We plan to re-open in the fall, on campus and in person, 5 days/week. Classes will be available to all students ages 3 through Grade 12 both in-person and through distance learning to allow families flexibility to accommodate health concerns and regulations. Ranney is fortunate that our small class size, spacious campus, and ample resources position us to be flexible in responding to this global pandemic. Our plan relies on a combination of screening and testing, social distancing, face-covering, use of outdoor spaces and expanded indoor spaces, enhanced sanitization practices, including electrostatic cleaning, and quarantine protocols. Whether students are on campus or learning remotely, we will deliver the best of Ranney School, however our plan entails significant changes in how we will operate.
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Our primary concern is to maintain the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff. There is no single measure that provides perfect protection against COVID-19, but we can mitigate the risk of infection by employing a hierarchy of controls to prevent exposure and transmission.
This is the moment when our mission promise to know and value every child and to provide the best academic and student life experience to our students, notwithstanding the challenges ahead, will be as important as ever.
The Ranney student and faculty experience will be significantly different than in the past, however being back together in person will be a welcome opportunity after our students and faculty have spent so long connecting virtually.
No matter how well we execute our plan, external or internal events could force our campus to close again. Because we will offer the opportunity for students to learn remotely even when campus is open, should we be forced to close campus again the transition back to distance learning will be seamless.
We will not be able to monitor the actions of every member of the community when they are not on campus, therefore we will need to work together to inspire and instill a mindset of shared community interest and trust.
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Our plan is based on guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the New Jersey's Governor's Office, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other federal and state entities. We have taken into account the reopening guidance and requirements applicable to New Jersey public high schools and universities. Reopening in September (and remaining open) is subject to governmental directives and orders. In May we launched a Reopening Task Force comprised of members of the Board of Trustees, the Medical Advisory Board, members of the Administrative Leadership Team and representatives from the Health Office. Our detailed plan has also been advised by Dr. Niraj Govil ’86, who developed an Infection Control Plan for Ranney based on his expertise advising military command on pandemics. We will update this Reopening Plan as we receive new guidance and implement new protocols. The latest version of this plan can be found on our website: www.ranneyschool.org/covid-19.
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Environmental Controls (campus layout and cleaning)
Administrative Controls (Sick Policy, health screening, masks)
Health Office and PPE
Academic Schedules and Distance Learning (details to come July 24)
Planned Updates to Reopening Plan in August:
Athletics and Co-Curriculars
Health Screening protocols for morning check-in
Quarantine Policies
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We are altering facility layout to reduce risk of potential exposure — Analyzing class sectioning and expanding smaller classrooms to adhere to social distancing guidelines — Altering scheduling to minimize transitions — Re-envisioning lunch delivery (small groups) — Planning alternative use of larger spaces — Increased use of outdoor learning spaces — Social distancing signage posted across campus
Enhanced sanitization protocols — Quarterly BioProtector electrostatic spraying of all surfaces — Cleaning staff will be added during the day and will have extended evening hours — Sanitization stations located throughout campus
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We will require masks for all students—Lower, Middle and Upper School—as well as administrators, faculty, and staff, where feasible. Students, faculty and staff will be required to complete a health screening prior to entering school buildings each morning. We will conduct periodic temperature checks of students on campus. We will strictly limit parent and other visitors. Parent meetings will be conducted virtually. We will strictly enforce our enhanced Sick Policy: — Student must stay home with temperature of 100°F+ or symptoms of any illness; and — If a student, faculty, or staff member is exposed to COVID-19, we will require them to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days.
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We are expanding our state-of-the art Health Office spaces and resources. On a daily basis, parents will be required to certify that their child(ren) is/are healthy: — Child has a temperature under 100 F — Student has been without a temperature for 48 hours — Child has not taken medications that reduce temperature — Child has had no known exposure to COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) — American Academy of Pediatrics, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and the New Jersey's Governor's Office guidelines currently require masks for everyone ages 2+ years — We will require mask for all students—Lower, Middle and Upper School—as well as administrators, faculty, and staff, where feasible. — We will distribute a Ranney mask (5-layer polycloth mask with replaceable carbon filters) for each student and faculty/staff member
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Campus will be open for students to learn in person, 5-days per week, however students will have the option to continue learning remotely for optimal flexibility based on individual family needs. Goals of 2020-21 school schedule are to: Provide (approximate) equivalency in time to our regular academic schedule. Simplify the schedule to reduce stress on students and faculty. Allow for a “seamless” transition between on-campus instruction and distance learning. Reduce the number of daily transitions to reduce contact points between and among people. Enable late arrivals and early departures, where possible. Offer alignment across divisions.
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The Upper School schedule will involve a modified block schedule with 70-75 minute classes and four blocks per day. The schedule will operate on a two-day rotation with A, C, and E days being the same, and B, D, and F days being the same. The main difference between letter days will be in 8th period activities on B, D, and F days. Students will have the ability to arrive late or leave early if they have a study hall in the beginning or at the end of the day.
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The Middle School schedule will also involve a modified block schedule with 70-75 minute classes and four blocks per day. The schedule will operate on a two-day rotation with A, C, and E days being the same, and B, D, and F days being the same. The main difference between letter days will be in the end of day activities and athletics periods.
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Lower School will offer a full-day of classes on a six-day cycle. Specials teachers will come to the homeroom classrooms to minimize transitions. Teachers will share the detailed weekly schedule with parents so those learning from home can plan ahead. Students who are distance learning will have planned breaks from the computer.
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Please visit www.ranneyschool.org/covid-19 for the most up-to-date information and version of this plan.
Email safety@ranneyschool.org with any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your partnership, flexibility, and patience. We can’t wait to see your children in September!
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