Asheville-Pisgah Christian School

Dear APCS Family,

Our 2020-2021 school year is off to a great start! We are so thankful for your help and participation in making this so.  

The administration, board and teaching team are taking great precautions to ensure we have a happy, healthy school year.  We are following all general safety guidelines as established by the CDC for schools, which will result in increasing our cleaning protocols, using strong, child safe disinfectants throughout the day and then airing out the classrooms.  We are limiting all guests to the school to protect your child’s exposures.  We have greatly changed classroom seating and individualized their learning equipment to lower germs.  We are updating safety measures regularly.

To minimize the potential impact on our students, is our desire that our students will run free in the fresh mountain air, enjoy being with their friends and experience optimal learning environments.  We want our students to have fun worship experiences and feel the warmth of their teachers.  We will do all we can to make APCS a safe, creative place to learn.

 We realize that in a school full of children there will be germs.  Every year we see seasonal flu, lice and other germs you get when you put little people together, so we know how to address such things.  It will probably happen this year too.  Even with all these extra precautions.  We have plans in place for those types of concerns too.  In this document we have attempted to answer your most asked questions.  Let us know what additional questions you have.  Even in these crazy times, with these increased challenges it is our priority to have a wonderful year.

Learning. Growing. Shining.

Erin Miller, Principal  

Asheville Pisgah Christian School

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR 2020/2021 SCHOOL YEAR

• We don’t want to wear them at all.  We have to wear them at times right now. We can’t wait for this to change.
• We have put clear barriers up between desks where we can’t socially distance.  So masks don’t have to be worn at desks.
• We will do lots of outside time where we don’t have to wear masks.
• “Masks in motion” means for now we will wear masks as we cross the parking lot, into the halls, past other children, to our lockers, to the bathrooms and to our desks. 

• You may use either the back or front entrance from 8:05-8:15 am.  Before 8:05 and After 8:15 only the front entrace is open.
• At either entrance your car will be greeted by a gowned and gloved safety assistant who will ask you questions from the Symptom Questionnaire

1.  Have you been in close contact* with someone who has a laboratory confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis in the last 14 days?

2.  Do you currently have a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher or the chills?

3.  Do you have a frequent cough or sore throat?

4.  Are you experiencing shortness of breath or difficulty of breathing?

5.  Do you currently, or have you recently experienced a headache or body aches or pain?

6.  Have you experienced a recent loss of taste or smell?

*According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), close contact is defined as: a) Being within approximately 6 feet (2 meters) of a COVID-19 case for a prolonged period of time (defined as greater than 15 minutes); or b) having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case (e.g., being coughed on)

• If Yes to any of these please DO NOT get out of the car.
• If No each student’s temperature will be taken with a no-touch thermometer and each will be given an all-clear sticker.
• Students only exit the car.
• Masks in Motions – All students must wear masks as they cross the parking lot, into the halls, past other children, to their lockers, and to their desks.

• Your student will only be with their class. For class, for recess, for lunch, for chapel.
• We have closed communal use of shared spaces such as multipurpose room, library, and playgrounds, minimizing exposure to just their own class.
• These communal spaces will be used on a schedule of one class at a time with disinfecting between each class use.
• Students will not congregate in bathrooms and hallways.
• Bathrooms and hallways have been divided and have signs up to keep traffic flow moving and limited.  Teachers will need to send only one student to the bathroom or lockers at a time. 
• We have modified all classrooms layouts with desks spaced apart.  Most classes will have clear barriers to act as “masks” while in the classroom.

• Your student will stay in their classroom until you drive up. They will put their mask on and walk to your car.
• Students wanting to stay in after school care will have to make a reservation to make sure we can staff and provide safely for these needs.  You will find this application on line.

• The school will have a substantial cleaning each afternoon.  This will follow all CDC safety and disinfecting protocols.

• Each classroom will have all surfaces and door knobs wiped down with disinfectant during recess and lunch then aired out while the students are out.  Shared objects (e.g., art supplies, pencil sharpener, games) will also be wiped down.
• Each student will wash hands upon reentering classroom.  Each teacher will have disinfectant wipes with them for unexpected use.
• When the playground is used by a class, all the equipment will be wiped down before the next class uses it.
• The bathrooms will be cleaned every two hours.
• The main doors will be cleaned every two hours and wiped down after any class/guests enter.

• For this phase of Covid-19, temperatures will also be taken during the lunch hour.
• We have just serviced our ventilation system and have quality circulation of outdoor air.
• PE classes are class by class this year.   Each class will stay with only their class to avoid germ sharing.  We will reduce all shared equipment and gear, disinfecting it between class use.  We will forgo sports that require frequent closeness between players compared to sports where players are not close to each other.  Play will be modified to safely increase distance between players.  PE time can focus on individual skill building.
• Music classes are class by class.  There will be no wind instruments or choir this semester.
• Field Trips –Field trips are on hold until October, then on a case by case basis and will be determined by class and safety.
• We are blocking off drinking fountains and asking that all staff/students bring a personalized water bottle to be filled at the classroom sinks.
• We have installed a clear partition in the front office for family and staff protection

• If a student exhibits symptoms of illness or appears to be sick they will be returned to family car. 
• The person taking their temperature will excuse themselves to correctly remove gloves, mask, face shield and gown, wash hands with disinfectant, soap and water and put on clean, new equipment.
• A sick student will be entered in attendance as sick reminded of protocol for when they are safe to return emailed a sick day worksheet .

• The student will be immediately taken to a quarantine room
• The student’s family will be immediately called to pick them up
• The student will be advised that they cannot return to school until they have met CDC’s criteria to discontinue home isolation
• The areas the student was in will be evacuated and not reused until after cleaning and disinfecting has taken place and room has been aired out with fresh air.

• A sick student will not be able to return to school until 10 calendar days have passed since the first symptom appeared AND they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.  Symptoms should also be improving.
• OR
• A student has a doctor confirmed explanation of symptoms and is fever-free for 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.

• If a student lives with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19, they are not to attend school until completing a 14-day quarantine period, which begins after last exposure to an active COVID-19 case.
• For example: if a household member test positive for COVID-19, other members continuing to live in the same household would start their 14 day quarantine after the individual with COVID-19 tests negative or completes their protocol for returning to school.

• Students absent on the day a recorded grade is given for homework, class work, and tests must take the initiative to hand in the homework and make up the assignment or test.  The student must arrange to make up work within the same number of days the student was absent.

For example: If a student is absent for one day, the student will have one day to make up the work.  A student who is absent five days will have five school days to make up the work. 

• The home room teacher or substitute will email class assignment sheet by 3:30 pm on the day of a student’s absence to the office, and/or have sheet and books at the front desk by 3:30 pm.

• The Carolina Conference Department of Education states that our school year is 180 days of school attendance.
• Unexcused absences must not exceed 10. 
• An accumulation of five (5) unexcused tardies or five (5) unexcused early departures shall be equal to one unexcused absence.
• Attendance is mandatory during both in live and in virtual learning time.
• If a student has excused absences due to sickness and is staying engaged and caught up with their work it will not count it against their attendance.

• We will not have choir.  Our music classes will be different.
• Birthday parties will look different.  Any food sent in by parents will need to be individually packaged.
• If you need after school care you will need to pre register for it.  This will insure that we have adequate staff and can safely provide for these students.

• We still hope to get a hot lunch program up and running soon. We have great plans in the works. Stay tuned.
• For the next few weeks we encourage parents to send cold lunches.
• Each class will have access to a microwave but there will be only one for class and they will have to be cleaned after each use.

• Parents paying tuition have access to live and/or distance learning and the reservation of classroom space for their students.
• Parents have the right, at any time, to withdraw their students and homeschool them.  We will work to help make their transition in or out as smooth as possible.  The APCS teachers, their time, the APCS curriculum and testing stays at APCS as part of our school program and is only available for enrolled students paying tuition.
• Tuition commitments are made from quarter to quarter.  You are responsible for paying for the entire quarter that you are enrolled for.
• If there are regulatory requirements from Buncombe Country or the Federal Government, or if APCS experiences an outbreak during the school year, we will activate our virtual (zoom) learning action plan.

Yes.  You have two options –

• Register and enroll at APCS.  Let Erin know that you are choosing the distance learning option for the first quarter.  We will provide class materials, and reserve a space in the class for your student 2^nd or 3^rd quarter -when you are comfortable sending them back.  We will find a time and space convenient for you to take MAP testing during the first three weeks of school.  We will also set up regular times for your student to meet with their teacher.
• Hold off and register when you are comfortable.  Acceptance is dependent on space availability.

• Communication will be a continued priority.  Effective communication is critical.  Communication tools will include: Weekly emails.  Weekly updates on ashevillepisgah.org. Routine use of social media posts.
• If a student in your student’s class gets Covid-19 you will be informed immediately.
• If a student in the school gets Covid -19 you will be informed in the weekly email.

• APCS will be accessed by students, teachers, therapists, pastors and required individuals only. 
• If a parent needs to enter, they must wear a mask and gloves.

2020/2021  Virtual

Guidelines

• Students will be taught how to get on line and in their online classes at school so they can do it at home.
• Each teacher will supply what students will need to take home from school in virtual transition.
• During online times teachers will be in their classrooms, online working with students.
• Parents are not responsible for downloading or printing materials. These will be provided by the teacher
• Any packeted material will be available in a class box, outside the front door of the school starting on Sunday 4:00 pm.  Drop off can take place in the back of the class box.
• Attendance will be taken when class starts.   Regular school attendance standards apply.
• MAP testing will continue as planned.
• Each class period should end with 10 minutes of non screen, teacher directed, goal oriented, movement/outside time.

Class Etiquette 

• Students must be dressed (no pajamas or sweat pants), groomed, and ready for class when class begins.
• Students must be sitting in a chair (not laying on couch, bed, or bean bag) and at a table or desk.
• All students’ microphones must be muted until they are wanting to speak. When wanting to speak they must quickly unmute, state their name, and re-mute until they are called upon.

Yes.  You will have to sign the same waiver that all schools are requiring before your enrollment is complete.

I understand that although Asheville Pisgah Christian School has taken state recommended steps to operate safely,   the nature of schools, the facilities and the children involved, it is not possible to entirely eliminate all risk of COVID-19 or other contagious illnesses.  I understand the assumption of risk that I am making by enrolling my child and will not hold the school liable.  ________Initial

Absolutely.  The safety of our children is our top priority.  We have to look at all our plans the way we would a snow day.  We think we are having school but we may call it off at 6:00 am that morning.  If we have to suddenly move to virtual, at home learning we will.  If we have to change to stricter policies, we will.  We will not stop reading and learning and studying.

AND….We can’t wait for the day that everything returns to “normal”.  And we become a maskless, hugging, undistanced school again.  It may be next month or in Heaven.  But we are looking forward to it!

 Erin Miller