BSD Back-to-Buildings Family Guide
Version 5.3/ updated 3/12/2021
This Back-to-Buildings Parent Guide is intended for Bremerton School District elementary families. It will be updated regularly as information changes.
View the secondary guide here.
Back-to-Buildings Plan
Our phased-in approach to bringing students back to the classroom aligns with the revised recommendations announced by Governor Inslee and guidance from state and local health officials. The recommendations are based on data that indicates schools can successfully limit the spread of COVID-19 when they have strong health and safety protocols in place. And we do.
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.
We are closely monitoring our health and safety protocols as we return our secondary students to the classroom beginning March 15. Read the full announcement here.
Read the full 1/6/2021 announcement about grades K-2 here.
View the updates sent to K-2 Hybrid families 1/25/2021 here.
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. Below are changes to our meal program, effective Tuesday, January 26.
- Meal pick-up times at all schools is 9:30 - 11 a.m. Monday through Friday.
- Meal delivery bus routes will be changing effective 3/29. Information will be provided to families the week of March 22.
K-5 Hybrid students
When students are at school, they will eat lunch and pick-up a bagged breakfast for the following day.
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.
Families dropping off K-2 Hybrid students at school in the morning may pick-up meals for their siblings at school from 8:05-8:30 a.m., or during regular meal pick-up time (9:30 - 11 a.m.)
All students learning at home:
Families can pick up meals Monday through Friday from 9:30 - 11 a.m. at any school, or get a meal delivered by bus.
Families dropping off K-2 Hybrid students at school in the morning may pick-up meals for their siblings at school from 8:05-8:30 a.m., or during regular meal pick-up time (9:30 - 11 a.m.)
Connected Learning pathway schedule update
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 face-to-face learning, our Connected Learning (online) schedule for all grades will be evolving to meet the needs of students and staff.
K-5 students' Connected Learning schedule will be communicated by his/her school and/or teacher.
During this synchronous time, students will participate in synchronous ELA (English Language Arts) and math lessons. In addition to these synchronous lessons, Connected Learning students will complete asynchronous lessons in health and fitness, music, i-Ready, and social studies and science. Students may be assigned additional practice opportunities to work on at home. Additional details will be provided by the Connected Learning teachers.
Wednesday will continue as an asynchronous learning day for both Hybrid and Connected Learning students.
Flexible Learning pathway
The Flexible Learning pathway is not changing. This is a virtual model that is flexible for a family’s schedule with access to a Bremerton School District teacher for support, tutoring and connection. This option has students from across our district grouped by grade level with a BSD teacher.
Hybrid Learning pathway schedule
Elementary students enrolled in the Hybrid Learning pathway will attend school in-person two days per week, supplemented with three days of Connected Learning (online).
School will begin at 8:15 a.m. and end at 1:15 p.m. For the health and safety of all students and staff, it is imperative that families not drop off students prior to 8:05 a.m.
Group A: Monday/Tuesday - Face-to-Face learning (in the classroom)*
Group B: Thursday / Friday - Face-to-Face learning (in the classroom)*
Wednesday - Connected Learning (online) for A & B
*Students will complete an additional hour of learning online on the days they attend school face-to-face.
Schools will be communicating the group to which your student will be assigned.
Asynchronous lessons include health and fitness, music, i-Ready, and social studies and science. Students may be assigned additional practice opportunities to work on at home.
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!
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.
Daily health assessments
A daily health assessment (also called “attestation”) is required for all students before entering a school building for face-to-face learning.
Students are given a Health Assessment card every month from their school. It can be worn with a lanyard, or clipped to a backpack.
Before sending your child to school every day for in-person/classroom learning, we ask parents to:
Take their child’s temperature.
Initial the health assessment card.
Send the card to school with your student.
Students without a signed Health Assessment card must complete an in-person health assessment given by a staff member prior to entering school.
Thank you for your support and cooperation with this important, state-required process.
Bus transportation for Hybrid Learning pathway 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 for elementary, middle school and high school are 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.
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 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.
Chromebooks
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.
Recess, field trips and volunteers
Recess
- Hybrid students will participate in recess. In addition, teachers may elect to take students outdoors for movement breaks. Shared use of equipment will not be allowed.
- Masks use must continue, even outdoors.
- Physical distancing must continue, even outdoors.
- Masks will be required during recess, though students can request a "mask break" during which they will be required to stand quietly away from their peers on the playground.
Field trips
- Field trips are not permitted at this time.
Volunteers
- In-school volunteers are not permitted at this time.
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.
Please do not send your child 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.
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/BackToBuildings2021 - Link to this family guide
- www.BremertonSchools.org/6-12BackToBuildings - Link to the secondary family guide (grades 6-12)
- 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 since guidance continues to evolve.
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