COVID period Teaching and Learning Policy

• Masks and Face Shields will be made available by the school for all students.

Social Distancing

• Two-meter markers will be placed in all areas of the campus.
• Students must maintain a distance of 2 metres (or 6 feet) from each other throughout the school day both in the class and in other areas of the campus.

• Hand sanitizer is available in multiple locations on campus and inside each classroom.  Before the start of every lesson, the subject teachers will require students to apply hand sanitizer, or to wash their hands, whilst observing the 2-meter distance.
• Railings, door handles, light switches and any places which are touched by students or staff. will be sanitized on a continuous basis throughout the day by the housekeeping staff.
• Toilets and sinks will be sanitized on a continuous basis throughout the day by the housekeeping staff.
• All rooms will undergo deep cleaning at lunchtime and at the end of each day. Deep cleaning means the floors, desks and chairs will be cleaned with soapy water, rinse water and bleach water, in this order.

The following expectations and procedures are in place to ensure the health safety and hygiene standards are met:

Arrivals

• Visitors are not permitted on campus during school hours, 7:45 – 17:00.
• Students may not enter the campus before 7:45am
• Parents will not be permitted past the school gate, and must leave as soon they have dropped off their child.
• Parents are not permitted on campus unless they have a prior appointment.
• Everyone must wear a face mask/shield to enter or leave the campus. All students and teachers must wear a face mask/shield at all times on the campus.
• Everyone is to wash their hands before and after entering the campus. Washbasins with running water and liquid soaparte located at the entrance of the school. 
• Everyone’s temperature is taken prior to entering the campus.
• Students, faculty, and staff are not allowed to enter the school if they show any symptoms of illness and must be symptom-free for 48 hours before returning.
• Students are allowed on campus only for the duration of the school day or when they are involved in a scheduled activity.
• Students must adhere to the 2-meter rule when entering and exiting the campus and obey the social distancing markings on the pathways.
• Students who enter the facilities will report directly to their classroom.
• Students must bring only the minimum amount of belongings needed and take them directly to their classrooms.
• Students who arrive late must sign in at the Student Affairs office.

Dismissal

• Each grade will be given a designated dismissal time.
• Primary students will be taken to the dismissal area by teachers or released to their designated place.

Entering and exiting the classroom

Beginning of the day:

• Students must bring all their belongings with them to the classroom, including extra clothing and bags.

• Before and after removing any clothing or items from their bags, students must wash their hands for 20 seconds or appy hand sanitiser.

• Students must keep their face masks/shields on during the classes at all times. 

During the day:

• Students must wash their hands at least every two hours as well as before meals, after recess, after PE, after using the toilet or any other time they enter the classroom.

End of the day:

• Students must sanitize their hands before walking through the main entrance.

• Students are to wear face masks while departing

Classrooms and the use of materials

• Prior to and after class hours, housekeeping is responsible for sanitizing the classrooms.
• During class hours, teachers and teaching assistants will be responsible for sanitizing classroom and materials like markers, teacher’s desks, erasers and active board pens
• Prior to the start of class, all materials will be sanitized by students while supervised by teachers (computers, books, materials).
• Disinfectant, hand sanitizer, and paper towels will be provided in each classroom.
• All personal items must be cleaned twice daily. Items which cannot be cleaned should not be brought to school.
• All toys and manipulatives will be cleaned after school.
• All soft toys and pillows/cushions/blankets have been removed from classrooms.
• Electronic devices are permitted, however, they cannot be shared.
• Electronic devices need to be wiped before and after use several times daily with tech-friendly cleaning wipes.
• Class pencils/pens, scissors, glue sticks, rulers will be wiped down after use by the assistant teachers/teachers. These class items may not be shared.
• Any art materials e.g. pastels, brushes etc. are to be used, cleaned and then packed away.
• Playdough/plasticine/clay is not permitted.
• A-4 papers or hard sheets may be used for important reminders. 

Library

• The main library will be closed
• A small selection of books will be available daily. Once a child has read the book it must be packed away and cleaned at the end of the day.
• Year 2 to 6: students will be assigned books from Epic! by their teachers. English teachers will assign a book every day. Teachers should follow up with every child if they have read the assigned books. In case a child has missed reading for 3 consecutive days, parents should be contacted by email to remind them of reading regularly.

All movement of students around and within the campus is to be supervised by a teacher and adhere to the expected two meters distance. When students are moving around campus, they need to be taught the following expectations. These expectations must then be reinforced consistently by all teachers. A short video will be shown all throughout the day on the expected movements of the students and staff while on campus.

They are as follows:

• Everyone washes hands before moving to another section of the school.
• Walk on the right when going up and down the stairs and through the hallways.
• Stay five steps apart on the stairs.
• Avoid any physical contact.
• Wash hands after using the toilet.

Lunch and snack procedures

• Students will not have lunch at school.
• All students will eat snacks in their classrooms.
• Students quill wash their hands before and after eating snacks
• Snacks will not be permitted to be dropped off either from parents or outside vendors.
• All staff wash their hands before and after eating snacks and lunch.
• All staff sit 2 meters apart from each other during lunch.
• Cleaning staff will thoroughly clean tables after staff have eaten.

Outdoor play

A revised recess schedule will be followed to provide safe opportunities for outdoor recess.

Sample Primary School Recess Area Rotation

Student expectations for outdoor play

• Students are expected to adhere to all new procedures so the school can follow health and safety guidelines.
• As per the health and safety guidelines, students must play only with their designated group of playmates.
• Students must maintain a two-meter distance when playing.
• Students will be able to play on the playground equipment.
• A wash basin with running water and liquid soap will be provided in the playground. Students must wash their hands before and after using the playground.

• Secondary teachers will use Google Classroom for all assignments, sharing of materials, and communication with the students. Primary teachers will use ClassDojo 

• Written feedback on assignments should be provided within 3 working days. 

• If classroom sizes do not accommodate social distancing requirements, the class will be divided into 2 groups. The teacher will teach 2 groups at the same time utilizing the assistant teachers.

• If a teacher has mild symptoms, the teacher will conduct the class online using a substitute teacher in the classroom.

• Secondary teachers will teach online for the entire duration of the lesson according to the online learning programme timetable.

  ●  The teachers will attend all the meetings online.

  ●  Students and teachers are to follow a professional dress code.

  • In case, the student misses a class for 2 or more days, the teacher will contact the parents by email or phone, via the respective VP and student affairs..

  • If the teacher is sick and unable to conduct online lessons, regular leave procedures apply. (informing the office staff and the VP to inform, sending a substitution work)

  • Any lessons missed due to the teacher taking leave, these will be rescheduled for the following week.

To prepare for COVID period learning and/or possible school closure, homeroom teachers along with co-teachers and subject teachers will create weekly online assignments to be completed at home. These assignments will be given on Fridays and will be posted on ClassDojo.

To prepare for pandemic period learning, class teachers along with learning support, EAL and single subject teachers assigned to the grade will create groups based on distancing guidelines that will become a ‘class’ for the duration of adaptive learning.

The goal when creating groups of students is to develop well-functioning classes. The divisional principals and counselors will work with teachers to develop these classes.

This pandemic period learning situation will require adaptive class scheduling. In developing these schedules, student health and safety will be prioritized.