Safety Plan Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic School Guidance and Procedures 2020/2021

Saint Michael the Archangel
Catholic Schools Onward
Best Practices and New Opportunities as We Move Forward

Guidance and Procedures



2020 - 2021














Table of Contents
Introduction and Philosophy (Page 5)
General Principles (Page 8)
Catholic Identity (Page 10)
The Prayer of Pope Francis During The Coronavirus (Page 12)
Building Operations (Page 13)
Entering the Building (Page 13)
Daily Monitoring of Health (Page 16)
Lunch (Page 17)
Recess (Page 17)
Traveling within the Building (Page 18)
Library (Page 19)
Physical Education (Page 20)
St. Raphael Room (Page 21)
Classroom Operations (Page 22)
Classroom Set-up / Materials (Pages 23/24)
Virtual Learning (Page 25)
Virtual Learning for Individuals (Page 26)
Playbooks (Page 28)
Guidance When COVID Is Suspected (Page 28)
CARES (Page 31)
Early Childhood/ Pre-K (Page 33)
Mental /Whole Health (Page 36)
Student Awareness (Page 37)
Afterschool Activities (Page 38)
SMA School Additional Points (Page 39)
Our Goal (Pages 40/41)










CATHOLIC SCHOOLS ONWARD PLAN FOR SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL
This plan was written in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the following governing agencies: Center for Disease Control, Pennsylvania Department of Education, Buck County Health Department, BCIU, and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for the reopening of SMA school during the 2020 COVID pandemic. This plan may be modified depending on current conditions. Please check our website: www.sma-pa.org for the latest updates.

Our Goal:

• While it is our intention to remain open for the entire school year, we are implementing these strategies to ensure uninterrupted, effective, quality Catholic education in various projected scenarios.
• Parents are encouraged to choose the best options for their child’s needs and their family needs.
• Accommodations will be made for families who require virtual instruction during certain times or to address health and emotional well-being concerns.
• This is a constantly evolving situation and SMA School will continue to adapt so that we can provide the least restrictive, continuous educational program for our students.

Introduction and Philosophy
Introduction:
This document will provide information regarding the plan to return to Brick-and-Mortar learning for SMA School for the 2020-2021 school year. Before we discuss the specific aspects of the plan, let us start with an introduction to several of the key foundational premises that the plan is built upon.  The principles listed below, will allow us to remain open and only use virtual learning for those who have been identified with COVID-19.
Partnership – Catholic elementary schools are inherently a partnership between the parents and the school. At Saint Michael’s we value this greatly. This is never more important than at this time and an even greater partnership is now needed.  It is our goal to open this school year and to remain open. This cannot be possible unless the school and the parents agree to the importance of monitoring your child’s health daily. Most importantly, this means that children who are experiencing symptoms – such as fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, parents need to keep their child home until medically cleared to return to school.  With parental cooperation in this matter, we will be able to keep our school open and safe.
Cohorting:
A cohort is a group of students in the same grade, most cases, this is a single homeroom but, in some situations; it could be a larger group.
Cohorting is recommended by many health organizations as an environmental measure to prevent the spread of disease. Some large school systems are using it as the only method of prevention to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Although, our schools will be using other precautionary measures, cohorting will be a major part of the plan. With this, we will keep groups of children together for the entire day. They will attend lunch, recess and classes as a cohort.  If a case of COVID-19 were to surface with a cohort, we would then move to virtual learning at home with just the identified cohort.  The rest of the school would continue to operate with in-class instruction.
Social distancing – Social distancing is also a fundamental practice in all our procedures of operations. Social distancing is deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness. Keeping your distance from others lessens the chances of catching and spreading COVID-19. Travel in the hallway, lunch periods, and classroom instruction have all been planned to maximize social distancing.
Strategic Use of Masks – The use of masks will follow any and all current governmental guidelines. Students must wear them, by order of the Governor, if they are not six feet of distance between students. Masks will be mandatory in certain situations, such as travel in the hallway, on the bus, classroom situations with non-cohort members, or when travel about the classroom is necessary without effective social distancing. When allowed by the PA. Governor, when a child is at his desk with his cohort in a socially distance situation, the student may remove his mask. Using these principles, a student then can remain mask free at certain times, unless a parent indicates they would like their child to keep their mask on the entire day.
Enhanced Cleaning – The school will increase the cleaning of common areas and highly used features such as door knobs, handrails, and counters. Children are encouraged to bring their own water bottles to school, as common water fountains will not be in use. At St. Mike’s students may refill their bottles at the new water bottle stations. With this enhanced cleaning, a safer environment can be established.
Monitoring Health – Every day, parents are primarily responsible for monitoring the health of their children. Teachers will check the health of their students during the school day.
Virtual / Distance Learning – Use of virtual / distance learning. We will make three types of non-traditional learning available. Virtual Individualize / Cohort Distance / Entire School Distance

• Virtual Individualize:  If a child does not feel safe in the building or is coronavirus sick, or a parent suspects the child may be sick, we will have an option where the child can continue the class via a telecommuting practice. The major subjects will be available through this method. Materials will be exchanged through the Learning Management System (LMS). SMA Google School.

• Cohort Distance Learning: In the case where a cohort has been dismissed from school and COVID-19 has been identified, the entire cohort will utilize distance learning for the isolation period. Lessons will be delivered through a telecommuting platform, with heavy reliance on the LMS. SMA Google School.
• Entire School Distance Learning: If the school is compelled to close again due to government regulations related to COVID, all students will have access to the teacher’s instruction and assignments through learning platforms. SMA Google School. The students will already be familiar with the use of these systems and the devices and therefore should be able to function independently, depending on age and development during the closure. Parents will call or email the teacher to report their child attendance.

Modified Attendance – Since we are encouraging parents to monitor health closely, and we also encourage keeping children home if they display symptoms, the grading of attendance has changed. Children will be marked as attending in person or attending virtually. Only when children cannot or do not participate in any of the virtual lessons, will they be marked absent.
General Principles for the Building
Introduction:
There are several key practices that should be implemented to maintain a safe learning environment.
Philosophy:
Foundational premises when designing a safe learning environment are the concepts of maintaining cohorts, social distancing and frequent cleaning. The use of these practices is recommended by the CDC and other health agencies to help control the spread of any viruses and manage any possible outbreaks.
Process:

1. We will limit the admission of visitors to SMA school.
2. High touch surfaces will be cleaned frequently such as door knobs, remotes, and light switches.
3. Signage in each classroom and throughout the building reminding students to practice good hygiene.
4. Hand sanitizers will be available in the hallways near entrances and in other strategic areas.
5. Each student is encouraged to provide their own supplies to reduce the need to share supplies.
6. Group singing will be discouraged unless increased social distancing is possible. Refrain from individual singing.
7. Computer class – students use own electronic devices when possible.
8. When possible, specialty teachers and departmental teachers will teach in the students’ classroom.
9. No sharing by students or staff.
10.  Ventilation is important - windows should be opened if possible.
11.  Field trips are on hold since they break cohorting and expose students and staff to risk of exposure to Covid-19.
12.  Any child traveling to a location designated as a “Hot Spot,” will need when returning to SMA School to quarantine for 14 days.

Catholic Identity

Catholic Identity
Introduction:
Excellence in education is characterized by having a strong curriculum, student engagement, utilizing quality instructional methods, making good use of data and regular communication with parents and stakeholders.  What is at the heart of learning in a Catholic school is the inclusion of faith and Catholic identity in all we do.


Philosophy:
Catholic schools have a two-fold charge: providing an education that is academically excellent and one that is deeply rooted in Catholic identity. The challenge, then, is to ensure that the education that is delivered (no matter what the mode of delivery) meets this standard.


Process:

1. At SMA School our objective is across all grade levels and all subject matter that course content is intentionally Catholic.
2. When face-to-face instruction is possible, school Masses will require their own protocol that will maintain the appropriate social distancing.
   • Attendance of parents and general community at the school liturgies may have to be suspended depending on local guidelines.   If the Mass is live-streamed, parents and families will be invited to attend.
   • Because of social distance, Grades K- 4 will attend one Mass then we will alternate the next Mass with Grades 5-8. (See SMA School Calendar for schedule)
3. We provide opportunities for daily prayer in a community.
4. SMA School along with all schools across the Archdiocesan community will pray the prayer of Pope Francis daily.
5. Support and make modifications to other faith-based activities that are important in the life of the school (i.e., retreats, prayer services).
6. Increase opportunities for cross-grade faith sharing using virtual means (i.e., prayer buddies meeting virtually).
7. Begin all synchronous video sessions with prayer, including soliciting prayer intentions from students.
8. Support the faith life of faculty and staff through community prayer and scripture study.
9. Invite parents and families to join in virtual prayer and faith life.
10. Connect the current events with a Catholic perspective (using the tenets of Catholic Social Teaching, the Virtues, etc.) as a framework to support understanding.
11. Create approaches to minister to families who experience food insecurity, financial issues, and other crises.
12. Promote service learning experiences in virtual spaces.
13. Find opportunities in the current situation that would lend themselves to a community response (acknowledgements and prayers for police, first responders, holding food drives, etc.).
14. Maintain Catholic Identity in the school environment:
    • Make sure that every classroom has a prayer corner, crucifix, statues, and bulletin boards reflecting faith values.
    • Laminate the prayer or Pope Francis during the COVID and Prayer of Saint Michael and put in a prominent place in the school and classrooms.
    • Restore practices of having a class patron.
    • Keep in focus the Standards for Ministerial Behavior

The Prayer of Pope Francis during the Coronavirus

Lord, may you bless the world, give health to our bodies and comfort our hearts. You ask us not to be afraid. Yet our faith is weak and we are fearful. But you, Lord, will not leave us at the mercy of the storm. Tell us again: “Do not be afraid” (Mt 28:5). And we, together with Peter, “cast all our anxieties onto you, for you care about us” (1 Pet 5:7). Amen.