BSM's COVID-19 Education Plan

A Catholic, college-preparatory school, grades 7-12

Benilde-St. Margaret’s COVID-19 Education Plan

Table of Contents 03

Introduction

03

Guiding Principles

04

Learning Model

04

Student Schedules

05

Attendance Principles

06

Daily Operations for Students

06

Student Support

06

Mass and Prayer Services

07

Student Events

07

Athletics and Activities

07

Personal Behaviors to Prevent Transmission

07

Maintaining Healthy Facilities

08

Managing Transmission

09

Building Closure

09

Communication Systems

09

Guiding Resources

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Introduction The 2020-2021 school year will be unlike any in the history of our school. Amid a worldwide pandemic, we are called to provide an exceptional holistic, Catholic education for our students, while prioritizing the health and safety of our students, staff, and families. The Centers for Disease Control, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Minnesota Department of Health have all provided guidance to inform our planning and to do everything we can to bring students back into our school. The academic, spiritual, and social-emotional development of our students is best served when students are in school.

To serve and teach in a Catholic, college-preparatory high school is to answer a calling to impact the lives of the next generation of leaders. We know how important these formative years are for human, academic, and spiritual development. Educating our students according to our mission is the fundamental purpose of Benilde-St. Margaret’s School and an essential function for our society.

The course of the pandemic over the next year is unclear and will require our school community to adapt to a great degree of long-term uncertainty. In this environment, there are risks to opening school buildings and risks in not opening school buildings. Providing an education rooted in live instruction, social interaction, and adult support for all students during a pandemic is a challenging yet vital endeavor.

Guiding Principles Four guiding principles will be important to our school community throughout the year as conditions change.

Health and Safety Health and safety protocols to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission must be adopted by everyone.

While we are not able to eliminate risk, we can implement coordinated interventions to reduce transmission.

Continuous Learning The scientific research regarding COVID-19 continues to evolve influencing recommendations for schools throughout the world. More educational research regarding the effectiveness of different school models is also emerging. Faculty members will continue to engage in instructional design to provide the best educational experience for students.

Responsible Leadership Throughout the academic year, the board of directors and school leaders will work closely with students, parents, faculty, staff, and advisors to choose the best courses of action in a challenging environment.

Transparent Partnership To build a culture of health and safety, families and school personnel must fully understand school protocols.

Mutual accountability and collective responsibility will lead to the best student outcomes. In addition, the partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health will influence individuals and school operations.

“Now is the time, if ever there was one, for us to care selflessly about one another.”

– D R . A N T H O N Y FA U C I 3

Learning Model The BSM learning model is designed to achieve three objectives during the pandemic: • Create a safe learning environment that mitigates community transmission for our students, faculty, and staff.

• Provide an exceptional holistic education that inspires the academic, spiritual, social, and emotional growth of our students.

• Support peer-to-peer in person interactions in addition to maintaining positive connections between adults and students.

To realize each of these objectives, the school experience will look different in many ways. We will be prepared to use a combination of three instructional models this year:

In-Person Learning with Physical Distancing Students are present in the classroom or school with teachers and staff. Health and safety precautions are in place to prevent transmission of the virus.

Live Streaming of Classes

Virtual Instruction

Two-way audio and video cameras will be placed in classrooms to capture and record real-time instruction.

Students who are not physically in the classroom may access the live stream from common areas of the school, from home, or other locations.

In the event in-person learning is not possible or appropriate, virtual learning will be an extension of the classroom. Learning will include live streaming, Zoom lessons, or other virtual learning activities.

Student Schedules Recognizing the developmental difference among adolescents also plays an important role.

The Daily Schedule The daily schedule will include four 75-minute periods per day in a “Quarter Block” schedule with time for lunch built into the day. Junior high students will have Wellness/Advisory time, and 9th-12th grade students will have Homeroom time. A Quarter Block schedule means that students will have ODD periods each day for the first nine weeks (one quarter) of the year. For the next nine weeks, students will have EVEN periods each day. The instructional time devoted to each period in the Quarter Block model is the equivalent of a semester worth of academic work and credit. Depending on their class schedule, senior high students will have three or four classes at a time. Junior high students will have four classes per day.

This schedule allows for students to engage meaningfully with the teacher, their classmates, and the curriculum while mitigating risk in terms of exposure to a greater number of students on any given day. BSM has a proven track record of creating meaningful learning experiences in the block schedule and will continue to engage students in this way.

Grades 7 through 9 Students in grades 7 through 9 will be physically on campus daily from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The arrangement of classrooms incorporates physical distancing measures, which means the number of students in the classroom on any given day will be limited. Common spaces throughout the school will be used to accommodate students who are not physically in the class but rather are participating virtually.

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As an example, a class with 24 students would include a classroom rotation designed to maximize the time a student is physically in the classroom. The classroom capacity may be 16 students, which means 8 students would be learning from a common space using the live stream function. On any given day there may be students who are learning from home, in which case fewer students would need to rotate out to a common space for learning.

When a student is home due to a need to quarantine or is symptomatic, the student will be expected to live stream into classes at the assigned start time for each class, assuming the student feels well enough to participate in class. Parents may choose to have their students learn from home (through live streaming) on a daily basis or may opt to have their student on campus on a rotating basis.

Grades 10 through 12 Students in grades 10 through 12 will be assigned one of two cohorts. Each cohort will be on campus every other day.

When students are off campus, they are required to be live streaming into the class at the assigned start time for each period following the daily bell schedule. Students can expect to be engaged in meaningful learning activities during the school day, whether on or off campus physically. Depending on the curriculum and lesson design for the day, students who are off campus may be engaged in learning that is done away from the computer. For both cohorts, there will be a typical amount of homework assigned that student will complete outside of school hours.

Students whose cohort is scheduled to be off campus for the day could potentially be on campus for part of that day for a variety of reasons. For example, if the student is in athletics, he or she would come on campus for practice or a competition, even though he or she was learning off campus during the school day.

100% Virtual Learning Families will have an option to participate in a fully virtual learning experience at BSM. This option is an extension of the regular on campus classroom. Students will live stream into each class and are expected to be present at the start of each period according to the bell schedule. They will actively participate in the classroom learning with their peers using live streaming and other virtual tools. Families may decide to start the year with virtual learning but can always opt back into the “on campus” learning as appropriate by grade level.

Attendance Principles In the past, students attended school when they may not have been healthy. They commit themselves to their coursework despite headaches, runny noses, sore throats, and the like. That mindset needs to change when thinking about on-campus attendance. Parents and students must work together to make school on-campus attendance decisions with great caution. If students are not feeling well, regardless of the symptoms, they should plan to attend their classes using live stream capabilities.

Students and families who are interested in a fully virtual education experience have that option utilizing live streaming, PowerSchool, and other online tools.

Parents of students who will not be attending classes on campus or virtually should contact the BSM Attendance Office at 952-219-8444 (Junior High) or 952-927-4177 (Senior High).

“Remembering that God is with you will help and inspire you in all that you do.”

– ST JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE 5

Daily Operations for Students Health Screening Students should complete the individual health questionnaire daily to assess their readiness for school in partnership with parents. Each entrance will be equipped with high speed thermal imaging cameras to detect the presence of elevated body temperatures. As students enter the school, these cameras will detect fevers. Those with temperatures greater than 100ËšF will not be admitted that day and parents will be contacted.

Student Schedules Students will attend four classes per day from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in a block schedule format. Each quarter the course schedule will change based on student course selections.

Each class will also be live streamed daily using the Zoom platform or an alternative curricular approach will be part of the lesson design to accommodate students who are learning in an environment outside of the classroom. Students will have the option of attending school in a fully virtual environment.

Lockers Lockers will not be utilized. Students will be able to carry backpacks throughout the day. Hallway travel is designed to keep students moving from location to location without congregating.

Food Service Lunch service will be available daily over six sessions distancing students in three different locations - cafeteria, Great Hall, and outdoor spaces. Food options prepared by Taher will be pre-packed and physical distancing will be implemented throughout the entire food service including designated dining areas. Vending machines and microwaves will not be available. Students will not need to wear masks while eating.

Transportation Bus routes will operate with reduced capacity, and students will be expected to wear masks in route. Cleaning and disinfecting will occur at regular intervals throughout each day.

Student Support Guidance and college counselors, school psychologists, and campus ministers will be available for students and families.

Student support groups will also be available.

Technical support can be accessed at the BSM Help Desk or by submitting an online request through the BSM website or Powerschool Learning homepage.

Mass and Prayer Services Small group masses and prayer services will be available to students regularly throughout the year as a part of the theology curriculum.

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Student Events Large student events that are typical in a school setting (homecoming, orientation, speakers, etc.) will be redesigned in partnership with student leadership to foster community engagement while adhering to health recommendations.

Athletics and Activities Athletics and activities will operate within the guidelines provided by the Minnesota High School League (MSHSL). The Minnesota Department of Health has worked closely with MSHSL to create specific participation plans. Training, practices, games, and scrimmages have been authorized by the MSHSL.

Personal Behaviors to Prevent Transmission

Consistent adherence to personal actions designed to mitigate transmission are important necessities.

Students, faculty, staff, and parents must complete the personal health screening prior arriving at BSM.

Thermal scanning for elevated temperatures will be completed upon entrance. Each person must wear a mask indoors unless they are alone in a private space. Regular hand sanitization should occur according to CDC recommendations.

Whenever practically possible physical distancing guidelines will be implemented; however, situations exist in a school setting where physical distancing is not operationally feasible or has a negative impact on learning and socialization.

Maintaining Healthy Facilities Masks MUST be worn by every individual in the building. If working alone or in a separate space, a face covering is optional. If students do not have a mask, one will be made available to them.

Signs throughout the building will remind students and staff of the importance of appropriate hygiene habits including respiratory etiquette.

Building entrances will be monitored by high speed temperature scanners designed to identify those with elevated temperatures. Individuals exhibiting a fever above 100ËšF will not be admitted.

Common spaces like restrooms and entrances will be cleaned and sanitized on regular daily schedules. Hand sanitizer will be available in common spaces throughout the school to support recommended hand hygiene. Personal traffic flow will be coordinated to promote predictable movement throughout the day. Water will be available throughout the building using bottle filling systems.

Each classroom will be cleaned and sanitized daily using an ionic cleaning system, and hand sanitizer will be available.

Students and teachers will be sanitizing individual desks at the beginning of each period. Each classroom will operate with a student limit based on their unique sizes while also adhering to physical distancing targets. Outdoor venues as classrooms will also be promoted in line with the curriculum.

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Plexiglass dividers will be installed in areas throughout the school based on traffic flow and physical distancing as a protective measure. Plexiglass dividers will be utilized in a variety of areas throughout the school such as the front office, counselor offices, and teacher desks.

The building’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems have been equipped with bi-polar ionization to significantly reduce the presence of contaminants, particles, bacteria, and viruses. These bipolar ionization systems are being utilized in healthcare systems such as Johns Hopkins. HEPA filters are also being utilized as an additional safeguard.

Significant upgrades have been made to the technology infrastructure – hardware, software, and bandwidth – to support the demands of this learning model.

YES to any of the following?

IF YOU: are feeling ill exhibit symptoms consistent with COVID-19 have tested positive for COVID-19 have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 have been in close contact with someone who is exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms and is awaiting a COVID test

STAY AT HOME

Managing Transmission Schools are a microcosm of the world in which they exist. During this pandemic, we must assume COVID-19 cases will be present at BSM. Knowing the importance of an on-campus education to a teen’s holistic growth and development, we must as a school community commit wholly to transmission prevention. First, students who are feeling ill must stay home. The personal mitigation strategies, facilities improvements, sanitizing efforts, and operational changes are layered together to decrease the likelihood of transmission.

Minimizing transmission provides the greatest opportunity for students to fully engage a quality education.

Symptomatic Students If students realize, as a part of the daily personal health screening, that they exhibit symptoms consistent with COVID-19, they should stay home and utilize the school live streaming option. Students should not attend classes or activities at BSM until symptoms have subsided, 10 days have passed since onset, and they are fever free for 24 hours. In line with the MDH recommendations, they should also contact their healthcare provider for guidance regarding further testing and/or stay-at-home requirements. Following healthcare guidance, families should notify the BSM Attendance Office at 952-219-8444 (Junior High) or 952-927-4177 (Senior High).

COVID-19 Positive Students Students will follow the health and quarantine recommendations provided by their health care provider and Minnesota Department of Health. Families will then actively participate in the contact tracing process. Parents must contact the BSM Attendance Office. Students may resume their coursework using the live stream option depending on symptom severity.

Students may not return to school until cleared to do so by their health care provider. All families will receive a communication regarding the positive test result; however, in compliance with HIPAA regulations, the specific student will not be identified.

BSM will work in partnership with the state and county health department to contact trace possible exposures. Individuals who have been identified as being in close contact, defined as within six feet for fifteen minutes or more, will be notified.

Those individuals will then engage in a fourteen-day quarantine while monitoring for symptoms. Students in quarantine will participate in classes utilizing the live stream option.

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Close Contact with COVID-19 Positive Individual Those that have had close contact, defined as within six feet for fifteen minutes or more, with an individual that has tested positive for COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider for testing guidance. They will be required to engage in a fourteen-day quarantine while monitoring for symptoms. Parents need to notify the BSM Attendance Office of the circumstances. Students in quarantine will participate in classes utilizing the live stream option.

Close Contact with COVID-19 Symptomatic Individual Those who have had close contact, defined as within six feet for fifteen minutes or more, with an individual that has exhibited COVID-19 symptoms and is awaiting test results should utilize the live stream option. Parents need to notify the BSM Attendance Office of the circumstances.

Once the symptomatic individual has received their results, the student may return to school if the testing is negative. If the test reveals a positive case the COVID-19 Positive Students protocols will be enacted.

Building Closure Consistent communication with the MDH will be critical to decisions regarding short-term building closures resulting in temporary shifts to virtual learning. The specific school circumstances regarding the spread of COVID-19 combined with the local infection rates drives the MDH’s conclusions. If school closure and a shift to virtual learning does occur, it will likely be between 2 and 5 days.

Communication Systems Throughout the year, School Messenger will be used to communicate via email and voicemail to families. The school website will be updated regularly with pertinent operational information.

Guiding Resources Throughout the planning process, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have been valuable resources. The guidelines and conclusions offered by each organization have strongly influenced the academic plan for the 2020-21 school year. In addition, school medical advisors have helped shape school operations.

Logistics, facilities, or operations questions will be addressed by the BSM COVID-19 Coordinator, Natalie Ramier, nramier@bsmschool.org or 952-927-4176.

“The importance of Catholic education is significant to our students, our families, and our society.”

– BSM STRATEGIC PL AN

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