COVID-19 Safety Plan
Parent Newsletter
Principal's Message
Welcome Back!
With great admiration,
Yvette Soliz, Principal
Back to School
Thank you,
Yvette Soliz, Principal
Hays CISD COVID-19 Plan
Home Health Screening
Parents/Guardians will receive information on the Student Requirements for Access to District Property
● Parents/guardians are expected to screen their students daily for COVID-19 symptoms each day prior to sending their student to school (including temp check).
● Parents must ensure they do not send a child to school on campus if the child has COVID-19 symptoms (as listed in this document) or is lab-confirmed with COVID-19, and instead should opt to receive remote instruction until the below conditions for re-entry are met.
Students should not enter campuses or buildings if any of the following apply:
The individual has any of the following symptoms:
■ Temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher when taken by mouth;
■ Sore throat;
■ New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing (or, for students with a chronic allergic/asthmatic cough, a change in their cough from baseline);
■ Diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain; or
■ New onset of severe headache, especially with a fever. o Has a confirmed case of COVID-19 or has been in close contact with their physician.
- Has a household member who is awaiting COVID-19 test results, or who is awaiting their own test results.
● Teachers will monitor students and refer to the nurse if symptoms are present.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Face Coverings
In order to protect our students and staff, face coverings will be required for all students and staff at school.
Masks include non-medical grade disposable face masks, face coverings (over the nose and mouth). The CDC does not recommend for face shields to be used interchangeably with masks and therefore the district requires all students and staff to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth.
Teachers will give students mask breaks during the day. A mask break is the removal of a mask for short periods of time (for example a few minutes) while at least 6 feet from others. Ideally this would occur outdoors.
School Schedule and Arrival/Dismissal Procedures
7:00- Doors Open
7:30-Instruction Begins
3:15-Dismissal
Important Notes:
Parents or visitors are not allowed in the building. If you have school business, you must make an appointment. We will provide curbside service. Parking along the front of the building is designated for curbside school business. Simply call the number on the sign. Let the staff member know what you need. State the Spot number, and we will come out. If you are picking up your child, please have your photo identification ready.
Students are not allowed outside of the building before the doors open at 7:00 am. They must wait in the car with parents until the school opens.
Students will go directly to the classroom to ensure social distancing and proper use of masks.
Breakfast will be provided to students. If you are picking up curbside meals, please have your children's ID numbers ready. Curbside meals will be provided at the cafeteria entrance.
*Parents, we strongly encourage students to get picked-up and dropped-off by personal cars. Because of social distancing regulations, only a few students at a time will board the bus. Therefore, your child may have to wait for the second or third wave of pick-up or drop-offs. This means very early bus stop schedules or late drop-offs.
Dismissal Procedures:
- Bus Riders will get dropped off at the cafeteria doors as early as 6:55. Students who will eat breakfast will be directed through the serving line. Students who will not eat breakfast will go directly to the classrooms. There will be staff on duty to remind students to social distance and wear masks properly. The staff will be located at the bus stop, cafeteria, serving lines, and along the hallways of each grade-level hall. Upon entry into the classroom, students will sanitize their hands. Sanitizing stations will be located throughout the building and outside classrooms.
- Car riders will get dropped off in the front of the building at 7:00 am. No students are allowed to wait at the doors. They are to wait with parents in their vehicle.
- *Important: No walk-ups. Everyone must stay in their car. Staff members will be assisting students getting off cars, however staff members will no longer open the doors. Students will be monitored to wear masks and social distance. Their will be staff at the front door and along the halls. Before entering classrooms, students will sanitize their hands before entering the classroom. Sanitizing stations will be provided.
Bus Transportation
The District is requiring all drivers and students to wear masks while on the school bus.
Bus Stop Expectations
Students should practice social distancing, whenever possible (if there is adequate space and it is safe to do so) while waiting for and approaching the school bus.
Students should arrive at the bus stop with a face covering.
Students should NOT share food, drinks or personal devices.
Unloading, Loading, and Transit Expectations
Students should practice social distancing as they approach and board the bus and as well as when unloading.
Hand-sanitizer will be provided in the seat behind the driver. Each student will utilize the sanitizer prior to sitting in their assigned seat.
Students are expected to arrive at the bus stop with a face covering. In the event that a student arrives without a mask, the student will be provided one to ride the bus. Parents will be notified of the failure to provide a mask. Repeated failure to bring or wear a face mask may result in disciplinary action.
Bus capacity will be limited due to COVID safety and health guidelines .
Students living in the same household will be seated together. All other students will have assigned seats.
Unloading will start from the front to the back when possible.
Students will ride the bus following district guidelines.
Upon arrival students will go immediately to their classroom location.
Upon dismissal students will go directly to their bus and sit in their assigned seat.
Arrival Procedures
The pick up cards for the 2020-2021 will be handed out to students on their first day of in-person learning.
Remember the procedures are in place for the safety of everyone. Cell phone use is prohibited in a school zone!
IMPORTANT TO NOTE:
Please stay in the line and do not park in front of the school off Las Brisas Blvd. Students nor parents are allowed to walk to the front doors, or the crosswalk. We will ask students to go back to their car and parents will be asked to get in the car line. Thank you for observing our procedures.
Slow down, pay attention to your driving, and be vigilant of others. Please follow the car in front of you keeping a safe distance between cars. Please keep your eyes on the road at all times. We ask that all parents model respectful behavior around our school as we have children watching. This includes appropriate language.
It has been customary for our teachers to open car doors for students. We will no longer do it. We are preventing the spread of germs by not touching unnecessary surfaces.
Please also be courteous and safe to our staff who are supervising and monitoring dismissal. Thank you for your cooperation.
Dismissal Procedures
Dismissal Procedures
- Students CANNOT be picked up within 1 hour of dismissal. We will not release any students past 2:15 pm. Please schedule medical and family appointments accordingly. This policy is to minimize disruption to the learning environment and protect our staff from increased visitors in the reception area.
Car rider students will be dismissed from their classrooms.
We will call Intercom students to the front office in small groups of 5. Staff members will be stationed at a cone. Staff members will be stationed to monitored proper use of masks and social distancing. Staff members will ensure that students enter the vehicles safely, however they will no longer open the door for students.
*As student names are called, students will be dismissed to the car rider spots and exit the front of the building.
* Parents in vehicles must have their ID or parent pickup card in order for children to be released to the parent.
*There will be NO parent pick-up at the door. Parents are required to stay in their vehicles for pick-up.
*If there will be a change from the way your child normally goes home, we must have a note or a phone call before 1:00 pm in order to make this change. Without a note or phone call, your child will go home their normal way regardless of what the student was told verbally. Parents may call to make changes in the case of an emergency. Please contact the office before 1:00 pm with transportation changes.
Breakfast and Lunch
Breakfast and Lunch
Students will go directly to their classrooms in the morning. A grab and go breakfast will be offered to bus riders and car riders in the classroom by the teacher beginning at 7:05 am.
Lunch times will be staggered by class and grade level. Our cafeteria will have all food items located behind the counter for students to make their choices with assistance from the cafe staff. They will have TWO options for lunch choices. Students who bring a lunch from home will go directly to their assigned seat.
All students will sit 6 feet apart facing the same direction, whenever possible.
Lunches will be staggered to accommodate 6 feet spatial distancing in the cafeteria.
Outdoor spaces, extra classrooms and the gym will be utilized for additional seating.
Face coverings may be removed only when actively eating. Students should be encouraged to eat their meal and replace their masks prior to socializing.
Hand sanitizing stations will be available at entrances and exits of the cafeteria. Students will wash/sanitize hands before entering the cafeteria and after lunch.
No visitors will be allowed during mealtimes.
No third-party food deliveries will be accepted at any campus.
Markings of social distancing in the cafeteria and service lines.
Teachers will create a seating chart to support assigned seating.
Posted signage and staff will reinforce social distancing and traffic patterns in the cafeteria.
Cafe service lines will be marked with Stay 6 Feet apart stickers for students to stand on.
Campus Visitors and Volunteers
We appreciate parent support and volunteers. At this time, visitors or volunteer are limited by appointment only. We want to maintain outside contact as much as possible.
At this time, parents/guardians should contact the school via phone to communicate with school personnel.
Curbside service will be provided. Park at one of the designated spots in the front of the school. Call the number on the sign and state your purpose. The staff member will ask for your Spot number located on the sign. We will come to you. If you are picking up a child, please have your photo identification ready.
If you are asked to enter the building, you will be required to wear a face covering which covers the nose and the mouth. You may be subject to screening.
No in-person assemblies or events will be held at this time. Meet the Teacher, Open House, parent conferences, etc. will be held virtually.
Campuses will utilize virtual meeting options when possible to limit campus visitors. Virtual tools will be used to conduct meetings such as PTA meetings, ARDs, LPAC, etc.
No visitors will be allowed into the campus beyond the reception area.
All visitors will be subject to screening by way of a symptom screening form before entering buildings. Visitors may be subject to temperature checks.
Essential volunteers can be used by the campus to support campus operations, on a case by case basis. No children will be allowed with volunteers. (Essential volunteers are classified as those adults who are district screened and approved AND are needed for specific campus tasks.
Essential volunteers should only be on campus for their designated task(s).
Essential volunteers MUST adhere to all campus safety protocols during their visit.
All volunteers will be subject to screening by way of a symptom screening form before entering buildings. Volunteers may be subject to temperature check.
All volunteers will need prior approval by either Mrs. Soliz, Principal or Assistant Principals Juan Cardenas or Elsa Ibarra.
Essential volunteers must notify the school 24 hours in advance of the desire to come to campus.
Playground and Recess
Staggered schedules will be used for outside recess and no more than two grade level classes may utilize a playground at a time. In the event of weather (rain/cold temperatures) teachers will have students participate in indoor recess with individual games/activities that promote spatial distancing.
● All students and staff will be required to wash their hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer before recess.
● Teachers will monitor students to ensure safety guidelines are followed. Teachers may allow small groups of students to play together and develop structured games that take into account social distance protocols.
● Per CDC guidelines, outdoor areas, like playgrounds in schools and parks generally require normal routine cleaning, but do not require disinfection.
● Teachers will clean high touch surfaces made of plastic or metal such as grab bars and handrails and shared equipment at the conclusion of class recess in preparation for the next group.
● Students will wear masks during outdoor activity unless maintaining six feet of spatial distancing. Students must maintain social distancing while lining up to return to class.
● Teachers should encourage mask breaks during recess. A mask break is the removal of a mask for short periods of time (for example a few minutes) while at least six feet from others.
● All students and staff will be required to wash their hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when returning to their classroom.
● Each teacher will be assigned a specific time to go to recess. They will also be assigned an area to go to for the entire week.
● Students will not be allowed to move to different play areas. Students are required to stay in their assigned areas.
Water Fountains
Daily Cleaning
Isolation Rooms (ISO)
ISOLATION AREAS -
ISO Rooms will be used in the event that a student or staff member has a suspected case of COVID-19. The primary isolation area will be the office outside of the nurse’s clinic. The secondary ISO will be the conference room. Parents will be contacted by phone by the campus nurse if their student is displaying any symptoms of possible COVID-19. Parents will have ONE hour to come to campus or send a designated emergency contact person to pick up the student from campus. Please park at one of the curbside parking areas in front of the building and follow the directions on the sign. Please have you photo identification ready.
Office staff and administration will help monitor students that are put into the isolation room.
Classroom Spaces and Procedures
All classrooms will be outfitted with:
Visual reminders of distancing requirements will be in all classrooms marking off areas for common spaces and distancing best practices.
Refillable alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Classroom layouts based on spatial distancing guidelines. Schools must maintain at least 3 feet between students.
When teachers are arranging classrooms, students should face in the same direction. A combination of desks and tables may be utilized.
All instructional spaces must strictly adhere to assigned seating and maintain seating charts in a prominent location.
This is mandatory to identify close contacts in collaboration with the health department when needed.
Whenever possible, students and staff will maintain consistent groupings of people to minimize the spread of the virus.
Dismissals will be orderly, using one way movement whenever possible.
Outdoor space will be used for learning when possible.
In lieu of classroom libraries, teachers will provide books a Ziploc bag/or book bins and labeled for that student. On Friday, they will be collected and placed into a holding area over the weekend before being reissued to a new student for the next week.
At this time, no classroom parties or events will be allowed with outside food.
Special Areas
Music
Music specials will be held in the music room with Mrs. Josephine Craig.
Physical Education (PE)
Whenever possible, physical education classes will be held outside to allow for maximum physical distance between students. Coach Zen and Coach Hart will have students spaced out in designated areas. PE equipment will be disinfected between groups of students.
Art
Art teachers will travel to student classrooms and provide lessons in the classroom. Ms. Barnett will have students use their own supplies for Art in the classroom.
Library
Elementary school librarians will travel to student classrooms and provide curriculum based lessons/book checkout in the classroom. Ms. Fiaschetti will provide books in different interest areas (fiction, nonfiction, etc.) for all our readers.
Technology
Computer labs will be reconfigured to promote spatial distancing with a goal of 6 feet and a minimum of 3 feet between students at all times. Mr. DelaRosa will use the computer lab for in-person. Students will be spaced 6ft apart, every other computer for social distancing. Computer keyboards will be sanitized between groups of students.
Communities In Schools (CIS)
School Counselor
Nurse Scott
Things you may be wondering about...
- No Field Trips until further notice
- No assemblies or special events
- Daily scheduled cleaning and disinfecting