The Patriot Pride
#RiseUp!
Post from the Principal...
My name is Holly Flora and I am thrilled to join the Patriot family as principal of Liberty Bell Middle School.
Each week, I will send a newsletter that will provide weekly information regarding schedules, events and pertinent information relating to students and families of Liberty Bell Middle School.
Below, I have included a list of Frequently Asked Questions that apply to Liberty Bell Middle School's re-opening plan. Please feel free to contact us by phone (423) 232-2192 or by email if you have questions that we can help you answer.
Our staff has been hard at work preparing for our return to school. Please know that safety is our first priority. We are taking every precaution and we are going the extra mile to ensure that our Patriot family is as safe as possible while at school. Our teachers are also committed to providing a rigorous and supportive educational experience for all students. Please know that we are here for the students and families of Liberty Bell and are excited to begin a new school year.
Patriot Proud,
Holly Flora, Principal
Liberty Bell Middle School FAQ
What metric is Johnson City Schools using to gauge what the acceptable threshold criteria?
One metric that Johnson City Schools will use is the Average Rate of New COVID-19 Cases per 100,000 County Residents over the last 14 days, which can be found at the bottom of this page. After searching for Washington County on the chart, you will see the number on the bottom left-hand side of the page.
What happens if we go into the “Red Zone”?
Going into “red” or substantial (defined as an average of > 11+new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Washington County residents over the last 14 days) will not automatically mean that schools shutdown and every student will become a remote learner.
Local health departments, school officials, city and county leaders cannot focus only on the number of cases and the case rate alone, but should also consider characteristics across four factors to fully determine community risk. These factors include:
- Disease epidemiology: Level of community transmission, number and type of outbreaks, impact of the outbreaks on delivery of healthcare or other critical infrastructure or services, and epidemiology in surrounding jurisdictions
- Community characteristics: Size of community and population density, level of community engagement/support, size and characteristics of vulnerable populations, access to healthcare, transportation, planned large events, and relationship of community to other communities
- Local healthcare capacity: Healthcare workforce, number of healthcare facilities, testing capacity, hospital intensive care unit capacity, and availability of personal protective equipment
- Public health capacity: Public health workforce and availability of resources to implement strategies, and available support from other state/local government agencies and partner organizations.
How will we know the “current level”?
Johnson City Schools will decide each week and notify the public of our current level. This will provide our students/staff a level of certainty for each week and prevent our teachers from making multiple changes throughout the week.
Will students and staff be required to wear masks to school?
Yes, students and staff will be required to wear masks in common areas and buses. While in classrooms, students will either wear masks, have a physical barrier to the side of desks, or distance approximately six feet apart (page 14 of Protocols for In-Person Learning).
What is the difference between the JCS Remote Learning Option and Homeschool?
For students who are enrolled in the JCS Remote Learning option, the district provides technical devices, technical support, and all curriculum and instruction. JCS teachers prepare lessons, create videos, provide some synchronous learning, assess student learning, adjust lessons to meet learning needs, and are fully supported by all departments of Johnson City Schools including special education and ELL services. Parents are vital partners in this work and help make sure students are on task, are completing assignments, and ask the teacher for additional help if needed.
If a parent chooses to homeschool their student, the parent is responsible for creating all lessons and all other parts of the student’s education.
What happens, truancy-wise, if a student or family member contracts COVID-19? It could be longer than 20 days for a household.
Doctor notes will be accepted as excused absences in either remote or traditional learning. COVID related absences will be excused and will not be in absence counts for truancy purposes.
Will remote students be able to participate in extra-curriculars like sports and band?
Yes, all students selecting the remote learning option may participate in athletics and extracurricular activities for which they are eligible. When participating on campus, all students will be required to comply with school safety protocols. (page 12 in Parent/Student Remote Learning Handbook.)
What will learning look like if a school or the district shuts down?
Should all of Johnson City Schools transition to remote learning, the expectations are to remain the same and students will transition to remote learning with their classroom teacher.
The presentation says that online learners must be engaged for 6.5 hours, does that mean they will sit in front of a computer screen for 6.5 hours?
No, the student will not be in front of the screen for the entire 6.5 hours. That time will also include other activities that include related arts, independent reading, and other assignments.
How will grading work for Remote Learners?
Grading will work the same for remote learners as traditional students. They will receive progress reports and report cards through their school.
If my child has 504 or IEP, if remote learner, will it be followed?
Yes, students who have an active IEP, 504, or ILP will receive accommodations as stated in their most recent plan. Please refer to page 15 of the Remote Learning Parent/Student Handbook.
If a positive case of COVID-19 is confirmed in a classroom, does my child have to quarantine?
No, your child will quarantine if they are designated as a direct contact, which is defined as within six-feet of a confirmed case for more than 10 minutes. These determinations will be made in cooperation with the Washington County Regional Health Department.
If a child contracts COVID, can the student go to remote learning?
Yes, they will go to remote learning with their classroom teacher.
What happens if there are Internet issues?
Remote learners have access to a school provided Wi-Fi hotspot if needed. Students who experience home internet issues from time-to-time should immediately report it to their course teacher so students are not unfairly penalized for the unexpected outages. If ongoing Internet issues arise, the teacher, student, and family will consult to determine how to proceed so that Internet issues do not become a barrier to learning.
What materials/supply requirements for remote? Cost for those items?
Remote learners do not have any additional fees or supply requirements. Students might need paper and pencil if they prefer to draft their notetaking, calculations, etc. on paper as a tool to assist with completion of online work. We have an array of online tools that will assist with these tasks, too (Microsoft online tools, Google Suite, etc.).
Will Middle school students have different teachers for different subjects?
Middle school remote learners will have multiple teachers (ELA, math, social studies/science, and arts).
Can my child be a remote learner and still play sports?
Yes, students my participate and attend sporting events, even if they are a remote learner.
Can my child still participate in advanced or honors classes as a remote learner?
At this time, all advanced and honors classes are happening as on site classes. Should we have enough students enroll in remote learning that qualify for these classes, we will open up remote honors classes. Students may sign up as a remote learner and come to Liberty Bell to attend the honors class that is available on-site for the class they need.
Can my child access a Liberty Bell Counselor as a remote learner?
Yes. A counselor is being assigned to all remote learners and will be checking in with all remote learners. Each child counselor is available to meet the needs of all remote learners.
Can my child access the Liberty Bell library?
Yes. Library hours will be determined and communicated to all remote learners so that there is library access.
Re-Entry Information
Masks
Wearing masks is the expectation for all students and staff in all common areas. Students who are not comfortable wearing masks may choose Remote Learning Options. Masks will be provided for every child.
Room Set Up
- Desks facing forward with approximately 6 feet distance between each
- Masks worn in classrooms when students and teachers are in close proximity (within 6 feet)
- No community supplies
- Seating charts in every environment
Arrival and Dismisal
DROP OFF PROCEDURES 20-21
Blue Building Students
Blue building students should be dropped off in parking lot B by the bicycle rack. Students will walk across the plaza and enter into the blue breezeway. Grab and Go Breakfast will be available in the breezeway. Please do not block the parking lot entrance or intersection. Our busses need to enter using the same road. To avoid the most traffic, it is recommended to arrive between 7:15 and 7:35. See Diagram for recommended routes to drop off.
Red Building Students
RED building students should be dropped off in parking lot C by the dumpsters. Students will walk into the red breezeway doors. Grab and Go Breakfast will be available in the breezeway.
Please do not block the parking lot entrance or intersection. To avoid the most traffic, it is recommended to arrive between 7:15 and 7:35. See Diagram. See Diagram for recommended routes to drop off.
Bus Drop Off
Students who are dropped off by bus will enter through their perspective Blue/Red building doorways. Grab and Go Breakfast will be available in the breezeway.
PICK UP PROCEDURES 20-21
Blue Building Students
Blue building students will be released at 2:40 PM to parking lot B. Parents/Guardians should park in a parking space while waiting to pick up their child to avoid congestion. Please do not block the parking lot entrance or intersection. See Diagram for recommended routes to drop off.
Red Building Students
Red building students will be released at 2:40 PM to parking lot B. Parents/Guardians should park in a parking space while waiting to pick up their child to avoid congestion. Please do not block the parking lot entrance or intersection. See Diagram for recommended routes to drop off.
Bus Riders
Students will be dismissed using a controlled dismissal schedule. Busses will be released prior to car riders.
Movement and Transitions
Movement Operations
● Master schedule has included additional time between classes
● Class changes-An orderly transition plan for hallways has been created that will allow for reduced numbers of students in hallways.
Dining
- Capacity for 120 students (1 team); other team would eat in class.
- Students will be provided with a student ID that includes a barcode that will be scanned to purchase lunch. This will prevent students from needing to use a keypad to enter their lunch number.
- Students will choose where they sit in the cafeteria, but will remain in those seats as assigned areas/seats for purposes of contact tracing.
Visitors
● We are sorry, but for now, due to safety, no visitors are allowed to eat with students.