FAQ

#SWSDStrong

Disclaimer: All of the responses below are being provided based on the best and most current information available at this time. Reopening our schools is a dynamic situation that evolves weekly if not daily. The SWSD plan is subject to change, and in fact, we anticipate things will change. The school district has done the very best job in an extremely challenging situation where much of the responsibility has fallen solely onto districts throughout the state. The District will continue to update this website and families as this situation continues to evolve throughout the next several weeks.

The SWSD Reopening Plan successfully completed NJDOE Compliance Review on 8/9/20.

It is important to acknowledge "COVID-19 policies are intended to mitigate, not eliminate, risk....No single action or set of actions will completely eliminate the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, but implementation of several coordinated interventions can greatly reduce that risk.” (American Academy of Pediatrics)

SCHOOL YEAR ORIENTATION

When will my child begin school?

If your child is in Group A, your child's first on-site day will be Tuesday, September 8th. If your child is in Group B, your child's first day of Distance Learning will be Tuesday, September 8th. If your child is in Group A, your child's first Distance Learning Day will be Thursday, September 10, 2020. If your child is in Group B, your child's first on-site day will be Thursday, September 10, 2020.

I keep hearing the terms "synchronous" and "asynchronous" instruction. What do they mean?

Asynchronous instruction: This is instruction provided to students without direct interaction from the teacher: i.e. pre-recorded videos of the teacher teaching, viewing a Khan Academy Video and completing a posted assignment, etc. There is no real-time interaction with the teacher.

Synchronous Instruction: Students are able to interact with the teacher "live" via technology. Small group instruction, 1:1 tutoring, or a whole class "live" lesson is synchronous instruction. There is real-time interaction with the teacher.

I have questions about next year. Who should I ask?

The District has established ONE Re-Opening specific email for families in order to streamline the process. Instead of wondering who to send a question to, families can send any question to ONE address. No matter the question, you will receive a response.

reopening@swsdk6.com

However, you can also always email your child's building principal or the Superintendent, Dr. Kristin P. O'Neil, to pose any questions that you may have. Anyone would be happy to answer your questions to the best of our ability or forward your question to the appropriate person.

Is the District calendar being revised for 2020 - 2021?

Yes, the District calendar was revised and BOE approved on 7-29-20. Visit the 2020 - 2021 School Calendar page for more information.

How can parents / guardians prepare their child/children for the return to school?

1. Be sure to secure/obtain a cloth facial covering for your child. You may wish to send in an extra facial covering just in case one gets soiled.

2. Parents can help their child/children become comfortable wearing a mask and can assist their child by practicing social distancing. This is best learned by modeling these behaviors at home where children feel safe.

3. Please be on the lookout for signs of discomfort (physical or social/emotional). It is important to notify your child's classroom teacher or school counselor if you have any concerns. Please support your child by reviewing the names of adults who they can speak with if they are feeling anxious, nervous, or uncomfortable. Encourage your child to share how they are feeling with a trusted adult.

4. Discuss being kind and considerate to others when that person is not feeling well. Remind students that not every cold, stomach ache, etc. means the student has COVID-19. Teasing others about having COVID-19 is not funny.

5. Let your children know that some children and adults may not wear a mask because a doctor said it was o.k. (Wearing a cloth facial covering may inhibit some individual's health.)

6. Practice washing your hands frequently at home. (The Physical Wellness Page contains tips for hand-washing.)

7. Begin gathering and preparing student medications, vaccine records, doctor's notes, etc. for the upcoming school year. Rushing at the last minutes causes stress.

8. Parents can utilize the District's Summer Learning Series to review essential grade level skills. (https://sites.google.com/swsdk6.com/summer-learning-series )

9. Please review the Physical Wellness Page for more information.

At this time, school districts throughout the state are waiting for guidance from the New Jersey Department of Education. Once we receive that guidance, we will able to better answer that questions. Attached below is the Executive Order that followed the August 12, 2020 announcement.

EO-175.pdf

What did Governor Murphy's announcement on August 12, 2020 mean when he stated some schools may have the option to begin the year in a remote learning model?

At this time, the District is reviewing very newly issued guidance provided by the NJDOE and shared by the NJDOH. Once all of the updated information has been provided to our schools, only schools who are unable to meet the outlined criteria may request approval to begin the year in a remote learning model. This flexibility will only be granted to Districts in order to provide time for schools to address any identified safety issues. An action plan will be required to outline how the school district will address those specific areas with a dedicated focus on reopening as soon as possible.

Will there be an Open House this year ?

Yes, there will be an Open-House . However, the District will not be hosting any large group gatherings on-site until we return to full-capacity. Therefore, this year our Open-House will be structured as a "Virtual Open House." The Open-House will be scheduled for September 3, 2020 from 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. You will have the opportunity to see your child's classroom and meet your child's teacher if he/she is available to attend. More information will be forthcoming.

Can parents visit the school to see a child's classroom?

The District will not be hosting any large group gatherings on-site this year until we resume full-capacity instruction. Therefore, any family sponsored events will be held in a virtual / remote format. Visitors will also not be permitted in our schools until we resume full-capacity instruction. However, the District will be providing families with information sheets, short 1 - 2 minute video clips, and "PSAs" throughout the month of August so that families will be able to learn more about the upcoming school year.

When will I know who my child's homeroom teacher is?

The District will be mailing summer letters on August 26, 2020. You will receive summer mailings on or after August 27, 2020.

Updated on 8/24/20: Summer letters will be mailed on Friday, August 28, 2020.

Will SWSD still hold Back-to-School Night?

Yes. The District will hold a Back-to-School Night; however, no large group functions will be held on-site until we return to full-capacity. In lieu of our traditional evening event, a Virtual Back-to-School Night will be planned.

HYBRID LEARNING

What hybrid group will my child be assigned?

1. Group A: Students who reside in a family where the household last name begins with a letter in the following range of (A - La).

2. Group B: Students who reside in a family household where the last name begins with a letter in the following range of (Lb - Z).

3. Family members who reside in the same household will be assigned the same group (A or B).

4. Families who have children attending both SWSD and Kingsway will be assigned the same group day (A or B).

Why are the two on-site sessions shortened days?

As required by the NJDOE, the District is required to provide 4 hours of instruction in grades 1 - 6. The District is unable to provide two groups with 4 hours of instruction on-site each day. There are many factors that play a role in this decision, including but not limited to, the established collective bargaining contractual parameters and budgetary constraints.

Establishing an early dismissal for students in grades 1 - 6 provides the teaching staff with the ability to interact with students in the Distance Learning Group for approximately an hour in the afternoon, too. Both groups of students benefit from having person-to-person contact with a teacher at some point every school day of the school week (M, T, R, F).

It is important to note that although students are present for 4 hours, when one factors in the 45 min. for lunch that will be held at home and the 45 min. for the daily related arts content area of instruction that will now be provided on Wednesdays, the early dismissal day would actual reflect a five and a half hour student school day.

Will I need to fill out a form if I want my child in the Hybrid Model?

No. All students are assumed to be in the Hybrid Learning Model unless a specific request is made for Distance Learning Only. Only those engaged in Distance Learning will require an application.

Are students learning from home every Wednesday during the school year?

No. On shortened weeks the District will not close for student learning in order to provide both Group A and Group B students with equal on-site learning time. There are 5 Wednesdays throughout the year that will not close for student learning: 9/8/20, 10/14/20, 1/20/21, 2/17/20, and 6/2/21. The District will bring additional cleaning staff on-site to complete the additional cleaning needs before Group B reports. If you review the 2020 - 2021, you will notice those Wednesdays do not have a "V" on that day. Only Wednesdays with a "V" are distance learning / "learn from home" days for students.

How will remote learning be different from what was offered in the spring?

Remote learning will be more robust. The District read all of your survey submitted feedback and will adjust accordingly.

1. It is expected that students receive 4 hours of learning for grades 1 - 6 and 2.5 hours of learning in kindergarten when engaged in Distance Learning.

2. Teachers learned a lot through the spring. They will be bring their new knowledge as well as their increased level of comfort and confidence to this upcoming school year. The District is proud of our staff as they are always dedicated to learning and growing as professionals!

3. The District will provide 4 days of in-service support at the start of 2020 - 2021 school year . The District will continue to provide on-going after-hours professional development throughout the school year.

4. During Distance Learning Days, students will be engaged in important asynchronous and synchronous learning experiences to allow for on-site learning days to be targeted and focused on using learning to make connections and expand upon concepts. Students participating in hybrid days will be able to engage with anticipatory sets, vocabulary, self-sustained reading of assigned literature, pre-teaching of mathematical formulas through a flipped classroom model, or introducing scaffolded skills to prepare for teaching the on-grade level standard.

5. Students will have contact with a teacher every day regardless of Group A or Group B days.

Will there be cameras in classrooms so distance learners can view a live-stream of their class from home?

No. Teachers will not be live-streamed or videotaped. There are several reasons for this:

Student attention spans at this age are limited. The teacher will be focused on the needs/pacing of the students in front of him/her. The lesson will not be planned/paced for the engagement of remote learners. Therefore, students will quickly lose interest.
Classrooms are not equipped with effective video sound systems / microphones.
Not all families are comfortable with their child being recorded. As minors, parents have the right to make that decision for their child.
Finally, it is cost prohibitive to plan for this type of instruction. The District would need to purchase swivel cameras for every classroom, upgrade our storage and server system as well as purchase additional technology. This technique is not as simple as just turning on a camera and making it happen. A blend of synchronous and asynchronous instruction will be provided instead.

My child receives special services. Will my child continue to receive these services and when?

ESL, ACES, Special Education, and G & T services will be provided on-site and remotely through our Distance Learning Model. More information will be forthcoming from your child's special services teacher.

Your child's homeroom teacher will also support your child's learning on-site and through the Distance Learning Model. Student learning assignments may be differentiated when posted in a Google Classroom. Classwork assigned in Google Classroom may be individualized and assigned to a specific student; therefore, you will not be able to tell by looking in Google Classroom if the assignment was modified unless your child's teacher specifically notifies you. If you are unsure if your child's assignment was modified or differentiated, please ask the classroom teacher.

Within a hybrid scenario, will exceptions be made for special education students so that they can be in school more frequently?

Yes, the District will be providing opportunities for our students enrolled in our Preschool Inclusion program, ABA program and our self-contained special education program to attend all four on-site learning days (Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.). The entire district will be engaged in a Distance Learning Day on Wednesdays. Students will receive their related arts instruction on that day.

If the alternate (A/B) session is more convenient for my family, can I switch sessions?

Unfortunately, special requests can not be accommodated for any reason at this time. It is essential that class sizes remain at 50% or less per session/grouping. In the event there are a large number of students who enroll in the Distance Learning Option, the District will revisit our ability to accept requests. The District will notify parents ONLY IF this is a possibility after August 15, 2020. This process will be a fair process for all families in which every family will have an equal opportunity to apply and an equal opportunity to transfer (i.e. a district lottery process).

What if my child's friends are in Group B and my child is in Group A? Can I request a switch?

The District WILL NOT be able to accommodate parent requests to switch classrooms or sessions except in extreme circumstances. There are many logistical factors including but not limited to: transportation routes, social distancing requirements, student academic needs, limited teacher scheduling ability, etc. The District respectfully requests that families understand this is an extraordinary situation and parent requests cannot be honored. (See above answer for more information.)

Will students engage in academic assessments in September?

Yes. Students will be assessed around the 2nd or 3rd week of September. In the meantime, the District identified priority standards based on the results of the Spring 2020 Benchmarks. The Curriculum Department is currently re-pacing the curriculum with this information in mind. The Curriculum Department is also taking into consideration feedback shared by our Academic Team Leaders. In the early elementary grades, reading, writing, and mathematics will be the primary focus of on-site instruction.

Will we remain in this learning model all year? (Hybrid Learning/Distance Learning)

At this time, we do not know when we will be able to return to a full-capacity learning structure. However, it is imperative to understand this plan may change AT ANY TIME. The District will continue to monitor the Governor's briefings, remain in communication with the NJ Department of Health, and will continue to make decisions in the best interest of student and staff health and safety. Please be sure you have a "back-up" childcare plan in the event your child becomes ill, must quarantine for a period of 14 days or more, or in the event our schools are required to close once again.

Regardless of what the learning model looks like throughout the school year, students are required to attend 180 school days of school. At this time, there is no expectation that this requirement will be modified for any reason.

HYBRID (GENERAL EDUCATION) KINDERGARTEN SPECIFIC QUESTIONS

Why can kindergarten be provided every day for 2.5 hours but grades 1 - 6 can not?

By NJ Department of Education requirements, Kindergarten must be provided 2.5 hours of instruction and students in grades 1 - 6 must be provided 4 hours of instruction. The District is able to accomodate two 2.5 hour sessions as opposed to two 4 hour sessions required in grades 1 - 6. Parents can also find this guidance in the NJDOE Road Back: Restart and Recovery Plan. (For more information, please see the above answer - "Why are the 2 on-site sessions shortened days?")

Can kindergarten students request to borrow a District Chromebook?

The District does not own Chromebooks or other take home devices for all Pre-K and K students, therefore, there is no formal request form for loaning Chromebooks at those grade levels. However, Mr. Joel Brown, Chief Information Officer, has created a waitlist of students in those grades to assist them with a device to aid them in. Please contact Mr. Joel Brown with any additional questions that you may have (jbrown@swsdk6.com).

Will PM Kindergarten have lunch on-site? Will they be served a "grab & go" lunch?

Students who receive a free or reduced lunch will be served lunch in a grab and go style. They will bring their school lunch home. Students may have a peanut or tree-nut free working snack in the classroom, but lunches will not be eaten on site.

Will cleaning be completed in between the am and pm Kindergarten session?

Yes. Additional maintenance staff will be assigned to the Clifford School in between am and pm kindergarten to clean frequently touched surfaces before the pm class arrives.

Will there be additional learning opportunities outside of the 2.5 hours on-site?

Yes. Teachers will provide asynchronous learning when students are not on-site. Teachers will also be able to interact with students on Wednesdays, too.

DISTANCE LEARNING OPTION QUESTIONS

What if I want my child to enroll in the Distance Learning after the start of the school year?

Families must select a learning model prior to the start of the school year: Hybrid or Distance Learning. If there is a time in which the family begins to feel unsafe due to an increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 positive cases, the family may request their child to transition into a Distance Learning Classroom. However, once this transfer takes place, the family must agree to transfer into Distance Learning until the District resumes full-capacity instruction. Moving in and out of learning models is not recommended.

If I transfer my child to the Distance Learning Model after school begins, can my child remain with the same teachers?

Unfortunately, a child will not be able to remain with his/her Hybrid Learning Model teachers if he/she transfers into Distance Learning. These models will be taught by different teachers.

What if I choose the Distance Learning Model and I want my child to return to school to learn in the Hybrid Model?

A Distance Learning Enrollment Agreement will be required in order to participate in this alternate option. Once the school year begins, families who select the Distance Learning Model will be committing to learning remotely through at least the first trimester or until we return to full-capacity instruction (whichever comes first). Students will remain in distance learning; no changes will not be considered until at least 12/8/2020.

During Distance Learning Days will my child be required to complete student work?

YES! In the hybrid model, it will be ESSENTIAL for your child to complete their distance learning activities prior to reporting to the classroom. Students engaged in a Distance Learning day are required to log in no later than 8:00 p.m. in order to be counted as present.

It should be expected that students will engage in approximately 4 hours of learning / school work on a distance learning day. (Kindergarten students will be expected to engage in approximately 2.5 hours learning / school work on a distance learning day.) Students engaged in hybrid remote learning days will have the ability to contact their classroom teacher through their Google Classrooms or with parent support through a parent's email.

Remote Learning Tasks -

When learning from home students will:

a) be introduced to new concepts (i.e. anticipatory sets, vocabulary, pre-reading activities, mathematical formulas/practice, etc.)

b) students must complete their independent reading assignments as assigned

c) student practice workbook activities will be required, etc.

SWSD is referring to our distance learning model as the "WHAT" learning days. Students will learn WHAT they need in order to demonstrate and actively engage in the learning when in the classroom.

On-Site Learning Experiences -

SWSD is referring to our on-site learning days as our "Show What You Know" days. We need to maximize our time in the classroom - every second of learning is important. If students did not complete their remote learning work, students will be unable to participate in the active learning experiences in the classroom. Instead of engaging with the material, making connections, creating projects, expanding on ideas, completing writing tasks, engaging in discussions, etc., students will need to spend the day working independently to catch up on their missed work. Unfortunately, this requirement will result in a child missing out on valuable, interactive learning experiences.

We only have two days each week with your child on our school campus, and the remainder of the class will need to move forward.

Will the District provide devices for Kindergarten or PK?

No, the District will not be providing devices for students in PK or Kindergarten. The reasoning is our students are able to participate in learning on-site most every day of the week; therefore, those students engaged in Hybrid Learning (gr. 1 - 6) will be a priority when assessing device availability. Families will need to provide their child with a device if they wish to participate in Option 2.

Will the teacher of this option be a full time contract teacher within the Woolwich/Swedesboro School District?

Yes. All teaching staff in the Hybrid and Distance Learning Model will be contracted SWSD staff.

Will there be live classroom meetings (ex. full class zoom meet ups) in order to establish rapport with other students who are also participating in the Distance Learning Only Model?

Yes, the distance learning class will be treated as a distance learning homeroom of students. These classmates will not report on-site until we return to full-capacity instruction.

Will students receive guided reading, enrichment, or other leveled small groups? What will it look like for virtual?

In the fully virtual model, teachers will meet with guided reading groups weekly/daily. (Schedules will vary just as they would in the traditional classroom).

Will there be direct live teaching that occurs daily?

Yes. Both synchronous and asynchronous instruction will take place each day. Small group instruction is one opportunity where live teaching will definitely take place.

How many hours will students spend online in the Distance Learning Model?

This is a difficult question to answer. It will depend on the grade level. It will depend on the independence level of the students. It will depend on the instructional focus and whether or not most of the lessons that day are introductory or review lessons.

There will be opportunities for small group instruction which will require online time. There will be asynchronous instruction presented (pre-recorded lessons by the homeroom teacher). There will be synchronous instructional opportunities where the teacher is presenting a lesson "live" to the whole online class. There will be work assigned on the computer itself using google applications and/or district purchased software.

I would anticipate between 2 - 3 hours of online learning and a minimum of 1 or more hours of independent engagement beyond online work.

Will that teacher be responsible for one grade or multiple grade levels of on-line learning?

This is an unknown at this time. We will wait to see how many students per grade level is enroll in distance learning.

If we selected a distance learning option but the entire district becomes all distance learning, will students be transitioned from the distance learning homeroom to their original homeroom?

Yes, if the District goes fully virtual before we officially open, all homerooms will be considered distance learning homerooms. Therefore, all students will be assigned to a homeroom other than just a "distance learning only" homeroom.

Will the curriculum be the same (or similar to) what the in-person hybrid teachers are doing with their students?

Absolutely! In fact, our District priority is align instruction across the entire grade level. Students must be able to enter distance learning at any time without missing a beat in the event that a student requires an isolation or quarantine extended period of distance learning.

SAFETY

What medical professionals have been involved in the development of our plan?

The District has been following the guidance outlined in the NJDOE Road Back: Restart and Recovery Plan and additional guidance shared since that time by the NJDOH and NJDOE. This plan was based on recommendations from the CDC, NJ Department of Health (NJDOH), and the American Academy for Pediatrics (AAP). Throughout the summer, both Dr. O'Neil, the District Superintendent, and the S-W District School Nurses engaged in meetings with the NJDOH and our school physician. Most of our S-W School Nurses also participated in additional trainings/informational sessions such as the one offered by Inspira in July. Furthermore, the S-W School Nurses were very involved in creating the District Re-Opening Physical Health and Wellness Framework, the S-W Health and Wellness Protocols, and they also had access to review the proposed health and wellness requirements in our plan before going to the S-W BOE for approval.

It is important to note the administrative team's academic degrees are educational degrees. The administrative team are not medical experts or public health experts. The District will rely on our school district nursing team, school physician, and the NJ Department of Health when establishing protocols for all physical health and wellness practices.

Will staff receive training on COVID-19, social distancing, and other health related protocols?

Yes, our school nurses will be providing training to our staff at the start of the school year. District administration has also created a Staff Manual that outlines these procedures; this will be reviewed by all district administration. Staff also have access to all summer mailings and the District website. Finally, our new staff members will receive training ]from one of our school nurses during their New Staff Orientation.

What expectations will there be for parents/guardians prior to sending children to school?

1. Parents/Guardians will be expected to complete a screening at home each morning, prior to sending students to school.

2. Parents will receive a daily reminder through our School Messenger system (text and/or email) to remind families to check their child’s temperature and to keep them home if they have a fever or are sick.

3. A Daily Temperature Record Sheet will be required to be brought to school each day your child reports to school. This form can be completed online or by sending in the actual Temperature Record Sheet.

4. Parent home screening checklist: If the answer is “yes” to any of the following, students should be kept home:

Checklist: Does your child have any of these symptoms that are not attributable to another condition?

Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fever
Chills
Repeated shaking with chills
Muscle pain
Headache
Sore throat
New loss of taste or smell

2. Does your child have a temperature at or above 100.4 F?

3. Has your child been in close, direct contact with an individual who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past week?

Will my child have to wear a mask all day?

As of 8/3/20: All students will be required to wear a mask at all times unless a medical issue prevents them from doing so.

Please note: All of the responses below are being provided based on the best and most current information available at this time. Reopening our schools is a dynamic situation that evolves weekly if not daily. The SWSD plan is subject to change, and in fact, we anticipate things will change. The school district has done the very best job in an extremely challenging situation where much of the responsibility has fallen solely onto districts throughout the state. The District will continue to update this website and families as this situation continues to evolve throughout the next several weeks.

What if my child cannot wear a mask due to medical issues?

Please communicate this to your child's building nurse, classroom teacher, and provide the District with the necessary documentation from the child's treating physician. This information should be updated in the child's individualized health care plan and this information will be communicated with the appropriate staff so that everyone is well informed.

What if my child refuses to wear a mask in school?

Students who have a medical condition or other conditions that would prevent a child from wearing a mask must provide written verification from a treating physician that their child is exempt from wearing a facial covering. All other students must wear a facial covering at all times throughout the school day effective 8/3/20. Students who refuse to comply and do not have a verified medical excuse will be addressed via the Code of Conduct.

Will teachers remain 6 feet from their students at all times?

No. This is an impossible standard to meet in an elementary school - especially when caring for children between the ages of 3 - 11. If a child is hurt and/or needs assistance, staff assistance will be provided. Staff will frequently wash their hands throughout the day, wear a mask at all times when within 6 feet of a child, use hand sanitizer when soap/water is not available, and will wear additional PPE when necessary.

If my child rides the school bus, what measures will be put in place to keep my child safe?

1. The District will require all students to wear a facial covering at the bus stop and for the entire duration of the bus ride to and from school.

2. With the exception of Kindergarten, students will enter the bus and proceed directly to the back of the bus. There will be no saving of seats for other students or seating requests.

3. Students will sit one person per seat and bus capacity will be reduced according to state guidelines (as much as possible).

4. If additional seats are needed on a school bus, siblings will be required to sit in the same seat together.

5. If non-siblings are required to sit together, two students may be assigned to a '3' seater bus seat. Students must sit on the opposite ends of the seat (window/aisle).

6. Bus seats and windows will be cleaned by the bus driver in-between bus routes.

7. Bus drivers will be required to wear cloth facial coverings as long as doing so would not inhibit the individual's health.

8. Weather permitting, bus windows will remain open.

Will the school district screen every child's temperature before entering the school building?

1. No. The school district will not routinely check all students’ temperatures; however, nurses may check students who are symptomatic; appear not to be feeling well; are unable to communicate how they are feeling. Homeroom teachers will perform a visual check of every student upon arrival. Any student who indicates they are not feeling well will be sent to the nurse's office to be screened.

2. Parents will be asked to check students at home as part of a home daily screening process. As such, the following protocol will be necessary:

a. All SWSD families will be required to take their child's temperature before leaving home.

b. Families will be required to complete a Daily Temperature Record Sheet to record their child's temperature each day. Families will also be required to certify their child has not tested positive for COVID-19 within the past week.

3. Parents who do not complete the form will be contacted by the school. If we can not reach a parent to confirm the above criteria, the school will be removed from class and assessed by the school nurse.

My child isn't feeling well. Will he/she have to go to the nurse? Can my child come back to school if he/she feels better? Does my child have to quarantine?

1. If your child presents with symptoms consistent with COVID-19, your child will be evaluated by the nurse and if he/she presents with unexplained symptoms, he/she will be sent to the isolation area designated by the nurse. (Please see the Physical Health and Wellness Page for more information.)

Symptoms:

Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea

2. The District STRONGLY encourages families to schedule an appointment with your child's pediatrician and have their child tested if determined by your physician.

3. If your child is tested, your child may not return to school until he/she receives a negative test, is symptom free, and is fever free without fever reducing medications for 72 hours.

4. If your child is not tested, your child may not return to school for 10 days (unless with a doctor's note) and until he/she is symptom free. Your child must also be fever free without fever reducing medications for SEVENTY-TWO hours.

My child frequently gets colds throughout the school year. Will he/she be required to stay home every time my child has a cold?

Parents will be required to engage in a home-screening process that will include reviewing COVID-19 symptoms every morning before your child reports to school. If a child exhibits one of the symptoms outlined on the screening form, and that symptom not definitively explained, yes, your child must remain home. When and if you have questions, please contact the school nurse prior to sending your child to school. The school nurse can assist you with next steps. It is expected that students will be absent more frequently this year out of an abundance of caution.

Will students who require medication, have a stomach ache, or need to be seen to treat an injury be located in the same area of the nurse's office as those exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19?

No. An isolation area will be established so that students who are not exhibiting symptoms will not interact with those students who are exhibiting symptoms.

What will happen if another student intentionally coughs or sneezes on my child?

Each Principal is revising their building Code of Conduct to address situations where one child may intentionally compromise another child's health and well-being. In the event this does occur, both students will immediately be sent to the nurse for medical attention and both families will be contacted. The building Code of Conduct will be enforced.

What happens if a student is exposed or tests positive for COVID-19?

a. Student health information is confidential; therefore, the school will NOT identify or confirm the identity of any child who may have tested positive for COVID-19. However, SWSD families will be notified if there is a confirmed case in the district.

b. Once a family notifies the District of a confirmed case, the Superintendent will immediately notify the NJ Department of Health. The Department of Health will guide the District in planning next steps. Contact tracing will be performed and individuals required to initiate a precautionary isolation/quarantine period will be notified. The period of isolation/quarantine will be determined by the NJ Department of Health.

c. The District will require all students/staff to adhere to the NJDOH guidelines regarding isolation and precautionary quarantine periods.

d. SWSD families will ONLY be notified if there is a confirmed positive case in the District.

e. (Please see the Physical Health and Wellness page for more information.)

What happens if a staff member is exposed to or tests positive for COVID-19?

1. Staff health information is confidential; therefore, the school will not confirm the identity of any staff member who may have tested positive for COVID-19. However, SWSD families will be notified if there is a confirmed case in the District.

2. Once a staff member notifies the District of a confirmed case, the Superintendent will immediately notify the NJ Department of Health. The Department of Health will guide the District in planning next steps. Contact tracing will be performed and individuals required to initiate a precautionary isolation/quarantine period will be notified. The period of isolation/quarantine will be determined by the NJ Department of Health.

3. The District will require all students, staff, and contracted staff to adhere to NJDOH guidelines regarding precautionary isolation/quarantine periods.

4. SWSD families will only be notified is there is a positive confirmed case in the District.

If a student or staff member tests positive in my child's school, will my child be required to quarantine?

1. Children will get common colds, the flu, viruses, etc. throughout the school year. It is expected that children will be absent due to illnesses other than COVID-19. If the District is notified of a positive case, we will notify our SWSD families. If you do not receive a notification from us, then the District does not have confirmed student or staff case. Please so not assume staff or student absences all related to COVID-19. If you do not hear from the school district, then there are no cases to be concerned about at that time.

2. Any individual who was exposed to the virus will be required to quarantine for 14 days.

3. An "exposed" individual means that he/she spent ten minutes or more in close contact (less than 6 feet) to the person who tested positive. Student/staff exposures will be determined through contact tracing and in partnership with the Gloucester County Department of Health.

4. If a child on quarantine actively participates in Distance Learning, that student will NOT be marked absent.

5. Although the school district will notify SWSD families of positive cases, the District will NOT release the name or identity of the individual. Student names, class names, teacher names, etc. are protected information.

6. The school district will notify you if your child was exposed to SARS-CoV-2. If you are not contacted, then it has been determined that your child was not exposed.

7. (Please see the Physical Health and Wellness page for more information.)

If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID, does the entire building need to shut down?

No a positive test result does not result in an automatic classroom, wing, or building closing down. If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, the District will collaborate with the NJ Department of Health to identify individuals who have been in close contact of that person through contact tracing. Only those individuals identified through contact tracing are required to quarantine for a period of 14 days. Close contact is defined as: an individual who was within 6 feet of that individual (with or without a mask) for 10 minutes or more. If families are NOT contacted by the school district or NJDOH, then their child has NOT be identified as having been in close contact with an individual with a confirmed positive COVID-19 diagnosis.

If/when a vaccine becomes available, will the current school plan be re-evaluated in order to return to a more "normal" schedule?

The District is looking forward to returning to a more "normal" schedule as much as you are! WE PROMISE!!! However, we will not compromise the health and safety of our staff and students prematurely. Therefore, the District will follow and adhere to all guidance provided by the State of NJ, the NJ Department of Education, and most importantly, the NJ Department of Health. The SWSD administration do not hold degrees in medicine or public health. As such, we must make health and safety decisions in collaboration with the appropriate professionals.

What other safety measures will be put into place?

1. A/C filters are routinely maintained and changed according to manufacturer recommendations.

2. The District operates with a 20% fresh air return in our ventilation system.

3. Buttons on vending machines, elevators, drinking fountains, and other frequently touched surfaces will be cleaned daily.

4. Cups will be provided by the District for students who do not have a water bottle.

5. Playground equipment will remain closed.

6. Mental health supports will be provided by our school counselors, and the District is working with Rutgers University to provide a 12 month trained Mental Health Clinician effective September 1, 2020.

7. Staff will receive training during the beginning of the year in-service on trauma informed teaching strategies - specifically targeted to working with students who experienced trauma and anxiety throughout the school closure.

8. Dedicated (and staff created) asynchronous lessons will be shared in homeroom each week throughout the school year on hygiene and character education / coping strategies. These videos have been created by our nurses and school counselors.

The CDC reduced their original guideline of 72 hours to 24 hours fever free without fever-reducing medication. What is SWSD's guideline?

The District is aware CDC guidelines regarding fevers has changed to 24 hours. The District, in conjunction with the school physician, will adhere to the original guidance 72 hours without fever reducing medications for the start of the year. We will monitor and review as the school year continues. Students must be fever free for 72 hours without a doctor's note. Student absences based on being fever free for 72 hours will be counted as "excused" absences.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Will the school provide hand-sanitizer?

Yes. Hand-sanitizer stations will be provided throughout every building. Please check with your child's specific school to see if personal hand-sanitizer containers are permitted.

Are class lists being established by alphabet, too?

No, class lists are not established by the alphabet. Class lists were first established last spring in conjunction with teacher input and identification of student instructional needs. Now the District will need to reassess classes once the District identifies students who will engage in Distance Learning. Classes will be re-balanced based on teacher feedback, student personality, instructional/social-emotional/academic needs, etc. This is a very complicated but ever-evolving process. (Last year's K & 1 classes will remain together as much as possible. Certain factors may impact this planning process.)

If my child is enrolled in the remote (Distance Learning) option, what device should he/she use at home?

The students in grades 3- 6 use Chromebooks. Students in the lower grades use a variety of tools: Ipads, Chromebooks, and Desktops. It is really personal preference regarding what you choose to have your child use at home. The District tends to utilize Google Apps for Education whenever appropriate.

My child is in need of borrowing a school issued Chromebook. When and how will my child be able to get it?

1. Families borrowing a Chromebook will be required to sign and comply with the SWSD Loaner Chromebook Agreement.

2. Once a parent/guardian signs and returns the agreement, a Chromebook will be delivered to the student's homeroom.

3. A pick-up day will be established for families in need of a Chromebook who have opted for Distance Learning.

4. The student borrowing the Chromebook will also receive a charger and case. The charger is expected to remain at home.

5. Once the District returns to a full-capacity learning model or reaches the last student school day in June (whichever comes first), all borrowed Chromebooks must be returned to SWSD.

6. Please visit the Chromebook Loaner Program page for more information.

My child is so excited to be assigned a locker in 6th grade. Will he/she still be able to use it?

Unfortunately, lockers will not be assigned / used into the District returns to a full-capacity learning model. Students will have an assigned area in their homeroom classroom to store their belongings. This will assist 6th graders with adhering to social distancing guidelines.

Will Comet Care be offered on-site?

Yes, Comet Care will be offered on-site. As a community resource, the District is trying to support our working families as much as we can by continuing to provide this service. Offering this service does not impact the safety of our students who are on-site learning.

Comet Care and school students will not interact or utilize school the same facilities other than the actual physical building. Comet Care will be assigned large space areas / locations that are for “Comet Care use only.” Comet Care has been assigned their own bathroom facilities, too. Comet Care is currently operating on a limited enrollment as well while adhering to state childcare regulated guidance.

The on-site instructional classrooms will not be impacted and students will still be able to be instructed in their own classrooms where social distancing guidelines will be met.

Comet Care is not run by the school district; it is an independent LLC. Other than the actual physical building, Comet Care will provide for their own services and will not utilize school district resources. Comet Care will also be assigned their own outdoor area for any/all recess activities.

Students in the instructional program will not interact with students in the Comet Care Program, and all social distancing guidelines will be met for both programs.

Will students have to quarantine if the child travels to a state on the New Jersey Travel Advisory?

Yes. Students will be required to follow all NJ state issued isolation and quarantine periods when traveling to a state identified on the NJ Travel Advisory list. This includes travel by train, bus, car, plane and any other method of transportation.

"The 14-day quarantine travel advisory applies to travel from certain states identified as those that have a positive COVID-19 test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or have a 10% or higher positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average (impacted states.)"

For up-to-date information, please visit this site:

covid19.nj.gov/faqs/nj-information/general-public/which-states-are-on-the-travel-advisory-list-are-there-travel-restrictions-to-or-from-new-jersey

Why is Wednesday the day for cleaning and teacher planning?

Wednesday is the day in between Groups A and B. Additional cleaning tasks have already been added to the cleaning staff's nightly responsibilities (such as: telephones, light switches, push plates, keyboards, mice, etc.). On Wednesday, the cleaning and maintenance staff will be able to clean hallway walls, use a spraypak disinfectant throughout the buildings, and clean the building using Viral II or Bleach, etc.

Teachers are also planning for two completely different programs within the same week. Teachers will not be recycling old lessons or using pre-established videos found on the internet as their primary instructional resource. Teachers are also following an accelerated learning model in order to ensure that students are moving forward along their current grade level continuum of standards. Planning on a Wednesday allows staff to prepare.

If I am interested in purchasing a Chromebook similar to the one my child uses at school, what should I look to buy?

District Chromebooks are made by Dell, HP and Acer and are non-touch screen 11 inch models. SWSD Chromebooks are equipped with a web camera and microphone for video conferencing and have at least 4 GB of RAM. Mr. Joel Brown, the District's Chief Information Officer, would recommend choosing a model that has an Intel Celeron or Pentium processor.

If my child is enrolled in Accelerated Math or Algebra I, will those programs be provided if I choose the Distance Learning Model?

Yes. Your child will still receive Accelerated Math or Pre-Algebra I regardless of the learning model. At this time, the teacher has not been identified.

How many students will be in a classroom?

Every grade level is different. It is based on grade level enrollment. However, in a "traditional" school year our goal is not to exceed 25 students whenever possible. Using this concept - 50% of a classroom of students will be on-site at any given time. Therefore, no more than 13 students will be present in a classroom at any time. This would be the maximum class size. This does not mean that there will be 13 children in the classroom. There may be 8. There may be 10.

At this time, we are unsure. The Distance Learning Enrollment Application is due on 8/10/20. Classes will then be finalized, and we will know how many students will be learning on-site. This summer our class scheduling process will look VERY different than it has in the past due to our current circumstances.

Most grade levels support 10 general education classes per grade level, and students are evenly assigned among those classrooms.

Is it possible to social distance if there are the maximum number of kids in a classroom?

It would be safe to safe that the maximum Hybrid class size "could" be 13 students. (I am NOT saying it WILL be 13 students.) But in theory it "could" be 13 students.

Student desks will be spaced 6 feet apart to the best of our ability, and the District will utilize the full classroom space to do it. If we need to remove classroom library book shelving, we will. (I can confirm it will need to happen at Harker for sure, but if shelves were moved and secured on top of classroom cabinetry, for example, the library itself was able to remain.) If we need to remove kidney shaped tables, we will. (They have already been removed at Harker). Classroom rugs for the on floor sitting areas are being removed. Classrooms are being reconfigured accordingly. Creativity is the key!

Positioning desks strategically and using the full classroom size to do so is our priority at this time in regard to classroom set-up.

How will arrival and dismissal run each day?

This is all building dependent. Every building has a different age group of students. Every building has a different set-up, and every building has different needs. This information is being developed now and will be reviewed by the building level Pandemic Committees. This information will be shared in our summer mailings.

How do I learn more information about the PTO school supplies that were ordered?

It is best to reach out to the SW PTO to learn more about your ordered school supplies. You can email: swptoboard@gmail.com.

If I have a device at home, will my child have access to the school programs?

Yes! Teachers will send home your child's log-in (username and password) for each website / program the District will use. You can bookmark the sites for ease of access.

Personal chromebooks will sync up a user's settings similar to a district owned device. On the login in screen of the personal chromebook, just have your child add an additional account apart from their personal one and sign in with their school issued Google Account as the second user.

Once signed into that account, all bookmarks and relevant apps get pushed to the device and are in the same spot as if they are on a district owned device.

If you are need of assistance with this process, please contact Mr. Joel Brown for assistance. jbrown@swsdk6.com

How will student supplies be maintained?

Student supplies will be stored in a specific assigned tool/area. Supply storage will be different by building. Cubbies, chair cover pockets, and bins are examples of what will be used to ensure materials are not shared. Some schools have removed the bottom portion of student desks so there is no available interior desk storage. More information will be provided by the classroom teacher.

NJDOE FAQ SECTION

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