6th Grade: Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020 @1:00 P.M.

7th Grade: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020 @5:00 P.M.

8th Grade: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020 @5:00 P.M.

Grades 6-8: Parent Townhall with Principal Brown: Saturday, September 19 at 10:00 AM.

All meetings will be held at this link: https://meet.google.com/qok-bkbb-uke

At The Bailey School for Performing and Visual Arts we consider athletics a valuable option for students to enhance their educational experience in a way that is consistent with the mission of the school. As always, there are potential additional risks involved with participating in athletics. This is also true in the midst of the pandemic we are currently facing. Our coaches will take all practical precautions to help reduce the possibility of the spread of COVID-19. Screening of our athletes will be performed daily with a Covid-19 Screening Form, thermometers, and oximeters. The Bailey Athletic Department will implement the following protocols and procedures for our student-athletes, coaches, and parents.

Team Practices

Athletes may come into close contact with their teammates during practices and games, but the following steps will be taken to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 during the course of the season:

1. Coaches will make efforts to keep players 6ft. apart when possible, but some drills or activities may include being closer proximity to other teammates.

2. All athletes must wear a mask or gaiter when inside the building and not actively working out.

3. Athletes will be required to wear a mask or gaiter during both indoor and outdoor practices, except for the portions of practice that include conditioning, running, or other activities that include high levels of physical exertion. Athletes will be asked to follow the same guideline for mask listed in the UIL/Spring ISD Protocols and Procedures document.

4. For games, Spring ISD Athletic Department will provide gaiters as part of their uniform that will be worn before and after games, and on the sidelines.

5. Coaches will also wear mask or gaiters during practices and games.

6. Athletes must bring their own water bottle for practices and games. Water will be provided for refill and this process will be supervised by a coach.

7. Any equipment, such as sport balls, will be regularly disinfected during workout sessions. When a small group is using a particular piece of equipment, that equipment must be wiped down before being used by the next group.

8. Hand sanitizing stations will be available in the gym and on the field, and athletes are encouraged to bring their own sanitizer as well. Athletes and coaches should wash their hands or use sanitizer before practice and at regular intervals during practice.

Practice Schedules

The football and cross country teams will conduct practice after school and volleyball will practice before school. We will follow the following schedule in order to cut down on the number of students going to the locker room at one time.

The times below are when each team or group will be released to the locker room.

6:30 am 7th Grade Volleyball

6:45 am 8th Grade Volleyball

4:50 pm Boys and Girls Cross Country

5:00 pm 7th Grade Football (released with their position coach)

5:15 pm 8th Grade Football (released with their position coach)

Weight Room

1. The weight room will have no more than 10-14 athletes at any one time.

2. Athletes lifting weights will be at stations that are spread out a minimum of 6ft. apart.

3. In order to ensure safe breathing, when a athlete is actively lifting weights or using a machine, that athletes may remove his or her mask. Athletes that are spotting or waiting a turn, will keep their mask on.

4. Each athlete that uses a piece of equipment will use a towel and disinfectant spray to sanitize the equipment before the next athlete uses it. Coaches will monitor carefully that equipment is being properly sanitized. Towels used for disinfecting will be washed daily.

Transportation

When traveling by bus, athletes will be spaced apart at a maximum of one athlete per seat. No athlete will be sitting side by side. With this rules, our buses will be able to hold 20 athletes. Windows will be opened for increased ventilation. If an athlete rides the bus back to school after an away game, that student must sit in the same seat he or she occupied on the way to the game.

Locker Rooms

1. Athletes will be required to keep their masks on at all times while in the locker room.

2. Athletes will be issued lockers in a manner that spaces teammates out as much as possible, and students must make every effort to stay 6 feet apart from each other while changing.

3. No more that 10-15 athletes at a time will be allowed in the locker room at one time.

4. Athletes will be asked to move in and out of the locker room quickly as possible.

5. Coaches will be monitoring locker room at all times to ensure safety and social distancing.

Upcoming:

1. Cross Country practice begins Mon. at 5:15 P.M.
2. Volleyball tryouts for 7th and 8th graders M-W from 5:30-7:30 P.M.

With online learning, we know there are some questions on attendance and how to ensure students are marked present for the day. Here’s what families need to know:

• Log in and attend class in real-time with your teacher during the morning and the afternoon.

• If you were unable to attend a session because of a technology issue, don’t panic. Students attending either the morning or afternoon session will be counted present for the day.

We know some families may have trouble sticking to the daily schedule because of a variety of issues, including parents’ work schedules, power outages, technology problems or distractions at home.

If your student for some reason misses both the morning and afternoon live instruction with their teachers, they can still make up the work by logging into Schoology and completing the day’s assignments. For that effort to count, however, students must do this before 11:59 p.m. each day to be counted present.

Even with all the challenges of online learning, attendance is still being tracked and still counts. Attendance matters, and we want our students in class and learning every day, 100 percent of the time. At a minimum, state standards require students to attend school at least 90 percent of the time the class is in session to receive credit.

If your family is struggling with attendance, let us know now so we can help!

Many activities and places are opening to the public with rules to wear masks and practice social distancing. Some families may be comfortable going to the mall or exploring the local playground at the park but others may still be cautious of such outings. Here are some ideas to get your young child outside while practicing good safety:

1. Take a nice walk or bike ride around your neighborhood.

2. Grab a blanket, find a spot under a tree and have storytime.

3. Get artistic and make nature sculptures using twigs, leaves, cones with a play dough base.

4. Choose a book and have a scavenger hunt looking for items from the story.

5. Play catch with a ball but avoid sharing equipment with others outside your household.

As always,make sure to wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer during and after being outdoors. According to healthychildren.org, getting outdoors, being in nature, and moving our bodies is good for everyone.

The Spring ISD Family Engagement Department encourages families and caregivers to play an active role in their children’s education. This year, we are encouraging families to stay actively engaged by volunteering in our schools virtually. Below are sample virtual volunteer opportunities. Please contact your child’s campus parent empowerment liaison for specific virtual volunteer opportunities at their school.

• Parent-to-parent communication: Campus parent leaders can create a phone bank to check in on and support other parents who are part of their school’s parent organization.

• Parent tutors: Parents who are comfortable with technology can assist other parents and students with navigating Spring ISD’s online support tools as well as assist students with homework.

• Self-care support: Parents can support other parents’ self-care by hosting virtual leisure classes for parents. Wind down by participating in sewing classes, yoga, painting, fitness, etc. This encourages self-care and socialization with other parents.

• Literacy support: Parents can support literacy by serving as the surprise guest reader of the week and reading stories to students in their virtual classroom.

• Virtual parent organization support: Parents can participate in virtual PTA/PTO/booster club meetings and activities.

• Virtual Career Day: Parents can participate in a virtual classroom and share their experiences in their chosen profession. This will help students see the connection between learning now and their future careers.