When Seneca Academy closed its doors and went remote last March, we had no way of predicting the extent to which COVID-19 would impact every aspect of our lives and that, as a country, we would still be struggling to manage the pandemic five months later. Today, we are faced with significant fluctuations in the spread of the virus throughout the country as well as mixed messages from government officials about how to manage the pandemic and about what is deemed to be safe. Conclusive scientific findings and effective public health measures are still evolving, with new data and information emerging daily. In this context, schools are being forced to rely on the most updated thinking available to make decisions about the safest plans for their communities.

In the midst of all of this uncertainty, Seneca Academy has been able to remain nimble, act swiftly, and stay grounded in our mission to provide an engaging, challenging, inquiry-based education that supports the intellectual, physical and social-emotional well-being of all of our students. Our intentionally small size has allowed us to respond to the individual needs of families and teachers while being adaptable and flexible in the face of a complex and rapidly changing landscape. Our amazing village, including our talented and dedicated staff, our thoughtful and strategic Board, and our passionate and committed families, has demonstrated once again its ability to come together and forge a way forward. The reopening plan that we are sharing here is the result of many hours of consideration, conversations and consultations with experts, families, and professionals. It is our hope that the level of detail and flexibility in the plan will allow us to offer the best possible program to your children while remaining true to our mission and responsive to changing local conditions and new research. That said, this plan is a living document, and is subject to change according to emerging guidance from health authorities. 

In creating this plan, our team of educational, mental health, and medical professionals took into consideration the guidance provided in Maryland Together: Maryland’s Recovery Plan for Education, Maryland Together: Maryland’s Recovery Plan for Child Care, Montgomery County’s Reopening Montgomery: Phase 2 Operating Requirements for Child Care, the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) guidelines on Return to School During COVID-19, and the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Considerations for Schools Operating During COVID-19. We also reviewed the guidance offered by Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health as well as numerous plans issued by other independent schools. Throughout the planning process, we remained in close communication and collaborated with the Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools and consulted with our local health officials. 

The key guiding principles that informed our planning are as follows:

• The health, safety, and well-being of all members of our community must be our first priority at all times. 
• We know that students learn best when they are engaged and feel connected to their peers and teachers. We understand that the best mode of instruction to facilitate this engagement is face-to-face and will strive, whenever it is safe, to opt for onsite learning over distance learning.
• We are committed to our inquiry-based, student-centered approach to teaching and learning, whatever the format of instruction.
• Our commitment to each other and to our “village” can help keep us all safe. 

We are all in this together. The challenges we face in the coming months will require each of us to adapt our behaviors and use good judgement both on- and off-campus; these issues will be compounded if we do not. Abiding mutual respect and responsibility, trust, compassion, and care are essential to Seneca Academy’s ability to navigate this public health crisis as smoothly and successfully as possible.

Our interactions with each other should be self-aware, courteous, and kind. This means complying willingly and fully with rules and policies designed to keep our village safe and healthy. It means thinking of others, appreciating that their risk tolerance might be lower than ours, and adjusting our behavior with sensitivity and respect.

Every member of our village plays an essential role in our collective well-being. Knowing that, we are asking that each one of us commit to the following shared expectations and responsibilities:

• Understand and follow the risk mitigation strategies outlined in the Seneca Academy Health and Safety Plan.
• Conduct a daily screen of your child(ren) or yourself (faculty/staff) for symptoms of COVID-19 and complete the Google Form before arrival. 
• Adhere to social distancing guidelines outside of Seneca Academy and reinforce the concept of social distancing with your child(ren).
• Model the use of face masks when required or recommended when outside of your home and discuss with your child(ren) the importance of wearing a mask/facial covering on campus per school guidelines.
• Keep your child(ren) home from school or stay home (faculty/staff) if they/you present with any ONE of the symptoms on the Symptom Screening Form. Obtain clearance to return to campus from a medical practitioner.
• Inform the school if you (faculty/staff) or your child contracts or is exposed to someone with COVID-19 and comply with any resulting quarantine or isolation. If someone in your household is diagnosed with COVID-19, follow the protocols outlined in the Health and Safety Plan. 
• Avoid unnecessary travel. Where travel is necessary, comply with CDC and state guidelines and recommendations for quarantine.
• Cooperate fully with the Health Department should a COVID-19-like illness or positive case occur in our community.

Before the first day of school, each member of the village will be asked to sign a Village Compact agreeing to accept these shared responsibilities. 

• Seneca Academy will emphasize the importance of community and “building a village together” in all communications with students, faculty/staff, and families.
• Seneca Academy will promote behaviors that are proven to reduce the spread of illness, including but not limited to: staying home when appropriate, normalizing the wearing of cloth face coverings, having adequate supplies on hand, and proper hand-washing and respiratory etiquette.
• Seneca Academy will teach and encourage positive mental health through the use of anxiety-reducing strategies, mindfulness practices, and developmentally appropriate resources.
• Seneca Academy will closely monitor Montgomery County metrics for increased transmission rates and will continually re-evaluate conditions in order to ensure the safety of our own community as well as the broader community at large (metrics: 7-day average of positivity rate < 5%; 14-day average of new cases < 15 per 100K).
• Seneca Academy will follow best practices and guidelines for reopening schools.

Until an effective vaccine is developed and is widely available, Seneca Academy will need to rely on plans that allow us to be agile and flexible moving between in-person and distance learning with minimal disruption. We recognize the importance of in-person learning for students and are committed to maximizing on-site learning as much as possible within the safety parameters and guidance provided by local, state, and national health officials. We also recognize the need for both children and families to establish predictable routines and will take that into consideration as much as possible as we make decisions in response to changing conditions. 

In the event that we need to transition from one mode of learning to another, it may be necessary for the school to close for one to two days to prepare. Asynchronous remote learning opportunities may be provided during that period, depending on the timing and specific circumstances surrounding the transition.

More information and details about what developmentally appropriate, inquiry-based distance learning looks like at Seneca Academy are available in the Distance Learning Plan in Part IV of this document.

• All students in a given class will create a cohort group, and not physically interact with other cohorts of students in the building, to the extent possible.
• Each classroom has at least 50 square feet of space per student and 100 square feet of space per adult, allowing for maximum social distancing. Cohort numbers are dependent on square footage and differ for each classroom; totals do not exceed a total of fifteen people per cohort, including teaching staff.
• When in use, desks will be spaced six feet apart and/or be separated by physical barriers.
• A physical barrier/sneeze guard will be placed in the front office reception area where it is difficult to socially distance.
• Safe circulation patterns will be established for drop-off, pick-up, and any other time that requires multiple groups of students to travel simultaneously on campus.
• Drop-off and pick-up times will be staggered and students will enter at designated entrances closest to their classrooms.
• Bathroom usage will be limited to one student at a time. Portable signage will be given to each classroom to provide notice that a bathroom is occupied; signage on the walls and/or floor will designate an appropriate social distance for a student who is waiting in the hallway for the bathroom.
• Social distancing will be maintained during brain rest times (for preschool and kindergarten) by strategic placing of students head-to-toe and as far apart as possible. Towels and/or blankets used for brain rest will be sent home daily for laundering.
• No large gatherings will occur in person (all-school assemblies, special events, etc.) until COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Monthly Seneca Academy Parents Association (SAPA) meetings will be held online until further notice.
• Parent-teacher conferences will be held in person if social distancing requirements can be met; otherwise, they will be done remotely. A remote option is available for parents who choose to utilize it.

• Seneca Academy will supply PPE to faculty and staff.
• Faculty and staff will wear masks or cloth face coverings at all times while on campus, with the following exceptions:
  • When alone outside with proper social distancing;
  • When alone in a classroom or office; and
  • When eating or drinking.
• The CDC and the AAP recommend the use of masks or cloth face coverings for everyone over the age of two whenever feasible; the school will comply with this recommendation for students with the following exceptions:
  • When eating or drinking;
  • During Brain Rest; and
  • During P.E. class while physically active with proper social distancing.
• Per CDC and Montgomery County guidelines, cloth masks must be two or more layers of fabric; must completely cover the nose, mouth, and chin; and must be secured to the head by ear loops or fabric ties. Cloth masks should be laundered after each use; disposable masks must be appropriately disposed of after each use.
• Gaiters and masks with valves do not fulfill CDC face covering recommendations and may not be used at school in lieu of a disposable or cloth mask.

• Each classroom is equipped with a sink and hand soap; all individuals will be instructed to wash their hands immediately upon entry into any classroom.
• Students, faculty, and staff will also have hand-washing built into their daily schedule, including before and after eating.
• Bathrooms will be equipped with signage about hand-washing procedures as a reminder of best practices.
• Though we recognize that hand-washing is the best practice to control the spread of germs, and while hand-washing will be both scheduled and encouraged, there will also be hand sanitizer stations placed strategically around the school building in high-traffic locations.

• All classrooms have windows that are able to open.
• Each classroom is equipped with its own HVAC unit that uses ultraviolet light and is equipped with MERV 13 filters.
• Air filters will be changed regularly.

• Signage to encourage social distancing and mask wearing will be placed in classrooms and hallways.
• Bathrooms will be equipped with signage about hand-washing procedures as a reminder of best practices.

• High-touch surfaces – including, but not limited to, door handles, stair rails, faucet handles, tables, and desks – will be cleaned and disinfected regularly per the recommendations of the CDC and the Maryland Board of Health/Office of Child Care.
• Students will have their own separate materials as much as possible to prevent the need for additional disinfecting. If they need to share, supplies will be disinfected between uses by different students.
• Students’ personal property (backpacks, coats, lunch boxes, etc.) will be separated from others’ property whenever possible.
• The school will avoid utilizing items in classrooms that cannot be easily cleaned or disinfected.
• When allowed by local and state regulations, electrostatic sprayers with a cleaner labeled to kill coronavirus will be used to disinfect classrooms on a regular basis throughout the day. 
• The building will be rigorously cleaned by professionals nightly as well as over the weekends.
• All cleaning products will meet or exceed EPA disinfection criteria and will be stored safely and correctly.
• The school has the capacity to add deep cleanings as necessary.

• In accordance with current best practices, individuals who are not enrolled at or employed by Seneca Academy will not be permitted to visit campus, other than to drop off or pick up a student or employee, until further notice.
• Maintenance workers will be allowed on site for essential work only and will be required to follow the school’s health and safety practices as stated in this document, including completion of the Health Screening Form before coming on site..
• Seneca Academy will continue to offer parent programming online and hope to return to a more normal protocol in the near future.
• As is the usual practice, Seneca Academy’s exterior doors will remain locked at all times.

• Classes will utilize the outdoor National Wildlife Federation Certified Schoolyard Habitat and the pavilion on campus as a learning space whenever possible, allowing for social distancing. Tents have also been purchased to create additional outdoor learning spaces.
• Classes will have scheduled individual recess times. In the event that recess times inadvertently overlap due to early arrival or late dismissal to recess, each class will socially distance from any other classes.
• Each class will have their own set of materials with which to play outside (hula hoops, balls, buckets, etc.). These will be disinfected regularly.
• All off-campus field trips are canceled until COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

• Faculty and staff will perform a self-screening each day before arriving on campus, including a temperature check.
• Preschool students, as well as any students enrolled in child care during periods of remote learning, will need to have temperature taken by parents as part of the carpool process and witnessed by a Seneca Academy staff person.
• All parents will have a health screening form to fill out daily for each student enrolled at Seneca Academy.

• Seneca Academy will train all faculty/staff on the proper use of PPE (including gloves, masks/cloth face coverings, and face shields), proper hand-washing technique, and appropriate environmental cleaning practices.
• Seneca Academy will keep Certified Medication Technicians on staff who will work under the jurisdiction of a delegating nurse.
• Seneca Academy will have staff members trained in CPR/First Aid, per the requirements of the Maryland Office of Child Care.
• If a student comes to school with signs of illness or develops any symptoms of illness while at school, they will wait for pick-up in a dedicated isolation space that is directly supervised by a Certified Medication Technician in full PPE. This space has direct access to a dedicated bathroom.
• If students have allergies or other health issues that could be mistaken for a COVID-19 symptom, parents are encouraged to have their medical professional provide a note delineating the symptoms and guidance on when the presence of those symptoms should require clearance from a medical professional.
• The school is required to call parents/emergency contacts to immediately pick up their child. Parents will be expected to pick up their child within the hour of being called.
• If multiple students are experiencing symptoms of illness simultaneously, they will be separated by physical barriers while waiting for pick up.
• Students who have been sent home due to symptoms of illness may only return to school once they have been cleared by a medical professional to do so. (See Direct COVID-19 Response section and/or Parent Handbook for more information.)
• Any students or faculty/staff that must leave school and/or stay home due to symptoms of illness will be provided with a flowchart delineating the process of returning to the school building.
• All first aid will be provided in the classrooms rather than in the office. Masks/cloth face coverings and gloves will be worn by faculty/staff when providing first aid.

• All faculty and staff will be informed of students’ food allergies/sensitivities and trained in proper protocol for allergen exposure.
• All faculty/staff, all elementary students, and any preschool students staying for lunch will bring their own food to campus.
• There will be no sharing of food or drink between individuals.
• Preschool students will be served snacks daily by the school, per Maryland Office of Child Care regulations, unless they have food allergies, in which case they will bring their own snack to campus. 
• No other external food will be served on campus until COVID-19 guidelines are lifted.
• Lunches eaten on campus will be eaten in classrooms or outside with proper physical distancing.
• Though members of the community will have ready access to water, students are asked to bring two FILLED reusable water bottles daily to decrease the need for on-campus refills during the day.

• The school will facilitate distance learning for any student who needs to self-isolate due to symptoms of illness, COVID-19 exposure, or COVID-19 diagnosis and is physically well enough to participate.
• EXPOSURE TO SUSPECTED POSITIVE OR CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASE: Parents should notify the school if their child, or any members of their household, has been exposed to a suspected positive or confirmed COVID-19 case.
  
  Per CDC guidelines if the exposed person is asymptomatic, the child will be allowed to return to campus once a 10-day self-isolation period has elapsed with no documented symptoms and a medical professional has cleared them to return to school.
  
  If the exposed person becomes symptomatic, the child may only return to campus following:
  • 72+ hours of no fever without fever-reducing medication,
  • improving symptoms,
  • 10 days following the onset of symptoms,
  • clearance from a medical professional, and
  • confirmation from the school that all requirements have been met.
• POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST AND SYMPTOMATIC: Per CDC guidelines, if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 and is symptomatic, they may only return to campus following:
  • 72+ hours of no fever without fever-reducing medication, 
  • improving symptoms,
  • 10 days following the onset of symptoms, 
  • clearance from a medical professional, and 
  • confirmation from the school that all requirements have been met.
• POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST AND ASYMPTOMATIC: Per CDC guidelines, if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 but is asymptomatic, they may return to school following:
  • 10 days of self-isolation with no symptoms, 
  • clearance from a medical professional, and
  • confirmation from the school that all requirements have been met.
• If a suspected positive or confirmed COVID-19 case occurs within our community, the school will inform the community and appropriate authorities, including the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, taking into account local, state, and federal privacy regulations. The school will comply with all guidance and instructions from public authorities, which may include but are not limited to: monitoring health conditions of exposed students, contact tracing, a temporary closure of the school for cleaning, and/or a period of distance learning for one or more classes.
• All COVID-19-related absences will be excused.

• At this time, the CDC states that travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. The CDC warns:
  • You can get COVID-19 during your travels.
  • You may feel well and not have any symptoms, but you can still spread COVID-19 to others.
  • You and your travel companions (including children) may spread COVID-19 to other people including your family, friends, and community for 14 days after you were exposed to the virus.
• The Maryland Department of Health has issued a travel advisory that all Marylanders should refrain from nonessential travel outside of Maryland. Per Maryland Department of Health/Maryland State Department of Education recommendations, students or faculty/staff who travel to a state (other than the District of Columbia, the Commonwealths of Virginia and Pennsylvania, and the States of Delaware and West Virginia) must do the following before being allowed to return to the classroom:
  • Take a COVID-19 PCR test once in Maryland and receive a negative result.
• The CDC currently recommends against travel on cruise ships. Students or faculty/staff who travel on a cruise ship must follow CDC guidelines before being allowed to return to the classroom:
  • Quarantine for 14 days from the time you disembarked the ship;
  • Avoid contact with others, wear a face covering, and socially distance (6 ft. or greater) if you must go into public; and
  • Take and log your temperature twice a day, and monitor yourself for coughing or trouble breathing.
• As of November 12, 2020, reentry to the United States following international travel to a number of countries (China, Iran, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Brazil) is currently only allowed for United States citizens. Students or faculty/staff who do not hold United States passports should not travel internationally and expect to return stateside in a timely fashion. If students or faculty/staff who are U.S. citizens must travel abroad, Seneca Academy will utilize the following CDC guidelines before allowing a return to the classroom:
  • Quarantine at home for 14 days following entry into the United States;
  • Avoid contact with others, wear a face covering, and socially distance (6 ft. or greater) if you must go into public; and
  • Take and log your temperature twice a day, and monitor yourself for coughing or trouble breathing.

• The school will facilitate distance learning for students who must quarantine due to essential travel.

• Families may decide what works best for them at the beginning of each trimester: either in-person learning or distance learning. If a family chooses to opt in to distance learning, they must inform the Head of School in writing by one week prior to the start of the trimester in order for the school to prepare accordingly.
• In the event that Seneca Academy must return to distance learning for a period of time, or for families opting to use distance learning rather than in-person, students will utilize the Google Classroom and Seesaw platforms for both synchronous and asynchronous learning.
• Preschool students may also use the Zoom platform for learning, with parental supervision.
• Attendance will be taken daily for students engaged in distance learning.
• Further information is available in Seneca Academy’s Distance Learning Plan, available in Part IV of this document.

Seneca Academy is committed to delivering a dynamic educational experience for our students. There are times, however, when external circumstances, including a worldwide health and humanitarian crisis, impinge upon our ability to deliver our program on site. In these circumstances, as a school and as a community, we must find alternative strategies for teaching and learning. The following Distance Learning Plan lays out the foundation for ensuring the continuity of learning and intellectual engagement for our students.

Seneca Academy’s International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP) is centered around the premise that children learn best when engaged in collaborative, transdisciplinary inquiry that inspires curiosity, connection, and action. Our approach to teaching is based on an understanding that students need to feel connected to the material, to each other, and, perhaps most importantly, to their teacher. Finally, as part of our philosophy, we also believe that in order for children to thrive and grow in our program, we must be a source of community and support for our parents and families.

In contemplating how best to shift our program to a distance learning model, we began by asking ourselves, “How can we offer children and families what they need from afar, in a way that, first and foremost, protects the sense of community and relatedness that is fundamental to all we do?” It is our hope that as families familiarize themselves with our plan, they will see that we have put our hearts into ensuring that we are not merely delivering material and activities to our students, but truly trying to maintain the essence of what makes being a part of a Seneca classroom and the Seneca “village” special.

The goals for our Distance Learning Plan are to keep our children engaged so that they can learn and grow, while also providing them with meaningful opportunities for connection and community. Rather than ask children at both the elementary and early childhood levels to be tied to a screen, we will provide opportunities for them to read, write, draw, share ideas, explore, create, play, and move.

Teachers will use familiar and predictable structures to meet the needs of our children, which we also believe will help provide them with comfort in such uncertain times. Each day, our children will receive a warm greeting from their classroom teachers, much as they would see on a regular school day. For preschoolers, this will take the form of a live “morning meeting” via Zoom on the days they regularly attend. For elementary students, this could take the form of a live meeting using Google Meet, a “morning message,” and/or lessons/learning missions from their teachers, including specials. In varying forms, depending on the age of the child, teachers will then communicate the daily goals to their students. Again, in varying ways depending on the age of the student, they will be given opportunities to share their work with teachers and receive age-appropriate feedback. Learning is an iterative process, and we will be looking to fine-tune the ways we incorporate that into our methods.

Teachers will also be communicating daily/weekly learning goals to parents. For younger students, these may involve activities to be done jointly with children, virtual meet-ups with teachers, or suggestions for activities where a child may be able to practice playing/learning more independently. For older children, there will be more activities that they will be able to do independently, with some support to create routines and spaces to work and to provide consultation along the way. In all cases, both teachers and the administrative team will be here to support parents so that together we can all figure out a way to implement these plans in a balanced way that gives children what they need while taking into account the idiosyncratic needs of each family, including parent work demands. To ensure that the “village” is there for families, including being able to incorporate and address your feedback and ideas, we will be hosting regular “What to Expect/How to Survive” sessions with Dr. Parker. In addition, we will look for opportunities to facilitate social interactions and virtual meet-ups for members of the village.

Set up a daily schedule and routine that works for your family.

Children need routines and predictability to feel safe. In these uncertain and stressful times, those routines will be especially important, not just for your child but also for you. Know that with the exception of scheduled morning meetings, the activities that your teachers will be providing can be done at a pace and time that works for you. The activities will include all the learning domains listed below, often in an integrated way – the same way we teach at school each day. As we move forward, teachers will begin to offer more opportunities for check-ins or live interactions with your child. Teachers will be available via email during class times. You will receive more information about this from your child’s teacher.

Plan for your day to include opportunities for your child to help with chores, be outdoors, and have lightly supervised, unstructured play as well as downtime.

This is a great opportunity to help your children learn how to be bored and be part of something bigger than themselves. Try inviting your child to help you plan for the day. They may be feeling like nothing in their lives is within their control. Having some age-appropriate choices will help.

These are trying times. Use screens judiciously, but do not feel guilty if you need them to put your oxygen mask on.

Know that we will primarily use screen time to help your child stay engaged with their teachers and connected with each other. Social distancing will feel isolating to children and adults and the use of technology to maintain those much needed contacts outweighs the concerns we focus on in more typical times. Your child will also not be immune to the stresses associated with this crisis and they will need you to help them feel calm and ready to embrace this new “adventure.” It is in their best interest for you to take care of yourself and, if some screen time helps you do that, then that is not only okay but helpful to them.

Remember that learning at this age should feel like play.

Our priority as a school is to support your child’s social-emotional well-being in these unprecedented times as well to help maintain and grow your child’s curiosity and sense of excitement about wondering, exploring and discovering. The activities that our teachers will be providing will start with that framework, but will also provide your children with opportunities to develop their literacy and math skills. We hope that as you engage with them, you can support that sense of fun and “flow.” If your child is resistant or losing interest, it is perfectly okay and even advisable to switch to something different and try again later. Finally, please remember that productive struggle is essential to learning; allow your child to problem-solve on their own, stepping in only if necessary. If your child becomes discouraged or overwhelmed, encourage them to communicate with their teacher, or contact the teacher directly yourself, depending on your child’s age. Teachers will be eager to help.

The following preschool schedules are samples only and subject to modification at the teacher’s discretion. These sample schedules capture the full complement of offerings for a school day. Families may opt out of individual activities to accommodate their needs and schedules.

Preschool 3s Monday-Friday (includes Monday/Wednesday/Friday and Tuesday/Thursday sample schedules)

Preschool 4s (Monday-Thursday sample schedules)

Preschool 4s Extended Day, Monday-Friday (includes Monday-Friday Preschool 4s from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. daily)

Learning Routines

Help your child establish a regular routine for daily learning, including regular bedtime, wake-up time, meals, breaks, and play time. Seneca lessons will be available every morning to help you and your child plan for the day. You should also designate a quiet space in your home for study. The optimal space will depend on your child’s age; no matter what their age, we recommend a space that is close to where adults can be available for supervision and/or consultation. Please note that the level of structure in terms of scheduled lesson times provided by teachers will vary by age and requirement of parental involvement. For younger students, “real time” interactions will be scheduled taking into account the potential for competing demands on parents.

Support and Communication with Teachers

Stay engaged in your child’s learning by asking them questions and inviting them to share their progress while, at the same time, encouraging independence. Productive struggle is essential to learning; allow your child to problem-solve on their own, stepping in only if necessary. If your child becomes discouraged or overwhelmed, encourage them to communicate with their teacher, or contact the teacher directly yourself, depending on your child’s age. Teachers will be eager to help.

Social, Emotional, and Physical Well-Being

Maintaining well-being is an important part of managing any sort of change to routine. Help your child stay in contact with their friends. Encourage phone conversations and other peer interactions through virtual means, including study groups where appropriate. Encourage games, free play, free reading, and other favorite activities outside of study time. Include physical movement and exercise every day; physical activity can help reduce stress and improve concentration. Parents should monitor student stress levels and reach out to Dr. Parker for advice as needed.

Technology Resources at Home

All students are expected to participate in distance learning during a campus closure. Our expectation is that every family will utilize a computer or tablet connected to the internet; families will need access to a printer. If your family needs help accessing these tools, please send an email to the office.

Elementary students are expected to participate in all remote learning activities and complete all assignments. If a child is not able to participate for any reason, please let their teacher know and we will do our best to accommodate and make up work as appropriate, just as we would if they were absent for school. This will allow us to keep proper attendance records attendance records as required by the Maryland State Department of Education.

Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2

Grades 3 and 4

Grade 5

While the curriculum guidelines in Part IV.7 capture the different ways teachers and students approach the various Units of Inquiry, the sample schedules in this section provide a sense of the flow of the day. Actual daily schedules will vary at the teacher’s discretion. Specific schedules for students in families choosing the Flex Remote option will be determined on an individual basis.

Kindergarten

Grades 1-3

Grades 4-5