MSDA Fall 2020 Reopen Plans

As you are aware, we will begin the year with a hybrid plan. Students who have chosen the hybrid plan have been separated into two cohorts. Cohort 1 will attend in person on Mondays and Thursdays (with remote learning Tuesday and Friday), and Cohort 2 will attend in person on Tuesdays and Fridays (with remote learning on Mondays and Thursdays). Students received notification regarding their cohort assignment through the Scheduling Office yesterday. There will be no synchronous classes on Wednesdays; rather, students will work asynchronously on assignments given by their teachers during the week. We will also use Wednesdays for making community connections and will bring specific grade levels and groups to campus on those days for relevant events and programming. Our September Community Connections schedule will be shared shortly.

Some families have selected our remote-only learning plan. Students in this group will log into classes four days each week: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. To the greatest extent possible, we will record special programs and events on campus and share them with students and families. Teachers will make themselves available for extra help remotely in order to support students appropriately.

 

• Remote learning will be different than it was in the spring in several ways. For starters, we’ve had time to prepare and have worked hard to install equipment and enhance our technology capabilities in order to enable live broadcast of classes taking place on campus. It is our expectation that all students will adhere to these guidelines on the days they are learning remotely.
• Dress Code: Students will wear their MSDA uniform shirt. (Please refer to the student handbook for complete uniform guidelines for in-person learning.)
• Students are expected to log into all classes, on time, on their remote learning days, unless otherwise instructed by their teacher. 
• Attendance will be taken each period by all teachers. If a student is sick or absent for some other reason, parents should follow the usual procedures for absences.
• Students are expected to be actively engaged in their remote classes. Full attention should be given to the teacher and classmates in the same manner we would expect in person. We realize the potential for distraction is high, so we encourage families to arrange a study area in a quiet, well-lit area. Cell phones and other electronic devices should be off and put away. Remote learning takes a lot of self-discipline; the temptation to divert attention will be great, so we recommend a structured environment that minimizes distractions.
• We recommend that between classes students stand up and take a quick break. A brief change of scenery and some movement may help recharge you a bit and get you in the right mindset to start a new class. 

Freshman Orientation 

• Thursday, September 10, 8am-12pm
• More information to follow

Textbook Pickup - Remote Learning Students

• Thursday, September 10, 10am-12pm
• Location: In front of Athletic Center

First Week of School

Day 1 Agenda

• Convocation, distribution of schedules, homeroom, handbook review, abbreviated class schedule
• Training on and reinforcement of new policies and procedures (will be ongoing)

Monday, September 14

- Cohort 1 in person

- Cohort 2 & Cohort 3 no remote attendance required

Tuesday, September 15

- Cohort 2 in person

- Cohort 1 & Cohort 3 no remote attendance required

Wednesday, September 16

- Community Connection Day (schedule to follow)

- No classes 

Thursday, September 17

- Cohort 1 in person; Cohort 2 remote / Cohort 3 logs into all classes 

- Syllabi will be provided asynchronously at the beginning of the week

- Convocation will be recorded and shared with Cohort 3 students

Friday, September 18

- Cohort 2 in person; Cohort 1 remote / Cohort 3 logs into all classes 

Please see the NJSIAA Return to Play Plan for the most recent updates. If you have questions, please contact Lorenzo Sozio, Athletic Director, at lsozio@msdacademy.og.

We will welcome the incoming 9th grade students as they join us for Rookie Camp in August. These young women will start their journey at the Mount, and it will be memorable. Students in grades 10, 11, and 12 are invited to grade-level discussions next week with the Dean of Academics, an opportunity for us to get to know each other a bit and to share what’s on our minds. Several faculty and staff members will be present for these discussions as well, and our feedback from students will help us shape our planning in multiple ways. These are optional meetings -- for anyone who can’t attend, reach out to Ms. Hollenbaugh, Dean of Academics, to set up an alternate plan.

Additional hand sanitizer dispensers have been placed throughout campus - at entrances, near high frequency points, near bathrooms and classes, in the cafeteria, athletic and performing arts centers.

• Students will sanitize their hands upon entry into the building. 

• Students will routinely sanitize their desks as they enter classrooms. Wipes will be provided.

• Maintenance Staff will clean bathrooms throughout the day.

• Maintenance Staff will conduct regular wiping of high-contact touch points (doors, railings, light switches, etc.) throughout the day, and will deep clean desks/classrooms daily. 

• Drinking fountains will not be in use. Students are encouraged to bring their own (labeled) water bottles and may refill them at the water stations throughout campus.

• There will be limited use of lockers. Students will leave textbooks at home unless otherwise instructed and will minimize the need to return to their lockers throughout the school day.

• Parents are required to take their daughters’ temperatures and complete a symptom checklist prior to 7:30am each day.  

• Magnus Mobile App

  • All families must download the Magnus Mobile app on their phones.The daily COVID-19 screening and temperature check must be completed no later than 7:30am.

  • A report will be run at 7:35am, and those who do not complete the COVID-19 screening before this time, will not be allowed in school. 

• Guidelines for when to stay home 

  • Any student or employee exhibiting any  COVID-19 symptoms should not come to campus. 

  • Absences will be managed with flexibility. Students and faculty will not be penalized for staying home if they are presenting with symptoms of COVID-19. 

Everyone on campus will wear a mask at all times, except during lunch. This includes students, faculty and staff, administrators, visitors, and other community members. If a student is unable to wear a mask, she will participate in remote learning.

• • Masks must cover both the mouth and nose.

  • Anyone who arrives on campus without a mask will be asked to leave. 

  • Students are required to wear their IDs (which must be visible) at all times in order to be more easily identified. 

  • Masks with valves are not permitted.

  • A bandana may not be worn in place of a mask. 

  • Face shields may be worn in addition to, but not in place of, a mask.

• Students will be socially distanced (6’ whenever possible) in classrooms and in both indoor and outdoor common areas.

• Students, faculty and staff will receive training on proper mask wearing, proper hand hygiene, classroom sanitizing practices, hallway usage, and other COVID-19 related practices at the start of the school year.

• Signs will be posted around campus to remind community members and visitors about mask wearing and social distancing guidelines.

• Visitors to campus will be limited. 

• Parents may come to campus to pick up their daughters for early dismissal or in case of illness not related to COVID-19.

• If parents/guardians are notified to pick up a student who is displaying symptoms of COVID-19, they are expected to arrive on campus within an hour and should park outside the Athletic Center. Sick students will be escorted to their cars by a staff member. 

Any students or employees exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 without other obvious explanations (e.g. seasonal allergies, chronic conditions, etc.), or who have tested positive for COVID-19, or have a member of the household who has tested positive, are prohibited from entering school grounds until they have met all of the criteria for “Return to School After Exclusion.”

• Symptoms of COVID-19

  • Temperature of 100℉ or higher

  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

  • New loss of taste or smell

  • Muscle or body aches

  • Cough

  • Fatigue

  • Headache

  • Sore throat

  • Congestion or runny nose

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Diarrhea

This list overlaps with symptoms of the common cold, allergies, and other respiratory viruses. However, these symptoms should not be ignored, and individuals demonstrating these symptoms should be evaluated by a healthcare provider. If your daughter suffers from seasonal allergies, please make sure you have documented that in her Magnus chart, along with the medication she takes every day. We strongly recommend that parents administer allergy medications daily to prevent symptoms and rule out COVID-19. 

• The school has the right to prohibit a student or employee who has recently had close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 from entering school grounds. 

• If individuals have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, meaning they are within 6 feet of someone for at least 10 minutes, they should self-quarantine for 14 days from the date of the last exposure before returning to school. 

• In the case of a student or employee testing positive, the school will assess the specific circumstances of the individual and will consult with the Bloomfield Department of Health to determine if other community members have been in close contact or need to self-quarantine.

• Any individual receiving a positive COVID-19 test result must notify the school nurse immediately. 

The school will implement a flexibility attendance policy for students and employees who are not able to attend school due to COVID-19 symptoms and illness. Students and employees should follow these guidelines closely and should not come to school or work out of concern about the number of days missed. 

A student or employee who has been excluded from school must satisfy the recommendations of the CDC and/or Local Health Department.

• Symptomatic or Tested Negative: Persons who have not been tested for COVID-19, or who have been tested and results were negative, may return once the following conditions have been met:

  • Individual is free of COVID-19 symptoms for 72 hours (3 full days)

  • An individual may return to school sooner than 14 days ONLY if /she submits a doctor's note to the Nurse confirming that she had a non-Covid illness and the doctor deems it safe for her to return to school. 

  • Doctor visit documentation (including any test results) required.

• Tested Positive (With Symptoms): Persons who have tested positive for COVID-19 after experiencing symptoms may return to school once each of the following conditions has been met:

  • The individual is free of COVID-19 symptoms for 72 hours (3 full days).

  • At least 14 days have passed since onset of symptoms.

  • Documentation of doctor’s visit and test required prior to return. 

• Tested Positive (No Symptoms): Persons who have tested positive for COVID-19 but did not experience any symptoms, may return to school once each of the following conditions have been met:

  • Following the first positive test, the person has gone 14 days without experiencing symptoms.

  • The person has had no subsequent illness and has remained asymptomatic. If symptoms develop, please refer to the protocols above.

  • Documentation of doctor’s visit and test required prior to return. 

List of Testing Sites

 

• The Nurse’s Office will be deep cleaned daily.

• Strict social distancing and the wearing of PPE will be enforced in the nurse’s office, as it will be elsewhere on campus.

• Students should only visit the nurse’s office for serious needs and illness. Nurse’s office visits should be limited, to the greatest extent feasible, in order to maintain the safest environment possible and minimize the likelihood of coronavirus transmission.

• Students who are presenting with any symptoms of illness will be kept separate from other students who are present (those who are there for medication dosing, minor injuries, personal health needs, mental health issues, etc.).

• A separate room in the Athletic Center has been designated for students/staff who display symptoms of COVID-19 and are awaiting pickup. 

  • This area will be restricted to authorized staff and affected individuals.

  • Anyone who enters the room will sign in and sign out.

  • Students will remain in this area until their parents/guardians arrive to pick them up. 

  • A parent who is picking up a student exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms should arrive within one hour of being called by the school. Otherwise, the school will call the second contact person listed in the student’s information.

  • Parents should remain in their cars, and students will be walked out of the building. 

• Parents should contact the school nurse to discuss concerns related to underlying health conditions and/or medication that may need to be taken during the school day.

• Lunch will be “grab and go.” Information will be provided regarding online ordering and payment.

• Students will be socially distanced during lunch. Both the Cafeteria and the Athletic Center and outdoors will be used to accommodate students.

• Students are strongly encouraged to wash hands with soap and water before eating. There are restrooms near the Cafeteria and in the Athletic Center in addition to hand sanitizing stations in both areas.

• Weather permitting, students are allowed to eat lunch outside, adhering at all times to the 6’ social distancing protocol.

Upon reopening, the school will adopt a hybrid/blended instructional model that combines in-person and remote learning. 

• Students will be divided into cohorts and will attend school in person for two full days a week (either Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday). All of the above mentioned protocols regarding the use of PPE and social distancing will be followed at all times.

• Students may arrive on campus any time after 7am and are expected to adhere to social distancing guidelines and mask wearing protocols. Students who remain after the 3pm dismissal, must also adhere to the social distance and mask wearing regulations. 

• Wednesdays will be an asynchronous learning day. There will be no synchronous online classes on this day, and only designated groups of students will be present on campus, as noted below. 

• Wednesdays will be used for special programming and community building initiatives (grade level events, Guidance programming, guest speakers, etc.). We will also conduct deep cleaning of campus facilities on Wednesdays.

• Students will be oriented to new procedures and policies upon their return to school. This training and orientation may span several days. It is the intention of the school to ensure that all community members understand the changes we have made and understand the importance of following COVID-19 response protocols.

• The school will periodically reevaluate its procedures and policies to determine if they are satisfactorily protecting the safety of community members and facilitating an effective and equitable learning environment.  

• The school has the right to adjust and adapt its practices and policies.

• A remote-only option exists for families that do not feel comfortable with the hybrid model of instruction at the time of reopening.

  • Families who choose the remote-only option upon reopening will be required to maintain this choice for the entirety of the first marking period. Shifting from all-remote to the hybrid model requires sufficient notice and planning in order for the school to ensure that proper social distancing protocols within classrooms can be maintained. 

  • The remote-only option will be reconsidered on a quarterly basis. A member of the administration will contact families to determine if they want to continue the all-remote learning option.

• We ask you to keep in mind that our Re-Opening Plan will be updated as needed.
• Important dates: Carpool/Remote Learning Requests Deadline - Tuesday, August 18 (send to fsullivan@msdacademy.org)
• Cohort announcement, as soon as possible, following August 18
• Rookie Camp for the Class of 2024 - Tuesday, August 25 and Wednesday, August 26
• Freshman/Transfer students Orientation - Friday, September 10
• Cohort I -  Monday, September 14
• Cohort II - Tuesday, September 15 
• The COVID daily screening is launched and will ready for parents to begin completing on August 16. The Magnus Health daily COVID-19 screening assessment of students will need to take place each morning prior to departure for school. See the parent letter explaining the app, as well as the tutorial link, and the link to MSDA Health Portal and Information.

When will we be notified of our daughter’s Cohort?

• The final deadline to notify the school about carpool issues and the choice for all-remote learning is Tuesday, August 18. After that, we will finalize our cohort arrangements and notify families as soon as possible. 

When will school open?

• Freshman Orientation will be on Thursday, September 10 (morning session, hours to be determined). Sophomore transfer students will also come in for their Orientation on this day.

• Cohort I will attend school for a full day on Monday, September 14.

  • Convocation, abbreviated class schedule, and food service available.

• Cohort II will attend school for a full day on Tuesday, September 15.

  • Convocation, abbreviated class schedule, and food service available.

What is the plan for Wednesdays? 

• Students will work asynchronously on Wednesdays to complete assignments that have been given throughout the week. There will be no scheduled classes on these days, and no new assignments will be given on this day. We will organize special programs and grade-level activities on Wednesdays. These will be opportunities for us to foster connections within grade levels and provide grade-specific programming, which is not possible on the Hybrid days. For instance, in September, we will use Wednesdays for peer leadership and orientation programming for 9th grade students, and other grade levels will attend school on specific Wednesdays for relevant meetings and group work. We will notify families in advance, so that they are aware of what is scheduled for the upcoming month. We will record events, which will be made accessible to students who are not able to attend and, if possible, we will arrange the ability for students to log in remotely.

Will this be our schedule for the entire school year?

• The administration, in collaboration with faculty, families, and other vested stakeholders, will periodically review our decisions and will make adjustments as necessary. The need to be nimble persists, and we recognize that not only are many things out of our control, but what we’ve decided to do for now may not be what’s best for the community at some unspecified time in the future. If we are able to bring more students back on campus in a safe and responsible manner, we will; similarly, if it becomes evident that we should revert to all-remote learning, we will. 

Why did you arrange student Cohorts alphabetically and not by grade level?

• This decision was made for a couple of reasons. First, an alphabetical grouping of students accommodates families who have more than one student attending the Mount, both in terms of parents driving students to school and upperclassmen driving younger siblings. Second, bringing in an entire grade level at once does not solve the problem of “crowded” classrooms.   An alphabetical grouping thins out the number of students in each class significantly and allows us to arrange furniture and maintain 6’ spacing between students and faculty.

Why not all in-person instruction? Other schools around here are doing it.

• No two schools are identical, in terms of their space, resources, and personnel. What works for one may not work for others, which is why Governor Murphy has given schools the freedom to determine what the most appropriate plan is for their school community. While we generally have small class sizes compared to many schools, the guideline of 6’ social distancing was neither practical nor enforceable if we brought back all students at the same time. We are making every effort to reopen in a manner that we feel is the most safe and responsible for us, and the members of our reopening task force were unanimous in their belief that a hybrid model was a better option for the Mount.

Seven classes in one day? Why are we moving away from the block schedule? 

• For students in grades 10-12, this daily timetable is significantly different from last year. We chose to have students meet with all of their classes each day for a few reasons. Given the lack of in-person instruction in the spring, we felt that getting as much “real” face time as possible would be good for both students and teachers. Yes, the classes are shorter, but teachers will adjust their instruction, assessment, and feedback practices accordingly, and will communicate expectations for the week ahead by 12noon on Sunday. We will meet regularly as a faculty, as a large group, in departments and by grade levels, and will discuss the importance of communication between teachers and the necessity to use a shared test calendar so as to not overload students on a particular day. 

• Any form of remote instruction (whether all-remote or hybrid) requires teachers to reevaluate how they deliver instruction and assess student learning. We understand the importance of clear communication and reasonable expectations during this challenging time, and many teachers are developing ideas for project-based and other authentic learning experiences. We are grateful to our faculty for their willingness to adapt and their commitment to supporting their students’ success and wellbeing.

• Please keep in mind that these changes are temporary, and that we will regularly review our decisions to determine if they are meeting our needs as a school community.

What should we do if we carpool with another family and need our children to be in the same Cohort?

• Please email Sister Fran Sullivan fsullivan@msdacademy.org with this information.

How will the school enforce social distancing and PPE protocols?

• Life on campus will be different in many ways, in particular with regard to 6’ spacing protocols and mask wearing at all times. We will post signs around campus, mark floors where appropriate, and so on. Most importantly, the adults on campus will model safe and responsible behavior, and when need be, the administration will address non-compliance appropriately. Rules about masks and daily symptom checking will be strictly enforced. 

How do I support my anxious daughter, who is worried about all of the changes, not happy that she won’t be with her entire grade level, concerned she won’t be able to manage the daily workload, etc.?

• It makes sense that many students are feeling anxious about the upcoming school year. The most important thing for us to do is build strong relationships with one another and to help our young women advocate for themselves and express their feelings and experiences to those who can support them. Please keep the lines of communication open. Encourage your daughter to be open and honest with her teachers, and to seek advice from her school counselor, and to speak with the Dean of Academics if she is feeling overwhelmed. Parents alike should feel comfortable reaching out to the school. We are committed to a process of respectful dialogue and recognize that a productive partnership with families lays the groundwork for a positive experience for our students. 

As always, if we have missed any of your questions, please email Laura Hollenbaugh, Dean of Academics, lhollenbaugh@msdacademy.org or Head of School Sister Fran Sullivan, OP fsullivan@msdacademy.org.