Reopening Plan 2020-2021 School Year

Table of Contents

Introduction

Major Learning Points. ............................................................................ Page 3

Purpose. ................................................................................................ Page 3

Remote Attendance Guidelines. ........................................................................ Page 4 The Campus - May I Enter the School? .............................................................. Page 5

General Precautions and Guidelines. .................................................................. Page 6

COVID-19 Safety Guidelines. ............................................................................ Page 7

Cleaning and Sanitation .................................................................................... Page 8

The School Day (Protocols and Precautions)

Morning Carpool and Arrival. ................................................................... Page 9

Lunch. ................................................................................................... Page 9

Hallway Use During Classes. ................................................................... Page 10

Passing Between Class Periods................................................................ Page 10

Student Dismissal................................................................................... Page 11

Social and Emotional Support for Students. ....................................................... Page 11

Exposure Response and Return to Campus. ...................................................... Page 12

Incident Response. ......................................................................................... Page 13

Exclusion and Re-admission Criteria. ................................................................ Page 14

Contingency Planning. ..................................................................................... Page 15

St. Thomas More Parish School

INTRODUCTION

“Everything has suddenly changed. What we previously took for granted seems to be uncertain: the way we relate with others

at work, how we manage our emotions, study, recreation, prayer, even the possibility of attending Mass...”

-Pope Francis Strong in the Face of Tribulation: A Sure Support in Time of Trial

Major Learning Points

Throughout our reflection and survey process we have identified the following major learning points from our first Continuity of Learning Plan:

• Be organized

• Keep it simple - Less is more

• Communicate clear expectations for teachers, students and parents

• Focus on learning goals

• Think about student and staff well-being

• Follow guidance from Catholic Schools Office, state and local authorities

This Returning to School 2020 Plan is built upon the guidance and recommendations of health officials; it is strongly aligned to the reopening guidelines that have been provided by our state and local leaders and the Catholic Schools Office. Our Returning to School 2020 Plan focuses heavily on the health and physical requirements necessary for returning to our school buildings and in consideration of the academic, social and emotional effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our students and staff. This document is subject to change due to the changing environment regarding COVID-19. Addendums will be published with any changes if and when that becomes necessary.

Purpose

In the face of the COVID-19 global pandemic, St. Thomas More Parish School is committed to dynamic planning and preparation for a safe return to school for the 2020-2021 academic school year.

We are dedicated to providing the safest and most effective methods of learning and instruction while balancing the greatest sense of normalcy for students, faculty, staff, and parents. We air for clear planning and vision as we continue to provide a Christ-centered, rigorous academic educational experience for students and parents trust and can be relied upon as the superior choice for their child’s education now and into the future.

This planning tool is intended to be fluid (a living document) as it is designed to reflect the latest information from national, state, and local public health experts regarding COVID-19 disease transmission and mitigation strategies. The information contained within is subject to change at any time as new information emerges from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Texas Department of State Health Services (Texas DSHS) and in accordance with updated guidance from the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops Education Department (TCCB ED), the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, and our local government and county health departments.

St. Thomas More Parish School

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St. Thomas More Parish School

Remote Attendance Guidelines

• Remote Setting – Classes will begin on August 17, 2020

Students who chose to attend school remotely will engage in synchronous learning. During synchronous learning students will be virtually engaged in the class that is taking place in real-time. Students attending school remotely will have a set, 8 period schedule, and will have the ability to interact with their teacher as the teacher is delivering the lesson. Grading policies for students attending school remotely will be the same as the grading expectations for students attending in-person. Grading cycles and grade reporting dates will be the same for all learners.

These are the expectations for students choosing to attend school remotely.

• Connect to the class on time, following the given class schedule, including homeroom.

• Complete the daily attendance question set to students at 7:30 am every morning.

• Be prepared to learn

• Be in dress code and presentable during all virtual connections

• Have a distraction-free environment

• Actively participate in class

• Show their face on the screen when engaging with the teacher

• Complete and turn in all assignments following the same timeline as students attending in-person.

Students in synchronous learning are considered part of the class. This means that the child is being held to the same expectations as the students on campus. Because of the nature of being in a virtual setting, there may be times where remote students may need additional assistance. We will create virtual office hours for our teachers should the child need support through the learning process.

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St. Thomas More Parish School

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In-Face Attendance Guidelines

May I Enter The School?

As we return to school it will be important for each parent, student and staff member to carefully assess whether they can safely return to campus. This flow chart describes the decision making process by which individuals should determine whether or not they should stay home or return to campus.

St. Thomas More Parish School

General Information and Guidelines

• Face to Face Classes are scheduled to begin on August 17, 2020.

• Faculty, staff and students in 1st through 8th grade will be required to wear a face mask. Masks are recommended, but not required, for PreK and Kindergarten students. No gaiter type masks will be allowed.

• Temperature screenings will be done for all students and staff daily.

• No lockers will be assigned to students.

• No visitors will be allowed in the school buildings or on the campus.

• Parent conferences will be held virtually.

• Lunch drop off will be suspended until further notice.

• Contact School Nurse for medication drop off.

• Parents are encouraged to schedule appointments at the very beginning or end of the school day. Should parents need to pick up their child during school hours, they should call the main office in advance. Parents will use the security window to show proper identification and to sign the student out of school.

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St. Thomas More Parish School

• All high traffic areas will be marked with 6' tape reminder.

• All athletic events have been cancelled until further notice.

• Before school care has been cancelled until further notice.

• Students will not share materials in the classroom. Students will maintain their personal classroom

supplies at their desks. Teachers will avoid the use of common material.

• STM will provide Chromebooks to all 4th – 8th grade students. Chromebooks for 4th and 5th grade students will stay in the classroom at the end of the day unless the student transitions to remote learning.

• Water fountains will be turned off. Everyone is encouraged to bring a clear water bottle.

COVID-19 Safety Guidelines

Our first line of defense is you. If there is any sign of potential illness that could be COVID-19, we must not come to school. We, as a community, must work in partnership to safeguard our STM family.

COVID-19 Symptoms currently include the following:

Cough

Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing Chills/repeated shaking with chills

Muscle pain Headache

Sore throat Loss of taste or smell

Diarrhea Feeling feverish or a measured temperature

greater than or equal to 100.0°F

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St. Thomas More Parish School

Cleaning and Sanitation

• Hand Sanitizer Stations

• All hand sanitizer stations will be sensor-based and touch-free

• Locations

• Hallways of Upper and Lower Wings • Prinster Hall entrance • Gym doors entrance • PreK door entrance • Doors on the west entrance of the Lower and Upper Wings (coming from field) • Rehkopf Center entrance (old gym)

• Handwashing Stations

• Handwashing stations will be located in outside areas where students will have recess so students can wash their hands prior to returning into the building.

• Locations

• PreK playground • By the playground near the Lower Wing • By water fountains on the field • By patio tables outside the cafeteria

• Classroom Sanitation Procedures and Supplies

• Procedures • Classes and surfaces will be cleaned every time student groups change • Frequently, high use areas, will be cleaned routinely • Manipulatives and common use school supplies, if they must be used, will be

cleaned between each use • Toys with fabric or woven material will be removed. Toys with hard, plastic or

wooden surfaces will be rotated through stations to allow for sanitation.

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St. Thomas More Parish School

Morning Carpool and Arrival

Protocol

• Before School Care has been cancelled until further notice.

• Drop off will begin at 7:30 am through carpool line or through walk up.

• K-3 will be dropped off by the gym doors closest to the church.

• 4-8 will be dropped off at Prinster Hall.

• PreK drop off will be the circle drive off Wigton Dr. beginning at 7:45 am.

Precautions

• Car doors will not be opened by faculty and staff.

• Students will undergo temperature checks and will have to sanitize their hands at drop off. Parents will have to submit answers to a symptoms and exposure survey once a week.

• Students with temperatures higher than 99.1 and students who have indicated symptoms and/or exposure to the corona virus will not be allowed on campus and will depart with their parents.

Lunch

Protocol Kindergarten - 5th Grade

• Students will remain in their homeroom groups, in their classrooms during the lunch hour.

• Hot lunches will be delivered to each classroom in hot and cold bags respectively.

• All students will have space dividers that they will use during lunch.

Precautions Kindergaren - 5th Grade • Teacher will assist students in sanitizing their

desk area prior to distributing lunches. • Teachers will sanitize their hands prior to

distributing lunches. • Students will sanitize their hands and space

prior to eating lunch.

Protocol Grades 6th, 7th, and 8th • Students will follow a lunch rotation schedule

between the cafeteria, patio and classroom based on grade level.

• Students will sit according to physical distancing markers so that they may take off their masks to eat.

• Hot lunches will be passed out to students by a staff member once students have sat down and disinfected their hands and table space.

Precautions Grades 6th, 7th and 8th

• Tables, chairs, doorknobs, and high-frequency

use areas will be sanitized before and after the students enter the lunch area.

• Students will be responsible for cleaning their space when they are finished eating.

• Only three students will be allowed to be up at a time.

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St. Thomas More Parish School

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Hallway Use During Classes

Protocol

• Only three students will be allowed in the bathroom at a time.

• Students who need to visit the nurse regularly will be given a nurse’s pass and will have a designated time to visit the nurse.

• Teachers will have to call the nurse prior to sending students needing to see the nurse for first aid or minor ailments.

• Precautions

Bathrooms will be sanitized three additional times during the school day.

Passing Between Class Periods

Protocol

• Students will remain in their homeroom classroom for the day. Teachers will move to different classes to provide their individual lesson.

• Students in grades 6,7 and 8 will remain in their homeroom classes for their core classes but will travel to designated lunch location and determined elective classes.

Precautions

• Students traveling in the hallways will only use the right side of the hallways, move in lines, with hands behind their backs and will be escorted by adults to ensure proper distancing protocols.

• Teachers and students will use hand sanitizer at the entry of any new space.

• Teachers and students will sanitize space used

before and after their personal use.

St. Thomas More Parish School

Student Dismissal

Protocol

• Students in carpool will be picked up through the regular carpool line starting at 3:30 pm. Carpool numbers will be called via the walkie- talkies to teachers in their classrooms. Teachers will dismiss individual students from their classroom to the front doors of the school where they will walk towards their car.

• Parents who are picking up children through walk-up will wait outside the gate closest to the library.

• All students will wait in their homeroom classrooms to hear their carpool or walk-up name or number.

• PreK will begin carpool at 3:00 pm.

Precautions

• Parents picking up through walk-up will need to follow the physical distancing markings on the sidewalk.

• Students exiting the building will be staggered in

order to maintain appropriate physical distancing.

Social and Emotional Support for Students Our counselor will visit classrooms on a regular schedule to work with students on lessons to support their social and emotional well-being. She will also meet with students individually on an as-needed basis. We will use our daily homeroom as an advocacy period with the following rotation:

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St. Thomas More Parish School

Exposure Response and Return to Campus for Students

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St. Thomas More Parish School

Incident Response

• When the school identifies that a confirmed case of COVID-19 has entered the school building, the

following procedures should be observed:

• Notify the Nurse (who will notify the principal and Catholic Schools Office)

• Notify and coordinate with the local health department-the local health department will be abreast of

the latest required guidance for appropriate response to COVID-19

• Be prepared for dismissal of students and staff for a 2-5 day minimum. The local health department

will likely advise an initial short-term dismissal to allow time for tracing and requiring cleaning. Partial school closures are possible if affected areas are limited and can be closed off. Longer term dismissals may be advised. Partial or full closure would apply to the After School Program. Extra-curricular activities, events should be cancelled as well in the event of the required school dismissals.

• Coordinate with the local health department for active disease surveillance and a safe return to school

operations.

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Exclusion and Re-admission Criteria

Any student will be immediately isolated and sent home (parent has 45 minutes to pick up student) who has any of the following new or worsening signs or symptoms of possible COVID-19:

• Cough

• Shortness of breath/ difficulty breathing

• Chills/ repeated shaking with chills

• Muscle pain

• Headache

• Sore throat

• Loss of taste or smell

• Diarrhea

• Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0°F

• Known close contact with a person who is lab confirmed to have COVID-19

Students with new or worsening signs or symptoms listed above will not be allowed to return to work/school until: In the case of an employee or student who was diagnosed with COVID-19 the individual may return to work/school when all three of the following criteria are met:

• At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovering including resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications

• The individual has improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath)

• At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.

In the case of an employee or student who has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and does not get evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19, the individual is assumed to have COVID-19. The individual may not return to work/school until the individual has completed the same three-step criteria listed above.

If the employee or student with symptoms that could be COVID-19 and wants to return to work/school before completing the above self-isolation period, the individual must obtain a medical professional's note clearing the individual for return based on an alternative diagnosis.- This means if you are sent home with a fever, or have a fever at home, even if the doctor says you can come back in 24 hours, our policy requires you to wait 72 hours.

An employee or student with known close contact to a person who is lab confirmed to have COVID-19 may not return to school until the end of the 14 day self-quarantine period from the date of the last exposure.

The areas used by an individual who shows COVID-19 symptoms while at school will be cleaned as soon as feasible.

All students coming to the clinic must have a nurse’s note. No exception.

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Contingency Planning With reasonable accommodations and interventions, we can minimize health risks while continuing to provide excellent education at St. Thomas More Parish School. Because the future is uncertain, we have plans in place should temporary closures throughout the year become a necessity. Current plans will be assessed continuously and monitored for effectiveness; alterations will be made if any current plan proves insufficient to maintain a reasonably healthy environment.

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St. Thomas More Parish School

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