BSD Back-to-Buildings Family Guide
For grades 6-12 / Version 1.2 (updated 4/19/2021)
This Back-to-Buildings Parent Guide is intended for Bremerton School District secondary families (Bremerton High School, Mountain View Middle School, Renaissance High School and West Hills STEM Academy grades 6-8). It will be updated regularly as information changes. View the elementary guide here.
Back-to-Buildings Plan
Following the safe reentry of our elementary students, we are pleased to move forward on the next phase of our back-to-buildings plan! We look forward to welcoming secondary students (grades 6-12) enrolled in our Hybrid Learning pathway to the classroom this spring*:
West Hills STEM Academy grades 6-8: March 15 (Group A) and March 18 (Group B)
Mountain View Middle School: April 1 (Group A) and April 2 (Group B)
Bremerton High School: April 1 (Group A) and April 2 (Group B)
Renaissance High School: April 12 (Group A) and April 13 (Group B)
We have put tremendous planning and effort into our health and safety plans that meet the state’s health and safety protocols, including mask use, social distancing, and increased cleaning and ventilation. These measures will help us keep our schools safe and healthy and help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Read the full Back-to-Buildings for secondary students announcement here.
*Please note: These dates are subject to change based on local COVID-19 transmission rates.
Hybrid Learning pathway (Groups A & B)
Students in the Hybrid Learning pathway** will attend school in-person/in the classroom two days per week, supplemented with three days of Connected Learning (online).
- Group A: Monday/Tuesday - In-person/classroom learning
- Group B: Thursday / Friday - In-person/classroom learning
- Wednesday will continue as an asynchronous learning day for both Hybrid and Connected Learning students.
**Renaissance High School students are divided into maroon/gray days and follow a different hybrid schedule which can be viewed here.
Hybrid & Connected Learning schedules available online
Schedules for Hybrid and Connected Learning are now available on your schools' websites. Click the button below to view each school's schedule.
Note:
- Students who are continuing in the Connected Learning pathway will continue 100% online with both synchronous and asynchronous learning.
- Now that our Hybrid Learning pathway students are returning to our school buildings for in-person/classroom learning, our Connected Learning (online) schedule is changing meet the needs of students and staff.
School meals
The District will continue to provide meals at no cost for all children age 18 and under, or up to age 21 if enrolled in the Bremerton School District.
- Hybrid Learning students: When students are at school, they can pick up grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches to take home at the end of the school day.
- All students: When students are learning at home, the following options are available:
- Pick up meals during meal pick-up time (9:30 - 11 a.m.) at any school
- Get a meal delivered by bus*.
Other meal program updates:
Five-Day Meal Kits: Our 5-day meal kits are being discontinued after spring break. The last opportunity for regular 5-day meal kits is the end of the month: sign up by Friday, March 26 for pick-up on Monday, March 29.
Spring break meal kits: Spring break meal packs are available for pick-up on Friday, April 2 (only). Families must sign-up by March 31.
There is NO meal service (bus or at schools) during spring break.
Bus transportation for Hybrid Learning students (A/B)
Bus transportation will be provided for both Group A and Group B. Families are encouraged to consider alternate forms of transportation, including walking, biking or being driven by caregivers as much as possible.
Hybrid bus schedules are now posted on the District website at www.BremertonSchools.org/HybridBus
IMPORTANT: Bus transport is the exception to the 6-foot rule of physical distancing. Bus riders will not be screened until arriving at school; it's imperative that parents not send students on the bus if they will not be able to pass the screening.
Everyone on the bus must wear a cloth face covering or disposable mask while on the bus. *
Students will be asked to sanitize their hands upon entering the bus (hand sanitizer will be provided). *
Riders will be kept as far apart as possible. No more than two elementary students per seat and one secondary student per seat.
Students will have assigned seating; students from the same household will be seated together.
Windows will be open in order to maximize ventilation (students should dress accordingly!).
Transportation staff will sanitize and disinfect the bus throughout the day.
High touch areas will be cleaned after each completed route.
Students will be assigned to one bus route. Due to capacity constraints, students will be unable to ride a different bus with a friend.
*Exceptions will be made for masks and hand sanitizer on a case-by-case basis or in accordance with a student's IEP or 504 plan.
IMPORTANT REMINDER
Gaiters, bandanas and face shields are not permitted.
Please visit www.BremertonSchools.org/Masks for mask information and resources to help you prepare your student for wearing masks at school!
Daily health assessment
A daily health assessment (also called “attestation”) is required for all students before entering a school building for in-person/classroom learning.
First day of school: Please complete a health assessment form and send it to school with your student!
For the first day of school back in the classroom, families will need to complete a printed copy of the health assessment form for each student attending school in-person.
This form was mailed to families of WHSA secondary students the week of March 8, and will be mailed to all MVMS and BHS families the week of March 22. The form can also be downloaded below and is available at www.BremertonSchools.org/Health.
Before sending your child to school on the first day, we ask parents to:
Take their student's temperature.
Complete the printed health assessment form.
Students will turn-in the form upon arrival at school and have their temperature taken again before entering the school.
Daily health assessment card
On the first day of school, students will receive a health assessment card from their school that can be worn with a lanyard, or clipped to a backpack.
Parents are asked to complete a health assessment at home every morning and initial the health assessment card prior to sending their student to school.
Students age 18 and older may initial their own health assessment card.
Students should bring their health assessment card any day they are at school for in-person/classroom learning. Students will be required to show their signed health assessment card when they arrive at school.
Students without a signed health assessment card must complete an in-person health assessment given by a staff member prior to entering school.
Students encouraged to bring refillable water bottles from home
If your student does not have access to a reusable water bottle, please contact your child's school.
Student health and safety protocols
When students arrive at school, students are expected to:
Wear a cloth face covering or disposable mask.
Enter the building using the designated entrances.
Turn in a completed health assessment form or complete a health assessment given by a staff member.
Have their temperature taken.
Wash or sanitize their hands.
Report directly to their classroom (no bathroom, library, etc. stops).
Temperature screenings
- All students will have their temperature checked prior to entering the classroom.
Anyone with an elevated temperature will be sent home.
Additional details on the process for evaluating students with a fever are available in our COVID Staff Guide viewable at www.BremertonSchools.org/COVID-19.
Student safety protocols (during the school day)
Social distancing will be required while on school district property (inside and outside).
Students and staff must stay 6 feet away from others in the classroom or any shared space
Cloth face coverings or disposable masks are required in all schools and buses.*
Students are responsible for providing their own masks (face masks will be available to those in need).
It is suggested that students bring a second mask every day.
Students should frequently wash hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available during the day.
Students should wash their hands:
When they enter their classroom(s)
After using restrooms
Before leaving at the end of the day
Student “touch points” will be limited as much as possible.
Students will keep their materials with them (or at their desk) whenever possible.
School supplies and equipment will not be shared.
Students and staff should avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.
Teachers will introduce/reinforce strategies & guidelines for students on hand washing, hygiene practices and proper mask usage.
Students will have assigned seating in each classroom.
At the end of the day students will:
Wipe down their chair and desk with a solution of unscented soap and water.
Wash or sanitize their hands before exiting the classroom
Follow the building safety protocols for exiting the building.
*Exceptions will be made for masks on a case-by-case basis or in accordance with a student's IEP or 504 plan.
Late arrival or early pick-up
- If a student is being dropped off, parents/guardians will remain in the car; a staff member will get the student.
- If a student is being picked up, parents/guardians will remain in car; a staff member will deliver student to car.
- If a parent/guardian is dropping off items for a student, parent/guardians will remain in the car; a staff member will retrieve the items.
If you have questions, please contact your student's school.
Summary of COVID-19 safety protocols in our schools
Class sizes and classroom spaces will be modified as appropriate/needed to promote distancing and maintain a healthy classroom environment.
- Schools will work to manage movement and limit transmission opportunities within the school building.
- Hand sanitizer will be available throughout all school buildings.
- Signage to direct traffic flow, support distancing, and required face coverings will be displayed prominently throughout schools.
- A site-specific COVID-19 supervisor has been designated by the District at each school, and at other work sites, to monitor the health of employees and to enforce the COVID-19 job site safety plan.
- Each school has a designated isolation room for children who begin showing symptoms of illness at school and are awaiting pick-up.
Custodial and facilities safety protocols
The following changes are being implemented in all schools:
Classrooms will be set-up to allow for social distancing.
We will increase daily cleaning and disinfecting in all of our schools (more information on our cleaning protocols is available at www.BremertonSchools.org/COVID-19).
Our custodial staff will disinfect high touch areas with Environmental Protection Agency-rated cleaners.
We’ve increased air ventilation and the incorporation of outside air.
Drinking fountains are turned off but water bottle filling stations will be available.
Parent/guardian visits to schools
- Any parent/guardian wishing to enter a Bremerton School District building must have an appointment and be cleared by a school employee before entry.A health screening must be performed (including temperature check with a touchless thermometer).
- If the parent/guardian is experiencing any symptoms on the health assessment (or attestation) they cannot enter the school facility.
- When parents arrive for their appointment, they should remain in their car until the office releases them to come to the building.
- Face coverings are required to enter any BSD building.
- Learn more here.
Field trips and volunteers
Field trips
- Field trips are not permitted at this time.
Volunteers
- In-school volunteers are not permitted at this time.
Please do not send your student to school if he/she is ill
If your child is sick - even with mild symptoms - please keep your child home from school and notify your child’s school that your student is ill.
If your student’s symptoms are related to a chronic condition, contact the school and follow school policies for chronic condition management.
Please contact your health care provider immediately about serious illness, including any fever of 100.4°F or higher.
To help protect all students, please notify the school if your child is diagnosed with any of these diseases:
- Chickenpox
- COVID-19
- Diphtheria
- E. coli diarrhea
- Hepatitis
- Measles
- Mumps
- Pertussis
- Rubella
- Salmonella
- Scabies
- Shigellosis
- Tuberculosis
- another disease as requested
The school will protect your private information as required by law. RCW 70.02, Washington’s Health Care Information Access and Disclosure Act.
Medication
Notify school staff if your student requires medication during school hours. Follow school protocols for medication at school. Unless otherwise instructed, if your student’s illness requires antibiotics, the student must have been on antibiotics for 24 hours before returning to school. Antibiotics are not effective for viral illnesses such as COVID-19.
Attendance
The BSD Attendance policy applies and will be monitored for students in the Hybrid Learning and in Connected Learning pathways.
- If students must be absent, parents should contact the school office explaining the reason for the absence.
Bremerton High School
Attendance office: (360) 473-0813
Mountain View Middle School
360-473-0600
Renaissance High School
360-473-4700
West Hills STEM Academy
360-473-4600
When Students Get Sick At School
Quarantine Impacts on Students
If your student is in quarantine, please monitor their health.
If they do not feel well, please contact your child’s physician.
As long as your student feels well during quarantine, please have them participate in Connected Learning.
Please contact your child’s teacher or principal with questions or support.
Helpful Links
- www.BremertonSchools.org/2020-21 - Home page for 2020-21 school year information & resources
- www.BremertonSchools.org/Meals - meal information, menus, delivery bus routes
- www.BremertonSchools.org/Masks - Mask information & resources (videos, graphics)
- www.BremertonSchools.org/COVID-19 - BSD COVID safety plans
This plan is based on OSPI's "Reopening Washington's Schools District Planning Guide and aligns with revised recommendations announced by Governor. This Guide will be updated as needed as guidance changes.
Bremerton School District
Email: communications@bremertonschools.org
Website: www.BremertonSchools.org
Location: 134 Marion Avenue North, Bremerton, WA, USA
Phone: 360-473-1000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BremertonSchools