COVID-19 Protocols

Be sure to explain to students, families and staff how your school is making the physical building a safe place for learning. You may want to include:

• Changes in class sizes

Before this school year we have had up to 30 seats in one classroom. This year we have organized each classroom to hold only 12 students at one time.

• Improvements in ventilation
• Increases in cleaning frequency

Custodians are going through training in order to conduct daily deep cleaning within each classroom.

• Changes in traffic flow

Students will remain in one classroom throughout the school day in order to minimize traffic flow. Teachers will transition to classrooms based on each class schedule

We have put safety procedures in place to keep our students and staff healthy. Teachers and school aides will be trained on these protocols so that students can understand and follow the requirements for safety in the classroom and in common areas.

• Masks: Masks must be worn inside IS 291 at all times by all adults and students. Mandatory for everyone as long as they are in the building. Students are allowed to remove their masks during their “instructional lunch” period for as long as the student is actively eating. If a student refuses to wear their mask in other areas of the building, they will be sent home and will be required to finish the year remotely.
• Handwashing: Students will be able to wash their hands with soap and water in the bathroom. They must washing during their lunch period. They must have a pass from their teacher to leave the classroom; then sign the school aide’s bathroom log; and only one student will be allowed in the bathroom at a time. Sanitizer will also be available throughout the building if a student needs to quickly sanitize their hands. Students and staff are expected to wash hands thoroughly before and after eating, after using the bathroom, if exposed to body fluids (like saliva or a sneeze), and at other times necessary throughout the day.
• Physical distancing
  • During arrival - Students will proceed through scanning in a line while maintaining 6 ft of distance between them. We will place burgundy tape markings on the floor to indicate the approximate distance between each student. When students enter the building, they can only use the staircases that lead directly to and from their cluster of classrooms.
     
    
    • 6th Grade: Stairwell B
    • 7th Grade: Stairwell F
    • 8th Grade: Stairwell C
    • MLL Program: Stairwell G
  • Adults will be positioned in the staircases to ensure that students follow the physical distancing rules.
  • In the classroom - Student desks and chairs will be placed 6 ft apart, all facing the front of the room. Teachers will be provided with a desk and chair in the office spaces opposite the classrooms in each cluster. This will allow students to have the maximum amount of space to store their belongings (coats, food, technology) and for a mobile teacher station.
  • In the hallway - Students will use the hallways only when necessary. The hallways will be marked with burgundy tape to indicate two sides where everyone will walk to their right.
      
  • In stairwell - Stairs will have single-direction traffic indicted with appropriate signage.
  • During dismissal - Stairs will have 6ft distance marks in order for students to remain socially distant while exiting the building.
• Drop-off and pickup procedures: Please maintain social distancing between families during drop-off and pickup. Parents are not allowed to enter the building with their child unless arrangements have been made in advance with the office. Please move through the drop-off and pickup line as quickly as possible to make room for families behind you.
• Visiting our school: We are limiting visitors to the school during this time. Most parent-teacher conferences and other meetings can be held virtually. All visits must be pre-approved and scheduled with the office.
• Illness: Students and staff exhibiting signs of illness or having a fever of greater than 99.9°F must stay home. If you or someone you know has COVID-19 (or shows symptoms of COVID-19 such as coughing or fever), it is required that you stay home or at a designated care facility for a minimum of 14 days. Please contact us via phone or email as soon as possible.

Our school will provide free meals to our students:

• See what's on the menu: Breakfast, Lunch
• Breakfast: After students enter the building and complete their hand cleaning protocol, they have a choice to grab a breakfast bag. Students proceed to their classroom and are allowed a “working breakfast” from 8:30am - 8:50am. If students choose not to eat breakfast, they must continue working with their mask on.
• Lunch: Lunch will be provided daily during period 3 for grades 6-7 and period 4 for grade 8. Bag lunches are prepared by the school cafeteria and are available during their lunch period. Students have an “instructional lunch” so they eat while working. After eating, students must put on their mask.
  Safety precautions while eating: students will remain seated to eat their lunch. Students will be able to slide their mask down from their mouth in order to eat their lunch. Once the student has completed his/her lunch, he/she will be expected to put back on the mask.

Meals will be provided to remote students, families, and community members:
The New York City Department of Education is committed to making free meals available daily for any New Yorker. Any New Yorker who wants one can get free meals at more than 400 Meal Hubs across the city.

On the days that you are working from home, you may visit a Meal Hub closest to you for breakfast and lunch.

• Meals can be picked up at all Meal Hubs 7:30 am to 1:30 pm, Monday through Friday
• Meals Hubs will operate for children and families from 7:30 am to 11:30 am, and for adults from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
  • No one will be turned away at any time
  • All adults and children can pick up multiple meals at one time
  • Vegetarian and halal options available at all sites
• No dining space is available, so meals must be eaten off premises
• Parents and guardians may pick up meals for their children
• No registration or ID required

Check out the NYC Department of Education website for details on the meal hub near you.

We are committed to making sure that all students can successfully connect to online learning during their at-home learning days.

• If your student needs a laptop or tablet, fill out the Device Request Form to reserve your device. Borrowing a device is free!
• If your students experience internet-connectivity issues with their iPads, they can request help through the Technical Support for Families form.
• Borrowed devices should be used for school purposes only and kept in a secure location. Take your device with you on in-school days.
• If you are not able to get internet hooked up in your home, your child's teacher will work with you to provide alternative offline assignments.
• If you are having trouble connecting to Google Classroom, Google Hangouts, or any of our online learning resources, contact your teacher.

• Signing in for online learning
  For students to sign in to online learning, they must log into the TEACH Hub using this link: https://idm.nycenet.edu/students/start.form. Once you log in, you can click on Google Classroom and enter your class code. Class codes can be found below.
  • Accessing Your DOE Student Account Video Tutorial
  • Check out these videos that can help you navigate remote learning

• How to get help with technical issues, including but not limited to:
  • Logging in: If you are having trouble logging into your classroom or uploading work, you should email your teacher immediately. We will also have helpful videos on our website to assist you. 
  • Teacher not seeing work: Always check with the teacher to make sure that they are getting and grading the work you turn in. If your teacher cannot see your work, attend their office hours to explain the issues you are having. In the end, you should still email your teacher the work that you missed with a reminder/explanation. Check your posted grades in Google Classroom to confirm that your work is being graded.
  • Not getting assignments back: If you are not getting the assignments back, you should email your teacher or attend their office hours to explain and discuss your concerns. They should advise you of a date and time by which you should check for feedback on your assignments.
• How to get help with equipment
  • Need a device: If you need a technology device for the 2020-21 school year, you can fill out the Remote Learning Device Request
  • DOE-given device not working anymore: For AppleCare support, please file a Technical Support Ticket or call the Help desk at 718-935-5100.
  • ONLY call to ask about setting up your iPad once you receive the device. Do not call to check on the status of your device request. See iPad Distribution for information and timelines around devices. 1-800-919-2775. When prompted, enter the PIN: 692363 (NYCDOE).