The volleyball team is raffling a 50” UHD 4K Roku Smart TV HDR.
Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased from any volleyball player. You can also send an email to asaylors@se-tigers.com if you are interested in buying one. The winning ticket will be drawn at school Friday, December 18!
Remember to support the Senior Class tomorrow night at Chipotle from 5 pm to 9 pm!
The SE Baseball team is raffling off a Garmin vivoactive 4 GPS Smartwatch (https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/643382). This wouyld make a great Christmas gift!! If you would like a chance to win, or just support the baseball team, tickets are $10 each or 3 for $25. See a baseball player or contact Mr. Bowerman at rbowerman@se-tigers.com if you are interested.
Dear SE Families and Community,
As you know, we returned from Thanksgiving break under a Hybrid learning model. This was in response to the growing number of COVID-19 cases and quarantines in our area heading into the Thanksgiving holiday. I want to thank the families, students, teachers, and staff for their flexibility this past week. I am happy to share that the number of positive cases and quarantines at Seneca East is much better now than two weeks ago when we announced the switch to Hybrid. At that time we had 71 students under quarantine, 4 positive student cases, and 1 positive staff case of COVID-19. Today we have 10 students and one staff member quarantined due to a positive exposure within their families. We also have 2 students who are members of the same family who are positive. They were exposed by a family member over the holiday and have not been in school to contact any other students or staff members. Today Amy Ferres, our school nurse, and I talked with Beth Schweitzer, the Seneca County Health Commissioner, regarding our case numbers and what they see at the county level from the Seneca East attendance area. Commissioner Schweitzer was comfortable with Seneca East returning to all students in school 5 days a week. We plan to have all students back in school 5 days a week from December 7th until December 18th which is our last day of school before Christmas break. We must follow all of the COVID-19 safety protocols and procedures that we have had in place all year:
Students and staff will be wearing masks.
Social distancing will take place as much as possible.
Students will need to wash and sanitize their hand frequently.
The building and classrooms will continue to be cleaned and sanitized.
It is critically important that students stay home from school when they are not feeling well or when they have symptoms of COVID-19 including a new cough, difficulty breathing, loss of taste/smell, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness, headache, or sore throat. We also require that students stay home from school when any household member is awaiting COVID-19 test results. Furthermore, when a family is waiting for COVID-19 test results, the family should quarantine as if there has been a positive case. Doing this reduces the spread within our community. If you are unsure if you should keep your child at home, PLEASE keep them home and then call the school nurse to discuss your questions.
At this time, we are allowing sports to continue for our student-athletes and their families. Some counties and schools have postponed their sports seasons but we are working hard to keep our seasons going. However, continuing sports means additional restrictions at this time. Attendance is restricted to immediate family and those family members who attend should be seated as a group and separated from other family groups. Furthermore, everyone older than age 5 in attendance MUST wear a face-covering AT ALL TIMES even when seated with family. Anyone unable to wear a face-covering even for a medical reason should not attend the contest. All N10 schools will be requiring anyone not wearing a face covering to leave the contest. If it becomes necessary to halt sports because spectators do not comply with this requirement our student-athletes will be heartbroken. The students wear face coverings all day while at school and now they need the adults to wear face-covering for them. We need your cooperation if our sports have any chance of continuing.
As you know, this year is full of uncertainty and situations can change quickly. If we need to transition back to Hybrid or even go fully Remote, we will continue to update you as we go. Thank you again for your flexibility and support. We will see all students back in school five days a week starting Monday, December 7, 2020.
Go Tigers,
Laura Kagy
Great News from the Senior Class of 2021!
We will be having the Annual Chipotle Fundraiser on Saturday, December 5 from 5-9 pm at the Tiffin location.
Either stop out and be sure to tell the cashier you are supporting the Senior Class of 2021 or, new this year, we CAN order on the app and pickup!
If ordering from the app, just insert the code below in the "promo" field during the hours listed above.
The code is: 3VEL8F6
Share this will all your friends and family!
This evening’s JV/Varsity Boys Basketball game with Plymouth has been cancelled. It has been rescheduled for tomorrow evening.
Support the Senior Class at Chipotle this Saturday, December 5th, between 5pm and 9pm!
Some students have asked about what work is due for hybrid students who were not scheduled to have class today (Dec.1, 2020). In general no one has class today either in person or remote. Students should check their Google Classroom and student email for updates from their teachers if they have questions.
Seneca East will be closed tomorrow, December 1,2020 due to the winter storm. There will NOT be a meal puck up tomorrow.
Elementary Families: If you have not already done so, please take time to complete the Covid-19 Internet Survey located on the district website. This is a District Assessment for family access to reliable broadband internet in their homes. We want to be prepared and ready to help families needing internet access in case our school moves to remote learning at any point in the school year. Contact Brad Powers at 419-426-1854 (office phone) or bpowers@se-tigers.com if you have any questions about the internet survey.
Picture Retakes/PLP Picture Day - Due to the hybrid schedule SE will be following the week of November 30th - December 4th, we have added another picture retake day to accommodate both of our cohorts.
If you are a student in grades 6 - 11 and are in the Monday/Tuesday cohort (who, during the week of Nov. 30, will be actually attending on Tuesday/Wednesday), your retake day is Wednesday, December 2nd. Middle School retakes are from 8:00 - 8:15, and High School retakes are from 8:15 - 8:30.
If you are a student in the Thursday/Friday cohort, your picture retake day will be Thursday, December 3rd following the same times above.
If you are a virtual PLP student, we need your pictures for the yearbook, too. You may come to school between the hours of 8:30 and 9:15 a.m. on EITHER day to have your pictures taken. Please enter the gymnasium lobby doors, wear your mask inside the building, and maintain your six foot spacing from anyone else who may be in line with the photographer at the time.
If you are ordering from LifeTouch online, the code for both sessions will remain the same. Extra order forms that we re-ordered should be in the main office by Tuesday, December 1st. That website for ordering is mylifetouch.com, and the online order code is EVTZ6FRT7.
Lifetouch Picture Retake Days for Grades K-5 will be Wednesday, December 2 and Thursday, December 3. K-2 pictures will be scheduled for 9:25 - 9:40 AM and 3-5 pictures will be scheduled for 9:40 - 9:55 AM. Note: Elementary PLP students may come in for pictures on either of the days from 9:55 - 10:45 AM. Picture forms are available to be picked up on the office entrance table.
Students in Grades 3-6 will bring home chromebooks on Friday, November 20. Students have been given padded envelopes for the chromebooks and chargers, but they may use computer cases from home if you have them available. Reminder: Seneca East students in Grades 3-12 will return to school after Thanksgiving break on our hybrid plan. Please make sure your children have their chromebooks charged and ready to go on the days they attend classes. Contact Brad Powers if you have any questions about computers or the hybrid plan for the week of November 30 - December 4. Office phone number: 419-426-1854. Email: bpowers@se-tigers.com.
November 19, 2020
SE Families and Community,
We received word late this afternoon that a student at Seneca East Elementary has tested positive for COVID-19. Upon learning of this positive case, we have conducted contact tracing and reached out to the individuals who had close contact with the positive student. Additionally, we have contacted the Seneca County Health Department and shared the contact information for the families involved. If the school has not contacted you, you are not directly involved with this exposure. The families of the students who are required to quarantine have all been contacted.
As we head into the Thanksgiving holiday, please take precautionary measures to lower the spread of COVID-19 in our community. We are already planning to return to school on December 1, 2020; under the Hybrid plan, our ability to safely return to school after the holiday and the continuation of the winter sports season is totally dependent upon the rate of infection in our community. This notification should serve as a reminder to all of us that COVID-19 is present in our community.
Thank you for your continued support during this very challenging time!
Laura A. Kagy Ed.D.
Superintendent
Seneca East Local Schools
Seneca East Lady Tiger Basketball is offering shooting clinics for girls in grades 3 through 6 starting December 5th. Applications will be coming home today or tomorrow with your daughter. Applications can also be found on the website under "Newsfeed" and "See All Posts."
Seneca East 50th Anniversary t-shirts will be for sale at the girls basketball game on Friday, November 20. The shirts are $15. You can also contact asaylors@se-tigers.com if you are interested in buying a shirt.
If you have a girl in 3rd-6th grade interested in the Basketball Shooting Winter Camp, please register using this form: https://5il.co/n7bf
The PTO will be taking gift card orders through December 9th! The gift cards will be sent home the week of December 14th. Click here to print an order form: https://5il.co/n6h3
As you know the COVID-19 cases in our area continue to increase. So far we have had 2 positive cases in our student body. If you have questions about COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19 please contact Amy Ferres, school nurse, at aferres@se-tigers.com We will continue to be in school 5 days a week for all students for the remainder of this week, from today until Friday, November 20, 2020. Next week school is closed for Thanksgiving Break. We changed this to a full week off prior to the start of the school year to allow for additional teacher training this summer.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 cases in our area continue to trend upward and the Seneca County Health Department has advised schools in the area to consider making changes after the Thanksgiving break to assist in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Here is the plan for Seneca East when we return from Thanksgiving Break.
Monday, November 30th is also a day off for all students. This is a scheduled training day for teachers. Starting on Tuesday, December 1, 2020, we will return to school under a Hybrid Plan. The Hybrid Cohort student list is available here or on the district website for your review under Menu/Reopening. Families were placed in the same cohort. We also placed students to accommodate the Sentinel schedule and special services such as physical therapy sessions. Our Hybrid Cohorts identify which students will come to school in the Monday/Tuesday group or the Thursday/Friday group for students in grades 3-12. Students in grades K-2 come to school Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Because Monday, November 30th is not a school day for students we are modifying the cohorts for the week after Thanksgiving as follows: Students in grades K-2 will come to school Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday; December 1-4. Students who are listed in the Monday/Tuesday cohort will come to school on Tuesday and Wednesday; December 1-2.Students who are listed in the Thursday/Friday cohort will come to school on Thursday and Friday; December 3-4.
My hope is to return to school in-person five days a week the week of December 7, 2020; however, this will be determined by what is happening with COVID-19 in our area. You can help us return to five days a week by doing your part to stop the spread. Please!!! Help us stay in school by following the state's safety guidelines. We will reevaluate what is happening with COVID-19 once we return to school and make decisions about what the rest of December will look like at that time.
Decisions about winter sports seasons have not been finalized. We anticipate information from the Ohio High School Athletic Association later this week.
We know that some families struggled with internet connectivity issues last spring when school was shut down, and we want to help families who need assistance again this year. You will be getting information from the building principals about an internet survey. We will work to help families who need assistance, but we will need everyone to complete and returned the requested survey. Please keep an eye out for information from Mr. Powers and Mr. Vogt.
While Seneca East is on a hybrid schedule, meals will be available to students that are learning from home. Students will receive 2 days of free meals (2 breakfasts and 2 lunches) from December 1-December 4, 2020. (While students are at school, free meals will be provided like normal.)
Students home on Tuesday and Wednesday - May participate in the Meal Pick-up Program as follows: Meal pick-up will be on Tuesday at 1:30pm. Please pull-up to the doors by the office. A staff member will deliver the meals to your car after student information is given.
Students home on Thursday and Friday - May participate in the Meal Pick-up Program as follows: Meals will be given to students at the end of the day on Wednesday. Students must be picked up by a parent/guardian that day. They are not able to take the food home on the bus.
If you would like to order meals for your student and are able to pick them up, please fill out this meal request form here or on the district website by Friday, November 20 at 9am.
For any questions or concerns regarding food service, please email Brenda Ruffing, Food Service Supervisor, at bruffing@se-tigers.com.
I know this is challenging for families. Please contact me with questions at lkagy@se-tigers.com.Thank you for your continued support as we make the best of this difficult time.
Laura Kagy
To the Seneca East Community:
This afternoon we learned of a high school student who has tested positive for COVID-19.
The welfare and safety of our community during this time is Seneca East’s primary concern . We are working directly with the Seneca County Health Department to identify and inform all students who are considered close contact. A close contact is any person within 6 feet of the infected person for 15 minutes prior to 48 hours of a positive test for asymptomatic cases or within 48 hours from the onset of symptoms for a person who displayed symptoms. Close contacts of the infected student will be required to quarantine. Seneca East will provide the Seneca County Health Department with the email addresses for all student families identified as close contact. Families will receive information regarding the details and duration of the quarantine from Seneca East Local Schools and the Seneca County Health Department.
We understand that this is a challenging situation at several levels. We ask that you respect the privacy of this individual. We will continue to take steps to help protect our community's health and safety, including assisting with contact tracing, deep sanitation of the building and facilities, and a commitment to established safety routines.
We would also like to take this opportunity to remind our community of some important safety practices regarding COVID-19.
Engage in social distancing.
Do not go to school if you are sick.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, then use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Monitor for symptoms of COVID-19
Those who develop a cough, fever, or have difficulty breathing should call their primary care provider. The CDC website (www.cdc.gov/COVID19) contains all current recommendations for this evolving situation.
Seneca East will remain open at this time. We will keep you informed about any changes needed to help prevent the spread of the virus. This is not a time to panic. However, it is a time to be attentive, flexible, and serious regarding the steps we need to take as a community to care for ourselves and one another. Please be attentive to communications from Seneca East addressing COVID-19. Check the district website at www.se-tigers.com for developing information.
If you have any questions, contact Amy Ferres, district nurse, at aferres@se-tigers.com, Mrs. Ferres works with families to make determinations about testing, who should stay home from school based on symptoms, etc. Please do not hesitate to contact her for assistance. Questions may also be directed to Laura Kagy, superintendent at lkagy@se-tigers.com or the Seneca County Health Department at 419-447-3691. Additionally, please contact Ammy Ferres at aferres@se-tigers.com with any concerns about symptoms or if you need assistance making determinations about COVID testing or reporting to school.
Thank you for helping keep people safe and slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community and school.
Laura Kagy, Ed.D
Superintendent