School Reopening Plan 2020-2021

St. John’s Lutheran School Reopening Plan 2020-2021

Back to School Events:

  • Popsicles in the Playground with a Social Distance Twist – Thursday, August 20 from 6:15pm-7:30pm
    • Face coverings required
  • Preschool-8th grade Classroom Visits – August 24 and August 25
    • Parents and children should attend and bring all school supplies
    • Face coverings are required
    • Each teacher will send a letter via email on August 3 with a Sign Up Genius link to schedule your personal appointment
  • Livestream Opening Worship – Thursday, August 27 at 9:30am

School Schedule for Semester 1 (through January 22):

  • Preschool students will be offered half-day only options, limited to 10 students per classroom per session. Extended Care will be available for the other part of the day for those that require it.  AM session will be from 8:15am-11:15am.  PM session will be from 12:30pm-3:30pm.  The time between sessions will be used to clean and sanitize as necessary.
  • Kindergarten-4th grade students will attend school in-person from 8:15am-11:30am. Live online sessions will take place in the afternoon on a schedule determined by the teacher/department.  Live online homework help will be available to all students from 2:00pm-3:00pm Monday-Friday.
  • Students in 5th-8th grades will attend school in-person from 8:15am-12:00pm. Live online sessions will take place in the afternoon on a schedule determined by the teacher/department.  Live online homework help will be available to all students from 2:00pm-3:00pm Monday-Friday.
  • Accommodations are made for students who have siblings in K-4th grades in their individual classrooms for the time from 11:30am-12:00pm dismissal.

School Schedule for Semester 2 (through June 10):

  • Preschool students will be offered half-day only options, limited to 10 students per classroom per session. Extended Care will be available for the other part of the day for those that require it.  AM session will be from 8:15am-11:15am.  PM session will be from 12:30pm-3:30pm.  The time between sessions will be used to clean and sanitize as necessary.
  • Kindergarten-4th grade students will attend school in-person from 8:15am-2:30pm.
  • Students in 5th-8th grades will attend school in-person from 8:15am-3:00pm.
  • Accommodations are made for students who have siblings in K-4th grades in their individual classrooms for the time from 2:30pm-3:00pm dismissal.

 

Education:

  • Google Classroom/Google Suite for Education will be introduced to students in grades 1-3, and reviewed with students in grades 4-8.  This will ensure that students are familiar with the platform for afternoon online learning sessions and in preparation for the possibility of going to 100% remote learning.
  • Seesaw will be introduced to students in Kindergarten and their parents.
  • MAP Testing will begin within the first week of school so that teachers can evaluate any key concepts that need to be retaught or reviewed.  Testing will occur again in January and April.
  • If it becomes necessary to close the school for an extended period of time, we will transition to remote learning.

 

A Clean School and Healthy Students:

  • Faculty, staff, students and visitors will be required to wear masks inside the school building. Mask breaks may be taken when the 6-foot social distancing recommendation is met.
  • Hand sanitizing stations will be available at all entrances for students to use upon arrival.
  • Our school will be cleaned daily and the following touch-points will be given additional attention and sanitation throughout the day:
    • Door handles
    • Handrails
    • Sinks
    • All surfaces that are frequently touched by multiple people
    • Shared computer keyboards/mouse
  • All classrooms are supplied with antibacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, tissues and additional masks.
  • Social distancing of student seating will be maintained.
  • Supplies will not be shared. Each student will have their own set of supplies for school activities.
  • Manipulatives and other “shared” toys or tools will be disinfected between uses.
  • Objects that cannot be cleaned and sanitized will not be used.
  • Children’s books, like other paper-based materials, are not considered a high risk for virus transmission and do not need additional cleaning or disinfecting procedures.
  • Drinking fountains will be covered and not available for use. The bottle filling stations may be used.  Students are encouraged to bring their own water bottles, labeled clearly with their names.  Bottles should only contain water.
  • Our Board of Properties is working closely with our cleaning vendor to be sure all recommended protocols are followed nightly.

 

Social Distancing Strategies:

  • Visitors are discouraged from entering the building.
  • Procedures will be in place for turning in forms to the school office.
  • Forgotten items will not be accepted during the school day. Students need to arrive with all of their required belongings at the beginning of the school day.
  • Chapel services and assemblies will be modified to include smaller groups and/or to be broadcast into classrooms.
  • Each group of children will be in a separate classroom as much as possible.
  • Desks and seating will be spaced out at 6-foot intervals.
  • Excess furniture will be removed from classrooms to allow for better social distancing.
  • Teachers will move from classroom to classroom, while students stay in their classroom when possible.

 

Drop Off Procedures:

  • All children must be accompanied to the door by a parent each day.
  • Faculty, staff and students will have their temperatures taken upon arrival with no-contact infrared thermometers.
  • The following questions may be asked as needed, per CDC and IDPH recommendations:
    • Have you been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19?
    • Do you have a new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or sore throat?
    • Have you had a fever of 100.4 or above in the last 48 hours?
    • Have you had a new loss of taste and/or smell?
    • Have you had muscle pain or chills?
  • Anyone who exhibits COVID-19 symptoms according to CDC and IDPH (i.e. answers yes to any of the screening questions or has a fever of 100.4 or higher) will leave the premises immediately to seek medical care and/or COVID-19 testing per CDC guidelines.
  • Once screened at their designated entrance, students will proceed directly to their classrooms.
  • There will be staggered drop off times to help avoid large groups. This procedure will be published at a later date.

 

Illness:

  • Students exhibiting symptoms of illness will be placed in a designated area with an adult until they are picked up by a parent/guardian. The designated adult will wear PPE and the area will be cleaned and sanitized after the student is picked up.
  • Individuals who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms are not to return to school for at least 72 hours after their fever is gone and 10 days must have passed since symptoms first appeared. Fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.  A fever is defined as 100.4⁰F or higher.
  • Symptoms of COVID-19 vary greatly. Recognizable symptoms of COVID-19 include a new onset or worsening cough, shortness of breath or at least two of the following symptoms:  fever of 100.4⁰F, chills, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, or diarrhea.  Children have also presented inflammatory symptoms, such as bright red rashes; swollen lips, hands and feet; as well as reddened or discolored palms, toes and soles of feet.
  • Administration may require that a student, staff or faculty member be removed from school if they deem that they pose a health risk to others.
  • In the event that a student or faculty member tests positive for COVID-19, the school will undergo a deep cleaning. CDC guidelines will be followed and the local health department will be contacted to discuss the appropriate management of potentially exposed staff and students, and to determine whether school should immediately cease in-person classes or otherwise change protocols.
  • Local health officials, staff and families will be notified of a possible case while maintaining confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
  • If an excessive number of students are absent, St. John’s may close for a specified period of time.

 

Physical Education/Playground:

  • Face masks do not need to be worn outside or during physical activity when social distancing can be followed.
  • P.E. classes will be held outside whenever possible.
  • Only non-contact sports/activities will take place in P.E.

 

Extended Care:

  • Extended Care will be available to PM preschool students from 8:00am-12:30pm, when Extended Care staff will escort them to class.
  • Extended Care attendance will be limited to allow for appropriate social distancing. This service will be available to those parents who must work and don’t have alternate childcare options.
  • Reservations will be required in advance.