COVID-19 REOPENING | mcmillianfirststeps

MCMILLIAN’S FIRST STEPS ACADEMY

REOPENING PHASES

Phases upon returning to school:

PHASE 1:

McMillian’s First Steps will be closed for the in-person instructions due to COVID-19. McMillian’s will offer distance learning through remainder of the school year.
Every classroom will have live streaming capabilities if the state goes into Phase 1.
If we are in a blended learning scenario, or if students cannot attend in-person due to medical reasons, students will be able to follow an educational lesson plan for all their classes.
We will utilize Zoom or Google Apps.
All afterschool extracurricular activities will be postponed until the state has moved out of Phase 3.

PHASE 2:

Students will have the option of doing distance learning or in-person instructions per parental agreement.
Student will have this option until the quarter ends. If we are mandated to stay in phase 2, this type of learning will continue.
An e-mail will be sent out to parents informing them of this continuous process.
Students/staff will have temperature taken upon entering and leaving the school grounds.
Students/Staff will be mandated to wear face coverings, remain a distance of at least 6ft, washing of the hands frequently, utilization of hand sanitizer, avoid grouping together, no outside activities, and there will be limited use of the cafeteria.

PHASE 3:

All students will return to full time in-person instructions with CDC guidelines due to COVID-19.
Students/staff will have temperature taken upon entering and leaving the school grounds.
Students/Staff will be mandated to wear face coverings, remain a distance of at least 6ft, washing of the hands frequently, utilization of hand sanitizer, avoid grouping together, no outside activities, and there will be limited use of the cafeteria.

OPERATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS OR REOPENING SCHOOLS

The following Operational Health and Safety Standards are set forth school-site expectations to mitigate the risks associated with COVID-19 or in-person school program and minimize the significant consequences of keeping students out of school. These standards are subject to change as we continue to learn more about this pandemic and the best practices that should be implemented to promote the health and safety of our students, teachers, staff, and community during this crisis.

Conducting Group Gatherings

According to the CDC, a gathering refers to a planned or spontaneous event, indoors or outdoors, with a small number of people participating or a large number of people in attendance such as a community event or gathering or sporting event.

Phase 1:

Maximum Group Size: 10, including adults.
Assembly Spaces: No use of gyms or auditoriums.
Groups are separated but do not require physical barrier.
Outdoor Standards: Groups are separated but do not require physical barrier.

Phase 2:

Maximum Group Size: 25, including adults.
Assembly Spaces: No use of gyms, auditoriums, etc. for group gatherings.
These spaces may be used as teaching stations.

Outdoor Standards: Groups are separated but do not require physical barrier.

Phase 3:

Maximum Group Size: 50, including adults.
Assembly Spaces: limit use of indoor shared spaces, such as cafeterias and gymnasiums, to maximum group sizes, ensure physical distance, wearing face coverings, and clean between each group’s use.
Students and teachers should wash hands before and after events.
Outdoor Standards: Groups are separated but do not require physical barrier.

FOLLOW PROTOCOL IN ALL PHASES

Entering and exiting School Buildings:

To limit contact as students and staff enter and exit the school facility, the school will implement the following standards during each phase of reopening.

Entry and exit points: Maintain maximum group sizes and physical distance recommendations to the maximum extent possible.

Drop-off and Pick-up Processes

There will be entry and exit points that will enable the flow of students in a single direction.
Visitors will not be allowed in the school building except under emergency situations; adults entering the building should wash or sanitize hands prior to entering and wear face coverings at all times.
There will be hand sanitizer located at the entrance, so students can clean their hands.

School Visitors: Parents or other volunteer group that are not core to the development of students will not be allowed in the building, unless there is an emergency situation. Adults entering the building should wash or sanitize their hands prior to entering and wear face mask at all times.

Practicing Prevention in All Phases

In accordance with the CDC’s strategies to encourage behaviors that reduce the spread of COVID-19, and with input from medical professionals, the school will implement the following standards during each phase of reopening.

High-touch surfaces: (e.g., desk, handrails, light switches, doorknobs, technology, etc.) will be cleaned before and after each group’s use.

Personal Hygiene: Students and teachers will have scheduled handwashing with soap and water or hand sanitizer frequently as well as the following times found in the CDC guidelines including at arrival, before and after eating, before and after using outdoor play equipment, and upon exiting.
Gloves are not necessary except or custodial staff or teachers cleaning their classrooms.

Intensified Daily Cleaning Efforts: Evaluate school facility fixtures, features, and equipment, to determine what kinds of surfaces and materials comprise each area. Follow CDC guidelines on establishing cleaning and disinfecting protocols for various surface types and materials. Considerations include outdoor areas and areas unoccupied for more than 7 days.

Face Coverings: Cloth face coverings will be mandatory for everyone on the McMillian’s campus (over the age of 2). Masks will be required to cover both nose and mouth and fit snuggly over the face. Face masks with valves and bandana type coverings that hang loose will not be permitted. Face coverings will be worn throughout the school day. All students are required to wear face coverings upon arrival to school, during hallway movement, in class, and when leaving campus. McMillian’s will provide every family with one cloth face covering and McMillian’s face shield at the start of the school year.

All families will be expected to launder face coverings for their students and provide additional ones as needed. Please ensure your child has an extra face covering in their bag daily as a backup. Face covering adherence will also consider the age and developmental appropriateness of our elementary students and youngest preschool learners. Those students and employees who cannot wear a face covering due to a diagnosed medical condition should contact one of the school administrators for guidance.

Health Screening: Daily health screenings will be mandatory for all students and employees prior to arrival to campus. All members of our community will be expected to input their temperature as well as answer a series of questions daily, prior to arrival. Students who are flagged during this process are required to stay home and contact the school administrator for guidance. Students/families will be required to print their “green” completed form or show a screenshot of their form upon arrival to the campus. Students and employees who have not completed this daily screening will not be allowed on campus. Please make sure you have an accurate thermometer for home use.

Signage: A Display COVID-19 Informational signs will be in highly visible locations (e.g., school entrances, restrooms) that promote everyday protective measures and describe how to stop the spread of germs, such as by properly washing hands and properly wearing a face covering.

Follow in All Phases

Student Transitions and Pull Out:

To limit contact as students move around the school facility and to support schools in maintaining static groups, schools will implement the following standards during each phase of reopening.

Provider Pull Out: Clinical and other key providers may pull students out of classrooms for therapy needs. The provider is required to use face coverings and clean shared surfaces and equipment before the next student is served.

Controlling Flow: Limit the interactions of students during class transitions via one-way flow hallways, clearly defined space for two-way direction of student flow in hallways or staggered class changes to decrease the number of students in the hallway at one time.

Child Nutrition

Breakfast and Lunch: To ensure physical distancing guidance, lunch will be eaten in designated classroom, outdoors spaces, or small amount in cafeteria. Students will be sent to the lunchroom at staggered times to grab and go to their designated lunch location. There will continue to be a variety of hot and cold items to choose from. Disinfectant wipes will be in each classroom and desktops will be wiped down at the end of the lunch period. Students will be permitted to bring their own lunch to school. No refrigeration or reheating will be available.

RECESS

Phase 1

Phase 2

Playtime with a static group of 25 and physically distanced from other static groups on the yard. If indoors, the total group size is limited to 25. Refrain from contact sports.

Phase 3

Playtime with a static group of 25 and distanced from other static groups on the yard. If indoors, the total group size is limited to 50. Refrain from contact sports.

Extracurricular Activities

Phase 1

Phase 2

Discontinue field trips as students may engage with vulnerable populations.
Discontinue aftercare.

Phase 3

Discontinue field trips as students may engage with vulnerable populations.

PROTECTING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS

According to the Center for Disease Control, COVID-19 is a new disease and there is limited information regarding risk factors or severe illness. Based on currently available information and clinical expertise, older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness, please visit the CDC website, which is edited to include updated information as it is discovered.

Pursuant to current school reopening CDC guidelines and the LDOE Reopening Guidelines, the school will limit any nonessential visitors, volunteers, and activities involving external groups or organizations as possible – especially individuals who are not from the local geographic area ( e.g., community, town, city, country). There is no validated data on how much risk these individuals incur by attending school in person and individuals will need to make the decision to attend in close consultation with their health care provider and school administrator.

In the event that a significant proportion of staff members are unable to return to the school facility, the school may consider developing an innovative staffing plan.

Individuals need to make the decision to attend school in close consultation with their health care provider and school administrators.

Change in School Exclusion Policy based on illness: During the pandemic it is imperative that anyone who is feeling sick, should stay home. Research has shown that there are an array of symptoms associated with COVID-19, which include (100.4 or greater), chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. Any McMillian’s teachers or staff with any of these symptoms will be required to stay home or will be sent home from school. An evaluation will be done to see if there are one or more symptoms are present. A student with any of these symptoms will be required to get an evaluation done by their physician for COVID-19. A student will not be allowed to return to school until they have been symptom free for 72 hours and 10 days from the start of the symptoms. A parent/guardian will be required to call one of the school administrators and get specific clearance to return to school after any symptom or illness. A student will not be allowed to return to campus until they have been cleared by the school administrator. A student may return earlier than 10 days if they have been tested for COVID-19 and test negative. Any student who tests positive for COVID-19 will follow the required isolation period based on guidance form the local health department and the health status of that individual (which could be longer than 14 days). We will work closely with or local health department on closure requirements when notified of a positive COVID – 19 test result or increased absentee rates within our community. A 48 to 72- hour school wide division wide (Lower School building vs Middle school building) closure may be necessary while communicating with health department, assisting with contract tracing, and for cleaning purposes.

MCMILLIAN’S COMMUNICATION PLAN:

McMillian’s First Steps Academy will establish clear lines of communication with their employees, parents, students, and third-party entities. The following key communications best practices will be adhered to by all parties involved.

Phase 1

Website (mcmilliansfirststeps.com)
Emails to faculty and staff answered directly to parents
Google Classroom
Gradelink (Student Information System)

Phase 2

Website (mcmilliansfirststeps.com)
Emails to faculty and staff answered directly to parents
Google Classroom
In-Person Communication (Maximum group size 25, including adults).
Take Home Updates
Gradelink (Student Information System)

Phase 3

Website (mcmilliansfirststeps.com)
Emails to faculty and staff answered directly to parents
Google Classroom
In-Person Communication (Maximum group size 25, including adults)
Take Home Updates
Gradelink (Student Information System)