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2020-2021 SCHOOL PLAN

Davis Together

CONTENTS 3

Letter from our Head of School

Davis Together Values

Parent Commitment

Davis Commitment to Excellence & Safety

Planning

10 Learning Scenarios 12 On-Campus Learning 12 Goals 13 Cohort Model 16 Health & Safety Protocols 22 Logistics 25 Concurrent Learning 26

Distance Learning

Hybrid Learning

Emotional Health

Jewish Life

Frequently Asked Questions

Contacts

Dear Davis Academy Families:

Since the spring, The Davis Academy has been actively working toward a safe and thoughtful reopening of our school this fall. The well-being of our students, faculty and staff is front of mind in every discussion as we developed plans to safely resume in-person instruction and learning in our buildings, while also planning for the many uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Together we will make every effort to: • Provide the safest possible environment for our students, faculty & staff • Add meaning, purpose and strength of community during uncertain times • Focus on our core mission of delivering on our academic mission • Enable innovative and student-centric learning experiences • Collaborate to meet the academic, emotional and spiritual needs of each student • L.O.V.E – Living Our Values Every Day This Davis Together School Plan is centered around our school’s unique mission and serves as a summary plan for 2020-2021 based on our current knowledge, and includes information about each of our instructional scenarios. Much of the information included we have shared with you in previous messages to keep you abreast throughout the summer. While as of today, we plan to begin with On-Campus Learning on August 17th, we know that we all need to be of the mindset that we may have to alternate to--and between--different models to start the year, or at other times during the school year, depending on health and safety recommendations. We thank you for agreeing to abide by our plans, policies and protocols and for your continued understanding, flexibility, and support, now and throughout the upcoming year. Our administrators, Board of Trustees, medical experts, professional advisors, faculty and staff are working to make the 2020-2021 school year a safe, productive and meaningful one for each member of our kehillah. We want to make special mention of the incredible dedication and spirit of The Davis Academy’s faculty, who are embracing this very unique school year with tremendous resiliency, creativity and, most importantly, commitment to our children. If any community is able to come together, it is the Davis community, one that believes in L.O.V.E: Living Our Values Every Day. We have strength knowing that we will do this together.

Amy Shafron Head of School

Lisa Freedman President, Board of Trustees

THE DAVIS ACADEMY

DAVIS TOGETHER VALUES PARENT COMMITMENT DAVIS COMMITMENT

4 42020-2021 DAVIS TOGETHER PLAN

1. We are in this together Our commitment to our kehillah translates to a shared commitment. The Davis Academy, our parents and our students take the health risks associated with this pandemic with the utmost of seriousness and we expect all of our community members to do the same. 2. We exhibit trust and respect Together, we agree to show kavod to the medical experts, to our school administrators, to our faculty and staﬀ and to one another by following the policies and practices designed to protect our collective health. We will trust the judgement of our medical experts as they advise us with guidance from established infectious disease specialists, the AAP, CDC, and CHOA. 3. We are committed to healthy habits The Davis community is committed to teaching, modeling and practicing healthy habits including, but not limited to: hand washing, good hygiene, cohort distancing and the wearing of face coverings/masks to protect ourselves and others while on campus. We will all support daily health screening procedures and stay-at-home policies, along with enhanced practices for hygiene and cleaning.

DAVIS TOGETHER VALUES

The same ruach (spirit) that makes our Davis kehillah so special, will be greatly valued in the year ahead

4. We are resilient, flexible and patient We understand that our plans and expectations will reflect the trajectory of the virus, the impact of it on our local community, the evolving expert medical guidance, and the need for adjustments in our protocols. The only certainty during such times is, in fact, uncertainty, and that requires in each of us the very skills that we teach our children: resiliency, flexibility and patience. In that spirit, we will continue to communicate with transparency to our families and we recognize that our model and methods of the delivery of instruction may change during the year. 5. We LOVE (Living Our Values Every Day) Consistent with guidance from public health officials, we will implement recommendations to the best of our ability, showing love and care for our children and employees while preserving the essence of our academic programs. All members of our community will continue to be committed to our values—respect, community, wisdom, righteousness and spirit—thereby showing understanding and support of temporary changes in campus life including class cohorts, new routines, varying class schedules with decreased movement, the creative use of spaces and places and the limitation of visitors, including parent volunteers. We will all work to share Davis LOVE, on and off campus, and to maintain our warm and caring sense of community. These values guide us today—and will guide us in the months ahead.

THE DAVIS ACADEMY

PARENT COMMITMENT

There are several ways that our Davis parents can help:

Model hygiene and best practices for your children, every day. Wear face coverings/masks outside of the house. Routinely wash your hands. Engage your children in these practices. Limit contact with those outside of your immediate family. Limit your childâ€™s exposure to other children and adults outside of school hours. Please avoid multi-family get-togethers, group playdates and sleepovers, birthday parties, and group gatherings. Limit your own interactions with fellow adults outside of your family. Transmission between adults is much more prevalent than it is between children. Follow all of the Davis Together 2020-2021 protocols and procedures.

Model responsible positivity with your children.

We cannot do this without you. Thank you, now and always, for your partnership and trust.

2020-2021 DAVIS TOGETHER PLAN

DAVIS COMMITMENT

DAVIS COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE & SAFETY The Davis Academy is committed to providing a robust learning experience and ensuring a safe and strong community during this pandemic. We are investing over $500,000 in technology, infrastructure and in support of our faculty and students: LEARNING & TECHNOLOGY Professional development for faculty including: Google Classroom training; SeeSaw training; Reimagining School: Transitioning from Emergency to Planned Distance Learning; ISTE Summer Learning Academy; ASCD Virtual Conference: Respond, Reimagine, Restart; Georgia Library Media Association New Educational Technology Specialist position Increased number of faculty to support student cohorts and faculty substitute coverage Installation of new video collaboration technology in classrooms Additional software and licenses for learning, safety and communications HEALTH & SAFETY ReconďŹ guration of indoor and outdoor spaces including fencing and barriers, safety signage, awnings and installation of playground shading New recreational equipment for each cohort for PE, recess and outdoor play to limit sharing/touching; includes new outdoor basketball hoops on both campuses Individual student supplies for classrooms, and art and musical instruments to limit sharing/touching Installation of new water bottle reďŹ ll stations Installation of no-touch sanitizer dispensers throughout both buildings and at every classroom entry Thermometers and other supplies for classrooms Conversion to no-touch light switches in every classroom with LED lighting Engineering review and upgrades to HVAC systems Redesign of health clinics to establish isolation areas with all necessary supplies Increased daily cleaning personnel and supplies, purchase of equipment, expanded inventory of soaps, cleaners and disinfectants New nursing assistant position COVID-19 Emergency Tuition Assistance for families facing hardship

THE DAVIS ACADEMY

PLANNING

842020-2021 DAVIS TOGETHER PLAN

PLANNING

THE DAVIS TOGETHER TASK FORCE At the end of May, we formed the Davis Together Task Force to help guide our decision-making, comprised of members of the administration and of our Board of Trustees, as well as medical and safety experts, professional advisors, faculty and parents. The Task Force itself is further broken into committees focused on all facets of planning for a productive 2020-2021 school year.

Finance Finance The Health & Safety Committee includes many physicians and public health specialists who bring longstanding expertise in their respective medical fields, including public health and disease prevention, infectious disease, pediatric medicine, pediatric nursing, and pediatric pulmonology. They are all willingly and generously providing their valuable time, experience and skills to benefit the safety of the entire Davis community. Their recommendations are specific to The Davis Academy, based on real experience and on local and national data.

Our planning also relies on guidance from a range of national and state organizations to inform our planning and decision-making. These include, but are not limited to: • American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) • Atlanta Area Association of Independent Schools (AAAIS) • Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) • Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) • Georgia Department of Education • Georgia Department of Public Health • Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) • Metro Atlanta Athletic Conference (MAAC) • National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) • Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS)

THE DAVIS ACADEMY

LEARNING SCENARIOS In developing each of the scenarios and plans for instruction and learning, comprehensive consideration is given to the differing needs and abilities of grades Mechina & Kindergarten, 1st-2nd grades, 3rd-5th grades and 6th-8th grades. To that end, parents should expect future strategic approaches to teaching, learning, safety and logistics that are unique to each distinct age group.

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LEARNING SCENARIOS

ON CAMPUS LEARNING

DISTANCE LEARNING

Learning takes place on the two Davis campuses by following strict health and safety protocols and guidelines.

Learning takes place remotely at home.

Students, faculty and staff only allowed on campuses.

There is no access to either campus for students.

Students receive their core academic instruction as a cohort â€” in alignment with their academic placement in the upper elementary and Middle School grades.

Full-day of instruction, on campus, for every student, every day of the week.

Formal remote learning of student cohorts will mirror as much as possible the On-Campus Learning schedule with developmentally appropriate modificatons per grade level.

Faculty generally move to instruct classes as opposed to students moving to faculty. Students typcially remain in one classroom or location during the school day.

Faculty instruct classes remotely.

Cohorts do not mix, although they may split into smaller groups for instruction. School maximizes use of all indoor and outdoor spaces.

Students remain a part of the same cohort and classes when engaged in Distance Learning.

Mechina-2nd grade: They will occupy the first floor of the Lower School with dedicated restrooms per cohort, and the use of assigned first floor rooms for art and music. Grades 3rd-5th: They will occupy the second floor of the Lower School, with each cohort having the ability to split into two groupings with each having access to dedicated classroom space. Cohorts have access to specialized spaces such as the Science Lab, music and art rooms. Each cohort will have laptops dedicated for its exclusive use. Grades 6th-8th: They will have their own wings in the Middle School building, which will determine their entry and exit paths, their locker placement, and restrooms.

Mechina-1st grade: Their first three blocks of the day are dedicated to language arts and math instruction with their homeroom teacher. Scheduled brain, restroom, and screen breaks between periods. Hebrew and specialty classes in the afternoon. Grades 2nd-3rd: Their developmentally appropriate schedule includes daily language arts and math instruction and regular periods for Hebrew, science, social studies and an array of specialty classes. Scheduled brain, restroom, and screen breaks between periods. Grades 4th-8th: A full day of learning that replicates the On-Campus Learning schedule with scheduled brain, restroom, and screen breaks between periods.

Concurrent Learning Path available for those students unable to return for On-Campus Learning . HYBRID LEARNING

Learning is split between On-Campus Learning for certain cohorts or grades and Distance Learning for others. On-Campus Learning students follow a full-day of instruction, every day of the week. Student instruction via Distance Learning will follow a similar schedule with developmentally appropriate modificatons per grade level. Students will be in the same cohorts and classes whether receiving instruction at school or at home.

THE DAVIS ACADEMY

ON-CAMPUS LEARNING

GOALS Offer the safest environment possible for our students, faculty and staff. Offer a full-day of instruction, on-campus, for every student, every day of the week. Continue to ensure our low teacher-to-student ratios and academic placements in core subjects. Maximize use of our expansive campuses to ensure access to indoor and outdoor learning and play environments. Provide the most convenience for our school families by attempting to avoid staggered and/or limited on campus schedules.

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COHORT MODEL

COHORT MODEL Based on the recommendations from the Health & Safety Committee, we have established plans for a cohort model of learning that centers on groups of students receiving their core academic instruction—in alignment with their academic placement in the upper elementary and Middle School grades—while typically remaining together in one classroom or location during the day. Eﬀectively, faculty moves to instruct classes as opposed to students regularly moving to faculty. Cohorts may split into smaller groupings for certain classes and learning experiences in alternate spaces but will not mix with other cohorts. Cohorts will, of course, utilize the gymnasium, outdoor spaces and specialty rooms, like Science Labs, solely as a cohort, with proper cleaning and hygiene.

With a move towards this cohort model, we will make additional changes in the day, including scheduling increased learning and recreational time outdoors for all grades, and a move to a full-block schedule for Middle School, that will increase instructional time allowing for deeper learning, with several scheduled breaks. The cohort model will also make it easier to transition to Distance Learning and better replicate the on campus instructional day, if a move to it is necessary. In addition, this model of keeping cohorts separate will allow The Davis Academy to continue on-campus instruction for most students, if a particular cohort may have to be restricted to Distance Learning for safety reasons.

Faculty move to instruct classes as opposed to students regularly moving to faculty.

Students stay in the same group.

CDC’s Recommended Strategy

While this model is not without its challenges, it does bring us closest to meeting our goals. Like all schools, Davis is unique. With almost 600 students, faculty and staﬀ, serving ages 4-14 years, a rich and complex array of personalized academic oﬀerings and two beautiful and spacious campuses, the cohort model works best for us in meeting our goals.

THE DAVIS ACADEMY

COHORT MODEL

COHORT INFORMATION BY GRADE LEVEL MECHINA-2ND GRADE

3RD-5TH GRADES

Grades M-2 will occupy the first floor of the Lower School campus, allowing us to avail ourselves of the large first floor classrooms limiting movement and the use of stairways. All classrooms have in-class sinks for handwashing. Cohort model aligned with the homeroom model; school day remains unchanged from prior years. Dedicated restroom per cohort and dedicated first floor art and music spaces with scheduled cleanings occurring in between uses by different cohorts. Individual student classroom and art supplies provided, as well as cohort-based play equipment for indoor and outdoor use. Access to dedicated outdoor learning and recreational spaces and playground.

Multiple dedicated classrooms for use per cohort. Cohorts established based on serving the speciﬁc academic needs of students. Cohorts have the ability to split into smaller groupings, with access to dedicated classroom space. Access to specialized spaces such as the Science Lab and music and art rooms, with scheduled cleanings occurring in between use by diﬀerent cohorts. Laptops dedicated for each cohort’s exclusive use to support On-Campus Learning and transition to Distance Learning, if necessary. Individualized classroom and art supplies as well as cohort-based recreational supplies and equipment for indoor and outdoor use. Musical instruments will be individually assigned and not shared.

LOWER SCHOOL OUTDOOR LEARNING & RECREATIONAL SPACES 1

North Lot

Lower Rec Area

Innovation Patio

Softball Bleachers

Recess 5

Recess 6

Nature Sanctuary

Temporary fencing

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1 3

5 6

COHORT MODEL

6TH- 8TH GRADES All three grades will each have their own wing in the Middle School building, which determines their entry and exit paths, locker placement, and restrooms. Block scheduling reduces movement between classes, expands the dedicated time for academics and allows for a smooth transition to Distance Learning, if necessary. PE, lunch and the new addition of break times to relax and socialize indoors and outdoors. Cohorts are established based on the academic placement of each student. 7th and 8th grade students are expected to bring their laptops to school every day to build comfort and competency for On-Campus and Distance Learning. 6th grade cohorts will have school laptops dedicated to their rooms but students are strongly encouraged to bring their own laptops if they have one. Access to dedicated outdoor learning and recreational spaces including the upper Middle School parking lot. For health and safety reasons, students in cohorts will now rotate through all electives, instead of individual selections. Spanish elective for high school credit will be addressed with individual families. Due to restrictions on the use of locker rooms, students are not changing into PE uniforms. Art supplies and musical instruments will be individually assigned. Access to specialized spaces such as Science Labs and music and art rooms, with scheduled cleanings occurring in between use by diďŹ€erent cohorts.

MIDDLE SCHOOL OUTDOOR LEARNING & RECREATIONAL SPACES

South Lawn

Back Patio

Bleachers

Upper Rec Area

Digital Sign Lawn

Running Path

Athletic Field

4 6 7

1 5

Please contact Drew Frank dfrank@davisacademy.org should you have any questions.

THE DAVIS ACADEMY

HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Together, we will make every eﬀort to provide the safest environment possible for our students, faculty and staﬀ

DISTANCING & SELF-QUARANTINE - We are strongly recommending that all families, students, faculty and staff wear masks and continue to social distance while outside of school. In addition, we recommend that families, students, faculty and staff remain at home to try to decrease potential exposures as much as possible fourteen (14) days prior to their return to campus. Students, faculty and staff are expected to follow CDC quarantine guidelines if they have been exposed to a person with COVID-19. TEMPERATURE SCREENINGS - All students will receive temperature screenings when they arrive to school. Prior to leaving for school, parents are required to check their child’s temperature each morning and are expected to keep them home if there is an indication of a fever. Students will be tested by a teacher prior to entering their cohort classroom. (We have intentionally avoided creating waiting areas or line-ups outside the doorways to the school building to avoid crowding and to enable students to stagger their entry toward their classrooms.) If a child presents a temperature of 100.4 or higher (100.4 is the medical standard for a fever in children according to the American Academy of Pediatrics), they will not be permitted into the classroom, the nurse will be called, the child will immediately wait in the isolation room of the clinic and the parent will be expected to return to school to pick up their child within 30 minutes. CLEANING - The Davis Academy employs Cleanstar National, Inc. for ongoing daily cleaning and disinfecting of spaces and surfaces to lower the risk of spreading infection. Cleanstar National, Inc. is on the front lines of disinfection for COVID-19 with a client list that includes the CDC, Atlanta Hawks, Piedmont Hospital, Grady Hospital and many other private schools in the Metro Atlanta area. In addition, Cleanstar uses EPA certified disinfectants approved for COVID-19 and its personnel are trained in basic microbiology, disinfection chemistry, aseptic cleaning and the use of personal protective equipment. Davis will implement enhanced frequency of cleaning and disinfecting following CDC guidelines with special attention to be paid to common areas and commonly touched surfaces including door handles, stairway handrails, tables, restroom stall handles, doors, faucet handles, classroom desks and countertops. When and where necessary, sanitation will take place using mechanical and electrostatic sprayers. HVAC- Significant upgrades have recently been made to our HVAC systems, including the air handling systems in both buildings. The Lower School’s air handling units have all been replaced recently, and the Middle School’s units were recently refurbished as well. Every hour, the buildings receive eight to ten air exchanges, which meet industry standards.

2020-2021 DAVIS TOGETHER PLAN

HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Best practices for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems have been reviewed and changes have been made as advised by a local environmental engineering company engaged to assess our mechanical operating systems and building operations in light of COVID-19, working alongside United Maintenance Inc., which provides ongoing systems maintenance for the school. Most MERV-8 filters historically used are being upgraded to MERV-13, so as to increase the capture of airborne particles, including those that may contain viruses. MASKS - Faculty and staff will be required to wear a face covering/mask during the school day, unless they are alone in their office or classroom, outdoors or while eating. Students in 3rd – 8th grades are required to wear a face covering/mask during the school day except when outdoors, when eating or during scheduled mask breaks. Students in Mechina – 2nd grade are encouraged to wear a face covering/mask during the school day. These younger students will be required to wear a face covering/mask during the following times: • Entering or exiting the building and walking to or from assigned cohort classroom. • Walking in all hallways, within bathrooms, and all other places outside of assigned cohort classroom. • Meeting one-on-one with a teacher or in small groups when social distancing is not possible. • Singing and working in small groups in close proximity with teachers and staff. Most face coverings/masks are acceptable, with several examples provided below. Face coverings need not match our school uniforms; colored, logo or patterned masks are appropriate but cannot be inappropriate or scary. Cloth masks are preferable but disposable and medical-grade masks are allowed as well. Gaiter masks are also permitted. Masks with vents are NOT permitted. If a student, faculty or staff member arrives to school with a vented mask, they will be required to remove it and will be provided with a new paper disposable mask, if necessary. Everyone is encouraged to bring two masks to school each day and keep two at home. If using cloth masks, it is recommended that they be cleaned nightly. Face shields are allowed, if desired, though they must be worn over a mask each day.

ACCEPTABLE MASKS HOMEMADE MASKS

SURGICAL/PROCEDURAL MASKS (TIE OR EARLLOOP)

DUST MASKS

N95 MASKS WITHOUT VENTS

GAITER NECK MASKS

UNACCEPTABLE MASKS MASKS WITH VENTS

THE DAVIS ACADEMY

HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS

SOCIAL DISTANCING - Distancing will be encouraged as much as possible while maintaining our collaborative learning environment, recognizing that it is unrealistic to expect that all students will be a set number of feet apart at all times, every day, in a school setting: • Cohorts will not mix or be in common areas together • Hallway transitions will be limited - cohorts will be escorted through a hallway by a teacher to ensure distancing and to avoid mixing with anyone outside the cohort • Students may not change classes/locations on their own • Lockers designated in a cohort’s dedicated area/wing for the upper grades; student access requires oversight or permission by teacher • Arrival and dismissal procedures and times ensure distancing • Upon arrival, students directed straight to their classroom (not to the gym, other common areas or to their locker) • Classrooms in all grades 1st - 8th will have individually assigned desks only, unidirectional and spaced as much as possible. HAND WASHING - Routine hand washing will be actively promoted and sanitizer stations have been furnished in every classroom and throughout both school buildings. Students and faculty will be required to use sanitizer each time they enter or exit their classroom and each time they return to the building from the outdoors. WATER FOUNTAINS - Water fountains will be closed for health and safety reasons. Students are encouraged to bring a filled water bottle from home. Grades M-2nd will be able to refill their bottles in their classrooms; grades 3rd–8th will have access to new water refill stations (10-inch bottle or smaller). RESTROOMS - The use of student restrooms by multiple students at one time will be limited to reduce crowding/mixing and the restrooms will be cleaned regularly throughout the day. In addition, middle sinks are closed to ensure distancing. SIGNAGE - New signage will be posted throughout both buildings providing safety reminders about face coverings, hand washing, and more. FOOD SAFETY - SAGE Dining health and safety protocols include: • Daily health screening for its team members including daily temperature checks • All SAGE team members will complete ServSafe COVID-19 training recommended by the local health department • Additional training days with service, sanitizing and disinfecting protocols • Policies if team members or a household member test positive for COVID-19 in compliance with Davis Academy staff policies • All team members equipped with PPE, required to wear masks at all times and practice social distancing • For additional information go to: www.sagedining.com/sites/davisacademy

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HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS

LUNCH - Lunches will be delivered to the classroom each day, until we are safely able to reopen our dining halls. On a monthly basis, families will select lunches from an online menu for the following month. Should Davis be forced to close for an extended period(s) of time throughout the year and move to Distance Learning, the prorated food costs of the lunch program will be credited back to our families at the end of the school year. AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS - We are delaying the start of our Afterschool Enrichment Offerings as well as our Extended Day Program for the first trimester. We are simply unable to ensure safe social distancing across cohorts and multiple grades for these various programs. We will continue to evaluate the conditions with the hope of offering these programs as soon as we are safely able to do so. ATHLETICS - We are currently awaiting further information from the Metro Atlanta Athletic Conference (MAAC) regarding their vision for fall sports, and the evaluation of the possibility of Middle School athletics at Davis by our Health & Safety Committee. LIMITED ACCESS - At this time, only students, faculty and staff are able to enter the school buildings. GATHERINGS - While the essence of Davis is our strong kehillah coming together in person, we will reimagine being “together” as a community until health restrictions allow us to gather. We will use various technology, including new wide-angle highdefinition cameras equipped with multiple built-in microphones in each classroom, to connect internally between classes, grades and school-wide, and to invite scholars, authors, speakers, parents, grandparents and others “into the classroom” to engage with our students. FIELD TRIPS AND OVERNIGHT TRAVEL - Field trips and overnight trips originally scheduled for the fall are being postponed or cancelled. Families who have made financial commitments for overnight experiences scheduled for September will receive communications regarding refunds from Kelly Tours. NURSE CLINICS - Clinics on both campuses have been configured with two separate rooms, one designated for routine clinic use and one to isolate anyone with potential COVID-19 symptoms. Each room is equipped with a sink and touch-less faucet and access to a restroom designated for clinic use only. We will now have nurse coverage in both buildings throughout the day. Wendy Pakula, RN, BSN continues as our trusted and beloved School Nurse and she will be assisted this year by a Nursing Assistant.

THE DAVIS ACADEMY

15 19

HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS

THE DAVIS ACADEMY COVID-19 POLICIES These Davis Academy COVID-19 policies have been developed and are being implemented to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 during the 2020-2021 school year. The development of these COVID-19 school policies was informed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Preparing for a Safe Return to School and Operating Schools During COVID-19, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) COVID-19 Planning Considerations: Guidance for School Re-entry, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta: COVID-19 Testing and by The Davis Academy Health & Safety Committee. These policies may be adjusted as additional information becomes available and depending on the level of transmission in the school and throughout the community. SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions such as heart or lung disease or diabetes, seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness. Most children with COVID-19 infections have mild symptoms, such as fever and cough, and do not require medical care. People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19: • Fever or chills • New loss of taste or smell • Cough • Sore throat • Shortness of breath or diﬃculty breathing • Congestion or runny nose • Fatigue • Nausea or vomiting • Muscle or body aches • Diarrhea • Headache All guidelines can be found on the CDC website. COVID-19 POSITIVE CASES AMONG STAFF OR STUDENTS Staﬀ or students who test positive for COVID-19 WITH symptoms may return to school:

• At least 10 days after initial symptoms appeared and • At least 24 hours with no fever (< 100.4) without fever reducing medicines and • Symptoms have improved

OR • After two (2) negative results of two (2) COVID test assays for SARS-CoV-RNA collected a minimum of 24 hours apart and • At least 24 hours with no fever (< 100.4) without fever reducing medicines and • Symptoms have improved

20 2020-2021 DAVIS TOGETHER PLAN

Staﬀ or students who test positive for COVID-19 WITHOUT symptoms may return to school:

• If they continue to have no symptoms and • 10 days after test result if no symptoms occur

OR • After (two) 2 consecutive negative test results of SARS-CoV-RNA collected at least 24 hours apart

HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS

COVID-19 POSITIVE CASES AMONG HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS OF STAFF OR STUDENTS Staﬀ or students WITHOUT COVID-19 symptoms who live in a household with a family member who tests positive for COVID-19

Staﬀ or students who experience any COVID-19 symptoms within 14 days who live in a household with a family member who tests positive for COVID-19

may NOT attend school for 14 days and student will transition to Concurrent Learning

may NOT attend school and are encouraged to seek medical attention These staff or students may return to school: • Ten (10) days after a staff or student’s first day of symptons and • After 72 hours with no fever (< 100.4) without fever reducing medicines and • Symptoms have improved

Davis staﬀ and families should notify school nurse Wendy Pakula - wpakula@daviscademy.org immediately to REPORT if they, or anyone in their household, tests positive for COVID-19

STUDENT ILLNESS AND FEVER POLICIES NOT RELATED TO COVID-19 Students with a temperature >100.4 may return to school:

• After 72 hours with no fever (< 100.4) without fever reducing medicines

Students diagnosed by a health care provider with strep throat may return to school:

• If student has no fever (< 100.4) without fever reducing medicines and • Student took ﬁrst dose of prescribed medication no later than 5 p.m. the previous day

Students diagnosed by a health care provider with an upper respiratory infection, viral illness, gastroenteritis, ear infection, pneumonia, or sinus infection may return to school:

• After 72 hours with no fever (< 100.4) without fever reducing medicines and • After 24 hours with no vomiting or diarrhea

REPORTING ABSENCES & ILLNESS - As always, it is mandatory to report all absences and reasons for absences from school: • Should a student test positive for COVID-19 or exhibit multiple symptoms of COVID-19, parents must immediately contact nurse Wendy Pakula - wpakula@daviscademy.org • Lower School students - Report to homeroom teacher • Middle School students - Report absence to Marilyn Dubovsky - mdubovsky@daviscademy.org • Faculty & Staﬀ - Report to supervisor or to Shelia Miller, Human Resources Manager • The Davis Academy WILL require any staﬀ member or student to leave or to be picked up from school who experiences COVID-19 symptoms Please contact the following with questions regarding health and safety: Wendy Pakula Nurse wpakula@davisacademy.org

Jay Sausmer Director of Safety & Security Georgia Certiﬁed Emergency Manager jsausmer@davisacademy.org

THE DAVIS ACADEMY

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LOGISTICS

LOGISTICS BUS SERVICE - Based on the guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics and recommendations from our Health & Safety Committee, we are postponing the start of our bus service. We will continue to evaluate the safe use of bus transportation throughout the fall and will decide at the end of the first trimester as to how we may safely reinstitute bus service thereafter. PLACECARDS & CARPOOL NUMBERS - Placards and carpool numbers are mandatory in both the Lower and Middle Schools, as they will allow us to complete the carpool process without having parents and staff interacting. If you are a Middle School family that had a Lower School carpool number from last year, you will keep your number. Otherwise, we will assign you a number and mail you a placard at the start of August. If you intend to carpool with others, please contact Jeff Rothstein at jrothstein@davisacademy.org and he will assign accordingly. CARPOOLING - We understand that shared carpools may be necessary for some families. Parents, carpool drivers and students are required to wear a face covering while dropping off and picking up students. If you are in a shared carpool, all occupants should wear a mask throughout the commute. ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL - Arrival and dismissal procedures will change and there will be multiple entrances and exits used at both the Lower and Middle Schools to allow for students to distance upon entering and exiting the buildings. Pick-up times are also being adjusted to reduce internal mixing and carpool wait times.

22122020-2021 DAVIS TOGETHER PLAN

Mechina Kindergarten

AM Student Entry

PM Pick Up Location

LOGISTICS

AM Drop Off Location

Dismissal Begins

LS Gym Lobby

LS Carpool Lane

3:20 PM

LS Carpool Lane

LS Carpool Lobby

LS Carpool Lane

3:20 PM

1st Grade

LS Carpool Lane

LS Carpool Lobby

LS Carpool Lane

3:20 PM

2nd Grade

LS Carpool Lane

Front Lobby

LS Carpool Lane

3:20 PM

3rd Grade

LS Carpool Lane

LS Carpool Lobby

LS Carpool Lane

3:40 PM

4th Grade

LS Carpool Lane

Front Lobby

LS Carpool Lane

3:40 PM

5th Grade

LS Gym Lobby

LS Carpool Lane

3:40 PM

6th Grade

MS Carpool Lane

MS Front Lobby

MS Carpool Lane

3:25 PM

7th Grade

MS Carpool Lane

MS Right Door Entrance

MS Carpool Lane

3:40 PM

8th Grade

MS Carpool Lane

MS Front Lobby

MS Carpool Lane

3:40 PM

ARRIVAL - Carpool drop off takes place in the usual drop off locations outside the Lower and Middle School carpool lobbies. However, those dropping off Mechina and 5th grade students at the Lower School will pull up to the gym lobby. Students will use the entrances noted above for their grade level. Staff will be on duty to help guide students. LOWER SCHOOL DISMISSAL - The Lower School afternoon carpool process will be staggered to avoid the crowding of students inside the building, but the process of lining cars up, calling numbers, and students proceeding to a cone will remain the same. Students will be called from their homeroom classes. NOTE: 3rd-5th graders will be in mandatory study hall from 3:20-3:40 p.m. and cannot be picked up during this time. If there is a sibling in a younger grade, the younger sibling will wait in their homeroom until the older sibling is dismissed. We cannot have any cars waiting past Carpool Spot A. We ask that you kindly circle back around. MIDDLE SCHOOL DISMISSAL - Please have your placard visible so that staff can see the number and call your children out of the building efficiently and safely. Students will be called by number from their end-of-day classroom. NOTE: No 7th or 8th grade student can be picked up between 3:25-3:40 p.m. If you are picking up a 7th or 8th grade student in addition to a 6th grade student, please arrive after 3:40 p.m. BOTH LS & MS PICKUP - If you are picking up students at both campuses, we suggest that you pick up your children at the Middle School first during the appropriate time slot (6th grade after 3:25 p.m. or 7th and 8th after 3:40 p.m.) then proceed to the Lower School to pick up your younger children or carpool riders.

LS Carpool Lobby: K, 1st & 3rd Grades

LS Front Lobby: 2nd & 4th Grades

LS Gym Lobby: Mechina & 5th Grade

Front Lobby: 6th & 8th Grades

Right Door Entrance: 7th Grade

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LOGISTICS

GRADE LOCATIONS

Lower School First Floor

Lower School Second Floor

Middle School First Floor

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Middle School Second Floor

CONCURRENT LEARNING

CONCURRENT LEARNING PATH As The Davis Academy is invested in supporting the entire learning community during these challenging times, we are offering a Concurrent Learning path for a student who is temporarily unable to be on campus due to COVID-19 concerns, either at the start of the academic year or for a short period during the school year. This reflects our commitment to helping students stay connected while learning from home until they are able to return to school. We have enhanced the technology in each classroom with wide-angle high-definition cameras equipped with multiple built-in microphones to further enhance the audio clarity and experience. These tools will be used in concert with our new iPads to help connect students in the Concurrent Learning path with the classroom. Students will have the opportunity to Zoom into their classes from home at the designated class time in order to view and listen to the instruction. There may be the possibility to share questions with peers and/or the instructor virtually during the class. Otherwise, the student will be able to engage with the instructor at a certain point in time after the class. Please keep in mind that the teacher’s ability to respond in real time to those students who are learning from home may be limited while conducting a live class. It is important to note that the students learning concurrently from home will not have the same experience as a student who is physically present in the classroom. While we are committed to leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver the best possible instruction to accommodate all learners, research has proven that those learning from home while others are physically present in the class will not experience the learning in the same manner. With this in mind, however, we will work with individual families based on their unique needs and depending on the child’s grade level, to identify what the Concurrent Learning experience will entail for each specific student. While we will differentiate the ways in which instruction is delivered for each student on a Concurrent Learning path, based on the above, the work that they are to complete will mimic the schedule of the On-Campus Learning program. While the Concurrent Learning path cannot replicate the learning experience as that of the students who are learning on the physical campus simultaneously, the goal is to help those who are at home continue to learn from, and engage with, exceptional instructors, participate in the learning, and remain connected to our vibrant community. We know from experience and from research that students thrive best in a predictable learning environment. There has been, and will continue to be, a significant planning process to ensure that our teachers are as well-prepared as possible to serve all students. Additionally, we will need to allocate appropriate time and resources to enable a seamless re-entry onto the physical campus for a student using the Concurrent Learning path. As a result, we ask anyone using the Concurrent Learning path for their child at the start of the year for a six-week commitment.

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DISTANCE LEARNING

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DISTANCE LEARNING

Engaging in Distance Learning during the 2020-2021 school year will look very diﬀerent from the spring

The Davis Academy is committed to providing an exemplary learning experience for our students should health conditions require that a cohort, grade, multiple grades or the entire school implement Distance Learning. The complete Distance Learning Plan is available here: https://davisacademy.myschoolapp.com/ftpimages/1393/download/download_4445576.pdf Below are some highlights.

Our enhancements: Developed a complete Distance Learning Plan (DLP) for learners and their families with recommended technology resources, general expectations, scheduling information, what to expect with regard to communication, guidelines for social and emotional support, privacy and security for Zoom video communications and more. We have extended the online learning schedule to mimic a regular school day in a developmentally appropriate manner. Breaks in Zoom schedules and both synchronous and asynchronous learning throughout the school day will be implemented. Faculty engaged in multiple, rigorous professional development opportunities this summer including: Reimagining Schools: Transitioning from Emergency to Planned Distance Learning, developed uniquely for independent schools Google Classroom and GSuite training resulting in Google certiﬁcation SeeSaw Digital Platform training The International Society of Technology Education (ISTE) Summer Institute The ASCD Virtual Conference: Respond, Reimagine, Restart Teach with Tech Virtual Conference Professional development courses speciﬁc to specialized areas such as social studies, library services, and social emotional training Hired additional personnel, including an Educational Technology Specialist, to assist students, parents and faculty. Developed a vast digital library of digital books through OverDrive, our online ebook and audiobook library, and Sora, an OverDrive sponsored app that provides a student-friendly user interface.

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DISTANCE LEARNING

LOWER SCHOOL General Expectations Our Learning Management System (LMS) will be used to host content, share communication, and link to additional student-friendly digital learning platforms, such as SeeSaw and Google Classroom. These digital platforms will support both synchronous and asynchronous learning. Synchronous instruction will continue to be delivered via the video conferencing platform Zoom with expectations for live Zoom instruction outlined in the DLP including: • Webcams must be on during class time • Davis uniform shirts are required while students are on Zoom • Students must act as they would if they were sitting in a teacher’s classroom Partnership in Learning: While we recognize that families are juggling multiple responsibilities, it is expected that Lower School students will require parent assistance accessing the technology, clarifying instructions, or coordinating a time for additional one-on-one time with an instructor. Digital Learning Platforms Mechina - 2nd Grade Learning materials will be hosted on and/or linked to the school’s Learning Management System (LMS) accessible via each parent and student’s unique Davis Academy website log-in. Teachers and students will be using SeeSaw, a remote learning platform that is user friendly for younger students in order to share and turn in learning materials. Teachers will review how to access the learning platforms in class as part of their student orientation during the ﬁrst week of school.

Technology Requirements

3rd - 5th Grade Learning materials will be hosted on the school’s Learning Management System (LMS) accessible via each parent and student’s unique Davis Academy website log-in. Some teachers may also determine that students will also use Google Classroom, a digital platform used to communicate, create, distribute, and grade assignments. Students will be taught how to organize their data in a digital ﬁle management system. Teachers will review how to access the digital learning platforms in class as part of their student orientation the ﬁrst week of school.

Students will need to use Google Chrome as their web browser. Mechina - 2nd Grade Students will need to have access to an iPad and keyboard and/or a computer as well as to internet access and a webcam. A printer is not required but may be helpful. If a student is asked to print out a document but does not have access to a printer, the teacher will provide an alternative option.

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3rd - 5th Grade Students will need to have access to a computer as well as to internet access and a webcam. A printer is not required but may be helpful in some instances. If a student is asked to print out a document but does not have access to a printer, the teacher will provide an alternative option.

DISTANCE LEARNING

LOWER SCHOOL Schedule and Academic Expectations School will begin each day at 8:20 a.m. Monday through Friday. A Distance Learning schedule has been carefully crafted for each grade level in order to seamlessly continue the learning remotely and to allow time for community connection. Teachers will share a daily agenda via the Digital Learning platform, which will also serve as a resource for students who are absent. As when on campus, students may be asked to work on asynchronous activities during regular school hours. Teachers will be available online via Zoom to answer questions and guide students in their learning process. Special programs may be oﬀered outside of regular school hours as optional events for additional connection and learning. Families are expected to help establish routines and reinforce the expectations for students, including being punctual for Zoom classes. Parents are asked to partner with their child’s teacher and counselor to support the learning process and to be mindful of their child’s physical and emotional health. Communication Email will be the primary mode of communication from The Davis Academy. In order to establish healthy boundaries, teachers have been instructed to practice self-care. With this in mind, teachers will respond to all email inquiries and/or phone calls within 24 hours upon receipt, excluding weekends. Students in 4th and 5th grade are required to check their Davis Academy email accounts daily Monday through Friday for any school-related communications. Parent/Teacher conferences will be held via Zoom as a scheduled and structured opportunity for teachers and parents to share progress, observations, and feedback.

Email the following individuals should you have questions about Technology Device - Daniel Jones djones@davisacademy.org Access to Digital Resources - Lisa Pritchett lpritchett@davisacademy.org Educational Technology Tools - Stacy Brown sbrown@davisacademy.org Media Center Resources - Melissa Mondello mmondello@davisacademy.org Lessons or Classroom Assignments - Homeroom or specialist teacher Guidance Counseling Questions - Michele Shear mshear@davisacademy.org

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DISTANCE LEARNING

MIDDLE SCHOOL General Expectations Our Learning Management System (LMS) will be used to host content, communicate, and share data in conjunction with additional digital learning platforms, such as Google Classroom, for synchronous and asynchronous learning. Synchronous instruction will continue to be delivered via the video conferencing platform Zoom with expectations for live Zoom instruction outlined in the complete DLP including: • Webcams must be on during class time • Davis uniform shirts are required on Zoom • Students must act as they would if they were sitting in a teacher’s classroom Self-advocacy and respect (kavod) are expected throughout Distance Learning interactions with peers and educators. Students will be expected to maintain the organization of their schoolwork using the digital file management system that is outlined by their teachers. Attendance and learning partnership: • Families are expected to support their child’s class attendance and participation in learning. • Unless a specific invitation has been extended, parents are not permitted to participate in their child’s online class or be visible on the screen. • While we recognize that families will be juggling multiple schedules and responsibilities, it is expected that parents will take an active role in their child’s education. Accountability, support, and guidance will be critical to the success of each child’s learning. Digital Learning Platforms Learning materials will be hosted on the school’s Learning Management System (LMS) accessible via each parent and student’s unique Davis Academy website log-in. Teachers may also use Google Classroom, a digital platform used to communicate, create, distribute, and grade assignments. Students will be taught how to organize their data in a digital file management system and are expected to follow this organization system. Teachers will review how to access the digital learning platforms in class as part of their student orientation during the first week of school. Technology Requirements Students will need to use Google Chrome as their web browser. Students will need to have access to a computer as well as internet access and a webcam. A printer is not required but may be helpful in some instances. If a student is asked to print out a document but does not have access to a printer, the teacher will provide an alternative option.

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DISTANCE LEARNING

MIDDLE SCHOOL Schedule and Academic Expectations The school day will begin at 8:00 a.m. Monday through Friday. Teachers will share a daily agenda via the digital learning platform, which will also serve as a resource for students who are absent. Middle school students will be operating under a full online schedule consisting of one-hour classes. Regular breaks have been integrated into the learning day to ensure the opportunity for movement, renewal, and time away from the screen. As when on campus, students may be asked to work on asynchronous activities during regular school hours. Teachers will be available online via Zoom to answer questions and guide students in their learning process. Special programs may be oﬀered outside of regular school hours as optional events for additional connection and learning. All students are required to attend live class Zoom gatherings, including morning announcements, Shabbat, designated clubs, and any student leadership Zoom sessions through the Middle School Leadership Training Institute (MSLTI). If a student is unable to attend a live Zoom class or required gathering, they are to notify the teacher in advance via email. Teachers will be available to support students outside of a Zoom class. Attendance at virtual oﬃce hours is optional unless mandated by the classroom teacher. Families are expected to help establish routines and reinforce student expectations including being punctual for Zoom classes. Parents are asked to partner with their child’s teacher and counselor to support the learning process and to be mindful of their child’s physical and emotional health. Communication Email will be the primary mode of communication from The Davis Academy. In order to establish healthy boundaries, teachers have been instructed to practice self-care. With this in mind, teachers will respond to all email inquiries and/or phone calls within 24 hours upon receipt, excluding weekends. Students in 6th-8th grade are required to check their Davis email at least twice daily. Parent/Teacher conferences will be held via Zoom as a scheduled and structured opportunity for teachers and parents to share progress, observations, and feedback.

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HYBRID LEARNING

32182020-2021 DAVIS TOGETHER PLAN

HYBRID LEARNING

HYBRID LEARNING Hybrid Learning combines the experience and instruction of On-Campus Learning and Distance Learning. Having a model for Hybrid Learning enables The Davis Academy and our students, faculty and staff to have flexibility and fluidity, along with a continuity of learning for students. Hybrid Learning would attempt to mirror the On-Campus Learning schedule as much as possible, with developmentally appropriate adjustments. Hybrid Learning may be deemed necessary, temporarily, under various circumstances related to health and safety. It is the least “easy” to understand of the Learning Scenarios, as it may combine different learning models for various cohorts, various grades and various days-of-the-week, depending on the situation. Just some examples of Hybrid Learning could include: The August 17th opening of school begins with On-Campus Learning for all grades, as planned. At a time during the school year, health and safety precautions may dictate many grades engage in On-Campus Learning, but perhaps a certain cohort, more than one cohort or certain grades engage in Distance Learning, due to a need for quarantine, for example. If health and safety precautions dictate, the August 17th opening of school would begin with some groups engaged in On-Campus Learning daily, perhaps younger grades, while other groups, perhaps older grades, engage in Distance Learning. Alternatively, some groups are on campus daily, while others are on campus certain days, with the other days via Distance Learning. At the appropriate time, all grades and groups would return full time to On-Campus Learning. If health and safety precautions dictate, the August 17th opening of school would begin with On-Campus Learning rotationally, by grade level, with some grades engaged in On-Campus Learning on certain days, while other grades engage in Distance Learning, and then the grades would rotate on alternate days. An example might be, Mechina through 3rd grade on campus daily, and older grades rotating between On-Campus Learning and Distance Learning, attending on-campus by grade certain days of the week and engaging in Distance Learning other days of the week. At the appropriate time, all grades return to On-Campus Learning. There may be other examples of when The Davis Academy would need to implement Hybrid Learning once the year is underway. We understand the consideration of Hybrid Learning may present inconveniences to families, feelings of uncertainty for faculty and students, and that it is not ideal, but it is both responsible and necessary that we be prepared for such a scenario during these times. THE DAVIS ACADEMY

EMOTIONAL HEALTH JEWISH LIFE FAQs CONTACTS

34 42020-2021 DAVIS TOGETHER PLAN

EMOTIONAL HEALTH

The Davis Academy is committed to supporting and protecting children’s emotional well-being. In addition to keeping children physically safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, caring for students' emotional health is critical. It is difficult for students to engage in formal learning until they feel physically and psychologically safe. Students will have had all sorts of different experiences during quarantine. Some may have experienced anxiety, trauma, loneliness, and major disappointments, while others may have been at ease being at home with their loved ones, experiencing comfort, vacations and maintaining more of a sense of normalcy. Within a school community, individual students and staff may be continuing to experience different stressors that could affect their personal sense of safety. The Davis Student Services Team is ready to support students, families and staff members for each phase of recovery: before reopening, immediately after reopening and long-term support. In addition to continued online programming to support social and emotional growth and development, the counselors are also available for one-on-one support with students and families. Examples of support include, but are not limited to: offering programs to address anxiety, promote executive functioning skills, and practice self-advocacy and communication skills.

The Student Services Team can be reached as follows:

Michele Shear

Director of Student Services mshear@davisacademy.org

Jamie Rindsberg

Counselor of Kindergarten, 1st & 3rd grades jrindsberg@davisacademy.org

Annie Peskin

Counselor of Mechina, 2nd, 4th & 5th grades apeskin@davisacademy.org

Lindsey Barry

Middle School Counselor lbarry@davisacademy.org

Andra Lefkovits

Middle School Counselor alefkovits@davisacademy.org

THE DAVIS ACADEMY

JEWISH LIFE

At The Davis Academy, we are committed to thoughtfully and purposefully integrating our Jewish values into our daily lives. At the forefront of our Jewish identity is the support and connection that our community brings to one another. In the spirit of continuing to ensure that the integration of our Jewish values are not disrupted, Jewish learning and life experiences will continue whether we are together on campus or learning remotely. In addition to Hebrew and Judaic Studies instruction and the integration of Jewish values, music and culture, we will creatively continue to celebrate Shabbat, holidays, Bâ€™nai Mitzvah and other milestones, and live our values every day.

Please contact: Rabbi Micah Lapidus mlapidus@davisacademy.org

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FAQs

DAVIS TOGETHER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I. Health & Safety II. Tests and Reporting III. Transportation, Arrivals and Dismissals, Visitors IV. Academic Cohorts and Day Structure V. Program and Activities VI. On-Campus, Distance, Hybrid and Concurrent Learning

I. HEALTH & SAFETY Who is on the Davis Together Health & Safety Committee? The Davis Academy is fortunate to be guided by an incredible team of medical experts, who have selﬂessly given their time and expertise in helping us develop the Davis Together School Plan, as well as to continue as a medical advisory group throughout the year. The Committee consists of a team of current public health and medical professionals with expertise in pediatrics, pediatric pulmonology, infectious disease, nursing, and public health. Their recommendations are based on their real experience in practice and on local and national data. The Committee has utilized recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), regarding the safe reopening of schools. What is the best way to protect myself, my children, and others? CDC recommends the following to protect yourself and others from COVID-19: • Know how it spreads • Wash your hands often • Avoid close contact • Cover your mouth and nose with a face cover when around others • Cover coughs and sneezes • Clean and disinfect • Monitor your health daily AddItional information about these guidelines can be found on the CDC website.

THE DAVIS ACADEMY

FAQs

Parents and students should carefully consider the actions and decisions they make when outside of school to protect themselves and others in the community. It is the decisions that we, as parents, make that will have the largest impact on what the months ahead look like. Just as everything with COVID-19 has changed our “normal”, we must find a new normal to help our kids be successful while staying in school. Clearly, Davis cannot mandate or prohibit activities outside of school but parents and students making the most conservative decisions outside of school hours will give us the greatest chance of success. How can I best support my child’s emotional health during this time? Children are amazing—they have greater resiliency than we give them credit for. That said, they are also amazingly observant and can typically sense stress and anxiety in the adults around them. Please do your best to be supportive and answer their questions in a simple manner, based on their maturity level. Too much information can be confusing and overwhelming, but simple and direct information can be comforting. Remind them of the positives of school, show them how to wear a mask, begin to share how school will look a little different while at the same time helping them to look forward to it. Our counselors and teachers are well prepared to receive your children, have plans in place for guidance and support, and will be available for parent questions and concerns, as always. Our counselors are on standby with all of our related resources. Will my child’s temperature be checked every morning? Yes, all students will receive temperature screenings when they arrive to school. Prior to leaving for school, parents are required to check their child’s temperature each morning and are expected to keep them home if there is an indication of a fever. Students will be tested by a teacher prior to entering their cohort classroom. (We have intentionally avoided creating waiting areas or line-ups outside the doorways to the school building to avoid crowding and to enable students to stagger their entry toward their classrooms.) If a child presents a temperature of 100.4 or higher (100.4 is the medical standard for a fever in children according to the American Academy of Pediatrics), they will not be permitted into the classroom, the nurse will be called, the child will immediately wait in the isolation room of the clinic and the parent will be expected to return to school to pick up their child within 30 minutes. Will the school be sanitized regularly? As part of its new health and safety protocols, The Davis Academy will continue to engage CleanStar, with additional cleaning staff cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and spaces in accordance with recommended guidelines. The school will be thoroughly cleaned every evening and spaces that may be used by more than one cohort during the day—Science Labs, for example—will be disinfected between and after every cohort use during the day. Extra attention will be paid throughout the day to wiping clean surfaces such as door handles, stair railings, and restrooms. Why is it important to wear a face covering or mask? We realize that experts are still learning about COVID-19 but it is generally accepted that the most critical method to prevent transmission is the wearing of masks. To reduce the spread of COVID-19, CDC recommends that people wear cloth face coverings in public settings when around people outside of their household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. More information about face cloth coverings can be found on the CDC website.

2020-2021 DAVIS TOGETHER PLAN

FAQs

What types of face coverings/mask are allowed at The Davis Academy? Most face coverings/masks are acceptable, with several examples provided below. Face coverings need not match our school uniforms; colored, logo or patterned masks are appropriate but not masks perceived as inappropriate or scary. Cloth masks are preferable but disposable and medical-grade masks are allowed as well. Gaiter masks are also permitted. Masks with vents are NOT permitted. If a student, faculty or staﬀ member arrives to school with a vented mask, they will be required to remove it and will be provided with a new paper disposable mask, if necessary. Everyone is encouraged to bring two masks to school each day and keep two at home. If using cloth masks, it is recommended that they be cleaned nightly. Face shields are allowed, if desired, although they must be worn over a mask. ACCEPTABLE MASKS HOMEMADE MASKS

SURGICAL/PROCEDURAL MASKS (TIE OR EARLLOOP)

DUST MASKS

N95 MASKS WITHOUT VENTS

GAITER NECK MASKS

UNACCEPTABLE MASKS MASKS WITH VENTS

Will my child be expected to wear a mask all day? ALL students will be required to wear a face covering/mask in all public spaces, including at entrances and exits, hallways and restrooms. Students in M-2nd are encouraged to wear a face covering/mask in their cohort classrooms. They will be required to wear a face covering/mask during the following times: • Entering the building and walking to assigned cohort classroom. • Exiting the building to go outside or to afternoon carpool. • Walking in all hallways, within bathrooms, and all other places outside of assigned cohort classrooms. • Meeting one-on-one with a teacher or in small groups in the classroom when social distancing is not possible. • Singing and working in small groups with teachers and staff. Students in grades 3rd-8th are required to wear a face covering/mask during the school day except when outdoors, during a mask break or while eating. Will there be mask breaks? How will that work? Yes, there will be scheduled breaks during the day for all students when they can remove their masks. Students in grades 3rd-8th will be expected to wear masks at all times while inside the building except during designated snack breaks and lunch. M-2nd students will be strongly encouraged to wear their masks, but we are cognizant of the developmental challenge this may create, and thus we know we need to have flexibility and understanding. We will trust our teachers, as always, to be aware of a student’s needs. Regardless, when benefiting from individualized or small group instruction in close proximity to other students or the teacher, masks will be mandated. We are also fortunate to have two beautiful campuses which we will use to their fullest in the coming year. Lower School students will have daily times scheduled to be outside, with a chance to have a break from their masks. Middle School students will also take advantage of our campus and some newly designed outside learning spaces, to allow students outside more regularly and to have the benefit of a break from mandatory mask wearing.

THE DAVIS ACADEMY

FAQs

How will the school ensure proper hygiene amongst students and faculty? All classrooms, M-2nd, have sinks inside their classrooms and all classrooms, M-8th, have hand sanitizing stations at their entrances. Students and faculty will be required to sanitize their hands each time they enter and exit any room and each time they enter the building from the outside. It is our expectation that parents have taught —or will teach— and model effective handwashing protocols for their children and students will regularly be reminded of these protocols. Sanitizing stations will be placed throughout the buildings as well and signage in the buildings and in all restrooms will remind everyone of the importance of effective hand hygiene. What will you do to protect members of the faculty? Our dedicated faculty will have undergone training over the summer, not only to prepare them for teaching in a new era and in enhancing online instruction, if necessary, but also in health and safety for their own protection and for that of our students. Faculty will follow strict protocols before, during and after the school day, including the wearing of masks at all times unless in their classroom alone. In addition, The Davis Academy is taking steps to limit interaction between faculty and staff during the school day and requiring physical distancing when interaction takes place. Our faculty and staff have undertaken even greater responsibility since March, and we are so appreciative of their commitment and protective of their well-being. What if my child needs a “typical” visit to the nurse, such as taking regular medications each day or getting a Band-Aid? The school nurse will be working with all teachers to ensure that basic first aid supplies (Band-Aids, etc.) are in each classroom to limit non-essential nurse visits. In the event that a student does need to visit the nurse, the teacher will call ahead to ensure that the nurse is ready to receive a student. Students in younger grades will either be escorted to the nurse or the nurse will come to walk them down. Regular medications will be delivered to the classroom. The Davis Academy has hired a Nursing Assistant to help with all medical-related duties this year. How will classrooms be set up? Will there be assigned seats? The set-up of a classroom can have an impact on the culture of the class, as well as on the delivery and reception of instruction and learning. That said, Davis is fortunate to have spacious, oversized classrooms, and adjustments have been made in the majority of classrooms to enhance spacing as much as possible. With what is known about the virus and potential transmission in the youngest of children, and the ways in which young children learn and behave, we will not be altering classroom set up significantly in Mechina and Kindergarten classrooms. Classrooms in grades 1st-8th will look different than the Davis classroom students have experienced in the past. Grades 1st-8th classrooms will be using individually assigned desks only, unidirectional and spaced apart as much as possible. Will common areas be crowded? Hallways? What about use of lockers? Cohorts will not be in common areas together during the day and our cohort model greatly reduces the amount of hallway transition. Our schedule and design allow for common areas to be used by only one cohort at a time, with each masked cohort being escorted by a teacher through hallways to ensure the group moves along and does not mix with anyone outside of the cohort. In the event that multiple cohorts are somehow on the move, teachers will ensure distancing and no groups of students will be permitted to change classes or locations on their own. Lower elementary grades will use lockers within their classrooms. Upper elementary and Middle School students will have access to designated lockers located in their dedicated area/wing, with separation between cohorts. When students arrive in the morning, they will go straight to their classroom, not to the gym, to another common area or to their locker. Students will not be going to lockers during the day without the oversight and permission of their teacher.

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FAQs

Will there now be individual school supplies provided per child so kids do not have to share? What about the use of technology devices? The school has invested in ensuring that we limit the use of shared school supplies and/or have protocols in place to clean anything that is shared between uses. For example, in Lower School classes, each child will have his/her own box of supplies including pencils and markers. Art supplies and musical instruments have been purchased for each cohort and will be labelled and limited for designated individual student use. Generally, Lower School classrooms have access to multiple iPads and computers, allowing for safe use by individual students and, should there be a necessity for shared use, the equipment will be wiped down in between. This year, grades 3-5 students will have cohort-based laptops. In the Middle School, students typically manage their own agenda (provided by the school), supplies and technology tools, so sharing is less likely. This year, grades 7-8 will bring their own computers to school and 6th grade is recommended to do the same. Textbooks are always—and will continue to be—assigned to each individual student. When Science Lab supplies or other materials will be used by multiple cohorts, they will be cleaned between uses. Will my child still have recess? Will the playground be open? Yes, at the Lower School, the playground will be open and used. We are also taking advantage of all of our outdoor spaces, including the athletic fields and the nature sanctuary. The school has partitioned the playground area and other open spaces into separated play areas so individual cohorts will have access to their own play area, separate from other cohorts. In addition, the school has purchased multiple sets of toys, balls, basketball hoops and recreational games for each cohort. How will SAGE Dining ensure health and safety standards and what will their process be for employee screening? SAGE Dining has been a valuable and trusted partner for several years now and The Davis Academy has been in constant communication with SAGE regarding the safe preparation and distribution of lunches. SAGE has very strict policies regarding employee hygiene and food preparation and those guidelines have been enhanced to include: • Daily health screening of team members • ServSafe COVID-19 training for all team members as recommended by the local health department • Additional training days with protocols regarding service, sanitization and disinfecting • Policies in place if team members or a household member tests positive for COVID-19, in compliance with The Davis Academy staff policies • All team members are required to wear masks at all times and practice social distancing, including at work stations Will students still be able to bring and eat snacks at school? As always, students are encouraged to bring a filled water bottle as well as snacks and/or supplements for their lunch. This year, as is commonplace in the lower elementary grades, upper elementary and Middle School, students will have a dedicated time for snacks to avoid student discretion on mask removal. Can you provide any additional information on maintenance and improvements to the school's HVAC system? Significant upgrades have recently been made to our HVAC systems, including the air

handling systems in both buildings. The Lower School’s air handling units have all been replaced recently, and the Middle School’s units were recently refurbished as well. Every hour, the buildings receive eight to ten air exchanges, which meet industry standards. Best practices for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems have been reviewed and changes have been made as advised by a local environmental engineering company engaged to assess our mechanical operating systems and building operations in light of COVID-19, working alongside United Maintenance Inc., which provides ongoing systems maintenance for the school. Most MERV-8 ﬁlters historically used are being upgraded to MERV-13, so as to increase the capture of airborne particles, including those that may contain viruses. THE DAVIS ACADEMY

FAQs

II. TESTS AND REPORTING Will Davis alert parents if there is a positive test in the school? Will the school alert all parents or just those whose children came in close proximity to the infected person? Yes, in the event that The Davis Academy becomes aware of a student or staff member who has tested positive, all parents of students who have come in contact with that person within the last ten (10) days will be notified. No identifying information about the student, faculty or staff member will be provided to protect privacy. The school will work directly with its professional medical advisors and the Department of Public Health regarding any cases. Should there be trends of multiple cases on our campuses, we will, of course, communicate more widely, as appropriate. When would a cohort, grade or the entire school be closed and transition to Distance Learning? If state and federal guidance suggests or mandates school closures, then we would transition to Distance Learning. Closures by cohort, grade or building will depend on the circumstances. These decisions will be based on the guidance of our Health & Safety Committee and the Fulton County Department of Public Health. If the school determines there is a sudden increased risk of COVID-19 transmission or that transmission has occurred within a learning cohort, grade or building, the impacted students will move to Distance Learning for fourteen (14) days. What are parent responsibilities for reporting sick children? Any family with a positive COVID-19 test (student, parent, sibling or other member in the household) must notify School Nurse Wendy Pakula at wpakula@davisacademy.org. This information will enable the school to support families, track positive cases within the school community, inform decisions regarding cohorts, assess the lengths of quarantines, and facilitate Concurrent Learning for those students at home. Parents should continue to contact Wendy Pakula when a student has the flu, strep, a fever or significant cough. All information will remain confidential.

What are faculty and staff responsibilities for reporting illness? What if a member of the faculty or staff contracts the virus? Any employee with a positive COVID-19 test (or with a household member with COVID-19) must notify the Davis Academy Human Resources Manager as well as School Nurse Wendy Pakula. Should a member of the faculty or staff contract the virus or show symptoms, he or she will be required to remain at home and follow the return policies and protocols established by the Health & Safety Committee. The Davis Academy hired additional teaching assistants to start the year who will be inside the school community on a daily basis providing assistance and ready to step in for any faculty or staff member who must be absent. If a student is not ill but is required to quarantine, how will they participate in school? Any student who is required to quarantine due to possible exposure to a positive test at home or at school, will be able continue their learning through our Concurrent Learning path. The Davis Academy has established the technology and protocol for those students to engage remotely, as practical, in order to minimize the loss of instruction during a stay-at-home period of time. This will enable students to keep up with the learning while remaining safe at home. School personnel will work with individual students and families on a case-by-case basis. Why is The Davis Academy not requiring universal testing of students, faculty and staff? Universal COVID-19 testing has not been systematically studied and the newest CDC guidelines for schools do not recommend universal testing of all students and staff. Universal testing is not known to provide any additional reduction in person-to-person transmission of the virus beyond what would be expected with the implementation of other infection preventive measures such as those we are implementing - face covering, hand washing, enhanced cleaning and disinfecting. Statistics vary, but currently, a person in the asymptomatic period who has the virus has an extremely high chance of receiving a negative test result and, with such a high false negative rate, the more effective approach is to focus on testing only when potential symptoms present.

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III. TRANSPORTATION, ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL, VISITORS Are there plans to reinstate the bus program? We remain committed to the school’s pilot transportation bus program, which is currently on-hold due to safety concerns and AAP guidelines. We will continue to analyze when we may be able to effectively and safely re-start the service. How will the school conduct arrival and carpool so as to ensure distancing? What about shared carpools? Arrival and dismissal procedures will change and there will be multiple entrances and exits used at both the Lower and Middle Schools to allow for students to distance upon entering and exiting the buildings. Pick-up times are also being staggered to reduce internal mixing and carpool wait times. Placards and carpool numbers are going to be used in both the Lower and Middle Schools. These are mandatory, as they will allow us to complete the carpool process without having parents and staff interacting. Parents, carpool drivers and students are required to wear a face covering while driving through the carpool line in the mornings and afternoons as students enter and exit their cars, to reduce the risk of any transmission to staff that are working carpool. If multiple families are carpooling together, all car occupants should wear a mask throughout the commute. What do I do if my child is late in the morning or has to be picked up for an appointment during the school day? What if my child forgot something? If a student arrives after carpool in the morning or they must be checked out early from school, the student needs to be signed in or out at the front office, as in past years. Parents must ring the front door and, after providing their name, the student’s name and the purpose of the visit, the receptionist will allow them in as long as the lobby is empty. When parents enter with a child, they both must wear a mask. Parents should not linger in the presence of the receptionist. Unfortunately, we are limiting the entry of parents and other adults, as well as the travel within our hallways and unnecessary interactions around our front lobby personnel. Forgotten homework and other items will not be accepted for delivery during the school day, unless the item is related to a student’s health. Will parents and other family members be allowed into the school for events, Kabbalat Shabbat or to volunteer? One of the most special aspects of The Davis Academy is our kehillah—our community—and that includes our parents, who regularly volunteer in our classrooms and libraries, help with an art project, assist with fundraising or set-up and staff school-wide events. In addition, our weekly Kabbalat Shabbats are the highlights of the week for many students, parents and staff. However, until it is safe to do so, NO visitors will be permitted to enter the buildings during the school day. We will, however, invite parents, and grandparents to join video Zooms for special events and some Shabbats, and we greatly look forward to the day when it is safe to allow visitors back into our buildings. Will outside providers who typically service students be permitted on campus, such as speech and occupational therapists? While we have always worked to accommodate the learning support needs of our students into the school day and recognize the importance of additional support from outside therapists, at this time, we will unfortunately not be able to allow outside therapists or tutors to enter the buildings. The risk of those visitors having been potentially exposed at other schools and to other students and teachers is simply too great. We will continue to revisit this policy and will relax those restrictions as soon as we are safely able to do so.

THE DAVIS ACADEMY

FAQs

IV. ACADEMIC COHORTS AND DAY STRUCTURE How are the cohorts assigned? How many students will be in each cohort? In our Lower School, cohorts are essentially the same as our homerooms. As with every school year, the in-depth knowledge of each student that our teachers and counselors possess, in addition to their knowledge of faculty members’ teaching styles and practices, allows them to make the best class placement decisions for our students. Throughout the placement process, our teachers at each grade level, along with our learning specialists and counselors, work in collaborative teams to ensure that each child is placed thoughtfully into their next year’s homeroom class. The educational team focuses on the learning and teaching styles in “matching” each child with their homeroom teacher and also takes into consideration social and emotional factors as well—all with the goal of providing the absolute best learning environment for each individual student. In our upper elementary grades and especially in our Middle School, creating cohorts which limit student movement but maintain our core academic mission has been more challenging as, beginning in third grade, our students move to different classes for select course work, including math and Hebrew. As students ascend in grades, there are generally more individualized schedules, more movement between classes, increased academic levels of coursework and more individual choices for electives. Our core principle in creating the cohorts for this year was to maintain our academic instruction and support our students at their various learning levels. For example, many students who are on an advanced math track will be with other advanced math students in a cohort. From there, it becomes complicated as there are also different levels of Hebrew and language arts, as well as the Davis Learning Center, and a Spanish elective which involves obtaining high school credit in the Middle School. Nonetheless, we have been able to successfully plan for all of these factors. Cohort assignments will enable each student access to their individualized instructional courses. Some cohorts may be “split” during certain academic subjects into nearby classrooms for different levels of instruction but only within the cohort. Cohorts will not be mixed for any reason during the school day. While cohorts do not allow for a great deal of socialization with friends and classmates outside of the cohort during the school day and do restrict our ability to offer choice-based electives in Middle School at this time, they are deemed the safest way of ensuring on-campus instruction. The cohorts protect our students and faculty and maintain our ability to deliver appropriate, ability-based academic instruction, to which our students and families have become accustomed. Across the school, a cohort will typically have between 16-22 students, but with further breakdowns within a cohort for different academic levels, the average class size will be between 13-16 students. Can I request that my child be moved to a different cohort? Unfortunately, class and cohort assignments are set and not changeable. They have been designed child by child, with each individual student’s academic needs as the priority. There are simply too many child-centered factors that go into the assigning of classes and cohorts and we cannot accept requests for students to move or to be with certain friends. While we know there may be disappointment for some, the priority in placement during these times is safely delivering on the academic mission of our school. Can families with siblings in the same grades be grouped together in the same cohorts? Cohorts have been carefully assigned to ensure continuity of a student’s academic journey, which includes personalized instruction at the appropriate level. The academic level of a student is the primary objective in assigning the cohorts. We are not able to coordinate placement around individual family requests across grades.

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FAQs

Will my child receive the appropriate level of academic instruction within a cohort or will all learning levels be included in one common instruction? Cohorts have been carefully assigned to ensure continuity of a student’s academic journey, which includes personalized instruction at the appropriate level. Students assigned to different levels of math, Hebrew or language arts, including the Davis Learning Center, will continue, as normal, in these levels, albeit in some cases, in smaller class sizes. Again, a cohort may experience some or much of the school day as a collective but may also “split” into smaller segments for certain classes, without mixing with any other cohort. Will all students have PE, scheduled breaks, time for movement and time outside? Will Middle School students get breaks and time outside? As always, all Lower School students will have PE three times per week, which will take place in cohorts and outside as much as possible. In addition, time outdoors for recess is being scheduled daily by cohort, in various outdoor spaces. Teachers will also continue to have the opportunity to build in breaks and movement indoors and outdoors. At the Middle School, in addition to PE three times per week (by cohort), we are also taking advantage of all of our outdoor spaces, including the athletic fields, back patio, bleachers and upper parking lot. The school has designated areas for outdoor learning and outdoor recreation and has partitioned the upper parking lot into separate areas so individual cohorts will have access to hang out, play or learn outside separate from other cohorts. In addition, the school has purchased multiple balls and basketball hoops for this area. Have you hired additional teachers? While The Davis Academy typically has very low faculty turnover each year, we have replaced faculty who are not returning. This year, we have hired new faculty and teaching assistants to ensure that we have the learning support that we need, have available staff in school to serve as substitutes when someone may be out, and we have added specialized staff due to the circumstances, including a new Nursing Assistant and an Educational Technology Specialist. We have secured an even larger team of highly qualified and trained faculty members who are dedicated to our children and our mission and who understand the challenges of the year ahead. How will students learn about the new protocols at school? How will the school prepare them for Distance Learning should that becomes necessary? Time will be dedicated during the first week of the school year to ensure that all students understand our health protocols and our daily expectations. In addition, right from the start of the year, we are going to prepare our students for the possibility of Distance Learning. Students in grades M-2nd will begin to work with individually assigned iPads, while students in grades 3rd-6th will have individually assigned laptops with which they will practice Zoom, SeeSaw, Google Classroom and other Distance Learning tools and technology on a regular basis. Middle School students are generally independent with their use of technology. Faculty will take time to review general guidelines regarding the use of Zoom and the submission of work in a developmentally appropriate manner. Ideally, families will begin to become familiar with our Distance Learning Plan to be best positioned to support their children if a transition to Distance Learning should become necessary.

THE DAVIS ACADEMY

FAQs

V. PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES What will happen to the school musical this fall? Will there be a spring musical? It has been our intention and our hope to be able to safely put on the performances this fall but health restrictions and guidelines put in place to protect our students and faculty currently do not allow for cohorts to mix for rehearsals or for large group gatherings in our theater. Our desire and commitment to put on a musical in the spring remains, and we will continue to communicate about that as the year unfolds. Will Davis have any sports this year? At this time, no decisions have been made regarding athletics at The Davis Academy this year. As decisions are made and information becomes available, we will immediately share that with our families and students. Will students be taking field trips, out of town or otherwise? What about the scheduled fall overnight trips for Middle School? At this time, no off-campus trips will be permitted in order to protect the health and safety or our students, faculty and staff. We will resume off-campus experiences that are vital to student learning as soon as it is safe to do so. Information regarding cancelled grade-level trips has been--or will be-communicated to those families that are impacted, including information regarding refunds. Will there be afterschool programs offered? Based on the recommendations of our Health & Safety Committee, we are delaying the start of our Afterschool Enrichment Offerings as well as our Extended Day Program for the first trimester. We are simply unable to ensure safe social distancing across cohorts and multiple grades for these various indoor programs. We will continue to evaluate the conditions, with the hope of offering these programs as soon as we are safely able to do so. How will the lunch program work? How do I make my child’s daily selections? Our health and safety guidelines require that we begin school with students eating lunch within cohorts, in their designated classrooms or at designated outdoor spaces, rather than together in our communal dining halls. Lunches will be delivered to the classroom each day, until we are safely able to reopen our dining halls. On a monthly basis, you and your child will select lunches from the menu for the following month. As shared in a previous communication, should The Davis Academy be forced to close for an extended period(s) of time throughout the year and move to Distance Learning, the prorated food costs of the lunch program will be credited back to our families at the end of the school year.

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VI. ON-CAMPUS LEARNING (AND THE CONCURRENT LEARNING PATH), DISTANCE LEARNING AND HYBRID LEARNING. What is Concurrent Learning? Can my child return to school whenever ready to do so? As The Davis Academy is invested in supporting the entire learning community during these challenging times, we are offering a Concurrent Learning path for a student who is temporarily unable to be on campus due to COVID-19 concerns, either at the start of the academic year or for a short period of time during the school year. This reflects our commitment to helping students stay connected while learning from home until they are able to return to school. • We have enhanced the technology in each classroom, with new, wide-angle high-definition cameras equipped with multiple built-in microphones to further enhance the audio clarity and experience. These tools will be used in concert with our new iPads to help connect those in the Concurrent Learning path. • Students will have the opportunity to Zoom into their classes from home at the designated class time in order to view and listen to the instruction. There may be the possibility to share questions with peers and/or the instructor virtually during the class. Otherwise, the student will be able to engage with the instructor at a dedicated point in time after the class. Please keep in mind that the teacher’s ability to respond in real time to those students who are learning from home may be limited while conducting a live class. • It is important to note that the students in Concurrent Learning will not have the same experience as a student who is physically present in the classroom. While we are committed to leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver the best possible instruction to accommodate all learners, research has proven that those learning from home while others are physically present in the class will not experience the learning in the same manner. With this in mind, however, we will work with individual families based on their unique needs and depending on the child’s grade level, to identify what the Concurrent Learning experience will entail for each specific student. • While we will differentiate the ways in which instruction is delivered for each student on a Concurrent Learning path, based on the above, the work that they are to complete will mimic the schedule of On-Campus Learning. While the Concurrent Learning path cannot replicate the learning experience of students who are learning on the physical campus simultaneously, the goal is to help those who are at home continue to learn from—and engage with—exceptional instructors, participate in the learning, and remain connected to our vibrant community. We know from experience and from research that students thrive best in a predictable learning environment. There has been—and will continue to be—a significant planning process to ensure that our teachers are as well-prepared as possible to serve all students. Additionally, we need to allocate appropriate time and resources to enable a seamless re-entry onto the physical campus for a student using Concurrent Learning. As a result, we ask anyone requesting Concurrent Learning for their child at the start of the year for a six-week commitment.

THE DAVIS ACADEMY

FAQs

If we have to transition to Distance Learning, what will that look like? The transition from On-Campus Learning to Distance Learning this spring was unexpected. This coming year presents very different circumstances and now we have extensively planned for Distance Learning. We have invested in new technology, professional development, additional staff resources and developed a formal Distance Learning plan to enhance the online learning experience this academic year, should it become necessary. We have created pre-established schedules for the synchronous learning, aligned with our ongoing academic goals for the year. They are age-appropriate and informed by our parent survey responses regarding ideal screen time. Our faculty spent a great deal of time this summer in online professional development courses specifically on how to enhance the online instruction and learning experience. For the Middle School, in particular, the new block scheduling will ease the transition from On-Campus Learning to Distance Learning, if necessary. Did faculty receive supplemental training on digital learning? Yes. Over the summer, many of our faculty and staff immersed in professional development courses to enhance the online instruction experience. In the spring, our faculty had just days to transition to Distance Learning, but now we have comprehensive plans in place to better replicate instruction and the school day. In addition, the school hired an Educational Technology Specialist, dedicated to assisting our faculty, staff and families with any Distance Learning needs. How will the teachers be able to really get to know students if Davis must move early on to Distance Learning? We recognize that Distance Learning is not optimal for our students or for our faculty but is possibly necessary during this pandemic. We would much prefer to be in the classroom where faculty can function at their best and where students can learn the most effectively. However, these are unique times and our faculty will do all that they can to develop meaningful relationships with our students and to ascertain preferred learning styles. Individualized Zoom sessions with assessments are feasible, as necessary. Our faculty are one of the greatest aspects of The Davis Academy experience and we are confident that that they will, as always, ensure a meaningful connection with your child (ren). Will Zoom classes be recorded? Our classes are meant to be synchronous, where teachers and students are engaging in real-time learning, so classes will not be recorded on Zoom. If we are forced to go to Distance Learning, it is the expectation that students attend classes on a daily basis based on their schedule. If a child is learning from home as part of Concurrent Learning, they, too are expected to participate in real-time, as planned. Of course, one format for instruction may be the sharing of recorded videos prepared by the teacher.

FULL DISTANCE LEARNING PLAN Click the link below to view the full Distance Learning Plan: https://davisacademy.myschoolapp.com/ftpimages/1393/download/download_4445576.pdf

2020-2021 DAVIS TOGETHER PLAN

CONTACTS

CONTACTS If you have questions in the following areas please contact: 2020-2021 School Plan davistogether@davisacademy.org Academic Programs

Health & Safety

Drew Frank Associate Head of School & Principal dfrank@davisacademy.org

Wendy Pakula Nurse wpakula@davisacademy.org

JeďŹ€ Rothstein Assitant Principal jrothstein@davisacademy.org

Jay Sausmer Director of Safety & Security Georgia CertiďŹ ed Emergency Manager jsausmer@davisacademy.org

Technology & Digital Resources

Student Services

Educational Technology Tools Stacy Brown 21st Century Learning Coordinator sbrown@davisacademy.org

Michele Shear Director of Student Services mshear@davisacademy.org

Technology Device Daniel Jones djones@davisacademy.org Access to Digital Resources Lisa Pritchett lpritchett@davisacademy.org Media Center Resources Melissa Mondello mmondello@davisacademy.org Jewish Studies, Hebrew and Jewish Life Rabbi Micah Lapidus Director of Jewish and Hebrew Studies mlapidus@davisacademy.org

Jamie Rindsberg Counselor of Kindergarten, 1st & 3rd Grades jrindsberg@davisacademy.org Annie Peskin Counselor of Mechina, 2nd, 4th & 5th Grades apeskin@davisacademy.org Lindsey Barry Middle School Counselor lbarry@davisacademy.org Andra Lefkovits Middle School Counselor alefkovits@davisacademy.org

THE DAVIS ACADEMY

FAQs By attending The Davis Academy, parents, faculty and staff agree to follow the school’s policies and protocols outlined in its 2020-2021 School Plan which supplement its handbooks. By attending The Davis Academy, parents, faculty and staff consent to having their images and likenesses shared and/or recorded in audio and video form, including on live Zoom classroom experiences and meetings. Parents and students agree not to record or share any images or likenesses of students, faculty and staff or any third-party present on any Zoom meeting or distance learning application. By attending The Davis Academy, parents, faculty and staff assume the inherent risk of COVID-19 and agree to waive any claims against The Davis Academy to the extent allowed by applicable laws. The Davis Academy reserves the right to adjust its policies, procedures or protocols from time to time in its discretion.

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THE DAVIS ACADEMY

davisacademy.org/davis-together