Reopening Plan 2020-21
2020-21 Reopening Plan
Semester 2 Will Be Different!
We spent the last semester adjusting to this new pandemic reality and learning a great deal through the process. We’ve transitioned our academic and co-curricular programs online, provided Covid-19 testing to students and staffulty, launched in-person extracurricular and team cohorts, and brought the 9th and 12th grades on campus for grade-level bonding activities. And, we’ve done this all safely while adhering to the ever-changing guidelines provided by the County and State.
We have taken what we’ve learned through experimentation and through student, staffulty, and parent/guardian feedback and designed a new plan and schedule for Semester 2 while keeping the following goals in mind: student and staffulty safety, simplicity and adaptability of schedule, and prioritization of building and strengthening communities through in-person, grade-level, and academic class meetings.
Below, we summarize the key changes to the schedule and the rationale for these changes. We present a plan for the Purple and Red Tiers, with one consistent daily schedule for both, allowing us to seamlessly move between them.
In other pages of this section, we provide detail about our Health & Safety Protocols and our Covid-19 Testing (along with a dashboard to report testing metrics).
We have taken what we’ve learned through experimentation and through student, staffulty, and parent/guardian feedback and designed a new plan and schedule for Semester 2 while keeping the following goals in mind: student and staffulty safety, simplicity and adaptability of schedule, and prioritization of building and strengthening communities through in-person, grade-level, and academic class meetings.
Below, we summarize the key changes to the schedule and the rationale for these changes. We present a plan for the Purple and Red Tiers, with one consistent daily schedule for both, allowing us to seamlessly move between them.
In other pages of this section, we provide detail about our Health & Safety Protocols and our Covid-19 Testing (along with a dashboard to report testing metrics).
Semester 2: Purple Tier Schedule
Semester 2 Red Tier: 9th & 10th Grade
Semester 2 Red Tier: 11th & 12th Grade
Semester 2 Highlights
One Schedule for All Tiers
Considering the unpredictable nature of infection rates and county/state ordinances, we have created one schedule that will work for when we are allowed to be in-person and when we must be virtual. Monday through Thursday will always be 9:00 am–3:30 pm and Fridays will fluctuate based on programming and restrictions.
Regular In-Person Opportunities for All Tiers
Whether we continue to be in the Purple Tier or move into a less restrictive tier, we will always have in-person moments for students. Since these are less frequent than in a typical year, we decided to prioritize grade-level community building through our in-person moments.
In the Purple Tier, these will be at least once a month on Fridays for each grade level.
As we move into less restrictive tiers, we will invite 9th and 10 grade students on campus for classes for four days one week, then 11th and 12th grade for four days the next.
Grade-Level Cohorts
We have chosen to prioritize grade-level community-building for in-person opportunities in Semester 2. This means that we have decided to move from a mixed grade-level cohorting option to a fixed grade-level cohorting option once we return to in-person instruction.
What this means is that, when it is safe to return to campus for in-person academic classes, the in-person schedule has been split. The first week on campus will be for all 9th and 10th grade students, while 11th and 12th grade students attend classes virtually. The second week will be virtual for 9th and 10th grade and on-campus, in-person for 11th and 12th grade students. Each week will alternate in this fashion. This also allows us to increase class time and teacher focus on one group of students rather than juggling an in-person group with a virtual one.
Fortunately, the vast majority of our classes align with these grade level splits. We have a variety ways that we will handle those classes that do not easily split along grade levels (see the Q&A) below.
Safety Through Modified 4-10 and Increased Use of Outdoor Spaces
As we move into less restrictive stages, we will provide in-person instruction to 50% of students at a time based on grade levels. This will mean that 9th and 10th grade students will be on campus Monday–Thursday of one week and then 11th and 12th Monday–Thursday of the next week.
In doing so, we will still benefit from some of the advantages of a 4-10 model. If students contract the virus while on-campus, they will be more likely to be at home by the time they are contagious. We are also creating more outdoor classroom spaces so that teachers will have the option to move their classes outdoors when it makes sense.
Indoor spaces will also be fully ventilated and will have doors and windows open to increase the flow of fresh air and reduce the risk of aerosol transmission. We have upgraded all HVAC filters to MERV 13, which is the same filter used for general surgery and hospital inpatient care areas.
Considering the unpredictable nature of infection rates and county/state ordinances, we have created one schedule that will work for when we are allowed to be in-person and when we must be virtual. Monday through Thursday will always be 9:00 am–3:30 pm and Fridays will fluctuate based on programming and restrictions.
Regular In-Person Opportunities for All Tiers
Whether we continue to be in the Purple Tier or move into a less restrictive tier, we will always have in-person moments for students. Since these are less frequent than in a typical year, we decided to prioritize grade-level community building through our in-person moments.
In the Purple Tier, these will be at least once a month on Fridays for each grade level.
As we move into less restrictive tiers, we will invite 9th and 10 grade students on campus for classes for four days one week, then 11th and 12th grade for four days the next.
Grade-Level Cohorts
We have chosen to prioritize grade-level community-building for in-person opportunities in Semester 2. This means that we have decided to move from a mixed grade-level cohorting option to a fixed grade-level cohorting option once we return to in-person instruction.
What this means is that, when it is safe to return to campus for in-person academic classes, the in-person schedule has been split. The first week on campus will be for all 9th and 10th grade students, while 11th and 12th grade students attend classes virtually. The second week will be virtual for 9th and 10th grade and on-campus, in-person for 11th and 12th grade students. Each week will alternate in this fashion. This also allows us to increase class time and teacher focus on one group of students rather than juggling an in-person group with a virtual one.
Fortunately, the vast majority of our classes align with these grade level splits. We have a variety ways that we will handle those classes that do not easily split along grade levels (see the Q&A) below.
Safety Through Modified 4-10 and Increased Use of Outdoor Spaces
As we move into less restrictive stages, we will provide in-person instruction to 50% of students at a time based on grade levels. This will mean that 9th and 10th grade students will be on campus Monday–Thursday of one week and then 11th and 12th Monday–Thursday of the next week.
In doing so, we will still benefit from some of the advantages of a 4-10 model. If students contract the virus while on-campus, they will be more likely to be at home by the time they are contagious. We are also creating more outdoor classroom spaces so that teachers will have the option to move their classes outdoors when it makes sense.
Indoor spaces will also be fully ventilated and will have doors and windows open to increase the flow of fresh air and reduce the risk of aerosol transmission. We have upgraded all HVAC filters to MERV 13, which is the same filter used for general surgery and hospital inpatient care areas.
4-10 Model
This model predicts that a two-week cycle can reduce the virus’s reproduction number—the average number of people infected by each infected person—below one. So a 4-10 cycle could suppress the epidemic while allowing sustainable activity.
The premise of this approach to reopening schools and workplaces is as follows: The median incubation period for Covid‐19 is four to five days. It takes an average of three days after a person becomes infected with Covid-19 before they can infect someone else. Theoretically, this means that people may work or attend school together for a short time (especially if also following other health and hygiene guidelines) if they then spend another stretch of time away from people—four days of school/work followed by ten days at home. If they have gotten sick during their time at school/work, it will show up during their ten days away (this includes two weekends in the schedule we’ve outlined) and they won’t come into school for their next in-person learning opportunity.
A number of publications have published articles about this model. Follow the links below to read them.
Cyclic strategies to suppress COVID-19 and allow economic activity (Medium)
10-4: How to Reopen the Economy by Exploiting the Coronavirus’s Weak Spot (NY Times)
This Twist on the Four-Day Workweek Could Get People Back to Work Without Causing New Outbreaks (Fast Company)
The premise of this approach to reopening schools and workplaces is as follows: The median incubation period for Covid‐19 is four to five days. It takes an average of three days after a person becomes infected with Covid-19 before they can infect someone else. Theoretically, this means that people may work or attend school together for a short time (especially if also following other health and hygiene guidelines) if they then spend another stretch of time away from people—four days of school/work followed by ten days at home. If they have gotten sick during their time at school/work, it will show up during their ten days away (this includes two weekends in the schedule we’ve outlined) and they won’t come into school for their next in-person learning opportunity.
A number of publications have published articles about this model. Follow the links below to read them.
Cyclic strategies to suppress COVID-19 and allow economic activity (Medium)
10-4: How to Reopen the Economy by Exploiting the Coronavirus’s Weak Spot (NY Times)
This Twist on the Four-Day Workweek Could Get People Back to Work Without Causing New Outbreaks (Fast Company)
Q&A
List of 5 frequently asked questions.
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