Dear FJA Community,
Though only five months have elapsed since March 13, when we closed physically and opened virtually, we could not have imagined how much change was yet to come. Our students, staff, and teachers rose to the occasion, met the challenges head on, and we came to understand both the possibilities and the limitations of distance learning. Our investments in technology and training allowed our school to quickly transition and gave our students a unique platform to learn and grow. Technology provided us with an opportunity for connection during a time when we were grappling with the challenges of social distancing and self quarantine. It also became apparent that nothing, despite the tremendous effort and dedication of those involved, could fully replace the very real benefit of face-to-face human contact and real time communication. The bonds of place, people, and community that make FJA so very special are only partially possible through FJA’s very successful distance learning.
We take our responsibility for preparing our students for their future as something sacred; an undertaking of the utmost importance. Nurturing the type of critical and creative thinking, compassion for others, dedication to Jewish tradition, values and peoplehood, and fostering relationships that we so value at FJA, are not the same when attempted remotely. Love of learning and opportunities to lead present themselves in social settings in and beyond the classroom, far more organically than they might in a virtual setting. Through the thoughtful implementation of measures intended to limit and eliminate transmission and exposure for our students and staff, we hope to be able to once again engage students in learning opportunities that capitalize on the many strengths of our school. Moreover, with an eye to a future where COVID no longer dominates the national and international news cycles, we hope to again be able to offer more robust opportunities for our students to engage in the world beyond the classroom, God willing, in the very near future.
In the meantime, our revised schedule, and health and safety procedures, will help ensure that there are multiple layers of intervention to safeguard our school community and prevent the spread of COVID-19 while students and staff are in the building. At the same time, we will seek to offer real-time streaming of classroom instruction where students will be able to engage with teachers while attending their scheduled classes virtually.
This plan, the result of countless hours of planning and preparation, consultation with faculty and staff, and input from parents, will help ensure that we are able to safeguard the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff. We recognize that, despite hours, days, and weeks of planning and troubleshooting, there will be challenges and unanticipated situations that will require understanding, patience, and flexibility. While school will look and feel different, we remain committed to providing a superior learning environment that is engaging, nurturing, and supportive for all our students. We greatly appreciate your partnership and cooperation and look forward to welcoming you back for the 2020-21 school year!
Rabbi Azaryah Cohen
Head of School
Mr. Randy Gawel
Principal
*Please be aware that the plans and details outlined in the Return to Learn plan are subject to change as the situation evolves and as we implement additional recommendations and requirements in accordance with the Michigan Safe Schools Roadmap, the CDC, and local medical professionals. We will be updating this website and other printed materials as needed.
Important Contacts
Head of School: Rabbi Azaryah Cohen
Distance Learning and Academics: Randy Gawel, Principal
Financial, Facilities & Sanitation: Cindy Baker, COO
Communications: Shana Kantor, Director of Advancement
IT Support for Distance Learning: Dan Bourdeau, Director of Innovation & Technology
- Objectives for the 2020-2021 School Year
- Michigan Safe Schools Roadmap
- FJA’s Partnership with Families and Students
- Health and Safety
- Academic Program
- Student Life Activities
- FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Objectives for the 2020-2021 School Year
Maximize in-person teaching, learning, and programming in alignment with Michigan Safe Schools Roadmap
Prepare for in-person learning scenarios with a distance learning option during Phases 4-5, and full distance learning during Phases 1-3, with the ability to adapt in real time.
Provide exceptional virtual teaching and learning for students and faculty when learning virtually.
Address emotional, social and spiritual needs of our students and school community
Michigan Safe Schools Roadmap
- FJA's Return to Learn plan is based off of the MI Safe Schools Roadmap and the phases it references.
- As of July 15, 2020, all schools are permitted to resume in-person instruction beginning in Phase 4.
- All PreK-12 schools will be required to follow the safety protocols outlined in the Roadmap which were noted as “required.” FJA will implement all of the “strongly recommended” and “recommended” practices, going beyond what is required.
MI Safe Start Phases 1-3
Our school building is closed to students, and instruction is provided remotely.
CURRENT PHASE
MI Safe Start Phase 4
School is open for in-person instruction with more stringent required safety protocols.
MI Safe Start Phase 5
School is open for in-person instruction with moderate required safety protocols.
MI Safe Start Phase 6
Schools open for in-person instruction with minimal required safety protocols.
FJA’s Partnership with Families and Students
Our collective goal is to create the safest and healthiest possible environment for our students as we navigate this pandemic.
Like never before, we must embrace the mandate of “ כל ישראל ערבים זה בזה“ (All of Israel is responsible for one another). The guidelines we have put into place at school are there to allow our students and our faculty to both learn and stay healthy. We are all in this together.
FJA’s faculty and staff will do our very best to ensure that IN school the guidelines we have outlined will be followed and we ask for your partnership that OUT of school your family will also follow best practices in keeping virus spread to a minimum.
Please review the guidelines in this plan with all of your family members.
We must keep in mind the risks associated with COVID-19 for in-person school programs, as well as the challenges of ensuring adherence to updated health and safety guidelines. There is not one, but rather a combination of strategies that, taken together, substantially reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. In order for these strategies to be successful:
All FJA faculty, staff, and students will adhere to health and safety policies including:
- Completing FJA’s Health Questionnaire each day before entering the school building
- Staying home when:
- ill or exhibiting any potential COVID-19 symptoms
- exposed to any individual with COVID-19
- Maintaining 6 foot physical distancing
- Wearing a mask that covers the individual’s nose and mouth except when drinking or eating
- Practicing good hygiene like washing hands, using hand sanitizer, and coughing or sneezing into your elbow (even when wearing a mask)
Parents and Guardians should support FJA’s policies by:
- Encouraging students to adhere to all established school health and safety protocols both inside and outside of school.
- Checking their student daily for COVID-19 symptoms and ensuring that FJA’s Health Questionnaire is complete each day.
- Keeping sick or exposed students home.
- Reporting to the school your family's exposure or confirmed case of COVID-19.
- Ensuring that all health and safety protocols are being followed when the student is not at school, as most of a student’s day is spent outside of the school building.
Health and Safety
- Daily Health Screening
- Wearing Masks
- Physical Distancing
- Hygiene
- Cleaning & Sanitizing
- Facility Updates
- Entering School
- Symptom & Diagnosis Protocol
- Visitors
- Social-Emotional Health
Daily Health Screening
Each day, all students, faculty, and staff are required to complete FJA’s Health Questionnaire before they enter FJA. Students should complete the form with parental supervision and permission. This short google form will identify risk factors and whether that person is able to be inside the school facility. The link and a phone icon for iPhone and Android phones will be sent in late August.
Wearing Masks
- Students are required to wear masks - covering nose and mouth - at all times unless eating or drinking. They should wear their own cloth or disposable masks each day. The Shuk (school store) will have some masks available for purchase.
- Looser fitting face coverings like bandanas or scarves, and masks with vents, are not allowed.
- Masks should always be worn throughout the school and the JCC campus, included when walking from cars into school.
- Students will be sent home for mask noncompliance.
- Non-disposable face masks must be washed daily. Disposable masks should be appropriately discarded at the end of the day.
- Faculty will receive “clear” face masks that allow students to see their mouths while they are teaching.
- When office, administrative staff, or faculty are working alone in a private office or room, masks may be removed temporarily.
Physical Distancing
- Students, faculty and staff are expected to maintain a physical distance (6 feet apart) throughout the school day.
- Inside the classroom, desks and tables will be placed to ensure that there is a 6 feet distance between students.
- For the health and safety of our community, no physical contact is permitted. This includes handshaking, hugging, elbow bumping and fist bumping, etc.
- Students will be instructed to “stay to the right” and walk in single file throughout FJA’s Hallways. Hallways will be marked with these directions as well as 6 foot distances.
- Lockers & Mailboxes - In order to help students remain physically distanced from each other, and improve movement between classes, lockers and mailboxes will not be utilized at this time.
- Students’ personal belongings should be kept separate and not shared with other students. They should not be left in classrooms or around the school.
- Bathrooms will also be marked with 6 foot distances and signage reminding students to wash their hands frequently. Individuals will be expected to practice social distancing in bathroom spaces. The number of people allowed at a time in bathrooms will be limited.
- Some classrooms and office desks will be outfitted with plexiglass to limit the exposure of students and staff.
- Couches and tables that were student “hang out” areas have been removed to encourage students to remain physically distant and not congregate in the hallways or shared spaces.
- A student who violates the social distancing or mask safety standards puts the health and safety of the community at risk and may be required to learn from home.
Hygiene
- We will ensure the availability of appropriate supplies to support healthy hygiene behaviors (e.g., soap, hand sanitizer, paper towels, disinfectant wipes, and tissues) and strategically place supplies in areas where they may be frequently used.
- While FJA will have hand sanitizer available for student use, we strongly suggest that students bring their own small supply of hand sanitizer each day.
- Practicing good hygiene like washing hands, using hand sanitizer, and coughing or sneezing into your elbow (even when wearing a mask) are important steps that each person can do to prevent the spread of illnesses.
Cleaning & Sanitizing
In alignment with public health recommendations, FJA is undertaking enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedures, including:
- Increased frequency of cleaning and disinfecting, focusing on high-touch surfaces.
- High traffic areas, including classrooms and restrooms, will be cleaned after each class period.
- Desks will be disinfected at the end of each class period.
- Water bottle filling stations will be available. For health and safety reasons, traditional drinking fountains may not be used. Bottle filling stations will be sanitized.
- We will minimize the number of people accessing ‘touch points’ and will disinfect equipment keyboards / control pads after each session.
- Throughout the school we will use EPA-registered disinfectants, effective against SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 and emerging viral pathogens, to sanitize surfaces.
- Electrostatic cleaners will be used to clean all surfaces at least once a day.
Facility Updates
Ventilation - The JCC will be introducing more outside air into the building to improve ventilation. Additionally, the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system will have upgraded filters and settings that will enhance ventilation.
Classroom occupancy limits - Classrooms are being measured and evaluated individually to calculate appropriate occupancy numbers for each class. Individual desks will be placed 6 feet apart and students at tables will be space 6 feet apart. In certain cases, classes may be relocated to a larger space to accommodate more students.
Signage - Throughout the school, there will be reminders to remain 6 feet apart, wear masks, and maintain proper hygiene practices.
Examples of Signs Around FJA
Entering School
School Entrance and Exiting Protocols
Each day, as students, faculty and staff enter the FJA facility, there are a number of new procedures to help keep everyone safe.
- Health form - Each day, everyone is REQUIRED to complete FJA’s Health Questionnaire before they enter FJA. This short google form will identify risk factors and whether that person is able to be inside the school facility. The link and a phone icon for iPhone and Android phones will be sent in late August. Everyone must have a completed questionnaire before entering FJA.
- Masks must be worn properly (covering nose and mouth) from the moment a student exits a car on the JCC property.
- Temperature check - Before entering the building, everyone will have a routine non-contact temperature check.
- Physical distance at the entrance - one person at a time will be able to enter the school, and everyone will be reminded to maintain physical distance.
- During inclement weather, entrance procedures will take place in the JCC lobby.
- Exiting - when students are released, they will practice physical distancing and wear masks until they have entered a car.
Symptom & Diagnosis Protocol
FJA Symptom and Diagnosis Protocol
Helpful Definitions:
- Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.
- Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick. These people may have been exposed to a disease and do not know it, or they may have the disease but do not show symptoms.
- PCR COVID Test is the nasopharyngeal swab that is the most common form of testing. This is not a rapid COVID test.
Isolate if you are sick
Quarantine if you might be sick
High Risk Symptoms
Experiencing ONE of the following symptoms
- New Cough
- Shortness of Breath
- Difficulty Breathing
- New Loss of Taste or Smell
If you are experiencing one or more of the above symptoms, stay home, consult your medical provider, and follow their recommendations for testing.
Low Risk Symptoms
Experiencing Two of the following symptoms
- Fever (100.4 degrees or greater)
- Chills (rigors)
- Diarrhea (2x in 24 hours)
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting (2x in 24 hours)
- Headache
- Muscle aches (myalgias)
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
If you are experiencing two or more of the above symptoms, stay home, consult your medical provider, and follow their recommendations for testing.
If experiencing only one of these symptoms, stay home and consult your medical provider. You may return to work/school after being fever free for 24 hours without taking fever reducing medication and symptoms have improved.
If High Risk Symptoms are Observed
On a School Day AT SCHOOL
- Student will be sent to the Isolation Room (a specific room identified away from students and staff) and FJA staff will contact parents / guardians
- Student will be sent home
- Contact Physician and follow Physician’s recommendations for testing, treatment, and isolation.
On a School Day At Home
(before or after school)
- Stay home from school
- Contact Physician and follow Physician’s recommendations for testing, treatment, and isolation.
On a Non School Day
Contact Physician and follow Physician’s recommendations for testing, treatment, and isolation.
Follow Up
If the Physician Recommended COVID Test (PCR) is Positive ⇒
Action: Isolate, Contact Tracing in cooperation with Oakland County Health Division
Return to School: 10 days from symptom onset + 72 hours symptom-free + Physician Written Clearance
If the Physician Recommended COVID Test is Negative (PCR) OR Physician does not prescribe COVID test ⇒
Action: Treat any alternate diagnosis (step, flu, other)
Return to School: Physician Written Clearance
If Low Risk Symptoms are Observed
Stay Home and Monitor for 24 Hours
If Symptoms Resolve → May return to School
If Symptom Do Not Resolve → Follow High Risk Protocol
Exposure and Quarantine Guidelines for students and staff exposed to COVID-19
Oakland County Exposure Protocols
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Confirmed COVID-19 in student or staff household |
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Close Contact Confirmed with COVID-19 (less than 6 feet apart for 15 minutes or more) |
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Non-Close Contact Confirmed COVID (greater than 6 feet apart or less than 15 minutes) |
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Pending test of suspected COVID-19: For a person in your household or someone that a student or staff person had close contact with (even if FJA student or staff is asymptomatic) |
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Communicating Symptomatic and Confirmed COVID-19 Cases
- FJA will cooperate with the local public health department if a confirmed case of COVID-19 is identified. This may include sharing the contact information for any close contacts of the affected individual with public health authorities.
- Due to FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Acts) and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements, COVID-19 positive individuals cannot be identified. Even if a student or their family acknowledges and publicly discloses a positive test, school staff and officials cannot participate in discussions or acknowledge a positive test.
- Within 24 hours of being notified by the local health department of a case associated with FJA, we will notify our community by email and the FJA website.
If there is a case of an FJA student or staff member Confirmed with COVID-19, FJA Will ⇒
- Notify all individuals who had close contact (<6 feet apart for >15 minutes) and assist Oakland County Health Division with contact tracing.
- Notify the general FJA community about the positive case without specific detail (abiding by all appropriate laws and rules protecting the confidentiality of personal health information).
Visitors
- Visitors - no visitors until further notice. This includes but is not limited to, parents, shadow visitors, college admissions representatives, professional development, alumni, and staff family members. FJA reserves the right to bring in contractors, who will follow all the same protocols as staff.
- At this point in time, all parent and community programming will take place over Zoom, including Parent Teacher Conferences, Curriculum Night, college nights, New Parent Orientation, Grandfriends Day, etc.
Social-Emotional Health
- FJA’s school social workers will conduct screenings with students and monitor their social-emotional health.
- Whether school is in-person during Phases 4 - 6, or Virtual in Phases 1-3, FJA’s school social workers will interact with students on a regular basis to monitor the community and individual students.
- Faculty and staff will conduct brief informal check-ins at the beginning of class.
- FJA social workers will provide staff and faculty with training materials, provided by Jewish Family Service, to recognize potential behaviors due to the circumstances of the “pandemic” and strategies for teachers on how to most appropriately work with the issues as they arise.
- Teachers and social workers will stay in frequent communication with each other, regarding any social/emotional concerns the teacher has regarding a student.
- FJA’s social workers will conduct screenings with students on a regular basis to monitor community and individual student needs.
- Teachers and/or social workers will notify parents about any social/emotional concerns.
- If parents have any questions about their child’s social/emotional health during the pandemic (or at any time support is needed), please reach out to the school social workers.
- FJA’s social workers will be available to the students via email, telephone and virtual platforms for check-ins and emotional support.
- Faculty and staff will receive professional development specifically focused on student mental health issues during the pandemic and how we will address student issues as a faculty and staff team.
- Crisis protocol - FJA’s social workers will work with staff to identify students that may be struggling to initiate support.
Academic Program
We anticipate the upcoming academic year will be unique in many ways. At the same time, we are committed to providing excellent academic experiences in both Jewish and General Studies, creating formal and informal educational experiences, and considering the social emotional well-being of our students.
Phases 4-5
Students will follow the same daily schedule if they are on campus or learning remotely, starting the day at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 1:20 p.m., with Virtual X-Block from 2:00 - 3:00 pm. Virtual X-Block is an opportunity for students to meet individually with teachers online, for an AP class to meet for additional time, or for student clubs to gather with an advisor.
- Classes will be in-person for the entire student body beginning on Monday, August 31.
- The school day has been shortened to limit exposure as much as possible (see Lunch below)
- Students will not be allowed to leave school during the day.
- Town Hall will take place virtually every other week on Friday 1 and Friday 3.
- X Blocks will be Monday - Thursdays, 2:00 - 3:00 pm and will be conducted virtually, not in person.
- A reformulated Minyan program, now called “z’man kodesh,” will be Monday - Thursdays for 30 minutes, with a variety of options for personal and spiritual growth.
Distance Learning by Choice
- Families who prefer not to be in-person yet, and students who are home due to mild illness or quarantine, will participate in the Distance Learning Option
- In the interest of supporting distance education we have enhanced our technology to allow students to have synchronous education from home.
- FJA teachers will connect with their students at home using Zoom, creating a learning environment that is as close to actually being in the class as possible. Students will be able log into their classes through Zoom and watch, listen, ask questions and engage in the class.
- We will have amplification devices for faculty to ensure that students at home, or students who are in-person with a hearing impairment, will be able to hear faculty clearly through a mask.
- Wide-angle web cameras in the classroom will provide the viewers with the most natural look possible.
- All teachers already have document cameras to help present materials and share video of physical objects to enhance the lesson delivery.
- Faculty will work with individual students to ensure that they are able to complete their work from home.
Phases 1-3
- Teachers will be “live” during the times their classes meet.
- Teachers may choose to have additional class time and meetings for students outside of these scheduled times as needed.
- X-Block will meet Monday through Thursday at the times indicated below.
- Teachers will archive lessons that can be viewed at any time.
- If students are not utilizing scheduled online sessions, or not keeping up with assigned work, teachers will reach out to the students and guardians, as well as administration.
- In addition to the technology upgrades mentioned in Phases 4-5, FJA classes will now meet on Zoom. Zoom provides best-in-class collaboration tools like break-out-rooms, chat functions, and a virtual white board. Zoom is also optimized to share video synchronously so the teacher will be able to share video clips and even movies to the class online seamlessly.
- Some teachers will have digital drawing tablets to enhance lessons taught from home.
Student Life Activities
Food at School
- In order to limit student movement and exposure, we have shortened the school day and eliminated lunch.
- Students will be able to eat snacks in class as needed. It is expected that they will eat quickly and minimize the amount of time they need to shift their mask to eat.
- Students should disinfect their hands before and after eating and are encouraged to bring a personal supply of alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- We do not expect that the JCC’s cafe will be open for food purchases at this time.
- Vending machines will NOT be available to minimize surface contact exposure and ensure physical distancing.
- Water bottle filling stations will be available. For health and safety reasons, traditional drinking fountains may not be used. Bottle filling stations will be sanitized.
Athletics
FJA will continue to work in collaboration with the MHSAA, the Catholic League, and Michigan Department of Health to ensure all protocols are in compliance.
Sports seasons are determined by the MHSAA. FJA is a member of this association; therefore, we will participate in the schedule presented by the MHSAA.Each sport has its own safety protocols as determined by the MHSAA:
The MHSAA has determined that practice will begin on August 12, 2020 in the schedule below:
- Soccer - Partrich Field Directly behind the JCC, 3:30 - 4:30 pm
- Boy’s Tennis - Drake Sports Park, 12:00 - 2:00 pm
- Boys and Girls CC - Meet at the steps in front of school, 4:00 - 5:00 pm
- Girls Volleyball - JCC Gym* 10:00 - 11:00 am (Volleyball will meet on the outside court. The coach will be in contact.)
Transportation to Athletic events is suspended. Families must arrange transportation for their students to athletic events.
Trips
Theater
Clubs & Activities
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Thank you to the many families, students, faculty, and staff who asked questions after reading FJA's Return to Learn plan. Below, you will see a compilation of those questions and their answers. If you have additional questions, please send them to Shana Kantor by email skantor@frankelja.org to be addressed by the appropriate staff person.
Community Responsibility
How can we ensure that students and families will maintain social distancing over evenings and weekends to prevent further spread of disease? Why isn’t there a contract of some sort to ensure that this happens?
On a regular basis, we will emphasize the need to partner with FJA on compliance. We don't believe that signing a contract that is unenforceable will help compliance. We are all part of this community and it will take all of us doing our part to keep everyone safe.
What will be the consequences for a student who refuses to wear their mask and/or remain physically distanced from other students?
Students who don't comply will not be allowed to attend in-person.
School Schedule
I realize the school day ends at 1:20 pm, if a child is in a sport or can’t get picked up until later, are they able to wait around?
- Students must be picked up by 1:45 pm.
- If a student is participating in a sport, they should use the time between the end of school and the sport to change into their gear, eat a snack (outside) and head to their practice field.
What is the earliest students can enter the building in the morning?
8:15 am
The in-person day ends at 1:20, and x-block begins at 2. This does not leave enough to get home and eat a proper lunch.
Most families and teachers live within 20 minutes of FJA. This will give them enough time to get home and eat a more substantial meal before or during x-block. Teachers will also be flexible in terms of how x-block is used. They may schedule office hours or reschedule to accommodate students.
How will kids get to class on time with all of the arrival policies and procedures in place that take extra time?
They will do the health questionnaire on their phone in under a minute from home or in the car. We will send text reminders each morning to complete the health questionnaire. The temperature checks take seconds to complete. Because we do not have busses, there is never a mass arrival that causes too great a backup in the morning. This is also a procedure we will assess and revise as needed. On inclement weather days, we are hoping to use part of the JCC lobby as a staging area, but this has not been decided yet.
Eating
How will kids eat snacks during the day? Having kids in classrooms with masks off eating snacks doesn’t seem safe.
Being in their seats in the classroom is the only time that we can guarantee that the students will be 6’ physically distant from anyone else. Therefore, this is the best time for them to eat / drink by shifting their mask for a short period of time to eat a quick snack. According to the CDC, “For COVID-19, a close contact is defined as any individual who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes.” Therefore, eating while being in their seats in a class with their mask removed for a short period has the least exposure.
These are not intended to be meals, but just something small to keep students going until they can have a larger meal outside of school.
Health and Safety
Will anyone be COVID tested before school begins?
COVID testing is not recommended by the Oakland County Health Division and other experts for many reasons. Giving a test and receiving a negative is a snapshot in time and often can give a false sense of security. After taking a test, an individual can be exposed and spread it unknowingly.
How will you police the number of kids in the bathroom?
This, like walking in the hallways and maintaining social distancing, will be monitored by staff. That said, for this plan to work we will need students to follow the safety guidelines, and to police themselves from the time they leave their vehicles in the parking throughout the school day, and until they leave.
How will rooms be disinfected in the 5 min window between classes?
After each class, teachers will spray the desks down with a cleaner that dries quickly. Students will be allowed to wipe and clean their desk again if that makes them more comfortable.
What is FJA’s social distance definition?
All students must wear masks and maintain a distance of 6 feet from each other.
How would we move from Phase 4 to another Phase?
We will follow the Roadmap and will move to a different phase based on any orders from state officials. In addition, we will work closely with the Oakland County Health Division if there is a confirmed case. They will make the ultimate decision if we need to close for any length of time while we are in Phase 4-6.
Is there a sanitizer station in each classroom?
There will be hand sanitizer dispensers at the school entrance, placed around the school, and in each classroom. Students are also encouraged to bring a personal supply of sanitizer with them to use as needed.
Will there be a health care provider in the building?
As of right now, we do not have one. That is something we are exploring. For the most part, families will need to consult their physician if they suspect they have been exposed or have symptoms.
Academic
Students learning from home have a different learning environment. How will assessments be fair if they have different environments?
This is an integral part of the partnership with families through which the school will need to be able to count on support from home as students take assessments. There will also be, if available, staff to monitor remotely the student taking the test to hopefully make sure that all testing protocols are in place, just as they would be in the classroom. The environments will certainly, though, be different. (As with most things in life) there will be advantages and disadvantages to either option. Families will need to choose which option works best for them and for their students needs.
What is the maximum number of students in any class?
This will be determined by safety guidelines and room size. In some rooms maintaining six feet between individuals seated in desks would mean ten students, in some larger classrooms this could be eighteen.
If a teacher teaches virtually because of illness, do in-person learners learn from the classroom? How will that work?
Students learning in-person will learn in their classroom with a staff or faculty member monitor while they work with their teacher who is teaching remotely. In some situations when students have a study hall right before or after a class that is virtual, or a study hall the first or last period of the day, students will be encouraged to arrive late or leave early. These exceptions should be approved by Mr. Gawel.
Will AP X Blocks be coordinated between teachers so there are no conflicts between class x-block meetings?
Yes. Just like with AP lunches in the past, these sessions will be coordinated by the teachers.
How will accommodations work for students who need extra time or learning assistance?
Accommodations for students will continue to be managed by the learning specialists working collaboratively with the teachers and students. Student accommodations will continue to be provided and all appropriate supports put in place, whether in person or virtually.
Explain the new Zman Kodesh. Can it be a virtual experience?
Z’man Kodesh (formerly known as Minyan) is as important a time in our students’ day as the academic classes. Z’man Kodesh provides students with an opportunity to explore their relationship with God, themselves, and each other through a variety of elective options. It provides a time for student spiritual growth that is not governed by grades/assessment, skills, or knowledge. Whether students choose Art & Tefilah, Wrestling with God, Meditation, Social Justice or Minyan, the community and dynamic achieved through in-person Zman Kodesh will be particularly important, especially as our students navigate current social and emotional challenges
How will students manage school supplies without lockers?
This will likely take some getting used to. Students will need to determine what they need for each class that day. Teachers may also designate an area of the class to book/supply storage. This is something students can discuss with teachers.
how will students learning at home hear the students asking questions in the actual classroom?
We will be working with our teachers to adjust their teaching strategies to remember to repeat the questions asked. They will be able to hear the teacher quite well due to the additional microphones that teachers will have.
If a student that is attending in person but decides they don't want to wake up early & commute some days will it be acceptable for them to toggle back and forth between virtual & in person on a regular basis?
- In cases of illness, students are allowed to learn virtually temporarily.
- Otherwise, temporary switching between in-person and distance learning is not allowed.
- Students may wish to see what the in person learning is like, so families may change the selection for their student once prior to September 10, 2020. Once a final selection is made prior to 9/10/20, it may be changed only at the end of the first quarter (11/6/20), or at the end of the semester (1/15/2021). All changes must be made, in writing, to Principal Randy Gawel.
Student Life & Activities
Can athletes play sports if they are learning virtually?
Yes. They can participate in athletics and all virtual clubs/activities.
What will happen with social experiences such as homecoming and spirit week?
Given that the Governor’s Executive Order concerning schools limits large gatherings, we will be postponing these events or looking to do these things in new and creative ways.
What will Town Hall look like?
Town Hall will now be a virtual experience on Friday 1 and Friday 3 (approximately every other week). They will still be fun opportunities for the school community to be together with lots of student involvement.
Questions?
Everyone's situation is different and you may have very
specific questions about how this plan affects your FJA student.
Please feel free to contact us - we are here to help.