Calumet Public Schools
Return to Learn 2020-21
Calumet Public Schools is committed to keeping our students and staff safe while school takes place during the 2020-21 school year. We are going to do our part in stopping the spread of COVID-19 at school and in our community. We are following local, state and nationwide health protocols. We have looked at the CDC guidelines and the OSDE Return to Learn plan.
We truly believe at Calumet that the most effective way to deliver instruction to students is a face to face interaction with a teacher. There are a variety of ways we can instruct students depending on their individual needs, but we feel strongly about having our kids in Calumet back in school in August. We are taking all of these items into consideration as we build our return to learn plan for Calumet.
We reserve the right to adjust this plan as we get any new information or things in our community change.
*Updated and passed by school board on August 10th ,2020. All of these items have been discussed and voted on by school board to ensure that Calumet Public Schools can safely open for in-person instruction.
Phase 1 – Traditional School Learning Day at Calumet
Students at Calumet will come back to school on August 13th, 2020 for the first day of school as our school calendar indicates.
At all our sites:
Custodial - All of our school buildings will be cleaned and disinfected before, during and at the end of each school day. All of our restrooms will be cleaned before, 2X during the day, and at the end of each day. Our classrooms will be cleaned during the day, between classes and at the end of each day.
Temperature Checks – All of our bus drivers will be checking temperatures as students get on the bus in the morning. If your child has a temperature of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, please keep him or her at home. At the entrance of each school building, a staff member will check children’s temperature as they enter the building. Please understand that if your child has a temperature of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, they will be required to go home.
Student’s Hygiene – Students will be asked to wash hands as often as possible during the school day. We will have hand sanitizers in every classroom when washing hands with soap and water are not available.
Protective Masks – According to the medical professionals, one of the key ways to stop the spread of COVID-19 is by wearing a mask. *All students and staff are required to wear masks when they come in the buildings and buses. Once inside the building, school officials will instruct students on when and where masks are to be worn during the day. There will be times during the day that students can take a break from wearing a mask when instructed by school officials, as long as social distancing is taken into account. A student can wear a mask all day if they so choose to do so. There will be times and places that students are going to be required to wear masks.
Parents and Visitors – We are going to not allow visitors in our school buildings during the day to limit the spread from any outside sources. Parents and visitors may come to the front of the school with each secretary to check students in and out. You may also call and remain in your cars for drop-offs or pick-ups.
Social Distancing -We are going to practice social distancing in our classrooms and hallways during the day by maintaining 6 feet apart and 3 feet in classroom desks.
Elementary Modifications:
Arrival in the morning – PreK-1st grades will go straight to their classrooms. 2nd – 6th graders will report to the cafeteria for breakfast and assembly. Students will be spread out in the cafeteria and gymnasium. (*we are asking parents PK – 6th graders to not accompany their child into the building!)
Lunches – Additional lunch periods will be put in place to allow students greater distance between each other in the lunchroom. No guest or visitors will be allowed to eat lunch with students.
PE Classes and Recess – Understanding the need that elementary students have to have play time and recess, we are going to do our best to social distance our kids. We will go outside for recess as often as possible weather permitting. PE classes will be split up in both of our gymnasiums.
Classroom Supplies – Classroom manipulatives that must be shared will be cleaned and sanitized between each student’s use. Individual student supplies will not be shared and will be kept in individual student containers.
Water – All of our water fountains will be turned off to avoid unnecessary spreading of germs. Student will be encouraged to bring their own water during the day.
Class Changes – Students will be encouraged to social distance in hallways and move to the next classroom and not congregate in groups. We will dismiss students at different times to ensure less crowding in hallways.
Restrooms – Restrooms will be cleaned throughout the day, and students will be stressed to wash hands for 20 seconds when they leave with soap and water. We want to not have restrooms as a place for groups to gather at one time.
End of the day Procedure – Parents will not be allowed in the buildings at the end of the day to pick up their child. Please remain in your cars and we will bring your student to you!
Secondary Modifications:
Arrival at School – Students that come early to school will be asked to socially distance from groups until time to enter the classrooms. Students will be encouraged to go ahead into classrooms upon arrival at school. If students drive, they will be encouraged to wait in their cars until it is time for school to start to cut down on numbers in the hallways. Parents are encouraged to drive their children to school instead of having a high number of students on our buses.
Water – All of our water fountains will be turned off to avoid unnecessary spreading of germs. Student will be encouraged to bring their own water during the day.
Class Changes – Students will be encouraged to social distance in hallways and move to the next classroom and not congregate in groups. We will dismiss students at different times to ensure less crowding in hallways.
Restrooms – Restrooms will be cleaned throughout the day, and students will be stressed to wash hands for 20 seconds when they leave with soap and water. We want to not have restrooms as a place for groups to gather at one time.
Lunches – We will be accommodating students more time to social distance at lunch and avoid large crowded areas. We are planning to space students out in our cafeteria. When kids leave campus, they will be highly encouraged to use social distance and proper hygiene when they return to school.
Phase 2 – Blended Learning Day at Calumet and Distance Learning at Home
If we anticipate a rise in cases of COVID-19 in our community and school, Calumet will move to a blended learning day. This model would allow students to still have face to face interaction with a teacher for instruction and begin to transition into a distance learning at home if conditions continue to worsen. We will try to limit the number of students in our buildings.
Elementary Campus:
PK-4th Grades will remain with the same school days as in the traditional model.
5th – 6th Grades will come to school Monday Wednesday and Friday for a traditional face to face instruction with teacher. To limit the number of students in the elementary building, these two grades will be distance learning on Tuesday and Thursday from home. They will be working on assignments that were given to them by their teacher at home.
Secondary Campus:
Group 1- Will be students in the alphabet A-L, they would come to school on Monday and Wednesday for face to face instruction. Tuesday and Thursday would be time for them to work on assignments at home. Friday would be our Distance Learning Day at home for students. We will deep clean our school buildings at this time. We will use this day for our teachers to zoom our students and answer any questions that might have arisen during the week. Friday would prepare us for the following week.
Group 2- Will be students in the alphabet M-Z, they would come to school on Tuesday and Thursday for face to face instruction. Monday and Wednesday would be time for them to work on assignments at home. Friday would be our Distance Learning Day at home for students. We will deep clean our school buildings at this time. We will use this day for our teachers to zoom our students and answer any questions that might have arisen during the week. Friday would prepare us for the following week.
Phase 3 – Distance Learning at Home
In the event of a rise in cases of COVID-19 and the state decides for the best interest of school to offer students learning remotely, then Calumet will offer distance learning at home.
Unlike the spring 2020 model we did last year for distance learning, the 2020-21 model will take a different shape.
All grades and credits will count for the student’s academic progress. Attendance will be required for students to be participating in assignments. Our students will be instructed in a different fashion with Google Classroom and Acellus. Our students will be monitored and assessed differently, with more of an emphasis on engagement in lessons.
We could also use distance learning in case a student needs to stay away for days or weeks at a time for medical reasons.
*Calumet Public Schools will have a limited application process for a virtual education option, in which a student commits to completing a full semester of classes online through Acellus. Please contact Mrs. Evans at (405) 893-2222 for further information.
Testing Positive for COVID-19
If your child exhibits any of the symptoms at school, they will be isolated and parents contacted immediately for your child to go home and seek a medical evaluation.
If your child exhibits any of the symptoms at home, please contact your doctor immediately.
If your child has been sent home due to temperature, he or she must remain out of school until fever free with no fever reducing medication for at least 3 days. During this time the student will become a distance learner according to district procedures.
Calumet Public Schools will follow CDC guidelines when a student or teacher tests positive for COVID-19. In this situation, we will use our local, state and national protocols to isolate and stop the spread at Calumet.
You should stay home and quarantine yourself for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19.
This pandemic has changed the way we are dealing with education now and for the future at Calumet. We have purchased state of the art cleaning machines and sanitation devices, and have established safety procedures for our students and staff to feel safe while at school. We have purchased extra technology devices to ensure learning takes place at home. Our lives have been disrupted, but our commitment to education at Calumet has remained the same. We are committed to providing the finest education to our students.
Sincerely,
Brandon Voss
Superintendent Calumet Public Schools