Back to Barstow 2021

BACK TO BARSTOW 2021 Return-to-Campus Plan

CONTENTS Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 About COVID-19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 About Our Approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Guiding Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The Important Role of Families. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Community Expectations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Vaccinated & Unvaccinated Individuals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Investments In Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Health And Safety Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Online Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Preschool–Grade 12 Classrooms and Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 » The Lower School Student Experience. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . » The Middle and Upper School Student Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . » Extracurricular Performing Arts and Student Clubs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . » Physical Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . » Athletics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Additional Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17 18 19 19 19 20

» Emergency Response Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 » Medical Advisory Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 » Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 » Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

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INTRODUCTION Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2019, The Barstow School has reevaluated nearly every aspect of its educational practices to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our school community. Teachers, staff, parents and students have demonstrated extraordinary resilience in adapting to changing conditions. We look forward to welcoming students, faculty and staff back to school using the protocols in this Return-to-Campus plan.

Important dates to know January 3

March 14–25

Last Day of School

Calendars

Second semester begins

Spring Break

» Seniors May 13

» 2021–2022 Major Dates » 2022–2023 Major Dates

» Preschool – Grade 11 May 18

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ABOUT COVID-19 COVID-19 is spread from person to person, primarily from respiratory droplets or by transferring virus from surfaces to mouth, nose or eyes. Three vaccines are now available and shown to be effective in preventing the virus. For unvaccinated individuals the most effective measures against transmission are wearing masks, frequent hand washing and social distancing (at least three feet).

Quarantining and contact tracing are recommended for those who are infected. Additional guidance for minimizing the spread of COVID-19 at home and in school settings is available from the CDC.

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ABOUT OUR APPROACH Barstow recognizes that the ideal teaching and learning environment is one in which students and teachers are able to interact with each other in person. This plan represents the thoughtful work of a task force of administrators and staff from across our campus working in close collaboration with the Medical Advisory Committee and Board of Trustees. It is designed to allow the school to adapt to the changing conditions of the pandemic and still provide a continuous education of our students. When necessary, the school will adjust our operations and teaching methods to public health conditions.

While it is difficult to predict the ways in which our current health context might change in the future, one thing is constant—our steadfast commitment to the ongoing growth and learning of our students.

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GUIDING PRINCIPLES Barstow has defined four guiding principles that help to inform our decisions as we return to campus. These principles speak to our mission and vision. They are also aligned with what we have learned from our experience with online and hybrid learning during the pandemic.

Safety Barstow’s highest priority is the health and well-being of its community. We believe that a healthy environment is ultimately a secure environment, one in which students, teachers and staff are able to thrive. We also believe that we have an obligation to support the health of the broader community— from our own Barstow families to those around our states. At all times, we will seek to align our measures with guidance from local health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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On-Campus Instruction

Academic Coherence and Excellence

Flexibility and Adaptability

Barstow recognizes that the optimal learning environment for children is one in which they are engaging with their teachers and fellow students in person.

We also recognize the value of the unique role our campus plays in the education of our students. To the best of our ability, and in accordance with official health guidelines, we will seek to provide on-campus instruction for all students every day.

Barstow believes in the pursuit of academic excellence and that a continuous educational experience is vitally important to achieve this end. While health circumstances may necessitate changes or restrictions to student life, we strive daily to support our students’ learning and development as seamlessly as possible.

Barstow recognizes that any plan that we design to respond to external health conditions must be flexible and able to adapt to circumstances beyond our control. Our overarching goal is to create a continuous learning structure that allows us to maintain on-campus instruction.

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THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF FAMILIES Families play a vital role in maintaining safety on campus. The number one safety measure is to keep a child home if they are sick.

We want to work with families to support their child’s adherence to health and safety measures while they are on campus as well as at home.

We understand that there are families with higher risk members in their households. As a community that prioritizes health and safety, we must all do our part to adhere to health recommendations and regulations and to minimize transmission. We greatly appreciate your cooperation in this regard.

We also expect you will have questions and welcome your feedback and suggestions. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.

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COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS All members of the The Barstow School community have a shared responsibility to prevent the spread of illness when they are aware or suspect that they have contracted a communicable disease.

It is imperative that all members of our school community remain committed to the safety policies and procedures listed in this plan and future communications to help keep students, staff and faculty safe. When enrolling your child at Barstow, please be aware of the following community norms and expectations:

Vaccination

Stay Home if Sick

The risk of infection is dramatically reduced by vaccinations, and they are the best way to end this pandemic. Vaccinations are available to individuals ages 5 and up.

If your child is sick, you are expected to keep them home from school.

Students, faculty and staff may not return to school until they have been fever-free for 24 hours.

Follow Federal, State and Local Orders

Stay Home if Exposed

All families are expected to adhere to the directives of the school and applicable federal, state, and local government health departments regarding face coverings indoors and other measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

If an unvaccinated individual in your household has been notified that they were in contact with an individual infected with COVID-19, you are asked to notify the school nurse. Based on the circumstance, you may be asked to keep your child home from school for 7 days. During this time, your child will be able to continue classes via online learning.

COVID-19 Testing and Notification If your child or someone in your household tests positive for COVID-19, you must notify the school nurse as soon as possible.

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Face Masks Face masks are required indoors. Send your child to school with a face mask every day. Teach your child how to properly use and remove a face mask. If using fabric masks, ensure that your child’s mask is cleaned regularly.

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COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS Hygiene

Medical Forms and Emergency Contacts

Practice and reinforce good hygiene practices at home, in particular, the importance of frequent hand washing.

Parents must complete and submit all required student medical forms prior to the first day of school. Parents must provide a minimum of two emergency contacts who are able to pick up your child within one hour of receiving a call from the school if your child presents with a temperature or becomes ill during the school day.

Students’ Personal Items Limit the items your child brings onto campus each day and reinforce policies around the sharing of food, supplies and other items with other students.

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These guidelines are based on recommendations as of January 2022 and are subject to change as new information becomes available.

COVID-19 PROTOCOL FLOWCHART Preliminary evidence suggests that fully vaccinated people who do become infected with COVID-19 can be infectious and can spread the virus to others.

People are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 two weeks after they have received the second dose in a two-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) or two weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson/ Janssen). There is no postvaccination time limit on fully vaccinated status. People are considered not fully vaccinated if they have not completed a two-dose vaccination series or have not received a singledose vaccine, regardless of age, including children under the age of five.

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I have been exposed to covid-19 í

î

I am vaccinated í Not showing symptoms

Quarantine not required

I am not vaccinated

ê

ê

5 day isolation

î

5 day quarantine

Showing symptoms

ê ê

ê

I tested positive for covid-19

5 day isolation from onset

When possible, obtain PCR test at 5 days í

ê Return if asymptomatic on day 5

» Isolate and get tested if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. » Be very diligent in wearing your mask. » If you choose not to get a rapid COVID test the school will monitor you for symptoms for one week after exposure. If you become symptomatic, you will have to quarantine for 5 days. » Fully vaccinated individuals can return to work or school while wearing a face mask.

No quarantine is necessary if the exposed individual is not experiencing symptoms. » If you have tested positive within the last 90 days you will not need to quarantine after a direct exposure. Exposed persons can return to work or school and will need to monitor for symptoms.

î

Negative test result

Positive test result

ê

ê

Quarantine ends

5 day isolation

» Quarantine and avoid other people for 5 days after your last direct contact or exposure with a COVID-19 positive individual. » Your isolation begins on the day you started having symptoms or the day you tested positive. You must be fever free for 24 hours prior to returning to work or school.

» If you test positive for COVID-19, you must isolate and avoid people for 5 days. Your 5-day isolation begins on the day you started having symptoms or the day you tested positive. You must be fever free for 24 hours prior to returning to work or school.

» Testing is recommended 5 days after your last exposure to a person with COVID-19 if you are not symptomatic. * Quarantine may end sooner if you take a PCR test at least five days after direct exposure, present the negative result to the school and are asymptomatic. If you are not vaccinated and showing signs of COVID-19 but cannot obtain a PCR test, continue isolation and contact the school for additional guidance about attendance.

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INVESTMENTS IN SAFETY Barstow is committed to three important goals: to provide safe, in-person instruction for all students while providing a world-class online learning platform when necessary; to keep all of our students (both new and returning) enrolled; and to retain all of our employees to the best of our ability.

Continued Health and Safety Measures » Scanners for fever detection. » New male and female restrooms. » Hand sanitizer stations in all classrooms, corridors and offices. » Touchless water fountains/water filling stations. » Amplified cleaning practices including UV light sanitation and electrostatic fogging. » UV cleaning wands. » Additional staff.

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HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES The following is a list of safety measures that we will continue for the 2021-2022 school year: Face Coverings

Hand Hygiene

Students and employees will wear face coverings indoors.

Face coverings should cover the nose and mouth; bandanas, scarves and neck gaiters are not acceptable face coverings. Because some COVID variants are more contagious than others, the medical advisory committee advises students and faculty to upgrade from cloth masks to medical grade level 3, KN95 or N95 masks.

Physical Distancing In classrooms, students will be seated with spacing to minimize transmission risk, but allowed to interact more closely for limited periods with additional safety measures and greater supervision in place. The CDC social distancing guideline is now three feet indoors. We will continue to utilize outdoor spaces for learning, lunch and recess.

Lower School Classrooms This year will be a step towards normalcy, with students traveling to art, music and STEAM. Fourth and fifth graders will once again move to different classrooms for instruction in math, language arts, science and social studies.

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Students and faculty will be encouraged to wash hands frequently or use hand sanitizer throughout the day. Hand sanitizer dispensers will be available in classrooms and hallways to ensure regular access.

Enhanced Cleaning/Disinfection Schedule Daily cleaning practices will be compliant with CDC recommendations, including the types of cleaning products used and the frequency of cleaning. Special attention will be paid to the cleaning of high-touch surfaces throughout the day. Classrooms will be cleaned daily using UV lamps and electrostatic fogging.

Health Screening Families are asked to monitor their household members for symptoms, including fever, and avoid bringing sick children to school. Do not bring a child with a fever to school. Students, faculty and staff must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to campus.

Notification and Quarantine If a student or employee has a COVID-19 infection, school officials will notify anyone identified as having close contact with the individual at school. Unvaccinated individuals will be asked to quarantine for 7 days and obtain a PCR test at 5 days after exposure when possible.

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HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES Dining Hall/Food Service

Self Care and Well-Being

Dining service will resume. Menus from SAGE Dining Services will be posted weekly to your resource boards. A new schedule is in place for lower, middle and upper school students.

LUNCH SCHEDULE » Preschool–grade 3 — 11–11:30 a.m. » Grades 4–5 — 12:30-1 p.m. » Grades 6–8 — 11:35 a.m.–12:00 p.m. » Grades 9–12 — 12:00–12:25 p.m.

Excursions and Camps

Lower school students will eat outdoors, in their classrooms or in the dining hall. Middle and upper school students are encouraged to eat in a variety of places including the dining hall, commons spaces, outdoors, and occasionally, classrooms. Students should remain socially distanced when eating lunch in any location. The dining hall will be thoroughly cleaned between lunch seatings. Lunch will be served in reusable clamshell containers for easier transport and cleanup. As always, students will be able to bring their lunch from home as well.

Other Safe Classroom Practices Teaching methods will be adjusted to minimize shared equipment or learning materials between students; classroom practices will reduce transfer of objects between home and school and touching of other students’ personal belongings.

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As we experienced last year, feelings of anxiety can be heightened in situations such as this. Pedagogy and classroom practices will include student mental health and well-being to build resilience and cope with the stress or anxiety students may experience in this pandemic context. School counselors will continue classroom and grade level visits and the Sources of Strength program will return.

Local field trips will resume. Decisions regarding overnight excursions will be made later based on travel and destination conditions.

Visitors on Campus All visitors must wear a mask indoors on campus. Parents may visit for lunch beginning with the second quarter, provided prevailing conditions allow such visits.

Assemblies and Large Group Gatherings We plan to resume in-person attendance at live events, including concerts, theatre performances and community events. We anticipate that in-person group gatherings such as assemblies and class meetings will resume in middle and upper school. Assemblies will be limited in lower school. We will follow CDC social distancing guidelines during these events.

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ONLINE LEARNING While we hope to see the majority of our students in person, Barstow will offer an online learning option for those whose attendance during the pandemic puts the student or their family members at unreasonable risk of significant illness. Families requesting online learning must submit an application before each semester.

Application

Families choosing online learning agree to the following: » Students will remain online for the entire semester. Before a new semester begins, families will have the choice between remaining online or attending in person for the remainder of the year.

Families applying for online learning during the second semester of the 2021–2022 school year should contact their division director.

» Online instruction will be provided via Zoom. » Online students will not be able to participate in on-campus, inperson extracurricular activities. These activities may include but are not limited to athletics, theatre productions, clubs, speech, debate and robotics. If activities are offered virtually, online students may participate. » Periodically, online students may need to report to campus to complete class assessments. These assessments will occur in a safe, proctored environment. » Students in the COVID-19 protocol quarantine or isolation period may attend classes online.

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PRESCHOOL–GRADE 12 CLASSROOM AND SCHEDULES Prior to the start of school, your family will receive information about your child’s teacher(s), room assignment or class schedule.

This section will cover:

Lower School Student Experience

Middle and Upper Student Experience

» Lower School Hours

» Academic Schedule

» Class Groupings

» Schedule at a Glance

» Monday–Friday Schedule

» Middle School/Upper School Hours

» Preschool–Grade 5 Schedule » Recess and Outdoor Play » Morning Care » After School Care » Schedule at a Glance

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Performing Arts, Student Clubs Physical Education Athletics

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The Lower School Student Experience We are eager to support our students’ growth and to usher them into the school year with care and attention to their needs. We are also committed to continuing a well-rounded program that fosters academic growth, prioritizes health and well-being, and cultivates the development of the whole child.

Lower School Hours

Monday–Friday Schedule

Students will be in supervised experiences for the duration of their time on campus. School day hours are as follows:

The schedule will remain the same with a few exceptions. Lower school assemblies will be limited to ensure adherence to social distancing guidelines.

» Preschool–Grade 5 › 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. › Specific drop-off and pick-up procedures will be released before Aug. 19.

Class Groupings In preschool–grade 5 class sizes will remain comparable to traditional class sizes, but classrooms will be configured to allow for social distancing.

Students will travel to special and PE classes, and may have the opportunity to work with students in other classrooms within their grade level. All these interactions will be closely supervised by faculty.

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Preschool–Grade 5 Schedule The preschool–grade 5 schedule is designed to limit the broad exposure of our students, to minimize the mixing of student , and to maintain opportunities for library services. It is also designed to create a more simplified experience for families should the need for at-home learning arise. The schedule preserves the consistent delivery of core content and will continue to incorporate special classes including art, music, Spanish, Chinese, STEAM and PE.

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The Lower School Student Experience Recess and Outdoor Play

Extended Care

Opportunities for play and engagement with the outdoors remain vital to our students’ health and well-being and will remain important features of the lower school experience. These activities will be scheduled and supervised in order to maintain safe conditions for our students.

Extended care wil be available to all students in preschool–grade 8 from 7–8 a.m. and 3–6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Students will be divided into three areas in the building to facilitate social distancing.

Media Center The library staff will implement safe procedures for students to select and borrow books regularly from the Media Center.

A portion of the lower school media center has been dedicated as our makerspace.

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The Middle and Upper School Student Experience The faculty and administration look forward to welcoming our students back to campus and supporting them and their learning in the new school year. Though modifications will be made to promote a safe and healthy environment, many of the hallmarks of the Barstow experience—diverse and rigorous course offerings, access to excellent faculty and staff and a culture built around the care of our students—will endure.

Academic Schedule

Middle and Upper School Hours

Middle & upper school will continue to utilize elements of a block schedule for the 2021-2022 school year. On Mondays, students will have all classes for forty minutes. Tuesday through Friday, students will attend block class periods of ninety minutes, with four of eight classes meeting daily, on a rotating basis. Students are encouraged to use outdoor spaces during lunch, break, and class time when applicable.

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Upper school students arriving early or staying after school hours are expected to work quietly in the Upper School Commons.

They may enter the building at 6:30 a.m. and should depart by 5 p.m. unless participating in an on campus activity.

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHEDULE à UPPER SCHOOL SCHEDULE à

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Middle school students who arrive to campus prior to 8 a.m. must report to Extended Care. Students arriving less than thirty minutes prior to the start of school can proceed to the middle school area of the building and work quietly in our new Middle School Commons. After school, students on campus after 3:45 p.m. must report to Extended Care unless they are participating in an extracurricular activity.

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Extracurricular Performing Arts and Student Clubs We look forward to the return of many in-person and on-campus extracurricular opportunities that were modified or unavailable last year. These include concerts and theatre performances, assemblies, class meetings and special events. Many of these events will be livestreamed to the community through the Barstow Television Network (BTVN).

Physical Education Middle school physical education classes will continue to emphasize outdoor activities. Changing in locker rooms and wearing PE uniforms at the middle school level may resume at the discretion of the PE department.

Athletics The Barstow School recognizes the important role of athletics in the educational experience of students. Practice and game schedules are available and updated on the athletics web page.

Students who test positive for COVID-19 will not be able to participate for 7 days following onset of symptoms. Unvaccinated students who have a direct exposure to COVID-19 will not be permitted to participate in athletics or attend school until cleared by the school nurse.

Athletes, coaches, drivers and all additional passengers must wear masks at all times when using Barstow buses and vans to travel to games.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Emergency Response Team Our planning effort has been guided by the thoughtful work of the following individuals.

Medical Advisory Committee » Dr. Kala Subramanian » Dr. Maria Iliakova ’04

» Shane Foster, President

» Dr. Claire White

» Tom Niermann, Vice President and Head of School

» Dr. Samir Doshi

» Elizabeth Bartow, Vice President, Campus Operations

» Jennifer Markey, RN

» Lisa Tulp, Director of Marketing and Communications

» Dr. Sonica Saini

» Scott Daniel, Director of Technology

» Dr. Wendy Hulsing

» Todd Nelson, Director of Lower School

» Soni Patel

» Joe Fox ’04, Director of Middle and Upper School

» Susan Belger Angulo ’76

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Resources The following websites provide important information about COVID-19, health alerts and updates, symptoms and testing, and guidelines for staying healthy: » City of Kansas City, Missouri Health Department » Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (Missouri DHSS) » Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Questions For answers to specific questions, please visit our FAQ document. If you have any additional questions or concerns about school policy, contact us and we will respond as soon as possible.

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