Plans for Reopening
Reopening Plan Presentation - 10/07/20
Presentation by Mr. Nava
10/07/2020
Updated_SPS_ReopeningPlan2020.pdfUpdated 10/26/2020
*REVISED AND UPDATED 2/01/21
Logistics
Temperature Check / Health Screening - Fever Free App
St. Pius is partnering with Fever Free to provide our community with digital temperature check and health screening. The information that you provide is verified through AI and is digitally recorded for Contact tracing if needed. You will receive an invitation to join and set up your Fever Free account when we have an official start date. More info will be sent out soon.
The health check should be completed every morning before arriving to school. When you arrive to school, you will show the staff the Clearance Badge for your child(ren) displayed on your phone.)
Drop off and Pick Up
*Complete Temperature and Health Screening before leaving home – Present Clearance upon Arrival*
Drop off and Pick up Schedule 2020 – 2021
Gates open at 7:45 am
K – 5th grade 7:45 am – 8:05 am
6th – 8th (On Sierra Court) 7:45 am – 8:05 am
CARPOOLS:
K-5: Enter the campus on Woodside Road or Velota Road, turn into the school parking lot, follow the route all the way to the end of the parking lot, turn and follow the traffic to the Drop Off Zone. When you arrive to the Drop Off Zone, show the staff member on traffic duty your child’s clearance on the Fever Free app, to enter into the school building. Once verified, the staff member will direct the student(s) to exit the vehicle.
6-8: Drive to the end of Sierra Court, stop at the Drop Off Zone. When you arrive to the Drop Off Zone, show the staff member on traffic duty your child’s clearance on the Fever Free app, to enter into the school building. Once verified, the staff member will direct the student(s) to exit the vehicle and enter in through the school gates.
NO CARS ARE TO STOP OR PARK – NO PARENTS OR GUESTS SHOULD EXIT
THEIR VEHICLE OR ENTER THE CAMPUS – PLEASE KEEP TRAFFIC MOVING.
Mixed carpools should be limited to families that are committed to their social pod. If your student is carpooling with another family, please provide them with a copy or screenshot of the completed health check. No student will be allowed on campus without the completed Health Check.
All children should exit the car using the passenger side doors when their Health Check has been verified.
Children must be wearing face masks when exiting the vehicle and on campus.
Walking/Biking to School:
When walking to school always use the crosswalk. Please do not enter the school campus except through one of the Drop Off Zones / Health Check Stations.
Late/Tardy Students (arriving after 8:05):
You will be directed to the front office to receive a slip for class. Front office Staff will meet students outside of the office to verify their temperature/health check was completed and issue them a pass for class. Students will be directed to their classroom. Students arriving well beyond the start of school should call the office when they arrive to campus. Students and parents must check in with the Front Office before entering the school building.
Pick up/Dismissal:
Families are asked to remain in their cars and pick up their students from the Drop off and Pick up Zone. Students will remain in the classroom and be called out in the order that Parents/Guardians arrive. We are currently looking into Dismissal Apps to manage Pickup.
Medical Appointments:
Do not make medical appointments during the school day. There are no in-and-out privileges. Once a student has been removed from campus, then they are not permitted to return until their next scheduled school day.
2020_Drop off Map and Times.pdfThank you for following the above guidelines. They are vital to the health and safety of our student population.
Please be advised that all guidance and protocols are subject to change.
School Map - Hybrid Classrooms / Contact Tracing Map
Campus Map_ReopeningPlan_Saint Pius Catholic School Emergency Evacuation Map.docxSchool Day Protocols
- After drop off, students will go directly to their classrooms. The East wing hallways will be designated into two halves to limit the number of potential contacts for individuals. 3-5 will only occupy one half, and 6-8 in the other. The K-2 wing will have a unidirectional division to limit potential contact with other students.
- Students will not place backpacks in closets/cubbies in the past. In the K-2 wing backpacks will be left outside, and in the East wing backpacks will be placed on the back of the students chairs. Items brought to school by students will be limited to school essentials ONLY.
- Bathroom use will be divided into multiple locations by grade level to limit the number of potential contacts for individuals and scheduled cleanings.
- Classes will be taught with windows and doors open as often as possible for ventilation and adequate air flow.
- Recess and Lunch will be staggered (3 recess and Lunch periods) Students will eat outside spread out at the lunch tables, students will play on designated play area only with their cohort.
2020HallwayDirectionsMap_Saint Pius Catholic School.pdfHealth and Safety *(updated 2/1/2021)
Cleaning and Disinfecting
The school will continue its already consistent practice of disinfecting all buildings and equipment prior to anyone returning to campus for the start of school. Once the students return, frequent sanitization of soft and hard surfaces, electronics, and equipment will be required.
Cleaning will include:
Disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, and bathrooms, multiple times per day
Avoiding use of items that are not easily cleaned, sanitized, or disinfected
Ensuring safe and correct application of disinfectants (CDC and EPA)
In addition, the School will maintain a reserve supply of soap, disinfectant spray, hand sanitizer, and paper products.
Social Distancing
Until a vaccine is widely administered, COVID-19 will continue to impact communities, requiring stringent physical distancing measures. Understanding that schools are not inherently designed for physical distancing, St. Pius will operate with guidelines that support a safe learning environment.
According to the SMC guidance, these include:
• Students will stay at least 4-6 feet from other people.
• Students and staff will not gather in large groups (Mass and prayer services, announcements, Student Life events, and other on-campus moments will be reimagined).
• Furniture and seating spaces will be rearranged to ensure appropriate distance between students.
• Visual aids will be provided around campus, the hallways, and classrooms to create smooth traffic flows and physical distancing.
• Whenever possible, we will avoid communal/shared supplies.
COVID-19 Testing
According to the SMC COVID-19 Guidance, testing needs to be performed by a laboratory certified for high-complexity testing. There are many testing sites throughout the county where families and students can get tested. St. Pius will hold monthly Covid-19 testing for our community. See Info below. Staff are tested weekly through Curative or Arch Staff and Consulting.
Testing for Staff
All staff members will be tested every month by our designated provider Arch Staffing and Consulting.
Staff are required to inform the school immediately (within one hour of learning the results) if they test positive or have an inconclusive test result and to provide documentation.
Testing for Students and Families
The school recommends that parents or guardians of elementary students have themselves and other adults in the student's household tested for COVID-19.
The school strongly recommends the parents or guardians of middle school students have those students tested for COVID-19 ideally within seven days, but no more than 14 days before first returning to school for in-person , on-site instruction.
The school requires parents or guardians to inform the school immediately (within one hour of learning the results) if their child tests positive or has an inconclusive test result and to provide documentation.
Hygiene
Reinforced through training and signs throughout campus, hygiene practices (coughing/sneezing etiquette, handwashing, wiping down tables, chairs, and equipment) will be promoted consistently throughout the day. Upon entering and exiting buildings on campus, students, faculty, and staff will be asked to utilize sanitizing stations provided by the School. In addition, when entering and exiting classrooms, students and faculty/staff members will be required to use hand sanitizer. After using the restroom students will be required to wash hands. Before and after eating and outside activities, all community members will be asked to wash/disinfect hands.
While members of the facilities team will deep clean spaces after hours as well as wipe down door handles and hard surfaces during the day, students will partner with faculty/staff to prioritize regular cleaning practices for desks, equipment, writing utensils, and other classroom materials.
Masks
Face coverings are an important way that we, as a community, can slow the spread of the coronavirus and protect each other. All faculty, staff and students are required to wear a mask to school every day when entering school and walking throughout the campus and inside classrooms. Teachers may augment their protection with face shields at any time when there is proper ventilation, and sufficient distance from students or other staff.
Remember that face masks are not a fashion statement, but rather a health statement. If a face mask becomes a distraction, students will be required to remove it and another mask will be provided.
The following are not allowed to be used as face masks: Masks with vents, bandanas, gaiters, and scarves.
CPDH recommends disposable 3-ply surgical masks, which are more effective than cloth face coverings.
Hand-washing and Hand Sanitizer
A number of hand sanitation stations are available throughout campus buildings. Restroom sinks will be available to students during scheduled break times, as well as newly installed handwashing stations at either end of the school building.
Travel Outside of the Bay Area
Upon returning from travel outside the Bay Area (beyond 120 miles/Out of State/International), you are strongly encouraged to quarantine for 10 days if you engaged any of the following activities that place you at a higher risk of contracting the virus that causes COVID-19:
· you interacted for more than 15 minutes within six feet of someone outside your household when you or the other people around you were not wearing a face covering at all times;
· you were indoors, including on a plane, train or bus, and either you or those around you were not wearing face coverings at all times;
· you interacted for more than 15 minutes within six feet of someone—either with or without a face covering—who was experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or who began to experience symptoms of COVID-19 within 48 hours of your interaction with them.
(The 10 day Quarantine includes any travel beyond 120 miles from home for any amount of time, and whether it was to a private residence or not).
Water Fountains and Water Bottles
Built-in water fountains will not be usable. Students are required to bring their own water bottle for each school day. Water bottles must be stored in the student's backpack. Water bottles must be clearly labeled with the student's name and must be brought home each day for cleaning.
Cell Phones and Personal Devices
We recommend that students and staff frequently clean their phones and personal devices as they are “high touch” products and can easily carry virus particles for a prolonged period of time.
Schedules and Models
On Campus/Hybrid and Remote (Distance Learning)
School Day - Modified:
We want to provide students with the full school experience. However, we recognize the need to adjust the schedule by creating a hybrid instructional school day that will allow us to bring in fewer students at a time, therefore providing students the opportunity to learn and engage with their teacher and classmates both virtually and physically, while also lessing our community's risks for exposure or outbreak. Students are divided into cohorts, groups which they will be a part of and work in both virtually and while on campus. Grades K-2 will be present on campus daily, as their cohorts are divided into seperate classrooms. Grades 3-8 will alternated between their cohorts, Group A = T/TH, and Group B = W/F. Monday is a distance learning day for all students (K-8).
Our school day hours remain 8:00 am to 3:05 pm. Students will receive instruction (either on campus or remotely) every single day. School days will include a strong focus on core subjects - Religion, ELA, Math, Social Studies, and Science. Electives will still be offered, but scheduling will differ from years past. This of course is just temporary. Classwork and Homework will be assigned as necessary and due dates will continue to be enforced.
School-wide Remote Learning:
Though the school year will begin with distance learning, our priority is to be on campus as much as possible and avoid having to close down again. We are prepared to adjust our calendar according to public mandates and circumstances. In the event we are notified by government or public health officials of the need to close the campus, school will continue remotely.
If a shelter-in-place mandate is required at any point during the school year, we are committed to meeting and exceeding expectations based on our experience from last spring, ongoing feedback from families, and further research. Our focus will be:
Delivering on our vision and mission
Providing students with a high quality, student-centered learning experience and sense of connection and community.
Communicating to families clearly and consistently both on the classroom level and school level.
Students that remain on DL when we return:
Families will have the option to decide to remain on the DL platform if they do not feel comfortable to return to school just yet. That platform however will change when physical classes begin, as the teacher will now have to shift to teaching online as well as in the classroom. Schedules and delivery of the curriculum will change and vary by grade level. Our aim as as school however, is to continue to provide a quality lessons, support to students, and opportunities for interactions and engagement with the teacher, teacher aid, and classmates.
DL and Hybrid/Hyflex Expectations
We understand that every household is unique, and this list is designed to guide you to the ideal home learning environment. Please strive to put all these elements in place for the success of your own child and the class as a whole.
· Students will assume a readiness (in uniform attire, sitting posture and general engagement) for the class meetings of the school day.
· Students will be in a distraction-free environment including distracting behaviors.
· Students will refrain from snacking and use of other devices during online class meetings.
· Students will join their class meeting on time, at the beginning of the period, for attendance purposes and remain in class until dismissed by the teacher. Students should have their camera on at all times.
· Students will complete the assigned work and submit it by the due date. If student cannot submit on time, they will contact their teacher to make other arrangements. There is a 10% mark down for every day that an assignment is late up to 5 days.
Our focus is on building up our students into independent and enthusiastic life-long learners. As we partner with parents to support the education of each child, we ask the following of our parents:
· Designate an area in your home as the dedicated Learning Space - similar to a shared space in a library.
· Minimize distractions for your student - just turning a desk or chair toward a wall limits diversion.
· Technology and materials should be readily available each morning for online learning. Devices should be fully charged.
· Step away when students are participating in online learning - promote the development of responsibility and independence. Remember that the class meeting time is for the students. If you have questions please email the teacher or schedule a meeting/call at another time.
A note about recording class sessions: The school will record class time and archive them for internal use. Sometimes teachers do record and post recorded meetings or lessons, but are not required to do so. If you miss a class meeting, please contact your teacher to discuss the missed session and resources for make up that missed class. Students and parents are prohibited from recording, sharing or public posting of class sessions or other online engagements. All class meetings are the intellectual property of the school.
Resources
San Mateo County
Latest Information on Re-entry for the County of San Mateo - https://www.smcgov.org/
Update from SMC on School's Gradual move to In-person Learning - https://www.smcgov.org/press-release/update-county-response-covid-19-schools-gradual-move-person-learning-testing-access
California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
“COVID-19 Industry Guidance: Schools and School Based Programs” https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-schools.pdf
California Department of Education (CDE) - “Stronger Together A Guidebook for the Safe Reopening of California’s Public Schools” https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/documents/strongertogether.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Guidance for Schools and Childcare
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/index.html
Cleaning and Disinfection for Community Facilities
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/cleaning-disinf ection.html
American Academy of Pediatric - “COVID-19 Planning Considerations: Guidance for School Re-entry”
Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health - “Schools for Health: Risk Reduction Strategies for Reopening Schools”
CDPH School Guidance
guidance-schools.pdfCDC School Opening Decision Tree
Faculty/ Staff and Community Covid-19 Testing
SPS_COVID19TestingLetter.pdfTesting Site and Link:
St. Pius Families are welcome to sign up for a Covid-19 and Antibodies Test when St. Pius School is hosting a testing event. Tests will be offered at St. Pius monthly from 7:30 am - 4:30 pm. Please read the attached letter for information and necessary forms. St. Pius Testing Reservation Link
Testing Dates at St. Pius:
11/11, 1/06, 2/3, 3/3, 3/31, 4/28, 5/26
Testing Coordinated by Arch Staffing and Consulting