbers are
garbage!” That may be so, depending on what you believe, but the point is, it is not “simple” when
people say Superintendents should “just do this,” to make decisions.
There is a very good chance, whatever plan schools have—right now, in August—will
change throughout the year. Our teachers and staff will have to be very flexible as we proceed
through this year, as will our parents/community members, Board of Education members,
Administrators, and most importantly, our students. We will have many ups and downs throughout
the year—many. As I reflect, I hope we can send our students the message, Welcome to Life—ups
and downs—accomplishments and disappointments—adjusting and patience. We all need these
skills and sometimes we need reminded of the importance of those skills. Here’s to all of us honing
those skills as we proceed.
Let’s have a great year—no matter what it looks like!
The 2020-2021 school calendar can be found on the front page of the district website under the
“District” tab (see below): Please note, this calendar has been amended due to the current health crisis in
the U.S. and is not the same calendar originally distributed in May, 2020.
Medications
In order to have any kind of medication distributed to your child at school, a Medication
Administration Consent Form must be completed and turned into the office prior to the distribution
of the medication. (This includes over-the-counter medicines, cough drops, antacid tablets, etc.)
Forms are available upon request in the office or from the Nurse, Mrs. Joyce Hull.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
In Case You are in Need or Know of Someone Who is!
Keeping You Informed!
Kindergarten KRA Testing Moved to October for 2020-2021 School Year New Teacher Orientation August 12 All Day—Admin. Offices First Day for Teachers/Staff August 17 Meetings/Room Preparation—All Day Elementary / MS Open House August 19-21 By Appointment—more information will be
forthcoming.
MS Orientation (Students Only) August 24 Middle School Orientation - Students only More information will be forthcoming, as COVID has altered the normal procedure for this event.
Freshmen / New Student Orientation * August 24 Time--TBD
(Students Only) First Day of School (Students) August 26 Welcome Back! * This is for 9th graders and those High School students new to the district.
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FYI--Back to School Tax Holiday!
Ohio's sales tax holiday for back-to-school shopping will take place this weekend. Shoppers can
make purchases without paying state sales tax for:
Clothing items costing $75 or less;
School supplies costing $20 per item or less; and
School instructional materials priced at $20 per item or less.
The holiday opens at 12 a.m. Friday, Aug. 7, and ends at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9.
Refer to this link for further information: Sales Tax
Fall Sports Pictures 4:30pm—HS Golf (A) @ Greeneview High School 5:00pm—HS Volleyball (A) vs. Milton Union High School (Scrimmage)
Wednesday, August 12 Cedarville Elementary Summer Intervention
5:00pm--MS Volleyball (A) vs. East Clinton High School (Scrimmage) 5:00pm—HS Volleyball (H) vs. Legacy Christian High School (Scrimmage)
Thursday, August 13 Cedarville Elementary Summer Intervention
4:30pm—HS Golf (A) vs. Catholic Central High School Friday, August 14 Cedarville Elementary Summer Intervention
Saturday, August 15 10:00am—JV Volleyball (A) Houston High School (Scrimmage) 10:00am-- MS Volleyball (H) vs. Wilmington (Scrimmage) 10:00am—HS Volleyball (A) vs. Lehman Catholic High School (Scrimmage) 1:30pm—HS Golf (A) vs. Tecumseh High School (Arrow Invitational @ Windy Knoll)
Monday, August 17 First Day for Teachers Regular Board Meeting (7:00)
4:30pm—HS Golf (H) vs. Madison Plains High School Thursday, August 20
4:30pm—HS Golf (H) vs. Mechanicsburg High School Monday, August 24
4:30pm—HS Golf (A) vs. Northeastern High School 5:30pm-- JV Volleyball (H) vs. Bradford High School 5:30pm--MS Volleyball (A) vs. Greeneview High School 7:00pm—HS Volleyball (H) vs. Bradford High School
Tuesday, August 25
4:30pm—HS Golf (H) vs. Fairbanks High School 5:30pm-- JV Volleyball (A) vs. Greenon High School 7:00pm—HS Volleyball (A) vs. Greenon High School
Wednesday, August 26 First Day of School
5:30pm--MS Volleyball (A) vs. Southeastern HS Thursday, August 27
5:30pm--JV Volleyball (H) vs. Madison Plains High School 7:00pm—HS Volleyball (H) vs. Madison Plains High School
Friday, August 28
7:00pm—(Tentative) HS Football (A) vs. Tri-Village HS Saturday, August 29
10:00am—HS Cross-Country (A) @ Milton Union High School (Milton Union Invitational) Monday, August 31
4:30pm—HS Golf (H) vs. West Jefferson High School 5:30pm--MS Volleyball (H) vs. Greenon High School
Tuesday, September 1
4:30pm—HS Golf (H) vs. Greenon High School 5:30pm--JV Volleyball (A) vs. Southeastern HS 7:00pm—HS Volleyball (A) vs. Southeastern HS