ILLNESS ADVISORY UPDATE

08.07.2020

On August 6, 2020, the School Board reviewed the Back to School Plan in light of continued information regarding the pandemic in Gordon County. After much prayer and discussion the following items were added or changed.

1. School Nurse. The School Board authorized the hiring of a school nurse, Mrs. Hufstetler to assist the faculty with decisions regarding those entering school each day. She will be onsite each morning. God has blessed us with her ministry, and we are grateful for her time, wisdom, and professional experience.

2. Masks. The rising numbers of Covid in the local hospitals, community, and as mentioned in the news of other schools led our School Board to revisit the decision regarding which illness advisory level our school would enter the school year in. After extensive discussion, and with the help of Dr. Yamamoto, the decision was to remain at Level Two, but changing from masks recommended to masks required. Masks and filters have already been purchased for each child. A washing machine/dryer unit set has been installed so that they may be disinfected and filters replaced. The schedule of the school has been adjusted to provide increased outdoor time each day where students would not be required to wear a mask. Board members weighed the social/emotional needs of children learning in person, and felt that requiring masks allows our students to still meet this need, while also offering virtual learning to those that cannot tolerate the risks involved with in person learning or have other concerns that would keep them from the classroom. All students/families have the option to keep their children home and learn virtually, or have the child learn in the classroom.

We want to share how grateful we are to the church and school community for your support! Enclosed is the list of changes made to our school this past summer to ensure the health and safety of our students.

Just as a reminder, the school and faculty have instituted the following to prepare for the school year:

1. Extensive signage for distancing throughout the facility

2. Hand sanitizer stations for each classroom

3. Automatic Temperature and Hand Sanitizer stations at the entrance of school

4. $45,000 of technology to ensure that each classroom has a camera that can survey the classroom and the teacher with additional computers, sound system, and microphone to help the teacher project through masks and be heard appropriately online

5. Additional online curriculum support with online programs across Language, Math, and Science curriculum

6. Additional extra-curricular materials and curriculums - violins, music theory and Spanish

7. $22,000 of Cares Act Funding for cleaning/sanitizing supplies

8. Purchase of masks, shields, etc for staff and students

9. Outdoor Classroom equipment - canopies and picnic benches to enable this to be increased part of curriculum

10. PE Equipment and Sanitizers to ensure that both indoor and outdoor spaces are sanitized

11. Air Ionizer Cleaners installed in each of the 17 systems in the building to ensure clean air

12. Custodian and Paraprofessionals utilizing cleaning protocols to ensure regular cleaning of touchpoints throughout the day

13. Additional manipulatives to ensure each individual is given materials (no sharing) in math, science, and art

14. Extensive time spent by faculty, staff, and volunteers in planning, meeting, and working throughout the summer - outside of contracted time to ensure adequate preparation for a successful and healthy school year.

Dear Parents,

Welcome to School Year 2020-2021! Although the pandemic put a damper on the end of last year, the faculty and staff can't wait to resume in-person instruction! The School Board authorized significant money to provide updated technology and health/safety supplies to ensure improved experience both in the classroom as well as in the virtual setting.

This website strives to answer the many questions that families ask regarding what school will look like this year. If you have a question that isn't answered here, please reach out- call/text Mrs. Helbley at 303.957.7020 or email at: rebekah@cobleschool.com.

Thank you for joining me in prayer asking for God's blessing of our children and community!

In prayers and service,

Rebekah Helbley

Principal