Classroom Routines

Overview

In an effort to reduce exposure, Preschool, Kindergarten and Lower School students will convene for the entire day in a single classroom when attending school in person. Some of these groupings may be smaller than in a “normal” year depending on individual classroom capacities. With the exception of dance and rec arts, specialty teachers in these divisions will teach classes from separate locations on campus to be broadcast to students in their classrooms in an effort to minimize cross exposure between classrooms. Within their smaller pods, students will wear masks and follow hygiene protocols. While we will plan for reduced close physical contact, in classroom routines students and teachers will not always maintain social distance from one another and their teachers throughout the day. Students will primarily leave their classroom only to go to the bathroom, to the gym or to do outdoor activities.

On the days that students in grades 4 through 12 attend school in person, classes will be held in our buildings and in rented spaces in the neighborhood.

Every day, all students in every division should:

Wear face masks throughout the day except while eating/drinking or learning in a discipline that requires an exception. Descriptions of protocols for those disciplines are outlined below.
Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet between themselves and others as much as possible.
Minimize contact with handles, doorknobs, handrails, and elevator call buttons as much as possible and wash hands or apply hand sanitizer regularly. Classroom doors should remain open until all students have arrived to class at which time the teacher will close the door.

Preschool, Kindergarten, and Lower School

Upon arrival at school, after screening protocols, students will go directly to their assigned classroom and only leave to go to the restroom, playground or gym.
Classrooms will be set up to allow for as much social distancing as possible (approx. 6 feet).
During indoor lunch and rest children will be 6 ft apart. During the remainder of the classroom day they will be masked but often not maintaining social distance.
Students and faculty will continue to wear face masks for the duration of the class.
Individual student belongings will be separated and contained is a dedicated container so that teachers can limit the sharing of supplies.
Students will wash their hands or apply hand sanitizer at least every other hour, as well as before and after specific activities, such as lunch and outdoor play.
At the conclusion of each activity, teachers will either spray each student’s desk/tables/workstations with approved disinfectant solution (students must not touch the disinfectant bottle without a teacher directive) and wipe them down with paper towels, or will wipe down their desk/workstation with alcohol wipes and dispose of the them in the trash can.
At each dismissal, students must use hand sanitizer provided by the teacher before proceeding to the gym or other space outside the classroom. Students must not touch hand sanitizer bottles.
Playground spaces will be utilized one class at a time and will be regularly cleaned.

Lower Middle School, Upper Middle School And High School

Once the students arrive in their classroom, they must:

Go directly to their assigned seat and remain seated unless directed by the teacher.
Classrooms will be set up to allow for social distancing (approx. 6 feet).
Students and faculty will continue to wear face masks for the duration of the class.
With the exception of Lunch Protocols described below, students will not eat in classrooms.
At the conclusion of each class, teachers will either spray each student’s desk/tables/workstations with approved disinfectant solution (students must not touch the disinfectant bottle without a teacher directive) and wipe them down with paper towels, or will wipe down their desk/workstation with alcohol wipes and dispose of the them in the trash can.
At each dismissal, students must use hand sanitizer provided by the teacher before proceeding to their next class. Students must not touch the hand sanitizer bottle unless directed by a teacher.

Recreational Arts Class, Dance Class and Athletics Routines

Recreational arts and dance teachers will use their discretion when determining if students should remove their protective masks depending on the level of aerobic or anaerobic activity when outdoors. All students should wear masks when engaging in indoor activities. In addition to the general rules above, the following guidelines will be implemented in all Rec Arts and Dance classes:

Teachers will plan outdoor classes and activities whenever possible.
Students will maintain a distance of 12 feet from each other when participating in these activities.
Personal water bottles are allowed and recommended but must not be shared at any time.
Teachers will avoid activities requiring physical contact between students.
When masks need to be removed in class when outdoors, they will be slid under a student’s chin and not taken off completely.
Rec Arts teachers will spray and wipe down any shared sports equipment and mats used during classes with disinfectant after each class and will disinfect the gym floors in between classes.

With regards to interscholastic sports, fall sports will not take place at this time.

Music Class Routines

Music ensembles have been scheduled in large spaces, like church sanctuaries, with adequate ventilation that allow for more than 12 feet of social distancing given the nature of the ensemble activities. All singing ensembles will only sing outdoors and all woodwind and brass instrumental classes will only play instruments outdoors. Students will be allowed to remove their protective masks when playing a woodwind or brass instrument outdoors. In addition to the general rules above, the guidelines below will be implemented in all middle school and high school music classes. (Preschool, Kindergarten, and Lower School music classes will be taught remotely.)

Students will have their own personal scores of music and will not be permitted to share.
Students will maintain a distance of 12 feet from each other when participating in these activities.
When masks need to be removed to play an instrument or sing outdoors, the masks will be slid under a student’s chin and not taken off completely.
Teachers will spray and wipe down music stands and community equipment (percussion instruments, guitars, pianos, etc.) with disinfectant after each class.