Blended Learning Plan 2020-21 School Year
August 2020 Edition
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Table of Contents
Responsible Health Practices Agreement………………………………..
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The First Day of School …………………….………………………………
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Blended Learning in Practice………………………………………………
9
Schedules by Division………………………………………………………
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Health & Safety Updates …………………………………………………..
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Frequently Asked Questions……………………………………………….
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Inspiring the Journey
Responsible Health Practices Agreement
The Riverstone International School community has always asked for and demonstrated partnership with all of its members: students, parents, faculty, and staff. Simply put, this community is committed to caring for one another. In more typical times, that care and respect are manifested in the reciprocal academic expectations of the classrooms and the many other programs and venues of Riverstone and in the innumerable ways that we show respect and care for each other as people, daily. The presence of COVID-19, and the resulting public health crisis, requires that we articulate both our on-campus and our off-campus public health and social distancing expectations of each other in order to mutually maximize our health and the possibility of on-campus teaching and learning environments this year. Staying healthy while maintaining our commitment to academic excellence, building community, and serving a public purpose are our top priorities as an institution. We believe Riverstone meets or exceeds identified and recommended safety protocols. However, by sending your child(ren) to Riverstone and being part of the community, you acknowledge and accept a certain degree of risk knowing the school cannot guarantee the safety and health of community members in regard to COVID-19. Therefore, we require that all members of RIS–students, employees, parents, and visitors–comply with current public health and social distancing guidelines related to COVID-19. These expectations are as follows: Share information with school ● All families must complete all school forms (including medical forms) to attend the first day of school, before/after school care or activities (when available), etc. ● All community members must complete a weekly symptom tracker form before coming to campus. ● All community members must communicate with the school if they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or if they or a family member tests positive for COVID-19. ● Post-travel quarantine: Idaho CHD requires a 14-day quarantine after out-of-state travel. Please avoid travel that will preclude school attendance. ● Should it be necessary, RIS will support teachers and students/families who are ill, in quarantine, or at-risk as defined by the CDC and Idaho CDH with technological tools that facilitate high quality online classes and access to academic material. 5521 Warm Springs Avenue • Boise, Idaho 83716 • 208.424.5000 • fax 208.424.0033 • www.riverstoneschool.org
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Inspiring the Journey
Follow all relevant federal, state, and local guidelines and requirements ● Students and families must adhere to social distancing guidelines and group size norms in public when on and off-campus. ● Students and visitors must wear masks while on campus (Preschool–Grade 5 students may wear a face shield). ● We ask students, families, faculty, and all employees to practice and teach proper hygiene practices at home, including handwashing. ● Students and employees must stay home when sick.
5521 Warm Springs Avenue • Boise, Idaho 83716 • 208.424.5000 • fax 208.424.0033 • www.riverstoneschool.org
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The First Day of School Who can be Onsite at Riverstone on Monday, August 24? • • •
Faculty and Staff Preschool–Grade 5 Grades 6, 8, 10, 12 (Cohort 1)
Where’s my grade? Grades 7, 9, 11 will participate virtually for the first week of school, and join us onsite the following week! See page 15 for more details about Middle & High School cohorts.
Two Temperature/Symptom Checks: at Home, and at School
Our School Mask-ot, Ollie the Otter!
Before school every day, we ask that you please check your child’s temperature. If the temperature registers 100.4F or above, your child will not be allowed to attend onsite class and will need to stay home, where virtual learning will be available (Kindergarten–Grade 12). At school, your child’s temperature will be checked once more along with a verbal symptom questionnaire. Please prioritize the health and safety of our community and do not give your child fever-reducing medication prior to checking their temperature at home or coming to campus.
What Should My Child Bring to School? • • • •
At least 2 face masks (and/or face shield for Preschool–Grade 2) Full bottle of water Lunch (hot lunch will not be provided) Supplies as stipulated by grade level (see our the bottom of our Resources page)
Convocation and Photos/ID Cards Our annual Convocation event at 9:00 AM will be live-streamed, and the Zoom link will be posted to our school calendar. More information about Photos/ID Cards will be provided as we work with our vendor.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedure (Every Day) Keeping Faculty, Students, and Parents Safe at Drop-Off and Pick-Up We strive to implement an efficient process that creates as little congestion as possible while safeguarding the health of those in- and outside of our school buildings. Please: • Show up at the right time • Don't be late • Students, staff, teachers, and anyone escorting students to temperature check must wear a mask (face shield okay for Preschool–Grade 2) • Do not use a cell phone while driving on campus • Do not congregate or mingle during drop-off and pick-up 5
The First Day of School To preserve the integrity of class cohorts and prevent intermingling, Before- and After-School Care (Elementary students) and Clubs and Extracurriculars (Middle & High students) outside of school hours will be unavailable until further notice. If you have multiple children across grade levels, you may drop off students at the earliest time available, and pick up students at the latest time available. Drop-Off and Pick-Up Timetable Grade
Drop-Off Mon–Fri
Entry Location (See Map on next page)
Pick-Up Mon, Tue, Thurs, Fri
Pick-Up Weds (Early Release)
Preschool– Grade 1
8:25 AM Park and escort student to entry location
Front Entrance of ES Building (green star)
3:15 PM From front of ES Building
2:15 PM From front of ES Building
Grades 2 and 3
8:15 AM Park and escort student to entry location
Southeast external entrance (navy star) across from Multipurpose room
3:25 PM From front of ES Building
2:25 PM From front of ES Building
Grades 4 and 5
8:15 AM Park and escort student to entry location
Southwest external entrance (yellow star) closest to the South Fork building
3:25 PM From front of ES Building
2:25 PM From front of ES Building
Grades 6 and 7 When Cohort is scheduled to be onsite - see page 15 for more info
8:05 AM Drop off from lot between ES and MS/HS buildings
Building entrance of student’s Block 1 class (blue stars)
3:20 PM Pick up from lot between ES and MS/ HS buildings
2:30 PM Pick up from lot between ES and MS/HS buildings
Grade 8 When Cohort is scheduled to be onsite - see page 15 for more info
8:05 AM Drop off from lot between ES and MS/HS buildings
Building entrance of student’s Block 1 class (blue stars)
3:05 PM Pick up from lot between ES and MS/ HS buildings
2:30 PM Pick up from lot between ES and MS/HS buildings
Grades 9–12 When Cohort is scheduled to be onsite - see page 15 for more info
8:05 AM Drop off from Kennedy Gym lot; student parking will be marked.
Building entrance of student’s Block 1 class (blue stars)
3:05 PM Pick up from Kennedy Gym lot
2:30 PM Pick up from Kennedy Gym lot
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The First Day of School Campus Map - Drop-Off and Pick-Up
Elementary School Considerations At drop-off, parents will be required to escort their students to their designated check station, where they will receive a symptom and temperature screen. If your child is cleared for onsite attendance, you will be asked to escort them to the external door of their classroom where their teacher will greet them. If your child exhibits symptoms or a fever of 100.4F or more, you will be required to take your child home and keep them home until the fever has subsided for 48 hours without fever-reducing medication. At pick-up, we will actively discourage parking and congregating by implementing a drive-through system, much like the Arrivals location at an airport. Classes will wait in separate pods at the front of the Elementary School. At the school’s Warm Springs Avenue entrance, a staff member will stop you to ask for your child’s name, which will be relayed by walkie-talkie to members at the front of the school. Your child will then be escorted to the curb to be picked up. Parking spaces for extra assistance load-in will be available on the east side of the lot. 7
The First Day of School Middle & High School Considerations All students may arrive between 8:00–8:05 AM; however, drop-off locations and times differ by grade (see table and map). Parents will not be allowed to park or enter a school building unless they have an appointment with a staff or faculty member. Please do not arrive before 8:00 AM. The parking lot between the Elementary School and Middle & High School buildings (for Grades 6–8) can be accessed from Warm Springs Ave.; the Kennedy Gymnasium parking lot can be accessed from Lysted Ave. All students (and staff members) must enter through a temperature and symptom check station of the building of their Block 1 class (light blue stars on the map), and will not be allowed to enter other buildings. All exterior doors will be locked to ensure that each student is screened prior to entering the building. Once cleared for entry, students must proceed immediately to their classroom and will not be allowed to congregate in the hallways. To avoid co-mingling of divisions, Middle and High School students may not enter the Elementary building to await pickup. If you have a Middle or High School student and an Elementary student, you will need to pick each student up separately at their grade level’s designated time.
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Blended Learning in Practice Synchronous Onsite + Virtual/Remote Learning = Blended Learning
Blended learning takes place when virtual/remote learning is provided synchronously with onsite learning. This will provide a virtual/remote option for families who c a n n o t , o r are not comfortable sending their children to school onsite. However in most cases, long-term virtual/ remote learning is not intended to be a long-term solution for our students, given the need for socialization to maintain a healthy social-emotional mindset.
Different Blending for Different Needs We learned during our rapid shift to 100% virtual/remote learning this past spring that our youngest learners do not benefit from a virtual environment. For this reason, we are offering a 100% onsite classroom for Preschool and Pre-K, five days per week. Preschool size will be restricted to twelve students and Pre-K will be split into two groups of ten. Should a student need to be kept home for any reason, teachers will work with parents one-on-one to ensure continuity of learning. Kindergarten–Grade 5 will also be offered onsite, five days per week, with synchronous virtual learning for students who cannot, or choose not to, be present. There will be no more than fifteen Elementary students in one classroom at a time; large classrooms in our Elementary School building can accommodate the social distancing of these students. Grades 6–12 will be split into two cohorts to restrict onsite class sizes to ten or less. These grade levels will be staggered in the coming weeks as they are introduced to onsite learning on campus to limit the initial number of students in the Middle & High School buildings. They will have two-tothree days of onsite instruction, and two-to-three days of virtual/remote instruction. These grades will eventually ramp up to a normal five day per week onsite (with a virtual/remote option) when public health conditions allow.
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Blended Learning in Practice Classroom Technology Enhancements Many of our classrooms have been equipped with new technology to enhance the experience of virtual learners while keeping in-class learning intact. The set-up includes: • • •
A soundbar with fifty internal tracking microphones for optimal audio as the teacher moves around the room Point-tilt zoom or auto-tracking cameras (with up to 20x resolution, depending on the size of the classroom) that focus in on a teacher’s movement A high definition monitor in each classroom with a Zoom gallery screen, to show students who are participating virtually to the rest of the class
Resources for Virtual/Remote Students Developmentally-Appropriate Platforms Students who cannot attend onsite classes will be able to join their class via a conferencing platform. Although it would be ideal to utilize a single conferencing platform throughout the entire school, Seesaw and Google Classroom have been chosen to meet the developmental needs of Elementary School students, while Zoom is accessible to Middle and High School students who need to participate from overseas. The platforms are as follows: • • •
Kindergarten–Grade 2*: Seesaw Grades 3–5: Google Classroom Grades 6–12: Zoom
*Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten will follow a five-day onsite schedule and will not have a virtual learning platform. Accommodations will be made for students who cannot attend onsite. Class Recordings Middle and High School classes will be recorded on Zoom and stored to ManageBac for students who need to participate asynchronously because of absence or their time zone. In the Elementary School, classes will not generally be recorded, unless by special request made in advance. In most cases, if an Elementary student (onsite or virtual/remote) is sick and cannot participate in class, they will receive make-up work upon returning to school. If a student misses multiple days, alternative plans can be developed with the teacher.
Personal Technology Like every year, Middle and High School students are required to have a functioning laptop. We now also recommend that students in Grades 1–5 have a laptop or tablet that is accessible to them for both onsite and virtual learning. Having a personal device at home is critical but having one onsite also limits using a shared device. For questions or concerns, please contact James Hamilton-Vail. 10
Blended Learning in Practice Outdoor Classrooms A group of teachers, staff, and parents are working together in fresh air to create outdoor spaces that will give teachers the option to teach outside of the classroom and fresh air, weather permitting. Because the new camera technology can only be used in classrooms where they have been installed, it will be challenging for virtual/remote learners to participate in these instances. We are also not equipped to provide broadband outside of the school buildings. Individual teachers may decide how to best utilize outdoor time to benefit virtual/remote learners; for example, teachers may use outdoor time for independent work so that all learners, onsite and virtual/remote, may have a screen break.
Academic Support We want all students to continue to feel supported whether they are attending school onsite or virtually/remotely. Issues or concerns should be initially addressed with the teacher, and if a solution cannot be found, it can be brought to the student’s Division Director. Our Dean of Students and School Counselor are also points of contact should additional support be required.
Social-Emotional Wellness The 2020-21 school year will have challenges that students may or may not be equipped to handle. We hear your concerns. There are many people available to help should any issues arise: Andrea Kuenzli (School Counselor); James Hamilton-Vail, Damon Brown, and Jami Whitmer (Division Directors); the Boarding Team for international students; Crysta Swarts (Dean of Students); and individual teachers are all here to help.
Wednesdays: Early Dismissal Each Wednesday, students will be released by 2:30PM for faculty professional development across all divisions. Aftercare and other activities will not be available until further notice, so please make sure to arrange to collect your children at their specified time consult the Timetable on page 6.
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Schedules by Division: Elementary School Elementary School Schedule Vision and Considerations The Elementary School will run two different schedules for Preschool and Pre-K and Kindergarten– Grade 5, respectively, which are designed to meet the developmental needs of each group. The learning engagements for all students will remain consistent and holistically focused on language, math, cognitive, physical and social-emotional development. In grade levels where there are two classes, teachers will join forces and co-teach to ensure parallel learning across classes. Preschool and Pre-K Schedule Students in Preschool and Pre-K will be onsite five days per week from 8:30AM–3:15PM, unless we are mandated by public health ordinance to close. (We are shortening their school day by 15 minutes to allow for a staggered and orderly pick-up process.) The Preschool class size will be restricted and take the form of an experiential outdoor program to maximize their time outside. This approach will also allow students to participate in developmentally-appropriate activities using our environment for hands-on, experiential learning. Pre-K will continue their dual-language immersion program in two cohorts in separate rooms, each with a teacher and an aide. The students will remain in their cohort along with their aide, and the teachers will switch classrooms only once each afternoon. With this format, each student will receive half a day of English instruction and half a day of Spanish instruction, five days per week. This will allow our Early Years program to run as normal and allow for both academic and socialemotional development to be fostered among our youngest students. Specialists classes will be taught in person outside as weather permits. With these program refinements, it is important to note that our youngest students will not take part in technology-based learning. Our experience during the spring semester demonstrated the challenges of virtual/remote learning in developmentally appropriate ways. This is why we are prioritizing their safe presence on campus. In the instance that Preschool or Pre-Kindergarten students cannot be onsite for public health reasons, we will provide developmentally designed hands-on activities for parents to practice with their children. Kindergarten–Grade 5 Unless classes are required to be held virtually for public health reasons, all will proceed onsite for five days per week (8:30AM–3:15PM for Kindergarten and Grade 1; 8:15AM–3:25PM for Grades 2– 5), and allow for students who are unable to attend school in person to follow the same schedule virtually/remotely from home. Kindergarten through Grade 5 will be modified to mimic the traditional schedule as closely as possible and allow for scheduling consistency across the Elementary School for parents who have students in multiple grades. Attendance/morning meeting, recesses, lunch and homeroom closing will occur at the same time for all grades to create consistency for both onsite and virtual/remote learners. The morning program (8:30–11:30AM) is designed to focus on core subjects using whole class lessons, small group lessons, and individual work. During the afternoon program (12:30–3:30PM), specialist classes will be taught with one-on-one time between students and the primary classroom teacher 12
Schedules by Division: Elementary School built in. Specialist classes will be taught virtually to all students whether they are at school or home, to limit the movement of students and teachers from class to class. See a sample schedule on the next page. This schedule also allows us to quickly pivot from blended to 100% virtual/remote if needed, depending on the health situation both in the community and within our school setting. If we find ourselves in a 100% virtual setting at any point, there will be more one-on-one time than was available this past spring.Â
Wednesdays: Early Dismissal Wednesdays will follow the same grade-level schedule, however there will be an early release at 2:30PM for faculty professional development. Aftercare and other activities will not be available until further notice, so please make arrangements to collect your children at their specified pick- up time (see Timetable on page 6).
Movement throughout Buildings We are working to minimize student movement throughout the day. Students will enter through the external door of their classroom each morning for a temperature check, and exit through the same door for recess, outdoor class time, and end-of-day departure. Specialist classes will also be taught virtually to Kindergarten–Grade 5. Hot lunch will not be available this year. Students will need to bring their lunches from home and will eat outside whenever weather permits.Â
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Schedules by Division: Elementary School Sample Kindergarten–Grade 5 Blended Learning Schedule Time
Virtual/Remote Students Join class on Google Meets
Topic/Lesson
Onsite Students
Attendance Morning Meeting Language Arts* Will include one or more: •Spelling/Word Work •Reader’s Workshop •Reader’s Collaborative Activity •Writing Assignment Independent Work (screen free)
Indoor Classroom (requires video)
Indoor/Outdoor Classroom
Continue with class on Google Meets; locate assignments** Combination of screen and screen-free time
10:00 – 10:30
Recess and Snack Break
Recess and Snack Break
Snack and Stretch
10:30 – 11:30
Math* Will include one or more: •Explicit Math Instruction •Mini Lessons •Differentiated work •Math Assignments Independent Work (screen free)
Indoor/Outdoor Classroom
Continue with class on Google Meets; locate assignments** Combination of screen and screen-free time
11:30– 12:00PM
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
12:00– 12:30
Recess (run-around-time and exercise)
Recess (run-around-time and exercise)
Recess (run-around-time and exercise)
12:30 – 2:00
Two or more of the following: Specialists Lesson •PE, Art, Music, or Spanish IB Unit of Inquiry Focus One-on-One Lessons Small Group Work Independent Work (screen free)
Indoor/Outdoor Classroom
Continue with class on Google Meets; locate assignments** Combination of screen and screen-free time
2:00 – 2:15
Recess and Snack Break
Recess and Snack Break
Snack and Stretch
2:15– 3:00***
One of the following: Specialists Lesson •PE, Art, Music, or Spanish IB Unit of Inquiry Focus One-on-One Lessons Small Group Work Independent Work (screen free)
Indoor/Outdoor Classroom
Continue with class on Google Meets; locate assignments** Combination of screen and screen-free time
3:00 – 3:30
Homeroom Closing
Indoor Classroom (requires video)
Finish day on Google Meets
8:30–9:00AM
9:00 – 10:00
This is a Sample Schedule only; exact order of instruction time will vary in each grade. *Each teacher has the discretion to determine the order of Language Arts and Math and focus of the session. **Assignments can be located on Seesaw (Gr K–2) and Google Classroom (Gr 3–5). *** On Wednesdays, this block will be abbreviated for early release at 2:30 PM for faculty professional development. 14
Schedules by Division: Middle & High School Middle & High School Schedule Vision and Considerations To support continuity of instruction and student progression, we have created a safe and socially distanced onsite environment for our students to engage fully in class, while providing an enhanced virtual/remote experience for those who need to participate virtually/remotely (either synchronously or asynchronously) for health reasons or visa restrictions. General Schedule The Middle & High School will follow our established schedule with occasional minor variations. Each class period will allow for teacher-centered instruction, application activities, and supported practice time. • •
For Grades 8–12: the school day will begin at 8:20AM and end at 3:05PM For Grades 6 & 7: the school day will begin at 8:20AM and end at 3:20PM at the conclusion of homeroom.
Two Cohort Groups for Every Grade Under Central District Health Categories 2 or 3 (refer to page 19) students may attend school inperson two to three days per week; for health and safety reasons, students will not be allowed to attend five days per week. The cohort system helps us meet health and safety guidelines to maintain social distancing, and allows us to keep our in-person class sizes small. Students will be organized by last name* into two cohorts in each grade, where siblings in different MS/HS grades will be assigned the same cohort: Cohort 1: Last Names A–Me Cohort 2: Last Names Mi–Z This way, each onsite classroom will have no more than nine students at a time. Each cohort will attend in-person classes for two days in a row; either Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday. When a student’s cohort is not on campus, they will attend classes virtually/remotely from home. *Newly-admitted students may be placed in either cohort as space allows. Staggered Grade-Level Introductions to Campus To reduce the initial number of Middle and High School students on campus, we are staggering grade levels for the first two weeks of school. This means that for the first week of school, Grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 will be on campus in accordance with their cohort schedule, while grades 7, 9, and 11 will be entirely virtual/remote. In week two, these grades will swap. Because of the demands of IB Diploma Program exam preparation, Grade 12 cohorts are invited to participate onsite for the first two weeks.
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Schedules by Division: Middle & High School Week
Who is Onsite?
Who is Virtual/Remote?
Week 1: Aug, 24–28
Grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 in their respective cohort groups
Grades 7, 9, and 11 for the entire week
Week 2: Aug. 31–Sept. 4
Grades 7, 9, 11, and 12 in their respective cohort groups
Grades 6, 8, and 10 for the entire week
Week 3: Sept. 8–11 (No School on Sept. 7, Labor Day)
Grades 6–12 when their cohort group is onsite
Grades 6–12 when their cohort group is virtual/remote
Accessing Class Materials when Virtual If your student is learning virtually/remotely, Zoom links and assignments can be accessed on ManageBac. Middle and High School classes (as well as assemblies, activities, and events) will be recorded on Zoom and stored to ManageBac for students who need to participate asynchronously because of absence or their time zone.
Wednesdays: Early Dismissal Wednesdays will be more flexible, and students may either be fully virtual/remote while allowing for individual meetings with teachers, or other asynchronous learning activities as appropriate. The possibility exists of a fully “outdoor classroom” experience on a rotating basis if scheduling and/or weather permits. Extracurricular activities will not be available until further notice, so please make sure to arrange to collect your children at their specified time, see the Drop-Off and Pick-Up Timetable on page 6.
Movement throughout Buildings We will minimize student movement in several ways. Students whose cohort is onsite will enter through a temperature and symptom check station in front of the building of their first class. Cohorts will remain in the same classroom while teachers move among classrooms, wherever possible. Students will not be able to leave campus for lunch, and will eat in designated zones outdoors. Hot lunch will not be available this year, so students will need to bring lunch to school. We cannot accept any deliveries of food or beverages. (Boarding students will be provided with lunch.) If students leave campus, they will not be able to return that day unless their departure was for an excused absence such as a medical appointment.
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Schedules by Division: Middle & High School Middle & High School Schedule
Time
Topic/ Lesson
MONDAY (A DAY) & TUESDAY (B DAY)
Onsite Students
Virtual/ Remote Students
COHORT 1 Students with Last Names A–ME
COHORT 2 Students with Last Names MI–Z
WEDNESDAY (A and B Days rotate weekly; class times differ)
ALL VIRTUAL**
8:20–9:20AM Block 1
8:20–9:40AM
Block 1
9:45 – 11:05
Block 2
11:05– 11:50PM
Lunch
11:50–1:10
Block 3
1:15–1:40
Community Time*
12:15–1:15 Block 4
1:45–3:05
Block 4
1:15–2:30 Flex Time***
3:05–3:20
Homeroom Closing Grades 6 & 7 only
Indoor/ Outdoor Classrooms
9:25–10:25 Block 2 10:30–11:30 Block 3
THURSDAY (A DAY) & FRIDAY (B DAY)
Onsite Students
COHORT 2 Students with Last Names MI–Z
Virtual/ Remote Students COHORT 1 Students with Last Names A–ME
Indoor/ Outdoor Classrooms
11:30–12:15PM Lunch
* Community Time includes “check ins,” Advisory, teacher meetings, and club meetings. ** Some students may be on campus for a full day in outdoor classrooms on a rotating basis; details to be determined. *** Flex Time includes meetings with teachers, other students, and other programming; day ends at 2:30PM for early release (Faculty Professional Development).
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Health and Safety Updates Riverstone’s Response to Central District Health Guidance We are shifting our response matrix away from Idaho Rebounds to that of Central District Health (CDH), who have developed school-specific plans at the directive of the State of Idaho. We have been working closely with Gina Pannell MPH, Project Manager with CDH to vet our health and safety protocols. Please refer to our July 2020 Blended Learning Plan for additional Health & Safety details. There are new guidelines from CDH to help faculty, parents, and students determine when to stay home. See Guidance on Covid Exposure; Illness Decision Tree and Decision Matrices for Parents and Students, and Faculty on the following pages.
Health and Safety Training Dates and Details Gina Pannell MPH of CDH is offering Riverstone parents and students a safety training called Slowing the Spread – what, why, and how of mitigation measures and What to Expect with a Positive Case – exposure, investigations, close contacts, and when it is okay to be around others on Wednesday, August 19 at 6:00 PM MDT over Zoom and we strongly recommend that you attend. You can find meeting details in the Riverstone Calendar.
Masks and Face Shield Policy All students and staff must wear a face covering inside of school buildings. For Preschool–Grade 2 students, face shields will be permitted in place of cloth masks. Students in Grades 3–5 are expected to wear masks; face shields are only allowed in extraordinary situations. If an Elementary student is unwilling to wear a mask or face shield, or has a medical exemption, they will need to participate virtually. In the Middle & High School, masks or face coverings must be worn or they too will need to participate virtually. Face shields will not be permitted in place of cloth masks in the Middle & High School. Visitors will only be allowed inside the building by appointment and expected to respect our policy. Staff members who do not wear masks or shields will be subject to disciplinary action. We must respect the Central District Health mandate, as this is one of the best ways to keep our community as safe, and our school open, for as long as possible.
Lunch and Recess Students will not be able to leave campus for lunch, and will eat in designated zones outdoors. Hot lunch will not be available this year, so students will need to bring lunch to school. Microwaves and refrigerators will be unavailable. We cannot accept any deliveries of food or beverages. (Boarding students will be provided with lunch.) If students leave campus, they will not be able to return that day unless their departure was for an excused absence such as a medical appointment.
Communicating Positive Cases within our Community In the event of a positive test case, CDH has instructed us to reach out to their investigative team for immediate guidance. We are purposefully limiting the number of contacts each student has to cause the least amount of disruption should a student or faculty member test positive. Because of the sensitive nature of communicating positive cases, we will only release their name to the community if the family permits it.
Health and Safety Updates Public Health Criteria from Central District Health for 2020-21 School Year Category 1: No Community Transmission
Category 2: Minimal to Moderate Community Transmission
Category 3: Substantial Transmission
CDH Definitions
Evidence of isolated cases, case investigations underway, no evidence of exposure in large communal setting, e.g., healthcare facility, school, mass gathering.
Widespread and/or sustained transmission with high likelihood or confirmed exposure within communal settings, with potential for rapid increase in suspected cases.
Large-scale community transmission, healthcare staffing significantly impacted, multiple cases within communal settings like healthcare facilities, schools, mass gatherings, etc.
CDH Level of Operations
School buildings open with physical distancing and sanitation
School buildings open but option of limited/ staggered use of school buildings with physical distancing and sanitation
Targeted, short-term, or extended building closure
Riverstone’s Response
• • • •
•
Campus open Blended learning Masks required Outdoor trips resume with safety protocols in place Athletics, music, sporting events, and other special events allowed with precautionary measures
• • • •
•
• •
•
Campus open Blended learning Masks required Groups of 10-50 allowed if social distancing can be maintained Classes can meet in person with safety protocols in place Modified schedule (i.e. cohorts) Outdoor trips resume with safety protocols in place Athletics, music, special events, and sporting events may resume if social distancing guidelines can be met
•
• • • • •
Campus may be open for blended or closed for remote learning depending on state order/CDH guidance Masks required Groups of 10-50 allowed if social distancing can be maintained Modified schedule (i.e. cohorts) Outdoor trips modified Athletics, music, special events, and sporting events modified or canceled
For the purposes of this document, community is defined as the geographic area encompassing the area in which the majority of students, their families, and school staff live and work. The community for schools in remote locations with small populations may be readily apparent; in other locations, the community may be more challenging to define, and contiguous geographic entities may be used for identifying level of community spread. For practical purposes, geographic entities are limited to zip codes, cities, and counties.
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Inspiring the Journey
HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS DECISION MATRIX FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS SITUATION
A student becomes sick while in school.
↓↓↓ WHAT’S NEXT
NEXT STEPS
RETURN TO SCHOOL?
Student will be separated from the other students, and the school will contact family to pick up students.
My child has COVID19 symptoms (fever, chills, headache diarrhea, sore throat, vomiting, muscle aches, congestion, and/or fatigue).
My child has come in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
The student (and siblings) must stay home.
Student (and siblings) must stay home.
I have a unique family circumstance
↓↓↓ Consider keeping student(s) home.
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
Inform Riverstone’s front desk (call or email) of the status of the student illness and medical diagnosis. Also, check assignment calendar and coordinate with teacher to obtain and complete assigned work. Depending on diagnosis, school may inform others in contact with sick student.
Inform Riverstone’s front desk (ES or MS/HS) of student illness, check assignment calendar and coordinate with teacher to obtain and complete assigned work.
Inform Riverstone’s front desk (ES or MS/HS) of the situation, obtain medical diagnosis or recommendations, and move to virtual/remote learning.
Inform Riverstone’s front desk (ES or MS/HS) of the situation and move to virtual/remote learning.
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After 24 hours without fever or vomiting and without fever-reducing medication AND symptom free.
After 24 hours without fever or vomiting and without feverreducing medication AND symptom free.
After obtaining medical clearance to return to school and in consultation with student’s Division Director.
When ready and in consultation with student’s Division Director.
5521 Warm Springs Avenue • Boise, Idaho 83716 • 208.424.5000 • fax 208.424.0033 • www.riverstoneschool.org
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Inspiring the Journey
HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS DECISION MATRIX FOR RIVERSTONE EMPLOYEES SITUATION
WHAT’S NEXT
A teacher or staff member becomes sick (fever, chills, headache diarrhea, sore throat, vomiting, muscle aches, congestion, fatigue) while in school.
Employee has a fever, chills, headache diarrhea, sore throat, vomiting, muscle aches, congestion, fatigue before coming to school.
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The teacher or staff member will be separated from the other students, and they will be sent home. ↓↓↓
NEXT STEPS Inform the school of the sickness to get classes covered for the rest of the school day and begin planning for alternative teaching arrangements (if applicable). ↓↓↓ RETURN TO After 24 hours without fever or vomiting and SCHOOL? without fever-reducing medication AND symptom free.
The employee and child(ren) if students at Riverstone must stay home.
↓↓↓ Inform Riverstone’s Division Director of sickness and coordinate with Division Director for alternative teaching arrangements (if applicable).
Employee has come in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19
↓↓↓ Employee [and his/her child(ren)] must stay home.
↓↓↓ Inform Riverstone’s Division Director of sickness, obtain medical diagnosis or recommendations, and coordinate with Division Director.
The employee has a unique family circumstance
↓↓↓ Depending on the circumstance, decide whether to choose to keep employee and child(ren) home. ↓↓↓ Inform Riverstone’s Division Director of situation and coordinate with Division Director for alternative teaching.
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After 24 hours without fever or vomiting and without fever-reducing medication AND symptom free.
After obtaining medical clearance to return to school and in consultation with Riverstone’s Division Director.
When ready and in consultation with Riverstone’s Division Director.
5521 Warm Springs Avenue • Boise, Idaho 83716 • 208.424.5000 • fax 208.424.0033 • www.riverstoneschool.org
21
Inspiring the Journey
HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS WHAT IF A TEACHER OR STUDENT TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19? Positive test for COVID-19
What if I live in the same house as the individual who tested positive? Definition: Definition: Isolation = separate Quarantine = separate infected person and restrict movements With symptoms With symptoms: (symptomatic): • Test immediately Isolation until the • If positive, see following requirements are column #1 met: • 10 days since symptoms first appeared • 24 hours since last fever (without the use of fever-reducing medication • Symptoms have improved (as recommended by CDH Without symptoms Without symptoms: (asymptomatic): • Quarantine the Isolate for 10 days from individual while first positive test date: infected person is • Monitor self-symptoms isolated • Take and record • Quarantine an temperature twice daily additional 14 days after infected person • Release from isolation has recovered and after 10 days if there been released are no symptoms • Quarantine can last up to 24 days.
What if I have had close contact with individual with the individual who tested positive? Definition: Time = > 15 minutes Distance = < 6 feet With symptoms: • Test immediately • If positive, see column #1
What if I have had a secondtier exposure to individuals who live in the same house or had close contact?
No quarantine or isolation required unless: If individuals who live in the same house or have been in close contact with an infected person develop symptoms or test positive AND you had close contact within 14 days, then: • Monitor self for symptoms, take and record temperature twice daily • If symptoms develop, notify Primary Care Provider.
Without symptoms: • Quarantine for 14 days following date of last exposure • Contact Health Department and further instructions • Monitor self for symptoms, take and record temperature twice daily • If symptoms develop, notify Primary Care Provider.
Communication Plan: • Riverstone will only share personal information of infected individuals only with family permission. • Riverstone will communicate positive test situations to the school community. This will be done anonymously unless the school has family permission. • Individuals, grade-level classes, cohort groups, and/or campus divisions could be impacted by positive test results following the above matrix. 5521 Warm Springs Avenue • Boise, Idaho 83716 • 208.424.5000 • fax 208.424.0033 • www.riverstoneschool.org
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Frequently Asked Questions Academic Quality and Continuity Can you guarantee that the Riverstone curriculum experience is better than other schools? Can you deliver the curriculum? We can ensure the delivery of a quality educational experience whether it is onsite, blended, or 100% virtual/remote; we believe that our inquiry-based, student-centered program can conform to any format. We can guarantee progression when students are engaged in the content, and we will not lower the standards of the quality educational experience we offer. How will Riverstone ensure that Grade 12 students are well-prepared for their IB DP exams in this blended learning environment? What checkpoints will be in place throughout the year and communicated to students and parents? We will continue to follow IB guidance closely as we prepare for May 2021 exams. Riverstone has an established process that will be followed for regularly reviewing student progress in the DP program. Communication with parents will take place through conferences, emails, and updates through weekly newsletters. How can we ensure there is sufficient individual attention and/or assistance when needed or deemed necessary? We want to ensure that students are receiving the academic and social-emotional support they need. In the Elementary School, the schedule will support additional 1:1 time with teachers, especially for virtual/remote learners. In the event we need to be 100% virtual/remote, plans are in place to offer students more individual time with teachers than they received during the spring semester. In the Middle and High School, we will have typical office hours in the afternoons if we are blended. If we are fully online, the times may vary slightly and any changes will be communicated with students and parents. Regardless of the schedule, teachers will continue to have office hours at the end of the day. How will a teacher manage in-person and remote learning at the same time? Teachers are being trained on classroom technology that was installed over the summer that will give teachers and students the ability to see and interact with remote students from an HD monitor. In the Elementary School, grade level will be considered a single cohort that has two co-teachers. Students will have assigned classrooms, but teachers will teach in parallel and determine how to best co-teach their grade (for example, some may choose to divide the class to focus more on the onsite students, the other on the virtual/remote learners, some may choose a combined approach). In the Middle and High School, where students have subject-specific teachers, the technology will assist as it will in the Elementary School. If a Middle or High School student cannot attend inperson or remotely at the time of the class, the class will be recorded and accessible via ManageBac. 23
Frequently Asked Questions With regards to concerns about singing, will the school incorporate more musical instrument instruction into music classes? As more research is conducted about viral transmission in music settings, we are developing best practices around music class. There are simple, practical solutions we can quickly implement that utilize outdoor spaces and general safety protocols we already have in place to make music practice as safe as possible for students and faculty. There are no plans to change our music curriculum at this time. Will we know which faculty members are choosing/needing to work remotely? Our expectation is that faculty will be on campus to utilize the technology and coordinate onsite and virtual/remote learning. All faculty are defined as essential personnel and will be required to teach onsite regardless. Will teachers be collecting and grading the work of the students who are participating from home, whether in blended or virtual/remote-only circumstances? Yes. Academic expectations will be the same for both onsite and virtual/remote environments. If a day student is sick, is it possible for the student to attend asynchronously during sick days, like the option available to international students? If not, what alternate solution will be available for accessing missed classwork? In the Elementary School, classes will not generally be recorded, unless by special request made in advance. In most cases, if an Elementary student (onsite or virtual/remote) is sick and cannot participate in class, they will receive make-up work upon returning to school. If a student misses multiple days, alternative plans can be developed with the teacher. In the Middle & High School, all lessons will be recorded on Zoom and will be available ManageBac along with class assignments. If a student is ill to the extent that they are unable to attend virtually, they will receive an extension that is equivalent to their number of sick days.
Blended Learning If virtual learning is not recommended as an all-year option, can exceptions be made for medically-compromised families? Virtual/remote learning is meant to be an intermittent and short-term option for most students. However, we understand that every family is different and will make accommodations for longerterm virtual learning based on individual cases. Please contact your Division Director for more guidance. When will campus close and go to 100% virtual/remote learning? If a state or local public health ordinance mandates we close our campus to students, we will shift immediately to 100% virtual/remote learning. (Preschool and Pre-K parents, whose students will not participate virtually, will receive developmentally-appropriate at-home activities.) In all other cases, if there is a positive case in our community, we will consult the investigative team at Central District Health for guidance. By placing students in pods within their grades and creating cohorts, however, we hope to avoid entire campus closures as much as possible. 24
Frequently Asked Questions Will parents who choose virtual learning for their children be able to receive weekly lesson plans or paper packets from teachers so that they can reduce screen time for their child? We can provide Preschool–Kindergarten parents with packets containing meaningful lessons that can be taught at home, upon request. However, lesson plans and packets are not recommended for Grades 1 and above; our inquiry-based approach of participation and experiential learning necessitate onsite or virtual/remote engagement. Will students be allowed to leave campus during the day, as necessary, and resume learning remotely that day? Yes, a student may resume class virtually/remotely if they become unwell during the school day, or need to go to a medical appointment. This year, Grades 10–12 will be asked to remain on campus for the entire school day and not allowed to leave campus for lunch. There will be designated zones for lunch, indoors and outdoors as weather permits. The more we can decrease the likelihood of exposure from people outside of our community during the school day, the better. Is it possible to borrow a laptop for virtual/remote learning? My son was using my smartphone March-May to sign onto GoogleMeets & view documents because we don't own a personal laptop. We recommend that every student from Grade 1 and above has a tablet or laptop available to them. Please contact your Division Director if you require assistance.
Social-Emotional Learning I'm concerned about how virtual learning or mask-wearing impacts my 5-year old. I don't feel comfortable forcing him to wear a mask for hours on end. At this age, socialization is a huge part of his education. We understand that our face covering requirement may be challenging for some young students. Our school counselor and teachers will reinforce the importance of wearing them to keep themselves and their classmate friends safe. We ask that parents purchase lightweight masks for young children as these may be more comfortable for them and will help them keep the mask on for longer periods of time. Mask-free breaks can take place when students are outside (only) and able to keep a 6’ distance from one another. In Preschool–Grade 2, face shields will be permitted in place of masks. If Preschoolers are wearing masks, my child will have trouble seeing non-verbal clues from classmates. How will the teachers help students work through problems and avoid potential tantrums? Early years (Preschool–Kindergarten) is mostly focused on social-emotional development where visual communication is very important. For this reason, we are allowing face shields instead of cloth masks for these students. We’re concerned about the social-emotional implications of social distancing and maskwearing for our child. How much time will Andrea (school counselor) spend in classes to 25
Frequently Asked Questions discuss the virus with the kids? While we do not have a confirmed schedule at this time, Andrea will visit classrooms to talk about these issues in developmentally-appropriate ways. She has recommended this transcribed interview that speaks to current research around mask wearing and social-emotional development. How do you plan to address anxiety and isolation among students if the school closes and goes virtual? We have many individuals who are ready to support your child, regardless of whether our school is blended or 100% virtual, including Andrea Kuenzli (school counselor); James Hamilton-Vail, Damon Brown, and Jami Whitmer (Division Directors); the Boarding Team for international students; Crysta Swarts (Dean of Students for Middle & High School); and individual teachers.
Equity and Inclusion I worry that the plan to keep vulnerable students at home while able bodied students are allowed to attend in-person may have unintended discriminatory impacts that are at odds with Riverstone values. We understand this concern and are committed to providing an equitable experience between onsite and virtual learning. With enhanced technology upgrades, the quality of the virtual/remote experience will far surpass that of this past spring. If you encounter an issue with equity and quality of instruction this fall, the best place to start is to contact your child’s teacher and see if an accommodation or solution can be found.
Boarding Program How will you ensure the health of boarding students？ As part of our ongoing response to COVID-19, boarding operations will follow evolving public health guidance from federal, state and local governments. If you would like a copy of the latest Boarding Safety Plan, please contact Rachel Pusch. I would like Riverstone International School to consider an appropriate learning plan for international students, who could not fly to the U.S. due to COVID-19 situation and crossborder travel restrictions of their countries, and public health conditions in the U.S. We hope the Learning Plan does not impact their I-20 and Active Status in SEVIS and their continuous studying in the U.S. We recognize that current COVID travel restrictions and visa issuance issues will cause issues for some of our international students being able to arrive for the start of the school year. Because of this, we are prepared to offer both synchronous and asynchronous learning for each student to accommodate multiple time zones. It is our hope that each student who is affected by this will be able to arrive in the U.S. soon. Rachel Pusch, our SEVIS representative, is in close contact with our international students, including those who may not be able to arrive at Riverstone prior to the start of school.
Athletics RIS is taking great steps to be responsible with health and safety, however looking at the 26
Frequently Asked Questions sports plan, it seems that RIS is totally forgetting these same principles. My children want to participate in fall sports, but considering the risks involved, will not, and therefore will feel stuck between responsible actions and missing out. The athletic seasons this fall have been cancelled. We are extremely uncomfortable with our students visiting other schools, as well as having other students visit Riverstone. This includes MS/ HS Volleyball, MS Cross Country, and Co-Ed Soccer.
Tuition What is my tuition money actually paying for that my kids cannot get for free at a public school? This question is an important one, because it cuts to the core of why parents choose an independent school education in the best of circumstances. At Riverstone and during this global pandemic, your children will continue to receive a high quality academic experience regardless of how it’s delivered (onsite or virtual/remote). Small classes and personal attention are hallmarks of a Riverstone education. We continue to strive for solutions to accommodate as many students, faculty, and parents as we can, without defaulting to printed packets or cancelled semesters. Like almost every independent school around the nation, tuition generates 90% of our annual operating fund that pays for teacher salaries and programs. If you would like to further discuss the benefits of an independent school education, please schedule a meeting with Jeff Paulson, Head of School. Are you going to reduce tuition fees this year? At this time there are no plans to change Riverstone’s tuition structure. Regardless of whether we are onsite, virtual, or blended, the school's cost to provide educational services have not decreased. In fact, due to the increased need for staff, sanitation supplies, safety protocols and technology enhancements, the costs of running the school during COVID-19 are actually much higher.
Health and Safety Under what circumstances will you shut down the school? We don’t want the decision to shut down to be too hasty. Riverstone will not “shut down” this year, under any conditions. If public health conditions warrant, we will be 100% virtual/remote if required, but teaching and learning will continue. The Central District Health will advise us on a case-by-case basis. How will social distancing be managed by staff? Social distancing will be enforced with signage, the set up of classrooms, hallway flow, management of entry into buildings, supervised recess, and grade level cohorts and pods. If social distancing of 6’ outdoors cannot be respected, masks will be required. How will lunch be supervised for older high school students? This group isn’t typically supervised. This year, Grades 10–12 will be asked to remain on campus for the entire school day and not 27
Frequently Asked Questions allowed to leave campus for lunch. There will be designated zones for lunch, indoors and outdoors as weather permits. allowed to leave campus for lunch. There will be designated zones for lunch, indoors and outdoors as weather permits. Are all students and teachers required to wear masks? Yes. All students and teachers must wear a face covering inside of school buildings. For students in Preschool–Grade 2, face shields will be permitted in place of cloth masks. Students in Grades 3-5 are expected to wear masks; face shields are only allowed in extraordinary situations. In all grades, mask-free breaks will take place outside at the direction of the teacher if students can remain 6’ ft apart. If distancing can't be maintained, masks will be required. My child has a medical exemption. I don’t feel she should be required to wear a face mask or a shield. Who do I talk to about this? Masks (or face shields for Preschool–Grade 2) are required to attend onsite learning at Riverstone; if your student cannot or will not wear a face covering, we are also offering our program virtually. We must respect the Central District Health mandate, as this is one of the best ways to keep our community as safe, and our school open, for as long as possible. Will there be clear, published policies regarding consequences for students, faculty/staff, visitors who violate the face covering policy (i.e. take it off when it should be on)? Yes. Wearing a face covering inside of school buildings is mandatory. If a student cannot respect our policy, they will be sent home to learn virtually. Staff and faculty members who do not wear masks/shields will be subject to disciplinary action. Visitors will only be allowed inside the building by appointment and will be required to wear a mask - or face covering. How would masks and/or face shields help protect my 4-year old from COVID? We are working together as a community to keep your children as safe as possible. If everyone wears a mask, your child is less likely to contract the disease, or transmit it to others. Why are masks not required in Stage 4 of your July plan? Oops! That was an error on our part. Masks will still be required at Riverstone in Stage 4 of Idaho Rebounds (which is equivalent to Category 1, as we have switched to Central District Health guidelines). Will testing be available to students? No. COVID-19 testing will not be available to students on campus. Will there be a record of staff testing? No. We are unable to keep a record of staff testing for reasons related to HIPAA. Will students in a given class be required to quarantine at home and learn virtually for some period of time if a student or teacher tests positive for COVID-19? It is possible. However, we cannot make a blanket statement as CDH has recommended that we work with them on a case-by-case basis to determine the extent of the exposure.
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Frequently Asked Questions What is the protocol if a family member of a student tests positive but the student has no symptoms? Per CDH, the student and his/her sibling(s) must stay home and quarantine for 14 days and participate virtually. Please refer to the CDH Decision Matrix adapted for Riverstone on page 20 for more details. You mentioned if a teacher or student tests positive you would contact local health officials to see how to proceed. Will this require my children to get tested for COVID-19 each time there is an outbreak at school which may or may not have infected them? Because of the many variables in each case, we will defer to CDH to give us a recommendation based on all of the factors, which will be communicated to affected families. Are you expecting children to get tested for COVID-19 each time they come down with a COVID-19 symptom (like a common cold/cough/flu/fever)? No. COVID-19 testing will only happen at the discretion of the family or their healthcare provider. However, parents are expected to comply with our health and wellness policies and keep students at home under certain circumstances. The advantage of a blended learning platform is that students can participate in their classroom activities virtually if they feel well enough to do so but need to remain home per the school's health and wellness policies. See the CDH Decision Matrix adapted for Riverstone on page 20. Will teachers be required to quarantine for two weeks if they test positive? Yes. In all cases, we will obtain immediate guidance from CDH on how to proceed. What is the cleaning plan; regime, timing, outside services, fog/electrostatic cleaning by third parties etc. or will it be limited to nightly bleach wipe down? What products will be used, how often, and how will sanitizing be implemented? What about high traffic/touch areas–will there be increased cleaning during the day? The school will be professionally sanitized on a daily basis. Our cleaning supplies have been recommended by professionals, and safety usage is closely followed in accordance with OSHA’s Hazard Communications Standard; Safety Data Sheets are available for all cleaning supplies. Increased cleaning and disinfecting routines have been put in place for the following areas: - Classrooms - Buses and other transportation vehicles - Frequently touched surfaces (e.g., desks, door handles, etc.) - Communal spaces (restrooms, supply rooms, gym foyer, dorm facilities, etc.) In addition: • Communal areas will be closed or set up for staggered use to allow for proper cleaning and disinfecting. • Hand sanitizer stations will be available throughout the school and students and staff are encouraged to wash hands frequently throughout the day. • Water fountains will be closed for use. • Ventilation systems will be monitored on a regular basis and maintained to ensure they are operating properly. In addition, the annual review of the HVAC system is complete and the system is running smoothly in all school buildings 29
Frequently Asked Questions If you are spraying aerosol disinfectants after the kids leave, will you be airing out classrooms, opening windows, and/or using an industrialized air purifier so they don’t breath in the disinfectants the next day? Yes, we are taking every precaution to maximize air flow in our buildings. During deeper cleaning and disinfecting of classrooms, the doors will be left open to allow any residual vapors from chemicals to dissipate. Will more cleaning staff be hired? Yes. We have two shifts for cleaning and disinfecting; one shift will be working during school hours and the other will start at the end of the school day. This will allow us to maintain CDC-required cleaning and disinfecting throughout the school day and a deeper cleaning and disinfecting service after students are off campus. When school moves inside (cold temperature), will classrooms continue to be aerated with outside air throughout the day? Yes.
Schedules What options do parents have who are both working if we go back to Stage 1? If we are in Stage 1 of Idaho Rebounds, by state order we will not be allowed to have students on campus and will be required to return to 100% virtual/remote learning. How do we minimize online learning and maximize in-school learning? We can actively do our part every day, in and out of school, to practice social distancing, wash our hands frequently, wear masks, and stay at home if unwell to minimize the risk of transmission. Will the classes be reduced in size or do we already meet gathering size recommendations since we are a small school? Our onsite classes will not exceed 10 in the Middle and High School or 15 in the Elementary School (where classrooms are larger). According to the CDH Quarantine and Restriction Order for Ada County on August 11, up to 50 people are allowed to convene for business-related gatherings while social gatherings (i.e. weddings, BBQs) are limited to 10 people or fewer, all with adequate social distancing measures in place. By taking steps to ensure that onsite classes are at consistently small numbers, we are able to ensure social distancing in classrooms. This is why the Middle and High School will be divided into two cohort groups that will not only decrease the number of students in the classroom, it will also minimize contact with others should a positive case within our community arise. Are specialist teachers bouncing from room to room? Is that safe? In the Elementary School, specialist teachers (P.E., Art, Music, Language) will teach virtually/ remotely or outside. Precautions will be taken in every event to minimize the number of contacts a single student has during the day. If a family has two kids, will both kids be placed in cohorts that meet--or stay home--on the same day? We have created cohort groups in Middle & High School that will align sibling schedules. 30
Frequently Asked Questions I am very concerned about the lack of stability in schedule. My husband and I both work full time in very demanding jobs. We would not be able to continue school if the schedule was every other day or went fully virtual. Preschool and Pre-K learners will attend school onsite, Monday through Friday, 8:30AM– 3:15PM. We will not have a virtual learning option for this age group. We are, however, still subject to state and city orders and will close campus to students if public health conditions deteriorate. Will students be allowed to leave campus throughout the day, as necessary, and resume learning remotely that day? Yes, a student may resume class virtually/remotely if they become unwell during the school day, or need to go to a medical appointment. In all other cases, however, we are asking all students to stay on campus throughout the school day. The more we can decrease the likelihood of outside exposure during the school day, the better. Is there a plan to increase/limit class size? Yes. In some grades we have restricted enrollment numbers to ensure we can adequately distance students in the classroom. Will the divisions (Middle & High vs. Elementary School) be restricted to their specific buildings? Yes. Each division will have their own outdoor classroom areas as well. How will consistency and routine be accomplished for my young children if they are at school for two days and home for three days? Preschool–Grade 5 students will have the opportunity to be onsite daily. However, it’s important to note that parents must be vigilant and mindful of keeping their children home when they are ill. Teachers will work with families to help provide routine during the days they (may) need to be virtual/remote. Is blended learning to be used only if sick, or can it be used for other purposes for a day or two if cleared with teachers? A student may participate virtually/remotely for reasons not related to illness if it is communicated and cleared with their teacher(s). Will there be two classes/two teachers or will the school continue with the combined group as was done in the spring for Grade 3? My question applies to blended learning and virtual/ remote only plans. In order to stay as flexible as we can in the Elementary School, we will create a single group for each grade with two co-teachers. This applies to both onsite and virtual learning. If/when the classes are required to move to virtual/remote only, will it continue to be an 8:30– 3:30 teacher-led program? In the blended program, virtual/remote and on-site learners will be learning at the same time, concurrently, during the regular school day. If we are forced to move to virtual/remote only, we will release a modified schedule. 31
We are all in this together, and our intent is to ensure a safe learning environment for all Riverstone students, families, and staff. We are asking for your helpâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;and for you to do your part by being flexible, understanding, cautious, and healthy.
www.riverstoneschool.org (208) 424-5000 5521 E. Warm Springs Ave., Boise ID 83716
