PCA Re-Entry Updates
PCA Re-Entry Plans & Guidelines
| re-entry.pdf |
FAQ
Will my child have to wear a mask at school?
Every child will need a mask at school. Any time a student is in the common areas such as bathrooms or hallways they will have to wear their mask. We are working hard to create a truly social distanced classroom so that students will only need to wear it times they are working as a group. In the event that we cannot create a socially distant classroom experience you will be notified that your child will need to wear a mask all day. We are also looking into partitions as an alternative to masks in the classrooms where social distancing cannot be achieved.
Do we need to provide masks for our children or will they be supplied?
PCA will have disposable masks on hand should your child forget their personal mask but will not be providing them for the students. By now there are many mask styles available for purchase and you probably know best which style your child finds the most comfortable and will have the highest chance of staying in place when necessary.
Since students are expected to wear masks will all of the faculty be doing the same?
Just like the students, the staff will be mandated to wear masks in any common areas of the school and in instances where they cannot be 6 feet away from other staff or students. Staff will be encouraged to wear it all day if they prefer.
If a student or a teacher tests positive at the school will we be informed?
Yes. We will inform our families if anyone on staff or any student tests positive. Due to confidentiality we will never be able to disclose who that is only that there was a positive case.
How often will you have the children washing their hands?
All students will be trained the first week of school in regards to proper hand-washing. Students will wash their hands every two hours at a minimum and more frequently as needed.
Will a child need a Covid test if sent home with a fever or just wait 72 hours?
At this time, we will not be mandating a covid test for students who go home with a fever. If at any time the CDC guidelines change and mandate that we will let our parents know. Any parent may choose to have their child tested as a precaution but we realize that there are many childhood illnesses other than Covid that a student may run a fever with.
What makes you think that your plan will keep the children and the staff safe?
I can assure you that no plan is perfect but we have followed the guidance of both the state, our accrediting agency, and the CDC to make sure that we offer the safest environment possible.
Will the teachers be focused on teaching or more focused on disciplining students for not keeping their masks on?
It is always our goal that our teachers are able to focus on teaching but classroom management is and always be part of the job and this is just another piece of that. We have a highly qualified staff and we do not see this as being a big problem.
If a student or staff member tests positive will the school shut down to sanitize? If so, how long will the school be closed?
Parsons Christian will follow strictly the guidance from the CDC concerning positive cases on campus. The guidance changes as they learn more and more about the virus so we will shut down the room or the school to sanitize for as long as they instruct us to do so while also trying to cause minimal distraction to our everyday school life.
Why isn’t anyone mandating all students and staff take a Covid test prior to starting and not be allowed to start unless they present a negative result?
Mandating a covid test for everyone has been advised against. We encourage anyone who feels that they may have been exposed to be tested but taking a test and getting a negative result does not mean that you do not have Covid, only that it is not detected in your body at that time. The smartest plan is for anyone exhibiting symptoms to have a covid test and/or self- quarantine as a precaution.
Will there be a virtual open house to meet my child’s teacher?
Yes. We will be having both a virtual orientation for middle/high students and a virtual open house for our elementary students. Dates for both will be announced as soon as they are set.
During quiet time, recess, and meals is the expectation for the virtual kids to still be on zoom or can that be break time for them?
The virtual students do not have to stay on the Teams and/or Zoom call during those break times but will need to coordinate with their teachers so that they will know what time they will need to be back online.
How will the security for PCA virtual be monitored?
PCA has employed a full time IT person to help maintain PCA virtual in every way. They will be a resource to teachers and parents and will maintain all security for our systems.
How will I be able to log into virtual learning if my child is sent home sick from school?
Each child will be assigned a pclions email and will be trained on teams so that it will be a seamless transition if they need to log in from home due to an illness or exposure.
Is there an option to attend in person half of the time and do online the other half of the time?
No – at this time the state has approved a plan for us that allows for full time virtual or full time in class.
Can we start out with online classes and then change to in school classes during the same school year?
Yes. Students commit to virtual and/or online one nine weeks at a time.
If positive cases go out of control, can I request home learning later on?
Changing from in school to on line learning will be handled by nine weeks period. If, however, your child or someone in your home has been exposed or is ill, they may seamlessly flow into online learning while they are at home so that they are not counted absent.
If my child is on scholarship will they be able to use it for PCA virtual.
Yes. The state has approved virtual learning for the first semester for all scholarship students.
If I want my child to do virtual learning will they be unenrolled from Parsons?
No. The state has provided us with the option to offer a virtual option to our families for the first semester.
What does virtual learning look this year?
The state requirements for virtual learning are much different than they were last year. This year, students must watch their teacher teach daily so your child will be “in school” all day while they are at home. They may log off their class during a study hall, recess, or lunch.
Will there be a hybrid option?
At this time. Parsons does not have an approved Hybrid option as it is discouraged by the state. Students will choose and in class option or an out of class option.
Will the teachers all be using the same platform for virtual this year?
Yes. Last year virtual learning happened pretty much overnight so teachers were allowed to proceed with whichever platform they were the most comfortable with. This year, all teachers will be using Microsoft Teams with their in class and virtual students so that there will be a seamless flow if a student has to be out of school due to an illness.
Will students be required to be in school uniform if they are online?
We have asked students to be in dress code while they are online. They are to look and act as if they are part of the regular class. This means that Kindergarten -8th grade will be in uniform and that 9th-12th will follow the PCA dress code.
When school starts back on August 24th, how will the desks in the classrooms look?
When students return, all desk will be spaced apart and facing the same direction as advised by the CDC.
How many children will there be in classroom vs. virtual learning?
Typically, we cap our elementary classes at 20 and our middle/high classes at 25. In an effort to properly socially distance we have capped the classes at 15 for elementary and 20 for middle/high. Class sizes will all be smaller than this based on the number of students who have selected virtual as an option.
Will my middle/high schooler be changing classes or staying in one class?
It is our goal to minimize the traffic pattern of every student. To the best of our ability the teachers will be changing classes rather than the students. There will be some class changing during the day but we will work to make sure that they will travel as short of a distance as possible and that the rooms are sanitized prior to a different group coming in.
What is the plan for students with disabilities or medical conditions that prevent a face mask?
If a student has a medical condition that prevents them from wearing a face mask they may wear a plastic face shield instead during the times at school that a mask is required.
Will there be extended day this year?
Yes. We understand that some of our parents have work hours that differ from their child’s school hours. We will working with our extended day staff to make sure that our extended day follows safety and social distancing guidelines.
Will the school still have early release day’s?
Yes. The school calendar reflects early release days as we are mandated to have professional development for our staff.
Will there still be busing in the morning and afternoon?
Yes. There will still be busing from one campus to the other in the mornings. There will also be busing from the church to the elementary campus in the afternoon as well as bus delivery home. Students will have to wear a mask on the bus and the bus runs may take a little longer initially as we get used to a route with only one student on a seat.
Will there still be chapel and what will it look like?
Yes – At the middle/high level chapel will be pre-recorded and played during their regularly scheduled Bible classes. At the elementary level chapel will happen in the individual classrooms for right now.
Will the number of days for the Christmas/New Year’s break be less?
It is not the intention at this time to shorten any published holiday from our school calendar. In the event of a closure where a day needs to be made up it will be added to the end of the school year.
How will children be placed in the cafeteria for breakfast and lunch?
Presently, CDC guidelines encourage schools to find alternatives to using the cafeteria. Microwaves have been purchased for all classrooms and students will be eating lunch in their classrooms for the foreseeable future.
Will you still offer breakfast and lunch at school?
Yes. Just like last year students will be able to order in their classrooms and it will be delivered at their scheduled lunch time. There will also be a microwave and a water cooler in each classroom for students who are bringing their lunch from home.
When will the school supply list be sent out?
The school supply lists for the 2020-2021 school year can be found on our school website – pclions.org
Will there be art or music?
As of now we will not be offering a separate art and music class on either campus. When we are able to do so safely, we would love nothing more than to bring back the arts in a big way as this has always been a priority at PCA. Elementary teachers will be incorporating art and music into their regular classroom day.
Will the students be using lockers this year?
At this time students on the middle/high campus will not be utilizing lockers. Lockers are currently only used for Dance and PE and CDC recommendations currently do not allow for students to dress out at this time.
How will all of this affect the seniors with all of the senior events?
There is no real way to know how the seniors will be affected by this at the current time. We will be praying that Covid will improve over time and we will be able to offer our seniors everything that we believe that they deserve for their final year.