Port Washington School District Unveils Reopening Plan
PORT WASHINGTON, NY — The Port Washington Union Free School District has released its reopening plan for the fall amid the coronavirus pandemic, with elementary schoolers planning a complete return to in-person education while the middle and high schools deploy a hybrid model of in-person instruction and remote learning.
In a letter to the community Monday evening, Michael Hynes, the superintendent, said the district on Friday sent state education and health officials its official reopening plan for the fall. The plan was also posted on the district's website.
"I encourage you to review our re-entry plan," Hynes wrote in his letter.
More details about the reopening plan are expected to be shared at a Board of Education meeting, scheduled for 8 p.m. Tuesday. That meeting could be postponed due to inclement weather brought on by Tropical Storm Isaias.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said he will make a decision this week on whether to reopen schools in the fall. That decision would be based on the state's coronavirus infection rate, which has remained steady around 1 percent.
A town hall meeting is also planned on the Port Washington schools plan Aug. 11. Community members will be able to ask questions about the plan at the meeting.
What do you think? Vote in our poll and let us know your thoughts in the comment section!
Inside The Port Washington Public School Reopening Plan
All school districts in New York were instructed to submit three plans for instruction: one for in-person learning, where students physically attend school, one for remote learning, where students receive online course instruction at home, and one that has a mix of both, known as a hybrid model.
For now, the district plans to have students receive in-person instruction five days a week at Daly, Guggenheim, Manorhaven, Sousa and South Salem elementary schools. Students will be divided into small groups and remain socially distanced while in classrooms, and they'll be given regular mask and recess breaks.
The district plans to have Weber Middle School and Schreiber High School students reopen in September using a hybrid model.
Weber Highlights
Half of students receive in-person instruction and half receive remote instruction four days a week. Each student gets a Chromebook.
Two days of full, in-person instruction for daily classes and one day of full, in-person instruction for classes that meet on alternate days.
Two days of full, live remote instruction for classes that meet daily and one day of full, live remote instruction for classes that meet on alternate days. When remote, classes will meet for 30 minutes in accordance with the student screen time expectations of the virtual plan.
Students will report to school on days designated by grade level.
In-person and virtual instruction will meet on an A/B day schedule each week
The fifth day of the week will be reserved for additional contact time for teachers and mental health staff to address the instructional, social/emotional, and academic support needs of students.
Schreiber Highlights
Staff are in the building every day unless otherwise directed.
Students follow the 6 day, A-F cycle in 2 groups (blue and white), 8:05 a.m. –3:05 p.m.
Students attend live, in-person classes half the time.
Students engage in course content for their hour long class periods.
When not attending in person, students will log on to Google Classroom at thebeginning of their class period and follow teacher instructions. Attendance will betaken.
Students must attend all classes — in person and remote.
Students can be pulled out of class for live music sectionals, counseling and other excusable reasons.
Assistant principals will hold weekly small group check-in sessions with 10students.
Students will have at least 30 minutes for lunch and have five minutes inbetween classes.
Students working remotely can attend live “extrahelp” sessions with teachers via Google Meets.
Remote Plans for Emergency Closing
The district also included contingency plans to account for possible closures.
Elementary Schools
A daily scheduling meeting to take attendance and set expectations for learning. The meeting will provide a start time and schedule for each school day.
Two 45-minute live lessons each day for mini lessons, guided practice, and feedback. Sessions will include breakout sessions for small group instruction, independent work, and support staff services.
A second daily lesson, 10-20 minutes such as Khan Academy, Brain Pop, etc. with materials. Independent student activities that don’t involve a screen will also take place during this slot.
Two 10-minute live check-ins per student per week – for both social/emotional and academic follow up. These check-ins will include office hours, opportunities for questions, and/or brief discussions of progress or problems.
Daily feedback – written comments, “corrected” work, formative and summative assessments, etc.
One 30-45-minute special (art, music, PE, library) per day.
Middle School
School day follows the regular nine period schedule and meet four days a week
Daily instruction held from 8:10 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.
Instruction organized into three 1.5-hour blocks of live instruction with each individual class running 30 minutes.
Periods 1 through 3 at 30 minutes each followed by a 20-minute break
Periods 4 though 6 at 30 minutes each followed by a 45-minute lunch break
Periods 7 though 9 at 30 minutes each
The fifth day of the week will be reserved for additional contact time for teachers and mental health staff to address the instructional, social/emotional, and academic support needs of students without interfering with their scheduled virtual classes.
High School
Remote schedule will follow student’s “regular” schedule including lunch, free periods, and hall passing time; 8:05 a.m. - 3:05 p.m. This will include a mix of live and prerecorded sessions.
For classes that meet twice in a 6-day schedule: a minimum of one session with 30 minutes of live instruction and the other session recorded.
For classes that meet four times in a 6-day schedule: a minimum of two sessions with 30 minutes of live instruction and the other two sessions prerecorded
For classes that meet five times in a 6-day schedule: a minimum of two sessions with 30 minutes of live instruction and the other four sessions prerecorded
For classes that meet six times in a 6-day schedule: a minimum of three sessions with 30 minutes of live instruction and the other three sessions prerecorded
The district noted that state guidelines are unclear on whether students without a medical condition can have a remote learning option.
"We are exploring this option," the district said in the published plan. "As we get closer to re-opening we will provide further details."
Health and Safety Precautions
The district outlined the precautions it will take to protect students and staff in the coronavirus era, including social distancing and requiring mask-wearing in school, as well as mandating daily health screenings prior to arriving at school.
Social Distancing And Masks
The district will prioritize social distancing for students and staff of 6 feet while inside the school. Face-coverings and masks have to be worn "at all times," except in certain situations such as when social distancing is possible, during scheduled mask breaks and lunch periods.
Notably, the district can provide masks but staff and students are encouraged to bring their own.
Health Screenings
Staff must complete an "online affirmation" that they do not have COVID-19 symptoms, have not tested positive for the disease in at least two weeks, and have not come in close contact with someone who has a confirmed or suspected case of the disease within the last two weeks. Furthermore, staff must affirm they have not traveled in the last two weeks to a place on the state's travel advisory list.
Students must complete a health screening — including temperature check — daily before coming to school, though the school will be able to check temperatures in school if needed.
Those who experience symptoms in school are sent to an isolation room to be assessed by the school nurse and parents will be called to take their child home, as well as any siblings.
Frequently touched surfaces and areas must be regularly cleaned and disinfected.
Students and staff should bring water bottles as drinking fountains will be closed. Students will have to wash their hands before eating.
Lunch Rooms
The district outlined three plans for eating lunch based on in-person, remote and hybrid learning models.
Under the in-person models, cafeterias will be unable to accommodate the usual number of students under capacity and social distancing guidelines. In locations where its possible, the district may add picnic tables outside to create additional space. For elementary schools, a sixth lunch period is recommended. Furthermore, only students buying meals should go to the cafeteria. Those bringing their own lunches should eat in a classroom, with accomodations added for cleanup and time to get to serving lines.
At Schreiber, a “counter” may need to be assigned to both the cafeteria and the commons to ensure social distancing is followed. If the cafeteria is being used for instruction, students will have to buy food and return to their classroom.
Under the hybrid Model, the above practices will apply but with half the children in the building, most cafeterias will be able to accommodate assigned groups.
Under the remote model, the district's current in-town locations will continue providing services, but will have to identify students who take a meal.
This article originally appeared on the Port Washington Patch
