Back to School Restart Model |
2020-2021 School Year
Back To School Restart Goal Advance the Mission of the University School of Jackson in spite of circumstances. COMMIT TED TO Mission • Safety • Clarity • Decisiveness
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Planning We have analyzed state and independent school plans from across the nation to develop a plan that is responsive to the needs of our local community. We will continue to track local trends, adhere to governmental authorities, and, as an independent school, will make decisions that are in the best interest of our USJ family. In this document, you will find the four basic frameworks from which we will operate during the 2020-2021 school year. We are committed to meeting our students’ needs regardless of the parameters in which we are currently operating, and we understand each of these will require responsiveness and flexibility. No one framework will work perfectly, but we are committed to working together and going the extra mile to ensure the objectives of our mission will be safely met. Our students’ growth is paramount regardless of the circumstances, and we are prepared to adjust as needed. We have created the following model that includes four frameworks, all of which may be used moving forward as we navigate the local circumstances of the pandemic.
Factors That Will Lead Us to Shift Framework: - Recommendations from federal/state/local agencies - Increases or decreases in positive cases among our community in relation to the county as a whole - Evidence of our community’s commitment to following social distancing - Decision of USJ administration in communications with our legal/medical advisors School Procedures for Positive Cases: In the event of a confirmed positive case of COVID-19 in a student or their immediate household, it is the responsibility of the parents to notify the school. We will contact our local health agencies and medical advisory team and follow the recommended guidance (and protocol for contact screening at USJ). This would be treated as any medical absence, and the student would be allowed to receive assignments, communicate on-line with teachers, and make up their work. Students/staff members who test positive for COVID-19 must be quarantined for 10 days from the date of the beginning of symptoms and 72 hours after their symptoms have subsided. If asymptomatic, then it is 10 days from the date of a positive test.
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Health & Wellness
Our top priorities will remain health and wellness, given the evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we cannot afford to follow a static road map. Instead, we commit to being flexible and transparent as we implement, revise, and adjust strategies designed to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of our students while keeping our students and faculty/staff safe. USJ’s safety rules and protocols will be updated periodically, at the school administration’s discretion as more information is provided by the medical and legal teams, CDC and local health department, to uphold our commitment to our standard of care and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Below are some of the measures being taken to promote safety while students are on campus. Social Distancing
Parents and visitors entry is restricted Designated entry points by grades Appropriately spaced seating Use of common areas is restricted Cafeteria use is limited or eliminated
Daily Temperature Checks
Anyone entering the buildings must wear a mask and have temperature checked (All students, faculty, staff, etc.)
Student Gatherings & Events
Athletics will follow TSSAA guidelines or greater (waiting for further guidance) Assemblies and student gatherings: Only when social distancing is possible Field trips are postponed
Campus Mitigation
Lower School: Each classroom has its own ventilation system Upper/Middle School: Two classrooms per ventilation system Clorox Total 360° Electrostatic Disinfecting System for each campus Hand sanitizing stations throughout both campuses and at each entrance
Health & Hygiene Protocols
Faculty/Staff will wear masks or face shields Students will wear masks when not seated at their desks Scheduled hand cleaning Reinforced hygiene: Avoid touching the face, cover mouth with arm or elbow when coughing or sneezing
Sanitation Protocols
At the end of each class: Wipe desks and commonly touched surfaces with disinfectant Increased cleaning of restrooms and entrances End of the day: wash surfaces and then disinfect in a two-step process USJ Back To School 2020-2021 | 3
Framework Scenarios All modes include proactive hand-washing and increased sanitizing of our facility consistent with the needs of the current times. With the ability to quickly transition between frameworks, USJ will have the ability to sustain school operations throughout the year.
On Campus (OC) This is our traditional format, which includes a full schedule of academic classes and extracurricular activities according to our standard school operations.
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SD Social-Distanced (SD) Should circumstances require it, school administration may enact the socially-distanced framework of school operations. In this mode, we will carry out a full schedule of classes and extracurriculars, but will implement the following measures, to ensure the safety of students and teachers: - Temperature checks upon entering the building - Increased hand-washing and sanitizing stations - Cleaning desks at appropriate times throughout each school day - Intentional spacing of student desks - Increased signage as it relates to the direction of student traffic/ cleaning procedures - Limit and discourage close student contact - Cafeteria procedure changed (classroom in LS; grab-and-go options for US/MS in at least two dining areas) - Access to buildings is restricted to students/teachers/essential personnel. (No visitors, lunch deliveries, etc.) - Masks required in common spaces - Adjusted traffic flow in hallways
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Enhanced Social Distancing (ESD) In the case of a local spike in COVID-19 or amended governmental recommendations, the school administration may decide to increase measures to further protect against the potential spread of the virus by implementing our SD framework, plus the following “enhanced� measures: - Smaller number of students per learning space - Prohibiting the use of lockers in all divisions - Masks required in common areas - All students eat in classrooms - The suspension of extracurricular activities
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New Online Schedule In order to avoid multiple family members zooming at the same time, the following schedule has been created.
Online Learning (OL)
Lower School 5th - 8:00 a.m. • 4th - 8:30 a.m. • 3rd - 9:00 a.m. 2nd - 9:30 a.m. • 1st - 10:00 a.m. • K - 10:30 a.m.
Should we fall under a “shelter in place” order or if USJ administration deems it necessary, we would shift to our online learning framework. When moving to online, the following improved measures will be implemented: For Middle/Upper School - Longer assessment/tutorial period - More consistent/structured program - Clearer expectations for students - Aligned use of google classroom for communications - Improved delivery of assessments For Lower School - Zoom schedule with different start times by grade to accommodate parental support - More small group and individual sessions - Clearer guidelines for students and parents - K-2 Seesaw - 3-5 Google Classroom - Jr Kindergarten and below students will follow the guidelines provided by the Department of Education for preschools. This will allow our students to continue to receive in-person care and instruction on campus.
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Priorities We prioritize on campus, person to person engagement as it relates to learning, and we are committed to the traditional school environment when it is possible to execute safely. Our teachers will be prepared, and our school has the tools necessary to meet the needs of your child regardless of the framework. We also recognize that during the school year, we may shift frameworks, perhaps several times, and with minimal notice, to carry out safe and effective instruction.
COMMIT TED TO Mission Safety Clarity Decisiveness
Meeting Needs Any family whose child(ren) has a medical situation that precludes them from attending on campus academic and extracurricular programs may meet prior to August 4 with their Division Director to arrange with their teacher(s) an academic plan suitable to meet the needs of their family.
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