PDTogether: Teaching and learning, 2020-21 

Dear Charger Community,

First and foremost thank you for your continued support, patience, and outreach during these extraordinary times. While our community and world continue to face challenges surrounding both COVID-19 and racial equity, it is more important than ever that we are able to come together as a community. When our PD family has faced hardship and heartbreak in the past, it is the family ties that keep us bound together to face the uncertainties of the future. 

We are excited, and committed, to bring students back to Providence Day this August. Our top priority in returning together is the health and safety of students, faculty, staff, and parents. To be sure, school will look different this fall. But while we have made our plans based on the global view that for the health and wellbeing of our students we should be together on campus when possible, we are planning to offer a remote learning option to anyone who requests it. All of us share the common goal of ensuring that Providence Day remains the vibrant school and caring community we value.

PD quickly responded to the global pandemic by addressing immediate challenges while building an operating plan for the next school year. Throughout the last months we have sought advice from experts in the fields of public health, medicine, and education. We have conferred closely with local medical experts in order to design reopening plans that reflect what is happening in our Charlotte community. These conversations and research have shaped our thinking for the coming year as we respond to evolving guidelines and best practices. More details are forthcoming as our plans continue to develop and evolve; please monitor our website at www.providenceday.org/coronavirusinfo for the latest news and updates.

Our PDTogether plan will allow us to return safely to campus, stay on campus, and continue to inspire. Together we will endure, and together we will thrive. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. 

Cheers,

Dr. Glyn Cowlishaw

 

First and foremost I would like to praise all the families and students who are doing so well with the current policies and guidelines. This is a tough time for all of us  and I ask that we remember to be kind and respectful to each other. In one way or another we will all be affected by this virus and no one should ever feel as if they are going through this alone or feel ashamed. We are all blessed to be a part of such a remarkable community, let's work together and we will all get through this.

REMINDER: Reminders from the Health Room Nurses

• If you or any member of your household goes for testing due to symptoms, or exposure to someone who has tested positive, all members of the household must remain home until results are received.
• If you are getting tested for symptoms or exposure to someone who tested positive, PD will only accept the PCR COVID test. This is not the rapid test.
• If you are remote due to an exposure and quarantining at home, please make sure to complete your Ascend screening daily with symptoms and test dates if applicable.
• Mecklenburg County Health Department continues to follow the full 14-day quarantine guideline. A negative COVID test will not shorten your quarantine period.

 
If my student is going to be absent, do I have to fill out Ascend?
Yes, it is even more important that Ascend is completed on days of absence as this will alert us to any students who are ill or have been exposed. 
 
If my student goes for a COVID test who should I notify?
You must notify the health room nurses any time your child or anyone in your home is being tested for COVID. In addition, if a member of your household is tested the rest of the household members must stay home until results are received. 
 
What do I do with the results of the COVID testing?
We are asking that you email a copy of your test results to one or the Health Room nurses. If you are unable to submit via email you may have your student bring a copy to us upon their return to campus.
 
If my student is exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID, should I take them to be tested?
Please contact your child’s physician as they may recommend waiting 5-7 days before testing. Again please let the health room nurses know if someone is tested and the results.
 
If my student has been exposed and is required to quarantine, can they return if they receive a negative COVID test?
If a student is being asked to quarantine they have been identified through contact tracing to have been a possible exposure or actually exposed. They must be quarantined for 14 days regardless of negative test. From the point of exposure you can begin symptoms and test positive up to 14 days. If your student does go for testing, please note all members of the household will need to remain home until results are received.
 
What does quarantine mean, what is my student allowed to do?
During the 14 days of quarantine your student should remain at home and distance themselves as much as possible from others. They should not be attending ANY activities outside of the home for the duration of his quarantine. 
 
Do siblings of my exposed student have to quarantine as well?
No, the guidelines do not require anyone to quarantine who has not had direct exposure to the person who has tested positive for COVID. If your student becomes symptomatic or tests positive while in quarantine then all those in the home would be required to quarantine as well. However, if the person who was exposed is unable to quarantine from the members of their household due to age or any other reason, those family members will need to stay home until the exposed household member's quarantine is complete.  
 
What is the process of communicating with the Providence Day Community for positive cases?
We look at every case individually. The nurses have all been certified through the Johns Hopkins Contact Tracing Course. Upon learning of a positive COVID case within our community the nurses begin extensive contact tracing; this includes interviews with the affected student and/or family. At this time the information is processed and close contacts are personally contacted to make them aware they have been exposed and will need to quarantine for 14 days. If you are not contacted directly by the nurse but your student has shared a classroom or other small space or group on campus you will receive an email stating that there has been a positive case but are not considered to have been exposed. All other families will receive an email addressed to the PD Community informing you there has been a positive case reported. 
 
As always we are here to answer any questions or address any concerns.
--Your School Nurses

 

Screening and reporting within our community will be one of the most important tools we will implement in order to assist us with preventing the spread of COVID-19. This new procedure will include daily health screenings of students, faculty/staff, and anyone entering our campus. 

Mask-wearing is another essential component of this plan. When we are masked, it reduces the exposure to and spread of the virus. The school will be providing masks for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. 

Full compliance by students, employees, and parents with both of these measures is essential in order FOR OUR CAMPUS TO REMAIN OPEN AND FOR US TO REMAIN TOGETHER and SAFE. 

Additionally, we are making two major policy changes to reduce the chances of our students or employees experiencing an exposure that would require them to miss time on campus. 

1. No gatherings: There will be no gatherings or special events on campus through at least March 21, 2021. (updated December 2020). This applies to Parents’ Association meetings and socials; new-parent events; grandparent events; alumni events; and any other gathering that is not considered part of the core teaching and learning experience. The school will make every effort to support alternative or virtual ways of delivering experiences until we can safely host visitors in person again.

2. No field trips or travel: Through at least March 21, 2021, there will be no field trips and overnight travel. There will be no travel for professional development or other school business. The school will leverage innovations in technology to continue our global connections and provide virtual or alternative experiences wherever available.

Both of these policies will be re-evaluated in early 2021, and a decision will be made prior to Spring Break for the remainder of the academic year.

We are committed to ensuring our performing arts, athletics program, and extracurricular activities maintain their excellence, while ensuring the health and safety of our students. 

We will be using the Base Camp health screening platform known as "Ascend" for daily health screenings of all students and employees.  The daily health screening is one of the tools we will be using to keep our campus safe and healthy. Each morning you will answer a series of questions related to your students' health. Based on the answers to those questions you will be advised if your student can come to campus. The School will receive a report each morning. If you do not complete the screening, your student will not be allowed on campus that day. 

Parents should have received an email the week of August 10th from Base Camp Health with instructions on how to set up the platform, log in, and complete the daily questions.  Please contact cameron.detwiler@providenceday.org if you did not receive this email; please contact support@basecamp-health.com for any further issues with using the platform.
 

We are tripling our day-time custodial presence on campus during school hours. We have expanded our internal custodial team with subcontracted professionals, to provide additional support and expertise. In addition, we have taken the following measures:

• Purchased new specialty equipment for our custodial team to enable regular deep-cleaning. 

• Enhanced cleaning and disinfection of all ductwork, vents, grates, classrooms and hallways.

• More frequent cleaning during the day of high touch areas.

• Expanding existing UV lights in HVAC ductwork to improve air purification and adding ionization systems.

• Replacing ceiling tiles and lighting in Lower School

• Adding portable air filtration units with HEPA filters and fans in order to improve air circulation.

Physical distancing* is another requirement that we will use to help keep our community healthy and safe. When possible, we will maintain six feet of physical distance between students. When masks are removed for dining or mask breaks, six feet will be maintained.

This has allowed us to be innovative in how we maximize space on our 46-acre campus. We have imagined new spaces that can be used for classrooms. We will encourage more classes to spend time outside. 

• New dining spaces across campus are being created in order to allow for physical distancing during dining, decrease time/increase space for picking up prepackaged food and beverage options.

• We have invested in outdoor furniture and shade to encourage more outdoor learning and dining. 

• The “ferryboat” inner loop will be closed after morning drop-off until afternoon pick-up. This will allow more space for our students to move between buildings and provide additional outdoor learning space. 

• Age-appropriate signage is creating areas for one-way traffic in hallways and stairwells. 

• Distancing is being enforced in faculty and staff work areas.

• Usage of common areas such as the dining hall, theater, lecture hall, and foyer is being reimagined. We will utilize large spaces such as the Ridenhour, MAC, King Room, and The Curve for teaching and learning.

• Modifications to morning and afternoon carpool, including slight variations in arrival/departure times if needed. Further details provided below.

*Policies subject to changes based on updated guidelines from public health experts, federal and state agencies, and local medical experts.

We are more confident than ever that the PD Passport continues to be the most descriptive and aspirational framework for teaching and learning at Providence Day School. The PD Passport outlines the competencies necessary to become an effective and responsible member of the community.

Our Guiding Principles: 

• Designing a community-focused learning experience that prioritizes community vitality, equity, student social-emotional well being, and academic success.

• We are more excited than ever to double down on our investment in supporting the people we know to be the fundamental elements of our community: Students, Parents, and our Faculty.

• All faculty are undergoing professional development this summer in order to prepare for the school year ahead. Lessons will be designed to optimize fluid teaching that can transition between different school models.

• Materials, furniture, and technology have been purchased in order to provide students with an educational experience that keeps them safe, and provides a consistent teaching and learning environment.

• Innovative solutions for large classes will be implemented, such as Performing Arts and PE. The performing arts classes will be modified using resources from the National Association for Music Education and emerging health guidelines.

• Due to the increase in outdoor learning spaces, outdoor dining options, and redesign of our PE classes and protocol, all students are welcome to dress in PD Spirit Wear daily for the 2020-21 school year. Visit www.pdspiritstore.com to purchase PD gear. 

The back-to-school orientation process is being redesigned to introduce all new protocols to students, faculty/staff, and parents. There will be clear expectations for student learning outlined in all possible scenarios.

In all scenarios, we are committed to continuing programming that provides students with a sense of community, connecting, and belonging. 

Extended Day

As you probably know, Extended Day is known for flexible childcare options for our families. However, it is necessary for us to temporarily restructure our program in order to adhere to safety precautions. 

Due to the current health crisis, Extended Day will be available only for families in need of afternoon childcare as their only option, beginning August 31 and continuing until further notice.

For safety purposes, most daily activities previously offered by Extended Day (including enrichments) will not be available prior to winter break. We will re-evaluate the situation as we head into the new calendar year. 

IExtended Day will close daily at 5 PM.

Thank you for understanding our effort to keep our school community safe.

Clubhouse

Clubhouse will be open to those Middle School students whose parents are not able to pick them up at dismissal time. However, it is necessary for us to temporarily restructure our program in order to adhere to safety precautions. Social distancing and the wearing of masks will be mandatory at all times. Additionally, our program will close daily at 5:00 PM.

Daily activities will differ from what we usually offer in the afternoons; however, our plan is to make it enjoyable as possible for the students attending.

Thank you for understanding our effort to keep our school community safe. 
 

As we have shared previously, we have partnered with FLIK to safely provide pre-packaged breakfast, lunch and beverage options for our students. FLIK employees have received additional health and safety training and will be following all FLIK and PD protocol for daily health screenings, wearing masks, physical distancing and healthy hygiene. We successfully served over 600 Summer Campers and look forward to serving students and faculty when we return to school. 

Dining will take place across campus in small groups so physical distancing can be maintained when masks are removed.  All food and beverage will be pre-packaged and there will be no self service. All payment options are touchless and your student can continue to use their FLIK dining account number for payment. 

Please see below for dining locations, payment options and Lower School pre-ordering information. For sample menus, click here.

Lower School Dining

All Lower School (TK-5)  dining will take place outdoors or in the classroom in the same “bubble” used during teaching and learning. Lower School dining health and safety protocol includes hand washing before and after dining, safe removal of masks, physical distancing, and delivered pre-packaged food that will be distributed by the teacher. Each space that is used for dining  will be cleaned and sanitized following lunch. 

If your child will be ordering lunch from FLIK, we are excited to offer pre-ordering and payment capabilities through the NutriSlice App. As Lower School meals will be delivered, you must pre-order 48 hours prior to the day of delivery. FLIK will be providing information on this new pre-ordering feature. 

Please reach out to David Aycoth, Director of Dining Services at pdsdining@providenceday.org with any questions or concerns about FLIK dining or your student's dining account.

MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL DINING

Middle School and Upper School lunch will be in advisee groups across campus. Dining locations include outdoors, the dining hall, Fine Arts foyer, Stable and Global Cafe, MAC Concourse and classrooms. Middle and Upper School dining health and safety protocol includes hand washing or sanitizing before and after dining, safe removal of masks, physical distancing and pre-packaged food and beverage items. Each space that is used for dining will be cleaned and sanitized following lunch. 

Your student will be able to pick up their pre-packaged FLIK lunch at one of six serving locations across campus. This will allow students to maintain physical distance and decrease their wait time. 

At this time, students will not be eating outside of their assigned lunch time in order to reduce the amount of time we are together without masks. If your Middle or Upper School student arrives on campus early, there will be prepackaged breakfast options in the Dining Hall. Grab and go breakfast will be available for purchase in the Dining Hall and your student will proceed to his or her advisee room. 

Please reach out to David Aycoth, Director of Dining Services at pdsdining@providenceday.org with any questions or concerns about FLIK dining. You may contact Alexa Giovanis at alexa.giovanis@providenceday.org about your student's dining account.

Thank you for your patience as we work together to bring you bus service that includes updated health and safety protocol for the 2020-21 school year. We are very excited to see your students on campus and look forward to another year of meeting your family’s transportation needs. 

Please see the attached link for transportation schedules, fares registration and our updated  health and safety protocol. If you have any questions, please reach out to Ben Sigg our Transportation Coordinator at ben.sigg@providenceday.org. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

As always, we have been guided by what we can do to keep our students, faculty, and PD community safe. At times, these decisions are difficult as we have seen the scientists, medical experts, and public health agencies do not always agree. We are optimistic based on the schools that have successfully opened globally and at the same time cautious due to the increase in Covid cases in North Carolina. 

There are a number of known steps we can take to help keep our community safe and healthy but it will be impossible to eliminate all risks associated with the virus. We will all have to make decisions about how we choose to be together and work together as a PD family in order to stay safe and healthy.

*At any point in time, if needed,  families are able to join the remote learning experience.

All Lower School students who do not opt into remote learning will remain on campus together for this time period. 

Our decisions are guided by the following overarching priorities:

(1) the safety of students and ourselves, to protect the physical health and the mental health of our community members; and 

(2) academic fundamentals. 

Easing into the Academic Year (Focus on the Fundamentals):

•  Lower School will use the first four weeks of class to ease into the school year by:

  • Introducing and adjusting to new procedures for health and safety;

  • Taking extra time to focus on peer-to-peer relationships and teacher-to-student relationships; 

  • Assessing our students’ learning needs;

  • Reviewing key concepts from the remote-learning period. 

  • LS Administration will work closely with Team Leaders to check in on progress.

Masks:
All faculty and students will be required to wear masks throughout the school day, both while in the learning space and when transitioning between physical spaces on campus. As mentioned in the PDTogether document, everyone will receive 5 PD masks.  We will plan for periodic “mask breaks” throughout the day, outside, and during eating times. 

Carpool:
To reduce pedestrian traffic, we will have different drop off locations on campus to be assigned to specific grade levels and/or classes. Personnel will be present to help walk students to classes as needed.  

Physical Distancing:
In order to maintain the recommended physical distancing, LS classes will each be divided into two “bubbles.”  Each "bubble" will remain together throughout the day.

Transitions on campus:  
Grade levels will determine the times during which teachers move between “bubbles,” such as after an outdoor break or a Special Area class.

Lunch:
Ideally, lunch will be eaten either outside (weather permitting) or in the classroom. During lunch, six feet of physical distance will be maintained. Flik ordering will be available for families and pre-packaged lunches will be delivered to their eating locations. 

Recess:
Recess times will be scheduled throughout the day with specified areas for the students to utilize during that time with their specific “bubble”.
 

Please note these plans announced on September 21, 2020:

Our community has adapted wonderfully to the safety precautions in place, and with continued vigilance, we are ready to return to a more normal setting on campus. Lower School will begin a phasing process of uniting the red and blue “bubbles” within each classroom, which will create a single “bubble” for each homeroom with a lead and an assistant teacher. While the “bubbles” were an effective and practical way to transition back to campus, we have always intended to combine them when safety procedures were well-established. This next phase is in the best interest of our students’ academic and social-emotional experience; and it is in the best interest of our faculty’s ability to teach Lower School’s rich curriculum effectively. Please note, the TK model of instruction will remain the same. 

Lower School will adhere to the following safety measures to help keep our community safe when on campus:

• Mask wearing at all times (except when eating);

• Vigilant hand-washing and “gelling in and out;”

• Physical distancing of 3ft to 6ft in the classroom as much as possible;

• Utilizing outdoor learning spaces throughout the day;

• NEW Plexiglass installation at individual student work areas;

• Eating snacks and lunch outside at 6ft apart (with an inside rainy day plan that separates students);

• Continuing to keep classroom families separated throughout the day; 

• Utilizing multiple drop-off locations for morning carpool;

  • AM Carpool Drop off Locations (parents may still drop off at their youngest child’s location): 

    • TK-1st: Ferryboat, Williams Building Side (effective 9/29)

    • 2nd-3rd: Semi-Circle (effective 10/13)

    • 4th: Ferryboat (effective 10/13)

    • 5th: Ridenhour (effective 10/13)

• Requiring families to complete the Ascend safety screening, with honesty, before coming to campus each day.

Dates for “Together Again” unification of “bubbles”:

Tuesday, September 29th:  Kindergarten & Grade 1

Tuesday, October 13th: Grades 2-5

For now, afternoon carpool will remain the same. TK dismisses at 1:00 pm and K at 2:00 pm, both behind the Ridenhour. Grades 1-5 dismiss at 2:30 pm in the Ferryboat. After fall break in October, we will likely return to our previous dismissal times of 2:50 pm for Grades 1-4 and 3:10 pm for Grade 5.  

 

In order to help our students transition to being on campus with our new health and safety protocol, we will start school with our modified on-campus and opt-in remote learning model. Each day, approximately 50% of our Middle and Upper School students will be on campus together for 60 minute periods in a six-period day. We will group them in alternating days by their last name, with A-L in the RED group and M-Z in the BLUE group.

Reducing the number of students on campus will enable greater physical distancing. We will further cut down on large group gatherings including carpool, lunch, break, advisee, and assemblies. Pre-packaged lunch will be available in multiple dining locations and distanced dining will take place in fixed cohorts in advisee.

Dropoff and Pickup

Morning Dropoff for Middle School: 6th graders in Ferryboat/ 7th graders in semi-circle behind Overcash/ 8th graders next to Ridenhour gym.

Morning Dropoff for Upper School: Dropoff at West Lot or MAC if coming in from the back gate.

Pickup will be staggered with Lower School, as well, with assigned locations.

Daily Schedule

Middle and Upper School students will follow a revised schedule with a staggered start. This schedule will apply to both Middle and Upper schools. Opt-in Remote learning will follow this same schedule, but will experience a combination of synchronous (live streamed) classroom activity and asynchronous activities.

In order to ease in to the school year, the daily schedule for remote learning during the first few weeks will vary. 

Together, parents may expect:

• Daily small group instruction

• Cumulative assessments for key concepts

• Weekly one-on-one touchpoints with the remote learning teacher 

• Project-based activities 

• Special area activities, either recorded or streamed 

• Parent Information Session; Date TBD

• Grade Level Supply Kit and Remote Learning Kit; Pick up Date: TBD

Remote Learning Instructional Plan:

• Grades TK-5: Remotely attend morning meetings daily with their on campus peers 

• Grades TK-2: 

  • Language Arts and Math in-class lessons will be recorded.

  • Small group instruction will take place 2x daily for 30-minute sessions. These groups will be led by a LS faculty member or content specialist to reinforce/extend the concepts taught in the recorded lessons.

  • Additional age-appropriate work will be assigned through Seesaw to reinforce phonics, reading, and writing skills.

  • Project-based tasks will be assigned in Social Studies and/or Science.
     

• Grades 3-5:

  • Students stream into the classroom to watch Language Arts and Math lessons in addition to World Language classes.

  • Small group instruction will take place 2x daily for 30-minute sessions in Math and Language Arts. These groups will be led by a LS faculty member or content specialist to reinforce/extend the concepts taught through the streamed lessons.

  • To reinforce Language Arts, Math, and writing skills, additional work will be assigned through Seesaw for grade 3 and assigned in Google Classroom for grades 4-5.

  • Project-based independent work will be assigned in Social Studies and/or Science.

Daily Remote Learning Schedule (Tentative)

*Fluid schedule depending on the number of students enrolled in remote learning
*Times of morning meeting may vary depending on grade level

Daily:
Morning Time:

Morning Meeting
Instructional Time (Including recorded/streamed lessons, small groups, and independent work that will vary by grade level)

Afternoon Time:

Special area classes (TBD)
Independent work 
Individual touchpoints with remote learning teachers

Check-in and Reentry Timeline:

• August 31: Check-in survey sent to LS parents to see if you would like to attend classes on campus.
• September 8: First date for remote learners to return to campus
• Week of September 21: Check-in survey sent to LS Parents to see if you would like to attend class. 
• September 29:  Second date for remote learners to return to campus.
• Further check-ins and reentry dates will follow. 

Technology:

• Grades TK-3: Seesaw will be used to implement the remote learning process.

• Grades 4th and 5th: Google Classroom will be used to implement the remote learning process.

Personnel:
Instructors:

• LS Reading Specialist
• LS Math Specialist
• PD lead teachers

Administrative Coordinator and Contact: Elisa Clark,  Lower School Learning Specialist
Role of Learning Specialist for Remote Learners:

• Manage regular caseload of remote learning students
• Assign students in remote learning situations to coordinated instructors
• Conduct weekly check-ins with each grade level remote learning instructor

For the first three weeks of school, the opt-in remote learners will follow the same schedule as the on-campus group. Each day will contain a combination of synchronous classroom activity (live streamed) and asynchronous activity (pre-recorded or independent home-based study).

On Aug. 31, families will receive a new survey to specify their preference for either remote learning or returning to campus beginning Sept. 8.

Details of the on-campus schedule from Sept. 8 onward will be shared at the time of that survey.