On-site instruction includes three modes:

• At home: all student learning from home
• Hybrid: students alternate between learning at home and at school
• Everyday: all students at school each day

How will the District determine which mode will be used?

Daily monitoring of local conditions, including health department statistics of disease spread in the area, absence rates, and other metrics

What will the hybrid schedule look like at RMS and BHS?

On any given day, teachers will instruct both the in-person and remote students in their classes simultaneously. All students will have access to their classroom teachers during the class period whether they have selected on-site or remote. 

• Students who previously selected on-site learning will enter Hybrid Mode where they will attend school on an every-other day basis following the Crimson/Gold schedule.
• Students who previously selected remote, will continue to learn from home with their same class schedule.
• Students who were previously identified to attend in-person everyday will continue to attend school everyday.

Length of Day and Lunch at BHS and RMS

• BHS 
  • Blocks 1-4 will run from 7:35 through 12:35
  • Optional grab-and-go lunch for in-person students at 12:35
  • Dismissal of in-person students at 12:35
  • Virtual opportunities for remainder of the day (details to follow)
• RMS 
  • The school day will run from 8:15 through 2:45
  • In-person students will eat lunch at school
  • Dismissal of in-person students at 2:45
  • Additional virtual opportunities will be communicated

What does learning look like in the hybrid (Crimson/Gold) mode when my elementary child is at home?

• Students should access the lessons for the day in their teachers’ Google classroom. Links to activities and a schedule will be provided for at home learners.
• Synchronous (live) learning including check ins, office hours, and connecting with in-person peers may be available. These opportunities will be communicated by your child’s classroom teacher.
• Lessons will be designed for most students to access the learning by themselves. This might include practicing things that learned in class or working on a project.
• The district expectation is that the curriculum moves forward each day for both on-site and virtual learners. This means the lessons will not be repeated.
• Communication to students and parents about how to access learning from home is an essential element of success and partnership.
• Kindergarten: When kindergarten students are learning from home, their lessons will not be technology dependent since students at this level are not 1:1. Lessons may be geared to engage parents/caretakers and children with activities to build toward literacy and numeracy.

Here’s a list of FAQ’s for On-site learning.

To start the school year, elementary students who chose on-site learning started in hybrid mode, alternating between learning at home and at school (crimson and gold days).  RMS and BHS students transitioned to the hybrid mode starting in the months of October and November. You can find details of this transition HERE. While our goal is for all elementary students to attend every day, the hybrid mode will continue for the foreseeable future.

We started every day learning for kindergarteners on Monday, October 26, 2020 and First Graders on Wednesday, January 6, 2021. Principals are doing frequent walkthroughs of the classrooms and frequent check-ins with the teachers to evaluate this new mode.

Here is the current calendar. This will continue to be updated as we move through the year.

* Attendance days will vary for early childhood and certain special education programs

Enhanced Cleaning Protocol

An enhanced cleaning protocol was implemented to clean and disinfect throughout the school day and each evening.  All classrooms and shared spaces are deep cleaned and disinfected daily.  Frequently touched surfaces, such as door handles, handrails, sink handles, common tables, and surfaces, and elevator buttons are disinfected multiple times throughout the day.

Cleaning kits were provided to each classroom. Students and teachers are responsible for cleaning their desks and chairs prior to occupying their seats. Teachers limit the number of objects handled by more than one person and are responsible for cleaning any instructional materials they are providing that will be used by someone in the class. Students and teachers are expected to ensure shared surfaces (desks, shared objects, etc.) are clean before each use.

Disinfectants are reserved for high touch surfaces (doorknobs, faucet handles, etc.). Students may not use disinfectants. Furniture with soft and porous material will be removed from classrooms and common spaces. All cleaning products will be centrally purchased and meet CDC guidelines and EPA approval.

Hand Hygiene

All individuals are expected to wash hands or use sanitizer frequently. Washing with soap and water whenever possible; hand sanitizer is allowed in instances where a sink is not available. Here is a handwashing demo video.

Hands must be washed or sanitized upon arrival at school and before and after recess, meals, and sharing objects.

Immunization and Physicals

All regular immunizations and physicals are required. Additional information on the COVID-19 vaccine will be shared as soon as it is available. Like the flu vaccine, the COVID vaccine will not be required.

Shared Objects

Avoid use of shared objects to the extent practical. Students will wash or sanitize hands before and after each use. Shared objects cleaned after each use.

Face Coverings Required

All persons, including students, staff, and visitors, must wear a face covering when present in school. Any person not wearing a face covering will be dismissed from school. Exemptions will not be considered for individuals who have a personal objection or preference.

Face coverings are masks or other cloth that cover an individual’s nose and mouth. All face coverings must:

• • Reach above the nose, below the chin, and completely cover the mouth and nostrils.
  • Fit snugly against the sides of the face without gaps.
  • Be made of multiple layers of fabric that you can still breathe through. Gaiters are acceptable if they are multi-layer.
  • May not be constructed of a material that is sheer or resembles mesh or netting.
  • Not have an exhalation valve or vent.

Here is some updated guidance from the CDC on Gaiters, and how to select and wear a face covering appropriately.

Face coverings may be temporarily removed:

• When eating
• When outdoors and social distancing of at least six feet can be maintained
• When playing a musical instrument outdoors with at least six feet social distancing

Strict adherence to social distancing must be maintained when face coverings are removed in limited situations.  Please review CDC recommendations on how to properly wear a face covering.  Masks intended for healthcare workers, such as N95 respirators, should not be worn.

Medical Exemption

A request for medical exemption must include a written letter, signed by a medical doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, demonstrating that wearing a face mask poses a medical risk to a person’s physical well-being and is medically contraindicated.

Face mask exemptions pose a risk to other individuals and will only be granted when accommodations can be made to protect the safety of others. All exemption requests will be considered on an individualized basis if a person’s medical needs can be safely accommodated.

All exemptions, if granted, will require strict compliance with an individualized safety plan and may exclude the individual from certain activities that may pose an increased risk to others. Considerations for exemption include:

• Whether the student’s medical condition is conducive to in-person attendance or if needs would be best met remotely.
• The ability to protect the safety of others.
• The person’s behavior and capacities, including to control secretions, cover mouth/nose when sneezing and coughing.
• The person’s ability to maintain a six foot physical distance from others at all times.
• The person’s ability to tolerate wearing a face covering (may consider the option of face shield instead)
• The person’s ability to wash hands with/without assistance, and ability/safety of use of hand sanitizer.
• Exclusion of the person when any symptom of illness is present, regardless of cause (including allergies).

All students will be six feet apart when they eat and tables will be cleaned prior to each use.  All meals must be pre-ordered online; no lines or cashiers will be used.

All lunch items are scratch made, include a main entree and two sides, and milk or juice.

All breakfast meals consist of a whole grain, protein, and fruit with milk.

All meals will be individually packaged, heat sealed, and labeled with its contents.  Pickup options will be made available for students attending remotely and off-days (crimson/gold).

Foodservice

Check HERE for current foodservice information.

To avoid lines, all student meals must be ordered in advance through SchoolCafe by 7 a.m. on the day of service.   There will be one breakfast and three lunch options available each day:

• All lunch items are scratch-made and include a main entree and two sides, and milk or juice.
• All breakfast meals consist of a whole grain, protein, and fruit with milk.
• All meals will be individually packaged, heat-sealed, and labeled with its contents.  

To order a meal:

1. Log into your SchoolCafe account.
2. Under ‘Orders’, click ‘Place Order’.
3. Choose the meal date, student, meal selection, etc.
   1. Students eating on-site will choose ‘Cafeteria’; remote learners who wish to pick up should choose ‘Zone’
   2. Orders may be placed up to one week in advance
   3. If you have more than one student, you’ll need to place orders for each child.

Note: you can pre-order up to a week in advance. This helpful video will walk you through the ordering process.  You can also set low balance alerts, automatic payments, and purchase restrictions in SchoolCafe. As always, no one will be left hungry.

To avoid traffic congestion, all families are encouraged to walk or bike to school as much as possible.

When riding a bus, face coverings required at all times. No more than 50 students will be assigned to a bus route. Students will load back to front and siblings will sit together. No paid busing options will be offered.

Visitors

School visitors will be limited to essential business only; no volunteers.

Classroom Arrangements

To the greatest extent possible, students will be spaced six feet apart.  Non-essential furniture removed to increase space and students will sit in assigned seats.

Passing Periods

Face coverings required.  Limited to less than 10 minutes.  Some hallways and staircases may be directional.

Lockers and Student Belongings

No hallway or PE lockers.  Students are encouraged to carry as little as possible and will need a backpack to hold their personal belongings nearby throughout the day. 

Arrival and Dismissal

Students may arrive up to 20 minutes before school starts and will proceed directly to their classroom.

Dismissal will be school-specific, with staggered release for bus riders.

Restrooms

Use discouraged during passing periods.  Each classroom may release one student at a time during class.

Classroom Ventilation (HVAC)

Improve ventilation and increase airflow and outdoor air.  Natural ventilation (open windows) will be used when weather (temperature and humidity) permits.

Classroom temperatures may vary significantly more than normal and be uncomfortable.

Symptom Screening

Each day, all students and staff will complete a daily symptom screener before arriving at school.  The school nurse or designee will perform the screening for any non-compliant individuals upon arrival.

Students and staff must stay home if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or illness that are not caused by a known condition in the absence of other symptoms (asthma, Crohn’s disease, migraine headaches, post intense workout, etc).  If in doubt, stay home until your healthcare provider has confirmed you are safe to return.  

If a student will be absent from in-person or remote learning due to illness or any other reason, parents must report the absence to the school’s attendance line just as they normally would.

Need a thermometer?  Request a free thermometer for your family.

Cases

If a staff member or student is COVID positive, the district has a process in place that:  

• • Connects the individual with a member of the BPS101 health staff to determine next steps for the student or staff member
  • Ensures all “close contacts” are identified and notified
  • Keeps confidential health data private

Here is a video with Superintendent Lisa Hichens and District Certified Nurse Lori Carbonell about monitoring and responding to local cases. 

Other FAQs related to COVID cases:

• What do I do if I have tested positive or if I have been told by a medical professional that I am presumed positive?  The short answer: parents should contact the school nurse; staff members contact their supervisor and a district nurse. 
  • Do call your school nurse (if you are a student) or the administrator who supervises you (if you are a staff member) as soon as possible. They will connect you with a district nurse to determine next steps. They will also complete the contact tracing to determine who is considered a “close contact” to you. 
  • Do follow the advice of the district nurse about the number of days that you will need to isolate at home.
  • Do communicate with your supervisor (staff) or teacher (student) about your work responsibilities.
  • Don’t worry that your COVID-19 status will be shared by the BPS101 staff members. There are an extremely limited number of people who will be told of your status. Anyone identified as a “close contact” to you will be called, but your name will remain confidential. 
  • Don’t contact your friends, classmates,  co-workers or others about your positive test result; there are a few reasons for this request: 
    • The contact tracers need time to make their phone calls. Anyone who needs to be called should hear the information from a health professional. 
    • People who are not “close contacts” are not required to be tested or quarantined. There is no need to cause unnecessary worry.
    • It will help us to keep your confidential health information private. 
• What do I do when I know someone who has tested positive for COVID or I have heard that there may be someone who has tested positive? 
  • Don’t assume that anyone who is absent from work or school has COVID-19.
  • Don’t believe everything you hear about someone else’s COVID-19 status
  • Don’t comment on or speculate about someone else’s personal health information. 
  • Don’t contact the district with information about someone you believe to have COVID-19 (unless you are reporting on behalf of yourself or your student). The district and the Kane County Health Department communicate regularly on all active cases so your information is not needed. We are unable to discuss other people’s health status with you. We are monitoring the number of positive cases daily. 
  • Do trust the process. You will be contacted if there is a COVID-19 case that you need to know about. 

• What do I do if I have been informed (by a health professional) that I am a “close contact” to someone who has tested positive? The short answer: parents should contact the school nurse; staff members contact their supervisor and the district nurse.
  • Do stay home.
  • Do follow the health professional’s advice about the length of your self-quarantine and monitoring of symptoms.
  • Do communicate with your supervisor (staff) or teacher (student) about your work responsibilities during the self-quarantine. 
• What do I do if someone that I live with is determined to be a “close contact” to someone who tested positive for COVID-19?
  • Unless you have been identified as a “close contact” to someone who has tested positive, there are no restrictions for you. Continue to practice good hygiene especially around the member of your household who is self-quarantining and monitoring their symptoms. 

• Who will be notified when someone is COVID-19 positive? 
  • Anyone who is a “close contact” will be notified. 
  • On a case-by-case basis, in consultation with the Kane County Health Department, it will be decided if others should be notified.