Atkinson Elementary School
2020 Reopening - Frequently Asked Questions
Your child's health and safety has been and will continue to be a priority for the Coweta County School System and Atkinson Elementary School. As we look towards our reopening of schools in August, our staff has been working tirelessly on protocols and procedures to maximize safety and keep everyone healthy. School reopening guidelines have been developed with the guidance of the Georgia Department of Education, the Georgia Department of Public Health, and the Coweta County Emergency Management Agency.
Please keep your child at home if your child has the following symptoms...
Will my child have to wear a face mask?
Will my child's teacher have to wear a face mask?
Will the school employ measures for social distancing?
Yes, as much as possible. Coweta County School System employees, students, parents, and visitors will be encouraged to stay approximately 6 feet away from others, if possible, and avoid contact with others.
Schools will implement several practices where feasible to follow best hygiene practices and assist in social distancing, including encouraging handwashing and face coverings and not sharing personal items, electronics, toys, books and other games or learning aids,minimizing student traffic flow and developing traffic flow patterns to maximize social distancing, increasing desk spacing where possible, turning desks to face in the same direction, minimizing group settings and limiting mixing between groups.
Students at increased risk of severe illness should implement individualized plans for distance learning.
What will arrival at school look like?
Parents or guardians who drop off their children in the morning will need to stay in their vehicle. Parents and guardians will not be allowed to enter the building, even on the first day of school.
If a student is late to school, the student will enter the building by themselves and someone from the front office will check the child in.
What will dismissal look like?
As in the past, parents and guardians will stay in their car, their child will be called, and the child will be brought to the car. Parents and guardians are not allowed to exit their vehicle or enter the building.
A limited number of students will come out at a time and, once loaded, another group of students will be called. This may delay the car rider line a little, but we will work as fast as we can to get students to their vehicle in a safe and orderly fashion.
In the event a child needs to be picked up early, the parent or guardian will enter the school and remain in the lobby until the child comes to the front lobby to leave.
Students and parents will be asked to observe social distancing while in the lobby, are subject to temperature checks, and may be asked to complete a health screening checklist.
Can I visit my child at school?
Until further notice, no parents, guardians, volunteers, or mentors will be allowed on campus. The only people allowed on campus will be school system employees.
Parent conferences and meetings will be held via phone, email, or through virtual meetings.
If a visitation is absolutely essential and approved by school administrators, visitors will be subject to a temperature check and questionnaire. These instances will be on a limited basis.
What will hallways and transitions look like this year?
What will my child's classroom look like?
Teachers are setting up their classrooms to maximize distancing for students. Students will keep their items with them during the day and will not share materials. If the grade level departmentalizes, a transition plan will be created to help with social distancing. Students will sanitize upon entering the next class.
Students will still have the opportunity for specials (art, music, PE) each day. All specials' classes will encourage physical distancing where feasible and limit student contact. Any instruments, equipment or materials used will be disinfected between classes to keep materials sanitary.
What about Orientation this year? What will it look like?
This year's Orientation will look very different from previous years. However, will do our best to reach out and welcome parents.
Teachers will contact parents through email, letter, phone calls or Google Hangouts before school begins in order to introduce themselves and welcome them to a new school year.
As soon as we have information about bus routes, we will post and share this information so that parents can look up their child's morning and afternoon bus number.
What will the lunchroom look like?
While in the cafeteria, students will be able to skip seats to allow for social distancing. Students will also have traffic aids to guide them in line to be able to put distance between students while waiting in line.
Not all students will eat in the cafeteria everyday. Some students will eat in the cafeteria and some will eat in their classroom.
Unfortunately, we will not be allowed to have visitors at lunch, until further notice.
What about deliveries, like food, gifts, etc.?
What is the Empower Online Academy?
The Coweta County School system has created a virtual learning platform in which students can register and participate in virtual learning sessions led by Coweta teachers. Parents will have to register their student for the virtual learning option and must commit to virtual learning for a period of at least one semester.
Click here to see the system's online learning platform. Registration will be from July 6-17th, and the registration form can be found on the Empower website.
For students who receive special education services, parents who register for virtual learning will contact the special education office (in our central office) and they will arrange a meeting to discuss a plan for each student.
For students who receive gifted and other services, the system will have a teacher serve students by providing services for the week (probably not per day). This will depend upon the number of parents who choose the virtual option. Once they know who has registered, a schedule for services will be set.
How will students who receive special services, like special education or gifted, be served using a virtual platform?
For students who receive special education services, parents who register for virtual learning will contact the special education office (in our central office 770-254-2800) and they will arrange a meeting to discuss a plan for each student.
For students who receive gifted and other services, the system will have a teacher serve students by providing services for the week (probably not per day). This will depend upon the number of parents who choose the virtual option. Once they know who has registered, a schedule for services will be set.
What about student organizations and meetings?
Until further notice, all group meetings (ex. PTO, Annual Title I Meeting, School Council, parent meetings) and after school organizations (ex. Chorus, Running Club, KKids, etc.) will be suspended. We will work on making as many of these opportunities in a virtual, online format.
It is critical for parents to stay connected to the school's Facebook page, sign up for Remind text messages by texting 81010@atk2020, and regularly check the school's website for informational updates.
What about field trips?
Will students be able to use water fountains?
What if I need to pick up my child early?
In the event a child needs to be picked up early, the parent or guardian will enter the school and remain in the lobby until the child comes to the front lobby to leave.
Students and parents are subject to temperature checks and may be asked to complete a health screening checklist.
What protective measures will be taken on my child's bus?
What about student attendance awards this year?
Will my child still have recess?
Will my child still have specials (art, music, PE)?
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:
- Separation at lunch (space between each student lunch)
- Breakfast in the classroom
- Two block of separation between students while in the hallway
- Desks and tables will be separated in the classroom to the best extent feasible
- Group activities will be limited
- Custodians will clean all areas frequently, paying special attention to areas where students are gathered or things touched regularly by students (ex. door handles, desks, 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
- Sanitizer locations will be placed around the school
- Students will be taught health and safety lessons on handwashing, distancing, not using the materials of others and other safety measures
What if a child presents with symptoms of COVID-19 at school?
If a student displays COVID symptoms or has a temperature above 99.5 degrees that does not decrease over time (multiple checks will be taken) and/or displays other symptoms that cannot be explained, the child's parents or guardians will be contacted to pick up the student.
The student will be moved into an isolation room 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, 911 will be notified and the child will be transported via EMS to a local hospital.
The student will not be able to return to school until released by the system's lead nurse (can be obtained by calling 404-925-7777 or 404-925-9597). Even if the child has a doctor's note, the child will still have to be cleared by the system's lead nurse.
Parents should contact their child’s school regarding any subsequent diagnosis of a child sent home from school, or who otherwise has exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 or other illnesses. Similarly, parents should notify their child’s school if anyone in the household has tested positive for COVID-19.
Any siblings or any other student living with a student who is sent home for fever or other symptoms may stay at school, unless they also display symptoms. Any siblings or any other student living with a person who tests positive for COVID-19 will also be required to quarantine, and may not return to face-to-face instruction until cleared to do so by the system’s lead nurse.
All emergency and clinic cards need to be updated with current contact numbers and returned to school as soon as possible. Please include the name and numbers of any person (family or otherwise) who is able to pick up your child.
If a case of COVID-19 is diagnosed, local health and school system officials will be notified. Department of Public Health guidance will be followed, and local health and school officials will determine the next steps the school will follow, which may range from deep cleaning areas to school closing. Local public health officials will determine when or if letters will be sent home. The privacy of student, family and employee health matters will be maintained.