Granite Baptist School Re-Opening Plan for the 2020-2021 School Year

Granite Baptist School
  Re-Opening Plan
       for the
2020-2021 School Year

GBS Re-Opening Plan:
        The decision of whether or not to re-open Granite Baptist School for the fall 2020 has
not been taken lightly. Some families may not yet feel comfortable sending their students back
into the classroom, and we completely understand and support each family’s decision. This
plan has been formulated to provide our families the highest quality educational experience
while doing all we can to ensure the safety of our students. With this in mind, Granite Baptist
School plans to open its campus and buildings to all students five days per week for “in-
person” classroom instruction on August 31, 2020.

Premise:
        The goal of this plan is to isolate individual classes and limit interaction between classes.
Pre-school, kindergarten, and elementary students will spend as much of their day as possible
in one classroom with one teacher. Secondary students will see changes to class rotation and
the number of classrooms used. These procedures will help to limit each students’ exposure
while on the school property.

Traffic Pattern:
        To begin the school year, the usual pickup and drop off pattern will be changed in order
to limit contact between students and our “safeties.” This will also allow students not arriving
for early watch to proceed directly to their classrooms. Parents should plan to stay in their car
during pickup and drop off times. More detailed instructions on this pattern will be given as the
school year approaches.

Early Watch/ Aftercare:
       Students may arrive in the gym for early watch beginning at 7:00. Each grade level will
have a designated area of the gym where social distance may be observed until they are
dismissed to their classrooms. Early watch is open to all students, but it is recommended that
students arrive between 7:50 and 8:15 so they may go directly to their classrooms.
        Aftercare will be available for those who need it, but space will be very limited. We ask
that aftercare be used by those families who find it absolutely necessary.

Temperature Checks:
        GBS will check the temperature of both students and staff prior to entering the buildings
before each school day. Any student or staff member with a temperature of 100.4 or higher
will not be permitted to remain at school. It is highly recommended that parents take
temperatures before coming to school each morning. We ask that parents be careful not to
send any child to school who has been experiencing any form of illness or symptoms of illness
until the students has fully recovered.

Face Covering:
         Wearing face coverings will be expected when social distance guidelines cannot be
observed. Once seated in the classroom and distanced from other students and teachers, face
coverings may be removed. At times when students cannot be properly distanced (class
changes, restroom breaks, etc.) students and staff members will be expected to wear face
coverings. Teachers will be provided with face shields to allow them to communicate more
effectively when in the classroom. While the weather remains favorable, we will be
encouraging teachers to explore opportunities to be outside for instruction or breaks, where
students will be able to socially distance. For authentic medical reasons, there may be
individuals who are unable to wear face coverings. Any exceptions to face covering
expectations must be vetted through school administration. For K3-K5, students will be asked
to wear a face covering while entering the classroom but will not be required to wear it
throughout the day as their classrooms are completely self-contained.

Class Size:
       Classroom sizes will be limited to allow for social distancing of students during the
school day. Each classroom has been measured and rated for a certain number of students by
allowing 44 square feet of space per student in the classroom.

Social Distancing:
       Each classroom will be organized in a way that allows for social distancing between
students while they are seated. Flow patterns will be established in all shared hallways and
common areas.

Workspace Dividers:
      In classroom situations where the teachers and administration deem necessary,
workspace dividers may be provided to students for extra protection between student
workspaces.

Hand Washing:
       Students of all grade levels will be expected as well as instructed to regularly wash their
hands and sanitize throughout the day. This will be especially emphasized any time classes
move from one location to another or come in contact with any high traffic areas.

Lunch:
         All elementary classes will have lunch in their own classrooms where social distancing
can be properly observed. This will prevent the interaction between different grade levels and
will limit the time spent by classes in common areas like the lunchroom. Students and staff will
thoroughly sanitize the classroom before and after each lunchtime. Food warming services will
still be available for students. At this time, we will not be offering a “Friday lunch” purchase
option; however, prepackaged snacks will be available to order each morning. Students will be
expected to wash their hands and sanitize before and after lunch each day.
       High school lunch will follow similar precautions, dividing into multiple lunches to
observe social distancing and sanitizing surfaces before and after lunch times. Vending
machines will remain available for student use. As weather permits some outdoor eating
opportunities may be provided for students.

Water Fountains:
         Students of all grade levels are asked to bring a water bottle with them as water
fountains will not be available except to refill bottles. This will help in limiting contact with high
traffic and high touch areas in the school building.

Lockers:
         Lockers will be assigned to each secondary student; however, to minimize hallway
traffic, students are asked to limit use of lockers between classes as much as possible. The
introduction of iPads and digital textbooks will be a great help in this area as students will not
need to carry as many textbooks.

Community Supplies:
       While the sharing of pens, pencils, and other classroom items may be common place in
the typical classroom, we will ask each student to provide his own supplies each day to
minimize the contact between students.

Visitors in Building:
       To begin the school year, GBS will limit parent and visitor traffic into the buildings.
Checking in and out students will be conducted at the door rather than in the school office. If a
you have any questions during the year or would like to schedule a meeting, please call the
school office in advance to make the necessary provisions.

Cleaning and Disinfecting:
        Keeping our facilities cleaned and sanitized will certainly be a team effort. We are hiring
extra custodial staff to help sanitize both throughout the school day as well as overnight. Each
teacher will be fully equipped to keep their room sanitized throughout the day, and students
will be trained throughout the year to help keep their own workspaces and personal areas
clean and clear. High traffic areas will be cleaned and sanitized multiple times throughout the
day. Classrooms and restrooms will be fogged and deep cleaned regularly to ensure that they
are sanitized completely.

Recess/ Physical Education:
        Outdoor recess and outdoor PE activities will be promoted while the weather permits.
Outdoor activities present a far lower risk in transmitting the virus and will be the preferred
mode during the school year. Large gatherings of students and contact-filled games will be
avoided by the teachers. Use of equipment will be limited and all equipment used will be
sanitized both before and after use.

Screening/Reporting of COVID-19 Illness:
       We ask that parents daily screen their children at home for the following symptoms:

           •   Fever of 100.4 or higher
           •   Loss of taste and/or smell
           •   Headache
           •   Nausea or upset stomach
           •   Body aches or chills
           •   Cough
           •   Sore throat
           •   Diarrhea

Parents observing any of these symptoms SHOULD NOT send their student to school
If a student is sent home or kept at home by parents, the following are “return-to-school”
criteria:

           •   Student must be free from fever without medication for at least 48 hours
           •   Student should not exhibit any potential COVID-19 symptoms for 48 hours

        Any parent who suspects COVID-19 infection of any family member should seek medical
attention and keep family members from attending school until they are tested and the results
are known. Any staff member or student who tests positive for COVID-19 must stay home until
evaluated and released by their primary care physician. If testing indicates positive for COVID-
19, the school family must report to the school administration immediately, along with
following the medical directives of the attending physician. A physician’s release must be
acquired and “return-to-school” criteria must be met before the child is able to return to
school. If the COVID-19 test does NOT affirm COVID-19 infection, the child/student must still
meet the return-to-school criteria before re-entry.

What if COVID-19 is confirmed within our school community?
       Along with you being informed, we are developing internal guidelines that will direct our
decision-making regarding closing part, or our entire school in the case of confirmed COVID-19
within our school community. Options include remaining open with heightened vigilance,
quarantining a class, a section, or the entire school population; in which case distance learning
would take effect.

What if governmental authorities issue shut down/stay-at-home orders for our
region?
        We will comply and re-enter into an effective distance learning mode, not unlike the
spring of 2020.