Reopening: Windsor Schools Forward 20-21

Arrival Procedure:

Action Plan

One strategy that will reduce student volume is ensuring we are offering a distance learning model that provides families and students, who elect to or have the medical need, the option of staying at home for a distance learning program. WHS has two primary entry and exit points, and because students arrive at varying times, whether it be by drop off, buses or walking, we will be able to manage the arrival procedures. Staffing with safety monitors and adult presence in the hallways should assist in facilitating a safe arrival process. Students will not be utilizing lockers to avoid close contact or congregating. 

Administrators and/or safety monitors will be stationed at both entrances, greeting students and gently reminding students to keep their masks on. WHS will have a limited stockpile of masks should a student damage their own. Supervising staff will provide reminders to maintain distance between themselves and others.

Dismissal Procedure:

Action Plan

Since dismissal traditionally happens at the same time for everybody [2:20 PM], it is probable that we will dismiss in waves by hallways/floors beginning at 2:14 PM to allow for the maintenance of social distancing.  Students will have multiple points of exit and will be required to immediately make their way to the buses or vehicles and will not be permitted to congregate.

Class Size Reduction and Grouping of Students:

Action Plan

Class size reduction efforts are more complex at the high school level. WHS offers more than 200 courses. While our overall student-to-teacher ratio is low at approximately 1:15, classes that serve as graduation requirements are courses that are often near capacity. One way class sizes will be reduced is that some families and students will select the option of staying home for a distance-learning program. We will continue to monitor and use innovative schedule modifications through the work of school counselors to reduce class-size and enhance safety conditions. Below is a preliminary model we are examining. Grouping assignments will be forthcoming. 

Breakfast and Lunch:

Action Plan

Breakfast: 

We will continue to analyze numbers to inform our decisions. Historically, our breakfast numbers have been low enough that would position us to effectively space out students. We have a structured process beginning at 7:00 AM through 7:28 AM to ensure there is satisfactory distance between students as they enjoy their breakfast.

Lunch:

Currently, we are examining the potential to have an additional lunch wave, extending it to five waves and look into the possibility of having assigned (seating) quadrants in the cafeteria. Each lunch wave will be approximately 30 minutes long, but it will allow us to reduce and space out the students who access the cafeteria. Currently, we range between 270–320 students per lunch wave. Based on preliminary survey data and in consideration of a cohort model, we anticipate each wave to be less than 180 students which will more than adequately satisfy distancing guidelines per lunch wave. Should the weather cooperate, we will also examine the potential of allowing our students to access our courtyard space for lunch purposes and mask breaks. 

School Governance Council (SGC) (if applicable) and/or PTO Meetings:

Action Plan

In effort to maximize safety, all meetings will be virtual and held through our Google Meets platform. The SGC has been an integral part in our school improvement efforts and we look forward to this continued partnership.

Tree House Program (if applicable):

N/A 

Social Distancing in Hallways:

Action Plan

We will look to maximize adult presence in the hallway during transition times. Our one-student-one pass protocol allows for social distancing. During class transition times, we anticipate social distancing to be a little more complex. We will use floor and wall signage (see image below) to ensure that students are spaced out to the greatest extent possible. 

Identify isolation room for students/staff exhibiting potential symptoms.  Identify procedure for dismissing students and staff from the room. Designate one of the glass window rooms in the nursing office. Clear that section of hallway and execute a pick up by the guardian in the Red Tile lobby. 

Action Plan

We have a few options as we look to respond to this recommendation. We will certainly leverage room space in the nursing office and we can also consider making our athletic training room (during the school day) the isolation room and ensure that there are potent cleaning and sanitizing practices in those spaces. 

Moderate Transmission Plan (How would the school operate if we were required to be at 50% capacity).  

See above (Class Size reduction and Grouping of Students)

Family Engagement Activities:

Action Plan

For the 1st Quarter, all large group family engagement activities will be held virtually. To the extent possible, small parent/family meetings will be scheduled virtually as well. 

School will Address Students’ Social and Emotional Health:

Understanding and planning for our students’ social emotional health is just as important as planning for academic instruction. WHS will closely follow the directions as outlined in the District’s Social Emotional Plan. We understand the importance for all of our students to feel welcomed, safe, and supported.

Action Plan

• Increased attention to students as they enter the building by administration, social worker and psychologist to assess readiness to learn.

• Increased focus on social emotional support by classroom teachers throughout the instructional day.

• Certified staff in our student support center will provide developmental lessons facilitated by professional school. counselors as well as individual sessions provided by psychologists and social workers by appointment.

• Ongoing communication with families on student SE needs.

• WHS will provide intervention support in the area of academics, conduct and SE needs.

School will Address Equity for All Students:

WHS is fully committed to equity work. WHS will continue with efforts that include:

Action Plan

• Infusing cultural relevant materials and content into teaching and learning.

• Continue to provide students with access to rigorous course selections with supports.

• Finalizing revision work on institutional structures (grading policy and student conduct matrix).

• WHS faculty Virtual Book Club: How to Be Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi.

• Advancing and supporting the efforts of the SCG, NCCJ's Anytown and Action Club on equity based initiatives.

• Continue to have honest conversations about contemporary race related issues.

• Ongoing professional development support from RE·Center consultants.

• Continue to celebrate the diversity of the Windsor school community.

WHS Plan

Arrival Procedures:

The goal of the revised arrival procedure is to limit student-to-student contact and reduce the volume of students entering any particular door at once. 

Action Plan

• All teachers and security who are not on bus duty will monitor the entrances, halls and walkways and remind students of the new expectations. 

• Students will enter the building through separate grade-level entrances to reduce the crowd of students entering a particular door at once. 6th Grade - 6th Grade entrance, 7th Grade - Library, 8th Grade - Main Entrance.

• Nonessential visitors, volunteers, and activities involving external groups or organizations will be eliminated as much as possible.

• Students will not be assigned lockers for semester one. Students will walk with their belongings throughout the day. 

• Parents are asked to drop students off beginning at 7:45 AM. 

• Special Transportation - Students who ride special transportation will enter and exit the building from the rear entrance in the 8th Grade wing. Staff members will be there to supervise and support students.  

• Walkers/Drop Off - Students who walk/drop off will enter the building through their respective grade-level entrance.  Drop off areas for students may be modified due to the anticipated increase in student drop off. Information on this will be forthcoming. 

• Bus - Students who ride the bus will enter the building in staggered fashion. Buses that arrive on school grounds early will disembark as early as 7:30 AM. Buses will be signaled when it is appropriate to allow students to disembark. 

• Students who enter the building before 7:45 AM will enter through the main entrance in staggered format and report to the auditorium.

Dismissal Procedures:

Similar to that of the arrival procedures, practices to mitigate the harmful impact of large groups of students moving together will also be in place for dismissal.  School officially ends at 2:50 PM and dismissal procedures will begin at approximately 2:40 PM. All students will be called to their buses in a staggered fashion. Once a bus arrives, students will be called for dismissal.  Three buses will be called simultaneously. 

Action Plan

Class Size Reduction Efforts:

Another aspect that will reduce student volume within the building is offering our families distance learning that allows students to stay home for instruction.  

Action Plan

• Maximizing overall sections per content to assist in reduction of student-to-teacher ratio.

• Families have the option to select the distance learning model that will reduce the volume of students within the building. 

Cohorting of Students:

Cohorting students at the middle school level involves multiple steps.

Action Plan

• Students will be cohorted based on their team affiliation.

• Teams will have both their general education and as many of their unified arts classes together.

• Each team will have a separate passing time per their team.

• Each team will have designated preferred bathroom times set throughout the day.

• Students will make appointments, as needed, to visit the guidance office or main office (these appointments will be face to face or video conferencing depending on the issue).

• Teachers will review daily with students the safety measures as outlined by the CDC to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Breakfast Procedures:

In an effort to reduce the number of students in one area, breakfast will be served in a Grab-and-Go format. The following procedures will be implemented (cafeteria at 50% capacity):

Action Plan

• Grade 6 students will eat breakfast in their homerooms.  Breakfast will be distributed from room 206A.  Students will line up utilizing Ramp 1.

• Grade 7 students will eat breakfast in their homerooms.  Breakfast will be distributed from the library. Students will then proceed up the stairs.  

• Grade 8 students will eat breakfast in the cafeteria.  

Lunch Procedures:

Sage Park had three lunch waves, each wave being grade specific.  To reduce the number of students in the cafeteria and allow for social distancing, alternative lunch locations will be utilized.  Areas under consideration include the library, auditorium, outdoor seating, and classrooms. In addition, we will be increasing our lunch waves from three to six.  Additional consideration will need to be given on how students purchasing lunch will get their lunch without congregating in the lunch line, thus allowing students sufficient time to eat. Grab-and-Go lunches are also being considered for students to increase efficiency and reduce time spent in the cafeteria line. 

Action Plan

• Six lunch waves to reduce the number of students in the cafe at one time.

• Four students eating at a lunch table instead of eight. 

• Varied routes to and from the cafeteria will be designated for each group of students, during each lunch wave.

• Areas of the cafeteria will be assigned per team. 

Social Distancing in Hallways/Locker Use/Locker Room Use:

We will look to maximize adult presence in the hallways during transition times. Our student pass protocol allows for social distancing. During class transition times, we anticipate social distancing to be a challenge. 

Action Plan

• We will utilize floor and wall signage to ensure that students are socially distanced to the greatest extent possible. 

• Students will move in preferred patterns based on the signage posted throughout the building.

• Two-minute staggered team transition times will be utilized when students are moving to classes.

Isolation Rooms/Dismissal Procedures:  In the event that a student is suspected to have symptoms related to COVID-19, a comprehensive evaluation will be performed by the school nurse. If the nurse determines further evaluation is required by a physician, the student will be placed in a supervised isolation room located in the nurse's office to await pick up by parent or guardian.

Action Plan

• The school nurse will communicate with the principal as needed to inform her of any case(s) that may result in a positive case of COVID-19 (based on the symptoms).

• Within the isolation room, students will be kept separated while they wait for a parent or guardian.

• Head nurse will outline safety procedures for dismissal to parent/guardian.

Bathrooms:

Action Plan

• Each grade-level team will have designated bathroom times in 20 minute intervals throughout each block. 

• In addition, students will be able to use the restroom near the cafeteria, following strict social distancing guidelines, and strict pass procedure of no more than three students in the bathroom at once.  Frequent adult monitoring and student self-regulation will play a major role in the success of this protocol.

Water Fountains:

Action Plan

• The drinking spout on all water fountains will be disabled.

• Touchless water fillers will be available for usage.

• Students are encouraged to bring their own water bottles and can refill them at the fountains.

• Water bottles cannot be shared amongst students. 

School Governance/PTO:

Action Plan

• Administrative team will meet weekly. 

• PTO meetings will be held virtually through Zoom.  

High Heat Concerns:

In the past, with high heat and high humidity, temperatures on the second floor rose to levels that made teaching and learning difficult. Without the restrictions of social distancing, alternate arrangements were made in the building to house grade level classes in the auditorium, cafeteria, etc.  With the added safety measures of wearing masks and social distancing in place this school year, it is important to plan ahead for high humidity and high heat days and make additional accommodations because of these restrictions.

Action Plan

Distance Learning:

• In the event that a heatwave is forecasted and in consultation with the Superintendent and the local Health Department, in-person instruction may be cancelled and distance learning protocols will be enacted.  

• Parents will be notified through robo calls and emails. 

• This protocol will ensure the safety of teachers and students and help to facilitate uninterrupted teaching and learning. 

Early Dismissal:

• In the event students are already in the building and alternative locations (auditorium and cafeteria) cannot   accommodate students due to social distancing guidelines, an early dismissal for students will occur.

• This decision will be made in consultation with the Superintendent and the local Health Department.

• Parents will be notified through robo calls and email no later than 10:00 AM on the day of.

• This again will ensure the safety of our students as we adhere to social distancing and mask wearing guidelines. 

In the event Sage Park is required to reduce the volume of students in the building by fifty percent, the following plan will be executed. With the exception of cohorts and classes as described below, all other areas such as dismissal, arrival, lunch, etc., will remain the same as outlined under the plans for the building at one hundred percent capacity.  

Action Plan

Cohorts

• Before the beginning of the school year, all students will be placed into two separate building groups. Special consideration will be given to siblings with different last names.   

• Each group will represent fifty-percent (50%) of the school’s entire population.  

• Group 1 Group 2

Classes

• Based on the block schedule, building groups will attend school every other day. Group 1 will consistently attend class in person on Monday/Thursday and Group 2 will attend class in person on Tuesday/Friday. 

Secondary Hybrid Schedule

Family Engagement Activities:

Maintaining connection to all families is paramount at Sage Park Middle School.  We approach family engagement as a collaborative approach to improving teaching and learning for all students.  We learn from one another and grow together.

Action Plan

• Meetings will be virtual, with a mid-year reevaluation as to the continued need for virtual meetings or a return to on-site.

• The vast majority of events will also be virtual.  However, we will consider events held outside provided we are able to maintain social distancing and PPE.

Equity:

We are a community devoted to creating equitable practices so that all students reaching their personal greatness and success is no longer predictable by student identity (race, class, (dis)ability, language, religion, sexuality, gender zip code or immigration status). 

Action Plan

• Continue to partner with all schools in the district to ensure alignment of equity goals districtwide.  

• Leverage the School Improvement Team by having equity work as one of our three focus goals and working with the OFCP to have an equity-focused community partner as part of our School Improvement Team.

• Work with RE-Center to map out a plan for professional development and workshops for staff, families, and students. 

• Engage in equity-focused Book Talks

• The focus this year is creating Actionable Steps and Measures for Success for the School’s Equity Mission and Vision.

Social Emotional:

Understanding and planning for our students’ social emotional health is just as important as planning for academic instruction. Sage Park Middle School will closely follow the directions as outlined in the District’s Social Emotional Plan.   We understand the importance for all of our students to feel welcomed, safe, and supported.   

Action Plan

• Increased attention to students as they enter the building by administration, social worker and psychologist to assess readiness to learn. 

• Increased focus on social emotional support by classroom teachers throughout the instructional day. 

• Include social emotional learning with mask breaks throughout the day.

Sage Park Plan

Arrival Procedure:

With students arriving at varying times, whether it be by drop off, buses or walking, we will be able to manage the arrival procedures. Staffing with safety monitors and adult presence in the hallways should assist in facilitating a safe arrival process. Administrators and/or safety monitors will be stationed at all entrances, greeting students and reminding them to put on their mask if they do not already have one on, as well as to maintain distance between themselves and the next person.

Action Plan

Bus Arrival

• Assigned staff, such as teachers, social workers, paras, tutors (depending on start times), will greet students at their assigned bus.

  • Gym and JFK front doors will be utilized for entrance and exits

    • Grade 3 - Left Door Gym

    • Grade 4 - 2 Right Door Gym and 1st door entrance

    • Grade 5 - 2nd and 3rd front door entrance

• Assigned staff will dismiss students from buses and escort and manage social distancing of 6 ft. upon entry to the building and through specified hallways to grade-level classrooms.

• Bus students will be escorted in cohorts with the same assigned staff daily.  

• Students will enter classrooms where partner teachers will develop plans for locker visits. 

Parent Morning Drop Off

• Students will be dropped off by parents and escorted by staff to grade level hubs with adult supervision.  Social distancing will be monitored. 

• Grade level hubs will include areas such as cafeteria and gym.  Staff in the cafeteria and gym will supervise students and escort to grade-level hallways at the 8:30 AM bell.  

• Students dropped off after 8:30 AM will be required to enter through the front doors at security.  

Dismissal Procedure: 

Action Plan

Bus Dismissal

• Assigned staff will walk students to buses while managing social distancing.  

• Assigned bus number hubs will be located in the gym (3 exit doors and the front doors). This allows for students to remain with their morning bus cohort.  

  • Gym and JFK Front doors will be utilized for entrance and exits

    • Grade 3 - Left Door Gym

    • Grade 4 - 2 Right Door Gym and 1st door entrance

    • Grade 5 - 2nd and 3rd front door entrance

• Nonessential visitors, volunteers, and activities involving external groups or organizations should be eliminated as much as possible.

• Students will not be assigned lockers for semester one. Students will bring belongings to the classrooms and walk with their materials, as needed, to specials. 

Parent Pick Up

• Students being picked up will be dismissed to the parent pick up area. 

  • Location: Middle door to the outdoor courtyard that will lead out to the two-way pick up station.

• Staff is assigned to hallways to monitor students walking to parent pick up. 

• Assigned staff will escort students to parent’s cars. 

Walkers

• Will be guided by staff members assigned to facilitate the students who walk.

  • Location: Front Door #1- Walking near the front of the roundabout.

Class Size Reduction Efforts:

Action Plan

• There will be two platforms available (distance and in-person school); however, we are encouraging all students to attend in-school learning.

• Every effort will be made to maintain 6 feet of distance between students. Students’ desks will be strategically placed based on the 3-6 feet mandate. 

• Small group sizes will decrease from 5 students in a group to 2-3 students in a group to practice social distancing.

Breakfast and Lunch: 

Currently, we are examining the potential to have an additional lunch wave, and utilizing the cafeteria at 50% capacity so that some classes can eat in the cafeteria. 

Action Plan

Breakfast

• Floating kiosks will be located in grade level hallways.  Upon arrival, students will be escorted with their assigned hub staff to their grade-level hallway.   

• Students will eat breakfast in classrooms.

• Students will be supervised during breakfast by classroom teachers.  

Lunch

• Floating kiosks will be located in grade-level hallways.  

• Lunch monitors will supervise lunch in classrooms while teachers take lunch breaks. 

• Two choices of lunches will be provided; cold and hot boxed lunches.  

• Lunch will not be in the cafeteria setting.  Students will remain with their classroom cohorts. 

Cohorting of Students:

Action Plan

Arrival and Dismissal

• Students will be cohorted by the categories of buses, walkers, riders, and Tree House.

• The gym, front doors, and middle hallway door will be used as entrances and exits for the student cohorts.

• Each class cohort will have an additional 10 minutes of “Eagle Time” where they can take a mask break outside or in a large area within the building.

• Recess will be held by class cohorts and designated spaces will be marked for students to use within their cohorted classes.

• Breakfast and lunch will be in class cohorts and will be provided using kiosks to serve students. 

PTO Meetings:

Action Plan

• Administrative Team will meet monthly with the PTO Executive Committee.

• PTO meetings will be held virtually until the District approves in-person meetings and in-person meeting protocols.

Tree House Program: 

Action Plan

Tree House AM (before school)

• Students arriving for Tree House will enter through the side drop off doors. 

• If students are arriving from Clover Street School, they will be greeted at the bus by Tree House staff and escorted to the Tree House area. 

• Tree House staff will supervise students and develop plans for social distancing for the morning program.

Tree House PM (after school)

• An intercom announcement will dismiss students to the Tree House location.

• Assigned Tree House staff will monitor student dismissal.

• Tree House staff will supervise and develop plans for social distancing for the afternoon program. 

Social Distancing in Hallways/Lockers: 

Action Plan

Hallway:

• Every effort will be made to adhere to the 6 ft. social distancing guidelines as students move through hallways into other areas of the building for arrival, dismissal, specials classes and bathroom use. 

• Students will be instructed to walk on the right and left sides of the hallways.  Signage will instruct the flow of allway traffic using floor markings (i.e. arrows).

• Directional arrows will be in the halls and additional signage will be posted.  

• Students will be encouraged to walk at a distance and face the same way at all times.

• Stagger Transitions: Common area times will be restricted and staggered to cohorts.

• With the increase of lessons being taught in the classroom, along with lunch, there will also be a decrease in transitions.

• Lines will be routed during transitions to avoid lines passing one another.

• Lockers cannot be utilized, all student materials will be brought into room.

Isolation Rooms: Identify isolation room for students/staff exhibiting potential symptoms.  Identify procedure for dismissing students and staff from the room.

Action Plan

Isolation Room Location-Head Nurse 

• The isolation room will be located in the conference room next to the nurse’s suite.

Head Nurse

• Provides the guidance on the safety protocols and procedures we will utilize at JFK.

Bathroom and Water Fountains:

Action Plan

Bathrooms

• Each grade-level team will have designated bathroom times in 20 minute intervals throughout each day. 

• In addition, students will be following strict social distancing guidelines and strict pass procedures of no more than three students in the bathroom at once.  

• Frequent adult monitoring and student self-regulation will play a major role in the success of this protocol.

Water Fountains

• The spout on all water fountains will be disabled.

• The hands-free water fillers will be available for usage.

• Students are encouraged to bring their own water bottles and can refill them at the fountains.

• Water bottles cannot be shared amongst students. 

• Process for discarding/recycling water bottles at JFK.

Moderate Transmission Plan (How the school operates if we were required to be at 50% capacity): 

Action Plan

JFK Communication Plan

• Outlining closure.

• Procedures of closure.

• Distance Learning set-up/Hybrid Model from the district.

• Communication plan for each grade and school-wide level.

Monitoring  

• Observe data trends with students and staff absences.

• Prepare staff that will be able to take on other staff member roles and responsibilities.

• Survey staff, students, and families.

• Focus groups to gain an understanding of perspective for data points to review.

Family Engagement Activities

• Meetings will be virtual, with a midyear reevaluation to determine if there is continued need for virtual meetings or a return to on-site. 

• The vast majority of events will also be virtual.  However, we will consider events held outside given we can maintain social distancing and PPE.

Equity

• Continue to partner with all schools in the district to ensure alignment of equity goals districtwide. 

• Leverage the School Improvement Team by having equity work as one of our three focus goals and working with the OFCP to have an equity-focused community partner as part of our School Improvement Team.

• Work with RE-Center to map out a plan for professional development and workshops for staff, families, and students. 

• Engage in equity-focused Book Talks

• The focus this year is creating Actionable Steps and Measures for Success for the School’s Equity Mission and Vision.

Special Education:

Action Plan

• Continued monitoring of students’ performance and appropriate revisions to their Individualized Education Programs.

• Close communication with families regarding student programming and progress using multiple means of communication in multiple languages to ensure equal access to the information.

• Communicate with families of students with a high level of need to develop transition plans to assist special populations and special education students in their return to the school building. The use of social stories, visual cues, and other appropriate developmental strategies should be used to reinforce these new concepts and protocols.

• For students who are unable to attend due to existing medical conditions, continued educational opportunities will be provided based on student specific needs. 

• Physical layout of spaces for students with disabilities both in the general education classrooms and special education classrooms will consider the need for social distancing and the unique needs of the student.

• Instruction and assessment for students with disabilities will continue to consider the provision of supports, accommodations, and modifications as required in a student’s IEP, Section 504 plan, or other intervention/learning plan.

• Masks/face shields are required to be worn by everyone on the bus during school bus transportation.

• Breaks should occur when students can be six feet apart and ideally outside or at least with the windows open. Further guidance on mask/face shield breaks including duration and frequency will be forthcoming, as well as more information about properly removing and putting on masks.

Social-Emotional Learning:

Action Plan

One-on-One Counseling:

• If counseling will take place in a staff members’ office, both student and staff should have on a mask and/or face shield. 

• Five minute intervals in between student meetings to allow staff time to wipe desk, chairs and doorknobs.

Group Counseling:

• Attendance should be taken of each student present for tracking purposes.

• Limited transition (in and out of the space) during the counseling session.

• Groups can continue with no more than 5 students in a group space.

• Sessions should take place in open classroom or conference room spaces.

• Group members and staff should have on a mask and/or face shield. 

• Five minute intervals in between student meetings to allow staff time to wipe desk, chairs and doorknobs.

Develop a detailed plan to re-engage all students, staff and families. Particularly identify strategies to identify and engage populations and specific students that have been disengaged. 

Steps to re-engage students and families will include: 

• Communication home from building level. 

• Follow-up calls from case managers. 

• Implement socially distant home visits (as health conditions allow) to re-engage students and families. 

• Provide families with resources to help prepare students (social stories, schedules, expectations going back). 

• For families of children with disabilities who choose not to participate in in-person instruction, implement an individualized learning plan that addresses the student’s unique learning needs through a distance learning framework.

Prepare staff to identify issues related to abuse and neglect in the context of the pandemic and comply with all mandated reporting requirements.

Steps to re-engage students and families will include:

• Refresher training provided to all staff on abuse, neglect, and mandated reporter requirements, with additional contextual information as it relates to a pandemic.

• Compile and train staff on resources to support families who may require support (food assistance, housing, clothing, and materials).

Maximizing Ways to Ensure Your School is Friendly, Welcoming, Helpful, Nonjudgmental and Caring:

Rapidly identify students who are not successfully transitioning back to school. 

To address school readjustment concerns, transition planning should focus on preparing school staff to implement early warning and response procedures that:

• Quickly identify any student, family or staff having problems. They may be more withdrawn, more anxious or depressed, or exhibit some other indicator that the time at home was difficult for them and they would benefit from community mental health services and supports.

• Provide personalized supports to aid those with adjustment problems or exhibiting change that is interfering with their ability to function well in school.

• Refer students in need of additional services.

Creating a Space Where People Feel Safe, Respected and Cared For

Creating a space where people feel safe, respected and cared for is essential to addressing traumatic stress at the beginning of and throughout the year. 

The following may help:

• Consider a whole-school or whole-class brief lesson on how traumatic stress impacts our brains to help normalize and reduce shame, as well as lessen the likelihood that schools will engage in punitive re-traumatizing reactions.

• Encourage self-compassion and provide time, spaces and places for embedding self-care activities for both students and staff. Group spaces, breathing together, journaling time, etc., can be integrated into classroom activities and staff meetings and routines.

J.F. Kennedy Plan

Arrival Procedures:

Action Plan

• Staff will be assigned to monitor the hallways to ensure that students are maintaining social distance while entering the building.  

Arrival by Car:

• Students arriving by car will be dropped off in assigned locations of the school.  See drop off areas below. 

• Staff will be stationed at each door that students arrive through to monitor and maintain required social distance. 

• Safety assistant will direct traffic flow in the circle and back parking lot. 

• Drop off areas are as follows:  

• Back parking lot door by orange building: 

  • Small buses and vans will continue to use this area for dropping off students on specialized transportation.  

  • Students in yellow and blue buildings:

    • Students in rooms 12, 14, 16 and 18 will enter the buildings via their class fire door.

    • Students in rooms 13, 15, 17 and 19 will enter the buildings via the main entry door. 

• Circle area with door by gymnasium/purple building:

  • Students in purple building:

    • Students in rooms 24 and 26 will enter via the fire door.

    • Students in room 25 and 27 will enter the side door between the purple building and the gymnasium.

• Clover Street side entrance:

  • Students in the green building:

    • Students in rooms 9 and 11 will enter via the fire door. 

    • Students in rooms 8 and 10 will enter through the Clover Street side door to get to the green building.

Buses:

• Students and bus drivers will be required to wear masks at all times during bus transportation.

• Buses will unload systematically by order of arrival. 

• Students will exit buses from the front of the bus.

• Students will enter the building via designated building doors.  

• Paraeducators will meet students at the bus and walk them to classes using the main hallway. This will separate students being dropped off from students taking the bus.  

Walkers:

• Students walking to school will enter the building on the Clover Street side of the building.

• Staff will be on duty to monitor students arriving to school.  

• This is the same protocol as in previous years. 

Late Arrival:

• All students that are late will enter the school at the main entrance via Grace Street.  

• Students will sign in with the safety assistant.  The classroom will be notified and the student will walk to the classroom.

Dismissal Procedures:

Action Plan

• Staff will be assigned to monitor the hallways to ensure that students are maintaining social distance while exiting the building.  

Walkers: 

• Students that are walking home from school will be dismissed first to allow for social distancing in the hallways.  

• Students will exit the building via the Clover Street side entrance.    

Pick-ups:

• Students being picked up will be dismissed through the same door that they used during arrival. The layout of Clover affords us the opportunity to have students dismiss through several doors.  

• Staff will be stationed at all entrances and in the hallways ensuring students immediately make their way to their designated area (door or buses) and do not congregate in the hallway. 

Buses:

• Students and bus drivers will be required to wear masks at all times during bus transportation. 

• Students will remain in their classrooms to listen for individual buses to be called.  Once their bus is called they will exit the building to get on their bus. 

• Students will sit in assigned seats on the bus.   

• Staff will be assigned to monitor the bus lot to ensure that students are maintaining social distancing.  

Breakfast and Lunch: 

Action Plan

              Breakfast:

• A kiosk will be utilized to serve breakfast to students. The breakfast kiosk will be stationed at two different locations in the building (one kiosk scheduled for two different times).  

• A breakfast schedule will be created identifying which classes will go to pick up breakfast. Paraeducators will be assigned to monitor distribution of breakfast meals to students.

              Lunch:

• The cafeteria will operate at less than 50% capacity.   

• Two classes will eat in the cafeteria and two classes will eat under the tents or in the classroom per lunch wave. 

• Seat markers will identify where students will sit on the benches to ensure safe distance between each student. 

• All seating will face in one direction toward the stage.  

              Recess:

• Recess will be staggered at different times throughout the day. 

• Classes will be assigned different areas of the playground to use   

• Teachers will create a schedule to let office staff know when their class has recess.

Playgrounds:

The CDC states that “the targeted use of disinfectants can be done effectively, efficiently and safely on outdoor hard surfaces and objects frequently touched by multiple people.”

Action Plan

• Playground use schedule will include time for disinfecting playground equipment between uses.

• Students shall wash hands before and after using the playground. 

• Hand sanitizer shall be available for use if a child sneezes, blows their nose, etc.

• Trash receptacles will be on site for disposal of soiled tissues, gloves used during sanitizing, etc.  

• Structures that are hard to clean will be closed off.

Cohorting of Students:

There is a comprehensive district distance learning plan we will use as a resource for when students are learning from home.  The guidelines and protocols are specific in order to create as close to the same level of instruction as possible when students are learning from home.

Action Plan

• Students will remain in their homeroom class assignments for most of the day to maximize student safety.  Students receiving specialized instruction might go into other classrooms for that instruction.  However, every effort will be made to have students receive specialized instruction in their homeroom classes when possible. 

• Special area classes will either be held in the homeroom classroom or in the assigned classroom for that special. For example, library time may occur in the homeroom classroom, while physical education will be held in the gymnasium or outside.  

Social Distancing in Hallways/Locker Use:

Action Plan

• Students will walk through the hallways with their classroom teacher maintaining social distancing guidelines.   

• Floor and wall signage will be used to ensure that students maintain social distancing.  

• Staff will be assigned to hall duty to ensure students are following signage expectations during arrival and dismissal. 

• Student lockers will not be utilized during the first semester (possibly for the school year).  Students will keep their items with them at their desks.     

School Governance (if applicable) and/or PTO Meetings:

Action Plan

• All meetings will be held virtually. 

• Committee will determine the day and time of meetings. 

• Committee will review holding meetings in school as an option once it is deemed safe to hold in-person meetings in schools.

Class Size Reduction Efforts:

Action Plan

• There will be two platforms available (distance and in-school); however, we are encouraging all students to attend in-school learning

• Distance between students will be maintained and students will all face the same way. When distance is not possible, dividers, face shields, and masks will be utilized. 

• Teacher desk and instruction area will be six feet apart from students so the teacher will have an option to provide instruction without a mask.

Identify isolation room for students/staff exhibiting potential symptoms.  Identify procedure for dismissing students and staff from the room.  

Action Plan

• As identified by the nursing supervisor, the isolation room will be the small office in the nurse’s current office.  This office has two areas.  We will utilize the area where the nurse’s desk had been located as the isolation room. 

• In the event that a student is suspected to have symptoms related to Covid-19, a comprehensive evaluation will be performed by the school nurse. If the nurse determines further evaluation is required by a physician, the student will be placed in a supervised isolation room located in the nurse's office to await pick up by parent or guardian. 

• Within the isolation room students will be kept separated while they wait for a parent or guardian.

• Please see Windsor Public Schools COVID-19 Protocols (listed at end of plan) as outlined by the supervising nurse. 

Moderate Transmission Plan:

Action Plan

In the event that we have to operate at 50% capacity we will operate on a rotating schedule.    

• For Windsor, this plan is for the students to attend in three cohorts. 

  • Cohort 1 will attend school on Mondays and Thursdays. Students will participate in distance learning on Tuesdays and Fridays. 

  • Cohort 2 will attend school Tuesdays and Fridays.  This cohort of students will participate in distance learning on Mondays and Thursdays. 

  • Cohort 3 will participate in distance learning. 

  • ALL students will participate in distance learning on Wednesdays. 

• District will identify Cohorts 1 and 2 as determined by transportation needs.  

Family Engagement Activities/Other Visitors:

Action Plan

Meetings

• Family engagement activities will be held virtually.  

• This includes our welcome back to school event, open house, student-led conferences, PTO meetings, etc.  

• Nonessential visitors, volunteers, and activities involving external groups or organizations should be restricted.

Safety Procedures as Outlined by the District:

Action Plan

• Masks: 

  • Masks will be mandatory, with a few exceptions based on a documented medical reason. We will plan opportunities for “mask breaks” during the day, and will encourage the use of the outside areas around the schools for classes, where, if distanced appropriately, students can remove their masks.  We have purchased extra masks to have on hand should students forget their mask. 

• Hand Washing: 

  • A practice of hand washing at regular intervals will be a mandatory occurrence, and we will continue to educate our children on appropriate cleaning techniques. Hand sanitizer dispensers have been installed in each classroom and hand sanitizer stations have been placed throughout hallways.  Each elementary classroom has a sink for handwashing. Each classroom has been equipped with hand sanitizers. 

Bathrooms:

Action Plan

• Each building level team will have designated bathroom times in 20 minute intervals throughout each day. 

• In addition, students will be following strict social distancing guidelines, and strict pass procedure of no more than three students in the bathroom at once.  Frequent adult monitoring and student self-regulation will play a major role in the success of this protocol.

Water Fountains:

Action Plan

• The spout on all water fountains will be disabled.

• The hands-free water fillers will be available for usage.

• Students are encouraged to bring their own water bottles and can refill them at the fountains.

• Water bottles cannot be shared amongst students. 

Social Emotional Learning:

Understanding and planning for our students’ social emotional health is just as important as planning for academic instruction. Clover Street School will closely follow the directions as outlined in the District’s Social Emotional Plan. We understand the importance for all of our students to feel welcomed, safe and supported. 

Action Plan

• Increased attention to students as they enter the building by administration, social worker and psychologist to assess readiness to learn.

• Increased focus on social emotional support by classroom teachers throughout the instructional day.

• Include social emotional learning with mask breaks throughout the day.

• Increased recess time by 10 minutes.

Equity for All:

We are a community devoted to creating equitable practices so that all students reaching their personal greatness and success is no longer predictable by student identity (race, class (dis)ability, language, religion, sexuality, gender zip code or immigration status).

Action Plan

• Continue to partner with all schools in the district to ensure alignment of equity goals districtwide. 

• Leverage the School Improvement Team by having equity work as one of our three focus goals and working with the OFCP to have an equity focused community partner as part of our School Improvement Team

• Work with RE-Center to map out a plan for professional development and workshops for staff, families, and students. 

• Engage in equity-focused Book Talks and Study Circles.

Clover Street Plan

Arrival Procedure:

With students arriving at varying times, whether it be by drop off, buses or walking, we will be able to manage the arrival procedures. Staffing with safety monitors and adult presence in the hallways should assist in facilitating a safe arrival process.

Administrators and/or safety monitors will be stationed at all entrances, greeting students and reminding them to put on their mask if they do not already have one on as well as to maintain distance between themselves and the next person.

Action Plan

• Staff will monitor arrival and dismissal to curtail congregating and ensure students go straight from vehicle to their classroom, and vice versa.

• Nonessential visitors, volunteers, and activities involving external groups or organizations should be eliminated as much as possible.

• Four entry points for student bus arrival (front door by office, front door by copiers, gym entry and by PreK).

• Staggered time for family drop-off (8:30 AM and 8:45 AM).

Dismissal Procedure: 

Action Plan

• Four exit doors for bus students (front door by office, front door by copiers, gym entry and by PreK).

• Staggered time for family pick-up (3:00 PM and 3:15 PM).

• Buses will be called by bus rather than grade as we have in the past.

Class Size: 

Action Plan

• There will be two platforms available (distance and in-school); however, we are encouraging all students to attend in-school learning.

• Every effort will be made to maintain distance between students, however, we know at the earliest grade levels students will not always maintain distance.

  • For this reason, masks are of the utmost importance.

Breakfast and Lunch:

Currently, we are examining the potential to have an additional lunch wave, and utilizing the cafeteria at 50% capacity so that some classes can eat in the cafeteria.  Oliver Ellsworth would also entertain outdoor dining when weather permits.

Action Plan

• Kiosks with “Grab-n-Go Meals” will be established for breakfast and lunch for each hallway.

• Students will eat in the classroom.

  • Classrooms will need to be free of allergens given if a student has an allergy, a designated table will not work given close quarters of a classroom.

• Discontinue self-service food or beverage distribution in the cafeteria. Meals, snacks, and beverages served at school must be individually packaged, wherever possible. Where individual packaging is not possible, food and beverages must be served directly to students. As always, ensure the safety of children with food allergies.

• Cafeteria use available if social distancing guidelines can be followed. 

Cohorting of Students:

We will make every effort to keep students together as a class, however this will not always be possible.

Action Plan

• Students will attend unified arts sessions in the classroom (this may change based on further discussions and guidance).

  • Students will be given individual art and music kits which can be used for classes as well as brought home giving a pivot to distance learning.  This will reduce the need for students to share materials.

• In order to give students a break from the rooms, students will be given breaks outside after each instructional block, when possible.

• Intervention, social/emotional and IEP student groups will be limited to 2 students, with cleaning between groups. As much as possible, students will be from the same class working together.

• Clear masks, face shields and plexiglass dividers will be utilized for small group instruction, intervention, resource and SLP work depending on appropriateness.

• Students, teachers, and faculty may be asked to assist in the cleaning of materials.

• Recess will be extended by 10 minutes as another effort to give students a break from the classroom.

• Recess will be in zoned rotations between black top, field, and the playscape (if permitted).

• Teachers will review safety measures daily with students as outlined by the CDC to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

The school nurse will communicate with the principal, as needed, to inform him of any case(s) that may result in a positive case of COVID-19 (based on the symptoms).

Playgrounds:

The CDC states that “the targeted use of disinfectants can be done effectively, efficiently, and safely on outdoor hard surfaces and objects frequently touched by multiple people.”

Action Plan

• Playground areas will be utilized by one class at a time. 

• Playground use schedule will include time for disinfecting playground equipment between uses.

• Students shall wash their hands before and after using the playground. 

• Hand sanitizer shall be available for use if a child sneezes, blows their nose, etc.

• Trash receptacles will be on site for disposal of soiled tissues, gloves used during sanitizing, etc.  

• Structures that are hard to clean will be closed off, i.e. sandboxes.

PTO Meetings:

Family involvement is critical, especially this year as we overcome obstacles related to the pandemic.  We will continue to meet with the PTO as well as focus groups.  We, at Oliver Ellsworth, recognize that a need to address social justice and equity has only increased.

Action Plan

• All meetings will be virtual, until at least December, with a midyear re-evaluation of the need to continue with virtual meetings or return to on-site.

Tree House Program:

Action Plan

• Tree House will be utilizing its own entrance and exit in the building.

• Coordinator for the Office of Family and Community Partnership will work with principals about a plan to address the need for more space. 

Social Distancing: 

We will look to maximize adult presence in the hallways during transition times. We will explore the opportunity to leverage floor and wall signage to ensure that students are spaced out to the greatest extent possible. 

Action Plan

• Directional arrows will be placed in the halls, and additional signage will be posted.  

• Students will be encouraged to walk at a distance and face the same way at all times.

• Stagger Transitions: Common area times will be restricted and staggered to cohorts.

• With the increase of lessons being taught in the classroom, along with lunch, there will also be a decrease in transitions.

• Materials, such as books, will need to be “quarantined” after student use for 4 days.

  • For example, leveled texts for small groups could be assigned for a week and then would have to sit for 4 days before another group is assigned those books.

  • This would be the same for library books, after being taken out, they would have to sit before being reshelved.

• As much as possible, materials (pencils, crayons, art supplies, etc.) will be assigned to students and not shared.

• There will be plexiglass dividers for small group instruction (separating teacher from students and students from one another).

• Lockers cannot be utilized; all student materials will be brought into room.

• Teaching the importance of mask wearing will be tiered:

  • Teacher reminders

  • Student is reminded by support staff (could include administration)

  • Parent discussion (phone or virtual)

  • School maintains the right to require distance learning if student continues to refuse mask wearing 

• This is for refusal only (not IEP, medical or SEL reasons for not wearing masks) and requiring distance learning is for safety reasons only, not punitive.

Isolation Room:

Action Plan

• Isolation room has been identified by the district as the room adjacent to the current nurse’s office.

• A door with a much larger window has been installed.

• Assistant principal’s office has been moved.

Bathroom and Water Fountains:

Action Plan

Bathrooms

• Hallways will be assigned bathrooms. 

• In addition, students will be able to use the restroom near the cafeteria, following strict social distancing guidelines, and strict pass procedure of no more than three students in the bathroom at once.  Frequent adult monitoring and student self-regulation will play a major role in the success of this protocol.

Water Fountains

• The spout on all water fountains will be disabled.

• Touchless water fillers will be available for usage.

• Students are encouraged to bring their own water bottles and can refill them.

• Water bottles cannot be shared amongst students. 

Social-Emotional Learning:

Understanding and planning for our students’ social emotional health is just as important as planning for academic instruction. Oliver Ellsworth School will closely follow the directions as outlined in the District’s Social Emotional Plan.   We understand the importance for all of our students to feel welcomed, safe, and supported.

Action Plan

• Increased attention to students as they enter the building by administration, social worker and psychologist to assess readiness to learn.

• Increased focus on social emotional support by classroom teachers throughout the instructional day.

• Include social emotional learning with mask breaks throughout the day.

• Increased recess time by 10 minutes.

Hybrid Model:

There is a comprehensive district distance learning plan we will use as a resource for when students are learning from home.  The guidelines and protocols are specific in order to create as close to the same level of instruction as possible when students are learning from home.

Action Plan

• Students will be split into two cohorts so that students may attend in-person school for two days per week and benefit from distance learning for two days.  The fifth day will be for at-home wellness learning which will also allow custodial staff to do a “deep clean”.

• In-school learning will follow protocols as identified above with fewer students.

Family Engagement:

Maintaining connection to all families is paramount at Oliver Ellsworth School.  We approach family engagement as a collaborative approach to improving teaching and learning for all students.  We learn from one another and grow together.

Action Plan

• Meetings will be virtual with a mid-year reevaluation to see if there is a continued need for virtual meetings or a return to on-site.

• The vast majority of events will also be virtual.  However, we will consider events held outside given we can maintain social distancing and PPE.

Equity:

Maintaining connection to all families is paramount at Oliver Ellsworth School.  We approach family engagement as a collaborative approach to improving teaching and learning for all students.  We learn from one another and grow together.

Action Plan

• Continue to partner with all schools in the district to ensure alignment of equity goals districtwide. 

• Leverage the School Improvement Team by having equity work as one of our three focus goals and work with the OFCP to have an equity-focused community partner as part of our School Improvement Team.

• Work with RE-Center to map out a plan for professional development and workshops for staff, families, and students. 

• Engage in equity-focused Book Talks.

• The focus this year is creating Actionable Steps and Measures for Success for the School’s Equity Mission and Vision.

Arrival Procedure:

The goal of the revised arrival procedure is to lessen student-to-student contact and reduce the volume of students entering any particular door at once. With students arriving at varying times, whether it be by drop off, buses or walking, we will be able to manage the arrival procedures. Staffing with safety monitors and adult presence in the hallways should assist in facilitating a safe arrival process.

Administrators and/or safety monitors will be stationed at all entrances, greeting students and reminding them to put on their mask if they do not already have one on, as well as to maintain distance between themselves and the next person.

Action Plan

• Students and staff will be required to wear masks at all times except for mask breaks and other exceptions noted.

• Staff on bus duty will monitor arrival and dismissal to curtail congregating and ensure students go straight from vehicle to their classroom, and vice versa.

• All teachers and security who are not on bus duty will monitor the entrances, halls and walkways welcoming and reminding students of the new expectations. 

• Special Transportation - Students who ride special transportation will enter and exit the building from the side entrance by the cafeteria. Staff members will be located there to supervise and support students.  

• Drop Off - Staggered time for family drop-off (8:30 AM and 8:45 AM). Students who walk/drop off will enter the building through their respective grade-level entrance. The Main Entrance Door (EX 1) will be used for PreK and Kindergarten students. The Side Main Entrance Door (EX 3) will be utilized for 1st and 2nd grade students.  Drop off areas for students may be modified due to the anticipated increase in student drop off. Information on this will be forthcoming. 

• Bus - Students who ride the bus will enter the building in staggered fashion. Bus Entrance Door 1 (EX 5) will be used for Kindergarten students. Bus Entrance Door 2 (EX 7) will be utilized for 1st and 2nd grade students. Buses that arrive on school grounds early will disembark as early as 8:30 AM. Buses will be signaled when it is appropriate to allow students to disembark. 

• Nonessential visitors, volunteers, and activities involving external groups or organizations should be eliminated as much as possible.

• Students will not be assigned lockers for semester one. Students will bring belongings to the classrooms and walk with their materials, as needed, to specials. 

Dismissal Procedure:

Similar to that of the arrival procedures, practices to mitigate the harmful impact of large groups of students moving together should also be in place for dismissal.  School officially ends at 3:25 PM and dismissal procedures will begin at approximately 3:15 PM. All students will be called to their buses in a staggered fashion. Once a bus arrives, students will be called for dismissal.  Two buses will be called simultaneously. 

Action Plan

• Any student pickup due to appointments or other circumstances must occur prior to 2:45 PM so as not to interfere with dismissal procedure.

• Students and staff will be required to wear masks during transitions.

• Special Transportation - Students who ride special transportation will enter and exit the building from the side entrance by the cafeteria. Staff members will be located there to supervise and support students.  

• Pick Up - Staggered time for family pick-up (3:00 PM and 3:15 PM). Students who are picked up will exit the building through their respective grade-level exit. Main Exit Door (EX 1) will be used for PreK and Kindergarten students. The Side Main Exit Door (EX 3) will be utilized for 1st and 2nd grade students.  Pick up areas for students may be modified due to the anticipated increase in student pick up. Information on this will be forthcoming. 

• Bus - Students who ride the bus will exit the building two buses at a time. Bus Exit Door 1 (EX 5) will be used for one bus and Bus Exit Door 2 (EX 7) for the second bus called.

Class Size Reduction Efforts:

Action Plan

• There will be two platforms available (distance and in-school); however, we are encouraging all students to attend in-school learning.

• Distance between students will be maintained and students will all face the same way. When distance is not possible, dividers, face shields, and masks will be utilized. 

• Teacher desk and instruction area will be six feet apart from students so teachers will have an option to provide instruction without a mask.

Breakfast and Lunch: 

In an effort to reduce the number of students in one area, breakfast and lunch will be served in a Grab-and-Go format. Poquonock School would also entertain outdoor dining when weather permits.

Action Plan

• Kiosks with “Grab-n-Go Meals” will be established for breakfast and lunch for each hallway.

• Students will eat in the cafeteria, other large spaces and classrooms.

  • Classrooms will need to be free of allergens if a student has an allergy. A designated table will not work given close quarters of a classroom.

• Discontinue self-service food or beverage distribution in the cafeteria. Meals, snacks, and beverages served at school must be individually packaged, wherever possible. Where individual packaging is not possible, food and beverages must be served directly to students. As always, ensure the safety of children with food allergies.

• Cafeteria use available, if social distancing guidelines can be followed and at 50% capacity.

• Additional lunch waves will be added to provide students with more opportunities to eat outside of the classroom with the new guidelines in place.

Cohorting of Students:

We will make every effort to keep students together as a class, however, this will not always be possible.

Action Plan

• Students transitioning to specials will be routed so that lines do not pass one another.

  • Students will be given individual art and music kits which can be used for classes as well as brought home giving a pivot to distance learning.  This will reduce the need for students to share materials.

• In order to give students a break from the rooms, students will be given breaks outside after each instructional block, when possible. The cafeteria and other identified large spaces will be made available for staggered breaks in the case of inclement weather.

• Intervention, social/emotional and IEP student groups will be limited to 2 students, with cleaning between groups.  As much as possible, students will be from the same class working together.

• Clear masks, face shields and plexiglass dividers will be utilized for small group instruction, intervention, resource and SLP work depending on appropriateness.

• Students, teachers, and faculty may be asked to assist in the cleaning of materials.

• Recess will be extended by 10 minutes as another effort to give students a break from the classroom.

• Recess will be in zoned rotations between field, and playscape (if permitted).

• Teachers will review safety measures daily with students as outlined by the CDC to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

• The school nurse will communicate with the principal, as needed, to inform him of any case(s) that may result in a positive case of COVID-19 (based on the symptoms).

School Governance and PTO Meetings:

Family involvement is critical, especially this year as we overcome obstacles related to the pandemic.  We will continue to meet with the PTO as well as focus groups.  We at Poquonock School recognize that the need to address social justice and equity has only increased.

Action Plan

• Meetings will be virtual, with a mid-year reevaluation to determine if there is a continued need for virtual meetings or a return to on-site.

Tree House Program:

Action Plan

• Tree House will be utilizing its own entrance and exit in the building.

• Coordinator for the Office of Family and Community Partnership will work with principals about a plan to address the need for more space.  

Social Distancing: 

We will look to maximize adult presence in the hallways during transition times. We will explore the opportunity to leverage floor and wall signage to ensure that students are spaced out to the greatest extent possible. 

Action Plan

• Directional arrows will be in the halls and additional signage will be posted.  

• Students will be encouraged to walk at a distance and face the same way at all times.

• Stagger Transitions: Common area times will be restricted and staggered to cohorts.

• With the increase of lessons being taught in the classroom, along with lunch, there will also be a decrease in transitions.

• Lines will be routed during transitions to avoid lines passing one another.

• Lockers cannot be utilized; all student materials will be brought into room.

• Teaching the importance of mask wearing will be tiered

  • Teacher reminders

  • Student is reminded by support staff and administration

  • Parent discussion (phone or virtual)

  • School maintains the right to require distance learning if student continues to refuse mask wearing 

    • This is for refusal only (not IEP, medical or SEL reasons for not wearing masks) and requiring distance learning is for safety reasons only, not punitive.

Isolation Rooms:

In the event that a student is suspected to have symptoms related to COVID-19, a comprehensive evaluation will be performed by the school nurse. If the nurse determines further evaluation is required by a physician, the student will be placed in a supervised isolation room located adjacent to the nurse's office to await pick up by parent or guardian. 

Action Plan

• Isolation room has been identified by the district as the room adjacent to the current nurse’s office.

• A door with a much larger window has been installed.

• Assistant principal’s office has been moved.

Bathroom and Water Fountains

Action Plan

Bathrooms

• Each grade-level team will have designated bathroom times in 20 minute intervals throughout each day. 

• In addition, students will be following strict social distancing guidelines, and strict pass procedure of no more than three students in the bathroom at once.  Frequent adult monitoring and student self-regulation will play a major role in the success of this protocol.

Water Fountains

• The spout on all water fountains will be disabled.

• The hands-free water fillers will be available for usage.

• Students are encouraged to bring their own water bottles and can refill them at the fountains.

• Water bottles cannot be shared amongst students. 

Playgrounds:

The CDC states that “the targeted use of disinfectants can be done effectively, efficiently and safely on outdoor hard surfaces and objects frequently touched by multiple people.”

Action Plan

• Playground areas will be utilized by one class at a time.

• Playground use schedule will include time for disinfecting playground equipment between uses.

• Students shall wash hands before and after using the playground. 

• Hand sanitizer shall be available for use if a child sneezes, blows their nose, etc.

• Trash receptacles will be on site for disposal of soiled tissues, gloves used during sanitizing, etc.  

• Structures that are hard to clean will be closed off, i.e. sandboxes.

Moderate Transmission Plan (50% capacity):

There is a comprehensive district distance learning plan we will use as a resource for when students are learning from home.  The guidelines and protocols are specific in order to create as close to the same level of instruction as possible when students are learning from home.

Action Plan

• Students will be split into two cohorts so that students may attend in-person school for two days per week and benefit from distance learning for two days.  The fifth day will be for at-home wellness learning which will also allow custodial staff to do a “deep clean”.

• In-school learning will follow protocols as identified above with fewer students.

Family Engagement:

Maintaining connection to all families is paramount at Poquonock School.  We approach family engagement as a collaborative approach to improving teaching and learning for all students.  We learn from one another and grow together.

Action Plan

• Meetings will be virtual, with a mid-year reevaluation to see if there is a continued need for virtual meetings or a return to on-site.

• The vast majority of events will also be virtual.  However, we will consider events held outside given we can maintain social distancing and PPE.

Equity:

We are a community devoted to creating equitable practices so that all students reaching their personal greatness and success is no longer predictable by student identity (race, class, (dis)ability, language, religion, sexuality, gender zip code or immigration status). 

Action Plan

• Continue to partner with all schools in the district to ensure alignment of equity goals districtwide. 

• Leverage the School Improvement Team by having equity work as one of our three focus goals and working with the OFCP to have an equity-focused community partner as part of our School Improvement Team.

• Work with RE-Center to map out a plan for professional development and workshops for staff, families, and students. 

• Engage in equity-focused Book Talks.

• The focus this year is creating Actionable Steps and Measures for Success for the School’s Equity Mission and Vision.

Social Emotional:

Understanding and planning for our students’ social emotional health is just as important as planning for academic instructions. Poquonock School will closely follow the directions as outlined in the District’s Social Emotional Plan. We understand the importance for all of our students to feel welcomed, safe, and supported. 

Action Plan

• Increased attention to students as they enter the building by administration, social worker and psychologist to assess readiness to learn.

• Increased focus on social emotional support by classroom teachers throughout the instructional day.

• Include social emotional learning with mask breaks throughout the day.

• Increased recess time by 10 minutes.