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Academic Continuity Plan 2020-2021
Dear Fletcher Community, In developing the 2020-21 Academic Continuity Plan that follows, our COVID-19 Planning Team drew from their collective experience, deep understanding of our school community, peer school data, and government and public health guidelines. As we outline in the Plan: • We have adopted various new social distancing and COVID-19 protocols to reduce the risk of infection and spread within our community. For as long as necessary, our in-person classes, electives, recess, and lunch will occur in small groups following recommended spacing guidelines, foot traffic on campus will be limited, and large gatherings will take place virtually. • To enable us to focus on the safety of our students and employees, and to monitor the effects of the virus on our campus, visitors will be limited to those who are critical to operations. However, we will revisit this policy as the school year progresses. • We have purchased new equipment and products to enhance our disinfecting measures and to ensure the sanitation of our campus. We will utilize state-of-theart technology and follow cleaning protocols recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to keep our students and staff safe and our campuses clean. • Anticipating the need to shift to virtual learning at the direction of the health department and/or orders by the Governor, our faculty are participating in additional training to hone their online teaching skills. The Fletcher School strives to be a leader in virtual learning for K-12 students with learning differences. Our decision-making process will continue to be deliberate, intentional, and thoughtful, and we will provide you with updates as we learn more about the global COVID-19 pandemic and work to make our campus community productive and safe. In the weeks ahead you will be receiving additional operational details from your child’s Division Head. I wish you and your family a wonderful remainder of your summer and look forward to welcoming our students for the 2020-21 school year. Sincerely, Dr. Brent E. Betit Head of School
Guiding Principles These three principles have and will guide our strategic and situational decision making, and will always be accompanied by our unwavering commitment to transparency and to effective, strategic communication: 1) Health & Safety 2) Academic Value & Student Outcomes 3) Financial Stability
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Planning Process and Resources Information Sources •
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
•
World Health Organization
•
NC Department of Health
•
National Association of Independent Schools
•
Southern Association of Independent Schools
•
NC Association of Independent Schools
The Fletcher School’s COVID-19 Planning Team is comprised of senior administrators and their extended teams. Together, they drafted this Academic Continuity Plan drawing from: • decades of experience in their fields; •
understanding of The Fletcher School community;
•
studying peer schools;
•
reviewing independent school association recommendations, and;
•
staying abreast of government and public health guidelines.
Three Scenarios of COVID-19 Response
The Fletcher School is prepared to move fluidly between three different scenarios. The decision to transition from one scenario to another will be based on a combination of factors, including internal risk considerations, independent school association recommendations, public health agency guidelines, and government mandates.
Scenario 1
Scenario 2
Scenario 3
All Students on Campus
Hybrid Model
Virtual Learning
Scenario 1: Campus Open Scenario 1 All Students on Campus
Given our small average class sizes and 6:1 student-
Division specific details have been outlined
to-teacher ratios, our typical operational "starting
and will be distributed in Back-to-School
point" is significantly better than most schools can
materials from your student’s Division Head.
attain. Our facility provides an average of more than 300 square feet per occupant for our 260 students
If on-campus learning is not possible for an
and
individual student due to a documented,
nearly
100
professional
staff,
permitting
additional physical distancing and small groupings. Return to campus will require adherence to CDC guidelines, physical distancing, the use of face coverings campus-wide, cleaning and disinfecting adjustments, and many more safety precautions.
COVID-related, medical condition requiring the student to be out of school for at least two
weeks,
virtual
will
be
provided. This will require a separate application process. Please send an email to COVID19TaskForce@thefletcherschool.org to initiate this process.
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instruction
Scenario 2 : Hybrid Model Scenario 2 Hybrid Model
Intermittent episodes of infection or outbreak
A Hybrid Model of teaching and learning
within the community may require that groups
offers meaningful participation and a variety
of students and teachers switch to virtual
of engaging learning activities. Virtual
learning for periods throughout the academic
learning activities will closely mirror those
year.
that occur on-campus and will yield rich
Under this scenario, students and teachers will transition between on-campus and virtual learning out of necessity.
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learning outcomes. In-person and virtual learning will include a variety of synchronous and asynchronous lessons.
Scenario 3: Virtual Learning Scenario 3 Virtual Learning
It is possible that at points throughout the 2020-
The Fletcher School’s digital classrooms will offer
21 school year, on-campus learning may be
robust virtual learning experiences drawing on
interrupted by widespread virus outbreaks and
advanced technological tools, teacher creativity,
government mandates. Should this occur, all
and student ingenuity all while integrating our
students will engage in virtual learning until it is
multisensory pedagogy. Together, we will
safe to return to campus.
continue creating a vibrant, virtual community of learners.
The Fletcher School will transition between oncampus and virtual instruction as needed, while continuing to deliver an unparalleled academic experience that will prepare our students for college and beyond.
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ON CAMPUS From exploring alternative scheduling scenarios to implementing new COVID-19 health protocols, our community has worked to reduce the risk of infection and outbreak through measures as described on the following pages. Before students return to campus, faculty and staff will receive thorough training on health and social distancing protocols, and will be prepared to help students adapt to the new procedures.
Health Protocols
Social Distancing
Campus Disinfection
Personal Accountability
Student temperatures will be taken upon arrival
●
Employees will be required to take their own temperatures and conduct symptom screenings prior to arrival at school.
●
Employees and students who present with a fever of 100 degrees or higher or COVID-19 symptoms will be sent home to self-isolate, recover, and recuperate.
●
Upon arrival, approved visitors who are critical to our operations will complete a screening questionnaire and have their temperature taken before being approved to remain on campus.
●
Students who develop COVID-19 symptoms during the day will wait in isolation in the health room until a parent arrives. The health room will be fully sanitized upon their departure.
●
Handwashing protocols will be implemented and hand sanitizer will be located throughout campus to offer ample opportunities to clean one’s hands. Students and employees will clean hands before entering and leaving a room.
●
Age-appropriate signage will create areas for oneway traffic in hallways and stairwells.
each morning. Families will be responsible for symptom screening prior to arrival at school.
ON CAMPUS
HEALTH PROTOCOLS
●
On-campus visitors will be limited to those who are critical to school operations.
•
Parents will be required to use carpool for student drop-off and pickup.
•
Students will remain in various small class groups throughout the school day.
•
Desks will be spaced apart following social distancing guidelines.
•
Auditoriums, gymnasiums, and dining halls may be repurposed as learning spaces.
•
Foot traffic in the hallways and between classrooms and buildings will be limited.
•
Campus signage will be used to encourage proper social distancing.
•
Lunch will be eaten in classrooms and outdoor spaces.
•
Most meetings, events, assemblies, and performances will take place virtually.
•
Athletics will follow conference guidelines and government and public health regulations.
•
Small cohorts will be formed for extended day care and after-school enrichment.
ON CAMPUS
SOCIAL DISTANCING
•
â—? Custodians, teachers, and staff will continue to clean, disinfect, and sanitize high-touch areas (door handles, desks, stair railings, etc.) throughout the day. Custodians will conduct a deep clean of the campus after dismissal using new cleaning protocols. â—? Indoor air quality will be monitored and rigorous maintenance schedules will be followed.
ON CAMPUS
CAMPUS DISINFECTION
Student temperatures will be taken in classrooms each morning and employees will take their own temperatures before leaving for school each morning. A student or employee with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher will stay home. All faculty, staff, students, and campus guests will be wearing masks and/or buffs in the academic year ahead. The School will be providing employees with issued masks and branded school masks and buffs will be available for purchase online for students. Processes will be in place for self-monitoring, selfreporting, and self-isolation.
AT HOME/ONCAMPUS
PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY
We will rely on our community to follow CDC guidelines at home and on campus as follows:
The Fletcher School’s on-campus and virtual learning experiences will celebrate each child, embrace the support of family, and foster meaningful relationships between students and teachers. Faculty will provide learning
experiences
community,
trust,
that
and
combine
friendship
a while
sense
of
igniting
learners’ interest and curiosity in the world around them. Our teachers take great pride in getting to know their students and
supporting them to become lifelong
learners. With teachers taking a personal interest in each student’s life, Fletcher students are encouraged and inspired to push beyond expectations.
PERSONAL CONNECTIONS
PERSONAL CONNECTIONS
The Fletcher School is committed to the social and emotional wellness of our students and families. Should we need to adapt to virtual learning for a period of time, we will continue to facilitate predictability and routine for students through daily Zoom meetings, frequent emotional check-ins, and mindfulness strategies. Our faculty recognize the developmental need for students to process difficult situations together, with the guidance and support of trusted
adults.
Online advisory sessions with school counselors and faculty help students enhance their coping skills through discussions and activities geared toward building their resilience, gratitude, and empathy. To help sustain students' sense of connectedness faculty, administrators, counselors, coaches, and advisors will regularly reach out to students individually and through drop-in office hours.
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
As we continue to prepare for the school year ahead, you will receive additional communications from your student’s Division Head with operating guidelines for carpool, classroom activities, and the day-today schedule and calendar. If you have any specific questions or concerns at this time, please contact your Division Head.
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