On behalf of everyone here at Christ the King School, I wish you the best of health during this unprecedented time in history. The challenges we have had to face presented us with obstacles to living our lives as we have known them. It has not been easy for anyone. That applies to us as we prepare for reopening the school building in September. This letter is intended to inform you of that process and to give you the opportunity to be informed about how things will operate once school is in session.
By now, most of you have read the Catholic Schools Onward documents that are on the Archdiocesan Office of Catholic Education’s website. If not, I implore you to do so at this link: https://aopcatholicschools.org/catholic-schools-onward-cso-2/ There will be challenges for us to reopen the building safely and securely for your children. That document is the foundation for that process. The Archdiocese has put forth a fantastic plan for us for a full time reopening of the building. Obviously, we will need to tweak a few items for our own use, but the effort has made me feel positive about a safe return to classes for our kids.
As always, the teamwork between school and parent is important to all of us and has proven to be an overwhelmingly positive partnership. Our “Small School, Big Family” philosophy easily allows for this. These are some things that you will need to know as we get closer to September:
Before leaving your house in the morning, you will need to monitor your child’s state of health. If your child is not feeling well, we cannot allow them in the building. Keep them home, because we will not allow them into their classrooms if they have a fever of 99.5 or above or exhibit any symptoms of Covid 19.
Parents cannot be permitted to be in the building when the students are inside. If you need to come to school, you will need to call Ms. Louise and let her know that you are coming. We will make arrangements for you for whatever you need.
Our students will be organized by homeroom “cohorts.” The cohorts will keep to themselves the entire day. The only interaction with people outside their cohorts will be with teachers in grades with departmental situations (Grades 3-8) or with Specials teachers (Grades K-8).
Movement around the building will be kept to a minimum. The students will move as a cohort with no other cohort in the hallway as they travel after arrival in the building.
Cohorts will travel with a mask on as they move.
Cohorts will have recess in their rooms and lunch recess at an appropriate socially distant place in the yard from other cohorts.
Specials classes will be taking place as usual. Students will need to wear a mask going to those classes.
Services such as Catapult math (with Mrs. DePiano), CORA Reading (with Mrs. Stack), counseling services (with Ms. Leone and Ms. Wilkinson), and speech (with Mrs. DiSante) will all occur as regularly as they did last year.
Social distancing is a big part of keeping the students and faculty safe. Our teacher to student ratio is a huge benefit to us since distancing the kids will be easier here than at other schools.
Entering and exiting the building will require proper social distancing. More details will be announced, but the goal will be to have cohorts enter the building through a designated entrance where a teacher will be waiting to check temperatures before access to the building can be granted. The teachers will also ensure proper social distancing between nonfamily members.
Our classrooms can handle a proper distance between students. Our numbers will allow us to keep the kids in the rooms at six feet from each other.
Bathroom times will be managed by schedule. That way, only one cohort will be in the hallway. Obviously, emergencies are an exception, but we would caution frequent bathroom users to be aware of the need to be clear of other groups in the building.
The water fountains are off limits until further notice. Please supply your child with enough water for the day.
Masks
Masks will be needed for our kids.
Our superintendent, Dr. Andrew McLaughlin, was instructed by Dr. Thomas Farley of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to adjust our mask policy. We also received new guidelines from the State, which expanded the requirements Dr. Farley placed on the Catholic Schools. The adjustment is that all students and staff will need to wear their masks for the full school day, except for those times when they are eating. This was NOT something we wanted. We had a safe plan in place. However, we are subject to the directives of Dr. Farley’s office and the State government and we will need to comply with these orders. It’s probably wise to start to have your kids practice with the masks this week.
The students must wear masks that are appropriate for use around children in a Catholic School. The most effective are the surgical masks that people use frequently. Any cloth masks should be plain colors so as not to distract from the learning environment.
There are times when the students can have a "mask break" several times during the day.
It is necessary for your child to have a couple masks with him/her in a sealed baggie in his/her schoolbag in case one or two become soiled.
You may also want to get a lanyard for your child so that the mask in use can be attached to it to prevent it from falling on the ground or other undesirable places. This would be highly recommended for the younger children.
. .
The Archdiocese has asked, and we have approved, a virtual learning option. It will look a bit different from last year’s emergency with Zoom classes and work sent through Google Classroom. This is NOT the recommended method of instruction. However, we are aware that there are cases in which this method is the best option for a small number of our families. Details are listed below.
Virtual learning will not be like last year. This year, any virtual learning will be done synchronously. It will be learning done at the same time as the teachers are teaching in class. The Archdiocese has directed that classes are not to be recorded for later use due to privacy concerns. If a parent opts for the virtual learning style, the parent assumes all responsibility for making sure that the child is available for lessons being broadcast. We will broadcast lessons, but the child needs to be there when a lesson is given.
Virtual learning will occur on a trimester by trimester basis (or temporarily for Covid quarantine cases only). Anyone opting for the virtual learning option in a trimester may not be in the building until the following trimester. You will need to notify us by August 7th if you are opting for the virtual learning option.
Virtual learning is available only for Math, ELA, and Religion classes. Everything else will have to go through Google classroom. All other work will need to be done through Google Classroom.
Attendance will be graded two different ways: attendance in person, and attendance virtually. If a child is not present virtually while the lesson is being given, they are to be marked absent.
If work cannot be turned in on Google Classroom, the parents of virtual learners are responsible for delivering all work done at home to the school in a timely manner. Each teacher will set guidelines for returned work as we get closer to opening.
We need to clarify that Social Studies, Science, Art, Computer, Music, and Physical Education classes are not a part of the virtual learning agreement. The materials covered in those classes will be available on Google Classroom or can be picked up at school.
The Archdiocese reminds us that we are mandated reporters whether we are virtually teaching or live teaching. Please be aware of that as you connect to the classes virtually.
Virtual learning can be done on Google Meet through your child’s CTK Google email.
We were given a grant to help defray the cost of the cleaning equipment and supplies we will need to keep the rooms and common areas clean. We have purchased extra hand sanitizing stations, extra supplies of hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray and wipes, extra tissues and paper towels, thermometers, and with a recent donation, electrostatic disinfectant sprayers will be purchased. Even so, we will need each child to bring in some supplies like they do every year. We ask that each child bring in hand sanitizer, a tube of disinfectant wipes, a box of tissues, and a roll of paper towels.
Cleaning of commonly touched surfaces, such as handrails, doorknobs, and handles to the stairwell doors, will be undertaken regularly though the day. Classrooms will be cleaned every day with disinfectant spray and electrostatic sprayers. The same will be true of the bathrooms.
We know that it is traditional for students to share goodies on birthdays and special occasions. Unfortunately, this practice will have to be put on hold indefinitely. Please pack food, snacks, and drinks for your children, but let them know that they should not share it with anyone for the time being.
Entering the Building
We cannot allow any child to attend class with an elevated temperature (99.5° or higher). It is important that you check your child’s temperature before driving to school. The parents of any child with a high temperature will be called to return to pick up their child. Have a backup plan for an ill child.
We will have the students arrive in the morning in the yard. Drivers need to follow the path closest to the woods to drop off children. They need to drop off the students in the “drop off” zone that we began using last year.
Parents are asked to keep their children in the car until you reach the “drop off” zone.
The students will line up while maintaining a socially distant space between them and while wearing their masks. The students will have their temperatures checked as they get to the line.
Each grade cohort will enter the building through an entrance designated for their use. This will assist the teachers in keeping their students away from other cohorts.
PreK parents will still walk their children to the PreK room. That entrance will be the one between the church and school (the one from which the youngest children are dismissed).
Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grades will enter the building at the door between the church and school.
3rd and 4th Grades will enter the building at the door nearest to the nurse’s office (south entrance, farthest from the church).
7th and 8th Grades will enter at the south stairwell door by the library.
5th and 6th Grades will enter by the front door by the church on the Chesterfield Rd. side of the building.
On rainy or colder days, we will need to set up two drop off points for the different grades. The process will change to the following:
Students from 3rd, 4th, 7th, and 8th Grades will be dropped off at the south end of the school (near the nurse’s office) and enter their designated entrances.
Students from PreK, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 6th Grades will enter the school building at the doors between the school and church.
We will not be using the Hall for gathering in the morning until further notice.
We cannot allow parents or other adults to enter the building while school is in session. If there is a need for you to come to school, call Ms. Louise to alert her of what you require. She will handle the arrangements in school for you.
Dismissal
Car line dismissal will proceed as usual with the exception that each cohort (grade) will be dismissed individually. This will add some time to dismissal, but we want to keep a safe distance between the cohorts. Walkers may NOT be picked up in the car line.
Walker lines will be dismissed by grade as well. Car riders may NOT be picked up in the walker line.
Lunch and Recess
Please be aware that students may not share their food with anyone during this time. We know that the students have been taught to be generous, but the safety of all students is our priority.
We are still awaiting a decision on the “special lunches” that are offered from October to May.
Please pack enough snacks and drinks for your child for the day, especially those staying for CARES.
Birthday treats are not permitted at this time. We know that this is disappointing, but items brought from one person’s home to be distributed at school raises the risk of an outbreak.
The students will have recess in class and lunch recess outside – weather permitting. They will play as a cohort without joining with the other cohorts.
If your child forgets a lunch or snack, we will provide something for them.
The students will have time to wash their hands after playing outside.