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2020-2021 Return to Learn Information

Sacred Heart Return to Learn Plan
In order to make our return to learn successful we will implement different procedures at Sacred Heart. The information provided here comes from Sacred Heart’s reopening plan. Our purpose is to consolidate guidance with the Diocese of Sioux City Catholic Schools and our local Public Health department to ensure we are following all guidelines and protocols. Our top priority as always is our students’ health and safety while also creating a place of spiritual and academy growth. This plan has been formed and informed by consultation with health and education professionals, and school leaders. It will not, and cannot anticipate or address every situation that may arise as we reopen our schools in August. However, our hope is that it will provide information and updates on procedures and protocols that Sacred Heart will follow to ensure the health and safety of students and staff members in our buildings. We also acknowledge these procedures are intended to mitigate risk, but cannot eliminate it completely.

Return To Learn Letter from Mrs. Woodall 7/16/2020

Overview of Sacred Heart's Current Health and Safety Guidelines

In order to best serve our families and students, we plan to be onsite in August. Our goal is to be onsite as much as possible throughout the school year as we feel it is the best way to educate our students. In the event we need to dismiss groups of students or the entire school for positive COVID cases in our buildings, we will be prepared to move to continuous online learning for periods of time to provide for deep cleaning and quarantining as needed. Hybrid learning may be used in cases of students who are unable to attend onsite. When continuous online learning is necessary, staff may use a combination of printed and online resources to support student learning remotely. Professional development for continuous online instruction is planned and will be required for all faculty starting in July 2020. Specific student needs related to academics for special needs, English learners, etc. will be addressed in Sacred Heart’s plan.
Based on federal and state guidance and recommendations available at this time, Sacred Heart School will follow these guidelines to help us safely reopen in August:

Facemasks: Students (preschool through 6th grade) and all staff are expected to wear masks upon entering the building, in common areas, at Mass, and at most points during the school day. Masks are not required while students are able to socially-distance in classrooms. However, at full capacity, many classrooms may not be able to maintain a 6 foot social distance, and therefore students and staff are expected to wear face coverings. Exceptions will be granted for those students or staff for whom it is not safe to wear masks due to age, medical conditions, or other considerations. Parents will be responsible for providing students with masks. Schools will have backup disposable masks available for students who need them.
The question has come up regarding the dress code when it comes to masks. At this point, masks can be of any print/color. Masks need to be appropriate and not distracting. If a student is wearing an inappropriate or distracting mask, they will have to wear a disposable mask provided by the school rather than theirs.

Physical distancing: Students and staff will maintain a social distance to the greatest extent possible. Desks/tables will be spaced a minimum of three feet apart facing the same direction.

Frequent hand washing and hand sanitizing: All students and staff must engage in frequent handwashing, including upon arrival, before and after meals and recess, after bathroom use, after coughing or sneezing, and before dismissal.

Temperature Checks: All students will have their temps taken every morning. Parents will be notified of an elevated temperature (over 100 degrees) immediately.

Recess: Preschool-6th Grade: To start the school year, students will stay in cohort groups during their allotted recess times and be assigned a specific zone on the playground.

Lunchtime: Masks will be expected except when eating. Students will sit in with their cohort group and in assigned seats daily while at lunch. Students will enter the cafeteria at staggered times, sit at their tables with their cohort, and then line up by cohorts when directed to do so. Extra tables will be set up in the gym and on the stage for additional social distancing seating.

Visitors/Volunteers: All visitors must wear a mask upon entry. Outside visitors and volunteers not involved in mission critical work will not be permitted to enter school buildings to ensure the health and safety of the school and the larger community. Deliveries will be dropped either outside the building or left inside the door of the school. Parents are encouraged to enter the building only in an emergency situation and are expected to wear a mask. (student forgotten items do not qualify as an emergency and will have to be left outside the doors).

Water Bottles: Students will not be able to use the water fountains. We do have one refilling station that they can use. We are asking that students each bring a water bottle filled with water each day. Students will need to take their water bottle home each night to be cleaned, and then refilled with water for the next day of school.
If anyone is interested in donating bottles of water for the school to have on hand, that would be greatly appreciated! We know kids are going to forget their bottle at home some days, so having disposable bottles of water will come in handy. Thank you!

School Supply List: If you are unable to find clorox wipes and hand sanitizer for the supply list, no worries! We have ordered plenty, so please do not worry about not being able to find them.

After School Care: We will be having after school care this year with normal hours. The set up may vary to meet different requirements, and pick up will look a bit different, but we still will be able to provide it for our families!