Fall 2020 • School Reopening
Action Plan & ProtocolAs we have engaged in the planning of opening Waldorf School at Moraine Farm in for the 2020/2021 academic year, we are being guided by four priorities:
- Commitment: Our focus – first and foremost – is committing to the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff.
- Care: Ensuring that we are following the local and state guidelines for reopening, while keeping taking additional steps to care for and honor our values and people.
- Curriculum: Creating academic opportunities for each of our students and implementing best practices in teaching and learning for our students, whether they are in the classroom, or at home.
- Community: Striving to preserve traditions, milestones, and touchstones for our community and our shared spirits.
With those as our guiding priorities, it is likely that as the information on COVID-19 in our state and region evolves, schools will need to be prepared to transition from one scenario to another quickly, efficiently, and thoughtfully.
We are ready for all possibilities and will continue to be in close communication with families not only throughout the summer and fall, but also moving forward, to keep you abreast of any shifts and plans we should prepare for and implement.
In order to determine the best way forward, Waldorf School at Moraine Farm will continue to monitor the evolution of the local, regional, and national reopening efforts, as well as the guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and local health officials.
We look forward to a healthy and whole school year, and to working together in the best interest of our school.
Our Commitment to
You
Our focus, first and foremost, is the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff. We are planning our efforts based on the guidance of local and national health guidelines for continued containment and mitigation of COVID-19. As we adapt to this dynamic public health situation, we are also collaborating with school leaders locally, and nationally in order to benefit from their knowledge and expertise.
We are committed to you. Our teams are continually researching to answer our community’s questions and modifying our plans to meet the changing situation.
Our Commitment to You
Our focus, first and foremost, is the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff. We are planning our efforts based on the guidance of local and national health guidelines for continued containment and mitigation of COVID-19. As we adapt to this dynamic public health situation, we are also collaborating with school leaders locally, and nationally in order to benefit from their knowledge, and expertise.
We are committed to you. Our teams are continually researching to answer our communities questions and modifying our plans to meet the changing situation.
Next Steps
Our Ongoing Work
The reopening task force is working on the following items:
- With limited access to the building, the reopening task force is working on communication channels for immediate parent questions
- Safe food protocols and procedure for early childhood
- State guidance on how and when to send children home or temporarily close school
- Scenario 2: Hybrid Teaching and Learning Model and Guide
- Scenario 3: Distance Teaching and Learning Model and Guide
We acknowledge that families, faculty, and staff will have many questions. We are actively working on developing and fine-tuning plans in preparation for the school year. To ensure all voices are heard, we are taking the following next steps:
Focus Groups
Groups for parents
Groups for teachers/staff
Groups for parents
Groups for teachers/staff
Our Commitment to
Care
We have carefully read and acted on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidelines and will be taking the following action for the start of the 2020-2021 school year:
Our Building & Campus
Aftercare and Daily Schedule
- We will continue to offer aftercare
- Our daily schedule will remain the same
School Layout and Re-Design
- Restructuring classroom spaces and indoor protocols to promote healthy distance between all that are present in the school building at all times.
- In accordance with DESE guidelines, we will assure a minimum space of 3 feet apart, when 6 feet can’t be achieved, apart for desks
- Maintaining a minimum distance of 3 feet apart for student activities
- Reinforcing social distancing guidelines with floor decals (for classroom flow), one-way stairwells, and gentle signage reminders
- Increasing facility ventilation, regularly performing HVAC inspections, and changing filters on an increased basis.
Outdoor Classrooms
- All classes will be spending increased time outside
- Engineering outdoor classrooms, outdoor spaces, and our outdoor curriculum to maximize the time on our natural campus
Cleaning & Disinfecting
- Additional hand washing and sanitizing stations in key areas throughout the campus
- Increasing and deepening our continuous, daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning protocols using approved CDC guidelines
- Handrails, door handles, surfaces, light switches, etc. will be disinfected continuously throughout the day.
- All chairs, desks, and otherwise regularly touched surfaces will be cleaned with appropriate disinfectant wipes before and after each class/use.
- Toilets and sinks will be cleaned multiple times per day; users will be encouraged to wipe down all surfaces touched before and after use of facilities.
- Thorough cleaning and disinfecting of the building will be performed at the end of each school day.
- Faculty will disinfect classroom supplies and material between use
Cleaning & Disinfecting
- Additional hand washing and sanitizing stations in key areas throughout the campus
- Increasing and deepening our continuous, daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning protocols using approved CDC guidelines
- Handrails, door handles, surfaces, light switches, etc. will be disinfected continuously throughout the day.
- All chairs, desks, and otherwise regularly touched surfaces will be cleaned with appropriate disinfectant wipes before and after each class/use.
- Toilets and sinks will be cleaned multiple times per day; users will be encouraged to wipe down all surfaces touched before and after use of facilities.
- Thorough cleaning and disinfecting of the building will be performed at the end of each school day.
- Faculty will disinfect classroom supplies and material between use
Parent Protocols
Communication
- To limit exposure, we will be adjusting our face-to-face communication protocols between parents and school staff
- In-person: speaking to staff/faculty outside in the quad
- Emailing: help@waldorfmoraine.org
- Calling the front office: (978) 927-8811 ext 10
- Meetings: video-conferencing and phone calls
- WSMF will publish a weekly newsletter to share upcoming events, happenings, and updates to the greater community
- WSMF will publish a weekly email announcement with relevant information specific to the current school community
Drop off
- Modified morning greeting
- Reengineering drop off & pick up to reduce the number of people in the building
- Drive up drop off for grades 1-8 students
- Walk up drop off for nursery and kindergarten students
- Limiting parent access to the school building
Pick Up
- Nursery and kindergarten end of day circle will continue with students (without parents)
- Each grade waits in designated spots on the quad with their class teacher, as usual.
- Faculty will coordinate to bring each child to their car
Student Protocols
- Increased handwashing/hand sanitizing protocols
-
- upon arrival to school
- before eating and after eating
- before putting on and taking off masks
- before dismissal
-
- Interaction between class groups
- eliminating school-wide lunches
- limited shared playground spaces
- eliminating school-wide assemblies
Student Protocols
- Increased handwashing/hand sanitizing protocols
-
- upon arrival to school
- before eating and after eating
- before putting on and taking off masks
- before dismissal
-
- Interaction between class groups
- eliminating school-wide lunches
- limited shared playground spaces
- eliminating school-wide assemblies
Personal Protective Equipment
Wearing masks, gloves, and face shields as required and appropriate, in accordance with health and safety guidelines.
Faculty PPE requirements
- Faculty, staff, and all adults will be required to wear mask/face covering that covers their nose and mouth while inside the school
- Faculty and staff can have mask breaks if they are in a room by themselves
- Faculty and staff are not required, but may choose, to wear face coverings while outside and six feet apart – this decision is at discretion of the faculty member
Student PPE requirements
- Students in Grades 2 through 8, will be required to wear mask/face covering that covers their nose and mouth while inside the school building
- When students are inside the school, 6 feet apart, with a source of fresh air (e.g. an open window), mask breaks may be implemented at the discretion of the faculty member
- Students in Nursery, Kindergarten and Grade 1 are encouraged, but are not required, to wear face coverings while inside or outside the building – this decision is at discretion of the family
- All students, when outside and maintaining a distance of six feet apart may chose, but are not required, to wear face coverings – this decision is at discretion of the family
Our Commitment to
Curriculum
The Faculty Management Group and faculty are using best practices, along with parent survey data, to develop robust academic plans that hold true to the core of Waldorf teaching. Our current work involves:
- Continued curriculum robustness, delivery, and integrity.
- Program changes, integration of nature into the curriculum.
- Providing curricular materials to families who may have children at home for periods of time.
- Assessment of student developmental skills and needs.
- Providing students with social and emotional support.
- Increased utilization of our 220 acres of natural land and resources.
- Further integration of science, environment, and nature into existing curricula
Working Together
Working with the community is an essential ingredient to reopening our school in the fall. Submit your questions, concerns, and ideas for the Reopening Task Force to help us all open our doors with confidence and care.