Students will be screened prior to entering the building and proceed to a secondary testing location if their surface temperature is determined to be above 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit at the time of screening. Screening will be conducted through three entrances (visitors entrance, student drop off entrance, and library door entrance) determined by grade. Students will also be dismissed out of separate exits from the building to reduce congestion at any one egress. K-8 dismissal will begin as early as 2:00 pm and will end by 2:30 pm so as to stagger for volume control and social distancing in order to accommodate for increased car pick up. At this time, no after school activities (including EDP) will be in place for the start of the school year. We hope to add this as we go, particularly EDP as we understand this is an important aftercare program.
A maximum class size of 15 will be maintained for sections of Nursery and Pre-Kindergarten. Class sizes in grades K-8 will not exceed 20. Students will be kept in cohorts and remain with their cohort throughout the day. All non-essential items for teaching will be removed from the classroom so as to maximize spacing. When a distance of 6 feet cannot be met in a classroom, students will be required to wear masks. Cohorts will remain in their classes during the school day with the exception of recess and PE class, and anytime a class can take place utilizing outdoor space. When singing in music class or taking part in PE classes, a distance of 12 feet will be maintained. PE classes will be adapted to not permit any close contact activities or high-risk sports. Group singing activities for music class will take place outside; as many PE classes as we can get outside, we will do.
All St. Mary's Elementary School students have the option to learn from home, especially if they have vulnerable family members or medical needs. An accommodation will be made to provide instruction. The distance learning model refers to the educational model that will be involuntarily invoked school-wide should a shutdown take place due to outbreak or executive order. Differences between distance learning accommodation and distance learning model are outlined in the table below. Differences in distance learning accommodation are due to the fact that during regular school hours, most core subject teachers will be engaged in in-person instruction. More details will become available as St. Mary's Elementary School is able to determine how many of its students will opt for distance learning accommodation instead of in-person learning.
ACCOMMODATION | MODEL |
In the event a student opts out of in-person learning | In the event the entire school is shut down and all students are forced into distance learning |
More asynchronous than synchronous | More synchronous than asynchronous - schedule of the day will mostly follow regular in-person school day |
Daily material posted (video lesson, pre-recorded video from teacher) and at least a live morning check-in with a teacher | Daily live Meets with teachers |
Office hours and small group Meets | Full class Meets and reading groups |
Regular Meets with resource room teacher for those students with IEPS; all other IEP accommodations honored | Regular Mets with resource room teacher for those students with IEPS; all other IEP accommodations honored |
The G Suite platform will be used for distance learning. Since this technology is already fully integrated into our curriculum at all grade levels, it will be a seamless transition for teachers and students to move into remote synchronous and asynchronous learning. Students who choose distance learning will receive the same high-quality, rigorous education. Students who require a device as they do not already have one at home will be provided one. Parents of students in distance learning will be given a time to pick up the device as well as any other school materials and resources (textbooks, workbooks, etc).
Perrotta Consulting has collaborated with St. Mary's Elementary School to develop and guide our individual threat mitigation and COVID-19 secure operations planning and development initiative. In addition to helping develop our individual reopening plans, they will remain a resource to us throughout the year to guide us as pandemic conditions change and assist in changing procedures, contact tracing, threat mitigation, and contamination.
As of now, we do not have plans to conduct temperature checks midday. Teachers will be trained in syndromic surveillance and identifying students who may be developing the onset of symptoms of COVID-19 so that they can direct students to the nurse as early as possible. St. Mary's asks that parents play their part in a safe return to school by keeping their children home if any symptoms arise, particularly fever, and not choose to medicate as a cover.
Yes, this is still being considered and looked into.
While this does make planning and adjustment to instruction difficult, there is flexibility. St. Mary's asks for a two week turn around to make this change.
The children's social and emotional wellbeing is paramount in our reopening as we know so many have been affected by the pandemic in this way. Cohorts will be formed in the same way that homerooms are formed: with teacher recommendation and several factors considered for creating diverse, heterogeneous groups of students including gender, social relationships, academic interest and ability, and so on.
No, however, the St. Mary's logo is the only logo permitted on a mask worn to school. Other cloth or surgical masks, whether they sit around the child's neck or with elastic around the ears, are permitted to be worn as long as they do not display writing or other logos.
We are still looking into a variety of technology for use in accommodating distance learners at home with respect to teacher and student privacy, ease of instruction, and quality of distance learning.
This answer is very flexible and subject to change based on student and teacher need. At the outset, we anticipate that shorter mask breaks could be as short as 2 minutes while longer mask breaks which would occur outside could be 15-20 minutes. Shorter mask breaks could take place multiple times a day whereas longer mask breaks could be 2-3 times a day.
No, not at the start of the school year. However, it is possible that at some point in the school year, outside groups will begin to re-occupy spaces after school. This would be only after much planning and preparation. Parents would also be notified.
At this time, we are not anticipating being able to combine in school and distance learning and, although we understand this is a very difficult decision for some parents, that they make their choice. There is flexibility in either direction.
Outdoor areas will be regularly used for mask breaks, recess, and even class time. As usual, the HS will continue to share the turf with the ES.
Teachers are already used to creating opportunities for movement for their students even before COVID procedures. Students need to have the ability to move their bodies, some even more than others! We anticipate class stretch breaks and walks outside being regular practices.
At the start of the school year, school Mass will not take place. This will be added on as we go along to ensure the safety protocols are being practiced effectively. Students will continue to make their weekly visits to the Blessed Sacrament with their cohorts.
In the past, walkers had to be at least in grade 5. However, we are actively considering bringing this option down to grade 4. Parents will be notified before the start of school.
Unfortunately, we have to start the year without any after school programming including after care. However, we can revisit this option once school begins.
Please contact your local public school district for specific information on bussing.
No, teachers must be wearing PPE
Students will arrive within the same window (7:40-7:57), but will have different entrances depending on grade. Students in grades K, 1, 2, and 3 will use the main entrance; students in grades 4 and 5 will use the middle entrance; students in grades 6-8 will use the library stairs entrance. All three entrances will have temperature screening equipment monitored by a staff member. If we find there is a need to extend homeroom to accommodate for more cars doing drop off, we will make that change as we go.
In person instruction will be much the same as a normal school day but with practicing the wearing of masks and social distancing. Please see the reopening document for more information on distance learning.
Yes, uniforms are expected to be worn, although St. Mary's may choose to make accommodations for warmer weather as usual. Any changes will be announced closer to the start of school.
Yes, students will need to bring their own supplies. Students will not be permitted to share supplies.
The St. Mary's supply lists have always included clorox wipes (or similar) on student supply lists. With increased demand, it may not be possible for students to bring these items in on the first day of school. St. Mary's is NOT dependent on student supply for disinfecting products; it would be merely used as a supplement or by the individual student.
As usual, students do not have to arrive on the first day of school with all school supplies. School supplies can be brought into the classroom throughout the first week.
Aside from a cloth face covering (no logo, no writing), we do not currently plan to add any new items to the student supply list as we do not wish to burden parents further! Yes, of course the supplies ordered will be handed over to the students.
All special services including OT, PT, resource room, and guidance visits will take place. Students receiving services will be taken to a sanitized room for the purpose of the service. Masks will be required as well as 6 feet of distance.
Since St. Mary’s HVAC system meets the present standards of New York State, there is no need to purchase additional air purifiers at this time.