Congratulations to the following students for being recognized by their classroom teachers as Students of the Month for November! Keep up the great work!
A confirmed case of coronavirus (Covid-19) has been identified at William Ford Elementary. We are working closely with Wayne County Health Department to identify exposures and prevent further cases. This notice is informational only; no further action is required by anyone at this time. If you have not been contacted by the district nurse or your building administrator, you are not considered to be a close-contact to the positive individual. And with no students in the building at this time, there are no concerns to any families at William Ford Elementary.
I want to thank everyone for following through social distancing measures and adhering to all other guidelines, like wearing masks at all times and not being in close contact with anyone for 15 minutes or more. I want to also remind everyone that we need to respect everyone’s privacy at all times. Your safety and privacy are important to us. Again, we thank all of you for adhering to all guidelines.
The virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly from person to person, through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Spread is more likely when people are less than six feet from each other for at least 15 minutes. A person who is a close contact of someone who is infected with COVID-19 may experience COVID-19 symptoms typically within two to fourteen days after a person is exposed.
The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar in children and adults. Symptoms can include: Fever (>100.4 F), cough, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, runny or stuffy nose, loss of taste or smell, abdominal pain.
There are many things that can be done to keep our schools, homes, and communities “COVID-19 free” and protect ourselves and loved ones:
Children and adults should stay home when ill.
Washing hands often with soap and running warm water for at least 20 seconds.
If a hand washing station is not available, use hand sanitizer properly. Gels, rubs, and hand wipes must contain at least 60% alcohol. Dispose of wipes in the trash after use.
Practice Good Respiratory Etiquette (cover a cough with elbow versus hand).
Follow guidance for wearing a face covering and social distancing.
If you have questions, please contact Wayne County Health Department at 734-727-7078.
Following the guidance of the MI Safe Schools Roadmap, the school has been disinfected. This includes spraying classrooms, hallways, locker rooms, and common areas as needed with a sanitizer, along with other methods of disinfection.
Additional information can be found on the CDC website.
At the Dearborn Schools’ Board Meeting on Monday, November 9th, Superintendent Maleyko announced that Mrs. Nicole Rabac would move to the full-time Assistant Principal at Miller Elementary. Mrs. Rabac had been splitting her time between William Ford and Miller. The William Ford community is sad to see Mrs. Rabac leave, and know that she will do wonderful things for the Miller students, families and staff.
Mrs. Mariam Farhat was announced as the new Assistant Principal at William Ford Elementary. Mrs. Farhat is currently an English Language Development Specialist at McDonald Elementary. William Ford is excited to welcome Mrs. Farhat and all of us are certain she will be a great addition to our community.
Please join all of us at William Ford in welcoming Mrs. Farhat to William Ford and wishing Mrs. Rabac much success on her new assignment at Miller! These new assignments are effective as of November 10th.
On Wednesday, October 21st from 2:30-4:30, Ford Motor Company will host a STEAM Box giveaway in the parking lot at William Ford Elementary for families from the William Ford and Woodworth Community!
Families at William Ford who have students in grades 3rd-5th, and families at Woodworth are invited to drive through the parking lot at William Ford to receive the STEAM box through their car window. One STEAM box per family! Parents, please enter the parking lot off of Alber St. and exit on Chase. The STEAM box giveaway will be from 2:30-4:30 OR until all boxes are distributed.
The Board of Education voted on October 12th to continue online learning for all students through October. In-school learning labs will continue and be expanded. More information to come soon on the expanded learning labs. The Board of Education will meet again on Monday, October 26th to revaluate conditions and see if the district is ready to move toward bringing students back to school in one of the proposed hybrid formats.
Learning Labs started at William Ford on Monday, October 5th! The Learning Lab is an opportunity for teachers to invite students to the classroom for a “live” lesson! Groups will be limited to 3 students at this time. Teachers also conduct virtual Learning Labs on days they are not in the building.
Ms. Albachachy and students ready for Learning Lab!
Parents must fill out the Covid-19 Screening Commitment form for their child to stay at school for the learning lab. By signing this form, parents are committing to screen their child for Covid symptoms for the 2020-21 school year (anytime they will be in school). This form only needs to be filled out once, and will be kept on file in the school office. If your child is showing any signs of sickness, they will not be allowed to enter the school.
If your child is attending a Learning Lab it is very important that they arrive on-time and they are picked up at the arranged time. If you arrive early, please remain in your car until the scheduled time. For the health and safety of all, we cannot have students or parents lingering around the building or entrances in groups. Finally, parents are not allowed in the building unless they have business to conduct in the office.
Online learning in Dearborn will continue until at least mid October after the Board of Education approved the extension during its regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 14.
Dearborn Public Schools started the new school year on Aug. 31 all online until at least Oct. 1. The Board’s vote on Monday night extends online learning at least until their next meeting on Oct. 12.
The district is also delaying the small group in-school learning labs it had planned to start next week.
The Dearborn community has had a high number of COVID-19 cases per resident in recent weeks, and the board felt it was not yet safe for the community to return students to in-school learning. Besides the total number of COVID cases, the district considers the number of cases per resident and metrics like the percent of COVID tests that come back positive in the county, called the positivity rate. The Wayne County positivity rate has risen to its highest point in months at more than 6 percent.
Students and Parents will be using Schoology as the place to start. Students can log in being Monday morning. (Parent accounts will be coming soon). Students should log in using their Google Accounts. Students who have borrowed a Chromebook from the district should have two tabs load upon sign-in: the district student portal web page and their Schoology page.
Within Schoology, students should find the links and instructions that they need. Links to Zoom meetings will be added by teachers.
(Note: You can click No to read the book without creating a customization.) 
