Dear Lower Primary School Community, ​ ​

Last Tuesday, the EDB shared specific guidelines for schools, outlining procedures that must be in place to maximize a safe return for students. Included in this document is information on our re-entry plan, along with the safety measures, parameters, and procedures we must implement in order for Lower Primary students to safely return to school.

Students will not be penalized in any way if their parents choose to keep them at home or remain overseas. For families who are currently overseas, HKIS strongly recommends that they ​ do not attempt to fly back to Hong Kong in an effort to have their children return to school.

Travel Declaration

All members of the HKIS community must complete a travel declaration and adhere to the strict quarantine guidelines for their children to be allowed on campus. A Travel Declaration Form will be sent to your email on Monday afternoon and must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on ​ Wednesday, May 13.

Staggered Opening For Grade 1-2

In order to ensure the safety of our students, faculty and staff, the elementary will stagger the opening of school with Lower Primary students beginning on May 26. Grade 2 will come in for one half-day on May 26, Grade 1 will come in for one half-day on May 27 and then Grade 1 & 2 will both come to school for half-days beginning May 28. This allows us to stagger the Lower Primary students onto campus first and to limit the number of students coming onto campus all at once, and teach children the new routines of arrival and dismissal as well as transitioning throughout the campus in a safe and orderly manner.

Half-Day Schedule

In order to comply with EDB guidelines, we have made the decision to run a half-day schedule. Each grade level will be split into two sections of five classes. This is a working plan and may change depending on the tightening or loosening of restrictions as well as the school’s ability to serve our children.

Dates for beginning school:

May 26: Grade 2 Only ​ May 27: Grade 1 Only (no Grade 2 on this day) ​ May 28-June 11: Grade 1 & 2 ​

Each homeroom class has been assigned either a morning or afternoon session:

Morning (8 - 10:30 a.m.) - Class 501, 504, 505, 509, 510, 602, 604, 605, 608, 609 ​ 7:30-8 a.m. Drop-off 8-8:45 a.m. HOMEROOM 8:45-9 a.m. Snack 9-9:40 a.m. Specials 9:45-10:30 a.m. HOMEROOM/SEL (1x per week) 10:30 a.m. Dismissal

Afternoon (12:30 - 3 p.m) - Class 502, 503, 506, 507, 508, 601, 603, 606, 607, 610 ​ 12-12:30 p.m. Drop-off 12:30-1:15 p.m. HOMEROOM 1:15-1:30 p.m. Snack 1:30-2:10 p.m. Specials 2:10-2:55 p.m. HOMEROOM/SEL (1x per week) 3 p.m. Dismissal

Mandatory Busing

Busing is mandatory for all students and no exceptions will be made. Students who are registered as walkers will still be allowed to walk to school as per the HKIS Mandatory Busing ​ ​ Policy. There will be no bus changes or early pick-up for the remainder of the school year ​ unless your child falls ill at school.

If you have confirmed your child will return to campus through the Travel Declaration Form, a bus spot will be reserved for your child. Please check your email for this form and be reminded to submit the form no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13.

Our busing company will be making revised busing routes based on the information provided in this form, so it is vitally important that this information is correct and submitted on time. If you are unsure whether you will send your child to school, we ask that you complete the form anyway so that we can include your child on the bus route should you change your mind at a later stage.

Buses will be thoroughly cleaned between all runs. Additionally, all buses have been proactively treated with an antiviral/antibacterial coating. This coating is effective for 90 days. Bus supervisors will check the temperature logs of each child before entering the bus each day. Masks must be worn at all times on the bus.

Masks

All students and adults will be required to wear masks at all times when on the bus and on campus. Students are expected to bring their own masks to school with an additional two in reserve. Students will not be allowed on the bus, or onto campus, without wearing a mask. Should they run out of masks during school hours, the school will provide them with one.

The Hong Kong Government is currently distributing free reusable masks to all HK residents. For LPS students, these masks will be delivered to school. More information to come later about the CuMasks.

Temperature Logs

All students will be given a temperature log on their first day of school. Please print this form to ​ ​ record your child’s temperature on his/her first day back.

● Parents are required to check their child’s temperature prior to leaving the house each day and complete the temperature log prior to boarding the school bus. ● Students will have their temperature checked again upon entering the campus. ● Should a child’s temperature read 37.3C or above with a forehead scanner (surface temperature), students will be sent to the nurse for their temperature to be taken. ● Should their temperature read 37.5C or above with the ear thermometer (core temperature), students will be sent home as per school fever policy.

Anyone showing symptoms of illness must remain home. This includes: cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, or fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell. Please refer to CDC updated Covid-19 symptoms as of ​ ​ ​ May, 2020.

Home Learning

Our current home learning through daily learning grids will continue through May 22 for G1 & G2. After this time, we will continue to provide Home Learning resources for students who are not at school, and this will be posted on each teacher’s blog using the same daily grid format. Teachers will continue to support students who are absent and make every effort to connect them with their peers during class time. Teachers will no longer be offering Zoom lessons, require submission of assignments or assessments, or posting instructional videos after May 22. Home Learning grids for R1 & R2 will continue as scheduled.

Other important parameters to note:

● Due to social distancing limitations, the Dining Hall and playgrounds will remain closed. ● Children will have a nutrition break for 15 minutes in their classroom. They will need to bring a healthy snack and a water bottle to school each day. ● Parents will not be allowed access to the campus until further notice. ● Classroom spaces will be specifically arranged to maximize the floor space and promote physical distance among students. ● Classrooms will be thoroughly cleaned each day, and surfaces wiped down with disinfectant between morning and afternoon teaching blocks. ● Children will be required to walk at arms length behind the person in front of them during transitions. ● Children will spend all of their time at school in their homeroom class (except for PE, where we will transition them to the gym). ● Specialist teachers in Chinese, music and art will visit the homeroom class to teach lessons. Our counselors will continue to teach SEL lessons. ● Children will be accompanied by an adult whenever they are transitioning throughout the school. ● Hand sanitizer will be used whenever an adult or child enters or exits a classroom space. ● Children will be asked to only bring essential items to and from school each day. We kindly ask to send in pencils and coloring utensils (crayons, markers or colored pencils) in a small case in order to lessen the sharing of materials among students.