Fall 2020
August 12, 2020
1st Day of School, August 17
In last night's Board Mtg, our Trustees voted to start our 2020/21 SY August 17, with a blended learning model.
Shortened School Day
Elementary Dismissal
3:05pm
Rimrock Dismissal
2:55pm
Afternoon bus routes... just decrease 45 minutes from the time last year... and that's the new drop-off time for your child's afternoon route.
Blended Learning
What is a blended learning model?
It means that you're welcome to send your students to school to attend class face to face or you can choose to have your child(ren) attend virtually via Google Classroom.
What do I need to do if my child is attending face to face?
Nothing out ordinary from the typical spring requirement(s).
What do I need to do if my child is attending virtually, via Google Classroom?
Please fill out this brief survey, so our teachers will know who to expect online vs. in the classroom: https://forms.gle/S16Qj2vGqqnu2JMM6
Your child's teacher(s) will be sending out some information specifically for their online learning platform(s).
Re-Entry Plan
Trustees approved the BGV Re-Entry Plan in last night's board meeting. Here are some things you need to know about the plan:
Busing
- Every student will be required to wear a mask. We'll have some available, and students are welcome to wear their own.
- Bus drivers may choose to scan kids with a thermometer before they get on the bus. If a student's temperature registers above 100.4, they cannot get on the bus - they must go home.
Symptoms
- If a student shows symptoms of COVID-19 (i.e. fever above 100.4 or two or more other symptoms like a cough and/or a runny nose), they cannot be in school for 10 days from the onset of the symptom and 3 days from when the symptoms are no longer present. That means they're home for 2 weeks, engaged in online learning via Google Classroom. They may not come to school - they may not come to practice (athletics).
- If a student tests positive for COVID-19, Supt. Cantrell will work with SWDH to contact-trace the student's close contacts, and all those who had close contact with the student will be required to quarantine for 2 weeks. That means they're home for 2 weeks, engaged in online learning via Google Classroom. They may not come to school - they may not come to practice (athletics).
- If a staff member gets sick and is required to stay home, it's possible and likely that their class will be online for the duration of the time they're out.
Masks
- Masks are required on the bus, and for some athletics. Otherwise, mask usage is (currently, at this time) optional. Students are welcome to wear school-provided masks or bring their own.
- Similar to the dress code, masks must be appropriate for the setting (school)
Visiting the school
- Visitors within the district will be required to wash hands/use hand sanitizer upon entry (in addition to signing into the building, as already required).
- Visitors visiting from high-spread communities will be required to wear a mask in addition to washing/sanitizing hands.
- Visitors who indicate symptoms consistent with COVID-19 will not remain on campus.
Parent Pick-Up
- Elementary parent pick-up will occur in the parent vehicle pick-up line.
- All students not riding the bus or walking will be picked-up via the parent pick-up line at the elementary school(s).
- Parents will not enter the building to pick-up their children at the end of the school day.
Athletics
- Trustees approved BGV's Athletic Re-Entry Plan. If you have team-specific questions, please ask your coach. If you have athletic-specific questions, please ask A.D. Merrick.
- Student-athletes who indicate symptoms consistent with COVID-19 will be sent home and will not return to school nor practice until 10 days after the onset of symptoms and 3 days after all symptoms are gone (Roughly 14 days).
- At the time of this Aug. 9 update, the general rule of thumb, the basic expectation and practice of all teams in Idaho is that if students are not in school due to COVID-19 related closures, our teams are neither practicing nor competing.
Google Classroom
Some students may choose to stay home and utilize distance learning (Google Classroom) this year. Others may have to use Google Classroom because they're in quarantine.
Teachers will be re-training our students on the use of Google Classroom when students return - others will be using it the first week from home if they're electing to engage in online learning this fall.
When Teacher X teaches the lesson on Monday, they'll use Monday after school to upload the lesson to Google Classroom along with any videos for the lesson. The online learner can then work on it that evening or the following day. Our online learners will typically be one day 'behind' our face to face learners as we use this model.
A difference between this year and last... is that if a student has an "F", in a Google Class at Rimrock - we'll considerably more aggressive in ensuring that the "F" does not remain. This may include mandatory 1:1 sessions, possible mandatory in-person classes and/or mandatory Friday school. This is TBD.
Attendance
However - students are still responsible for completing the work. Students will always have access to their classroom work via Google Classroom. Absences are not an excuse to have missing assignments. Whether you attend online, or in-person... students are expected to complete their work.