Return to School Plan 2021-2022

RETURN TO SCHOOL PLAN 2021-2022

Introduction

Saint Joseph Academy will fully reopen this fall, and our administrators, faculty and staff are proud of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic last year and we are eager to welcome students back to campus for in-person learning in the 2021-2022 school year. There will be no Distance Learning/Zoom option this year. A full return to SJA’s campus continues to be predicated on two important factors: Safety and Flexibility.

Our return to school will center on reimagined teaching and learning. SJA is committed to the health and safety of every student and faculty member. Much of what we’ve done over the past 16 months has been predicated upon our ability to adapt as new challenges arise. The new ‘normal’ has been redefined and we’ll continue to adapt as necessary. However, we are still committed to our Marist, mission-driven goal to offer face-to-face instruction and after-school experiences.

We will continue to keep you informed. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented many challenges to our normal way of life, and SJA is regularly monitoring policy changes and mandates from the Governor’s Office and public health officials. As SJA develops new proactive solutions and learning format changes, administrators will disseminate updates via email, text, social media platforms and on www.sja.us A successful fully in-person reopening at SJA means we will all need to work together. As SJA reopens, each of us must be ready and willing to create a culture of responsibility and cooperation.

Protecting the health and safety of everyone on the SJA campus will be paramount. We are very confident that the SJA Community will pull together and establish a continued learning environment in the Marist tradition of excellence.

RETURN TO SCHOOL PLAN 2021-2022

Procedures & Safety Measures Cleanliness and readily available Personal Protective Equipment will be important keys to maintaining a healthy and safe environment for students and faculty alike. Life on the SJA campus will continue to look decidedly different as a result, and each of the following will be required: Face Masks Regardless of vaccination status, all students, faculty and staff will be required to wear face masks at all times during the school day except for when eating or drinking. Individuals are to wear masks properly, fully covering their nose and mouths. Disposable face masks will be readily available to anyone who needs one. Facemasks are to be worn once they arrive on campus, during class, in between classes, and after school until they get to their cars. In addition, any guest who is on the SJA campus during the school day is also required to wear a mask.

Social Distancing Classes will have reduced sizes and there will be an increase in space between where students sit. All teachers have plexi-glass shields available to them for their desks.

Sanitizing & Cleaning Hand sanitizer will be made available throughout the SJA buildings and classrooms. There are additional handwashing stations in some classrooms and students are recommended to wash hands frequently. Classroom desks and high touch areas are sanitized in between each class and SJA’s janitorial company has implemented enhanced daily sanitizing protocols campus wide.

Contact Tracing Contact Tracing will continue to be a major point of focus, as we will work meticulously to quickly identifying individuals who may have come in contact with a positive COVID-19 case and identify those that will need to be quarantined.

RETURN TO SCHOOL PLAN 2021-2022

COVID-19 Protocols & Procedures COVID-19 Vaccination Saint Joseph Academy strongly encourages that all faculty, staff, employees and age-eligible students receive a COVID-19 vaccination. The body of public health information widely supports the safe and effective benefits of vaccination to protect oneself and others.

Positive COVID-19 Tests & Quarantine Ø When a positive COVID-19 case is reported, a notification letter will be emailed to all families that same day. Ø Any student, faculty, or staff who tests positive for COVID-19 will be required to quarantine for 10 days, regardless of vaccination status. Ø When a confirmed positive COVID-19 case is reported the contact tracing will be performed and “close contacts*” will be identified.

- If “close contact” has been fully vaccinated: Not required to quarantine. A negative COVID-19 test is requested on day 5 - If “close contact” has not been vaccinated: Required to quarantine for 10 days.

A close contact’s quarantine can be shortened to 7 days if a negative COVID-19 test is provided on day 7 (test must be taken on day 5 or later) Ø Since there is no Distance Learning/Zoom option available, students in quarantine will need to coordinate with teachers for their assignments and classroom responsibilities.

Proof of Vaccination To assist in our efforts to be efficient in identifying who needs to quarantine, we encourage that if your student is vaccinated that you email a copy/photo of the vaccination documentation to vaccine@sja.us. *“Close Contact” is defined as prolonged (15 minutes or more) or repeated exposure with the infected while unmasked & at a distance of 6ft or less.

RETURN TO SCHOOL PLAN 2021-2022

Academics & Course Schedule SJA’s efforts to fully return to in-person learning is rooted in keeping faculty and students safe. Every effort is being made to keep class sizes in order to achieve the goal of optimal social distancing.

SJA is transitioning to a Cascading Schedule for the 2021-2022 school year. In the 2020—2021 school year, SJA learned that a traditional schedule (Daily Periods 1-7) was not the only way to deliver a quality, collegeprep academic program. Taking what we learned last year and looking at our needs for the Dual Enrollment Educational Partnership (DEEP) Program and mandatory state requirements, the upcoming school year will feature a 5-class rotation each day. While the same 5 classes won’t meet each day, at the end of term each class will have met for the same amount of time. More information will be provided to students regarding their schedules in the days leading up to the start of school.

Notable Changes in the 2021-2022 School year will be that there is no Flex Friday and no Distance Learning option. Should the need arise to transition to Distance Learning, the school will do so as necessary and communicate that to families.

RETURN TO SCHOOL PLAN 2021-2022

Technology Classrooms are fully quipped with the necessary technology to allow for a seamless transition should SJA need to move to a distance learning experience.

Teachers will be using Google Classroom as well as the FACTS Renweb Classroom Portal as tools for their classes. In addition, students and teachers will utilize a variety of applications for learning, assessments, and productivity in the upcoming year including:

RETURN TO SCHOOL PLAN 2021-2022

Marist Life at SJA Even in an era of social distancing, SJA will continue to foster a vibrant spiritual life as Marist, Catholic school.

School Masses Masses will be offered for the entire school community. Masks are required for all in attendance.

Campus Ministry Retreat programs will resume on campus for all grades. Even in this pandemic climate, we will expand our retreat programs in order to bolster community connections

Service The Campus Ministry & Religion Departments are committed to developing a series of imaginative new programs that will allow students to serve the community amid the current COVID-19 situation.

RETURN TO SCHOOL PLAN 2021-2022

Athletics & Extracurricular Activities Sports will return in their entirety. Mindful of the ongoing COVID-19 situation, SJA athletic team will participate to the fullest extent in all sports in the 2021-2022 school year. Safety and sanitization protocols will continue to be in place to ensure students athletes are safe.

All of our extracurricular activities will resume for the 2021-2022 school year. While there may need to be some accommodations made, the school aims to make available all of its extracurricular clubs and activities.

Student athletes have the option to wear face-masks while competing.

Masks will be required by all guests and attendees for sporting events/extracurricular activities on campus that are held indoors, regardless of vaccination status. It is highly recommended and encouraged that masks are worn at outdoor sporting events and activities.

RETURN TO SCHOOL PLAN 2021-2022

Academic Calendar Highlights 2021

2022

Friday, August 13 - First Day of School (Noon Dismissal)

Friday, February 18 - Teacher In-Service (No Classes)

Friday, August 27 – Diocesan Teacher In-Service (No Classes)

Thurs-Friday, February 24-25 - Charro Days

Thursday, August 12 - New Student Orientation

Tuesday, January 4 - Classes Resume

(½ day Feb 24, No Classes Feb 25)

Friday, November 5 - Faculty/Staff Retreat (No Classes) Monday, November 22-26 - Thanksgiving Break (No Classes) Wed, Dec. 22, 2021 – Mon, Jan. 3, 2022 Christmas Break (No Classes)

March 14-18 - Spring Break (No Classes) April 14-15, 18 – Easter Holiday (½ day April 14, No Classes April 15, 18)

May 27- Last Day of Class (Noon Dismissal)

RETURN TO SCHOOL PLAN 2021-2022

Ad Astra Per Aspera

RETURN TO SCHOOL PLAN 2021-2022