Dear Senator Summer Boost Families,
We are excited that you have elected to have your child attend the Senator Summer Boost Hybrid option. The 3 week program meets at school on Monday and Tuesday and at home with distance learning on Wednesday and Thursday beginning July 13 and ends on July 30. During this time we plan to work on grade level standards, goals and or related services specific to the student. We know that you may have some concerns with your child being in school in light of COVID-19. We have put a number of precautions in place including a dedicated nurse in each building, daily disinfection of high-touch surfaces, daily health screenings for staff and students, staff will wear masks, and students will be in small cohorts who remain together throughout the day and have limited contact with other student cohorts. Students will wear masks when medically and behaviorally appropriate.
We are hosting the Summer Boost in three locations: William Henry Middle School, Booker T. Washington and East Elementary Schools. In preparation for hosting the Summer Boost our custodial staff has been thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing our schools with prescribed alcohol based products. Staff will participate in daily health screenings and will wear masks. A dedicated school nurse will be onsite at every Summer Boost site. Before your child gets on the bus or arrives at school we request that parents/guardians conduct individual health screenings (temperature & other symptoms) before sending students to school. We wanted to communicate some of the health and safety changes to expect in hopes that you will discuss these with your child prior to beginning the Summer Boost.
Our incredible bus drivers will greet children as they always have just from behind a mask. The bus will be managed differently than students are used to starting with everyone wearing masks and sanitizing their hands as they get on the bus. Students will sit in a pattern that ensures space between seats, a support professional will be on the bus with the driver to conduct temperature checks that will be shared with the nurse on duty upon arrival to school. Students who arrive by car will also be temperature checked as they join their classmates. Busses will be sanitized after every run.
Students will be in groups with their teachers and will be moving together not mixing with other classes. Hallways will be marked with arrows to direct students and staff in ways that reduce contact with others as much as possible. Face coverings will be worn outside the classroom in all shared/public spaces (hallways, bathrooms, cafeteria, etc.). Students with specific exemptions from wearing face coverings will be encouraged to maintain social distancing in these areas. Our amazing cafeteria staff will prepare Grab and Go Breakfast and Lunch that will be provided daily.
In the classroom class sizes are dramatically reduced with no more than 10-15 students in any class. Committed teachers and paraprofessionals have been collaborating on exciting lessons and activities to engage our students. Basic health & hygiene packs will be provided for each classroom with gloves, extra adult and child masks, bandaids, and other basic first aid supplies for use as needed. Students and staff will use hand sanitizer routinely. Specific training and nursing protocols are provided to all staff in the event a child displays signs of illness upon arrival or during the school day. Face coverings will be worn in classrooms according to CDC guidelines. Masks for ages: 5-12 are strongly recommended and Ages: 13 and above they are required. Furniture has been arranged to accommodate physical distancing protocols with 3 ft of personal space per student and 6 ft between student areas. All desks will be facing the same direction toward the front of the classroom. Students staff will not travel between groups. Exciting hands-on special classes in art, music, physical education and science will be guided by teachers through distance learning with the paraprofessional in the classroom with children. Sharing of items or supplies including toys, art and science supplies, electronic devices, will not be allowed. During the day custodial Staff will disinfect high touch surfaces every 2 hours at a minimum to include restrooms, door handles, common areas, and handrails. We have posted and will teach and enforce guidelines and instructions on physical distancing and proper hygiene practices.
These are challenging times for all of us and know that this is quite an extensive list of precautions we want you to know we are taking every precaution to ensure student, staff and family safety. We look forward to seeing your child at school and will do everything we can to keep them healthy and happy during the Senator Summer Boost! Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s principal with any questions.
Sincerely,
Eugene F. Montano
Supervisor of Instruction