THE ROAD AHE
2020 - 2021
BACK TO CAMP
AD
US
Back-to-Campus Planning Guide Covid-19 Prevention, Monitoring and Response General information for our K-12 community regarding plans and protocols currently in place as we prepare for a safe return to campus
VCS will regularly review guidance from State and local authorities to determine current disease levels and control measures in our community
The VCS Superintendent and Task Force receive regular updates from the local and state public health offices and the CDC
We will continue to collaborate and receive feedback from our community including the local health department, VCS parents, Parent Teacher Prayer Fellowship (PTPF), Board of Directors, faculty and staff regarding the plans in place for COVID-19 mitigation strategies
VCS will implement campus specific prevention, monitoring and response measures as part of our phased reopening plan dependent upon local public health conditions and in collaboration with local health officials and other authorities
- Social distancing, including caps on group sizes and distances between individuals
Our Focus VCS has identified a list of non-negotiables for the 2020-21 school year that will help to guide our planning and COVID-19 mitigation efforts
- COVID-specific safety protocols must be in place at all schools - A full-time distance learning option must be available to all students who opt-out of in-person instruction - VCS must be able to quickly implement distance learning for 100% of students if rolling closures occur
- Providing a safe environment for our staff, students and families
Our Commitment VCS is committed to..
- Leveraging technology to provide continuity of instruction at all levels - Consistent schedules and routines - Partnering in the process of academic, spiritual and social emotional development of students
Common public health strategies to reduce the risk of disease transmission in schools and other community settings include:
Minimizing the number of people who come into contact with each other
Reducing the time that people spend in close proximity to others
Maximizing the physical distance between people
Measures to minimize dispersion of droplets and aerosols (e.g., using face coverings and covering coughs and sneezes)
Prevention strategies may vary in different age groups or settings. VCS is following these organizing principles for the prevention of COVID-19 transmission in the development of plans for the safe return of our staff and students
Elementary Younger elementary school students have fewer contacts by having students stay in one classroom, but young students may be less able to wear face coverings consistently or maintain physical distancing during age-appropriate social and educational activities
Junior High & High School Middle and high school students encounter more individuals in a typical school day but are likely to have greater ability to maintain physical distancing and to more consistently use face coverings
Requirements, recommendations, and considerations for minimizing disease transmission on school campuses necessarily vary by age group
Organizing Principles for Preventing COVID-19 Transmission by Age Group Organizing Principle: stable cohorts
Lower Elementary School
Upper Elementary School
Organizing Principle: physical distancing & face coverings
Middle School/ Junior High School
High school
Less feasable to limit contact and wear face coverings
More feasable to limit contact and wear face coverings
More feasable to maintain stable cohorts
Less feasable to maintain stable cohorts
Greater need for in-person group-based instruction with close contact to support social-emotional acedemic development
Lesser need for in-person group-based instruction with close contact to support social-emotional acedemic development
Curriculum & Instruction -
Flexibility Technology Attendance Social Emotional Learning Recess Breaks Lunch Aftercare
Flexibility VCS is excited to offer a phased in hybrid learning experience as well as full distance learning academic options. Our current COVID-19 situation in Santa Clara County is unstable and flexibility within our learning and operating modes will be critical over the next few months. Our county is currently in Tier 2 (Red) which will allow us to open for in-person instruction with modifications. VCS is excited to transition to in-person instruction through our hybrid models in the coming weeks. Specific details and schedule information will be communicated by each campus and program directly
Full Distance learning will be used in the following circumstances: -
State and local authorities have closed schools for in-person learning due to community spread
-
Students who are unable to return to school due to health issues, or those who are uncomfortable returning to school on the scheduled start date, can participate in the VCS full-time distance learning program
-
Students who are medically fragile or would be put at risk by in-person instruction, or who are isolating or quarantining because of exposure to COVID-19
-
Students who live in a household with anybody who is medically fragile
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Temporary closing school is necessary for extensive cleaning
Flexibility
- Attend campus for in-person classes
Hybrid Learning (On-Campus + Distance)
- Attend classes via distance learning - Rotating hybrid schedule - Enhanced distance learning technology provided through Zoom and DTEN digital classroom boards creating and “in class� experience
Elementary
Leigh Campus CURRICULUM & - Daily health survey
- Face coverings requried for all staff
- Staggered schedules to ensure
- Face coverings are strongly
physical distancing
- Small classroom with stable cohorts of 12 students or less
- Assigned seating in classroom - Students facing the same direction
encouraged for grades K-2 and requried for grades 3-5
- Wash stations in each classroom - Pull out classes such as PE will be held outdoors and chapel via Zoom
in classroom
- 6’ distance from the teacher and from each other
- Afterschool care available for pre-registered families
INSTRUCTION
On-Campus Learning
Junior High
Skyway Campus CURRICULUM & - Daily health survey
- Small groups and cohorts
- Rotating hybrid schedule
- Face coverings requried for all staff and students
- Small classroom sizes of 14 students or less
- PE will be held outdoors only
- Assigned seating in classrooms
- Chapel speakers will be virtually
- Students facing the same direction in classroom
- 6’ distance from the teacher and from each other
broadcasted to students on campus and at home
INSTRUCTION
On-Campus Learning
High School
Skyway Campus CURRICULUM & - Daily health survey
- Staggered lunch to promote physical distancing
- Rotating hybrid schedule - Small classroom sizes of 15 students or less
- Assigned seating in classrooms - Students facing the same direction in classroom
- 6’ distance from the teacher and from each other
- Face coverings requried for all staff and students
- PE will be held outdoors only - Chapel speakers will be virtually broadcasted to students on campus and at home
INSTRUCTION
On-Campus Learning
Technology
Attendance
VCS has made an initial investment of resources to enhance our distance and hybrid learning technology to provide an “in class� experience for those students not attending class in person. The vision for this initiative goes beyond crisis response as we are building a strategy that enhances our teaching and learning capabilities moving forward.
Students and staff should not be on campus or in buildings if they are experiencing any symptoms of illness.
DTEN /Zoom Technology In-Class Experience
VCS is reviewing its attendance policies for staff and students. This will include eliminating any attendance recognitions that could encourage attending school when not feeling well. Specific attendance policy changes will be provided by your campus.
Social and Emotional Learning We recognize the importance of providing students and staff with extra social and emotional support as they return to school this year. Expect to see special welcome activities, extra time for building relationships and establishing new routines, and focus on coping strategies.
Health & Safety -
Student and Staff Health Hygiene Daily Health Survey Isolation Rooms
Student & Staff Health VCS will provide routine COVID-19 testing of our essential workers. Administrators, teachers, office support staff, coaches, mentors, substitute teachers, security, food handlers, day shift janitors, bus drivers, or any other school employee that has frequent contact with students or other staff will be tested. Surveillance testing will be in accordance with SCC Public Health authority directives
The health and safety of VCS staff and students is paramount. Trained staff will help to educate and screen for COVID-19 illnesses on campus
All students and staff must be screened for symptoms each day. Staff and students’ parents or guardians will conduct symptom screening at-home, prior to arrival on campus
Signs will be posted at all entrances instructing students, staff, and visitors not to enter campus if they have any COVID-19 symptoms
Students or staff with any identified COVID-19 symptoms and/or a temperature of 100.0 or higher will not be allowed on campus
Hygiene
VCS will ensure adequate supplies to support healthy hygiene behaviors, including soap, tissues, no-touch trash cans. Each campus is equipped with touchless water dispensers and portable hand washing stations
Our staff will teach and reinforce proper handwashing technique, avoiding contact with one’s eyes, nose, and mouth, and covering coughs and sneezes
Signs will be posted in high visibility areas to remind students and staff of proper techniques for handwashing and covering of coughs and sneezes and other prevention measures
Hygiene
Routines developed to ensure students wash their hands or use hand sanitizer: - Upon arrival to campus
- Before and after eating
- After using the restroom
- After coughing or sneezing
- Returning to the classroom
- After playing outside or break time
- Minimize sharing of supplies and equipment among staff and students - Shared items to be cleaned and disinfected between use - Minimize contact with high-touch surfaces - Propping open building or classroom doors during arrival and departure - Hand sanitizer at building entrances/exits, and at locations designated for eating
Daily Health Survey VCS has invested in and installed high-tech equipment “Darcy� to aid in identifying whether individuals are wearing face coverings, sufficient physical distancing is taking place in high-traffic areas and detects signs of fever of individuals as they enter buildings and move throughout the campus
Trained personnel will be on-site to screen students and staff who may be exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms
Proper protocols will be followed in the event of positive cases in schools or administrative buildings
Symptom screening is required at home by families and can be helpful to determine if a student or staff member currently has an infectious illness that could impair their ability to learn, or Is at risk of transmitting an infectious illness to other students or to school staff
Daily Health Survey Daily Health Screening Questions: A person who answers “Yes” to any one of these questions must not be allowed to enter the school facility Within the last 14 days have you been diagnosed with COVID-19 or had a test confirming you have the virus? Yes – STAY HOME and seek medical care. Do you live in the same household with, or have you had close contact with, someone who in the past 14 days has been in isolation for COVID-19 or had a test confirming they have the virus? Close contact is less than 6 feet for 15 minutes or more. Yes – STAY HOME and seek medical care. Have you had any one or more of these symptoms today or within the past 3 days? Fever or chills Cough Loss of taste or smell Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Yes – STAT HOME and seek medical care. Have you had any one or more of these symptoms today or within the past 3 days and that are new or not explained by another reason? Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache Sore throat Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea Yes – STAY HOME and seek medical care and testing.
Isolation Rooms
VCS will provide designated isolation areas for individuals exhibiting cold/flu like symptoms. Individuals will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms in an isolated area removed from other students, faculty and staff. This area will be monitored by an adult while the individual is in isolation and until the individual has departed the campus
Facilities -
PPE Cleaning & Maintenance Ventilation Physical Distancing Visitors
A variety of PPE (personal protective equipment) will be on-site at all VCS schools and administration buildings to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Here is a look at some of the requirements and protocols in place at all VCS campuses
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Face Coverings - All adults must wear a cloth face covering at all times while on campus, except while eating or drinking
- Students (Grades K-2) are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings inside the classroom, but not required
- All students (Grades K-12) are required to wear cloth face coverings while outside of the classroom, this includes:
- Students (Grades 3-12) are required to wear cloth face coverings at all times inside the classroom unless exempt
+ While arriving and departing from school campus + In any area outside of the classroom (except when eating, drinking, or engaging in strenuous physical activity) if elementary students are outside the classroom where they are only with members of their stable cohort, cloth face coverings are not required + While waiting for or riding on a school bus
Personal Protective Equitment (PPE) Face Coverings Activities that require heavy exertion should be conducted outside in a physically distanced manner without face coverings
Cloth face coverings must be worn during indoor physical conditioning and training or physical education classes
Students should take a break from exercise if any difficulty in breathing is noted and should change their face covering if it becomes wet and sticks to the student’s face and obstructs breathing
Activities conducted inside should be those that do not require heavy exertion and can be done with a face covering
Gloves Individuals handling or serving food must use gloves in addition to face coverings. Gloves shall be used by employees who are screening others for symptoms or handling commonly touched items
Cleaning & Maintenance Cleaning and disinfecting products used by VCS adhere to state and local guidelines
All common use items will be disinfected between uses
Routinely cleaning common contact surfaces, such as desks and tables/ counters, door handles, light switches, playground equipment at regular intervals throughout the day
Limit access to areas used by sick person until cleaned and disinfected
Nightly disinfecting of all classrooms, offices, restrooms and common areas Every 5 days all classrooms, offices, restrooms and common areas are disinfected with an electrostatic fogging machine All classrooms will be equipped with disinfectant and paper towels Teachers will also create age-appropriate procedures where students will clean their own desks
Increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible by opening windows and doors, unless doing so would pose a health or safety risk to individuals using the facility Every effort will be made to reduce the amount of materials, supplies and personal belongings going to and from school VCS will discourage sharing items that are difficult to clean or disinfect Limit shared supplies and equipment to one group at a time — with cleaning and disinfecting between uses Sharing of electronic devices, toys, books, and other games or learning aids will be avoided
Physical Distancing
While in VCS schools and administrative offices, staff and students are required to maintain 6’ apart while on campus. This will be administered in classrooms, in lunch areas, on playgrounds, common areas and in offices. Where 6’ distancing is not attainable, barriers will be used for extra protection
VCS will minimize congregate movement through hallways as much as practicable by establishing more ways to enter and exit the campuses, staggering passing times when necessary, and establishing designated one-way walking/passage areas
Ventilation
VCS has replaced all central air filtration for HVAC systems with MERV 13 filters
K12 Programs -
AMSE BEI Athletics Conservatory
AMSE All AMSE Institute programs will continue in virtual/distance learning mode throughout the first semester, with plans for some additional in-person program meetings later this fall. Once hybrid instructions begins, modifications to the virtual program start times may be necessary to accommodate travel time between campus and home In order to allow students to adjust to the hybrid instruction schedule, no in-person AMSE program meetings will take place until November. These optional in-person program meetings will include small, stable cohorts of students on campus utilizing the AMSE facilities and outdoor tent area. We miss our students and look forward to resuming safe, in-person instruction when it is advisable. Please watch for an announcement with more details in October Danny Kim Vice President/Director AMSE Institute
BEI All BEI programs will continue in virtual/distance learning mode in order to allow students to adjust to the high school’s hybrid instruction schedule. In-person BEI program meetings will take place once the hybrid schedule has been safely in effect. These optional in-person meetings will include small, stable cohorts of students on campus utilizing the VCS facilities and possibly outdoor areas Our goal is to get back into in-person learning for BEI programs as soon as we can do so safely, so please look for an announcement with more details in October
Hannah Kim Vice President/Director Business & Entrepreneurship Initiative
Athletics VCS Athletics has a planned return for students to athletic activity in keeping with the guidelines released by the state of California on August 3rd Youth Sports Questions and Answers The return to after school athletic opportunities will be staged and involve different sports for different three week periods leading up to the return of interscholastic practices on December 14, 2020. Communication regarding the training opportunities and schedule will be sent to families who have expressed interest in the different sports through the enrollment process The Central Coast Section has created new seasons of sports for the 2020-21 school year for high schools. Those seasons of sport can be found at CCS 2020-21 Sports Calendar and Bylaw Modifications and current schedules for our high school athletic teams our available at www.gowarriors.net Eric Scharrenberg Vice President/Director K-12 Athletics and Physical Education
Conservatory The VCS Conservatory administration, faculty and staff are so thrilled to soon welcome our students back onto campus and into our classrooms. Students, you have been missed, and we couldn’t be more excited to again experience the blessings of community in and around our conservatory facilities. While live performances and performance-related activities continue to be banned and/or severely regulated per county and state regulation, we look forward to providing safe and meaningful opportunities (virtually and/or in-person) for artistic growth and development through a host of creative enrichment offerings, including private and group lessons, master classes, webinars, guest speakers, rehearsals and performances. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and regularly check the VCS Conservatory website and campus newsletters for updates on our reopening plans. See you soon!
Troy Gunter Vice President/Director Conservatory of the Arts
Student & Family Expectations - Covid-19 Monitoring, Testing & Reporting
Covid-19 Monitoring, Testing & Reporting Parents are encouraged to read the campus Fall 2020 Re-Opening Plan for Information regarding COVID-19 Prevention, Monitoring, & Response
If a COVID-19 positive case is probable or confirmed, VCS will notify those individuals that were in close ontact (within 6’ distance for a minimum of 15 min.)
A student health symptom survey must be completed each day prior to arriving at campus or a designated drop off location
Exposure notifications will be sent by phone, email or text within 24 hours of VCS becoming aware of a case
If a student does not pass the Darcy health survey, they must stay at home and seek medical care per the plan
Individuals and thier families will be advised that the local health department may contact the family for contact tracing
VCS will follow local, state and national guidelines for reporting individual cases of COVID-19, if detected
If contacted, families should notify the contract tracer that the student attended school
Transportation - Bus Service - Shuttle Service - On-Campus Parking
Due to the physical distancing requirements necessary to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19, our current busing fleet is unable to accommodate our capacity needs Proper physical distancing will reduce a 64-passenger bus down to a 13-passenger bus
At this time, VCS is converting all Home to School routes into COMPLIMENTARY continuous shuttles
Fehren-Shuttles running continuously, approx. every 15 minutes throughout the AM and PM - Fehren Park N Ride located at 13043 Fehren Drive - Shuttle running from 6:45 am to 6:30 pm daily - Serving students that cannot park on the Skyway campus - No need to register for the shuttle
Bus / Shuttle Service Ford-Shuttles running continuously, approx. every 20 minutes throughout the AM and PM - Ford/Blossom Hill Park N Ride located at 5560 Monterey Road - Shuttle running from 6:45 am to 6:30 pm daily
- Serving students that cannot park on the Skyway campus - For the time, students will be able park and leave their vehicles at the Ford Park N Ride - No need to register for the shuttle
- Following Santa Clara County Health Guidelines
- It is mandatory that all students and drivers wear masks at all times
- Check in using Darcy and temperature checks before student load the shuttle
- Buses will be sanitized throughout the school day
+ No need to check in again with Darcy once you arrive on campus
- Practice social distancing while on the bus and while waiting in line to load the shuttle - Load bus from back to front - Signage on the bus indicating where students can and cannot sit
- If needed, refunds will be given for all 2020-2021 transportation fees - Prorated refunds will be given for the days that Home to School routes were not utilized - Refunds will be given at the end of each semester
Shuttle Service
For all students who wish to drive to campus we will continue to provide bus shuttle service from the designated park and ride lots - Fehren and Monterey Road - Ford and Monterey Road
On-Campus Parking Valley Christian High School will be introducing a FLEX parking model in anticipation of re-opening the high school for in-person instruction. All current paid parking passes purchased for the 2020-21 school year will be issued based on their A or B day schedule for the remainder of the fall semester
- The second semester may be issued as necessary
- They are not intended for everyday parking
- The cost will be prorated based upon the fall semester start date
- Valley Christian Schools reserves the right to discontinue the conditional parking permit use based on the resumption of school full-time and/or other unforeseen issues that arise
- Refunds will distributed accordingly - These conditional passes are for a limited duration of parking only - The conditional hybrid parking pass will be for Sept. 28, 2020 – Dec. 31, 2020
- You will be notified when your student is able to pick up the conditional hybrid parking permit from VCS Security
On-Campus Parking FLEX Parking Limited Lottery - We will be offering a limited lottery of conditional student parking permits for the first semester - Student parking will be offered as a hybrid parking permit for the current Fall semester - The pass will allow your student to park on campus based on their A or B day schedule only - The second semester may be offered as necessary - These conditional passes are for a limited duration of parking only + The conditional hybrid parking pass will be for Sept. 28, 2020 Dec. 31, 2020 + They are not intended for everyday parking
Preference will be considered to those students that are currently on the parking permit wait list. The remaining passes will be offered via a lottery drawing
Look for details from the Security Office on when to register for the conditional parking permit lottery
Campus Specific Info
Campus Specific Info Valley Christian Schools 2020 Campus Specific Re-Opening Plans (COVID-19 Prevention, Monitoring and Response) will provide our families, VCS faculty, and staff the details and protocols we will implement related to preventing the spread of COVID-19. VCS will monitor the staff and students on campus for illness along with protocols for responding to positive COVID-19 cases within our VCS community Campus Specific Reopening Plans can be found on our website at www.vcs.net/covid
Additional information will be forwarded to you directly from your child’s campus and will be available on our VCS Parent Portal - Hybrid Bell Schedules - Hybrid A/B Schedules - Darcy Health Survey Information and instructions - Pick-up/Drop-off Instructions - Campus Flow Maps - Training Videos - FAQ’s
Additional updated information and reminders will be provided on our website and campus newsletters