School administrators and counselors were given access to the Psychological First Aid for Schools (PFAS) curriculum earlier this year. PFAS is an evidence-informed intervention model to assist students, staff, and families in the immediate aftermath of a disaster or emergency event. PFAS is designed to reduce the initial distress and trauma caused by emergencies and to help students return to their usual school-based activities after such an event. By using these brief and effective interventions in the form of the five steps of PFA-S (Listen, Protect, Connect, Model, and Teach), schools can provide a long-lasting, positive influence on trauma-related stress.

In addition, each principal submitted their annual School Improvement Plan and each school has a focus on social-emotional support. You can review the plans by accessing the Jan. 14, 2021 school board meeting agenda and looking at item 3B.

Lastly, beginning in middle school, we have implemented the Signs of Suicide (SOS) curriculum SOS has been used by thousands of schools over the past few decades. Studies have shown that it effectively teaches students about depression and suicide while reducing the number of students’ self-reported suicide attempts.  

Through the program, students learn: 

1. that depression is treatable, so they are encouraged to seek help  
2. how to identify depression and potential suicide risk in themselves or a friend 
3. to ACT (Acknowledge, Care and Tell a trusted adult) if concerned about themselves or a friend who they can turn to at school for help if they need it  

BISD has developed a COVID19 Safety Handbook that outlines our procedures and the steps we will take to help ensure the safety of our students and staff. 

We have been working closely with the Olympic Educational Service District 114 (OESD) and have been provided with a sample letter template for our adaptation and use to inform school stakeholders should there be a positive COVID-19 case.  This notification would be a general correspondence to the school community. 

A separate notification and processes would be conducted regarding the individual and any close contacts (close contacts are defined as anyone who was within six-feet of the individual for 15 minutes or more within the last 24 hours). 

In the event that we are made aware of a positive COVID-19 case, we would proceed with the following plan in coordination with the Kitsap Public Health District.

1. Identify and inform any close contacts in the school environments within 24 hours.
1. Identify any close contacts (within 6 feet for more than 15 min) that the confirmed COVID-19 student or staff member had in the school environment in the 48 hours prior to the onset of symptoms or prior to a confirmed test if the COVID-19 positive person is asymptomatic. Note:  We will not disclose the name of the contact unless we have express written consent from the staff -or- student and/or their family.
1. Review logs/ databases of who was present in the identified school environment (i.e. classroom(s), bus, athletics, etc.)
2. Review school-related calendars and/or schedules
3. Ask student or staff member and other staff (i.e. student’s teacher or supervisor) for their recollections and cross-reference with other data sources 
4. If we learn about a case from Public Health, they may provide some names of contacts  
2. Communicate possible exposure to close school environment contacts. Note:  We will not disclose the name of the contact unless we have express written consent from the staff -or- student and/or their family.
1. Inform the staff member or the student and/or student’s family that they were in close contact with a confirmed COVID19 case. Note:  The first contact for a student will always be made to the family and any discussion with the student will be approached in an age-appropriate manner. 

1. Ensure that the student or staff member is wearing their face covering, immediately separate from others, and ensure safe transport home.
2. Direct them to quarantine for 14 days.
3. Recommend testing to assist with further contact tracing. Note – quarantine period remains 14 days regardless of test results as it takes up to 14 days for the virus to incubate.
1. If the exposure date is known, test no sooner than 48 hours after the exposure.
2. If the exposure date is unknown, or if the exposure was continuous, immediate testing is recommended.
4. Provide information including:  
1. DOH: What to do if you were potentially exposed to someone with COVID-19   
2. Kitsap Public Health District:  What is Contact Tracing
3. Information related to:
1. Students: information regarding attendance and missed school work.
2. Staff: information regarding leave and other benefits alleviate economic or adverse employment impact concerns  
4. Criteria for return to the school environment. 

2. Communicate out to the school community or members of the worksite, as determined appropriate. 

1. Be transparent about confirmed cases and close contacts to maintain confidence while taking steps to protect student/staff confidentiality.
2. Announce steps being taken to reduce transmission. 
3. Restate our collective responsibility to reduce transmission and where they can find additional information or resources.

Provide COVID-19 POC contact information for any questions or concerns

Our current plan is to bring our youngest learners back first, and then work our way through the grade levels. A tentative schedule is as follows:

1. Grades PK, K, 1 and 5, 6 on Jan. 25, 2021
2. Grades 2, 3, 4 on Jan. 27, 2021
3. Grades 7-8 on Feb. 1, 2021
4. Grades 9-12 on Feb. 22, 2021

Our teachers will provide students who are home sick or quarantined with homework, and students can check-in with them during teachers’ office hours. 

BISD is following the Governor's Travel Advisory and the Governor's Travel Restrictions.

The Nov. 13, 2020 Governor's Travel Advisory is an advisory and recommendation to limit your non-essential travel, and to quarantine for 14 days upon returning from out of state travel.  As a district, we are not mandating a 14 day quarantine upon your return from travel, unless it is international travel identified in the governor's proclamation below.  We do encourage you to heed the advice of the governor.

The Dec. 21, 2020 Governor's Travel Restrictions, restricts entrance into Washington State after travel to the UK, South Africa or other countries where a new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, 501Y.V, has been circulating.  Upon returning from travel to these countries individuals must quarantine for 14 days. Bainbridge Island School District, in accordance with the Governor's proclamation, will adhere to this travel restriction.

Great effort will be made to have all students in a family on the same schedule, including between schools.

We are always open to supporting student and family choice when space in our programs are available.

Students will be assigned to classroom groups that will range between 10-20 students depending on grade level, course, and square footage of classroom space, while still maintaining the Department of Health requirements for social distancing.

It is our expectation, and one which we will teach and expect of all individuals on our sites, that we maintain at least 6-foot social distancing.  The instruction and discussion of what the conveyance and education of this expectation will look like will vary by age of our students and grade levels. 

If school buildings close due to health concerns, students in the half-day model would pivot to Continuous Learning 2.0, implemented by their in-person classroom teacher(s). Students who selected the 100% online model will remain with that model. The two programs are separate and would not be combined into one. 

Video: Check-in Process 

Any student or staff who doesn’t clear the screening will be sent home.

If staff are ill and unable to work, either in person or at a distance, students will still be provided instruction. We will work with building administrators to determine when different staff (either a guest teacher/substitute or another arrangement) is required.

Classrooms and frequent touchpoints will be sanitized per Department of Health guidelines prior to each shift of students. This practice will include a thoroughly balanced program of EPA registered disinfectants and green seal certified cleaning agents to provide a safe, sanitary, and healthy environment for all staff, students, and visitors. In addition, in order to provide the best indoor air quality possible, the HVAC systems of our schools are being re-programmed/calibrated to bring in the maximum amount of fresh air possible while simultaneously limiting the amount of recycled air that remains in the buildings.

The products used to clean student desks are:

1. Hillyard QT+
2. Isopropyl Alcohol 70% diluted with distilled water 
3. PURETABS Effervescent Sanitation / Disinfectant Tablets 

We engaged throughout the summer in significant evaluation of our facilities as well as researching best practices surrounding ventilation.  We increased ventilation, incorporation of outside air, and explored other methods by which to improve air exchange and quality within our facilities.

VIDEO: Increased Air Circulation

Students will participate in specialist classes. Your student's teacher will provide you with the rotation schedule. 

Secondary students will have six classes over the semester/year.  Depending on the final schedule, students will attend two or three classes each day they attend school and will have home learning assignments for the other courses. Secondary school staff developed the schedule with eye to providing a manageable workload for students.

We will be focusing on how to support the social and emotional needs of students, both in the in-person and distance learning setting.

Members of our staff will be working closely with the Teaching & Learning Department to evaluate key standards and assessment in each grade level or course this will guide instruction for the 2020-21 school year. 

The distance learning component of the hybrid model is significant and staff will be designing and providing instructional opportunities to facilitate learning during the time students are learning at a distance.  What this looks like in terms of the amount of work assigned will vary by the grade level and course. 

School schedules are being developed to minimize the movement and interaction of students to the extent possible (cohort groupings, teachers moving classrooms rather than students moving, etc.)  Protocols are being developed for portions of the day when students need to move locations safely.

For students with special education services accessing the hybrid model, the IEP team will work with the student and his/her parent(s) to determine how IEP services can be implemented.

BISD is unable to provide childcare due to space, staff and budget constraints. However, we are working closely with local childcare providers and sharing our school schedules so they can best align their offerings to support families who need childcare.

All individuals (staff, students, or visitors) must wear a face covering when on site.  For most environments, a cloth face mask is sufficient.  The Washington State Department of Health  has issued the following guidance on who should not wear a face mask:

• Children under two years of age
• People who have disabilities that prevent them from comfortably wearing or taking off face coverings or prevent them from communicating while wearing face coverings
• People who have respiratory conditions or breathing trouble
• People who have been told by a medical, legal, or behavioral health professional not to wear face coverings

Medical Exemption:

If a student is medically exempt from wearing a face-covering due to the above-referenced criteria, a written note of exemption from the family will be requested and the student may wear a face shield.  In exemption situations, staff will engage with the family of the student on how the district can provide appropriate educational services.  It is important to note that there is no exception from OSPI or DOH regarding the use of a face mask when on campus.  This requirement does not change when students are engaging in physical activity or music instruction.

OSPI states: Only as a last resort may districts consider excluding a student for refusing to wear a face covering. If a student is excluded, the school must provide the student with an opportunity to receive educational services during the exclusion and then return the student to their regular educational setting when the exclusion ends. Students who are unable to consistently wear a face-covering due to sensory, behavioral or other disabilities must not be disciplined or denied access to educational services as a result.

BISD will provide transportation to/from home for those students enrolled in the Hybrid Learning Model who need it. However, students are encouraged to be transported to and from school via private vehicle, bicycle or by foot.

Video: Riding the Bus

We will provide transportation to/from certain daycare providers: Boys and Girls Club, Hazel Creek, Big Kids, The Parks Dept. Aquatic Center. NOTE: We are unable to provide transportation for non-BISD activities, appointments, play dates, etc. due to capacity and schedule constraints.

Protocols for riding the bus are under development.

If selecting the Hybrid Learning Model, students will have five full days of learning in a five-day week that will consist of a combination of in-person learning at school and at-home distance learning. The benefit of the half day hybrid model is that students are able to have in-person contact with their teachers on a regular basis. Teachers will be able to utilize the in-person learning time for instruction, guided practice, checking for understanding, assessment, and supporting social and emotional well being. The at-home portion of the learning does not need to be fully dependent on online instruction. Teachers may utilize an online component but may also assign follow-up work to be completed during the at-home learning time to be returned when the student comes back to school. This will vary by grade level and course.

The pandemic wreaked havoc on many aspects of the school schedule, but for families who rely on the school day for childcare, this piece is particularly challenging. We are hopeful that options such as daycares, Bainbridge Island Parks District, and neighborhood coalitions will be of assistance and problem-solve this issue.

BISD can provide students with a cellular wifi hotspot device if they have no access to the internet at no charge. The internet performance will vary based on the distance and load on the cellular network in your area. Alternatives to the wifi hotspot are public wifi locations like the public library and designated BISD parking areas. In response to COVID-19, Comcast Xfinity has been offering free wifi hotspot access for their customers and an affordable Internet Essentials package for low-income families.

This is another challenging aspect of the pandemic. Many students will need an adult caregiver during the day to provide childcare and oversee instruction at home. Most of the local childcare facilities are planning to develop schedules that include time and support for students to participate in their school learning activities. Each school will monitor participation and if a school sees that students are unable to regularly access instructional opportunities and engage in tasks, the school will work with families to find ways to best support students with their learning.

Screen time required for remote instruction is a concern for both parents and educators.  Educators will communicate and rely on online connections with students for instruction and support that will have to include screen time. Teachers are also working to integrate activities in their instructional program that can also include assignments and projects that do not require the student to be online to complete.

HIGH SCHOOL

The high school schedule provides for 100 minutes of instructional time per class period on a scheduled day. For example, Periods 1, 2, 3 are on Monday and Wednesday for 100 minutes each day. Periods 4, 5, 6 are on Tuesday and Thursday for 100 minutes each day. Friday instructional time is asynchronous for periods 1-6 (50 minutes each period). This is true for both first semester and second semester. Instructional time may be synchronous or asynchronous for this school year. 

During first semester the 100 minutes were scheduled into one block of time (100 minutes straight through), but we asked teachers to provide 50 minutes of Zoom/Synchronous instruction and 50 minutes of group work, breakout sessions, reading, assessment, or independent work during that time.  Teachers were not providing 100 minutes of synchronous whole class instruction.

During the second semester REMOTE learning schedule (Jan 25 - Feb 12), the 100 minutes are divided into a morning instructional block (50 minutes) and the afternoon instructional block (50 minutes). Teachers will utilize the morning block for asynchronous instruction. Teachers will utilize the afternoon block for either synchronous or asynchronous instruction, based on the needs of the class, curriculum, and students.

During second semester HYBRID learning* (Feb 22 - June 16), the 100 minutes are divided into AM/PM.  Students in the AM cohort will have live instruction for 50 minutes in the morning instructional block and 50 minutes of asynchronous learning in the afternoon instructional block. Students in the PM cohort will have 50 minutes of asynchronous learning in the morning instructional block and 50 minutes of live instruction for 50 minutes in the afternoon instructional block. Teachers will provide 50 minutes of asynchronous instruction to AM/PM cohorts for all six periods on Friday.  Teachers will be available for office hours Monday-Thursday and on Fridays.

*The middle school hybrid learning schedule follows the same blocks with 50 minutes in-person and 50 minutes asynchronous.

Students at the secondary level will still travel between classes and the learning environment will be cleaned between the classes. 

Marching band, along with all extracurricular activities, will not start until it has been deemed safe to do so.   An additional consideration is the safety of students being in a large group without masks, which is necessary for the playing of most instruments, and whether this is a safe activity represents a continued discussion we are engaging in with OSPI and the DOH.

Our staff will continue to work with students in the course selection process.

Student transition time will be greatly reduced and we will have an expectation that students have a face coverings on throughout their time on campus.  We will continue to monitor students in common areas throughout the campus and address student conduct issues when they arise.