Coronavirus (COVID-19)

List of 13 items.

• When will the school day begin?

  Early morning drop-off will be available for working parents beginning at 7:00 a.m. The location on campus will be determined by the number of students enrolled in the program.

  All students may begin arriving at 7:45 a.m. and the tardy bell will be at 8:05 a.m.

• When will school dismiss?

  Dismissal times will remain the same. PK3-PK4 students will dismiss at 1:00 p.m. Students in grades K-8 will be dismissed at 2:25 p.m. on Mondays and 3:15 p.m on Tuesday - Friday.  In order to lessen the number of students gathered and waiting in a limited space, students in grades K-5 will have a designated area on the sidewalks, safely distanced, to wait with their class until their parent arrives.  Students dismissing from the middle school will wait inside with their class to be dismissed, much like our “rainy day” dismissal protocol. Carpool signs must be used to expedite the dismissal process.

   

• Will students’ temperatures be checked at school?

  Parents will pre-screen their children before sending them to school using the school’s daily health checklist. The checklist will be included in the Back to School Information book. Students, parents, visitors, faculty and staff should be fever-free for 24 hours, without fever-reducing medication, before entering campus. Visitors to the campus will have their temperature checked and be asked to fill out the school’s self-check screening.

   

• What if my child is running a fever?

  Students running a fever of 100.4 or higher must be evaluated by their physician and must have a note from their physician in order to return to school.  If the physician recommends COVID testing, students must wait for the results to come back and be cleared by their physician before returning to school.   We will follow guidelines from the CDC, TEA, and local officials for students testing positive for COVID. Students must be afebrile for 72 hours before being considered recovered and also remain at home for 10 days from the start of the illness.  

  
  If students are exhibiting symptoms of COVID, have been exposed to the virus in their immediate family, or have tested positive to COVID, parents will be expected to contact the school nurse or the Head of School. HIPAA privacy guidelines will be followed. All parents will need to sign an Assumption of Risk and Waiver of Liability Relating to COVID-19.

• What if someone in my child’s class is diagnosed with COVID?

  In the event a child tests positive for COVID-19, appropriate contact tracing and family notifications (under HIPAA privacy guidelines) will be performed in accordance with CDC and TEA guidelines and local orders. Additional protocols for the occurrence of COVID on campus will be shared in mid-July.

• Will face masks be required?

  Students are welcome to wear masks but will not be required to wear them all day.  However, studies are showing that the risk of transmitting the coronavirus is higher when people are face to face for about 15 minutes or longer. We plan to continue to do collaborative work and group projects. During those times, students will need to wear face masks or face shields if they will be in close proximity with others for extended periods of time. Students may bring their own masks or disposable ones will be available for use if needed. In the science classes for grades 4-8, clear face shields, provided by the school, will replace the use of goggles for safety wear when doing lab work. All teachers will be provided with clear face shields. Face masks will need to follow dress code guidelines for free dress days (no inappropriate images or words). 

• Will there be social and physical distancing in place?

  Yes, when reasonable and feasible. Seating at the tables in the PK building will be safely distanced. The desks in the other classrooms will be set apart, facing the front of the room, and sidewalks will have marks six feet apart to encourage distancing when moving around the campus. 

• What health precautions will be in place?

  Cleaning and Disinfecting:

  • All classrooms will be disinfected with electrostatic sprayers daily. The rooms will be aired out after being disinfected.
  • Hand sanitizer stations will be in every classroom and at the entrance doors to buildings.
  • All air conditioning units will have ultraviolet purifiers to purify the air going into the classrooms.

  There will be a full-time nurse on campus 8:00 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. We have converted the teacher’s break room in the administration building into the nurse’s office. The space is larger, can be partitioned off, and has a separate entrance.

  
  The nurse and the faculty and staff will continue to educate students about the importance of frequent hand washing; covering a cough or sneeze; not touching one’s eyes, nose, and mouth; staying home when sick; and other measures to help prevent the spread of communicable diseases.  Signs will be placed throughout the campus reminding the community about safety precautions.

• What other precautions will be in place?

  Students will stay with cohorts throughout the day.

  • To help prevent the spread of communicable diseases this year, plans are in place to keep students with their homeroom classmates as much as possible throughout the day and limit the time when they mix with other students. When classes are combined it will be primarily by grade level and for outside activities like recess and P.E. 

  Sharing classrooms

  • The data is showing that there is a low risk of contracting COVID from surfaces. To help mitigate the risk, though, the schedule will allow for time between classes to use disinfectant to wipe down desks and surfaces that are in use.

  Chapel

  • We will be limiting the number of students who will be together in an enclosed room. For the time being, we will have chapel broadcasted into the classrooms instead of everyone gathering together for chapel and the link will be shared with parents as well. Special chapels, including class chapel programs, will be held and presented virtually.

  Lunch

  • Students in PK3-PK4 will bring their lunch and eat in their classrooms as usual. Students in grades K-8 will eat lunch outside, weather permitting, or in their classrooms. They will either bring their lunch or purchase a pre-packaged lunch from the foodservice. Since the students will not be using the dining facility at this time, they will not have access to the microwaves.

  Water Fountains

  • Water fountains will be covered and not be used. Students are highly encouraged to bring their own water bottles labeled with their names. They will be able to re-fill them at the water dispensers around campus. Disposable cups will be available in the classrooms if students forget their water bottles. Water bottles may only contain water. 

  Middle School Lockers and Hallways

  • To prevent large groups of students congregating, students will not be assigned lockers. Rather, they will use their backpacks throughout the day. The backpacks need to be without wheels for ease in moving through the hallways. Students will change classes by grade level to help with traffic and lessen congestion in the hallways when changing classes. Digital textbooks will be accessible online and print textbooks will be kept in the classrooms.

• What will P.E. look like?

  P.E. classes will be held outside whenever possible. The curriculum will focus on exercises and activities that limit close contact. Students will not dress out in P.E. uniforms this year to eliminate having students in the confined space of the locker rooms. 

• Will students be able to be outside?

  The All Saints campus sits on eleven beautiful acres and we plan to continue to put them to good use. Students will have daily recess and break outside. Teachers plan to hold P.E. and other classes outside when feasible and appropriate for the lessons. 

• Will there be field trips this year?

  Unfortunately, it is not possible to adequately address the health and safety protocols necessary when planning for buses and the venues students would be visiting. At this time, we are keeping the option open of an 8th grade trip in the spring. We are hopeful that the vaccines and treatments will have progressed to a level that makes traveling safe for our students. Field trip fees will be reimbursed.

• REMOTE LEARNING

  We understand that families may choose to keep their children at home until the risk factors lessen. We will work with these families to develop a plan that provides the resources and support needed for students to progress through the grade-level curriculum. This plan will include both synchronous and asynchronous classes and assignments. 

  
  How will Remote Learning be different from last spring’s Continuous Learning platform?

  • Students will be required to check in everyday online with their teachers. Last spring, there were a number of modifications to the schedule and allowances made for assignments that were late or not completed. In our Remote Learning program, students will be expected to adhere to the same expectations in place for students on campus.

  Will students take tests at home?

  • Typically, the students will be able to test at home with the parent serving as the proctor. In middle school, though, students will be asked to come on campus to take major tests at the end of units and the grading periods. They will be isolated to take the tests and arrangements will be made with parents.

  
  

  Will students take the NWEA MAP Growth assessments at home?

  • Students in grades K-8 will need to come on campus to take the fall, winter, and spring  MAP Growth tests. Students will use their own device and take it in a disinfected room specifically arranged for maximum distancing for students taking the assessment.