Caravel Restart Plan 2021-2022

Caravel ReStart Plan 2021
Schedule

• Caravel will start on Tuesday, September 7, 2021 for all students.
  
• Teachers will report on August 31, 2021 to begin preparing for the year. 
  
• Students may be dropped off between 7:50 - 8:15 AM. Please keep in mind that homeroom begins promptly at 8:15 AM, and anyone arriving after this time will be marked tardy. Early drop-off is available beginning at 7:30 in the EEC Blue Room, Lower School Library, and Cafeteria. Morning care begins at 7:00 for an additional fee in the EEC Blue Room or Lower School Library
  

Health Concerns

• Face coverings
  
  • All adults and students (grades K-12) are required to wear face coverings when inside the school building. Per Governor Carney’s mandate, face coverings are strongly recommended for preschool and pre-kindergarten students.
    
  • Face coverings are an additional step to help slow the spread of COVID-19 when combined with everyday preventive actions and social distancing in public settings. Students are required to purchase and bring face covering every day. It is recommended that EEC and LS parents leave two face coverings at school.  Middle and upper school students are encouraged to have a second face covering with them each day.
    
  • Face coverings are to be generic with no offensive language, symbols or statements.
    
  • Please follow these rules from the CDC when wearing a face covering:
    

• Wash your hands before putting on your face covering
  
• Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
  
• Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face
  
• Make sure you can breathe easily
  
• Wear a face covering that covers your nose and mouth to help protect others in case you’re infected with COVID-19 but don’t have symptoms
  
• Don’t put the face covering around your neck or up on your forehead
  
• Don’t touch the face covering, and, if you do, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer to disinfect​
  
• Social Distancing
  
  • Students and staff will continue to practice social distancing in indoor and outdoor settings as much as possible. To support social distancing efforts, Caravel classrooms will be set up to follow the health and safety guidelines in our approved plan. Classroom seating will be revised to maximize distancing between students as much as possible. 
    
• Hand Sanitizer and Cleaning Supplies
  
  • Caravel will have supplies of hand sanitizer (every classroom and hallway) and soap to allow for frequent hand-washing, and classrooms and school facilities will be disinfected regularly. 
    
• Health Screenings
  
  • All staff and students will attest to their health each morning. 
    
    • Students and/or their parents will complete a self health assessment each morning before arrival. Employees will also complete a self health assessment every morning before leaving for school.
      
• Restrooms
  
  • All restrooms will be cleaned nightly and high-risk touch points (faucet knobs, flush handles, partition locks, ADA railings) will be disinfected throughout the day.  
    
• Is it okay to wear the same face covering daily?
  
  • Yes, if it is washed and dried after each day. Face coverings should be laundered on a daily basis (this can be in a sink with soap and water or in a washing machine). *Caravel Academy recommends that students purchase several face coverings.
    
• Keeping the Buildings cleaned and sanitized.
  
  • Teachers and staff will be supplied with spray bottles and/or sanitizing wipes to assist in preparing and disinfecting classrooms and work stations during the day.
    
  • Toys or classroom items that cannot be easily cleaned or sanitized (such as plush toys) will be removed.
    
  • Windows will remain open as often as possible as conditions allow.
    
  • Ventilation systems have been thoroughly cleaned, and filters will be changed regularly.
    
• Are Caravel families required to disclose a positive COVID-19 test?
  
  • In the interest of public health, it is helpful to know how to keep the school community safe so that people who were exposed to a known positive case can quarantine and prevent the spread of this disease to others. We ask Caravel families to report any positive cases to the school nurse, Mrs. Barbara Ann Bruno at bbruno@caravel.org. 
    

Classrooms

• Cohorts
  
  • A cohort is defined as a group of students who participate in a class or other activity. Our goal is to minimize the number of cohorts any one student participates in during the day. All of our Early Education Center and Lower School students will be a member of a single cohort.
    
• Cafeteria
  
  • The Caravel EEC, Lower School, and fifth and sixth grade students will be required to bring their lunch each day and eat in their homerooms in order to avoid large crowds. Seventh and eight grade students will eat during the third lunch period in the cafeteria.  The Upper School will be divided into two lunch periods in the cafeteria to reduce crowd size and maintain social distance.
    
  • The Caravel Cafeteria staff will be required to use barrier protection including gloves, face shields and/or face coverings. 
    
• Recess and Physical Education
  
  • Recess and physical education will be outside weather permitting, and students will be kept in their classroom cohorts. Students are allowed to use and share playground/gym equipment with their cohorts and are required to wear face coverings when social distancing is not possible. Only one cohort will be allowed in a specific outside area at a time.
    
  • Recess and PE equipment will be cleaned between cohort groups.
    
• Will middle school and high school students be able to change classes throughout the day?
  
  • While cohorting will be enforced across our EEC and Lower School, schedules for our Middle School and Upper School will include changing classes. Students will be required to wear face coverings while switching classes.
    
• Will locker usage be permitted?
  
  • Students in grades 5-12 will be assigned a locker in which to store items throughout the day.
    

Visitors and Parents in the Building

• Will visitors be allowed in the school building?
  
  • At this time, visitors, including parents/guardians are being asked to refrain from entering the building.  Additional information on pick up and drop off will be provided by division principals. ​ 
    

Before and After Care

• Will there still be before and after care?
  
  • Currently before and after care are still being offered. Additional details regarding this will be shared at a later date. 
    

Sports and Extracurricular Activities

• Will there be sports?
  
  • Caravel is a member of the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) and will follow the following guidelines established by DIAA.
    
    • Fall Season - Practices start August 16, 2021.
      
    • Winter Season - TBD
      
    • Spring Season - TBD
      
    • All seasons would still include State Tournaments. 
      
• Will there be clubs and extracurricular activities?
  
  • Each club and activity will be evaluated individually and determinations will be made to establish if they can meet safely. We are hopeful that activities will return to normal, but we will keep you informed of progress in this area.