We are currently working with YMCA and Spark to determine the feasibility of providing before and after school care in select schools. In addition, we are working with the YMCA regarding the possibility of providing off-site before and after school programming. Their protocols for safety and wellness will follow the Naugatuck Public Schools guidelines outlined in this plan.

The first day of school for students will be Sept. 2.

Grade Level	In-Person	Virtual
Grades K-4	8:55 a.m. - 12:25 p.m.	1:55-3:25
Grades 5-6	8:25 -11:55 a.m.	1:25 p.m.-2:55 p.m.
Grades 7-8*	7:55 a.m.-11:25 a.m.	12:55 p.m.-2:25 p.m.
Grades 9-12*	7:30 a.m.-11 a.m.	12:30 p.m.- 2 p.m.

 

* On the days students are in school in-person (Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday)

Shortly after the plan was submitted to the state, Governor Lamont and Commissioner Cardona announced district flexibility on reopening schools in the fall and issued additional guidance, that stresses school density in addition to COVID-19 case prevalence in determining reopening plans. In light of this newfound flexibility, we developed Alternate Return to School Plans that are not yet included in the plan.

We are working on assigning classes once we know which students will be attending in-person and which will be opting into virtual learning. It may be later than usual before we are able to release the class assignments.

Yes, there will be an upcoming Virtual Kindergarten Orientation.

• There were a few factors in the decision. One is that City Hill is a big school with around 700 students so social distancing is more difficult, especially with arrival and dismissal times. 
• The hybrid model cuts the student population in half. Having early dismissal will allow students to build stamina for wearing masks and help with the heat. 

Yes, please work with your child's’ teacher and school to meet your needs.

While this schedule is not ideal, we believe this is the best model for the first month of school to maximize social distancing in our larger schools. Students will still be receiving the required number of hours of instruction, regardless of whether they are in-person or virtual.

At this time this model is not being considered. It may change if we move to a moderate level of risk.

There will be a number of children who opted for virtual learning and this will reduce the class sizes some at the elementary and intermediate level. The idea behind the half-days for the first month is to get kids used to mask-wearing for longer periods of time and enable them to eat lunch at home.

Not unless they are enrolled in a half-day program.

Yes, there will be recess/mask breaks.

It will be a mixture. It could be live and/or recorded.

Passengers should load into the bus from the back row to the front (where the first passengers onto the bus sit in the back row). Students will sit in assigned seats based on the bus route. This will reduce the number of people passengers walk by as they get off the bus.

Busses will run at full capacity, minus those who opted for distance learning (about 30%) during a low level of risk for grades K-8 and at ½ half capacity for grades 9-12. If our risk status is upgraded to moderate, bus capacity for all grades will be lowered.

Yes. Even with before and after care or after school club, the same thing would occur. It means there may be wait time before getting into a room.

Based on CDC guidelines, a school will close for 2-5 days after a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19. During this time, NPS will collaborate with the Department of Public Health to contact trace and determine if a longer closure is necessary.

If there is a confirmed case of COVID 19 in school, the local Health Department, Nursing Supervisor, and Assistant Superintendent will be notified. There is a mandatory 14-day quarantine for the sick person and a 14-day quarantine for close contacts including siblings.

Sibling will be in quarantine for a total of 24 days if they never develop symptoms.

In a low-level status, it is not recommended by the CDC to take students’ temperatures upon arrival, and students are not required to submit to a health screening, according to CDC guidelines. To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we are asking all parents to complete a daily questionnaire prior to sending their child to school. Depending on the public health scenario at the time, the district is prepared to initiate a more rigorous health assessment survey that will ask if students have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, are exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19, or have traveled out of state or out of the country. The district will adapt its survey to guidance from the state and the CDC. 

All faculty and staff members will submit a COVID-19 daily health screening via Google Form before reporting to work each day.

The confidentiality of student and employee records, including but not limited to HIPAA privacy rights, is a priority of the Naugatuck Public Schools. NPS will safeguard the privacy of all students and employees. The team who is responsible for safeguarding the safety of students and employees will maintain the confidentiality of all.

If a student and/or staff member is confirmed to have COVID-19, other students and staff will be informed of their possible exposure, while maintaining confidentiality required by HIPAA and ADA.

In a low level status, students are not required to submit to a health screening, according to CDC guidelines. To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we are asking all parents to complete a daily questionnaire prior to sending their  child to school.  Depending on the public health scenario at the time, the district is prepared to initiate a more rigorous health assessment survey.

Students who are attending school in-person will be responsible for missed work as usual. They can coordinate that with their classroom teachers. There is not a virtual learning option for students who are absent a day or a few days.

If a student is going to be absent for an extended period of time (over two weeks) and is capable of doing work from home, then a student may need to transition to distance learning. These situations can be addressed with the assistance of the building administrator.

The curriculum will continue to be executed as written. The Scope and Sequence of each curricula will be examined and adjusted according to how best to sequence the learning and respond to any gaps that have occurred during distance learning. We remain steadfast in our commitment to equity, and in maintaining the highest quality of education for each and every student in our district. This means adhering to our guiding principles and never wavering in our efforts to provide opportunity and access for all, our commitment to eradicate the opportunity gap, and our belief that every child can achieve our high expectations, as expressed in our NPS Competencies, and Vision of the Graduate regardless of time and place. 

They are not.  NPS will supply individual student supplies.

Learning opportunities will be provided to families on various half-days at the beginning of the school year.  These days will be planned using feedback from surveys. 

Yes. However, students will not be eating lunch at school during the first month.  If there is a student in your child's classroom who has a life-threatening allergy, foods containing that allergen will not be allowed in that classroom. You will receive a letter from your school nurse if a specific food/foods are not allowed.

• All of our dairy products are pasteurized – meaning they have been heat-treated to significantly reduce pathogenic bacteria in the milk.

• Harmful bacteria takes time to grow to levels that could cause illness. The science and the supporting regulatory requirements allow food establishments to have potentially hazardous food out of temperature control for a maximum of 4 hours between 70F – 135F and up to 6 hours below 70F – 40F.  The food code now calls these “potentially hazardous foods” Time/Temperature control for safety foods because both time and temperature collectively are a factor in bacterial growth.

• Sodexo food safety policies require our operations to control for the temperature of the food throughout the establishment from receiving, through preparation, to serving. Temperatures are taken and recorded to ensure our food is not temperature abused. Sodexo only purchases food from suppliers with verified food safety programs that meet our high standards of safety.

• Sodexo food safety policies have written procedures on using time instead of temperature to control bacterial growth.

• Food sent home with students will include safe handling procedures. The safe food handling procedures will include a statement to refrigerate or consume products within 2 hours (Regulatory allows up to 4 hours and we are reducing that time to take a more conservative approach). 

• In September schools will run on early dismissal schedules. Students will grab their lunch and the following day's breakfast as they exit the school. These meals will be eaten at home.
• During Plan 2/Hybrid students will pick up breakfast on their way into the school building and eat it in their classrooms.
• Students who opt into distance learning may pick up their breakfast & lunch in front of Naugatuck High School or City Hill Middle School.

Yes.

Yes, this is recommended.

They would have a hot and cold option, but maybe not as many options as if they were in school.

There is a waiver that only allows parents and guardians to pick up meals for a child. 

The district will actively monitor staff and student attendance in all status levels - low, moderate and high. Virtual or in-person attendance for students will be taken daily using Powerschool.  If a child is going to be absent, parents will follow the normal attendance protocols. 

All K-12 grade students will be required to wear a mask.  Preschool students will not be required to wear masks per CSDE and OEC guidelines, Addendum #2 (7.27.20). 

Yes, all adults will be wearing masks, with exceptions for medical reasons or while teaching so long as they are properly socially distancing or remaining static behind a physical barrier.

No. A face shield is not a sufficient alternative to the wearing of face masks, but rather both should be worn for additional protection. Face shields protect the eyes, nose, and mouth from contamination from respiratory droplets, along with masks or respirators.

Yes, for anyone who has a medical reason, making it unsafe to wear a face covering, masks should not be required.  Students and employees must submit documentation to the School Nurse and direct supervisor from a licensed MD/DO/NP attesting that the medical condition prevents them from having the ability to wear a mask safely.

All children will be required to wear masks while they are in school buildings.

Schools will be scheduling regular mask breaks throughout the day. 

A cloth or disposable face covering that covers the nose and mouth will be required.  Masks must follow Naugatuck Public School’s dress code, which prohibits Clothing which prints vulgarities, promotes illegal activity, displays pictures, words, or links to websites that advertise or imply drugs, alcohol or weapons, or displays discriminatory words or gestures. You can read more details about our mask guidelines here: Face Mask Guidelines for NPS students

Yes. All students, faculty, and staff will be provided with a cloth face mask at the start of the school year. Naugatuck Public Schools is prepared to provide a mask to any student or staff member who does not have one, or whose mask becomes unusable. The masks will be available in the school buildings, Central Office, and on the buses.

Based on state guidelines, field trips are prohibited until further notice.  In addition, if there is a field day, it will be virtual for all students and not held in-person.

We understand that this is a difficult decision and you may have specific questions or need to make work & childcare arrangements before committing to a decision. We are asking families to make a decision as soon as possible so that we can start planning for our staffing and classroom needs.

Please email your school secretary or principal to let them know about the change.

Students who opt to participate in distance learning may participate in extracurricular activities.  Students choosing to do so will need to follow all of the safety measures required for in-person attendance when required by the activity (face covering, hand washing, social distancing).

In order to run two concurrent models effectively, we ask that families who choose online learning from home commit to staying online for the trimester (K-8) or marking period (9-12).  

NPS is currently exploring various approaches for families who opt for virtual learning, which may include at the district’s discretion:

• Using their Chromebooks from home, students access classroom instruction from NPS teachers who are providing instruction to students in-person; and/or
• Assignment to a virtual class with NPS teachers who provides distance learning in accordance with our distance learning plan; and/or  
• Through a K-12 online program to offer education across all grade levels supported by NPS or program-certified teachers.
• NPS will employ a K-12 online program to offer education across all grade levels for students opting to not return to school but remain enrolled in Naugatuck Public Schools. In the event that the district is notified that it will be entering into high-risk status, students receiving their learning through the district-approved online educational program will continue with their program of study for continuity and consistency of learning.

This will depend on how many students enroll in distance learning and what teachers are available.

We will do our best to accommodate these needs. If there are special concerns about which group your child ends up in, please contact your school directly and they will try to work with you.

The reason behind the Mon/Wed Tues/Thurs schedule is so that the students don't go as long without seeing their teachers in-person. In addition, The schools will be deep cleaned throughout the day and every night.

The district is currently exploring various approaches to virtual learning during the hybrid which may include cameras and microphones focused on the instructor in classrooms, completion of tasks, and assignments from in-person learning with virtual support from staff.

We will begin by splitting the classes alphabetically, but also take into account keeping siblings in the same group and other special considerations.

Yes, the district compiled “lessons learned” using staff reflection/feedback and survey data from multiple stakeholder groups.  This information was used to design this year’s distance learning plan. When the state of Connecticut and the Connecticut Department of Education alerts the district of a change in status to high, the district will initiate its online learning plan. Students will have Chromebooks at home and school-based teams will assist families with accessing the Internet. Students will continue to learn in the Google Classroom they have been using and accessing in an effort to provide for a more seamless transition. Central Office and principals will deploy staff in accordance with the district’s Distance Learning Plan.

Classes will have all of the desks and tables necessary for each child in the class, even during a hybrid.

Students will not be allowed to share or bring in personal toys. Classroom and student materials such as Chromebooks, tablets, manipulatives, pencil boxes etc. will be disinfected daily by classroom staff using disinfectant wipes.

The CSDE released Interim Guidance for Decision-Making Regarding the Use of In-Person, Hybrid (Blended), or Remote Learning Models in Connecticut Schools during COVID-19 on 7.28.20.  The determination of when districts will move from one level to another or from one plan to the next will come from the Connecticut Department of Public Health and State Department of Education. While local districts may have some input into the decision-making process, the decision to move between plans is not a local decision. Moving from one plan to the next (i.e. going from full-opening to a hybrid or full distance learning) will be based on the ongoing monitoring and assessment of transmission data throughout communities, regions, and the state. At this time, DPH and CSDE are still working to establish the metrics for moving from one plan to the next. Once established, the metrics and information will be shared with all stakeholders and will become a part of this plan.

This is a possibility.

That’s a school-level decision, but part of the plan is to identify traffic flow and traffic plans to mitigate exposure.

We will have stickers on the floors to mark places for students to wait for the bathroom, marking 6’ apart in the hallways, etc.

The determination of when districts will move from one level to another or from one plan to the next will come from the Connecticut Department of Public Health and State Department of Education.

It is possible that we may need to switch to a different model before Oct. 2 if we are directed to do so by the state and local health officials. 

The distance learning for students with special education services, will have a plan based on the state’s opportunity plan. Students will receive the same services, but the services might look different. This will be captured on the distance learning opportunity plans that we make with families. 

Currently, we will be holding PPT’s virtually unless a parent needs an accommodation.  We are bound by IDEA timelines and will comply with those timelines.  For students that are participating virtually, we will ask that they come in person to be tested.  If this is not possible, teams will work together with families to make an alternative plan.

We will continue to follow student’s IEP’s and provide special education services in the child’s least restrictive environment, per their IEP.  Scheduling will be thoughtful to reduce the mixture of cohorts to the extent possible.  Special education teams will communicate with families regarding individual students.

During a hybrid model, efforts will be made to provide special education and related services during in person learning, unless a student’s team (in collaboration with the family) decides otherwise.

Physicals shall be accepted at the BoE during regular business hours until the first day of school. Once school starts, you should call your school nurse to make arrangements to drop it off if you prefer. No visitors are allowed in our buildings, but the nurses or a secretary can meet you outside the building if needed.

They may also be mailed directly to the School Nurse at the school where your child is attending.

Yes.

Please contact your child's school directly to find out if they need any supplies.

Trimester 1 ends Nov. 29 for grades K-8, assuming no changes to the calendar.  Quarter 1 ends Nov. 2 for high school students.

Yes.