Morris Elementary

August 17, 2021

Dear Morris Families, 

Welcome back! I hope this letter finds you rested, rejuvenated, and ready for a fantastic year. Though COVID-19 continues to cause concern in our community, the McKinleyville Union School District remains committed to a full day schedule with safety protocols in place to insure students get the In-Person learning they need. We will also offer Independent Study for  families who prefer this option. Regardless of which educational program you choose, the teachers and support staff at Morris are all working hard in preparation for your child’s return and are filled with much anticipation for the wonderful school year ahead.

Please note that our district uses the guidance of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to inform our planning and decisions. The most recent guidance from these organizations is linked on our website, mckusd.org.

This year we are extending our “Meet and Greet” to all Morris students regardless of grade level. It will take place Thursday, August 26th from 2pm-3:15pm. This is an opportunity for students to locate their classroom, meet their teacher, and become familiar with the layout of the school. Beginning at 2:00pm, class lists will be posted on the staff room windows which face the south parking lot. Families may then proceed onto campus, maintaining physical distancing. Families will then line up outside their child’s classroom to await their turn to enter the room and receive a brief tour from their teacher. Masks are required.

The District office will be sending out all information about Bus Transportation for the school year. There will be fewer spots on our bus, so we will ask that you sign up for transportation only if you require it to get your child to school. Bus schedules will be available at the Meet and Greet as well as posted to the district website by 8/26/21. A document explaining Morris’s Drop Off and Pick Up procedures is enclosed.

The State of California has launched the first in the nation Free Meals for All program. All students will have access to breakfast and lunch at our schools free of charge. Our students will remain in grade level and classroom cohorts in the cafeteria and will be spaced as much as possible while they eat.

Our first day of school is Monday, August 30th. Each school day begins promptly at 8:45am and ends at 3:11pm, except for Mondays which end at 1:45pm. It is important that your child arrives on time so they don’t miss any of the instruction that occurs at the start of the day.  

Back To School Night is scheduled for Thursday, September 9th from 6:00pm-7:30pm. Due to changing COVID-19 protocols, more information regarding our BTSN format will be forthcoming. I am eager to share with you our freshly painted campus, our new “elective” schedule, and our commitment to social and emotional learning in addition to our strong academic focus.

I am very much looking forward to having students back on campus! Afterall, it is our students that make the Morris community such a special place. Please reach out if you have any questions or suggestions for the upcoming school year.

Warmly, 

Tiffany Maher

Principal

Morris Elementary School

• Thursday, August 26th 2:00pm-3:00:15pm -- Meet and Greet open to all Morris students regardless of grade level
• Monday, August 30th 8:45am-1:45pm -- First Day of School
• Thursday, September 9th 6:00pm-7:30pm -- Back to School Night
• Friday, September 24th -- Morris Picture Day

Morris 3-5 Elementary School 

Planning for Student Drop Off and Pick Up 

School Begins at 8:45 AM School Dismissal at 3:11 PM (1:45 on Mondays) 

To best accommodate our students and their families, the District Transportation Department has developed the following recommendations and guidelines for dropping off and picking up students. 

* Updated bus schedules will be available at the Meet and Greet and uploaded to the district website on 8-26-21. 

Student Drop Off Procedures 

Morris suggested student drop off times: 3rd Grade 8:10-8:20 

4th Grade 8:20-8:30 

5th Grade 8:30-8:40 

Parents or caregivers with students in more than one grade level may select one specific drop off time. 

Students may not be dropped off at Morris School earlier than 7:40 AM. There will be no supervision available before 7:40 AM on the Morris campus. Breakfast will be served at Morris from 8:00-8:40 AM. 

All students arriving by car shall be dropped off in the designated drop-off zone in front of the third grade entrance, near the school office. Students arriving by bicycle may enter through the bike gate. Students walking to school may enter using the 3rd grade entrance or through the bike gate. 

Students may not be dropped off/picked up in the bus loading/unloading zone. Student Pick Up Procedures 

3rd grade students will be dismissed from classrooms for student pick up in front of the school office, the school bus, or to walk or ride a bike home. 

4th and 5th grade students will be dismissed from classrooms to parents waiting at the student dismissal gate by the bike cage, to the school bus, or to walk or ride a bike home. 

Parking spaces in front of the school office are “15 Minute Parking Only.” The lane directly in front of the school office will be for student drop off and 3rd grade pick up only. There is no parking allowed in the striped drop off lane. 

Parking for parents and staff will be in the south parking lot. Adults and children should use the striped crosswalks to access the entrance to campus located next to the bike rack before school.

Getting your children to school and home safely is a priority for the McKinleyville Union School District. The staff will work hard to ensure student safety and support families during this transition. Please remember to be patient, especially during the first two weeks of school. There will be increased staff supervision and increased law enforcement patrols around the school during the first few weeks of school to help. 

If you have questions about traffic flow patterns, bus schedules, or other concerns regarding drop off or pick up please stop by the office or email: [email protected].