Fort Benton ELEMENTARY School 2020-2021 Stay IN School Plan
Class Sizes
Elementary Classrooms will be at 50% Capacity.
Each elementary classroom will be divided into two groups (“cohorts”) that are housed in different rooms. Each grade level will have a paraprofessional assigned specifically to the classroom so that the teacher can move and share instruction between two spaces. Only adults will transfer rooms. Each teacher will determine how to share instructional time equally between the two different groups. RTI groups will continue as normal with only one classroom being divided into two separate groups to ensure appropriate social distancing.
Social/Physical Distancing
We are encouraging students and staff to distance themselves when appropriate and feasible. Within the classroom, staff will work to allow distance (3ft - 6ft) between students. In the majority of situations, students will have assigned seats that will be sanitized at the end of each class period.
Face Coverings
Masks or shields will not be mandatory where social distancing is available. In the few cases where social distancing is not available (few classes and passing periods), masks will be required.
Staff are not required to wear masks or shields when social distancing is available.
*It should be noted that a Governors Directive for face coverings (State, Federal, etc.) could be issued that would supersede the authority of our local Board of Trustees.
Health Screening
Parents will be responsible for monitoring and screening their child(ren) for symptoms of illness before sending them to school. Parents will receive a Symptom Health Screening Form that will be required before their child(ren) can return to school.
Temperatures of all students will be checked at their perspective door. Any student testing over 99.9˚ will be sent home. Temperature checks will start to occur at 7:40 each morning and there will be three different locations for groups of students to check in:
Busing
Rider temperatures will be taken as they board the school bus. Those with a temperature of 100.0˚ or more will not be allowed to board. Those with a temperature of 99.0˚ to 99.9˚ will be recorded and the building principal will be notified.
Face coverings will be required to board the school bus. Riders' mouths and noses will be covered while inside the school bus.
Seats will be assigned. Riders from the same family will be grouped together. When possible, there will be an empty row of seats between route riders.
School buses will be sanitized after each bus route.
Hallway, Lockers, and Classrooms
Students will be discouraged from congregating in the hallways. During transitions, students and staff will need to wear a face covering. When entering a classroom, students will sanitize their hands. Prior to exiting the classroom all desks/chairs/tables will be quickly sanitized prior to the next class entering the room.
Meals and Cafeteria
Six-foot distance markings will be placed on cafeteria floor in serving area to encourage appropriate spacing of students awaiting service in lunch lines. Tables in lunch rooms will be spaced six feet apart or at the distance possible to still accommodate the number of students eating lunch at any time. Lunch periods will be staggered and Lunch will take place in the cafeteria and the gymnasium. students will practice social distancing guidelines upon entering the cafeteria and the gymnasium.
Visitor Protocol
In an attempt to limit the number of interactions and keep our schools open, we are asking that parents and community members - as much as possible - refrain from entering our building, when possible. If they need to enter the building, we will be asking that they please observe the guidelines set in place by the CDC: six-feet social distancing and, when needed, the wearing of a mask or shield.
Recess
Recess will be structured in such a way that all students will still have their valuable recess time. However, it will be structured to keep students in cohorts in an effort to minimize exposure. The playgrounds will be divided into multiple sections and students will rotate usage of sections. Students will hand sanitize/wash hands before and after recess and the playground will be sanitized each day. Students will not be required to wear their masks during recess.
Remote Learning
Parents and students choosing remote learning must notify the District as soon as possible. Those opting out of in-person/onsite learning will have one (1) week from the first day of school where they may choose to return to in-person/onsite instruction. After that week, if the District has not been notified that the student will return to in-person/onsite learning, the student will remain in remote/offsite learning for the remainder of the trimester. Students may only return to in-person/onsite learning at the beginning of the following trimester. Students may not transition back and forth between in-person/onsite and remote/offsite learning.
Students who have opted for remote/offsite learning must notify the school immediately, meet with the principal, and enter a remote/offsite learning contract (see attached). These students will not be permitted to participate in any extra-curricular activities.
Students who have been required to quarantine due to contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 and/or their own positive test results will immediately begin receiving remote/offsite instruction for the duration of their time in quarantine. These students will be graded in the same manner as the in-person/ onsite students are graded. They are expected to “attend” school during school hours and communicate with their
teachers in a timely and appropriate manner.
This return to school plan will be evaluated, reworked, and presented to the Board for approval for the second semester in December or as the Trustees see fit.
Elementary Classrooms will be at 50% Capacity.
Each elementary classroom will be divided into two groups (“cohorts”) that are housed in different rooms. Each grade level will have a paraprofessional assigned specifically to the classroom so that the teacher can move and share instruction between two spaces. Only adults will transfer rooms. Each teacher will determine how to share instructional time equally between the two different groups. RTI groups will continue as normal with only one classroom being divided into two separate groups to ensure appropriate social distancing.
Social/Physical Distancing
We are encouraging students and staff to distance themselves when appropriate and feasible. Within the classroom, staff will work to allow distance (3ft - 6ft) between students. In the majority of situations, students will have assigned seats that will be sanitized at the end of each class period.
Face Coverings
Masks or shields will not be mandatory where social distancing is available. In the few cases where social distancing is not available (few classes and passing periods), masks will be required.
Staff are not required to wear masks or shields when social distancing is available.
*It should be noted that a Governors Directive for face coverings (State, Federal, etc.) could be issued that would supersede the authority of our local Board of Trustees.
Health Screening
Parents will be responsible for monitoring and screening their child(ren) for symptoms of illness before sending them to school. Parents will receive a Symptom Health Screening Form that will be required before their child(ren) can return to school.
Temperatures of all students will be checked at their perspective door. Any student testing over 99.9˚ will be sent home. Temperature checks will start to occur at 7:40 each morning and there will be three different locations for groups of students to check in:
- Early K students will enter through the front door of the Elementary
- K/1 by the bike racks
- 2/3/4 by the main gate by the sandbox
- 5th and 6th grade down by the sandbox.
- 24 hours with no fever without the use of Tylenol and
- Symptoms have improved (e.g. cough, shortness of breath)
- If symptoms can be attributed to another illness (i.e. positive flu or strep test) these guidelines do not apply
Busing
Rider temperatures will be taken as they board the school bus. Those with a temperature of 100.0˚ or more will not be allowed to board. Those with a temperature of 99.0˚ to 99.9˚ will be recorded and the building principal will be notified.
Face coverings will be required to board the school bus. Riders' mouths and noses will be covered while inside the school bus.
Seats will be assigned. Riders from the same family will be grouped together. When possible, there will be an empty row of seats between route riders.
School buses will be sanitized after each bus route.
Hallway, Lockers, and Classrooms
Students will be discouraged from congregating in the hallways. During transitions, students and staff will need to wear a face covering. When entering a classroom, students will sanitize their hands. Prior to exiting the classroom all desks/chairs/tables will be quickly sanitized prior to the next class entering the room.
Meals and Cafeteria
Six-foot distance markings will be placed on cafeteria floor in serving area to encourage appropriate spacing of students awaiting service in lunch lines. Tables in lunch rooms will be spaced six feet apart or at the distance possible to still accommodate the number of students eating lunch at any time. Lunch periods will be staggered and Lunch will take place in the cafeteria and the gymnasium. students will practice social distancing guidelines upon entering the cafeteria and the gymnasium.
Visitor Protocol
In an attempt to limit the number of interactions and keep our schools open, we are asking that parents and community members - as much as possible - refrain from entering our building, when possible. If they need to enter the building, we will be asking that they please observe the guidelines set in place by the CDC: six-feet social distancing and, when needed, the wearing of a mask or shield.
Recess
Recess will be structured in such a way that all students will still have their valuable recess time. However, it will be structured to keep students in cohorts in an effort to minimize exposure. The playgrounds will be divided into multiple sections and students will rotate usage of sections. Students will hand sanitize/wash hands before and after recess and the playground will be sanitized each day. Students will not be required to wear their masks during recess.
Remote Learning
Parents and students choosing remote learning must notify the District as soon as possible. Those opting out of in-person/onsite learning will have one (1) week from the first day of school where they may choose to return to in-person/onsite instruction. After that week, if the District has not been notified that the student will return to in-person/onsite learning, the student will remain in remote/offsite learning for the remainder of the trimester. Students may only return to in-person/onsite learning at the beginning of the following trimester. Students may not transition back and forth between in-person/onsite and remote/offsite learning.
Students who have opted for remote/offsite learning must notify the school immediately, meet with the principal, and enter a remote/offsite learning contract (see attached). These students will not be permitted to participate in any extra-curricular activities.
Students who have been required to quarantine due to contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 and/or their own positive test results will immediately begin receiving remote/offsite instruction for the duration of their time in quarantine. These students will be graded in the same manner as the in-person/ onsite students are graded. They are expected to “attend” school during school hours and communicate with their
teachers in a timely and appropriate manner.
This return to school plan will be evaluated, reworked, and presented to the Board for approval for the second semester in December or as the Trustees see fit.
| fort_benton_elementary_school_reopening_plan.pdf |
