Stuart Hall School Opening Plan 2020-2021
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Guiding Principles Providing certainty in uncertain times With school beginning on August 24th, we are working hard to get Forward Ever/177 off to a great start for our students. Preparing for a smooth re-entry back to school during a pandemic requires even more planning than usual. However, we have committed to providing you the certainty of a Stuart Hall education in uncertain times, and on this we shall deliver. Delivering our mission while protecting the health of our community Even during a global pandemic, our mission remains the same: to prepare students of all faiths for success in universities worldwide and for engaged lives of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and contribution. For the 2020-21 school year this entails providing a stellar educational experience throughout the academic year, whether on campus or from anywhere in the world via state-of-the-art audio and video immersive distance learning. While school will look and feel different this year, our focus on the whole child – intellectual, social, and emotional well-being – continues.
We will continue our commitment to ensuring every student is happy, safe, known, and loved. The Health of Our Community Safeguarding the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff is our primary goal. Preventing an outbreak of COVID-19 requires action at the individual, grade level, divisional, all-campus, and local community levels. Our COVID-19 safety and health plans are based on the guidelines published by the US Centers for Disease Control, Virginia Department of Health, and the Virginia Department of Education. We are implementing new procedures and following best practices to maintain a healthy school environment and to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 disease. These practices include strict limitation of visitors, self-screening guidelines, wearing masks, washing and disinfecting hands frequently, and respecting physical distancing guidelines. Training will be conducted for students, faculty, and staff, and signage will be displayed throughout campus to remind community members of the School’s expectations.
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What You Can Expect Throughout the School Year Mandatory Face Coverings for Faculty, Staff & Students Faculty, staff, and students must wear face coverings indoors on campus at all times (except during lunch) and outdoors, regardless of distance between people.
Social Distancing in Classrooms and Throughout Campus Student desks in all classrooms will be spaced 6 feet apart, and we will maintain physical distancing of at least 6 feet to the greatest extent possible throughout campus, including in hallways, bathrooms, and at lunch.
Limited Gatherings Outdoor and indoor activities will be limited to comply with state guidelines. Schedules and room assignments will be designed to restrict mixing of classes and groups where possible.
Health Screenings Stuart Hall School reserves the right to conduct health checks for screening of COVID-19-related symptoms on campus. Health checks performed by School personnel on campus should not replace the self-screenings for students, faculty, and staff that families are asked to perform daily (learn more in the School/Family Partnership).
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How We Are Preparing Campus for In-Person Classes Here are highlights of some of our recent and ongoing efforts to modify our campus and program:
Classrooms are being reconfigured for physical distancing with classrooms in the Main Building and The Eastham Center set up for at least 6 feet distancing.
More frequent disinfecting and sanitizing - especially of high-touch surfaces - will be conducted, with designated cleaning staff for specific locations. Nightly cleaning will occur throughout campus.
Water bottle refilling stations have been placed in the Main Building and in The Eastham Center.
Water Fountains have been turned off.
Stuart Hall School Opening Plan 2020-2021
New hygiene training will be conducted, and signage will be posted throughout campus.
Hand sanitizing stations will be installed in classrooms and common or high traffic areas.
HVAC units in all spaces are either new or have been upgraded in the last 12 months. HEPA filtration systems, portable fans, or open windows will be used in classrooms whenever possible to increase airflow. Isolation rooms have been created in the Main Building and The Eastham Center for people who become symptomatic during the school day
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School & Family Partnership While the School will take every precaution to mitigate potential COVID exposure, each family plays an important role in ensuring that our community stays healthy.
Please be vigilant with social distancing, wear face coverings when in public spaces, and wash your hands frequently outside of school. The risk of COVID does not go away after school and on weekends. Every student and employee will be required to perform a health screen, including a temperature check, before coming to school each day. Please keep your child home if he/she/they is showing any signs of illness, COVIDrelated or otherwise. We have a shared responsibility to keep our community healthy so our campus can remain open – and stay open. Together, we can do this!
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Our Learning Models Grades 3-6
Grades 7-12
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Whether together or apart, our program will provide:
Synchronous Classes: Real-time learning with classmates and teachers using newly-installed streaming and videoconferencing technology.
Asynchronous Learning: Guided by our expert teachers and the School’s curriculum, students in grades 7-12 who cannot join class during school hours work at an individual pace.
Advisory Group Meetings: Students will regularly meet with their advisor and peers.
Chapels & Focus on Well-Being: Offered at least twice a week, we are committed to nurturing the whole child in age-appropriate ways.
Frequent Communication: We will communicate with transparency through multiple channels such as e-newsletters, emails, virtual meetings, video messages, and more.
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2020-2021 Academic Schedule The schedule for the first two weeks of school, available here, provides opportunities for students to adjust to both inperson and remote learning. This includes essential time for a comprehensive introduction to our health and safety protocols for those students who plan to learn on campus. The Major Dates Calendar for 2020-2021 can be found here. (All essential back-to-school information can also be found at www.stuarthallschool.org/backtoschool20-21.) The Daily Schedule for grades 3-6 will vary depending on the grade, class, and if students are together on campus or are learning remotely. If students are together on campus, classes will run from 8:30 a.m. – 2:55 p.m. If campus is closed, remote classes will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end by 2:30 p.m. Remote learning will be a combination of asynchronous and synchronous lessons, allowing ample time for breaks and for students to complete independent work. The Daily Schedule for grades 7-12 is the same whether students are learning on-campus or remotely and is designed to facilitate learning in all modes while emphasizing the community time that makes the Stuart Hall experience unique. Time
Monday Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday
8:00
Doors Open
8:30
Homeroom/Advisory
9:009:55
A
9:5510:30 10:3011:25 11:3012:25
E
B
F
Friday
C
Break, Clubs, Office hours B
Community Time Chapel, Seminar, Group meetings, etc.
C
Community Time Chapel, Seminar, Group meetings, etc.
D
Lunch, Recess, Outside Time, Clubs
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12:301:25
C
F
1:252:00 2:002:55 3:00
D
A
E
Break, Clubs, Office Hours D
A
E
B
F
School Day Ends
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Basic Health and Safety Guidelines for Students on Campus Students will receive in-person training during orientation on new guidelines and daily practices. Guidelines and daily practices will also be reviewed daily during the first weeks of school to ensure they understand how these guidelines apply to daily on-campus activities. The guidelines that everyone on campus will follow are detailed, but they all boil down to consistently practicing three things that are known to significantly reduce the spread of the virus. We call these things the 3 Ws:
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Wear A Mask Face coverings are required on campus at all times unless otherwise authorized by the School (e.g., lunch). In the two weeks prior to starting school, students should practice mask-wearing for longer periods of time to prepare them for wearing masks daily at school. What to Wear: Face masks must be made of at least two layers of fabric. Mask designs and images should be appropriate for school. Students will provide their own cloth face coverings. Each student should have at least three masks, two to be kept at home for daily wear and one to be kept at school or in a student’s backpack in case the student needs to change masks during the day. Please wash masks between uses. Students should practice putting on and taking off their masks, what to do with their masks when they have taken them off, not touching their masks or their faces, and washing their hands whenever they have taken their masks off or put them on.
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Wash Your Hands Students and staff should wash or sanitize their hands upon arrival on campus; before and after eating; upon entering a classroom; before leaving a classroom; during transition times, especially those where common surfaces may have been touched; after going to the bathroom; before and after touching their face; and after coughing or sneezing into hands or a tissue. Students will be taught about proper handwashing as part of their orientation at the beginning of the year and will be continually reminded about the importance of frequent handwashing.
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Watch Your Distance According to the CDC, in addition to wearing masks, and frequently washing your hands, practicing social distancing – keeping at least 6 feet from people not in your household – is another everyday preventative action to reduce the spread of COVID-19. We will help students become accustomed to remaining 6 feet apart, and will follow these guidelines on campus:
Classrooms •
• •
Classrooms will be arranged with maximum capacities such that, when seated, students and staff will be at least six feet apart. Students and staff will not rearrange any classroom furniture without first seeking approval from a member of the COVID-19 Response Team. Plexiglass shields will be provided in each classroom for teachers to use at their discretion while consulting one-on-one with students. Students will enter and leave classrooms as dictated by a daily schedule designed to ensure that not all students are in hallways or common areas at the same time. Teachers will adjust seating assignments and expectations accordingly.
Traffic Flow in Buildings
Hallways and stairwells may be designated as single-direction or otherwise modified to control traffic flow based on capacity and need. Students and staff will maintain 6 feet of distance between themselves to the extent possible.
Bathroom Use
Each bathroom will be marked with a maximum occupancy. Those waiting to use the bathroom will be asked to line up in the hallway and maintain six feet of distance, to return later, or to use a different bathroom.
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Additional Health and Safety Guidelines In addition to the three Ws, we will also help students learn and remember:
In addition, there will be no shared-use items in any classrooms unless these items have been pre-approved and specifically designated as shared-use items. For an item to be available for shared use, it must be able to be sanitized between uses.
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New Policies & Procedures COVID Acknowledgement and Indemnification
All parents are required to sign a COVID acknowledgement before the first day of school. The required form will be distributed electronically to parents. Students will not be able to come to school without a signed acknowledgement.
Physicals, Immunization Forms, and New Health Conditions
All students in Grades 3-6 and new students in Grades 7-12 must have an up-to-date physical and immunization form on file with the school before attending classes in-person. Forms and requirements can be found at www.stuarthallschool.org/backtoschool20-21. Returning students who have been diagnosed with a health condition in the last year that puts them at higher risk of infection from COVID-19 should contact Jason Coady, Dean of Students & Campus Life, to confirm that the School has upto-date information.
Emergency Contact Information
Students on campus who report feeling ill will need to be picked up from School within 60 minutes of their parents or guardians being called. Please be sure that your child’s emergency contact information is up-to-date and that your identified emergency contact can pick your child up within 60 minutes if you are unable to do so.
COVID Policies Symptoms at School • Any student or staff member who reports symptoms consistent with COVID-19 after arriving on campus will be escorted by a staff member wearing PPE to an isolation room where that person can wait until he or she is able to depart campus. While in the isolation room, the person must continue to wear a facemask. • In non-emergency cases, a student will remain in isolation under the supervision of staff nearby until he or she is taken home with expected follow up with his medical provider. • Parents/guardians are expected to arrive within 60 minutes as much as they are able. • If a student is experiencing significant shortness of breath or evidence of hypoxia, parents/legal guardians will be notified promptly and asked to transport the student to the nearest medical center, or EMS will be called depending on the level of severity of symptoms. Stuart Hall School Opening Plan 2020-2021
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•
If both parents or legal guardians are unable to be reached, emergency contacts will be notified.
Returning to Campus After COVID-19 Students or staff diagnosed with COVID-19 may return to on-campus learning or work per the CDC’s guidelines: • • •
at least 10 days have elapsed since symptoms first appeared, at least 24 hours have elapsed with no fever without fever-reducing medication, and symptoms have improved
Students or staff may resume remote learning or work prior to returning to campus if their health permits it. If There Is A Confirmed COVID-19 Case on Campus • When the School receives a report of a positive test result or identification of a likely case for a student or staff member, all on-campus classes and activities will stop for at least two days while the School works with the Virginia Department of Health to begin contact tracing and perform thorough cleaning of affected spaces. • Contact tracing protocols will be used to identify all students and staff who were in close contact with the case anytime from two days prior to the onset of symptoms until the School learned of the positive test result. The Virginia Department of Health will provide guidance on when individuals may return to campus. • Additional communication with the case and contacts will be conducted under the guidance of VDH. • Decisions about communication with the full School community will be made on a case-by-case basis, taking both individual privacy and the needs of the community into account. The School will coordinate with VDH to ensure communications are appropriate. If a Student or Faculty/Staff Member is Exposed to Someone with COVID-19 Symptoms In the event that a student, faculty, or staff member comes into close contact with an individual who is presumptive positive or who has tested positive for COVID-19: • • •
The affected person and any family members must remain off-campus and complete a 14-day self-quarantine per CDC and VDH guidelines. The date a person can return to campus following the quarantine period will be confirmed by the VDH. Any affected person can return to campus in less than 14 days only if that person gets a negative result on a COVID-19 test. Students, parents, and faculty/staff are required to report a confirmed COVID diagnosis or confirmed COVID exposure confidentially to the School immediately upon diagnosis. The School Nurse will provide guidance throughout recovery and assist with school reentry.
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• Per the CDC, close contact is defined as someone who was within six feet of an infected person for at least 15
minutes starting from two days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, two days prior to specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.
Illness during the school day
To maintain the health and safety of our community, students with fever (greater than 100 degrees F), vomiting, diarrhea, evidence of live lice, or other signs/symptoms of contagious illness, including COVID-like symptoms, must be picked up from school as soon as possible by a parent/guardian or designated emergency contact and remain at home for treatment and recovery, including being fever-free for 72 hours without the assistance of medication.
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The On-Campus School Day Morning Drop Off •
• •
•
•
•
•
Before a student arrives at school, a parent or guardian will complete a daily symptom check form through our new Boardingware app. If a student shows any symptoms or has a temperature above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, please keep that student home for the day and until symptoms have been gone for 24 hours. The School buildings open to receive students beginning at 8:00 a.m. The person driving or walking a student to school is responsible for that student if the symptom check form is not complete or if the student has a fever upon arrival. Students who drive or walk themselves must be sure the symptom check has been completed before they arrive on campus. Students must have their face masks on before they arrive on campus or get out of the car in the morning and must keep them on until departing campus or getting into the car at the end of the day. For the safety of everyone involved, and to keep the car lines moving at drop-off and pick-up, only students should get out of the car. Please ensure that drivers and other family members stay in the car while your child exits. For students who walk to campus with a parent or guardian, that person will be asked to stop at a designated point near each entrance location. Only students should proceed beyond that point for the health and safety of staff and other students. There will be specific drop-off and pick-up locations for students depending on their grade level and where they begin or end their day.
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Lunch • • • • • • •
Dining services will not be provided on campus. All students will bring their meals from home. Students and staff will eat outside when the weather allows. During inclement weather, students will eat in classrooms or other designated areas. Physical distancing will always be maintained, with proper hand hygiene before and after eating. Students and staff do not need to wear masks while eating but must remain at least six feet apart. Students will not have access to refrigeration or microwaves, as these devices are too difficult to continually disinfect. No food may be delivered from parents, delivery services, or area restaurants after morning drop-off. Each person will completely clean the area where she/he/they ate, including properly disposing of all trash and wiping down surfaces with disinfecting wipes or sanitizing spray
Every student should bring a filled reusable water bottle from home. We have water bottle refilling stations in both the Main Building and in The Eastham Center. All drinking spouts on existing water fountains will be removed or disabled to prevent the spread of infection.
Recess/Free Time
Our students and teachers will leverage every inch of outdoor space for recess, fresh air breaks, exercise, and other wellness activities. Physical distancing will be maintained to the greatest extent possible. These activities will take place in small groups to limit the mixing of students. In Grades 3-6, each homeroom class will have a designated area where they will play to reduce the interaction between students in different classes. There will be no shared-use items for students to use during recess or free time unless these items have been pre-approved and specifically designated as shared-use items. For an item to be available for shared use, it must be able to be sanitized between uses.
Pick Up
At the beginning of the school year, all students must be picked up or leave campus by 3:15 p.m. Depending on the state of the pandemic and the success of the School community in adhering to the health and safety protocols, afterschool activities, including afterschool care for students in Grades 3-6, may also be established later in the school year.
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Additional School Activities Field Trips
At this time, no field trips are planned. If field trips are permitted under the guidelines and executive orders in place at the time, all procedures currently recommended by the CDC, VDOE, and VDH will be followed regarding transportation, health, hygiene, and safety practices.
Group Activities & Special Events
To the greatest extent possible, we will reimagine how to create meaningful experiences for students through various group activities and special events including school traditions. Some of these activities may be changed to a virtual format for this school year and some may be postponed. Please watch for specific updates.
Parent Meetings & Parents’ Association Meetings
Parent meetings, parent/teacher conferences, and Parents’ Association meetings will be held virtually for the time being.
School Volunteer Opportunities
Many parents have offered to help with aspects of school, and we are greatly appreciative of everyone’s support of school activities. We are evaluating where and how we might use parent volunteers and will work with the Parents’ Association on this as the year begins. Any volunteers on campus will be oriented to all relevant protocols and practices before beginning their work as volunteers.
Visitors on Campus
We will strictly limit visitors on campus while classes are in session, including parents and other members of the community. Please know that this measure is temporary, and we hope to return to an open campus later in the school year, once we know that our community’s health and safety can be maintained.
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How We Will Communicate with You • • • • • • •
We will continue to share important back-to-school information with you every Friday until School begins. Our Head of School will share school updates and other major decisions as the school year unfolds. In addition, our Academic Dean and Dean of Students & Campus Life may send routine email communications. Teachers and advisors will communicate with students and parents on a regular basis. Beginning on Friday, August 21st and continuing each Friday until the end of the school year, Stuart Hall Communications will send a weekly “Headlines” e-newsletter with details for the week ahead. Our Basic to School Webpage, https://www.stuarthallschool.org/backtoschool20-21, will house all relevant back to school information, including a link to this document. Glimpses of school life will be posted on social media to help families feel connected while visitors are strictly limited.
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COVID-19 Planning and Monitoring Team Our COVID-19 Planning and Monitoring team collaborates with national, regional, and local organizations, including educational leaders, medical professionals, health departments, and government agencies to develop processes and plans. The Team has been working diligently to conduct research, analyze information, and present options that have enabled us to make key decisions and preparations for a safe return to campus. They are closely monitoring the appropriate sources of information, and, as requested by Virginia Governor Northam, following all health and safety guidelines to the greatest extent possible. Jason Coady, Dean of Students & Campus Life (Lead) Michael Robinson, Head of School Joseph Bandy, Director of Facilities Katherine Meier, Program Support Manager Tanya Farrell, Director of Communications & Parent Engagement Samantha Hughes, Director of Enrollment Management Sharon Arne, Academic Dean Main number: 540-885-0356 info@stuart-hall.org
Stay Safe & Healthy!
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