CESD COVID-19 PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK Cape Elizabeth School District COVID-19 Parent/Student Handbook 1 CESD COVID-19 PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK Message for Parents Cape Elizabeth School District (CESD) is committed to partnering with our parents and families to provide our students with a continuation of their education, as best we can, during this difficult time without overwhelming students or their families. In response to COVID-19, CESD will comply with the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as well as the State of Maine, which are incorporated herein. This handbook is designed to provide you with essential information you will need to help us accomplish our goal. Our hope is that this handbook provides the building blocks for a system that can be expanded should the closure of schools continue for an extended period of time. As the information regarding COVID-19 is constantly changing, this plan will be updated as needed. All major updates to the plan will be posted on the CESD Website and communicated via PowerSchool Alerts. Therefore, you should plan to check the CESD website daily. School or class specific changes to the plan will be communicated via the principal or classroom teacher. In closing thank you for your diligence, patience and continued support. Sincerely yours, Donna Wolfrom, Superintendent 2 CESD COVID-19 PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK Message for Parents 2 COMMUNICATION 5 Instructional Program 6 Transportation 8 PARENT CONTRACT- RETURN TO SCHOOL 10 Daily COVID-19 Checklist- Student 11 Reporting Absences 12 Returning to School After An Illness-Related Absence 12 COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions 17 Additional resources 20 3 CESD COVID-19 PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK COMMUNICATION Ongoing communication is a critical element of flexible and remote learning. The following tools will be used to communicate with families: Communication Tool Purpose How to Access the Tool CESD website To provide updated https://www.cape.k12.me.us/ information regarding the continuing education plan, announcements, resources and access to individual school websites, along with principals’ and teachers’ webpages. CESD Facebook To provide updated Cape Elizabeth Schools information regarding the (requires a Facebook account to continuing education plan, access) announcements, and resources. PowerSchool Alert To provide updated CESD will notify the telephone information regarding the number and/or email address continuing education plan, listed for family contact on file announcements, and with the District. Please make resources sure the telephone number and email address that you want to receive district alerts is on file with your child’s school. PowerSchool Absence Click here for a tutorial of how Reporting to report an absence School Nurse Contact To discuss students’ Pond Cove: Erin Taylor Information symptoms, medical follow Middle School: Jill Young up, other health related High School: Karen Jenkins questions or concerns 4 CESD COVID-19 PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK Principal and Teacher To provide school and class Go to CESD Website Webpages specific announcements, Click on “SITES” at the top of access to Google the page to locate your child’s Classroom and school. Scroll to the bottom of conference/instructional the school page to MENU. Click times and resources on STAFF to be brought to the staff list. The principal and teachers web pages are listed in alphabetical order by last name. Click on the name and the web page will appear. Google Classroom The place where the Follow the instructions above teacher places assignments for accessing the teacher web and announcements page. Go to the teacher web page and follow the instructions for accessing Google Classroom ZOOM This tool will allow you to Follow the instructions above communicate directly with for accessing the teacher web your child’s teacher and is page. Go to the teacher web for your child to attend page and click the link for Zoom instructional sessions or Conferencing. receive help either online or via the telephone. Instructional Program Instructional Models Pond Cove -Schedule Middle School-Schedule High School -Schedule 5 CESD COVID-19 PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK Google Classroom ● Google Classroom will be used as our main learning platform to remain connected with our students, assign, and assess work. ● Parents/Students can access Google Classroom via the teacher webpage by following the instructions for accessing Google Classroom in the Communication chart above. ● Google has parent tutorials if assistance is needed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqxCfihxEVw ● Students will be able to see and complete their assignments and receive timely feedback from their teachers through Google Classroom. DATA PRIVACY & SECURITY DURING REMOTE LEARNING: Cape Elizabeth School District can only ensure the safety of your child's digital footprint and identity if he/she/they are using the district-approved applications listed above. The use of any other websites/applications or social media platforms is at the discretion of the parent. We strongly encourage you to read the privacy policies of any non-district approved applications to ensure that your child's identity is properly protected. If you are unsure whether a resource is approved by the district, please contact your school. As a community, we must all remain especially vigilant about cyber-security in the weeks and months ahead. 6 CESD COVID-19 PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK Transportation Please note that parents will not be allowed into the school buildings to drop off/ pick up their child. Traffic Safety: Your child’s safety is of utmost importance to us. In order for the CESD to provide a safe environment for your child, we need your help. If your child does not ride the bus, please abide by the following requests: I. Drop-Off / Pick-up Process: If carpooling, families are advised to carpool with the same stable group of people. Everyone in the vehicle should wear a mask. Open vehicle windows and maximize outdoor air circulation. Parents should remain in the vehicle. Students may exit the vehicle at designated drop off points when instructed to do so. II. Bus Transportation: ● School transportation will be provided for those families who are unable to drop off or pick up students. ● Regular school day hours may need to be adjusted and staggered to meet transportation and safe pick-up/drop-off procedures. ● Bus Schedules will be available when developed. ● Students are required to wear face coverings while riding the bus. ● Students are expected to observe proper physical distancing at bus stops and at school when being loaded onto buses. ● All buses being used will be cleaned and disinfected before and after each bus run. ● Drop off and pick-up procedures will be amended/updated (per CDC guidelines) to ensure health and safety requirements are met. 7 CESD COVID-19 PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK ● Up to two (2) children will be allowed in the school van, depending on the size of the van. If a second adult monitor is required, only one (1) child will be allowed. The total capacity of a van should not exceed three (3) people at any given time. Face coverings will be required in the van. ● Bus/van drivers will clean and disinfect frequently-touched surfaces between uses. ● Students will be picked up at the same bus stop each morning. Only students assigned to the bus will be allowed to board. ● Students will be dropped off at the same bus stop each afternoon. Only students assigned to the bus will be allowed to board. On the bus: 1. Students will be assigned seating on the bus. Students will sit one to a seat to establish necessary physical distancing. 2. Tape marks and signage will show students where to sit. 3. To minimize contact between passengers, buses will be loaded from back to front and unloaded from front to back whenever possible. 4. Windows will be open if the weather allows to improve ventilation on the bus. Health and Safety The Cape Elizabeth School District has established procedures that adhere to the CDC guidelines in order to create and maintain a safe environment. The health and safety of students and employees are the district’s top priority. This document will be updated to reflect best practices as recommended by the CDC. 1. Before the start of the school year: Parents must complete the Powerschool Portal form entitled Parent Contract - COVID-19 Return to School (see a sample below). Please contact your child’s school if you need a paper copy of this form. Your child will not be permitted to attend their first day of school if this form has not been completed. 8 CESD COVID-19 PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK PARENT CONTRACT- RETURN TO SCHOOL *THIS FORM MUST BE COMPLETED IN POWERSCHOOL Parent Contract- COVID-19 Return to School The Cape Elizabeth School Department (CESD) has established procedures that adhere to the CDC guidelines in order to create and maintain a safe environment. The health and safety of students and employees are the district’s top priority. This requires your help and compliance. However, during these uncertain times, the CESD cannot guarantee that your child will not be exposed to COVID-19 while at school. If you have any questions about this contract, please contact your child’s school administrator. Please read and sign the following prior to the first day of school. Students will not be permitted to enter the building without a signed contract on file. ❏ I have read and understand the CESD COVID-19 Parent Handbook. ❏ I have read, understand, and agree to comply with the expectations of myself and my child. ❏ I agree to complete the daily symptom checklist honestly and to report absences related to these symptoms per building protocol. ❏ I have a plan in place to pick up my child from school within 30 minutes of being contacted by the school nurse should my child become ill while on school grounds.