Framework for Returning to School Fall 2020

Posted on by Melissa Morrier-Turk

St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School Framework for Returning to School in Fall 2020 August 3, 2020

We know it is our moral and social imperative to keep our community safe. We will do our part to mitigate the transmission of the Corona virus. We will wear masks that cover both nose and mouth. We will social distance both inside and outside. We will wash our hands frequently. Our building is on a heightened cleaning schedule that will be carried out by staff and facilities. We can do this TOGETHER. #strongertogetherSMM

Please use the website to view forms and documents (FAQ’s, Emergency Contact, etc.) that will answer questions as well as allow us to anticipate situations that could hinder the efficiency of the flow of traffic to and from the building. Do not hesitate to call with any specific questions you may have after reading both this document and the looking at the website. We are here to help! The office is open from 9 am to 3 pm.

If St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School is required to close its campus again, we will enact the Distance Learning Plan. Our intent with remote learning, currently, is to replicate a day in the life of a student as closely as possible. We recognize the impact on homelife and value your involvement. As much as possible we will work to create the classroom at home via livestreaming. Our technology team has been working to check the hardware and software needed to run smoothly and assist our teachers in this new environment. WE DID AN AWESOME JOB IN THE SPRING! The 2.0 version will be better. Families will have a choice to stream in from the first day! We will provide updates and specifics as we perform run-throughs and practices throughout the month of August. We await word from the governor after Wednesday, August 5th.

GENERAL GUIDANCE

Staff will be trained in health and safety protocols, including how to screen for COVID-19 symptoms, maintaining physical distance, wearing appropriate PPE, frequent cleaning, handwashing, and what to do if someone develops signs of COVID-19. All students, staff, parents and guardians, and essential volunteers must wear cloth face coverings to cover both nose and mouth to enter the buildings. Any person showing symptoms of COVID-19 or who has been in close contact with someone who is confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19 in the last 14 days will not be allowed on campus. Families and staff will work together to emphasize the importance of staying home when sick, physical distancing of 6 feet, and hand hygiene.

DROP OFF

Entrance will be from 9th Avenue. Please pull through the carpool ‘loop’ and remain in your vehicle until a staff member or volunteer conducts a health screening for your child(ren) each morning, including checking for signs of illness, such as flushed cheeks or tiredness, or fever.

Parking for drop-off will not be allowed.

  • All students 1st – 8th grade will be greeted at their vehicle in the lower parking lot drop off loop from 7:55 am to 8:20 am, Monday through Friday.
  • Preschool – Kindergarten, who do not have older siblings, will drop off from 8:20 to 8:30.
  • Preschool and PreKindergarten parents/guardians will also be required to sign in their students with the staff member or volunteer on duty.

Does your student or anyone in your household have any of the following symptoms:

  • A cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • A fever of 100.4F or higher
  • A sore throat
  • Chills
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
  • Congestion/running nose – not related to seasonal allergies
  • Unusual fatigue
  • Has your student been in close contact with anyone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19?
  • Has your student had any medication to reduce a fever before coming to school?

The following questions will be asked while you remain in your car:

  1. In the last 14 days, have you been in close contact with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case?
  2. In the last 7 days, have you had a fever?
  3. In the last 7 days, have you had a sore throat?
  4. In the last 7 days, have you had a cough?
  5. In the last 7 days, have you had difficulty breathing?

Your temperature will also be taken by our safety trained staff and volunteers using a no contact, infrared thermometer. You will be sent home if anyone has a fever of 100.4 or higher. Remember everyone in the car will have been in close contact with the person showing symptoms.

If the answer to any of the above questions is “yes”, parents will be required to return home with their children. Any student or staff member who exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 will be required to stay at home for three days after their symptoms have disappeared, even after a negative COVID-19 test result. 

Entry to the school will be limited to students, staff, and essential volunteers. Parents are welcome in the school office to conduct necessary school business but will not be able to walk students to class. Some service jobs will be eliminated or modified to limit the number of people entering the building.

Those students arriving late or needing to leave early will do so through the front office. The door will remain locked for safety purposes. A QR code will be posted on the door that you will scan from your mobile device. This will take you automatically to the screening questionnaire. If all the answers are no, this document goes to a sheet in the main office which notifies our personnel to answer the door and let you into the foyer to either drop your student off or pick them up.

If you do not have a mobile device, please ring the front doorbell and we will gladly meet you and do the screening.

PHYSICAL DISTANCING

To maximize health and safety, the following physical distancing strategies will take place:

  • Field trips, assemblies, special performances, school liturgies, prayer services, and other large gatherings will continue to be provided through remote options when possible until it is safe to interact in larger groups.
  • Student desks will be arranged to maximize the space between students. All student desks will face in the same direction (rather than facing each other) to reduce transmission caused from virus­ containing droplets (e.g., form talking, coughing, sneezing).
  • To reduce the number of students in the halls at one time, students will be released by car to enter the building after passing the morning health screening in the carpool. Additionally, there will be a staggered release of students to and from recesses, and for pick-up.
  • Specialist teachers (Library, Music, Guidance) will move from classroom to classroom, again, to reduce the number of students in the halls and prevent the sharing of materials and desks.
  • Each class will have a designated recess area to reduce possible transmission between grade levels.
  • To reduce congestion in the office, recess supervisors will provide first aid on the playground when feasible. Allowing the office to remain reserved for children with flu-like symptoms.
  • Teachers will be encouraged to instruct students outside more, as weather and space permits.
  • Fire, earthquake, and lockdown drills will continue to be practice When scheduled, they will be practiced with their teacher in the classroom.

HYGIENE PRACTICES

Children and adults should clean hands when they arrive at school, before meals or snacks, after outside time, after going to the bathroom, after nose blowing or sneezing and before leaving to go home. Please help teach children not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hand and to cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Teacher and instructional aides will wipe down desks with approved cleaning supplies between each new group of students entering the room, before eating, and at the end of the day. Maintenance staff will clean high-use areas throughout the day (e.g., bathrooms, gym). Shared equipment and instructional materials will be cleaned regularly. NanoSeptic wraps will be placed on door handles and push bars to reduce the risk of exposure to viruses.

CLOTH FACE COVERINGS

Wearing cloth face coverings helps prevent the spread of COVID-19. All persons must wear either a face shield or cloth face coverings over nose and mouth while at school, with the following exceptions:

  • Those with a disability that prevents them from comfortably wearing or removing a face covering.
  • Those with certain respiratory conditions or trouble breathing.
  • Those who are deaf or hard of hearing and use facial and mouth movement as part of communication.
  • Those advised by a medical, legal, or behavioral health professional that wearing a face covering may pose a risk to that person.
  • Younger students must be supervised when wearing a cloth face covering or face shield. Please make sure they fit properly and begin teaching them how to put it on, take it off, and simply get used to wearing them by practicing at home.

VENTILATION

Air circulation throughout the building will be increased. This will include opening windows in classrooms and offices and keeping classroom doors open when possible and appropriate. Hepa filters may be in place in classrooms.

RECESS

The recess area will be marked in three sections (color coded). Students will need to remain with their class and maintain social distancing protocol. Students may play with a ball as hands are washed upon reentry.

Going out to recess students will use the stairs at the south end of the primary hallway. Coming in, they will come up the double doors across from the portables and up the middle school stairs. The big toy will not be available for use. Handwashing happens upon return to the classroom.

LUNCH

Students will continue eating lunch in classrooms. Desks will be cleaned before and after lunch. Students will clean their hands before and after eating lunch.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND STORAGE

All student supplies need to be stored in backpacks that will hang on the chair of each student and what can be stored in their desk. Your student’s teacher will advise of what supplies are needed and best storage strategies before the start of school.

LOCKERS

Middle school students will access their lockers on a rotating schedule to reduce congestion in the hallways and increase distancing at the lockers. Lockers will be staggered to promote spacing between lockers so that two students will not need to access their adjacent lockers at the same time.

PICK UP

All students will exit through the double doors on the primary end of the building. There will be a staggered release of students to the pick-up area.

  • 2:30 A – E Upper lot
  • 2:35 F- M Lower Lot
  • 2:40 N – S Upper Lot
  • 2:45 T- Z LowerLot

Please pull through the lower parking lot or the upper parking lot and remain in your vehicle during pick up. The office will have preprinted family name signs to display on your dash for efficiency of student recognition. Staff members and volunteers will be on duty to assist as needed. Preschool and PreKindergarten parents/guardians will be required to sign out their students with the staff members on duty.

EXTENSION

Before and after school extension will be offered on a limited basis (30 students) at any one time. To maintain safety and social distancing, pre-registration is necessary. Registration forms along with Emergency Contact forms are on the website. IT IS CRITICAL YOUR EMERGENCY INFORMATION IS ACCURATE. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR PICKUP CONTACTS ARE AVAILABLE WHEN NEEDED-IN A TIMELY FASHION .

WHAT TO DO IF SOMEONE DEVELOPS SIGNS OF COVID-19

If a student or staff member develops signs of COVID-19, they will be separated away from others, with supervision at a distance of six feet apart, until the sick person can leave. While waiting to leave school, the individual with symptoms should wear a cloth face covering or mask covering nose and mouth, if tolerated. The areas where a possible symptomatic person was, will be aired out, cleaned, and disinfected after they leave. The person or family of the person with symptoms should immediately contact their health care provider. Students or staff may not return to school for 72 hours after symptoms have disappeared.

The person with symptoms, or their caregiver, is to inform the school right away if the person is diagnosed with COVID-19. If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, the local health jurisdiction will provide direction.

ONGOING PLANNING

This plan for reopening is subject to change. Please use the FAQ section on the website to both ask and view questions. Feel free to email bmahar@stmarym.org as well.