August 2020

Dear Parents of Sacred Heart School,

            Without question, our 2019-2020 school year was one unlike any other. The Coronavirus pandemic impacted our entire community immensely. The loss of loved ones and the economic reality brought tremendous challenges. Our instructional model had to be changed abruptly when distance learning became the norm. Sacraments and other events were cancelled or changed. It goes without mentioning that in many cases, the difficulties of the pandemic are still being felt across our school community. However, as we thank God for the opportunity to be together again in a few weeks, we should also continue to pray for those whose lives are now forever changed.

            In preparation of the new school year, I would like to put forth as much information as possible that will hopefully alleviate some concerns. In addition to the following, there will be an opportunity for you to submit questions that I can then answer at a virtual Town Hall Meeting set for Wednesday, August 26^th at 7 p.m. 

            In hopes of clarity, I have created categories under which I hope you will find answers to questions you may have. This document has been developed in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Archdiocese of New York. This document is a living document and is subject to change as government guidelines are issued and decisions are made with the best interest of the Sacred Heart School community.

            While we ask that you please communicate the necessary information with your children, please note that all children will be provided guidance on the first day of school as well.

School Day:
The start time of the school day remains 8:05 a.m. Dismissal will commence at 2:30 p.m.  There is no aftercare supervision or afterschool programs available until health and safety guidelines allow for such to be available.

Masks:
Masks will be worn at all times except during lunch, recess, and for the in class mask breaks determined by the homeroom teacher which will be mandatory across the building. Students must wear masks for entry each day. While full face shields are permitted, a mask must also be worn under the shield.  All parent visitors must wear a mask at all times when on the premises. Sacred Heart Parents’ Club will provide one mask or one gaiter to each student during the first week of school. Disposable masks will be available for students who arrive to the school without one.

Uniform:
With masks a requirement, the student uniform has been changed to help students perform at their best.

While Pre-K and Kindergarten uniform remains the same for the year, the spring uniform polo shirt for students in grades 1-8 can be worn through Christmas recess. Plaid skirt and grey pants to be worn starting in October, jumpers or plaid skirts for girls in grades 1-5 are acceptable as well. Green sweaters and fleeces can be worn during cold weather. The uniform policy will be evaluated as school year progresses into winter months.

In addition, students can continue to wear their gym uniform on scheduled gym days.

Further, every Thursday will be a Spirit Wear day. Students are encouraged to wear school color shirts     (red or grey) until November when official spirit wear made available for purchase online via Liebman’s Uniform Store MUST be worn. Details regarding the Spirit Wear store will be shared in the coming weeks. Students can wear shorts to start the year on Spirit Wear days but will be asked to wear pants later in the fall.

8^th graders may wear their high school sweatshirts beginning in January following acceptance into the high school.

In summary, the regular school uniform for students is to be worn three days a week with the other two days being a gym uniform day and spirit wear day.

Students who are learning remotely should be in their gym uniform or spirit wear.

Entrance:
Students who are ill should remain at home. It is recommended that parents take their child’s temperature before leaving for the day.

Parents should drop off their child at the gates to the main school yard. Children should proceed to the side door for health screening.

All students and staff will enter the school from the main parking lot where social distancing markers will be visible. Upon entry, all students and staff must use the available hand sanitizer, have their temperature taken and facemasks must be worn. Temperature will be taken by Mr. Siegfried and the school nurse, Mrs. Hockman. Having an elevated temperature of 100.4 will prohibit entry. Parents of these students will be contacted immediately for pickup. The purchase of tents and/or tarp for covering  ramp and outdoor yard is being considered.

In an attempt for staggered entry, students in Grades 5-8 who are dropped off by parent are asked arrive between 7:30 a.m.-7:50 a.m. Pre-K through Grade 4 students who are dropped off by parent are asked to arrive after 7:50 a.m. If you have multiple children who are in both grade bands, you may drop off both children together. If your child is arriving on the bus, they will be directed to the parking lot.

Guardian Angel Room:
Students who have a high temperature upon entry will be isolated with the nurse in the Guardian Angel Room until parent pickup. The location of this room is the former Good Shepard Room located off the Pre-K stairwell.  The student must not return to the school until a doctor’s note of clearance is submitted. If a child exhibits a fever during the school day, the child will be brought to this room and supervised. Parents will be contacted immediately for pickup and the child will remain there until the parent arrives.

Classroom:
When students achieve medical clearance for entry, they are to go directly to their classrooms and sit in their desk where supervision will be provided by teacher or aide. Masks must be worn for the duration of the school day with the exception of lunch, recess, and in class mask breaks. Desks have been placed with markers indicating where they are to remain in accordance with social distance guidelines.

For Pre-K and Kindergarten classes which use tables, small groups of students will remain together for centers based learning.  All items are to be disinfected before moving to the next center.

For this year, students will remain in the classrooms for the entirety of the school day except for recess. Special subject teachers will move to each room when it is time for instruction. Physical education class will include multimedia. Breathing exercises and light stretching may also be included in the curriculum.

For those students who are to learn remotely, Zoom meeting links to be sent for virtual instruction. It is intended for the student to hear the teacher and view the board being used. Other students in class are not to be visible.

In keeping within health and safety guidelines, 8^th grade class will be in the gymnasium and 4^th grade class will take place in the former 8^th grade room. Lunch tables will be used as a barrier between kitchen and students in the gymnasium to prevent distraction.

Lunch/Recess:
Lunch program will proceed as normal where food can be purchased in advance by submission of the monthly menu. No snacks will be available during lunch period.

 Lunch period is planned to begin at 10:30 a.m. for Pre-K and Kindergarten, 11:00 a.m. for grades 1-4 and 11:30 a.m. for grades 5-8. Lunches will be brought to each classroom and students will have 30 minutes to eat.

Weather permitting, recess will occur for two grades at a time for 15 minute blocks. Students must remain apart and no items can be shared between students including basketballs, tennis balls, jump ropes etc. Students must not cross grade barrier. Pre-K and Kindergarten will have use of their own separate area. No playground equipment is to be used.

During inclement weather, students will remain in their individual classrooms and activities will be provided.

Dismissal:
To avoid multiple students from grades comingling, bus students to be called first to front hallway of building for dismissal.

Pre-K and Kindergarten students and their siblings to be dismissed from the Central Park Avenue exit.

Grades 1-4 parent pickup remains in the main school yard but classes will be called individually to allow for social distancing. Classes will be escorted by each classroom teacher. Dismissal will begin at approximately 2:20p.m. every day. Siblings of students in grades 5-8 will be called down to join this exit. As always, parents should exit their cars so they are visible to the teacher.
Grades 5-8 parent pickup remains in the church lot. This group will line up in social distance and be escorted to the church lot by staff. Dismissal will take place at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Afterschool Program:
To begin the school year, there is no aftercare or after school programs available including band, choir, piano instruction, etc.

If and when permitted, prior registration for aftercare may be needed to keep in accordance with safety and health guidelines.

School Play:
The school play is postponed until health and safety guidelines permit afterschool programs to continue.

Should the school play not occur, a portion of registration fee into next program will be waived for those who had already registered last year.

Teachers:
Teacher assignments remain the same throughout the building. Middle school classes are departmentalized.

Overall Sanitization
In addition to three daily maintenance staff members who will clean all student surfaces at the beginning and end of the day, a company hired by the Archdiocese will use a disinfectant spray weekly in the classrooms.

Touchless hand sanitizer, paper towel dispensers, and soap dispensers are to be placed in each restroom.

Hand sanitizer is available in all classrooms and at entranceway.

Windows and doors are to remain open in classrooms for air circulation throughout the building. Air purifiers are not a part of the Archdiocesan plan.

Student Cleanliness:
For the upcoming year, it is important to keep students away from sharing items as much as possible, reducing same contact area.

Hand sanitizer stations throughout school building and in entranceway.

Students will be required to wash their hands following lunch and recess.  Pre-K and Kindergarten are to use their own restrooms located near their classrooms. Grades 1-3 are to use the upstairs Science Room, Grades 4, 6, and 7 to use the restroom near middle school hallway. Grades 5 and 8 to use the Art Room sink for cleaning.

Aides will be monitoring rest rooms and hallways during the school day. Students will use the same bathrooms as normal. Pre-K and Kindergarten will use restrooms nearest their classrooms. Grades 1-8 will use the restrooms located at end of middle school corridor.

All interior doors will remain open throughout the day including restrooms.

Distance Learning:
Should distance learning need to occur for all, Zoom meetings will occur. Schedule of instruction to be used will be similar to what was implemented at the end of May 2020 in many grade levels. The expectations for a high standard of education will remain.

For students learning remotely, a Chromebook device with a camera is located in front of classroom pointed towards the interactive whiteboard. This is what the students learning remotely will see when using the Zoom platform. Parents will not have access to Zoom into classroom if their child is not learning remotely.

All teachers will have the Google Classroom management system incorporated in the event of distance learning.

Students who are learning remotely should be in their gym uniform or spirit wear and in an appropriate space, i.e. at a desk or table.

There has been no decision made from the Archdiocese regarding student’s attendance who remain at home because of exhibiting symptoms of illness but can learn and participate in distance learning. Parents will be notified when decision has been made.

Masses:
Mass attendance will be divided among the grade levels. While half of the school is at Mass, other half may be able to view live on the parish YouTube page.

Security:
All visitors must still present themselves at the doors located on Wilson Street where they must announce themselves to the video camera. Staff will meet individual at the door to take temperature before granting access to the building.

Religious Education (Sunday Program)
Only grades 2 and 8 will have in person instruction for three Sundays a month. All other grades are to have distance learning. The classrooms used will be cleaned and sanitized following instruction; one of them is the Art Room which will not be used regularly during the school week.

Parent Club Events:
There are no parent club events scheduled at this time due to safety and health guidelines.
Monthly parent club meetings are to continue virtually on the 2^nd Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m.

Positive COVID Cases:             Once again, I want to thank you for your ongoing support of Sacred Heart School. As a community of faith, we aim to make this unique school year one of the best yet for all our students as they grow academically and in their connection to the risen Lord. We as a community will continue to work together for the wellbeing of our children and families. As stated above, we will do our best to ensure the safety and health of all our SHS family members by requiring masks, social distancing, and vigilant sanitization.