Ruth Hill Elementary
2020 Reopening Frequently Asked Questions
We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as we move to reopening school and providing students with an environment to help them continue to soar toward excellence.
Please keep your child at home if your child has the following symptoms...
Information about COVID
Will my child have to wear a face mask?
Will my child's teacher have to wear a face mask?
Can I visit my child at school?
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 about Orientation this year? What will it look like?
Teachers will reach out to parents through email, letter, phone call, Facetime, or Google Hangout before school begins in 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.
Car rider tags will be made available for parents soon to pick up from school. More information about picking up car rider tags will be available soon through our social media sites.
Unfortunately, we will not be able to conduct home visits before school begins.
Can I eat lunch with my child?
What about deliveries, like food, gifts, etc.?
Will there be a virtual learning option for my child?
Click here to see the system's online learning platform. Registration will be from July 6-17th.
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) 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?
It is critical for parents to stay connected to the school through social media (Twitter and Facebook), sign up for Remind text messages, and regularly check the school's website for information and updates.
What about field trips?
How will lunches be impacted?
What about the use of water fountains?
How will student drop off be impacted?
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.
Students cannot be dropped off in the bus rider line in a car (or be dropped off to walk to the cafeteria). If students are car riders, they must go through the car rider drop off area. The bus drop off area is only for students who ride the bus.
What if I need to pick up my child early?
Students and parents are subject to temperature checks and may be asked to complete a health screening checklist.
Will pick up in the afternoons with car riders change?
What protective measures will be taken on my child's bus?
What if a child presents symptoms of COVID-19?
A list of COVID-19 symptoms to screen for can be found here.
If a student displays COVID symptoms at school, 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.
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.
The student will not be able to return to school until released by the system's lead nurse (who can be contacted by calling 770-254-2799. Calls will be returned as soon as possible). Even if the child has a doctor's note, the child will still have to be cleared by the system's lead nurse.
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.
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?
These measures include:
- Separation at lunch (one space between each student at breakfast and lunch)
- One 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