LCSD unveils plan to get back into the classroom

Staggered starts, getting tested if you have a condition, and emphasizing hand hygiene all underlined in Lakeland Catholic’s back to school plan.

Lakeland Catholic School District has released their Parent Re-entry Plan which outlines how its schools will operate in accordance with AHS guidelines once they open September 1st.

According to the document, the plan has been written to ensure that students, teachers, and parents have a safe and effective learning environment, and to lessen the risk of contracting COVID-19.

There was an strong emphasis on maintaining hand hygiene amongst the document’s pages through either hand soap or hand sanitizer, and it was stated that LCSD will be open to students attending either in-person classes or online sessions.

Staggered return on student’s first day

The first week of school will be staggered, with students with surnames starting with A up to and including K starting school on September 1st, while the remaining students will start on the 2nd.

This method was chosen so that faculty could explain the changes to regular school life in smaller groups of students more effectively.

After September 8th regularly scheduled classes will resume.

Schools may also make extensive use of staggering for day-end dismissals, with factors such as age, bussing, and weather expected to factor into which students are dismissed when, though parents can expect schools to release their own schedules for dismissals should they choose to utilize staggering.

There will also be designated entries and exits for students, and directional arrows to guide foot traffic through hallways.

Those with pre-existing conditions asked to be tested

Children with pre-existing conditions, such as asthma and allergies, are asked to be tested for the virus before the school-year begins and to make any conditions known to teachers.

LCSD is also directing teachers to make use of a guidebook to identify if a student is “looking healthy”, and encourages parents to keep children home if they show signs of being sick.

Stay on the school site

Schools will also be considered “closed campuses” during lunch for K-Gr. 8 students, meaning they will not be allowed to leave school grounds unless an arrangement was earlier made with faculty.

Grades 9 to 12 will be allowed to leave school ground during lunch period, however students with spare blocks are asked to remain on school grounds–schools will designate an area for students to spend their spares in.

Schoolyard playgrounds will also be off-limits during after-hours to ensure they remain safe and clean to the best of each school’s ability.

Schools will also provide temporary masks to students that forgot theirs at home–students in Grade 5-12 will be required to wear protective masks to attend in-person classes.

Students are also urged to refrain from sharing supplies with each other, and LCSD is asking parents and guardians to remain outside of schools unless absolutely necessary.