
Hybrid Learning Model Q&A
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Updated Feb. 1, 2021
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How are you addressing mental health issues in the classroom?
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:
- that depression is treatable, so they are encouraged to seek help
- how to identify depression and potential suicide risk in themselves or a friend
- 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
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Where can I learn how BISD is preparing for in-person learning?
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.
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What happens if there is a confirmed COVID-19 at my child’s school? Will families be notified?
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.
- Identify and inform any close contacts in the school environments within 24 hours.
- 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.
- Review logs/ databases of who was present in the identified school environment (i.e. classroom(s), bus, athletics, etc.)
- Review school-related calendars and/or schedules
- 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
- If we learn about a case from Public Health, they may provide some names of contacts
- 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.
- 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.
- Ensure that the student or staff member is wearing their face covering, immediately separate from others, and ensure safe transport home.
- Direct them to quarantine for 14 days.
- 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.
- If the exposure date is known, test no sooner than 48 hours after the exposure.
- If the exposure date is unknown, or if the exposure was continuous, immediate testing is recommended.
- Provide information including:
- DOH: What to do if you were potentially exposed to someone with COVID-19
- Kitsap Public Health District: What is Contact Tracing
- Information related to:
- Students: information regarding attendance and missed school work.
- Staff: information regarding leave and other benefits alleviate economic or adverse employment impact concerns
- Criteria for return to the school environment.
- Communicate out to the school community or members of the worksite, as determined appropriate.
- Be transparent about confirmed cases and close contacts to maintain confidence while taking steps to protect student/staff confidentiality.
- Announce steps being taken to reduce transmission.
- 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
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What is the schedule to bring Hybrid students back? Will all students begin at once?
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:
- Grades PK, K, 1 and 5, 6 on Jan. 25, 2021
- Grades 2, 3, 4 on Jan. 27, 2021
- Grades 7-8 on Feb. 1, 2021
- Grades 9-12 on Feb. 22, 2021
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How will instruction be made up if a student needs to quarantine due to symptoms, exposure, or a family member who tested positive? Will teachers have time to assist these students with questions concerning work as to not put them at a disadvantage?
Our teachers will provide students who are home sick or quarantined with homework, and students can check-in with them during teachers’ office hours.
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How will you handle families who will not quarantine after a trip out of state or the country?
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.
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What are the schedules for partial day (AM/PM)?
BAINBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOLAM Schedule: 8:20-11:05 a.m.PM Schedule: 12:55-3:40 p.m.WOODWARD MIDDLE SCHOOL
AM Schedule: 8:05- 10:50 a.m.PM Schedule: 12:40-3:25 p.m.SONOJI SAKAI INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLAM Schedule: 8:05- 10:50 a.m.PM Schedule: 12:40-3:25 p.m.EAGLE HARBOR HIGH SCHOOLAM Schedule: 8:20-11:05 a.m.PM Schedule: 12:55-3:40 p.m.ODYSSEY MULTIAGE PROGRAMSHours:
Gr. K-6AM Schedule: 7:50-10:35 a.m.PM Schedule: 12:25-3:10 p.m.
Gr. 7-8AM Schedule: 8:20- 11:05 a.m.PM Schedule: 12:55-3:40 p.m.CAPTAIN JOHNSTON BLAKELY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLAM Schedule: 7:50-10:35 a.m.PM Schedule: 12:25-3:10 p.m.ORDWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLAM Schedule: 7:50-10:35 a.m.PM Schedule: 12:25-3:10 p.m.CAPTAIN CHARLES WILKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOLAM Schedule: 7:50-10:35 a.m.PM Schedule: 12:25-3:10 p.m. -
Will siblings be placed on the same schedule?
Great effort will be made to have all students in a family on the same schedule, including between schools.
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If we select the hybrid model but then become uncomfortable with it, BUT schools are still open, what are our options?
We are always open to supporting student and family choice when space in our programs are available.
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How many students will be in a classroom?
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.
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How will teachers be able to enforce social distancing in the classroom?
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.
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What happens if the COVID cases increase and students aren’t able to attend in-person? Do they pivot to the 100% online-only model?
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.
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How are students screened upon entry?
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What happens if a student doesn’t “clear” the screening?
Any student or staff who doesn’t clear the screening will be sent home.
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If a teacher becomes ill (with COVID or some other illness), will students have a substitute teacher?
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.
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How are the classrooms cleaned & prepared for students?
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:
- Hillyard QT+
- Isopropyl Alcohol 70% diluted with distilled water
- PURETABS Effervescent Sanitation / Disinfectant Tablets
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Are all buildings’ HVAC systems (including older ones) being addressed?
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
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Will elementary students have specialist time?
Students will participate in specialist classes. Your student's teacher will provide you with the rotation schedule.
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Do secondary students still have six classes/day?
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.
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Will teachers increase Social Emotional Learning given the impacts of social isolation and the overall trauma our children have experienced with COVID?
We will be focusing on how to support the social and emotional needs of students, both in the in-person and distance learning setting.
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How much of the standard curriculum do you plan to cover? How can you cut instruction time so drastically without having an impact on the curriculum?
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.
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How much work will students have in the Distance Learning component of the hybrid model?
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.
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How do students move safely in the buildings? (To the bathroom, arrival/dismissal times, between classes, etc.)
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.
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How are students with special education served in the hybrid model?
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.
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Will BISD-provided childcare be available?
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.
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How will you encourage students to wear a mask during their time in school?
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. -
Will BISD provide transportation?
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.
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Will you transport my child to/from childcare?
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.
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How will you make sure students wear their masks on the bus? Will there be a staff member on the bus to make sure the students wear the masks?
Protocols for riding the bus are under development.
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What is expected of my child during the “off” time of the day? (For instance, my child attends school in the morning, will there be BISD-structured activities online in the afternoon?)
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.
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What is expected of parents/guardians/childcare providers? Are they expected to help guide student learning?
The amount of adult support varies depending on the student’s grade level and the student’s self-motivation / independent work style.
Most local childcare facilities are planning to develop schedules that include time and support for students to participate in their 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. -
Please explain what CORE FOUR means.
The components of CORE FOUR are:
HOMEBASE: This is where students find assignments, questions, materials and teacher announcements. The platform will depend on the student's grade level but will either be Google Classroom or Seesaw.
VIDEO CREATION: The application for recording video of the teacher using a webcam (or screen sharing) for instruction. This will be handled through the Screencastify platform.
LIVE DISCUSSION & OFFICE HOURS: The application where students and teachers gather for synchronous interaction/engagement. This will be accomplished via Zoom.
CONTENT ORGANIZER: The application where teacher and student files are kept, worked on, and organized for learning. These documents will be housed in Google Drive. -
I work outside of the home and rely on the school’s schedule to provide childcare. What options do I have?
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.
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My student does not have internet access (or, my student’s internet access isn’t very strong). How can my student participate in Continuous Learning?
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.
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I work outside of the home and am unable to support my students (i.e. help log-in) as they participate in Continuous Learning. How will they be able to participate?
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.
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I am concerned about the amount of screen time that students will be exposed to in the Continuous Learning model. Are there low-tech alternatives?
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.
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Specific questions for grades 7-12
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How will instructional minutes be addressed?
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. -
For grades 7-12, will students move to different classrooms or do teachers come to them?
Students at the secondary level will still travel between classes and the learning environment will be cleaned between the classes.
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Will Marching Band take place?
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.
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If students have to select new courses, will they get help from counselors on their selections?
Our staff will continue to work with students in the course selection process.
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How will bathroom use be monitored by students? I am concerned that they will remove masks inside the bathrooms.
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.