Reopening News

Alma Fuerte Families,

We are so excited to be opening our doors and welcoming your children back into their classrooms on Tuesday March 23rd! We can’t believe an entire year has elapsed since our campus was filled with the excitement and chatter of all of our Eagles! Below we hope to explain and answer questions you may have over what to expect for a safe return to school.

All of the procedures that we have created are based on the families that stated that they are returning for on-campus learning. For those that stated that they were not ready to come back, we ask that you please get in touch with your teacher if/when you change your mind. Please do not show up to campus before getting a green light from your teacher as groupings, classrooms and schedules have been configured based on your answer to our survey. We will be more than happy to accommodate you should you want your child to join us on campus, we will just need a couple of days to arrange everything for your student!

If you are choosing to continue to learn from home, you will continue to join your class via zoom. Please pay close attention to incoming emails and communications from your teachers so that you are aware of any changes that may affect you.

Schedule Mondays will continue to be over zoom for all students.

Tuesday- Friday students are expected to be dropped off at 8:15 a.m. sharp and be picked up at 1:30 p.m. sharp. Timeliness is important to ensuring that our staff can properly follow safety protocols. If your family has trouble observing these timelines, we are going to have to ask that your student continue to learn from home. We understand that this is difficult however we must ask for your patience and understanding as we transition to on-campus learning. There are so many steps and procedures that we have to follow and tardiness truly impedes our staff from serving all of our students and families in the safest and best ways possible.

Steps for coming to campus.

1. Prescreen at Home. Before you leave the house and head to school please self-assess. Are you or anyone in your home experiencing any flu-like symptoms including: Fever or chills, Cough, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, Fatigue, Muscle or body aches, Headache, New loss of taste or smell, Sore throat, Congestion or runny nose, Nausea or vomiting, or Diarrhea? If so, we ask that you stay home.

2. Mask Up. Please be sure to mask up the moment you enter school grounds. This includes while you are in the car speaking to staff. Your mask should cover your nose and mouth completely. Students will be reminded not to touch the face covering. Parents are encouraged to provide a second face covering for school each day in case the one a child is wearing gets soiled. This would allow for a change of the face covering during the day. Children without a proper face mask will be provided one.

3. Be Smart - Stay Apart. Please observe 6 feet of distance between yourself and anyone who is not a member of your household. When on campus please make sure your children stay close to you.

Visitor Policy Visitors, including parents, are not allowed on campus while students are in school. All visitors must have an appointment and must check-in at the front desk for a COVID screening.

New Carline Routine The carline will now enter the campus from the Glenrose side. Parents will drive past the front doors and up into the play area. Students will be temperature checked while still inside the car. Once cleared by our staff, the child can step out of the car and join their teacher’s line.

If your child’s temperature reading presents a fever (100 degrees or above) we will ask that you please go home. Families who feel that their child’s temperature has been affected by external factors (car’s heater, the sun) will be asked to wait in the “Cool Down Zone.” If your child’s temperature is still high when we check them again, you must keep your child at home. We will ask that they isolate and do not return to campus for 10 days and until they are fever-free without the aid of any medication for 24 hours.

Water Bottles Per CDC guidelines students are not to have access to water fountains. For this reason, we ask that all students be sent to school with a refillable water bottle.

Restrooms Our staff has assigned specific stalls and sinks for every cohort. Your teacher will explain to your child which restrooms they are able to use. Hand Washing All but one of our classrooms is equipped with a sink. Soap, paper towels, and refills will be monitored by the classroom teacher. Visual signs have been placed to remind students what proper hand washing technique is. Students will be encouraged to wash their hands frequently including after using the restroom, and before eating.

Hand Sanitizer Sanitizing stations have been placed outside of every door, including restrooms and next to any highly-trafficked areas like the front entrance and stairs. This way members of our community can sanitize before/after touching any surface. Snacks and Meals Snacks and Meals will be had in the classrooms. This is the only time that students are allowed to take their masks off. Teachers will have their doors and windows open to promote air circulation. All classrooms have been equipped with an air filter which will run all day long. Please let our staff know whether you plan on having your child participate in the school lunch program or whether you will be packing them a lunch.

Recess Students will be taking a recess break outside when possible. Recess will be structured so that students can play safely. Teachers will be leading activities and/or providing self-led supplies like coloring and chalk art.

Schedules have been staggered so that not all cohorts are out on the yard at once. If more than one cohort is outside at once, the teachers have predetermined areas where their students can play away from other cohorts.

Student gets sick during the school Day Students who get sick during the school day will be accompanied to a preselected isolation space where they can remain while arrangements are made for their return home. That student must then remain home for 10 days and until they are fever-free without the aid of any medication for 24 hours. Changes Predictability and structure are key to making students feel safe and to ensure academic success. We hope that we won’t have to make too many more changes to how we operate. Unfortunately, as we navigate COVID-19, we know that we must quickly adapt to meet new challenges. There are, however, 3 things that will never change:

1. Our commitment to creating the safest learning environment for our students.

2. Providing space for our community to give feedback and help guide our decisions.

3. Alma Fuerte's strong emphasis on community and inclusion.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please do not hesitate to let us know! We cannot wait to see you!