League School to Welcome Students Back to Campus on Monday, July 13th
After receiving final summer guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), League School has spent the past week training staff on new protocols and procedures. In addition, the school has prepared our facility to meet the new health and safety standards. Our staff is ready and eager to welcome their students back on-campus for face to face learning beginning on Monday, July 13, 2020.
League’s continuing priority throughout this pandemic is the health, safety and well-being of our students, families and staff. All of our decisions and response actions have been influenced by this driving detail. As a result, when we return to on-campus learning on July 13, the League School experience will be quite different for our students and staff.
Prior to a student’s return, parents are responsible for making the decision as to whether their student will attend in-person/on-campus learning. League School will continue to make available remote learning options for families who are not comfortable with their children returning to campus.
Before entering the building on Monday, parents/guardians will need to complete an Assumption of Risk form. League School will need to receive the signed copy from parents/guardians prior to Monday for a student to start on-campus learning.
Upon entering the building, League School’s nursing department and our head teachers will be screening students’ temperatures everyday. In conjunction with the entrance screening, all families should be checking for symptoms each morning. It is critical that families and caregivers serve as the primary screening option for COVID-19 symptoms. If a student is sick or displays symptoms of COVID-19, they should not be sent to school. League staff will also observe students throughout the day and refer students who may be symptomatic to the nursing department.
Students who display symptoms for COVID-19 will be sent home. Parents/guardians will be required to pick up their child if they are displaying symptoms. There is no flexibility with this protocol.
Other noticeable changes that will take place include: wearing of masks, physical distancing and changes to the physical environment of the school. Staff will be required to have a temperature screening and be wearing a mask when they enter the building. Staff are also required to wear masks/face coverings when working with the students or are in common areas at all times.
Please review the policies per DESE:
• All students are required to wear a mask/face covering that covers their nose and mouth.
• Exceptions to mask/face covering requirements must be made for those for whom it is not possible due to medical conditions, disability impact, or other health or safety factors.
• Mask breaks will occur throughout the day. Breaks will be allowed when students are able to be six feet apart.
• Masks/face coverings should be provided by the student/family, but extra disposable face masks should be made available by the school for students who need them. Reusable masks/face coverings provided by families should be washed by families daily. Districts and schools with families experiencing financial hardship and unable to afford masks/face coverings should endeavor to provide masks for students.
League School will be modifying procedures such as morning arrival and dismissal to help students maintain appropriate distance from other students and staff when feasible. We have also repurposed a large percentage of the rooms on the first and second floor of the school. This has enabled us to provide larger classrooms for classes with an increased number of students. Common rooms, such as the lunch room, auditorium and OT gym have been repurposed as classrooms.
Staff training has been an integral part of League’s preparation for our return to on-campus learning. This week, our staff was provided up-to-date information about COVID -19 and details the recommended guidance and supports.
We will continue to adhere to DESE’s training recommendations: Provide and reinforce COVID-19-focused education and training for all staff, including mitigation procedures, personal hygiene, signs and symptoms of illness, assessment, the referral process for students requiring mental health supports, and the use and disposal of health and safety supplies. All training must be provided before in-person summer services begin.
We are all truly excited for our students to return and are confident that League School, as a community, will continue to be successful educating our students despite the continued hurdles related to this global pandemic. Please don’t hesitate to contact the school if you need clarification on any of these or other details regarding our reentry plan.