Covid-19 Protocols

Grade 3 Policies for Back to School

** Please understand that this is an ongoing document to be updated as information is provided, so please be sure you are staying tuned to classroom updates. All additions after initial publication will be provided in red font**


Published: Friday, August 28th, 2020; 5:30pm

Updated: Wednesday, September 2nd


Morning Entry

  • The overall goal of these procedures is to reduce foot traffic and congestion in the school by limiting the entry of parents and caregivers entering the school building.

  • Restrictions will be based on times and ages of students at drop off.

  • Parents of students in Gr 1-8 should not enter the school but should drop off their children:

    • All parents should wear masks once they enter school the school yard

    • Parents can drop off your children before 8 a.m. at the North or South Gate and visually monitor them until they enter the school or walk them to the entrance of the school to ensure that they arrive in the building safely

    • Parents or care givers should not accompany the children into the building

    • After 8 a.m., if the Before Program is being held outside, students should enter the school yard and proceed to their designated cohort area

    • If the Before School Program is not being held in the front yard, the students should:

      • Put on their mask, enter the school, use hand sanitizer and proceed to the designated area for their cohort.

      • Students should not proceed to their lockers until the designated time of 8:40 a.m.

  • Students are dropped off at the front door as per the school’s policy, and are reminded to put on their masks. They are to proceed up the stairs in the main hallway to the elementary hallway, where they will locate their locker outside of Room 255. To begin the year, students will bring their classroom belongings into Room 255, and we will sort out lockers later

  • All students will sanitize their hands upon entering the classroom

  • Eventually, students will enter the classroom and sit at their desks where they may read a book from the classroom or draw while waiting for class to start. Books will be available, to be kept at students desks for the week and returned on Friday. Books that were taken out the previous week will rotate back onto the shelf the following Monday


Recesses

  • Students line up against the wall and go to their lockers in designated groups. They will sanitize hands again before entering the classroom

  • They should have their masks on at lockers but can remove them at their desk if socially distanced

  • Students will only participate in recess with their cohort (Grades 1-3), for recess, lunch recess, and before/after school care

  • Playground use will be designated by cohort

  • If on the playground, students are required to wear a mask


Lunch

  • Lunches will be consumed in the classroom

  • Students are required to bring their lunch with them, the cafeteria Hot Lunch Program is not available for the near/distant future

  • There will be no microwave available for warming lunches, so a Thermos for warm food is required for warm lunches

  • Students will be sent to their lockers in groups that allow for social distancing in the hallway (i.e. students from every other locker to be sent at one time, then the other half sent when the first group returns). When they return with their lunch bags, students will sanitize their hands, remove their masks, place it on a tissue or paper towel, and eat their snack at their desks. Lunch bags put away in groups and then line up on taped spots on the floor to keep kids somewhat distanced from each other. Before leaving the classroom, all desks will be wiped down with lysol wipes or spray.


Water

  • The water cooler is a shared space that will be cleaned periodically throughout the day

  • To minimize the potential of spreading germs, please send your child with at least 2 full, reusable water bottles every day


Classroom Policies

  • Absolutely no toys, electronics, or other shared items permitted unless specified by the school or teacher


Bathrooms

  • When in class, students will use the upstairs washrooms located between Rooms 254 and 255 (Ms. Scanlon and Mrs.Docherty). The use of these washrooms will be used by only Primary and Junior Students (Grades 1-6).

  • Only one student is permitted to use the washroom at a time.

  • Upon re-entry to the classroom, students will sanitize their hands.

Classroom Supplies

  • Students must have their own schools supplies and materials. Where appropriate, please label all materials. There will be no sharing of materials

  • There will be no shared classroom supplies this year due to the potential spread of Covid-19. Occasional supplies will be provided to students who do not have them, which will be labeled, for their personal use only.

  • Please do your best to label all uniform pieces and clothing with the students full name, including socks, underwear, masks, ties, etc.

  • In Ms. Scanlon’s class, students will be provided with a basket/bin that will fit in their desk, which can hold individual items

Mask Use

  • Masks are required, and must be labelled. A back up mask in a labelled, clear plastic ziplock bag is also encouraged.

  • Ear savers and a mask lanyard are also encouraged as both items can help students to keep masks on and keep them from falling on the floor.

  • All students are required to bring masks to school. It is recommended that each student be provided with 2 masks per day; students must have access to a mask at all times.

  • We are extending the requirement to wear masks to all children Grades 1 to Grade 3 while they are:

    • Out of the classroom while in the building

    • Out of their assigned seats in the classroom

    • Unable to maintain distance in the classroom

    • As directed by the teacher

    • Any time that they leave the classroom and are moving about the building


Uniforms

  • Encouraged, but regular uniform policy will be amended

  • To facilitate social distancing, students will not have access to dressing rooms or spaces to change from their school uniforms to gym clothes.

  • Students will wear their gym uniforms on days that they have Physical Education:

    • They can have track pants or Bond Pants to wear over their shorts.

    • Students are only required to wear the casual uniform on non Phys Ed days (1 day per week).


Home Self-Assessment

  • Each morning before leaving for school, parents are expected to do a self assessment on their family members by completing and submitting a survey answering “Yes” or “No” to a series of questions established by Toronto Health for self assessment. That will include taking temperatures.

  • A Bond Assessment App is in development to provide a fast/consistent tool for daily reporting

  • If for any reason a child is sick, they are required to stay home.

  • UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL IF THEY ARE SICK



Pack up

  • Students will be sent to lockers in their locker groups and then they bring backpacks back to their desks so the second group can pack their backpacks. Students will be reminded to take their water bottles home to clean and refill for the next day. There will be no homework folders or agendas this year to minimize objects coming back and forth from school.

    • I am working on an online alternative for this as the Reading A-Z homework program is integral to the Grade 3 program. Please stay tuned.

  • All reminders for upcoming events will be e-mailed or posted on the Grade 2 Website. There will be no hard copies of spelling lists, etc. to go home. All desks will be wiped down and sanitized at the end of the day.


Before/After School Care

  • Please see General School Policies for Before/After School Care