st. laurence catholic school return to learning plan · st. laurence catholic school return to...

ST. LAURENCE CATHOLIC SCHOOLRETURN TO LEARNING PLAN

In Response to COVID-19 Updated: July 28, 2020

Making a Difference:Faith, Academics, and Service

FALL 2020www.stlaurenceschool.org

St. Laurence Catholic School Return to Learning Plan

MISSION STATEMENTAs a pastoral instrument of the Church, St. Laurence Catholic School educates

and develops the whole Christian person in body, mind, and spirit through thetrinity of parent, child, and educator.

We are in an unprecedented time. The reality of COVID-19 has presented a number of significant tribulations. At the very minimum, trying to adapt to teaching in new ways while grieving the loss of our sense of normality is emotionally draining. The thoughts of preparation for a fall opening of school in an uncertain future magnifies anxiety and fear. However, Pope Francis has offered that “present difficulties have stimulated the creativity and inventiveness”, and this invites us to new methods of engagement and ministry.

This plan has been created to aid you in navigating the reestablishment of our school, where employees, students, and families feel safe and to reduce the impact of COVID-19 conditions upon returning to school. The guidelines referenced in this plan are based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), federal, state, and local agencies.

This guidance document is being provided based on the public health situation as we understand it today. Because the pandemic is presenting ever changing information, the following protocols are subject to change at any time.

“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

INTRODUCTION


RETURNING TO SCHOOLKey Principles for Reopening SLCS

COLLABORATION SAFETY STUDENT EXPERIENCE

- Masks to be worn by all students and staff must cover from nose to chin and be appropriate for a Catholic School (student choice for comfort)

- Masks may be removed during lunch, snack and outside where a distance of 6ft. can safely be maintained

- Lunch will be served in classrooms with an option to purchase from Sami’s Catering or brought from home-no microwavable food

- Social distancing of 6ft. and cohort groupings (students stay together with limited rotation of teachers and students)

-Students will be spaced throughout the building(s) in multiple locations to maintain social distancing, desks in one direction and signage in hallways, etc. for traffic flow

- Daily temperature checks and safety screening survey at arrival

- No visitors or large gatherings in the building-students go directly to classrooms at arrival

- Recess and periodic breaks outside with outclasses such as PE, Art, Spanish, Music, etc. on a rotating basis

- Frequent sanitizing of any areas utilized by staff or students

- Individual supplies utilized and maintained by students

- Instruction will take the form of real-time (synchronous) and pre-recorded (asynchronous) lessons via programs such as ZOOM and Screencastify

- Students are required to ZOOM in during instructional times, along with completing and turning in posted lessons online

-Daily attendance is determined by logging in on time, camera on and in uniform

- Classlink landing page for all websites with a single sign-on (easier to manage and save multiple account login information)

- Submission of work through Seesaw in grades Prek-3rd and Google Classroom 4th-8th grade

- 4th and 8th - specific Chromebook assigned for use at school. 5th, 6th, and 7th grade are part of the 1:1 Chromebook program. All devices will be monitored.

- Weekly packet pick-up for paperwork for supplies when appropriate

- Instructional expectations with semi-weekly deadlines to submit work (more details to follow)

● 4 hrs daily for 6th-8th online (not consecutive) with independent practice

● 2 hrs. daily for PK-5th online (not consecutive) with independent practice

- Grading will follow the handbook guidelines with adjustments appropriate to remote learning

- Office Hours provided for teachers to check-in with students on a regular weekly basis.

FACE TO FACE

REMOTE LEARNING

CHOICE


The virus is thought to spread primarily from person to person.● Through touching of eyes, mouth, nose, etc. after touching a contaminated surface.● Between people who are in close contact with one another. (within 6 ft. of a person confirmed

to have COVID-19 or exposed to excretions such as through a cough, etc.)● Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks;

these droplets can land in the mouth or nose of someone that is nearby or possibly be inhaled.

● Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms; this is known as asymptomatic spread.

The following information about the coronavirus 19 pandemic is taken from information about the disease from the CDC or state of Texas websites. There is currently no vaccine or treatment to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. This information is evolving and may be subject to the latest research and data.

CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF COVID-19

DISEASE TRANSMISSION

● Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illness. Symptoms in children are included in the below listed symptoms and can also include a runny nose or vomiting in some cases.

● Although most COVID-19 cases in children are not severe, serious illness that needs to be treated at the hospital still happens. Some data on children reported that the majority who needed hospitalization for COVID-19 had at least one underlying medical condition. The most common underlying conditions reported among children with COVID-19 include chronic lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, and conditions that weaken the immune system. This information suggests that children with these underlying medical conditions may be at risk for more severe illness from COVID-19.

SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN

PREVENTATIVE HEALTH MEASURES● Wear a mask that covers both the nose and mouth areas ● Frequent thorough handwashing. Watch video HERE.● Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth and properly cover your coughs and sneezes● Avoid close contact with others- stay at least 6 feet from others● Cover your mouth and nose and cough into your elbow if necessary● Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces● Stay home if you are sick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWmok9avzr4


STUDENTS AND STAFF SAFETY

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the potential risk of exposure, all staff and students will be subject to a daily touchless temperature check, as well as adhere to a self-screening by answering a set of questions related to COVID-19 symptoms, which includes:

● Cough,congestion or runny nose● Chills● Diarrhea● Headache● Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing● Muscle pain or fatigue● Sore throat● Nausea or vomiting● Loss of taste or smell● Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to

100.0 degrees Fahrenheit● Known close contact with a person who is lab confirmed to have

COVID-19● CLOSE CONTACT defined- being directly exposed to infectious

secretions (e.g., being coughed on while not wearing a mask or face shield); or being within 6ft for a cumulative duration of 15 minutes, while not wearing a mask or face shield. This may be modified as more information becomes available.

SCREENINGS AND PROTOCOLS

ACCESSING CAMPUS ● Access to St. Laurence Catholic School will be limited● Necessary volunteers or outsiders are allowed entry by invitation only● Adults are required to enter the main entrance of the building(s) and

must be screened prior to entry● Staff and students leaving for appointments must be re-screened

before being allowed re-entry that same day

ADMITTANCE INTO THE SCHOOL BUILDING

● Any staff member or student displaying a temperature of 100° F or above will not be allowed entry to the school buildings.

● Due to the summer heat potentially and temporarily inflating body temperatures, if an individual has a temperature above 100° F initially, they will have the opportunity for a 10-minute cool and recheck.

● If that individual still has a temperature above 100° F after their temperature is rechecked a second time, they will not be allowed entry and asked to leave.


If a staff member or student becomes ill at school or if another person is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 at school, he/she will be asked to leave campus and/or be picked up within 1 hour. If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, you may return to school when all 3 following criteria are met:

● At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery (no fever without the use of fever reducing medications)

● You have improved symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, etc.)● At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first occurred.

If you have symptoms that could be COVID-19 and do not get evaluated and cleared by a medical professional or test negative for COVID-19, it is assumed that you have COVID-19 and may not return to school until the 3 criteria listed above have been met.

If you have had close contact with someone who is lab confirmed to have COVID-19, then you should stay home through the 14 day incubation period, If you experience symptoms during this time, then return protocol will be the same as above three criteria.

All students returning from an absence will be evaluated by office/nursing staff prior to re-admittance.


HEALTH PROTOCOL



● Masks are required to be worn by all students and staff entering the school

● Masks should be well-fitted and cover from above the nose to the chin area

● Parents will supply masks that are appropriate and not distracting to the learning environment. Distracting refers to ill-fitting or inappropriate wording/graphics, etc. Staff will determine what is distracting

● Students should wear a mask when entering the building and have a back-up with them at all times. The school will supply disposable masks when necessary

● Students will have opportunities to remove masks at lunch or snack time and outside while safely distanced at 6ft. Barriers will be provided in the building as an extra layer of protection during these times.

CLEANING AND SANITIZING

FACE COVERINGS

● The safety of our staff and students is our priority. Commonly‐touched surfaces will be sanitized multiple times a day

● In addition to frequent handwashing, students and staff are encouraged to apply hand sanitizer when entering the building and classrooms

● CDC approved cleaners will be used in all classrooms, restrooms, offices, and other common areas of the building

● High traffic areas such as offices or other large spaces will have their own cleaning protocol

● Desks will be cleaned with soap and water after lunch and disinfected between student use

● Student technology that is shared must be sanitized after each use.

● Sanitation guidelines will be communicated to faculty by the Tech Department

● Primarily, disinfectant wipes that contain NO BLEACH will be used to sanitize devices

TECHNOLOGY CLEANING PROTOCOLS


SCHOOL OPERATIONS

● Daily attendance will be taken for all students, remote or in person● Any student who must quarantine or cannot be in the building(s)

due to the school closing will access remote learning to fulfill instructional requirements

● Please refer to the SLCS Family Handbook as posted (2019-2020-being updated) for guidance on school policies, etc. This document and information is supplemental during COVID-19

● Parents may not sit with their child during lunch or bring forgotten items up to the school to limit exposure within the building

● Policies for change of carpool and early pick-up etc. have not changed and should be communicated by emailing both your child’s teacher and [email protected] prior to 2:30 p.m.

CARPOOL

DAY TO DAY

All students will have their temperature checked before exiting the car and entering the building. Parents will receive a daily screening reminder of symptoms and protocols to review before sending their child to school.

ECC Campus Morning Carpool● Drop off for PreK students will be under the Bell Tower from the

Sweetwater entrance. Students proceed through the courtyard to classrooms

● Drop off for Kindergarten will be at the Parish Hall covered walkway. Cars will enter via Sweetwater. Students proceed through the parish hall to the classrooms

● Siblings will be screened before walking to the main campus

Main Campus: Students go directly to classrooms through multiple designated entrances to avoid large groupings and maintain social distancing

Afternoon Carpool: students will be dismissed from classrooms according to collected carpool numbers displayed on Interactive Boards

● Students in PK-8th Grade will remain with their color cohort (red/blue) throughout the day with limited switching of locations

● Auxiliary teachers will travel to different locations, rather than students to limit movement and potential mixing of cohorts

● MIddle School teachers will rotate to students ● Traffic in hallways will be limited and 6ft distancing will be maintained.

SCHEDULING


SCHOOL OPERATIONS

● The Social Emotional Health of all students is a priority and the counselors will be providing lessons and checking on both face to face and remote learning students

● The counselors will reach out to all students with online tools for guidance and emotional well-being. PK-3rd through the Seesaw platform and 4th-8th through Google Classroom.

● Counselors can be reached through emails beginning Aug. 4th

PreK - 4th grade - Mrs. Nickel - [email protected] 5th - 8th grade - Mrs. Schurman [email protected]

CLINIC● Any student presenting with signs or symptoms of COVID 19

will be triaged in the isolation area of the clinic. If symptoms resolve after adequate evaluation/or reasonable rest, then the student will return to class. If complaint/symptom persists, then parent will be phoned to pick up child in timely manner and will need to follow health protocol guidelines for suspected Covid-19. (Please note that the threshold for sending a child home will be much lower than it was before the coronavirus.)

● Families will be notified by email if there is a confirmed case of Covid-19 on campus. If there is suspicion that there may have been the possibility of close contact with that individual, a second notification may be sent via email

● Any scheduled or as needed medications will be delivered outside student’s classroom when possible

● Any health information that families can share with the nurses to assist in informative decision making and triage practices for your child is highly encouraged Erin Serice, RN (M,T,alt F) and Sharon Murray, RN (W,TH,alt.F) (281)690-5210 [email protected]

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL HEALTH


● Students who qualify for resources such as Basic Language Skills (BLS) or SPICE through a Catholic Accommodations Plan (CAP) will continue to receive services. Lessons will take place as a pull-out, while adhering to social distancing protocols via face to face or ZOOM.

● Enrichment and push-in support by Math or Reading Specialists will take place in the regular classroom. Teachers are supported in this endeavor by the Instructional Specialist.

● Testing results, CAP meetings, etc. will be scheduled by the Support Services Coordinator and take place via ZOOM.

Brianna Nelson Suzanne [email protected] [email protected] Support Services Coordinator Instructional Specialist

.

SLCS will establish a maximum capacity for each restroom that allows for social distancing. This will be monitored by signage indicating whether capacity has been reached at that time before entering. Proper handwashing will be encouraged and restrooms will be cleaned multiple times throughout the day.

SPECIAL SERVICES

LUNCH AND SNACKSStudents will eat lunch in classrooms or outside as weather permits. They are encouraged to bring lunch from home with items that can be opened independently. Microwaves will not be in use to heat lunches.

● Students may order lunches from Sami’s Catering with the following exceptions:

○ no second helpings○ price increase due to individual packaging due to

COVID-19○ ordered in advance with no substitutions

● Students should bring a healthy dry snack daily Please send your child with an appropriate water bottle daily as water fountains will not be available. Appropriate is described in the Family Handbook.

RESTROOMS

mailto:[email protected]



● Elective courses in middle school during COVID-19 will be presented as exploratory in order to allow students an opportunity to experience the arts (music and visual arts), cultural competency (global awareness, foreign language) and technology (digital citizenship, coding, STREAM), etc. These will rotate on a quarterly basis. For more in-depth instruction in areas of high interest, teachers will work with families to provide remote resources and small group instruction. (i.e. music, band, Spanish, art).

● In Prek-3rd self-contained grade levels, auxiliary teachers will rotate to the classrooms to provide instruction in art, music, PE, Spanish, etc. Some instruction will take place remotely. 4th grade will follow a similar structure as middle school due to being departmentalized.

● Enrichment for those students that qualify as gifted, will be provided in the classroom with the support of the Instructional Specialist in partnership with the teacher(s). All students will be assessed for the purpose of providing the appropriate level of instruction, keeping in mind the need for a solid foundation of necessary skills.

During this time clubs may be remote or postponed until later in the year when it is deemed safe enough to gather in groups. Students who qualify will still have opportunities to participate in online meetings or activities that allow for adherence to safety guidelines. More information will be sent out as decisions are made.

ENRICHMENT/ELECTIVES

MASS/CATHOLIC IDENTITYThe mission and purpose of a Catholic School is to educate and immerse students in their faith and to prepare them to model Christ. During this time, we will continue to provide an emphasis on faith and service. School Masses will take place on Friday and students will attend as smaller grade-level groups. Students will be safely spaced in the church. Mass will be streamed or recorded for students and staff on campus who are not in the church building. Remote students are invited to attend with their families or join online. Service projects may be revised slightly to accommodate social distancing.

HONOR AND SERVICE CLUBS/ORGANIZATIONS


SCHOOL OPERATIONS

Before and After School Care (BASC) will be offered on all full in-person school days for the 2020-2021 school year. BASC will open at 6:30 a.m. for before school care and will be open from dismissal until 6:30 p.m. for after school care. Social distancing and safety measures will be enforced. Details will be sent in August to all families registered for BASC and will be outlined in the BASC family handbook.

The BASC daily fees will be billed to your FACTS account weekly. You will be charged for each day your child/children attend BASC but only for the days they attend. This will be the only option for payment of BASC fees this year since we are in a fluid situation and we do not want to charge for days children may not be at school. Due to COVID-19, all families will pay as you go with the following fee structure:

● Morning Care: 6:30-7:40 a.m. - $7.50 flat rate each day● Afternoon Care: Dismissal 6:30 p.m. - $10.00 daily fee through 4:00 PM

PLUS $1.00 for every 15 minutes or part of 15 minutes until 6:30 PM

There is a $1.00 per minute late fee after 6:30 PM per child

If families use morning and afternoon care there will be a cap of $20.00 fee per day per child.

All students must be registered for BASC before attending BASC. ALL emergency and information forms specifically for BASC must be returned before a student attends. These forms will be sent in August to all families registered for BASC. If you have not registered your child/children and you plan to use BASC this school year please click on the link below and complete the information. The BASC registration fee will be billed to your FACTS account.

Register for BASC HERE!

BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE (BASC)

https://stlaurenceschool.org/basc


SCHOOL OPERATIONSATHLETICS

St. Laurence is planning to follow GHCAA and state guidelines for athletic teams and events. The GHCAA and the Catholic School principals have made the decision to postpone athletic competitions until January. This includes volleyball, soccer, and cross country and a delayed start for basketball. We hope to be able to begin practices and conditioning in September or October. Students will have an opportunity to work on conditioning and individual skills. Competitions for all GHCAA sports will be in the winter or spring, for example the volleyball season will be during the spring season. Football and tennis play in different leagues (not GHCAA) so we are waiting to hear about those sports.

This situation will be changing and we will keep you informed as we move forward. Please disregard any previous preseason practice and try-out dates that were sent earlier this summer. We will send updated information to those registered for each sport as it becomes available. Coaches may begin some conditioning and drills once we are back in school. Those registered will be contacted when conditioning begins.

Students must be registered on the athletic website if they are interested in participating in a fall sport. Fall sports include soccer, volleyball, football, cross country and tennis. Please go to the athletic website stlaurenceathletics.org to register. If you have not registered a child previously you will need to choose a username and password and create a new family account. Please keep track of your account information.

if you have questions, please contact Athletic Directors:

Betsy Brown at [email protected] or Glen Fucik at [email protected]

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSWhat does a “phased in” or “transitioning” start to the year mean?This would mean that we would start with smaller groups beginning with ECC to allow students and staff to practice new safety protocols. All other grades waiting to start would be remote.

If I choose remote learning for my child, will they lose their spot in the physical classroom?No, classes will remain at the normal cap of 24-25 students. All students remote or face to face are part of that same class.

Will my child be able to remove their mask during the day?Yes, during lunch, snack, outside and when safely distanced at 6ft. behind a privacy shield.




Can I let my child pick the type of mask they want to wear to school?Yes, we want them to be comfortable. Masks should be appropriate for a Catholic school. This means nothing scary, offensive or distracting to the learning environment. That determination is up to the staff and we ask for your support.

Why can’t I flip between remote and face to face learning prior to the end of the quarter if the virus numbers change?Because both types of instruction will be slightly different due to pacing and grading. Students and teachers need consistency within the quarter. This also allows for better planning for instruction.

Will my child feel excluded or left out if he/she is remote?Every child is part of our community and staff will do their best to make them feel included. Remote students are welcome to attend Friday Masses with parents and can be partnered with a face to face student as a “buddy”, similar to our First Friends for new families. We still plan on our Saints Families as a way to build community. The counselors are available to all students and will be supporting our families through weekly communication and lessons that address social/emotional health.

Can I request that my child be with his/her friends that we hang out with outside of school?This would be a huge undertaking for the school as we cannot take requests from over 600 students, not to mention that not all families feel the same about who their child is placed with. We ask that all families work with us and take similar safety precautions outside of school. We are only as safe as the decisions we all make.

How can I make a decision about remote or face to face if I don’t know all the details of what each looks like? We are working on getting this information out but the decision should be based on underlying health concerns for the student and/or family member, not on which plan is preferred or what everyone else is doing. Please make the best decision for your family. This is an ever-evolving situation and we all need to be flexible.

Why do remote families have to pay the same as those choosing face to face? Because all students benefit from the expertise of our excellent staff, whether in person or remote. Teachers will be planning and supporting both options. We are committed to continuing to provide a top notch education, while still maintaining our beautiful facilities, competitive pay scale and many resources designed to meet the needs of our students.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


2630 Austin ParkwaySugar Land, TX. 77479

(281) 980-0500

QUESTIONS?

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st. laurence catholic school return to learning plan · st. laurence catholic school return to...

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