Good afternoon Manatee Families and staff.  This is Stephanie Whitaker, principal with a few messages to welcome you to 2021 at McMullen Booth. I hope you had a fun, happy and healthy winter break and I look forward to welcoming you back to school tomorrow, January 4, 2021!  

Please remember that students who attend face to face schooling should remember to wear their face masks to school tomorrow.  Please do not drop your child off before 8:15.  We cannot have students gathering in groups as they wait for the gates to open.  In order for us to maintain the health of our students and staff, please make arrangements for your child to be dropped off at 8:15 am.   If you are a 4th or 5th grader with a school issued laptop and you brought it home during break, please charge it up and bring it back to school with you tomorrow.   Any student who completed any portion of the winter break challenge can return this to school to earn house points towards the end of the grading period celebration.  

Families who wish to change their learning option can do so by calling the front office and putting your child on the list.  Someone from the school will call you within five school days to discuss your options.  The end of the marking period is Friday, January 15th.  There is no school for students on Monday, January 18th or Tuesday, January 19th.  The new grading period begins Wednesday, January 20th and this may be a good day to begin any transitions that your family is looking to make.  Please do not hesitate to call with any questions you may have.  

If you have a incoming kindergartner we will be sending out more information this week.  We will be sending out a virtual tour and hosting a zoom call question and answer session on Thursday January 14th.  Families who wish to schedule a tour can contact the school to do so as we are limiting the number of families on campus for kindergarten orientation due to the current COVID positivity rate. 

As you may know, COVID-19 case counts and positivity rates have been rising throughout the nation, Florida and Pinellas County. The Department of Health-Pinellas has been working throughout the winter break to confirm reported cases, perform contact tracing and provide quarantine information to positive cases and their close contacts. School Health Services has been working with the Department of Health to provide information needed for Pinellas County Schools students and staff members. 

 Over the winter break, a case of COVID-19 was confirmed in our school. Due to the timing of the case, and the revised 10-day quarantine recommendation from the Department of Health, no additional quarantine is necessary at this time. All confirmed cases will be updated on the district’s website at pcsb.org/covid19cases by Monday afternoon. 

 The district will continue the mitigation efforts implemented in August, including the use of masks, social distancing to the greatest extent possible, clinic spaces for symptomatic individuals and enhanced cleaning/disinfecting protocols within our buildings.  We will continue to conduct our conferences and meetings with families virtually.  Please continue to monitor yourself and your family closely for any sign of potential illness. Students and staff should remain home if they are exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19. We need your cooperation and support to ensure that we continue to have a safe and productive school year. 

 
Please feel free to contact me during regular business hours at (727) 669-1800 if you have questions. Thank you. 

Stephanie Whitaker

Principal

McMullen Booth Elementary School

 updated 1/3/21