Pepperell Primary School
Reopening Q&A's for our PPS families
SAFETY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY!!
The safety and well being of our students and staff continues to be a top priority for the Floyd County School System and Pepperell Primary. In preparing for the beginning of a new school year, our staff has been working hard planning procedures and guidelines to maximize safety and help keep everyone healthy. School reopening guidelines have been developed with the guidance of the Georgia Department of Education, the Center for Disease Control, the Georgia Department of Public Health, and the Floyd County Emergency Management Agency.
Just as the FCS Guidelines for Opening Schools in August 2020 may continue to change and grow, our school protocols shall likely do so as well in response to changing circumstances and conditions. We encourage you to refer back to this document and to our district website at www.floydboe.net often for updates. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as we navigate this path to bring students back safely, happily, and healthily into the face-to-face learning environment at Pepperell Primary.
Please keep your child at home if he or she has any of the following symptoms...
Symptoms of COVID (please click)
Information about COVID-19
How to protect yourself from COVID (please click)
Georgia COVID testing sites (please click)
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the school employ measures for social distancing?
Floyd County School System employees, students, parents, and any essential visitors will be encouraged to stay approximately 6 feet away from others, if possible, and avoid contact with others.
PPS will implement several practices where feasible to follow best hygiene practices and assist in social distancing, including encouraging hand-washing and face coverings/masks. To the extent feasible, students will not share personal items, electronics, and other games or learning aids.
We are working to minimize student traffic flow and developing traffic flow patterns to maximize social distancing, increasing desk spacing where possible, turning desks to face the same direction where possible, study carrels, minimizing group settings and limiting mixing between groups. We realize due to space constraints and the nature of teaching and learning, we cannot always ensure students will be 6 feet apart at all times.
Students at increased risk of severe illness should implement individualized plans for distance learning.
Will my child have to wear a face mask?
In accordance with current state guidance, students are encouraged, but not required to wear face masks at this time. Guidance for wearing masks, published by the CDC, is here.
Will my child's teacher have to wear a face mask?
In accordance with current state guidance, staff will not be required, but encouraged to wear coverings especially in areas where maintaining social distancing is difficult. Guidance for wearing masks, published by the CDC, is here.
What will arrival to school look like?
Bus Riders: Bus riders will continue to arrive and unload in the bus loading zone, at the cafeteria, each morning. Upon arrival, students will be given the option to take a grab-and-go breakfast and then will head to their classroom. (All students will continue to be offered breakfast at no charge.) If students do not choose to select breakfast, they will go directly to their classroom. Pre-K students will be escorted directly to the classroom upon arrival and will eat breakfast as a class closer to 8:00 am. Traditionally, students arriving on buses gathered at tables in the cafeteria for breakfast or in the music room to socialize, but this year we have adjusted this procedure to allow our bus riders to begin each day in their homeroom to help support effective contact tracing, if needed. Students will be able to socialize with classmates observing appropriate social distancing, of course.
Car Riders: Parents or guardians who drop off their children in the morning will need to stay in their vehicle and use the loop and car rider lane (at the front of the building alongside the sidewalk) from 7:15 until the tardy bell rings at 8:00 am. Parents and guardians will not be allowed to enter the building, even on the first day of school, as directed by Floyd County Schools in consideration of keeping limited contact and to provide for maximum social distancing. Please avoid parking and walking students in as we will have limited staff to check students in up front. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work together to get all students into the building through the front doors safely by 8:00 a.m. each morning.
As usual, car riders may begin officially arriving no earlier than 7:15 a.m. Please do not drop off students prior to 7:15 am. Students arriving by car, who are eating breakfast at school, will have an opportunity to select a grab-and-go breakfast and then report to their classroom to eat. Students not selecting breakfast will report directly to the classroom. Pre-K students will be escorted directly to the classroom upon arrival and will eat breakfast as a class closer to 8:00 am. (All students will continue to be offered breakfast at no charge.)
Temperature checks and/or random screenings, will be conducted before each student exits the bus or their car by a trained staff member. Students and employees with COVID-19 symptoms or a temperature greater than 100.4 degrees taken orally or by temporal artery will not be allowed to stay at school. If the child is a bus rider, they will be given a mask, will be immediately isolated with proper supervision, and arrangements will be made to send the individual home. If the child arrives by car, parents will be instructed to take the students back home and given next steps. Local health officials will be notified for guidance if needed on next steps, including deep cleaning and potential closures. Please remember this process will take additional time and may slow down the car rider line.
If a student is arriving late to school (after 8:00 a.m.), the parent will pull in front of the school entrance, will park, then press the buzzer for assistance. An office staff member will direct you from this point. To accommodate social distancing, only two visitors will be allowed in the lobby at one time. At this time, parents will not enter the building beyond the lobby when arriving late as Floyd County Schools has limited visitors and walk-ins to business-critical only. Temperature checks and/or random health screenings shall continue during late arrival check-in. If more than one student is arriving tardy at the same time, it may take some time for the check-in process to be completed. We appreciate your patience as we work to minimize contact with others as much as possible.
What will dismissal look like?
Bus riders will be dismissed to load one bus at a time to minimize traffic in the hallways and allow for as much social distancing as possible.
All Floyd County Elementary Schools are implementing a program called Silent Dismissal. (Previous PPS families will be very familiar with this dismissal program because we have used it for several years already.) Each student will be assigned a number. The person picking the student up will have a card with that number. Two cards will be given to you closer to the start of the school year. (Additional cards may be purchased for $1.) The staff member in the parking lot will enter the number into a device that will project on the board in your child's classroom. The student will know to come outside and wait at their assigned number to load in the car. Parents and guardians are not allowed to exit their vehicle or enter the building.
Remember, adults picking up students in the car rider line must have a pick up card (each family will receive 2 cards) with the Silent Dismissal number and logo in order to pick up their child(ren). We will not allow students to be dismissed with homemade pick-up cards, older cards from previous years, or by verbal means. If you have forgotten your card, we will ask you to park and wait until 3:10 before coming to the office to check your child out. Be prepared to provide identification and await for office personnel to verify authorization for pick up. Two pick up cards will be provided at the beginning of school so you can place the cards in multiple vehicles. (Additional cards may be purchased for $1 for two.) Please don’t forget it!
Afternoon car pickup will begin promptly at 2:30 pm and end promptly at 3:30pm. Please use the loop and car rider line at the front of the school for dismissal of your child from 2:30-3:30 pm.
In the event a child needs to be picked up early (more than 30 minutes prior to dismissal), the parent or guardian will park in the front parking lot of the school, then come to the front door to ring the buzzer. An office team member will verify ID, then call for the student to report to the office to be dismissed. This process will likely take a bit longer than a traditional early dismissal but we appreciate your support of this safety measure.
Can I visit my child at school?
As you know, we love parents and visitors at PPS. Unfortunately, until further notice, no parents, guardians, volunteers, or mentors will be allowed inside the school, as directed by Floyd County Schools to maximize safety and social distancing protocols. The only people allowed in our buildings will be school system employees and essential business-related workers.
Parent conferences and meetings will be held via phone, email, or through virtual meetings.
Unfortunately, this includes all school activities that parents traditionally enjoy, including having lunch with students, participating in classroom or office volunteer work, etc.
We greatly value our volunteers, mentors, parents, and other special guests and appreciate the important role you so often fill at school. However, the health and safety of all students and staff must remain the top priority.
How will you ensure that my child gets to his/her classroom safely in the mornings?
All students will be provided with a name tag and plastic holder that includes their first and last name, teacher, grade and student ID number. Parents will be provided with these tags and the car rider pick-up tags during the drive through meet and greet taking place soon. These tags will also help identify students more quickly as they arrive each morning and are leaving their classrooms at the end of each day during Silent Dismissal.
Staff members will be posted throughout the school to ensure students arrive safely to their classrooms.
What will my child's classroom look like?
Teachers are setting up their classrooms to maximize social distancing for students. Students will keep their items with them during the day and will not share supplies such as pencils, markers, etc. Classes will not gather as large groups in small spaces, such as a whole class gathering on the carpet for read aloud. Instead, limited numbers of students can group on such areas, observing safe distances while others remain at their seat.
Each student shall have his or her own pencil box/pouch/bag with daily supplies (pencils, markers, scissors, glue stick). We ask that parents/guardians prepare their child’s supply box prior to the first day of school and label the box with the student’s name. If a family is unable to provide one with the needed supplies, we will find a way to supply one for the student so that each learner has what he or she needs. Please reach out to our counselor, Mrs. Autumn Eads if you have needs. Her email is autumneads@floydboe.net. Click this link to access our School Supplies Lists for 2020-2021.
Students will still have the opportunity for daily activity classes as normally scheduled (Art, Music, PE, Media Center). All activity classes will encourage physical distancing where feasible and limit student contact. Activity teachers may go to the students' classrooms to minimize transition, or students may travel to activity, dependent on the threat of the spread of Covid-19. Any instruments, equipment, or other special class materials will be provided for each student and sanitized between use. Students will use their own pencil box/bag in art classes to prevent use of commonly shared materials.
As students transition to any additional educational service related to gifted education, speech, or resource and inclusion , we will utilize social distancing to transition between classes and locations to the fullest extent possible. Resource and inclusion times for students with IEPs will begin immediately and will follow social distancing guidelines to the best extent possible.
The school custodial team will follow guidelines for daily sanitizing of all classrooms and other areas with approved cleaning supplies. Classroom teachers may also supplement with their own cleaning routines throughout the day.
What will hallways and transitions look like this year?
Hallway and other traffic patterns have been planned with social distancing in mind.
At PPS, students already observe traffic patterns when moving about the building, walking on the color tiles. These procedures will continue. However, at this time, when lining up for movement from one location to another, classmates will stand approximately two feet behind the person in front of them rather than standing directly behind one another.
As noted in the arrival and dismissal sections as well as the social distancing section, we are working to minimize student traffic flow and developing traffic flow patterns to maximize social distancing.
What about Open House and meeting my child’s teacher?
To protect everyone's health and safety we will not have our traditional Open House/Meet Your Teacher Night. This year's Open House/Meet Your Teacher will look very different from previous years. However, we will do our best to reach out and welcome parents and students. Even though we cannot come together in person, we will offer an opportunity to connect virtually to introduce teachers.
PPS will host a virtual open house on Monday, August 10th. This link will be sent out via email, our website, and social media sites. We will also host a drive through Meet and Greet on Tuesday, August 11th. 1st & 2nd Grade will be from 4:00-5:00 PM and Pre-K and Kindergarten will be from 5:30-6:30PM. More details will be shared soon! This will allow parents to pick up important paperwork as well as drop off school supplies. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet your child’s teacher. (Please remember FCS policy is that no guests will be allowed in the building.)
Homeroom teacher names will be available through the PowerSchool Parent Portal upon online registration, however, please be patient as homeroom assignments may not be solidified until the week of school beginning due to enrollment changes.
Where will students eat lunch?
At this time, students will eat lunch in their classrooms. Students will no longer enter their number on the keypad when getting their breakfast or lunch. Instead, teachers will provide a roster with student ID numbers to the cafeteria. If we are able to allow for seating in the cafeteria, we will rotate classes eating in the classroom on a week-to-week basis, with proper sanitation protocols in place.
Unfortunately, we will not be allowed to have visitors for lunch until further notice.
Until further notice, no outside food or packages will be received at school. This includes deliveries of lunch. Students will be allowed to bring their lunch from home as usual.
How will virtual learning students receive special services, such as special education, 504 plan, or gifted?
For students who receive Special Education services or 504 Plan accommodations, parents who register their child for virtual learning should contact Courtney Hampton, Asst. Principal. We will then schedule a time to discuss a plan for services and accommodations for the student. For students who receive special education services or a 504 plan, we will deliver services in accordance with educational or accommodation plans.
For students who receive gifted, the system will have a gifted certified teacher facilitate learning for the student. The exact model used will depend upon the number of students participating in the virtual learning option.
What about organizations and parent meetings?
Parent meetings such as Local School Governance, PTO, and Family Engagement will occur virtually when possible. Face-to-face on campus meetings will not happen at this time.
It is critical for parents to stay connected to the school through Blackboard Connect, social media (PPS Facebook Page), and regularly check the school or system website for information and updates.
What about field trips?
All field trips have been temporarily suspended. We will contact you as opportunities to safely conduct field trips arise.
Will students be able to use water fountains?
We will provide paper cups at each water cooler for students to use instead of drinking directly from the fountains. All students are encouraged to bring a water bottle to school. Students are encouraged to be sure his or her water bottle is filled each morning before coming to school. Most classrooms are equipped with sinks to refill water bottles. Please put your child’s name on their individual water bottle to ensure proper identification.
What if I need to pick up my child early?
In the event a child needs to be picked up early (more than 30 minutes prior to dismissal), the parent or guardian will pull into the front parking lot, then come to the front door to ring the buzzer. An office team member will direct you.
What protective measures will be taken on the bus?
Bus drivers will clean bus seats, handles, and railings before each route and students will be separated on the bus to the best extent possible. Assigned seats will be utilized. The buses will also be sanitized. Students arriving to school by bus will report to classrooms to avoid congregating in large areas. Students will be dismissed to buses in the afternoon by bus groups in order to prevent large crowds from multiple buses in the hallway at one time. Bus drivers remain committed to the overall safety of all student passengers each morning and each afternoon, including their role in helping to stop the spread of COVID-19.
What if a student or staff member presents with symptoms of COVID-19 at school?
If a student displays COVID-19 symptoms or has a temperature above 100.4 degrees (multiple checks will be taken) and/or displays other symptoms, the child's parents or guardians will be contacted to pick up the student. The student will be moved into an isolation room that is fully monitored until picked up by a parent or guardian. Parents or guardians will be given a reasonable time to pick up their child. If a parent cannot be reached or a student is not/cannot be picked up within a reasonable time frame, local medical personnel will be advised.
Parents should contact the school regarding any subsequent diagnosis of a child sent home from school, or who otherwise has exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 or other illnesses. Online registration needs to be completed with current contact numbers as soon as possible. Please include the name and numbers of any person who is able to pick up your child. If a case of COVID-19 is diagnosed, local health and school system protocols will be followed.
Will my child still have recess?
Yes. All students will still have the opportunity for recess each day. Grade level classes will either have staggered times or play in different outdoor areas to limit contact with other students. Students will be encouraged to socially distance themselves while playing. We will have limited use of our playground equipment with proper cleaning and sanitation.
Can I bring my child food or birthday treats to school?
Due to safety concerns, outside food to share with the class such as birthday treats will not be allowed at this time.
How will my child be protected at school?
We will have a number of measures to keep students safe while at school.
These measures include:
Limited, if any seating in the cafeteria
Two blocks of separation between students while walking as a class or group in the hallway
Right-hand traffic lanes will continue to separate face to face traffic as much as possible in the hallway
Desks and tables will be separated in the classroom to the extent possible (most commonly approximately 2-3 feet apart); we will use study carrels as much as feasible
Group activities will be limited
Custodians will clean all areas at least once daily with approved materials for sanitizing. Custodians will have an increased cleaning schedule for common areas such as student hallway restrooms. Custodians will also pay special attention to areas where students are gathered or things touched regularly by students (ex. door handles, light switches, desks, cafeteria tables, etc.)
Students will keep their items with them during the day and will not share materials
Both arrival and dismissal procedures have changed to ensure that students are not gathered together and that they are staggered to the greatest extent possible
Hand sanitizer locations will be placed in each classroom and around the school once available
Students will have increased opportunities for hand washing during the school day
Students will be taught health and safety lessons on hand washing, social distancing, not using the materials of others and other safety measures
What will remote learning look like in a Red Scenario?
In a Red Scenario (Substantial Spread Scenario), our school will be completely closed to students and all work will be done in a remote location (home). We continue working through the details of offering remote learning at any time the threat of Covid-19 is substantial; however, the following are highlights of what we will do to ensure that your child is provided a great learning experience:
Attendance will be taken through Google Classroom/email.
There will be at least one daily (four day week) instructional video and/or Google meet with your teacher. These will be arranged and announced through Google Classroom.
There will be at least two graded assignments per week.
Each teacher will have at least two virtual office hours each day.
We will provide Chromebooks to students who do not have access to a computer/tablet.
How will I be able to contact my child’s teachers if we are in remote learning (Red/Substantial Spread Scenario)?
All staff contacts are listed on our website here. Please use email as the primary contact.
Will After School Care be offered?
Pepperell Primary will offer After School Care at this time. Parents will be notified if there is a change in ASC procedures. After School Care will be offered 3:30 - 6:00 p.m. each day for the fee of $7 per day for the first student and $3 for each additional sibling.
How can parents help?
Stay informed. Refer to the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control for information regarding Covid-19. Please have your child practice wearing a mask. Also, teach him or her proper hand washing and social distancing techniques. Please do not send your child to school, sick. This will help us stop the spread.
PPS Contact Information
Website: www.floydboe.net
Location: 1 Dragon Drive Southeast, Lindale, GA, USA
Phone: (706) 236-1835
Facebook: facebook.com/pepperellprimary
Twitter: @PPSDragons