At this time we are still in negotiations with the union. If we do need to go to remote learning for health, safety, or reasons negotiated with the union, teachers will be working for a full school day. They will be delivering instruction and creating lessons, feedback and assessments that support students. There will be daily synchronous lessons and interaction with teachers to support students.
If families opt to begin the year in remote learning, we will be allowing them to transition to the hybrid model during the school year.
The amount of screen time certainly depends on the grade level of the student. We do not intend for any student at any age to stare at a computer screen for an entire school year. There will be multiple breaks built in, as well as assignments away from the computer. Younger students will also have paper/pencil journals at home (e.g. Everyday Math journal).
We are working to create specialist class schedules that allow us to have teachers go to a classroom cohort when possible, and we are also developing a schedule where we will limit the number of cohorts that a specialist works with in a single day. There are cases (especially at the high school level) where students will be moving to different classrooms. In those cases, we have developed specific protocols to make this movement as safe as possible.
September 16th is the first day of school for students.
At this time, we have tentatively set Cohort A to be students with the last names beginning with A-J and Cohort B for students with last names beginning with K-Z. Principals are gathering final responses regarding students who are electing hybrid vs. remote learning, and will be creating final cohort assignments and class lists in the upcoming week. Siblings will be kept in the same cohort.
Students will attend full days of school on their in-person Cohort days.
All students within the same family will be scheduled to attend school on the same days. If you have any additional questions about your child's cohort or class assignment, please contact the principal at your child's school.
For students who are in our hybrid learning model and working remotely, we plan to have a specific schedule for students to follow. They will start school at the typical time and log into a synchronous classroom experience to start their day. The teachers will be planning specific work in all subjects for students to work on, and we will have set schedules for reading, writing, math, social studies, and science. There will be check in times with teachers provided during the day, and students will also have assignments to complete independently.
At this point we are working to have our remote learning classes taught by North Attleborough School staff. This will allow for a smooth transition between our hybrid and remote learning because all teachers will be meeting weekly to collaborate and plan how they will deliver instruction and assessments so that we are able to maintain consistency across our remote and hybrid instruction.
Yes....this was discussed but the planning team provided me with information that this wasn't enough time with our students to maximize the learning.
Yes, the teacher will be able to provide voice and screen share for the students. Teacher can see students but the video of the classroom will not be broadcast when children are in attendance.
We are looking at two different scenarios
A platform approved from the state that lines up with our scope and sequencing of hybrid
Having our classroom teachers provide this via google classroom.
This depends on the platform we use. In number 1 above, this could result in a separate teacher and in number 2 above, it would be the classroom teacher.
No, students will have structured schedules with times for check-in online. There will be aspects of the learning day that are online/on the chromebooks, but teachers will be assigning work that is not entirely based in using technology, as well.
Check-ins, work blocks, and direct instruction will be provided throughout the day for students. It will look similar to a school day, but absolutely not on the computer all day.
At times, yes. It could be a feed of the teacher's voice coupled with a stream of the presentation/whiteboard/ etc. but not a stream that shows students in the classroom. Prerecorded materials will also be available an shared with remote learners too. Fully Remote students will be learning from their own teacher dedicated to remote learning students.
Students are absolutely required to be enrolled in school per Massachusetts Law. However, parents can elect hybrid or remote instruction within the NAPS district. Commissioner Riley has reduced the number of days (and therefore hours) that students in Massachusetts must attend to school for the 2020-21 school year. There will be structured school days for both students who attend school in the hybrid model and the remote model, and this will look very different from this past spring.
As part of our planning process, we are working to provide additional supports to students on their remote learning days. We are also going to be sending home traditional learning materials such as the EveryDay Math workbook, Science books, and writing journals. Students will have assignments in these traditional formats so that we can reduce screen time on remote learning days.
Academic struggles can be identified through assessment, teacher observation, parent report, student work completion, etc. We use lots of tools to help guide student learning and progress and to support any/all students who require help.
Support for all students, whether learning remotely or via hybrid will be individualized to the needs of the student. This would take place during school hours.
Right now, we are using the 2 days in-person, 3 days hybrid model for a variety of reasons. If we send one cohort to school for 2 weeks or a month, we would be going a very long time without in-person, direct instruction for at least half, or more, of our students. Additionally, the Massachusetts Education Commissioner Riley has recommended prioritizing in person learning when safe and possible, so this is how we, and many other districts, are moving ahead.
There is a dedicated team working on supporting the Whole Child called Student Supports. We have been working on and how to identify students in need of additional Social Emotional and behavioral support. We are also working to develop a parent survey to help us at the school level prioritize our student needs and how we can assist them with resources both in and out of school. As far as supporting students academically, teachers will be supporting students who need support both virtually and in person, depending on the model in which the child attends school.
As of right now, the plan is to begin the year in the Hybrid Model. We haven't discussed the possibility of in-person K orientation because we are not allowing visitors in the school buildings and students would need to attend with families. There are no separate plans at this time for Kindergarten if we go fully remote.
Meals will be delivered and consumed in the classrooms. Six-foot distancing will be maintained during meal times at assigned desks. Eating surfaces will be cleaned before and after meals. Students will not be allowed to pass or share any items, including food, with other students. Students will be reminded that the expectation is to wear face-covering up to the point of beginning their meal and immediately upon finishing the face cover will be put back on. Recesses will be spread out throughout the day, so each grade level will be outside at one time. Teachers will remain on duty with their classes in order to remind them to remain 6 feet apart. This will enable teachers to have a closer proximity to students in order to more closely supervise while they play.
We will be working to review and revise attendance policies in order to ensure that students are staying home in the event of any Covid- 19 symptoms or the need to quarantine. Based on varying circumstances, students may be able to still participate in school via remote access as well. While we do not have a specific plan for attendance set as of yet, we hope this response is helpful.
We will be working to review and revise attendance policies in order to ensure that students are staying home in the event of any Covid- 19 symptoms or the need to quarantine. Based on varying circumstances, students may be able to still participate in school via remote access as well. While we do not have a specific plan for attendance set as of yet, I hope this response is helpful.
The best available evidence from countries that have opened schools indicates that COVID-19 poses low risks to school-aged children, at least in areas with low community transmission, and suggests that children are unlikely to be major drivers of the spread of the virus. The harms attributed to closed schools on the social, emotional, and behavioral health, economic well-being, and academic achievement of children, in both the short- and long-term, are well-known and significant. The in-person school environment provides educational instruction; supports the development of social and emotional skills; creates a safe environment for learning; addresses nutritional needs; and facilitates physical activity.
Aside from a child’s home, no other setting has more influence on a child’s health and well-being than their school. Maintaining the health and well being of our students and our staff is our number one priority. In order to prioritize the health and well-being of individuals we must maintain proper social distancing regulations while following numerous other guidelines. The hybrid model will reduce the number of students in the classrooms, allowing for increased distancing between students reducing the spread of any illnesses. It will also allow for proper spacing on the busses as fewer students will be attending school each day. The hybrid models we are assessing allow for students to alternate between in-person learning and remote learning. Though we are heavily leaning towards a hybrid model of education, parents and guardians can opt to have their child/children do full remote (virtual) learning.
Per the current Massachusetts Dept of Education (DESE) and CDC guidance, in school testing is not being recommended. School nurses will be available to screen students and help link students, their families and staff to other opportunities for testing in the community.
The CDC's current guidance does not recommend universal testing of students/staff. It is not known if testing in school settings provides any additional reduction in person-to-person transmission of the virus beyond what would be expected with implementation of other infection preventive measures (e.g., social distancing, cloth face covering, hand washing, enhanced cleaning and disinfecting).
Implementation of a universal approach to testing in schools may pose challenges, such as the lack of infrastructure to support routine testing and follow up in the school setting, unknown acceptability of this testing approach among students, parents, and staff, lack of dedicated resources, practical considerations related to testing minors and potential disruption in the educational environment.
Students who are sick will be encouraged to stay home. We have protocols per state/CDC guidance that are already in place for students who become sick at school/home. These directives will be adjusted if state/CDC guidance changes. The current district protocol has criteria as to when a student can return to school.
The district administration will follow DESE (Dept. of Education) guidance regarding attendance and student's schoolwork in the event they cannot attend school. The district is working on a plan to ensure that students will be able to do remote schoolwork if they cannot attend school, but are well enough to do work at home.
Students and staff who are sick will be encouraged to stay home. We have protocols per state/CDC guidance already in place for students/staff who become sick at school with COVID symptoms. These directives will be adjusted if state/CDC guidance changes. The current district protocol has criteria as to when a student/staff can return to school after illness.
As in previous years, we have a pool of substitute teachers who will cover classrooms in the event a teacher is absent.
The infected student is in quarantine and any student/teacher who was within 6' or closer for 15 minutes or more would have to quarantine for 14 days. Most of our classrooms have been organized to promote 6' or more of social distancing. Click here for more information.
Any of the COVID symptoms that are listed on the CDC Website .
Yes, protocols per state/CDC guidance are already in place and will be adjusted if state/CDC guidance changes.
Our school nurses conducted contact tracing with the local dept. of public health from March to June. We will be following the same protocols when we return to school.
Students who are sick will be encouraged to stay home. We have protocols per state/CDC guidance are already in place for students who become sick at school/home. These directives will be adjusted if state/CDC guidance changes. The current district protocol has criteria as to when a student can return to school whether the diagnosis is COVID related or not.
All children will not respond to the circumstances surrounding Covid- 19 in the same manner. As a part of the district, as well as the school- based task forces, the domain of student supports has been a primary focus. We encourage parents to reach out to building administration and counselors with any concerns that they may have regarding their child as the school year begins and progresses so that we can ensure that appropriate supports are in place for each student.
Communication will be sent home notifying families that there has been a positive case of COVID in the classroom (Cohort). As the Superintendent mentioned last night, the individual student or staff member who tested positive will not be mentioned as this would be a HIPAA violation. The communication sent home will be one of two different notifications. It will either notify you that your student was in a cohort with someone who tested positive for COVID or that your student was a close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID in the cohort and has to be quarantined for 14 days.
Communication will be sent home notifying families that there has been a positive case of COVID in the classroom (Cohort). As the Superintendent mentioned last night, the individual student or staff member who tested positive will not be mentioned as this would be a HIPAA violation. The communication sent home will be one of two different notifications. It will either notify you that your student was in a cohort with someone who tested positive for COVID or that your student was a close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID in the cohort and has to be quarantined for 14 days.
The district has a pool of substitutes that will cover teachers/staff during any absences. Buildings will also have permanent subs who will be familiar with students and staff.
Communication will be sent home notifying families that there has been a positive case of COVID in the classroom (Cohort). The individual student or staff member who tested positive will not be mentioned as this would be a HIPAA violation. The communication sent home will be one of two different notifications. It will either notify you that your student was in a cohort with someone who tested positive for COVID or that your student was a close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID in the cohort and has to be quarantined for 14 days.
We have protocols per state/CDC guidance. The current district protocol has criteria as to when a student/staff member can return to school whether the diagnosis is COVID related or not.
Students/Staff who are sick will be encouraged to stay home. We have protocols per state/CDC guidance that are already in place for students/staff who become sick at school/home. These directives will be adjusted if state/CDC guidance changes. The current district protocol has criteria as to when a student/staff can return to school whether the diagnosis is COVID related or not.
Communication will be sent home notifying families/staff that there has been a positive case of COVID in a classroom (Cohort). The individual student or staff member who tested positive will not be mentioned as this would be a HIPAA violation. The communication sent will be one of two different notifications. It will either notify you that staff/student was in a cohort with someone who tested positive for COVID or that staff/student was a close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID in the cohort and has to be quarantined for 14 days. The local board of health, in cooperation with school nurses, will be doing the contact tracing for any close contacts of the COVID positive person.
We have protocols per state/CDC guidance. The current district protocol has criteria as to when a student/staff member can return to school whether the diagnosis is COVID related or not.
We will be following Mass DPH/CDC guidelines. Communication will be sent home notifying families that there has been a positive case of COVID in the classroom (Cohort). The individual student or staff member who tested positive will not be mentioned as this would be a HIPAA violation. The communication sent home will be one of two different notifications. It will either notify you that your student was in a cohort with someone who tested positive for COVID or that your student was a close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID in the cohort and has to be quarantined for 14 days.
Below is a link to the most recent information from the Mass.gov website as to availability of local COVID test sites. It also states if the site will test children. There are multiple sites within 20-30 minutes of North Attleboro. I cannot speak for the time frame for each site's test results to come back.
https://www.mass.gov/doc/ma-covid-19-testing-sites/download
The current response is no. Special education services will be delivered based on the mode of educational service a student is accessing. However, the district remains obligated and committed to providing IEP services. In the case of a student who is a full remote student, those IEP services will be provided remotely.
We are obligated to provide accommodations under Section 504 to students with disabilities who have a 504 plan because their disability affects a major life activity (learning and school). As a result, all accommodations outlined in students' 504 plans will be reviewed and implemented by teachers. All 504s will continue to be reviewed annually.
While the mask wearing does pose a challenge with regards to students' seeing the articulation and utterances of their teachers, it is essential to preventing the spread of COVID-19. However, teachers such as English Learner Education Teachers, Speech and Language Teachers, and others will be afforded face shields to assist in the students being able to see the mouths of the teachers. The golden standard of distancing is 6 feet; so if it is necessary for a teacher to have a student remove a mask for their voice to be heard, 6 feet of distancing will be practiced. If a teacher has to maintain closer contact, the face shield will be used for the teacher, and the student if it is deemed necessary. We will be setting clear, consistent and child-friendly expectations with students while we teach our new normal in school to them, which will include masking habits and behaviors. Setting routines and rituals at the beginning of a school year is best practice. The district has actionable goals for SEL that will be embedded in Professional Development prior to the opening of school. We are also examining Universal Screeners to obtain Social/Emotional and Academic Baselines that will enable our student support teams at the school level to intervene with students early in the school year.
We are obligated to provide FAPE (Free and Appropriate Education) to all students. This includes providing specialized instruction, embedded services, and accommodations outlined in IEPs. The delivery of services by all teachers will be addressed in explicit professional development sessions prior to the start of school, and this includes the delivery of special education services when students are learning from home.
Principals and Special Education (and other) faculty have been actively identifying students who will be prioritized for more in-person learning (4-4.5 days/week). If your son is identified, the Principal of his school will be contacting you within the next week to inform you.
The ELC will be servicing students full day per their IEP.
We are obligated to provide FAPE (Free and Appropriate Education) to all students. This includes providing specialized instruction, embedded services, and accommodations outlined in IEPs. Parents of IEP students will receive a Student Remote Learning Plan. It's function is to memorialize how services may differ if delivered in a remote environment. It is focused on Instruction and service. Essentially it is a schedule of the student's services--both in person and remote (hybrid model); or if the child is learning all remotely (remote model).
We are obligated to meet the conditions of students' IEPs. Any of the accommodations outlined in an IEP will be provided. With regards to the hybrid model, your child's Special Education Teacher in collaboration with core subject teachers will work with your child and provide those accommodations as needed and as necessary. For example, if extended time to complete assessments or assignments is required, that will be provided. In addition, high needs students (but not all IEP students) are being prioritized for more in-person learning. Principal's will be contacting families of students whose learner profiles meet that criteria in the coming days.
High levels of cleaning will be conducted on a daily basis throughout each school day, on Wednesdays, and on weekends. The process for cleaning will focus on maintaining cleanliness during and between school days and then conducting a deep cleaning on Wednesdays and on weekends as needed to ensure building readiness for all occupants.
Yes, all PPE supplies are welcomed and appreciated.
Yes, masks will be available to all who may need them, and home supplied masks are welcome as well.
As of August 13, the plan for drop off and pick up at NAMS and NAHS includes the use of two locations. Students who will be dropped off by car in the morning will no longer be allowed to enter the roadway in between the High School and Middle School. Students will need to be dropped off in the back of the Middle School or at St. Mark's Church. Students who are to be dropped off in the back of the Middle School will enter the access road to the Middle School and be dropped off at Door B. These students will be directed to enter their school (NAMS or NAHS) via signs and staff upon their arrival. Students who are to be dropped off at St. Marks Church will need to walk down Stoddard Drive and across the Stoddard Drive path to enter NAMS or NAHS at the authorized entry point.
Drivers are encouraged to build in extra time, at least at the start of the year, to accommodate traffic flow at drop off and pick up. Schools will work with NAPD and school administration will provide support to minimize as much wait time as possible.
Expectations for social distancing will be in place from home in the morning throughout the entire school day and then back to home at night. We are looking at models for dismissal to dismiss students by their location in the building at the end of the day and their destination (bus, car at NAMS, car at St. Mark’s, or to their own parked car) Staff will be on hand to manage and disperse any student gathering that undermines the expectations of social distancing.
The district has three types of Heating Ventilation and Air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Rooftop air handlers at the High School and Middle school. Heat pump style rooftops on all of the district modular classrooms and the Martin Elementary school, and the original pneumatically operated univents throughout the rest of the District. The District is working with three separate (HVAC) vendors to address ventilation issues throughout the district. The High School is in the process of going out to public bid at this time for the repair of actuators and dampers as well as the makeup air balancing of its HVAC system. Per the DESE, the district has begun discussion and are awaiting proposals for HVAC equipment repair needs as well as the cleaning, balancing and the measuring of air flow for all classroom and office spaces throughout the District.
Per the DESE guidelines, the district will run all air handlers, univents and exhaust fans for at least two hours before and after School starts and ends. The District has also been asked to open all classroom windows and use fans to move air within any classrooms that have minimal air movement. All ventilation equipment filter changes will increase from two times per year to three times per year with Merv 7 filters or better.
There will not be a use of any window air conditioner that does not employ fresh outside air as a part of its operational system without there being an approved air filtration/purifying system installed in the classroom at the same time. The high school and middle school condition and cool air through the use of rooftop air handlers. These air handlers leverage outside fresh air and then cool and circulate that air through the building through feeds and return vents.
There is no plan to install partitions on desks at this time. Partitions will be placed in high traffic locations where building visitors would be directed upon entry into the school.
Per state guidelines schools are able to conduct school day activities indoors and outdoors. Building principals will be working with teachers and staff to develop specific plans within each school during the next few weeks.
Per DESE the District will follow CDC guidelines with respect to social distancing, personal protective equipment (PPE) as in face masks, shield, gloves, partitions and gowns as well as hand sanitizing stations and signage to reinforce personal hygiene.
The District is in the process of examining and then purchasing multiple classroom style indoor air purifiers for spaces with air circulation rates that may be lower than general classrooms and related spaces. Assessment of air quality is mainly completed via inspection of the air filters. Ongoing replacement of air filters will ensure the best air quality possible. The air will be filtered multiple times per hour, through a three stage HEPA air filter system.
Per DESE the District will follow CDC guidelines with respect to social distancing, personal protective equipment (PPE) as in face masks, as well as hand sanitizing stations and signage to reinforce personal hygiene. All bathrooms (and high touch point locations) will be disinfected multiple times per day.
This would depend on revenue streams for FY22 and is independent of what is occuring this year in FY21.
Yes...however, the survey results (pre-fee elimination) didn't support that. According to state guidance, bussing should be the last option families take advantage of.
Yes siblings will be able to sit together.
On August 3rd the School Committee voted to waive all transportation fees for school year 2020-2021.
This was a question on the first survey that was sent out. We did post the application in April. At this time, we are trying to accommodate any parent that applied for a bus pass for their child/ren that live more than 1.5 miles from school.
North Attleborough Public Schools is prepared to provide mobile hotspots to families with weak internet. The Department of Education and Verizon are working on an agreement/pricing. Once we have that information, we'll be able to purchase some hot spots. When the time comes, you should contact your school principal if you're interested in a hot spot.
Yes! Currently, all students in grades 3-12 have their own Chromebook. We have placed an order for Chromebooks for our K-2 students which should arrive by mid-September. It will take some time to inventory and deploy, but we'll go as fast as we can. In the meantime, we should have enough devices to lend to our K-2 students until they receive their own 1:1 device.