SMCPS Update October 30
Weekly Update for St. Mary's County Public Schools Families
Updates for the St. Mary's County Public Schools Community
October 30, 2020
Upcoming School System Calendar Dates:
- November 3: Election Day - No School for Students and 10-11 Month Employees
- November 11: Holiday - Veteran's Day - All Schools and Offices Closed
Upcoming Dates- Fall 2020 Return to School Schedule
Please review the October 29 letter from the Superintendent (En Español).
This letter provides the following timeline:
- Wednesday, November 4: Headstart, and PreK students will return with AM and PM sessions for in-person instruction each school day (Monday-Thursday). Students in Grades K, 1, 6, 9, and 12 will begin the hybrid model with in-person instruction 2 days per week with the A group attending Monday and Wednesday and the B group attending Tuesday and Thursday. Fridays will remain an online workday with dedicated office hours and opportunities for intervention and enrichment as well as professional development and instructional planning.
- Monday, November 16: All grades will begin in-person instruction 2 days per week with the A group attending Monday and Wednesday and the B group attending Tuesday and Thursday. Fridays will remain an online workday with dedicated office hours and opportunities for intervention and enrichment as well as professional development and instructional planning.
COVID-19 Data Dashboards
This site provides local and state date regarding confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Safety Protocols
The health and safety of our students and staff is our primary focus. Working with the St. Mary's County Health Department, SMCPS has the following protocols in place for student and staff safety when entering school buildings.
- Hand Washing: Promoting frequent hand washing throughout the day, especially before and after meals.
- Physical Distancing: Emphasizing increased spacing in the building and in classrooms with fewer students in spaces, including a hybrid A/B schedule.
- Cleaning: Cleaning and disinfecting facilities, buses, with an emphasis on frequently touched areas.
- Face Coverings: Wearing masks during the school day and on buses.
- Hand Sanitizer: Providing hand sanitizer and hand sanitizing stations, as appropriate, with at building entrances and in classrooms and shared spaces.
- Training: Providing ongoing training on COVID-19 prevention practices, including social distancing and face-covering use. Signage and ongoing communication will supplement and reinforce training.
For additional information regarding SMCPS health and safety protocols, visit https://www.smcps.org/ss/health-and-safety.
COVID-19 Process for Student Return
This video provides information about the protocols SMCPS has in place and the guidelines defined by the CDC and St. Mary’s County Health Department when a child gets sick or tests Positive for Covid-19.
COVID-19 Process for student return
Video and Web-based Instruction During Hybrid Learning
In hybrid instruction, there will be times when the teacher may open Google Meets to involve students at home. Primarily, the video will feature the teacher and the instructional material. Depending on the instructional activity, or in activities that may be designed to engage whole class participation, students in the classroom may appear on the video feed to students at home. Additionally, students at home who turn their cameras on may also appear to students in the classroom.
Schoology Tips and Tricks
Tips for students in navigating and using Schoology in SMCPS.
Student Resources
Frequently Accessed Student Resources. For more visit www.smcps.org/students.
St. Mary's County Public Schools
Email: webmaster@smcps.org
Website: www.smcps.org
Location: 23160 Moakley Street, Leonardtown, MD, USA
Phone: 301-475-5511
Facebook: www.facebook.com/smcps.org
Twitter: @smcps_md