We are very excited to announce that we are back to to school on September 14th.
The School Committee voted at its September 1st meeting that we would begin our phased reopening in a hybrid model. This means that students will be live and in person 2 days a week and distance learning the other three days. Students that have elected for full time distance learning will still be full time distance learning.
The cohorts will work as follows:
Students A-L: In person on Tuesday and Wednesday, DL the rest of the week Students M-Z: In person on Thursday and Friday, DL the rest of the week
We will not entertain cohort changes for the first week of school. We are trying very hard to keep numbers down in the classroom. We are trying really hard to balance the letters of the alphabet kids and the DL kids so that each classroom remains as small as possible. If your cohort does not work for you for a hardship reason please, let me know. This is mostly for the 5th grade. If we can make a change once we are up and running and can see how the things in the building work we will work with you. We ask that you remain with your cohort for the first week.
DL Students and DL days:
Students will follow their schedules on DL days or if they are full time DL. The student will check in with the teacher each period and then based on the class and the assignment the student will either participate directly in the class virtually with the students who are present in school or work on an assignment with check ins by the teacher. Students will be responsible to attend each class and attendance will be taken. This year, we want school to look like school whether it is here or at home.
Students will be given a social contract that will go over the expectations for distance learning. All rules that apply at school will also apply to students who are attending classes virtually.
Arrival:
Students will be allowed to arrive as early as 7:30. They will not be allowed in any earlier as we do not have adult supervision available, do not drop your child off before 7:30. They will report directly to their period 1 classrooms. Classrooms will be open for students. We will have as much supervision in the hallways as possible until teachers are on duty at 7:45.
We will have drop off students enter through the cafeteria. We will ask 5th grade bus students to enter through the gym, 6th grade bus students to enter via the 6th grade wing on the side of the school, 7th and 8th grade students will enter through the main back doors to try to decrease clustering at the doors as students walk in. We will work with students to make sure they know their entry point.
Materials:
Students will not be assigned lockers so they will be carrying everything with them in their backpacks. Try as best you can to keep those backpacks light. We will as well.
Students will not be using the gym locker rooms or changing for PE. We want students to participate in PE. They will get some exercise and fresh air while remaining socially distant.
Schedules:
Schedules will be available for viewing next week. Students will be able to log into Infinite Campus and see their schedules. We will send home instructions for students in grade 5 to log in to the system to see schedules.
School Times:
Bell Schedule to open the year:
7:45-8:30 Period 1
8:31-9:16 Period 2
9:17-10:02 Period 3
10:03-10:48 Period 4
10:49-12:25 Period 5
12:26-1:11 Period 6
1:12-1:57 Period 7
1:57 Dismissal Stable Pods:
To the extent possible students have been assigned to stable pods. Students will remain with the same group of students all day with a few variations.
Students will be in the same academic classroom all day with team teachers moving to those rooms for instruction.
In grades 5 and 6 the stable pod will exist for the entire day. Students will have PE and Electives within their stable pod. Elective teachers will travel to the pods to teach their classes. If the elective teacher would like to bring the class to their room for the class that is possible, but the teacher must get and escort the kids to the room and then bring them back at the end of the class.
Students in grades 7 and 8 will have their typical elective schedule and will move to their elective periods. With small groups in grades 7 and 8 and with them having electives at different times there will be minimal movement during the day. The elective classrooms are also much larger and allow for social distancing during the period.
Lunch:
We are looking to have lunch in the cafeteria. We will have about 65-70 kids in the cafeteria during lunch. We feel we can socially distance in our spaces so that students can have a break from their classroom. We can also spill over into the outside and the gym should we find that we can not social distance in the cafeteria. I do not want to have kids have lunch in their classrooms. I think they will need the break.
We are going to dismiss lunches out of the back of the caf and have students walk outside and enter the building through the main office so we do not have a bottleneck situation when the next group arrives for lunch.
Recess/ Advisory
I am recommending that all teachers take their students outside for advisory. It will give them a break and some time for fresh air.
Break
I am also recommending that each team create a “break” schedule where they will bring the kids outside for 10 or so minutes once a day for a break. Students can spread way out and take a mask break if teams feel they need a mask break or it can just be a regular break.
Dismissal
We will dismiss kids by floor. Students will exit via specific stairwells and exits to avoid bottlenecking as they head for the bus. For example room 302 will use the stairwell at the end of the hall and exit out the 6th grade wing near the business office.
COVID Response: .
All kids and staff will be wearing masks. Please let students know that masks are not optional and must be worn. (We will have extra masks on hand for students who forget)
Classroom layout will be modified to allow for six feet apart between staff and between students.
Staff and students should wash their hands with hand sanitizer frequently throughout the day, but especially when changing classrooms, prior to any mealtimes, and after using the restroom.
Each classroom will be provided with paper towels, disinfectant spray bottle, and hand sanitizer.
Custodians will be cleaning the lavs with disinfecting mist every hour.
Signs are posted throughout the building describing the district’s rules for wearing masks, social distancing of six feet between people, and specifying, at the entrance of the school, that sick individuals should stay home.
Staff and students need to stay home if they test positive for, have been exposed to, or have symptoms of COVID-19.
The district is following the Outbreak Response Protocol developed by the Rhode Island Department of Health and is based on CDC guidelines.
Student Illness:
It is very important that you keep your child home if they feel sick. I know the standard is usually; “are they too sick to go to school”, or “can they get through with some tylenol.” We can not do that this year. If your child is not feeling well they can participate in class through DL on that day and not fall behind. Please keep them home.
If your child is sick at school please make sure that your information is updated in our system and you have someone listed who can pick your child up quickly. If we identify a child that is ill we want them picked up as soon as possible. We traditionally have been flexible with this, as well, and try really hard to accommodate parents who struggle to get here quickly. Please find someone you can list with us that can pick up your child quickly.
We Love you but we don’t want to see you:
We are trying to limit access to the building as much as possible. We want as few people in the school as possible. If your child forgets something, email the teacher and we will try to work it out here. Please do not drop anything for your child unless it is essential that they have it that day.
We are also going to attempt to do all meetings virtually or on the phone. If you would like to speak with the principal, assistant principal, guidance, or a teacher, please call or email. We will set up a call or a video conference to discuss any issues. Please do not walk-in and ask to see someone. Please call.
Masks
Masks will be required for all students and staff. If a student refuses to wear a mask, they will be assigned to distance learning until such time as they comply with school rules.
