RAYMOND — Superintendent Tina McCoy reports that students will follow a hybrid teaching model this fall for the start of the 2020-21 school year.
The district’s reopening plan combines recommendations and guidelines from its Back to School 2020 Transition Reopening Committee and the guidelines provided by the New Hampshire Department of Education. The plan was presented and approved by the School Board at their Wednesday, Aug. 5 meeting.
Students will be separated into two groups and will attend school on site on either Mondays and Wednesdays (Group A) or on Tuesdays and Thursdays (Group B). On days when they are not scheduled to be in school, students will engage in remote learning activities at home. On Fridays, all students will participate in remote learning, with teachers conducting remediation, reinforcement or enrichment of the week’s learning based on the needs of the students. Teacher office hours, collaboration and meetings will also take place on this day. This hybrid model will provide enough space each facility to allow for social distancing while students are at each facility.
The first day of school for students in grades one through 12 will be Tuesday, Sept. 1. Preschool and kindergarten students will begin school on Monday, Sept. 14.
Any parent or guardian who wishes to have their student participate in a fully remote learning program will have that option. For planning purposes, parents or guardians of enrolled students must decide no later than Monday, Aug. 10 if they desire a fully remote option or the hybrid option by completing this important survey.
Any parent or guardian who has a compelling reason why their children should be placed in a specific group (A or B) must contact the building principal in writing by Monday, Aug. 10. Students in the same household will be placed in the same group so that their schedules align unless parents make a specific written request to the school principal to have them placed in different groups.
“Recognizing that any of our reopening options have significant impacts on the families in our community, we have spent the last few weeks carefully considering what course of action we would take this fall,” Superintendent McCoy said. “The health and safety of our students, staff and their families has been and will continue to be our top priority. We will shift and modify the plan based on any additional guidance from local, state and federal officials and will provide regular updates to the community.”
Students and staff will follow multiple health and safety measures to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19, including:
- Students or employees who come in contact with someone suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 must be quarantined for 14 days. Opportunities for those individuals to learn or work remotely will be provided.
- Student desks will be placed three to six feet apart to promote social distancing in classrooms. Students will have assigned seating.
- All students and employees will be using face masks or face coverings.
- Preschool students will be taught to use face coverings.
- Students in kindergarten to third grade will be provided with instructions, incentives and expectations to use face coverings.
- Students in grades four through 12 will be required to use them.
- Students and employees can either bring in their own face coverings, or the District will provide them if needed.
- Social distancing and directional markers will be placed in the hallways.
- Buildings will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected each day, and high touch surfaces, such as door knobs and tables, will be frequently cleaned throughout the school day.
- Masks will be required while students ride the bus to school and assigned seating will be used to promote social distancing on the buses.
- No visitors will be allowed in the school buildings during school hours without a prior appointment and/or approval from the school administration.
- All non-remote extracurricular activities are suspended until further notice unless otherwise specified.
The plan will be flexible in order to adapt to any changes that may need to be made as the situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic changes, and the district has plans in place to switch between hybrid or remote learning as may be necessary.
To view the full plan, click here.
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