Re-opening School Plan 2020-2021

“With Man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27 (ESV)

After input from dozens of Covenant staff and parents, and published counsel from many credible public and private sources, Covenant’s administration and Board of Trustees advance what we believe to be our best plan for safely and wisely reopening the 2020-2021 academic year. 

The plan is consistent with others being finalized by area private and Christian schools and should serve our school community well as we begin. It may change as we test its effectiveness. The precautions we take are intended to keep our students and teachers healthy and 
on campus. 

As much as possible our initial reopening will be slow, steady, intentional, thorough, peaceful, and relational. This should help our students amidst the broader backdrop of fear, chaos, and uncertainty.

We are indebted to the Covenant community for your patience with an ever-changing landscape of health and logistic considerations, for your ongoing prayer for our community, and for your care in protecting your own family from potential virus infection in your daily lives. 

We have constructed an approach which allows for: 

  • A safe, simultaneous beginning, with all three schools occupying their separate areas of campus.
  • A phased start within divisions.
  • Adequate time to train teachers for on-campus and off-campus teaching and learning.
  • Time to teach students new COVID-19 protocols.
  • Implementation and training on the new SchoolPass app.
  • Opportunity for new students and parents to come by appointed time to learn classroom protocols. 


COVID-19 and children

“Children appear to be at lower risk for contracting COVID-19 compared to adults. While some children have been sick with COVID-19, adults make up nearly 95% of reported COVID-19 cases. [4] Early reports suggest children are less likely to get COVID-19 than adults, and when they do get COVID-19, they generally have a less serious illness. [5] As of July 21, 2020, 6.6% of reported COVID-19 cases and less than 0.1% of COVID-19-related deaths are among children and adolescents less than 18 years of age in the United States. [6] Early reports suggest the number of COVID-19 cases among children may vary by age and other factors. Adolescents aged 10-17 may be more likely to become infected with SARS-CoV-2 than children younger than age 10, [7], [8] but adolescents do not appear to be at higher risk of developing severe illness. [9]” CDC.

Additionally, it is believed that children do not as readily spread COVID-19 as do adults. However, children are known to spread Influenzas and Common Colds, and cold and flu symptoms will trigger COVID-19 mitigation actions during the pandemic. The following precautionary measures are likely to reduce the appearance and spread of Covid-like symptoms, whatever their cause, and increase our ability to keep students and staff healthy and on campus.

 
student experience

We plan to keep our families’ daily experience as close to a typical Covenant day as possible with modifications. 

Morning Arrival

  • All families and employees will use the SchoolPass app to provide required daily health information. No one is allowed on campus until the form is completed and submitted.
     
  • Students may arrive as early as 7:45 AM and will go directly to class.
     
  • Morning carpool students will exit vehicles and walk directly to grade-specific entry points.
     
  • Temperatures of teachers, students, and visitors will be checked each morning and when anyone feels symptoms.
     
  • Students will use hand sanitizer upon entering the classroom and frequently throughout the day (parents may provide personal hand sanitizer if CDC-compliant). 

Lunch and Food Service

  • No catered lunch will be offered. Parents will need to send a lunch for each student daily. Catered lunch options will be revisited in the spring.
     
  • Lunch deliveries by third parties or parents are suspended for at least the fall.
     
  • Students, staff, and visitors should bring personal water containers.

Afternoon Dismissal

  • Students will remain in classrooms until called for afternoon carpool pick-up.
     

 
Campus readiness

  • Construction of a new infirmary and nurse’s station with private bathroom and direct entry from outside
  • Desks in classrooms spaced as far apart as possible
  • Entire campus sanitized 
  • HVAC units set to draw on outside air and evacuate internal air frequently
  • Hand sanitizer dispensers provided inside every building, classroom, instructional space, and locker room, and in staff and administrative areas
  • Plexiglass dividers for student laboratory stations, reception, and concession openings
  • Logic School lab tables and Rhetoric School Harkness tables will be replaced temporarily with student desks
  • Additional picnic tables for outside instruction and dining
  • Additional water refill stations for personal water bottle refills
  • Restroom visits will be limited depending on size of facility. Students may go as needed rather than between classes.
  • Grades 9-12 will use a two-lane system in the Rhetoric hallways and use one staircase for going up and one staircase for going down.
  • Limited capacity will be enforced in conference rooms, Covenant Hall, attic and faculty workrooms.
  • Windows and doors will be left open as much as possible to improve ventilation.
  • Everyone will practice frequent hand washing.

 
 Covenant Community

We will try to preserve as many events as possible, knowing how vital a sense of community is to our families and staff. Check Covenant Copy weekly and the online calendar.

 
Academic Excellence

  • Every classroom equipped with Kubi/iPad Zoom “robots” for any student who cannot be present for the regular classroom experience. 
[Note: any student not attending on campus must have approval from the school nurse or administration. Students will not be able to switch back and forth between on-campus and off-campus learning except for health and safety reasons.]
  • If a shift to off-campus learning is needed for individuals, cohorts, or the entire campus, the daily schedule of classes will remain that of on-campus learning.
[Note: this means that we will not stagger schedules in different divisions. Parents are advised to provide children simultaneous access to off-campus learning by giving each child a dedicated computer or device.] 
  • Students will be responsible for the same academic expectations for assessment, grading, attendance, and decorum for off-campus learning as for on-campus education.
     
  • The technology tools students utilize will be consistent (Google education suite, including Google Classroom, Google Drive, Google Docs, etc., RenWeb, Turnitin) whether learning is on-campus or off-campus.
     
  •  There will be no use of lockers in Logic, and limited locker visits in Rhetoric. Whenever possible textbooks are left in classrooms and some textbooks may have e-book copies provided for home use.

 
Athletics, fine arts and extended care

  • For grades 7-12, athletics will be optional/voluntary this year, including grades 7-8 PE (aka strength and conditioning).
     
  • Every student in grade 7-12 is free to abstain from participation in sports without concern about the associated PE credits.
     
  • For any given sports season, a student must be attending class on campus to participate in sports that season.
     
  • Limited E-2 extended care will be voluntary, and those not participating will leave campus upon the conclusion of their regular school day.
     
  • More information from athletics and fine arts with the latest guidance will be communicated directly with students and families.

 

 

Illness and Exposure Protocols

 
Face Coverings

  • Faculty and Students will wear school-chosen face coverings as directed. 
     
  • Faculty and E-12 students will be provided a buff-style face covering by the PTF, with additional buffs available for purchase.
     
  • Students in Grades E-4 may lower face coverings when seated in class but must raise them when in transition or close to others outside. 
     
  • All faculty and Grades 5-12 students will be provided face shields, with replacement shields available for purchase.
     
  • Students in Grades 5-12 will wear the face shield while in class,** and some school-approved face covering whenever on campus, except when eating or when following approved sports safety practice.
     
  • Teachers will wear the face shield while in class,** and some school-approved face covering whenever on campus.
     
  • Teachers and students may wear additional PPE if personally vulnerable or concerned for the vulnerability of close family, but will not be exempted from wearing school-approved face coverings as directed.
     
  • Grades E-12 will all wear face coverings in hallways, decks, transitions.
     
  • The requirement for Grades 5-12 to have face coverings at all times is based on Texas GA-29. When lifted, the face covering policy will be revisited for Grades 5-12.

** “Full-face shields may be used in place of a mask to protect eyes, nose, and mouth whenever a mask is not feasible or whenever the education context may benefit from the ability to see an individual’s full face.” (TEA).