Central Maine Christian Academy’s Return to School Plan for 2020-2021
Background
Fulfilling the mission of Central Maine Christian Academy to partner with parents to provide a Biblically faithful, academically excellent education for our students will always be the aim of the CMCA school board and staff. Above all else, we acknowledge that God is sovereign and in control of all things.
God:
Scripture teaches us that there is both a place for trusting God while putting aside fear, and a place for planning for the safety of people. The story of Nehemiah courageously rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem for the protection of its people incorporates both of these ideas. Nehemiah’s plan provided safety in the daily routines of the workers rebuilding the walls. For the foreseeable future, the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to affect our daily school routines. The plan to reopen Central Maine Christian Academy for the 2020-21 school year takes into account both actively planning for our safety and trusting God to act on our behalf. This plan has taken into account the best interest of our staff, students, and families.
The plan includes these three possible learning models:
The mission to provide a Christ-centered academic experience for Christian families at Central Maine Christian Academy is best reached when teachers and students come together on campus and in classrooms. However, until the COVID-19 pandemic has abated, an open school building requires special precautions and protocols in order to safeguard the health and well-being of our students, families, and staff. For the safety of students and staff, and depending on conditions and guidance from coordinating agencies, we may also need to resort to a distance learning model.
With these principles in mind, the following plan represents the mitigation strategies that CMCA will have in place when students return to school. This plan is not exhaustive and does not address every aspect of the school day, and is based on the guidelines set up by Gov. Mills and the Maine Department of Education for safely reopening all schools in Maine. This plan may change as the governor and the Maine Dept. of Education evaluate positive or negative changes to the outbreak. While the school will ask for the cooperation of all students and families, there can be no guarantees that complete mitigation of risk will take place. For this reason, parents and staff are asked to sign and return the attached COVID-19 waiver. The virus does not seem to be going away any time soon, so this is CMCA’s plan to continue the vital work of Christian education in an environment that recognizes the real need for precautions. While this plan is akin to Nehemiah acknowledging the need for a wall and plans for rebuilding it, we also trust as Nehemiah did that, “The God of heaven will give us success.” Thank you for your patience and your prayers as we persevere through this unprecedented challenge.
More than anything, our desire is to ensure the health and safety of every individual who enters our building. This desire is driven by a love for our students, school families, and staff. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment in the Law was, He answered in Matthew 22:37-39, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Loving our neighbors during a global pandemic means we will have to do things differently. Keeping our distance from one another, limiting visitors in the building, even wearing masks as needed – all of these are extraordinary actions that show love, care, and compassion for our neighbors. Our desire is to demonstrate that love in all that we do in the coming year.
As we look ahead to opening school, and because there are still active cases of COVID-19 in our state, we will be following the hybrid learning model, as outlined above. For this reason, the following social distancing and mitigation strategies will be in place:
School Day Changes of Schedule and Hours
A modified schedule will be used during the hybrid learning model. Live classroom instruction will take place from Monday through Thursday. Students in daycare, preschool, and grades K-8 are to be dropped off between 7:30-7:45 AM. Students in the high school need to arrive between 7:45 -7:55 AM. Preschool and grades K through high school will dismiss at 2:00 PM, with daycare and aftercare programs closing at 4:00 PM. These shortened times will allow for additional cleaning time and needed staff time for any posting of Google classroom information.
Drop-off and Pick-up Areas
School doors will open for the supervision of students 15 minutes before the start of class, with parents requested to drop off their child, as much as possible, without entering the school building, except for daycare, preschool, and kindergarten students the first week of school. Likewise, we are asking that all students leave the campus within 10 minutes of the end of the day. One of the great community opportunities for parents is student pick-up and drop off time. It is an opportunity to see other parents and students and connect with a teacher. However, to limit the number of people in the building, until the coronavirus outbreak passes, parents and visitors will need to remain outside of the building while their child enters the building or comes out to them, unless previous arrangements are made with the staff.
Multiple doors will be used to control crowding during drop-off and pick-up times. Signs will indicate which door students will be asked to use. Teachers at each grade level will be posted at the respective doors to welcome students, or to help them leave the building. Daycare and preschool students will enter and exit through the side emergency exit that is adjacent to their classrooms. Kindergarten and first graders will enter and exit through the door that is located to the left of the building as parents drive into the parking lot, near the playground with the castle. Students in the second and third grades, as well as sixth through twelfth grades, will enter and exit through the front doors. Students in grades four and five will enter through the door at the right side of the building, near the dumpster. Upon arrival, students are to go directly to their classrooms without stopping at lockers. They will be dismissed to go to their lockers in small supervised groups at a time when all have arrived. In an effort to control the spread of the virus and decrease the amount of people in the building, parents are asked not to enter the building, but to walk over to the appropriate door to drop off or pick up their child, waiting outside the school building, and following social distancing guidelines.
SCREENING
All students, faculty, staff, and volunteers must self-screen, with the help of parents or a caregiver, when appropriate, before leaving home each school day for the following symptoms. A person shall not come to school under any circumstances if he/she or other members in the family display any one of the following:
RETURN TO SCHOOL
Students and staff may return to school after displaying symptoms if they meet the following:
Untested – Not otherwise explained; all three must be met:
Tested positive – Either Symptomatic or Asymptomatic
Tested negative – Symptomatic
PROCEDURE FOR POSITIVE OR SUSPECTED COVID-19 CASE
The following procedure is to be used if a CMCA student or employee is identified as COVID-19 positive or suspected positive.
* ACTION ITEM *
* ACTION ITEM *
* ACTION ITEM *
* ACTION ITEM *
* ACTION ITEM *
CONSIDERATIONS
All classrooms will practice these guidelines:
HAND HYGIENE
Regular hand washing and sanitizing are among the most effective ways to control viral spread. Students will have regular access to soap and water and alcohol-based hand sanitizers. They will also be asked to bring their own hand sanitizer to school as part of their school supplies. Students will be encouraged to use the sanitizers regularly.
FACE COVERINGS
The Maine Department of Education strongly recommends that staff and students wear a facial mask. There are recommendations from other organizations that span everything in between, and these recommendations continue to change, as more information about the spread of COVID-19 becomes available. For the time being, we ask that all students bring a fresh, clean mask with them to school each day. But it is also understood that some students are extremely uncomfortable with the wearing of face masks, or have health conditions that prohibit them from doing so. It is our intent that no one is made to feel uncomfortable because they decided to wear or not to wear a face covering.
CMCA staff, students, and family members are asked to honor the Lord, and show His love to others concerning the decisions of other people in the CMCA school family. Parents are asked to counsel their children concerning this request to show His love to others in this way. The following is being recommended because of the Maine Dept. of Education guidelines and in accordance with our intention to balance the best possible educational environment with the safest, healthiest working environment:
CLEANING AND DISINFECTING PRACTICES
The CMCA staff is removing “soft surfaces” from classrooms (e.g., cloth upholstered chairs, small area rugs, etc.) for the 2020-21 school year that cannot easily be wiped down, cleaned, and disinfected. Each classroom will also establish a routine for limiting the use of shared materials and for wiping down spaces and equipment. For this reason, each student is asked to bring 2 packages of Clorox wipes in their school supplies. Practices will vary across classrooms and age groups but will include such areas and equipment as: •
Cleaning personnel will disinfect high touch surfaces in the school and clean the school’s restrooms at least twice daily. Any classroom or space used by a student or staff member who directly contracts COVID-19 will be closed and returned to service only after it has been cleaned and disinfected utilizing EPA approved products that meet CDC guidelines for COVID-19.
DRINKING FOUNTAINS AND WATER BOTTLES
Students should plan to bring at least 2 water bottles to school. Drinking fountains in the building will be turned off to avoid the potential spread of the virus.
CHAPEL, CHORUS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND RECESS/PLAYGROUND ACTIVITIES
Chapel will be done in each classroom as a part of the Bible curriculum or in video/on-line format. Because of this, and to reduce the travel of students going to change in the restrooms afterwards, students will not be required to wear Chapel clothes until further notice. Chorus will be put on hold, while physical education will be based on individual fitness activities instead of group activities. Students will use their hand sanitizer before and after recess, and after using playground equipment. Social distancing activities will be encouraged on the playground during recess time.
SNACK AND LUNCH BREAKS
Students will need to bring snacks and lunches from home. To further control the spread of the virus, the senior snack program and Sam’s lunches will be discontinued until further notice. Outdoor spaces will be used for lunch times as much as possible. If snack breaks and lunches are eaten in classrooms, desks will be washed before and after eating.
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL AND SCHOOL SPORTS ACTIVITIES
Students will still work on their country and state projects, using a format determined by their teachers, with the International Festival being postponed until a later date, if needed. Concerning our sports programs, CMCA will abide by the recommendations of the Christian School Sports League, the organization that our school belongs to for our soccer and basketball programs.
ACCEPTANCE OF THE REOPENING PLAN AND NEW PROCEDURES FOR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND STAFF
As a member of the Association of Christian Schools International, we have been advised by their legal team to have an acknowledgement form and waiver signed by each family or staff member. Families and staff members are asked to review the above reopening plan carefully and prayerfully, and then sign the attached COVID-19 acceptance and waiver before returning to school. Thank you again for your understanding, Christ-like love, prayers, and patience during these uncertain and changing times. Praise the Lord that He is in control of all of it!
Acknowledgement of Central Maine Christian Academy’s Reopening Plan for 2020-21 and COVID-19 Waiver
The Central Maine Christian Academy (CMCA) is planning to resume its face-to-face instructional program for the 2020-2021 academic year. Highest priority is being placed on the health and safety of all, so school will resume with some changes in place in the face of COVID-19 to assure, to the extent possible, that students and staff may safely attend.
Upon your review of these efforts, it is requested your acknowledgment that your child (or you, if 18 years old or older) attends the CMCA voluntarily and with the understanding that, notwithstanding best efforts, the school board and staff cannot guarantee that the school will remain free of virus or that you or your child will not contact this virus or any other infection at the school. It is also asked that you acknowledge that subsequent events, such as a secondary resurgence of cases or a renewed shelter-in-place order, may require CMCA to suspend its face-to-face instructional program. In that case, CMCA may continue its instructional program virtually, if at all possible.
CMCA will make reasonable efforts to follow appropriate guidelines for schools issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Maine Dept.of Public Health, and other applicable authorities, including guidelines from the Maine Dept. of Education. Based upon the applicable mandates and appropriate guidelines, CMCA intends to implement the following prevention and mitigation efforts, assuming no intervening events that would supersede them.
Personal Prevention and Social Distancing
Parents and students will self check before coming to school, following the guidelines as outlined in the school reopening plan. Upon entering school, anyone with a temperature over 100* will be isolated, sent home, and will not be permitted to return until following the return to school guidelines. CMCA will cooperate with the Maine Dept. of Public Health to engage in confidential contact tracing and reporting to minimize spread of the virus.
To the extent possible, hand washing, hand sanitizing, and cleaning procedures will be followed as outlined in the return to school plan.
Cloth face coverings will be encouraged for all faculty, staff, and visitors, and all students, as outlined.
Classrooms will be set up to maximize personal distance, with desks up to 6’ apart and not less than 3’, depending on the age group.
COVID-19 Waiver
In consideration of myself , a staff member, or parent, and my child/student participating in the programs provided by Central Maine Christian Academy, I/we, and any legal representatives, heirs and assigns, hereby release, waive, and discharge Central Maine Christian Academy, its officers, directors, employees, and representatives from any and all liability for any and all loss or damage, and any claim or damages resulting from, on account of any injury, illness or exposure to and/or contracting the corona virus (COVID-19) or other biological agents, virus or similar bacteriological agent by me, a staff member, or by me, a parent, or my child/student in attendance at and participation in CMCA’s programs, including any medical expenses, injury and/or loss of life.
Acknowledged this _____ day of ____________, 2020, by ____________________, parent or legal guardian of
_____________________________________________________ student(s)
or staff member’s name:____________________________ Date:__________________
Signature: ________________________________________
Print name: _______________________________________