The Nauset School System Reopening Unofficial Guide

Nauset’s first day of school will be September 16th for all schools in the Nauset Regional School System. It is expected MCAS testing will continue. For all parents, there will be video presentations on August 10 and 11, along with a live Question and Answer session (via Zoom or Google Meet). The school system will send out links to parents shortly before these meetings. 

Technology

All students PreK through Grade 12 will have an iPad assigned for their use. Training sessions will be offered to parents for technology platforms and software. Familiarization with the technology platforms being used is critical to maximizing a student’s performance and if the schools have to adapt to changing circumstances. Teachers have received professional development in these platforms, and parents will have the opportunity to participate in training.

Elementary School and Middle School

For the Elementary School and Middle School, parents will have the choice of in-person classes or remote learning. Student circulation in the building will be reduced.

UPDATE 8/14/20 Nauset Regional Middle School has announced that they will be switching to a hybrid learning plane similar to the high school’s.

Nauset Regional High School

Nauset Regional High School is unable to accommodate the student body for in-person classes. The school will be offering a hybrid schedule or remote learning. Hybrid learning will be two days of in-person classes and three days of remote learning. The student body will be split into two cohorts. One group will attend in-person classes on Mon & Tues and the other on Thurs and Fri. On Wednesdays between the two cohorts, the school will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. For high-needs students, such as special education or English language learners, there will be a normal schedule of 5 days of in-person classes.

Safety Protocols for In-Person Learning

Students will be required to wear facemasks for all grade levels unless they have a medical condition that prevents them from doing so. All adults must wear a mask.
There will be frequent hand washing and sanitization.
Student desks will be spaced at minimum 3 feet apart and, as much as possible, up
to 6’ apart.
Traffic flows will be regulated.
Only one person may use a bathroom at a time.
In the cafeteria, students must be seated six feet apart.
Classroom windows will be left open to improve ventilation if practical.

Self quarantining will be required if a close contact of student or staff member is tests positive for COVID-19. If an individual is exposed, they will need to wait four to five days and then be tested; if they test negative, they can return to school. If an individual chooses not to get tested, they must self-quarantine for 14 days from the date of being exposed. 

If a student of staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they must self isolate. They will have self-quarantine for until they are no longer considered infectious, and they should be tested four or five days later. 

In an Elementary School, all classmates that share the same classroom are considered close contacts.

Remote Learning Choice

For all grade levels, families will have the option of choosing remote learning. The school system will fully support remote leaning. If a student starts the school year as a remote learner, they can opt into the in-person instruction.
Remote learning will include both live and pre-recorded instruction.
Remote learning will include full days for students and will model the in-person day for scheduled core content classes.
Attendance will be monitored, engagement and participation of the students is expected.
There is a well-developed support structure for remote learners and their families.
Teachers have received professional development in these platforms, and parents will have the opportunity to participate in training as well.

School Buses

School busses will have alternating seating. Overall the capacity of individual busses has been reduced to a 1/3rd of their normal capacity.

Bus windows should be left open during operation.
Students should practice social distancing at their bus stops. 
Students will not be permitted to drink water on liquids while on the bus.
For the entire transportation guidance click here.

For More Information

For all parents, there will be video presentations on August 10 and 11, along with a live Question and Answer session (via Zoom or Google Meet). The school system will send out links to parents shortly before these meetings.

Monday, August 10th
5:30 PM – Elementary
6:30 PM – Middle School
7:30 PM – High School

Tuesday, August 11th.
9:00 AM
1:00 PM.

Links to Commitment Questionnaire:

PreK – Grade 8 Questionnaire Link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Nauset_PreK-8_School_Commitment_Questionnaire

Grade 9  – Grade 12 Questionnaire Link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Commitment-HighSchool 

Nauset School Reopening Information

Introduction to Nauset Blueprint for School Reopening – September 2020

Nauset Fall Reopening Frequently Asked Questions Updated August 3, 2020

Nauset School District’s Reopening Plans Slides 2020

Nauset Superintendent Intro Re-Entry Plan for the 2020

Nauset Essential Health & Safety Advisory

Superintendent’s Introduction to Nauset Blueprint for School Reopening – September 2020

Based upon the guidelines set forth by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and after careful study and planning over the past two months on the part of the school principals and the school leadership task force, Nauset Public Schools plans to offer two different models for students dependent upon their
grade level:
● PreK – Grade 8: In-Person education beginning on September 16, 2020.*
● High School: Hybrid education with students in-person at the High School several days per week and remote on the other days of the week.* The High School also begins on September 16, 2020.
*A fully remote option will also be provided for those families who choose to opt out of the in-person model (PreK-8) or the hybrid model (High School). [Please review details below]

GOAL – Our goals are to reopen our schools safely, while utilizing our new and evolving knowledge about disease control. We want to improve our teaching and learning when students are in school, in a hybrid learning environment, and/or in a remote learning environment.

Below please find key information regarding how our schools will operate beginning in September:

● Student & Staff Safety is our Overarching Priority
○ Cohorts of students will remain small to the extent possible given school schedules. Students will remain together throughout the day in these smaller cohorts. (See High School Hybrid Model below)
○ All students in grades PreK to Grade 12 will be required to wear masks (except in the case of a medical need). Staff will be required to wear masks.
○ Frequent mask breaks will occur during the day including times when students are eating. Distancing during mask breaks will be 6 feet and breaks will occur outside when possible.
○ Handwashing and hand-sanitizing will occur regularly throughout the school day.
○ Desks and student work spaces will be placed a minimum of 3’ apart and, as much as possible, up to 6’ apart.
○ Hallways and traffic flow patterns within the building and/or in common areas outside the building(s) are designed per State guidelines and to allow for the necessary distancing.
○ Lunches will be in classrooms, the cafeteria, or outdoors when weather permits.
○ Protocols have been developed including: Health & Safety; Cleaning/Disinfecting; Bus
Transportation; Communication; and Procedures for Responding to a Positive COVID Case. With the leadership of our nurse leader and school nurses, these have been approved by our school physician and the local Boards of Health. Protocols will be available on our website as they are completed and finalized.
○ Transportation to and from school will be provided, with only ⅓ of the normal capacity.
○ Bathrooms will be single use with physical distancing practices in place while waiting.
○ Sharing of materials and school supplies will be limited with cleaning/disinfecting of shared materials occurring between any shared use.
○ All our administrators, faculty members and staff will be trained on the use, implementation and adherence to all Protocols for Health, Safety, Cleaning and COVID-19 Response Procedure.
○ Training sessions will be offered to parents for technology platforms and software.

● Effective Teaching & Learning Practices Are Essential
○ In-person cohorts and teachers will work to create a sense of community and to establish norms that allow all individuals to be heard and respected.
○ Taught content will include core classes, electives, exploratories, and social-emotional learning.
○ Services for students with disabilities, medical needs, English language learning needs, additional academic (e.g. Title I) and/or social-emotional needs will be provided.
○ English language learners, high needs students and students with disabilities, particularly preschool-age children and those with significant and complex needs, will be prioritized for receiving in-person instruction during the school year. (Applies to all learning models)
○ All students PreK through Grade 12 will have an iPad assigned for their use. The 1:1 iPad will be utilized as a learning, assessment, and collaboration tool when students are in-person, in a hybrid model, and/or in a remote environment.
○ In-person learning will require students to adapt to physical distancing requirements with peers; however, our staff is working to develop new and effective ways to motivate and engage students in this new environment.
○ Art, music, technology, library, physical education, other exploratory courses, and lab courses will be offered in ways that align with cohort groupings and respect State medical guidelines.
○ Effective instructional strategies that support students’ growth and learning will continue to be at the center of our work. Feedback to students on their work and progress will be provided.

In-Person (PreK through Grade 8)
● Arrival and dismissal of students will be altered to ensure physical distancing and the safety of students and family members.
● Full days will be in place with a typical schedule for all students. Adjustments will be made to ensure time for handwashing, mask breaks, and other safety guidelines.
● Passing times of students will be staggered to avoid crowding of students.
● Students will have individual “kits” of materials and textbooks/learning supplies as needed.
● Use of technology platforms will be carried over from in-person, to hybrid, and to remote learning environments. This will help with seamless transitions in learning if necessary.

Hybrid (High School)
● Students will be organized into two cohorts and will meet in school, each week, for each of their
courses.
● Cohorts will be divided with one cohort in-person on Mondays and Tuesdays and the other cohort in-person on Thursdays and Fridays. Students will be learning remotely on the days they are not in-person.
● A typical school day schedule will be followed on both in-person and remote days.
● We will adhere to the DESE guidelines on attendance, grading, and hours of instruction.
● Students are expected to engage, participate, and submit work consistently.
● Meetings of student support teams will ensure timely interventions for students at risk.
● Students will have access to after school activities including athletics if approved by MIAA.
● Cohorts at the High School will consist of students in courses, on buses, and in extracurricular activities that overlap. Cohort sizes at the High School will be significantly larger.

Remote Learning Option (For those who choose a fully remote option- PreK through Grade 12)
● Remote learning will include full days for students and will model the in-person day for scheduled core content classes.
● Remote learning will include live and recorded instruction by teachers to allow access by students and families. Live lessons will occur on the usual daily schedule.
● Attendance, grading, and hours of instruction will be followed as outlined in the DESE guidelines.
● Students are expected to engage, participate, and submit work consistently with the necessary effort to learn and achieve at high levels.
● Teachers will partner with parents to support students and inform parents of critical information to allow their child to prosper.
● Teachers will hold virtual office hours and/or opportunities for student support/assistance.
● Students with disabilities will receive the services that are indicated on their Individualized Education Program.
● Extracurricular activities and athletics will not be allowed if the District is required to go fully remote with all students.

Nauset Public Schools has streamlined our platforms to include the use of Google Classroom for all students in Kindergarten through Grade 12. Seesaw will also be utilized for students in PreK through Grade 5. Teachers have received professional development in these platforms and parents will have the opportunity to participate in training
as well.

In order to provide each family with current information and an opportunity to ask questions, a video presentation will be given to parents on August 10 and 11, along with a live Question and Answer session (via Zoom or Google Meet). Finally, a “commitment survey” will be sent to all families to elicit critical data regarding choices about
learning models and transportation. This “commitment survey” will be sent to families on August 7th and is due from ALL families no later than August 12th.