Q. How many students per class?
- There are very few classrooms in our district that could accommodate a traditional number of students and keep desks 6 feet apart. In most classrooms we could create 3-4 feet of space between students if we used the entire classroom space. As a result, we will use the available space in the classroom to spread out and social distance as much as possible. Student and staff awareness and cooperation will be expected and critical to help stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
Q. What will in-person classrooms look like?
-Desks will be moved as far apart as possible.
-All desks will be facing one direction as much as possible.
-Students will be assigned a desk.
-K-5 students will be assigned the same desk all day long.
-6-12 students will be assigned a desk in each class period.
-Student movement within the classroom will be limited and discouraged.
-Small group interactions may take place but students will keep an appropriate distance.
-Students will not share supplies. In the rare instances where this may be necessary, all shared supplies or equipment will be disinfected before and after student use
-Teachers will be able to move throughout the classroom and interact with students one-on-one or in small groups.
-Lunch at this time is planned for the cafeteria with as much social distancing as possible and the use of face covering when students are not eating.
-Students will be still able to receive lunch from our Food Service Department during full days. The district wide food distribution will still continue where families can receive 14 breakfasts and lunches per student to cover 7 days
-Students can also continue to bring their own food for lunch
Q. How will recess, arrivals, dismissals take place?
Recess: Teachers will be able to take their classroom outside as a class. Per current MDHHS orders, students and staff will be required to wear a face covering outside if 6ft cannot be maintained. There will be no interaction with students from another class. Multiple classes could be on the playground at the same time but classes will have to stay together and not interact with other classes.
Arrival: Students will arrive at school and be able to enter through multiple doors. One way entrances and exits will be utilized as much as possible. Upon entering the building students will proceed to their classroom or a designated waiting area where the use of a face covering and social distancing will be required.
Dismissal: Students will dismiss as usual with staff members supervising to enforce the use of face coverings and social distancing.
Q. How can early childhood staff (PreK-2nd grade) as well as other grades, complete assessments with social distancing?
- Staff will be able to interact with students one-on-one as long as safety protocols are in place. Staff will need to be wearing a face covering. Additionally, staff will be able to wear face shields or use plexiglass barriers.
Q. Will the students have any type of interaction with each other during the day? Our plan needs to benefit student mental well-being, social/emotional development, as well as academic needs. How are they supposed to learn how to collaborate or use team work If students are never able to do so?
- Students in grades K-5 will have a cohort to interact with during the day. A “cohort” model keeps groups of students together for the day. Students within the cohort can work in small groups as long as they keep some social distance. Additionally, our social emotional learning curriculum and our Resilient School Project will continue during the school day and social emotional lessons will continue to be taught.
Q. What will recess look like?
- Students will participate in respectful and positive play techniques and games. These will be utilized during recess. Students will also be allowed to interact with others in their cohort group.
Q. What will specials look like? These are just as important as their core academic needs, are they not? Would gym in the classroom really be what’s best for kids? Music? STEM?
- K-5: At this time, specials will be virtual. Electives will be offered in grades 6-12 and post secondary.
Q. For gym would they have to wear masks?
- Yes if inside, but gym classes will be outside as much as possible with social distancing enforced to allow some flexibility with the use of a face covering. At this time, gym at the K-5 level will be virtual.
Q. Would gym class do non-contact sports?
- Yes. However, at this time, gym at the K-5 level will be virtual.
Q. What will traversing hallways / changing classes / lockers look like?
- K-5: Hallway traffic will be limited. Typically only one class at a time in the hallways.
- 6-12: Hallway traffic will be limited during class.
- All hallways in all buildings will be marked and divided into two lanes with each lane going in one direction.
Changing classes:
- K-5: Most instruction will occur in the classroom so there will be limited to no “changing classes.”
- 6-12: Students will still change classes as normal but will need to stay to one side of the hallway, following the direction of that lane, wear a face covering, and socially distance as much as possible.
Lockers:
- Students will be asked to only go to lockers at the beginning of the day to drop off coats. All books will either be in classrooms or in backpacks and taken from class to class.