COVID Specific Updates to the 2020-2021 Handbook
The updated Parent Student Academic Handbook for the regular 2020-2021 academic year can be found here. All important policy procedures that are unique to operations during COVID are listed below.
Testing
All students attending classes on campus are required to have a negative COVID test result that is less than one week old before returning to campus. COVID testing for all students will be offered on campus on Monday, August 31st and Tuesday, September 1st. These tests will be free of charge and more information will follow regarding the specific testing times available for each grade level. For families not available on those days, we are able to accept COVID testing from other locations in lieu of our tests, provided they reflect testing done within one week before the start of school.
Students will be re-tested in school on Tuesday, September 15th and Tuesday, September 29th. These tests will also be free of charge.
The purpose of these three tests is to establish a baseline positivity rate and trend in positivity for the North Cross community. Following each round of testing, our Medical Advisory Board will review the results, make recommendations for further mitigation efforts, and determine the frequency of future testing. It is our expectation that future testing will be free of charge to parents, but the uncertainty of testing demand and availability may result in a need to bill parents for tests.
Students will be re-tested in school on Tuesday, September 15th and Tuesday, September 29th. These tests will also be free of charge.
The purpose of these three tests is to establish a baseline positivity rate and trend in positivity for the North Cross community. Following each round of testing, our Medical Advisory Board will review the results, make recommendations for further mitigation efforts, and determine the frequency of future testing. It is our expectation that future testing will be free of charge to parents, but the uncertainty of testing demand and availability may result in a need to bill parents for tests.
Testing Results
It is unlikely that we will make it through the entire school year without at least one student identifying as COVID positive.
All asymptomatic students testing positive will be required to remain in quarantine for 14 days from the date of testing while remaining symptom-free, before they are eligible to return to school.
All students showing symptoms and testing positive will be required to remain in quarantine for 14 days from the onset of symptoms, and may not return to school until they are symptom-free for 24 hours and have a note from a physician stating they are eligible to return to school.
Students living in the same residence with a family member that has tested positive will be treated as a positive case and will be asked to quarantine for 14 days and should they show symptoms, be 24 hours symptom-free and have a note from a physician stating they are eligible to return.
North Cross will notify the local Department of Health of all positive results and staff will immediately begin identifying all students that came in close contact with the infected student. Close contact has been defined by the CDC on the basis of being masked or not, socially distanced or not, and the duration of the contact. This definition is subject to change as more becomes known about the virus. Staff will present our recommended response to each outbreak to our Medical Advisory Board.
All asymptomatic students testing positive will be required to remain in quarantine for 14 days from the date of testing while remaining symptom-free, before they are eligible to return to school.
All students showing symptoms and testing positive will be required to remain in quarantine for 14 days from the onset of symptoms, and may not return to school until they are symptom-free for 24 hours and have a note from a physician stating they are eligible to return to school.
Students living in the same residence with a family member that has tested positive will be treated as a positive case and will be asked to quarantine for 14 days and should they show symptoms, be 24 hours symptom-free and have a note from a physician stating they are eligible to return.
North Cross will notify the local Department of Health of all positive results and staff will immediately begin identifying all students that came in close contact with the infected student. Close contact has been defined by the CDC on the basis of being masked or not, socially distanced or not, and the duration of the contact. This definition is subject to change as more becomes known about the virus. Staff will present our recommended response to each outbreak to our Medical Advisory Board.
Masks
On the advice of medical experts, masks will be required for all people on North Cross School grounds. All students, JK3 - 12th Grade, will be required to wear masks.
All students must bring a face mask to school with them on a daily basis. Should a student forget to bring a mask, the school will provide a disposable one for the day. Suitable face masks must fit securely over the nose and mouth and stretch from ear to ear. Bandanas and neck gaiters are not permitted, and the only valved masks allowed are those that are N95.
Please keep in mind that although both cloth and disposable face masks are acceptable, for either to be effective, they must be properly sized. Many children's mask options have adjustable strap options, which can ensure a better fit for smaller faces.
We also recommend mask lanyards that allow masks to hang around a student's neck to prevent the mask from falling to the ground or another surface.
This is a requirement, but we do realize that some of our younger students may struggle a bit with masks. We will be supportive of their efforts to wear them and will not create any unwanted anguish if a child is having a tough day with the mask. Of course, we also recognize the need for time to be spent without masks, and teachers will specifically build in time outdoors when masks can be removed. Tips for introducing children to mask wearing can be found here.
All students must bring a face mask to school with them on a daily basis. Should a student forget to bring a mask, the school will provide a disposable one for the day. Suitable face masks must fit securely over the nose and mouth and stretch from ear to ear. Bandanas and neck gaiters are not permitted, and the only valved masks allowed are those that are N95.
Please keep in mind that although both cloth and disposable face masks are acceptable, for either to be effective, they must be properly sized. Many children's mask options have adjustable strap options, which can ensure a better fit for smaller faces.
We also recommend mask lanyards that allow masks to hang around a student's neck to prevent the mask from falling to the ground or another surface.
This is a requirement, but we do realize that some of our younger students may struggle a bit with masks. We will be supportive of their efforts to wear them and will not create any unwanted anguish if a child is having a tough day with the mask. Of course, we also recognize the need for time to be spent without masks, and teachers will specifically build in time outdoors when masks can be removed. Tips for introducing children to mask wearing can be found here.
Classroom Spacing
We have restricted classroom capacity to the maximum number of seats possible while maintaining a six-foot distance between them. There are some circumstances, for example the layout of science labs and computer labs, that require the use of tables instead of desks. In cases where the six-feet minimum cannot be maintained, plexiglass dividers have been in the middle of the tables to provide a barrier between students.
Air Quality
Recent research has shown that the COVID virus exists in an aerosol form and may linger in the air for much longer than respiratory droplets. We have purchased air handlers capable of using HEPA 13 filters, which are recommended for removing particles the size of the COVID virus.
Hygiene Stations and Disinfecting
Each classroom and all common spaces will have hand sanitizing stations. In addition, there will be regular reminders during the school day to wash hands or sanitize.
We have purchased a number of electrostatic disinfectors which effectively fog an entire room with disinfectant. All classroom and common spaces will be fogged each evening, and high-traffic locations such as bathrooms will be fogged regularly during the school day. We will continue to wipe down all heavy touch surfaces, such as door knobs, push bars and desk tops with a sanitizer that is safe and approved for use in schools and kitchens. Desk tops will be wiped down between each class, and all seats will be assigned.
We have purchased a number of electrostatic disinfectors which effectively fog an entire room with disinfectant. All classroom and common spaces will be fogged each evening, and high-traffic locations such as bathrooms will be fogged regularly during the school day. We will continue to wipe down all heavy touch surfaces, such as door knobs, push bars and desk tops with a sanitizer that is safe and approved for use in schools and kitchens. Desk tops will be wiped down between each class, and all seats will be assigned.
Temperature Taking and Wellness Reporting
Before coming to school, all students must complete a daily wellness report by answering a short series of questions about their health. These questions can be found by logging into FACTS through the family portal and selecting "Web Forms."
Upon arrival at school, all students and visitors are required to have their temperatures taken. Students with temperatures of 100.4 or higher need to stay home and join classes remotely until allowed to return by doctor’s consent.
The campus will not issue the Perfect Attendance Award for this academic year as such an award contradicts good practices in this pandemic time. We ask that parents and students continue to follow any attendance policies that are asked for our students that do not relate to the practices that are needed to limit the spread of the virus. The school will continue to record attendance of students daily and will address any attendance concerns in a way that ensures the safety of all students while maintaining a level of instruction that reaches academic goals set forth for the student community.
Upon arrival at school, all students and visitors are required to have their temperatures taken. Students with temperatures of 100.4 or higher need to stay home and join classes remotely until allowed to return by doctor’s consent.
The campus will not issue the Perfect Attendance Award for this academic year as such an award contradicts good practices in this pandemic time. We ask that parents and students continue to follow any attendance policies that are asked for our students that do not relate to the practices that are needed to limit the spread of the virus. The school will continue to record attendance of students daily and will address any attendance concerns in a way that ensures the safety of all students while maintaining a level of instruction that reaches academic goals set forth for the student community.
Dress Code
Formal dress will not be required during the 2020-2021 school year.
For the Early Childhood Program, these item(s) are no longer required for this academic school year:
For Grades 1-5, these item(s) are no longer required for this academic school year:
All Ellis Hall students may be required to wear the following uniform attire on days that would include school pictures or activities that may be subject to yearbook and social media use directly related to your child’s classroom.
For Grades 6-12, these item(s) are no longer required for this academic school year:
If you have already purchased any of the school items that are no longer required dress due to the elimination of our standard Formal Dress Days, your student is still welcome to wear these items this school year.
For the Early Childhood Program, these item(s) are no longer required for this academic school year:
- Boys: Red crew neck sweatshirt with NCS logo.
- Girls: Red crew neck sweatshirt with NCS log and Land’s End “Classic Navy Large Plaid” skirt or jumper.
For Grades 1-5, these item(s) are no longer required for this academic school year:
- Boys: White long-sleeved Oxford dress shirt with NCS logo and red fine gauge v-neck (or crew-neck) sweater with NCS logo.
- Girls: White long-sleeved Oxford dress shirt with NCS logo, red fine gauge cardigan sweater with NCS logo and Land’s End “Classic Navy Large Plaid” skirt/jumper.
All Ellis Hall students may be required to wear the following uniform attire on days that would include school pictures or activities that may be subject to yearbook and social media use directly related to your child’s classroom.
- Boys: White polo with NCS logo and khaki bottoms (shorts or pants)
- Girls: White polo with NCS logo and khaki bottoms (skirts, jumpers or pants)
For Grades 6-12, these item(s) are no longer required for this academic school year:
- Young Men: White long-sleeved dress shirt with NCS logo, navy blazer, necktie, black or brown belt and dress shoes.
- Young Women: White long-sleeved blouse with NCS logo, Land’s End “Classic Navy Large Plaid” skirt, navy blazer and dress shoes.
If you have already purchased any of the school items that are no longer required dress due to the elimination of our standard Formal Dress Days, your student is still welcome to wear these items this school year.
Carpool
Please refer to the following maps for information regarding morning drop-offs and afternoon pick-ups. If you have children in more than one division, please defer to using drop-off time and the latest pick-up for all of your children. Our staff will be equipped with walkie talkies to ensure that we can help direct students in one family across multiple divisions to one central pick-up spot.
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Alternating Weekly Schedule, Grades 8th-12th
(Aligned with Grades 6th and 7th)
Value |
Week A |
Week B |
7:40-8:00 |
Drop off in designated areas |
Drop off in designated areas |
8:00-9:53 |
Period 1
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Period 2
|
9:53-10:12 |
BREAK
|
BREAK
|
10:15-11:37 |
Period 3 |
Period 4 |
11:37-12:25 |
Lunch
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Lunch
|
12:25-1:45 |
Period 5 |
Period 6 |
1:50-3:10 |
Period 7 8th Grade: Study Hall or Athletics |
8th-12th Grades (Dismissal/PE/Athletics/Activity/Study Hall/Resource Period*) |
*Allotted time will allow for various organized activities. This includes both academic and extracurricular programming, athletic practices/games, proctored study hall, or additional class time. Dismissal is also an option as part of our mitigation strategies.
Lunch Ordering
Students may bring a bag lunch to school or order from the school cafeteria. Meals provided by the cafeteria will be prepared in individual containers ahead of time and either delivered to the classroom or picked up by students depending on their grade.
To order lunch for a student, please log into the FACTS family portal. Please note that lunch orders can be created or modified through Sunday for the following week. Lunch weeks will begin and end on Tuesdays. Full instructions for ordering lunch can be found here.
To order lunch for a student, please log into the FACTS family portal. Please note that lunch orders can be created or modified through Sunday for the following week. Lunch weeks will begin and end on Tuesdays. Full instructions for ordering lunch can be found here.