Returning From Break/Mask Guidance

Greetings everyone.  I am sending all Norup families a message separately from our newsletter regarding returning from February break tomorrow and letting you all know some specifics in regards to the message sent by Superintendent Francis on February 16.  With the Oakland County Health Division lifting the mask mandate and subsequently the Berkley School District following that guidance, I wanted to let you know what we were doing tomorrow morning to let students know what we were doing to inform students in accordance with the school district changes.

Tomorrow morning teachers will be presenting a short slide show which I prepared (one for grades 3-8, one for grades K-2) explaining the following pointers:

• Masking is still recommended, but not required, and that teachers and staff won't be telling students they have to wear a mask any longer.
• Masking is up to each individual student and their choice.  We are stressing to students that if their parents want them to wear a mask, they should listen to their parents and do so.  
• Students are not to pressure others into removing or putting on a mask.  Moving forward, this will be an individual choice unless we receive guidance otherwise.  
• We will continue to provide masks to students who want to wear masks but don't bring their own.
• Misbehaviors such as putting a mask on a peer who doesn't want to wear one, ripping someone's mask off, or intentionally coughing/sneezing on a peer will result in discipline which may include suspension.  We have been pretty good in this realm so far and I would like to keep it that way.
• The lifting of the mandate includes teachers and staff as well.  For me personally, there will be times I wear one and times that I will not be wearing one.  

With 700 students, our teachers and staff will not be enforcing the individual wishes of each family.  If you have not already, I hope you are able to discuss with your child/children what you would like them to do starting tomorrow, perhaps on the way to school tomorrow morning.  

A few other things we will be communicating tomorrow morning:

• The drinking fountain covers are coming off.  The office won't be providing cups anymore.  
• We will continue to have some cafeteria tables with shields on them for students who feel more comfortable with having a shield up.  About 60% of the tables no longer have shields.
• We will continue to have students wipe down desks/tables they utilize at the end of a class period or day.  

Thank you for your time and we look forward to seeing your children back from February break tomorrow.