November 2, 2020
Salutations Parents/Guardians and Students of Griffith Elementary School:

Fall has arrived, the weather is cooling, and quality, rigorous learning continues here at Griffith Elementary School. I wanted to take a moment to provide you with a few updates and reminders. I also want to encourage you to check out our website and Facebook page periodically for the latest news and top happenings at Griffith.

School Expectations
Here at Griffith we have three main expectations. To keep them fresh in our minds, every morning our students and staff recite our learner affirmation:
I am a Griffith Giant. I will be safe. I will be responsible. I will be respectful.
We teach our students that being safe means keeping hands, feet, and objects to yourself and following directions the first time given. Moreover, we want children to understand that being responsible means completing their work, having their materials ready, and following directions the first time given. Lastly, being a respectful giant means treating others the way you want to be treated. Therefore, if you want others to be kind to you, you must be kind to them.

School Safety/COVID-19
As a reminder, our primary focus as a school is to ensure that systematic procedures are in place to combat the spread of COVID-19. Below are a few of the many key safety measures we are implementing to keep your child safe and healthy:

• Students and staff are required to wear masks and practice social distancing;
• Teachers are educating students on the importance of hand washing and wearing masks;
• Increased daily custodial services to ensure thorough cleanliness of our campus;
• Visitors to our campus are required to follow the mask and temperature protocol
• The implementation of a safe and efficient school entrance and exit plan;
• Daily temperature checks for all students and staff;
• Use of desk shields/partitions in classrooms;
• Limited student-to-teacher classroom ratios for each in-person classrooms;
• In addition, restructured lunch/recess procedures that promote safety and health.

Finally, as it relates to making sure we continue to remain healthy at school, remember that if your child is not feeling well we encourage you to keep him or her home, and not returning to school until symptoms improve and/or your family physician says it is safe to do so.

My staff and I are so thankful that you continue to educate your child at Griffith Elementary School. We are here to serve and support, so feel free to reach out directly: (602) 629-6705.

Sincerely,
Richard B. Holmes, M.Ed., M.A.Ed.
Principal