S/o- How much information are your local private schools giving for starting school

[gatorsmom]

We are at a private school and I’ve been very unimpressed with how they are planning for keeping kids safe this fall. It’s ridiculous because of course they expect our tuition dollars! I’m wondering what other pro ste
schools are doing and how well they are communicating to parents their plans for keeping everyone safe. Any want to share what your private school Is planning? Or if you have friends at private schools, how do they compare?

[smilequeen]

We have a pretty detailed plan. I couldn't share it here, but if you want a link, I can send it.

They've obviously worked hard on it and I'm hopeful but given that our state is not doing well, I won't be surprised if we end up online.

Our smaller elementary school is less detailed...because it's so small (120 students) in a lot of space


-daily screenings in carline
-masks required by 4th grade and older
-class sizes reduced for social distancing (i.e. they split my 4th graders class into 2...one 7 kids and one 8)
-specials in regular classroom
-PE outside whenever possible
-all touchless sinks, lights, doors
-cohorts for any before/after care...no special before/after care...will be with regular teachers
-lunches in classrooms for younger kids and spread out in cafeteria for older (4-6)

that is what I can remember

Either way, both my oldest and youngest have classmates with infectious disease specialists for parents. If they are happy with the plans, I'm all good.

[NCGrandma]

If I understand all the (confusing) details correctly, all public school districts and private schools in RI have had to submit plans to the state dept of education that address 4 different scenarios: full distance learning for all, full in-person learning for all, and 2 intermediate phases (limited in-person and partial in-person — maybe some other BBBer can explain the difference between these 2, but not me...). What I’m not clear about is whether the governor will announce, right before school starts, "all schools will use their plan for option 2b," or whatever, or whether schools have any flexibility.

After reading the 20-page detailed plan my DGDs' private school has prepared and also listening to an hour-long informational Zoom meeting, I am impressed with how well-thought-out and thorough it is. They have always taken advantage of their large campus to spend educational time outdoors, and they plan to do this even more if they’ll be doing any of the options that have some or all students on campus. (Tents have already been ordered!)

In the informational Zoom meeting, the Head of school mentioned that there were some aspects of plans for which they have to follow the state's directives and others where the school can choose their preferred plan. She wasn’t specific and I suspect the whole thing is still a work in process.

My impression is that most/all of the independent schools in the state are in frequent communication. I have no idea about the Catholic or Jewish schools.

In short, I’m cautiously optimistic.


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[StantonHyde]

Our Diocese outlined a plan that all of the Catholic schools are following. Start there for your Diocese.

[gymnbomb]

If I understand all the (confusing) details correctly, all public school districts and private schools in RI have had to submit plans to the state dept of education that address 4 different scenarios: full distance learning for all, full in-person learning for all, and 2 intermediate phases (limited in-person and partial in-person — maybe some other BBBer can explain the difference between these 2, but not me...). What I’m not clear about is whether the governor will announce, right before school starts, "all schools will use their plan for option 2b," or whatever, or whether schools have any flexibility.

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Partial reopening has K-5 still attending school full time. High school students attend some days. I can’t remember which group middle school fell into.

Limited reopening has most students distance learning, but some limited in school learning for vulnerable populations (who I believe also get priority for in person learning in the partial scenario). This includes students who get special services, English language learners, and possibly some transitional grades.

My current understanding is that the state (governor/school commissioner/department of Ed) will announce which plan each district must follow at least for public schools, but that it may not be the same for every district.

Many districts submitted plans with 2 days in person and 3 days distance learning for all students as their partial reopening plans and were told that was not ok. I do not know what would happen if she said to do full reopening, which she is really pushing for, and a district or school said they could not do that safely. Which is essentially what at least 9 districts have already said.

Initially full distance learning would only be an option for high risk families if the schools were open, but they have already walked that one back and allowed everyone the option of selecting full distance learning.


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[meggie t]

I have two children at two different private schools. Both have very small class sizes (generally fewer than 15 students per class). My son's school sent their plan. It is very basic but I am happy with it. It is a K-8 school.

Details:
-your child may wear a mask but it is not mandatory.
-teachers will wear a mask if they have to go to your child's desk for assistance but not in the front of the room.
-parents or any adults entering the school must have a mask.
-3ft separation for desks
-one door for entering, one for exiting
-lunch eaten in classroom (which is how they have always done it so this isn't a change)
-stairwells will be one way
-bathroom passes must be used and only one child in the bathroom at a time (each grade is assigned a certain bathroom)
-classes will not intermingle. at events where more than one grade is present, chairs will be distanced.
-school issued masks for mass (Catholic school)
-hand sanitizing stations in each room and hallways, doors, etc.

I am assuming my daughter's school will have a similar protocol.

[carolinamama]

Our private K-8 school has a very detailed plan. Here are a few of the highlights I can remember:

-Symptom questionnaire completed each day on app before drop off
-Staggered drop off and pick up times
-One way hallways and stairwells
-Kids stay in their classrooms instead of moving around the school as much as possible
-PE outside as much as possible
-Desks placed 6 feet apart in classrooms
-Mandatory masking for all teachers, staff and students
-Lunch in classrooms, food must be ordered ahead and delivered
-Hand sanitizing stations through out school
-No assemblies
-Mass will be streamed into classrooms instead of students all going
-No parent visitors or volunteers in the school for now

The only concern I had was that ventilation wasn't addressed. I know the re-opening committee has been working on these plans since April/May and the plan published over a month ago so obviously more research has come out since then. We still chose virtual and I continue to go back and forth about that decision. I hope it was the right one. UGH!

[mom2binsd]

We had a pretty detailed plan for the for hybrid (2 days in school split by alphabet so teachers in 4 days for 6-12) and 5 days in school for K - 6, and similar plan for the neighboring district (both public), and at 3pm they both announced together that they would both be all remote until Oct. We are very low positivity rates here (1.9%) only 15 deaths total in our county and 10 of those were at one very poorly run nursing home). Illinois has been very conservative in our opening and people are you very compliant with masks, however folks are traveling a lot more to hotspots. We have excellent access to testing for the public, lots of places to go and results within 2 days usually. My kids were devastated, senior and freshman. DD is in her final season of swim. Many of my teacher friends felt the had a good plan and were willing to give it a try.

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[NCGrandma]

Partial reopening has K-5 still attending school full time. High school students attend some days. I can’t remember which group middle school fell into.

Limited reopening has most students distance learning, but some limited in school learning for vulnerable populations (who I believe also get priority for in person learning in the partial scenario). This includes students who get special services, English language learners, and possibly some transitional grades.

My current understanding is that the state (governor/school commissioner/department of Ed) will announce which plan each district must follow at least for public schools, but that it may not be the same for every district.

Many districts submitted plans with 2 days in person and 3 days distance learning for all students as their partial reopening plans and were told that was not ok. I do not know what would happen if she said to do full reopening, which she is really pushing for, and a district or school said they could not do that safely. Which is essentially what at least 9 districts have already said.

Initially full distance learning would only be an option for high risk families if the schools were open, but they have already walked that one back and allowed everyone the option of selecting full distance learning.


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Thanks — this is helpful. Looks like their school's plan for partial reopening emphasizes stable groups by grade with limited interaction between groups. (Maybe that’s a requirement.) Both Lower School (K-5) and Middle School (6-8) would be on campus full time. For Upper School (9-12), there’s a fairly elaborate rotation plan of intensive block courses, shorter seminars, etc with different groups on campus on different days...

Looking at the COVID19 stats by town, I can’t imagine that it would make sense for all schools to do the same thing, especially full reopening. (This week's data by town range from 2% of tests being positive to 20% positivity.)


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[mom2binsd]

Just got a surprising email, they are allowing a few fall sports so DD will get to swim her senior season.

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