🐾Newfane Central School District Reopening Information 🐾
-
The District used the following guiding principles to develop an approved Reopening Plan (available to view under Reopening Files & Resources):
- We believe that the best place to educate our children socially, emotionally, physically and academically is at school.
- The safety and well-being of our children, and our employees, must be a primary consideration of our plan.
- Social distancing and the use of masks are non-negotiable requirements.
- Cohorting of students and reducing density are essential to the plan.
- The Re-Opening Plan must have flexibility built in to address the ever-changing guidance related to COVID-19.
- Instructional components of our plan must be developed to facilitate a seamless transition to off-site instruction should that become necessary.
Panther Preparations
-
📔 General Information
Staff, Teachers, Students, and Community Members-
The district has implemented a variety of health and safety measures. These include the following:
General Health and Safety Protocols
-
Campus staff are trained in COVID-19 safety protocols.
-
Disinfectants are used for deep cleaning campuses.
-
Students, teachers, staff, and essential campus visitors are encouraged to sanitize and/or wash hands frequently.
-
Tissues are provided in classrooms and common areas to encourage students and staff to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, and if not available, to cover with their elbows. Used tissues should be thrown in the trash and hands washed immediately with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or hand sanitizer should be used.
-
Sneeze Guards have been added to public reception desks.
-
Social distancing and safety signage is visible throughout school facilities.
-
NCSD limits visitors on campus only to conduct essential school business- Ex: attending a scheduled meeting that cannot be held virtually, picking up a child from the nurse's office, etc.
-
NCSD is permitted to prevent any individual who fails the health screening criteria from being admitted to the campus until they meet the criteria for re-entry to the campus.
-
Currently, all locker rooms and shower rooms are "CLOSED" per guidance from NYS Health Department.
-
-
🗣️ Communication & Family Engagement
The district will use multiple channels to keep all stakeholders informed of the plans and updates throughout the reopening process. The various modes of communication include the following: district website, district mobile app, building social media accounts, Blackboard Connect robocall/text/email system, mobile app notifications, and the United States Postal Service for mailings.
In addition to the communications, the district's Reopening Task Force is represented by more than forty key constituents to the district and they are working hard to create, revise and refine building reopening plans which are due on July 31, 2020.
Over the summer, we will be seeking and receiving more feedback about the reopening of schools.
-
📋 Daily Health Screening
Parents are expected to monitor for temperatures and symptoms prior to sending their child(ren) to school on a bus or personally transporting them to school.
Staff will be required to monitor their own temperatures prior to arrival on campus and throughout the day. Anyone whose symptoms response changes from a NO to YES during the day, must contact their supervisor immediately and await further instruction.
Staff and all visitors must fill out a daily screening questionnaire upon arrival to work each day. The screening is available on the district website under Employee Sites or under Resources on the district's mobile app.
-
🖐️ Hand Washing
Students and staff will be regularly reminded about the importance of proper handwashing. Teachers may allow for more breaks to give students the opportunity to wash their hands, either at a classroom sink or in a restroom. In addition, we will place hand sanitizer units throughout our buildings. Students and staff will be encouraged to use hand sanitizer regularly.
Created July 26, 2020
Contact: Mr. George Noon, Director of Buildings and Grounds ~ gnoon@newfanecentralschools.org / 716-778-6586
-
👨🏻🚀 Masks
Face masks are an important part of employee and student protection, as well as personal hygiene, social distancing, and frequent cleaning efforts. Face masks are required for all students who ride on school buses to and from school each day. Once in school buildings, face masks are also required but may be taken off for necessity (eating) or when social distance is achieved and only at the teacher's direction.
Contact: Mr. George Noon, Director of Buildings and Grounds ~ gnoon@newfanecentralschools.org / 716-778-6586
-
🏫 Facilities
Regular cleaning and disinfection of the facilities will occur, including more frequent cleaning and disinfection for high-risk and frequently touched surfaces. This will include desks and cafeteria tables, which should be cleaned and disinfected between each individual’s use. Cleaning and disinfection will be rigorous and ongoing and will occur at least daily, or more frequently as needed.
Signage will be enhanced throughout the campus to inform students, staff, and visitors of appropriate practices in all buildings and rooms.
Additional hand sanitizing stations will be placed throughout the campus.
Contact: Mr. George Noon, Director of Buildings and Grounds ~ gnoon@newfanecentralschools.org / 716-778-6586
-
🧽 Cleaning and Disinfecting
Our trained custodial staff will significantly increase wiping down and disinfecting of public spaces and high-touch surfaces across our buildings and throughout the school day. We will also provide greater access to cleaning materials for our teachers and staff so they can clean and disinfect spaces, as needed.
Contact: Mr. George Noon, Director of Buildings and Grounds ~ gnoon@newfanecentralschools.org / 716-778-6586
-
🥤 Drinking Fountains
We are discouraging students from using the drinking fountains at this time. Instead, we recommend all students bring water bottles to school so they can refill them. Students should not share water bottles with others.
-
🥩 Food Services
For students onsite, meals will be provided while maintaining appropriate social distancing between students. Students do not need to wear face coverings when seated and eating so long as they are appropriately socially distanced.
The district will ensure social distancing between individuals while eating in the school cafeteria. Student movement will be designed to facilitate single directional flow and seating will be socially distant. The cafeterias will be outfitted with hand sanitizer stations at each entrance and exit. Students will be encouraged to utilize them upon entering and exiting the cafeteria. Directional arrows and floor markings will be used to maintain social distancing while students are in line. After students exit the lunch line, the serving line will be wiped down with an approved disinfectant before the next set of students arrive. After each lunch period, the tables and chairs will be wiped down with an approved disinfectant by the cafeteria monitors.
The sharing of food and beverages (e.g., buffet style meals, snacks) is prohibited, unless individuals are members of the same household.
Parents/Guardians: If you would like to pick up a meal for your student, please come to the back of the high school (by the tennis courts) from 11:30am-12:30 Monday-Friday. If you need delivery please call 716-778-6561. Meals are provided free for all students for the 2020-2021 school year.
Contact: Mrs. Joanne Huntington, Director of Food Services ~ jhuntington@newfanecentralschools.org / 716-778-6561
Updated: December 28, 2020
-
🚌 Busing and Transportation
The district contracts busing with Student Transportation of America (formerly Ridge Road Express) and is in regular contact with our carrier regarding reopening and protocols. The following has been established:
Bus drivers must not report to work if they suspect they are sick or if they have symptoms such as fever or difficulty breathing, or have been in contact with other people who have any confirmed respiratory illness or disease the last 7 days. When possible, bus windows will be opened to allow outside air to circulate the bus. Parents are encouraged to drop students off, carpool, or walk their child(ren) to school to reduce possible virus exposure on buses. ASSIGNED SEATING WILL BE IN PLACE until further notice.
Contact: Mr. Michael J. Baumann, Superintendent of Schools ~ mbaumann@newfanecentralschools.org / 716-778-6850
-
🖥️ Technology Access
All students in grades 5-12 are issued a Chromebook. Parents and students should carefully review the Chromebook Handbook which contains information about how to care for the devices and much more. The devices should be taken home daily and returned to school each day. For students who forget their device at home, there will be loaner Chromebooks which must be returned to the school library and sanitized.
In grades 3 and 4, all classrooms have enough Chromebooks so each student will use the same device each day. Should it become necessary to shift to remote instruction for an extended time, children will be provided the same device to take home. Teachers will use Google Classroom platform from the beginning of the school year so children are familiar with the system should the district or building close down.
In grades K-2, the district purchased Apple iPads with protective covers. Grade level apps including Google Classroom are installed on all devices. Each child uses the same device daily while in school. Teachers use the Google Classroom platform and children will become familiar with the system. In the event of an extended district or building closure, children will bring the devices home to continue instruction via Google Classroom.
Contact: Mr. Peter F. Young, Director of Technology ~ pyoung@newfanecentralschools.org / 716-778-6462
-
⛹️♂️ Athletics and Extracurricular
Newfane offered the following athletic opportunities during the Fall 2020 season: Varsity Cross Country, Varsity Field Hockey, Varsity Golf, JV and Varsity Girls Soccer, and JV and Varsity Boys Soccer.Contact: Mrs. Danielle Hawkins, Athletic Director ~ dhawkins@newfanecentralschools.org / 716-778-6550
Updated 09/21/2020
-
📊 Parent Questionnaire Results
On July 22, a questionnaire was sent to all district parents and guardians with questions pertaining to the preferred mode of instruction for the reopening and many more topics. The results of the questionnaire are shown below. Over 75% of district children are represented in the results.
Reopening Files & Resources
-
Information from the Niagara County Department of Health Regarding COVID Testing and Contact Tracing
Uploaded on August 13, 2020
-
2020-2021 NCSD Reopening Plan
Thank you to the Newfane CSD Reopening Task Force for your tremendous contribution to this plan - submitted 07/31/2020
Building Specific Information
-
👫 Newfane Early Childhood Center
- In person, every day (2.5 hours)
- A.M. / P.M. model
- Social distance lessons / teaching children how in all instances
- Masks / explicit teaching
- Handwashing / explicit teaching
- Home pre-screening
- Use of cafetorium for meals
- Visitors and volunteers not in building
- Mid-day shuttle bus cleaned between bus runs
- Individual supply boxes
Contact: Mr. Peter Young, pyoung@newfanecentralschools.org / 716-778-6351
-
🧍♀️ Newfane Elementary School
- In-person, every day
- Utilize existing staff (special ed, remedial) to reduce class sizes to approx. 12; schedule provides for staff movement to students
- Utilize existing spaces (library, cafeteria) to provide instructional spaces
- Food service in classrooms
- Student day shortened (9:10am- 3:00pm)
- Common instructional planning period (8:30am-9:15am)
- Specials adjusted - for instance, "Art on the cart"
Elementary (K-4) Student Transportation Survey (survey closed August 24)
Contact: Mrs. Holly Staley, hstaley@newfanecentralschools.org / 716-778-6376
-
🏃♀️ Newfane Middle School
- In grades 5 through 12, we are anticipating running an A/B day schedule, with half the student population attending in person on A day, and the other half in on B days. On A days, the B students will have virtual instruction; and the opposite for A students.
- Students in our 12:1:1 education program will attend school every day, regardless of the grade
level. - There will be NO afterschool clubs or activities at least for the first month of school. Once we
get past September, we will re-evaluate. - We are encouraging parents whenever possible to transport your children to school yourselves.
- It is the District’s expectation that parents will be screening their children’s temperature each
morning before putting them on the bus or taking them to school. - Chromebooks have been distributed to all our students in grades 5 -12 and will be in use daily.
- Middle School Plan
- NMS 20-21 Supply Lists
- NMS 20-21 Facts for Families
- Remote Learner Material Pick Up Day Information
- MS Handbook for Hybrid and Remote Learners
- Grades 5-12 Student Transportation Survey (closed August 25 at noon)
As plans develop and solidify, we will post the details here. Check back for more updates.
Contact: Mrs. Aimee Chaffee, achaffee@newfanecentralschools.org / 716-778-6489
-
👨🎓 Newfane High School
- In grades 5 through 12, we are anticipating running an A/B day schedule, with half the student population attending in person on A day, and the other half in on B days. On A days, the B students will have virtual instruction; and the opposite for A students.
- Students in our 12:1:1 education program will attend school every day, regardless of the grade
level. - Juniors and seniors who are enrolled in a BOCES Occupational Education program will attend
that program every day. - There will be NO afterschool clubs or activities at least for the first month of school. Once we
get past September, we will re-evaluate. - We are encouraging parents whenever possible to transport your children to school yourselves.
- It is the District’s expectation that parents will be screening their children’s temperature each
morning before putting them on the bus or taking them to school. - Chromebooks have been distributed to all our students in grades 5 -12 and will be in use daily.
- HS Reopening Plan
- Grades 5-12 Student Transportation Survey (survey closes August 25)
As plans develop and solidify, we will post the details here. Check back for more updates.
Contact: Mr. Daniel Bedette, dbedette@newfanecentralschools.org / 716-778-6550
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What about student and staff mental health? How will the district handle those issues?
Posted by:Schools are an important place for students to receive emotional and psychological support from friends, teachers, and other staff members. Lengthy school building closures can leave some students feeling isolated from important friendships and support from other caring adults. [40] Schools also provide critical psychological, mental and behavioral health (e.g., psychological counselling, mental and behavioral assessment) services to children who may not have access to these services outside of school. School closures have limited the availability of these services. Furthermore, isolation and uncertainty about the COVID-19 pandemic can create feelings of hopelessness and anxiety while removing important sources of social support. Some students may have experienced trauma through the loss of a loved one from COVID-19. Increases in anxiety and depression may occur when students do not have the structure and routine that being in school brings to their daily lives. Finally, having opportunities to be physically active through recess and physical education can help improve students’ feelings of anxiety and sadness. These physical activities should be provided regularly to students in a safe and supportive environment that includes physical distancing and strategies to reduce close contact between students. Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/prepare-safe-return.html
-
Are there enough substitute teachers?
Posted by:Yes. We have a full list of substitutes ready to work when needed. As in past years, we will hold future rounds of interviews for interested substitutes and we look to increase our pool of qualified substitutes in all areas. The district pays well for substitutes and good, reliable substitutes are always in demand.
-
Do all buildings have isolation rooms for children who show symptoms of COVID?
Posted by:Yes. Nurses and principals have worked together to identify locations in all buildings.
-
Will bathrooms be up to code with paper towels and proper waste baskets?
Posted by:Yes. Bathrooms across the campus will have paper towels and appropriate waste baskets. Questions about facilities can be directed to Mr. George Noon at gnoon@newfanecentralschools.org
-
Will my elementary child have class in the cafeteria or library?
Posted by:No. Due to the number of elementary children participating in Remote Learning, the in-person instruction will take place in classrooms.
-
What if my child starts the year learning in person and shortly after we want him to go remote?
Posted by:Students who are learning in one mode of instruction are encouraged to commit to that mode for several reasons. One of the main reasons is consistency. In most instances, a move to a different mode of instruction involves a change of teacher(s) and possibly classes. With that in mind, if there are pressing family situations that have changed, we will meet with families on a case by case situation to determine which mode of instruction is best.
-
Has the school contacted any groups such as the YWCA or a local day care?
Posted by:The YWCA will once again be providing after school care at the Elementary building. Middle school students who need after school care will be transported to the EL after their dismissal.
-
What is the protocol if students go on a family vacation out of state or country?
Posted by:Individuals who leave New York State and travel to other restricted areas are required to follow the guidelines which can be found at: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory
-
Some classrooms get hot in the MS, will fans be allowed?
Posted by:Fans will be allowed, but there needs to be some thought used in their placement (i.e., aiming upwards to promote air circulation as opposed to being aimed at students). Yes, we will encourage windows to be opened regardless of weather outside, to promote air circulation.
-
My (HS) child attends BOCES (for nursing program), can I select the Remote Instruction option?
Posted by:Yes. Students who choose remote instruction WILL be allowed to attend their BOCES program. We do not know what transportation arrangements will be yet and we will be in contact with all families regarding transportation in the weeks ahead.
-
Can children take mask breaks?
Posted by:Yes. While children are in a socially distant classroom environment, mask breaks will be allowed at the discretion of the teacher, but not less than one five minute break per hour or scheduled class period.
-
If we choose the remote option, will our children be allowed to participate in sports & clubs?
Posted by:Yes. More infomation about athletics is available in the Reopening NCSD webpage. Clubs and afterschool activities are suspended for the first month of school while the buildings focus on a safe reopening for all children and families. We will re-evaluate this at the end of September.
-
If parents or guardians have specific building level questions, what is the best way to get answers?
Posted by:On the Reopening NCSD webpage, on the right hand side each building has some general information. In addition, all principals are listed with their contact information.
-
How is remote instruction different than hybrid or in-person instruction?
Posted by:Remote instruction is 100% virtual. This means children will not be physically on campus minimally for the time of the commitment (one semester for secondary, one trimester for elementary).
-
Will children from the same household attend school on the same day if they are in the MS and HS?
Posted by:Yes. We are making every effort to send children from the same household in grades 5-12 to school on the same day (A or B). We realize there are instances in which children in the same household may have a different last name and we are able to adjust to that accordingly.
-
What happens if a child has a reaction to the fragrance of a hand sanitizer?
Posted by:Similar to body sprays, perfumes, etc., we ask all children (and families) to refrain from using highly fragrant sanitizers (or any other perfume, cologne, etc.) and instead choose something more neutral. The cleaning supplies used by the schools are supposed to be fragrance free. If a child has an adverse reaction to a scent, they will be sent to the nurse's office.
-
Can children bring hand sanitizer to school?
Posted by:Children can bring in hand sanitizer to school and we will have additional sanitizer stations throughout the buildings.
-
Can staff use cleaning chemicals from home to keep their rooms sanitized?
Posted by:The district will supply staff with approved cleaning supplies to clean between classes. The district purchased cleaning supplies are listed in material data safety sheets which contain helpful and important information about the contents of all chemicals in any public school building. Consequently, staff are not allowed to bring in their own cleaning supplies.