8/10/2020

Dear St. Benedict Families,

Last week, our school pushed back our start date to Sept. 9. We did this to give us a little more time to get delayed supplies to be delivered, to give our teachers more time to plan for teaching on two fronts, and to assess the situation and make our decisions for our school families based on what is best for everyone.

Our plan is to move forward with face to face education for our students beginning Sept. 9. In addition, for families that are not comfortable with their child being in the school building at the beginning of the year, we are offering an online, virtual option. We are asking that, if you choose the online option, that you commit to the option for a two week period of time. That means that if your student is learning online from home, they will do so for at least two weeks. If after the two week period of time, you would like to come back to school in person, please let the office know and we will develop a reentry plan for your child. If you choose to stay with virtual learning, then you can revisit coming back into the classroom after another two week period. Please call or email the office to let us know by August 21st if you would like your child to learn virtually.

In regards to the virtual option, attached to this newsletter are the virtual plans for each grade band. Thank you to the teachers from each grade band that came together in the middle of July to develop these plans. Look them over and please ask the classroom teacher if you need any clarification or would like to discuss the plan further. Whether you choose in person or online learning, each family needs to develop a plan if we have to go virtual. We are hoping that this doesn’t happen, but we have to realize the possibility that we could have to go virtual as a school at any time. Whether it be because your child has to quarantine or stay home sick in isolation, or if our county goes to purple and we get an order from the Lucas County Health Department. Going virtual could happen in an instant and we all need to be prepared for that.

We are planning “Meet the Teacher” events on September 1 from 1:00-4:00 and September 2 from 9:00-12:00. This event will be for all students grade Pre-K-5 and new students and students who are choosing the remote option for grades 6-8. You will be getting an invitation from Sign Up Genius. Please sign up for your 10 minute time to meet your child’s teacher, drop off school supplies,and pick up supplies if you are remote learning. Please be respectful of the ten minute time limit as the classroom teacher will have another appointment to keep after yours. If the times on Sign Up Genius don’t work for
you, please contact your child’s teacher to see if another time is available.

There have been some questions about masks. First, two weeks ago Governor Dewine changed the mandate for mask wearing in school. Every child from grades K-8 must wear masks at all times in the school building. As far as the type of mask, we do not have a dress code for masks. I am fine with any image on a mask as long as it is appropriate for school. If this becomes a problem, we will revisit the parameters for the masks.

In our next newsletter, we will be reviewing drop off and pick up procedures for school. We will also be laying out our plan for Extended Day (yes, there is Extended Day!)

In the meantime, I pray daily for all of our school families. I pray for the decision you are making as parents, for our teachers who are working hard to teach our students during such an uncertain time, and for the continued health of our children.

St. Benedict Pray for Us!!
Mrs. Tscherne

School Return Plan St. Benedict School

With the guidance of the Governor of our State, the Health Department, the CDC, the Diocese of Toledo, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, we have developed a plan for the opening of our school in the fall. The plan will be updated as new information becomes available.

Our plan is to have in-person, in-school learning five days a week. We believe that this is what is best for our students both academically and socially. The backbone of our plan is increased health monitoring, cleaning procedures, and new classroom and school day procedures. While we realize that the perfect plan is impossible, we present with confidence and prayer that these procedures will mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID-19 on our school campus.

Health and Safety Policies and Procedures
● Our campus will only be open to faculty, staff, and students. Parents and guardians may not be in our school building at any time during the school day. This includes dropping off your student and picking them up.
● Each student will have a temperature check and quick health screening upon entering the building. If the student’s temperature is 100 degrees or higher, they will be sent home immediately.

Social Distancing Guidelines
● Each classroom will have desks spaced 4 – 6 ft. apart where possible. Most of our classrooms can accommodate that type of spacing. We will adhere to social distancing in an age-appropriate manner.
● Classes will stay together in the same space and will not mix with each other.
● Students will have class outdoors as much as possible.
● We will not have large gatherings or field trips until further notice. We will assess the situation as it changes.

Mask Guidelines
● All faculty and staff are required to wear a mask or other protective face covering all day.
● All Elementary students (K-8) will need to wear masks during arrival and dismissal, when walking in the hallway, and inside the church.
● Grades K-8 must wear masks all day, with the exceptions of Physical  Education and recess.

Handwashing Guidelines
● Handwashing lessons and times which maintain social distancing will be built into the daily schedule of the class. Children will wash their hands with soap and water at least every two hours as recommended by the CDC.
● In addition to handwashing, hand sanitizer will be available constantly.

Cleaning and disinfecting guidelines
● Students’ work areas will be cleaned and disinfected throughout the day.
● Common areas will be cleaned and disinfected by our maintenance staff.

Daily Procedures

Start of Day- School doors will open at 7:00am. Every student K-8 will enter through the gym doors when they get dropped off for school. We are not allowing any parent into the school at any time during the school day. We have to be mindful of contact tracing and exposure. Therefore, a staff member will be at the gym door to do a quick temperature check for each student as they enter the building. The students will use hand sanitizer and proceed to their classrooms. I realize that the Kindergarten class is quite a distance from the gym door. Ms. Karen or another staff member will walk the Kindergarteners to their classroom. All Preschool students will enter the building at the Extended Day/Preschool door. A temperature check will be administered and Mrs. Bishop or Mrs. Vendemo will walk them to their classroom.

In the classroom- Each teacher will inform you of procedures that they will have in place in their classrooms. Teachers will switch classes so that the children will stay in their classrooms. For example, Art, music, technology class will be in the classroom. Phys. Ed will be in the gym or outside. Middle school students will stay in their homeroom and their teacher will switch classrooms to teach them.

Lunch and Recess- For the students, this is the most important part of their day! We will have 5 recess times throughout the day for children to go outside for fresh air. Each recess time will be for 2-3 classes at a time. For example, K-1 will be together for recess, 2-3 will be together, 4-5 will be together, and 6-8 will be together. Pre-school has their own recess time. Social distancing and keeping children from gathering in large groups will be enforced. Even though the children are outside with another class, the classes will not be playing together. Masks do not need to be worn outside. Hands will be washed immediately upon entering the building from recess. Lunch will be eaten in the classrooms. At least at the beginning of the school year, we will not be having hot lunch.

Dismissal- We will be instituting a loop system for pick-ups. This will allow parents to stay in their cars. A family name tag will be given closer to the beginning of school to be displayed in your window. When it is your turn in the loop, your child will be brought to your car. More explicit details and a map will be given before school begins. Preschool students will be picked up at the Extended Day/Preschool door at 2:15.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will happen if someone is displaying symptoms of COVID-19 at school?

If someone is displaying symptoms of COVID-19, whether it be faculty, staff, or student, their temperature will be taken immediately and they will be placed in a room that we have designated to be our “sick room”. If it is a child, an adult will stay with them until a parent can come and pick them up. At that time, we would refer the person to their doctor. If a COVID test is performed, we will need verification from the doctor of a negative test before the student or faculty member would be able to return to the school.

What will happen if someone tests positive for COVID-19?

If someone tests positive for COVID-19, the established protocols will be in effect for contact tracing and quarantining. Our contact person for the Lucas County Health Department is Mrs. Spetz. She will contact the Health Department so that contact tracing can begin. We will take the advice of our Lucas County Health Department as to how to proceed.

When can someone come back after an illness?

If a staff member or student contracts Covid-19, they must stay home 10 days from their positive test AND 3 days with no fever without fever reducing medication. Any other illness children MUST stay home until they are 24 hours fever free WITHOUT FEVER REDUCING MEDICATION.

EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP

Welcome to St. Benedict School. We are happy you have chosen St. Benedict for the education of your children. Naturally, we hope you will be happy, too, with that decision. So let us assure you that the faculty, staff, and administration will work very hard to provide the best education possible, by using as a foundation the curriculum created by the Diocese of Toledo and approved by the Department of Education and the state of Ohio.

Parents (that’s you) are a very important part of that education process. We look to you as the primary educators of your children who will partner with us to do the best for your child.  We also have a very dedicated PTO that is always looking for more great parents!

We look forward to nurturing that partnership through academic, religious, cultural, and extra-curricular offerings at St. Benedict Catholic School.