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Maria Regina High School500 West Hartsdale AvenueHartsdale, New York 105302020-2021 Reopening PlanWHO WE AREMaria Regina High School is a Catholic school in the Archdiocese of New York which is dedicated to theeducation of young women. Its key objective is to develop within each of them a true sense of Christianvalues using a holistic approach that fosters the integration of each person as an individual within a globalcommunity.OUR PLANThis document has been developed in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the NYS Department ofEducation for Religious and Independent Schools. This document is a living document and is subject tochange as government guidelines are issued and decisions are made in the best interest of the members ofthe MRHS community .
TABLE OF CONTENTSLetter from MRHS Administration2Health and Safety Measures3Building Entry Procedures4Building and Facilities Management Cleaning and Disinfection Classroom and Building Modifications Facilities Ventilation and HVAC5Management of Ill Persons and School Closures7Academic Models Additional Academic Modifications8Social-Emotional Well-being10Special Education and Student Support Services11Transportation12Food Services12Physical Education, Sports, and Extracurricular Activities13Student, Parent, Faculty, and Staff Orientation14Appendix A: Reopening Committee MembersAppendix B: Daily Screening QuestionnaireAppendix C: Hybrid Learning Daily ScheduleAppendix D: Fully Remote Learning Daily ScheduleAppendix E: Remote Learning Handbook (coming soon)Appendix F: Parent/Guardian Reopening SurveyAppendix G: Faculty Reopening Survey151617181920211
August 10, 2020Dear Maria Regina High School Community,We know the upcoming school year will be new and different for us all. As we move forward with thehybrid learning model, we hope you know that the health, safety, and overall well being of our schoolcommunity is our paramount concern.Our plans were developed after numerous committee meetings and discussions with experts in the fieldsof law, medicine, and architecture. We thank our Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, staff, andparents for their thoughtful input and hard work to develop this comprehensive plan. We continue toreceive guidance from the New York State Department of Health, the New York State EducationDepartment, and the Archdiocese of New York.We are committed to maintaining a five-day school week in which students can participate in engagingacademic coursework, whether they are in the school building or learning remotely. Our orientationschedule will allow us the time and resources to ensure that students, faculty, and staff are prepared forthe new learning environment we are about to embark on.Our spiritual theme for this school year centers around working together, encouraging each other, andbuilding each other up. Our communication will remain clear and constant throughout the reopeningprocess and during the school year. Our faith will continue to grow knowing that God has instilled in usthe capabilities we need for a peaceful, productive, and successful school year. Together, we are#tigerstrong.Together in Christ,Anna ParraPresidentMaria Carozza-McCaffreyInterim Principal2
Health and Safety Measures Signs throughout the building and announcements will providereminders of the importance of frequent hand hygiene throughout theschool day. Upon entering the school building each morning, students will applyhand sanitizer provided by a staff member or a free-standing sanitizerstation. Hand sanitizing stations are already available in the hallwaysand common areas throughout the building. All students, faculty, and staff will be required to wear face masksduring the school day while on school property, especially in hallways where it is more difficult tomaintain physical distancing. Students are expected to provide their own face masks based on theguidelines communicated by MRHS. All face masks must be either solid-colored or patterned.Patterns are limited to floral or abstract designs. Face masks may NOT include any lettering,words, or images. A small supply of PPE has been provided by the Greenburgh Central School District. The SchoolNurse will not dispense face shields to students. The CDC does not recommend face shields,especially when worn without a face mask or covering. The School Nurse will be the solemanager of ill faculty, staff, and students.Faculty and staff will refer students suspected ofbeing ill to the School Nurse at any time duringthe school day. Procedures for students approaching theSchool Nurse’s office will be posted outside heroffice door. These procedures will be strictlyfollowed so that the School Nurse may triagepotential Covid-19 ill persons and maintain thehealth and safety of students in her care with nonCovid-related needs. An isolation room has been designated for students with a potential Covid-related illness wherethey will wait for their parents/guardians to pick them up from school.3
Building Entry ProceduresBefore Arriving on Campus Before entering the school building each day, students, faculty, and staff will be asked to completea Daily Screening Questionnaire via the SchoolPass a pplication. Log-in information, instructions for use, and specific directives will be sent to ourcommunity prior to the reopening of school. The questionnaire will be filled out at homeprior to arriving at MRHS in the morning. Students, faculty, and staff will scan theirSchoolPass QR code upon entering the school building, and their answers to the screeningquestions will be logged. For those who do not have access to a smartphone, a staffmember will assist them in completing the questionnaire prior to entering the schoolbuilding.Students Taking Any MRHS Charter Buses (Bronx Routes, Tarrytown Train Station Shuttle) andPublic Transportation Bus drivers will have clipboards with lists of their students to keep track of their temperatures withno-touch infrared thermometers each day. Any student with a temperature above 100 will NOTbe permitted to ride the bus to school. The bus driver will notify the School Nurse or a staffmember when the bus arrives at school. Temperature checks do NOT take place on Metro-North or Beeline Buses. It is IMPERATIVEthat students are temperature checked prior to leaving their homes. Students who arrive at MRHSwith a temperature above 100 will go directly to the isolation area, and a parent/guardian mustpick them up immediately.Entering MRHS: The School Nurse, campus security, and othermembers of the MRHS staff will check thetemperatures of all students, faculty, and staff outsidethe main entrance before entering MRHS in themorning. Anyone whose temperature is above 100 must be rechecked outside the school ten minuteslater. A second fever reading will require students tobe escorted to the isolation area. Parents/guardianswill then be called for pickup, and students’ nameswill be recorded by the School Nurse for contacttracing purposes. Faculty and staff will abide by the same rules if they present with a fever. There will be one line per grade level. A tent will cover the main entrance during inclementweather. Students are to maintain physical distancing while awaiting their temperature checks. Upon having their temperatures checked, students, faculty, and staff will scan their SchoolPassQR code and proceed directly to the dining hall or their homerooms. Desks in all classrooms, thedining hall, and common areas will be marked and spaced to maintain physical distancing.4
Building and Facilities ManagementCleaning and Disinfection Daytime maintenance staff will consist of a full-time supervisor and two full-time employees.Evening maintenance will consist of four employees. Restrooms will be cleaned and disinfected frequently and routinely throughout the day. Desktop surfaces in classrooms and common areas will be cleaned using non-bleach based wipes.At the end of each class period, students will be given wipes to disinfect their desktops as theyexit. Additional time has been added between classes to allow for this cleaning. High-touch areas - including but not limited to light switches, stair railings and door handles - willbe cleaned and disinfected with bleach-based products every two to three hours by maintenancestaff. Disinfectant mist will be applied by foggers nightly. In the hybrid model, Wednesdays will serve as “deepcleaning” days while students engage in remote learning.Classroom and Building Modifications In June, an architect measured the square footage ofEVERY room and space in MRHS and determined thenumber of desks that can be safely accommodated in them. Teacher desks and extra bookcases will be removed to accommodate physical distancing. Markers will clearly designate where each desk will be placed in order to maintain physicaldistancing. All student desks will face in the same direction and will not be moved. Dining hall tables will be removed and replaced with desks. The gymnasium will be converted into a “Virtual Learning Room” where students will attendonline classes with teachers who are teaching virtually from their homes. In the Information Center, multi-person tables will be removed from both rooms and replaced withstudent desks. Plexiglass shields have been installed on top of the counter in the Main Office. Student lockers will NOT be used while physical distancing measures are in effect. Upon theapproach of the colder weather, lockers may be reconsidered to store winter coats/apparel.5
Facilities All restrooms have been retro-fitted with hands-free sinksand toilets and hands-free paper towel and soap dispensers. Student restrooms will be single use only. Only one studentmay enter and use the restroom at a time, even in multiple-stallrestrooms. Multi-stall restrooms will have all but one stall boltedshut to prevent multiple students from using them. Markers will beplaced outside each restroom so that students may safely wait theirturn to use the restroom. Water bottle refill stations will be available for use. Refillstations dispense filtered water. Filters are changed every thirtydays. Temporary covers will be placed over the buttons thatactivate the mouthpiece portion of the refill station.Ventilation Fans will be added to classrooms to create better air circulation. The Information Center has plenty of natural ventilation along with an internal air conditioningsystem to keep air flowing. The dining hall and gymnasium have air conditioning systems that will run full fresh air at alltimes. Restrooms have natural ventilation and/or exhaust fans that will be augmented to ensure better airflow. Hospital grade air scrubbers will be added to areas of lower ventilation as needed.6
Management of Ill-Persons and School ClosuresIn July, the MRHS administration conducted online surveys for students and faculty in order to identifyand accommodate anyone with mitigating health circumstances that would precipitate a need for them tolearn or teach remotely.The School Nurse will be in charge of keeping a list of medically high-risk students and will share it withthe Principal. Medically fragile faculty and staff have notified the School Nurse and the Principal.Medically vulnerable students will have the option to learn completely remotely if requested.Protocols if Students or Staff Become Ill with Symptoms of Covid-19 at School Students who become ill will be escorted to the isolation area. Students who are isolated musthave parents/guardians pick them up immediately. Symptomatic faculty and staff will also leaveschool immediately. The School Nurse will notify the Principal each time a student, faculty, or staff member leavesschool early due to possible symptoms of Covid-19. Students, faculty, or staff must exit theschool via the exit nearest the nurse’s office ( the north entrance ). Students, faculty, and staffmay not return to school unless they have been fever-free without the use of fever-reducingmedication for at least twenty-four hours, AND they must provide the School Nurse and Principalwith a doctor’s note that clears them to return to school.Protocols for Returning to School after Exhibiting Symptoms of Covid-19: Ill persons must be seen by a physician. In order to return to school, they must have written medical clearance from their physicians thatindicates that they are either Covid free or that the physicians do not believe that their symptomsare contagious to the school community.Protocols for Confirmed Covid-19 Cases In the event of a positive confirmed case of Covid-19 in the school building, administration willnotify local Department of Health officials for further guidance and initiate contact tracing. As perfederal and NYS regulations, confidentiality will be maintained.School Closures In the event of a closure due to a possible or actual Covid-19 exposure, MRHS will follow NYSDOH regulations. Our electronic notification system will disseminate information via email andphone call. Information will also be posted to the MRHS website.7
Academic ModelsFull Remote LearningFull-Time Requested Remote LearningRemote learning for the entire schoolcommunity, as mandated by administrationand/or NYS health officials, will keep MRHSclosed for the health and safety of our entireschool community. Students will participatefully in all academic and school activities.See Appendix Dfor the Daily Schedule FormatThis option exists at the request of student/sparents/guardians. MRHS will be open withphysical distancing and other health and safetymeasures. These students will participate in alllearning and all school activities from homeuntil the parents/guardians decide it isappropriate for them to return to MRHS inconsultation with administration.Students will follow the hybrid schedule withtheir classmates.Hybrid ModelTraditional ModelThis model will combine in-school and at-homelearning by assigning students to learningteams. All health and safety guidelines will befollowed while in school. Days not spent inMRHS will be spent via live feed to allow forfull participation with teachers in all learningand in all school activities.This model approaches instruction in thetraditional manner to which students andparents are accustomed with some schedulemodifications and one day of remote learningfor the entire school population. This approachalso includes a return to regular class sizes. Allhealth and safety guidelines will be followedwhile in school.See Appendix Cfor the Daily Schedule FormatSchedule TBA.Additional Academic ModificationsScience Labs In order for students in the classroom and at home to participate in science labs, teachers willdemonstrate lab experiments, whenever possible, through the use of a webcam or documentcamera. When indicated, students will have their own disposable/consumable materials.Laboratory materials will NOT be shared. Students will also complete lab work throughweb-based virtual lab experiments.Visual Art Courses Grades 9 - 11 art students will have individual sets of supplies that will NOT be shared. Eachclass set of supplies will be stored together because students will not meet again in person forthree days in the schedule cycle. Many assignments will continue to be submitted digitally. Grade 12 art students will also have individual sets of supplies. Art supplies will NOT be shared.8
Library Services The school’s Information Center serves as the school’s library. The catalog of available books andreference materials has been replaced with a web-based interface and is available to students,faculty, and staff. When books are borrowed from the library, they will be placed in a separate binand quarantined for forty-eight hours before returning to circulation. The Librarian/DatabaseSpecialist will be available to meet with students individually or in small, physically-distantgroups to address their research needs.Assessments In both the hybrid and remote learning environments, teachers will have assessment tools to assessstudents in the physical classroom and at home in the remote classroom. Any paper assessmentsand assignments collected by teachers will be placed in an “inbox” bin and left to quarantine forforty-eight hours, as per CDC recommendations. Once graded by teachers, these will be placed inan “outbox” bin and similarly quarantined for forty-eight hours. Further details about assessmentprocedures will be disseminated as the school year progresses.Grading Regardless of the learning environment, MRHS will continue using our four-quarter numericgrading system for full-credit courses and the letter-based or Pass/Fail grading system forhalf-credit courses.9
Social-Emotional Well-being During orientation days, our Student Support Services will (re)introduce themselves to students,faculty, and staff. At the beginning of the school year, an informational sheet will be distributedelectronically to students that describes the Student Support Services available. The StudentSupport Services Team includes a Social Worker and a Learning Specialist. Monthlycommunication will continue from our Student Support Team. In addition, an enhanced referral system will allow, with parental and student consent, to identifystudents in need of mental health and emotional support services. Guest speakers and small group meetings (following social distancing guidelines) will be added toour school program as the school year progresses.10
Special Education and Student Support Services All Special Education Services will continue as per each student’s home public school districtdirectives. Progres will continue to be monitored on a weekly to bi-weekly basis as needed foreach student receiving services. The Learning Specialist will have regular communication withstudents, parents, and faculty via email and phone. In an in-person learning environment, theLearning Specialist will be available to meet with parents, students, and faculty and will followphysical distancing guidelines. Meetings with parents typically take place over the phone. However, when students areexperiencing more substantial difficulties, the school will require in-person meetings.Communication/Meetings with students will take place several times a week during quiet studiesand lunch periods . In a 100% remote learning environment, meetings will be conducted via videoconference. The Learning Specialist will meet with students virtually via video conferences toensure continuity and continued coordination of services.Eligibility Determination/Annual Review Meetings The Eligibility Determination of an individual student or Annual Review meeting is conducted inpartnership with the Greenburgh Central School District. For incoming students, IEP reviewmeetings are set up in the beginning of the school year after a student has registered with theGreenburgh Central School District. Annual Review meetings take place starting in April or May.In an in-person school environment, these meetings will take place in a location where privacy andphysical distancing can both be achieved. In a 100% remote environment, these meetings willtake place via video conference.Accommodations and Modifications While most accommodations and modifications are academic and can be adjusted easily whetherin an in-school or virtual learning environment, the two accommodations/modifications thatrequire an adjustment of physical space are “preferential seating” within a class and “separatelocation for tests”. Preferential seating will be adjusted based on physical distancing measures, butthe student should still be placed towards the front of the class. Separate testing locations will bedependent on space availability and physical distancing guidelines. In both the hybrid learning andremote learning environments, students with extended time for testing will continue to use theirquiet studies and lunch periods to meet this mandated accommodation.11
TransportationStudents must adhere to the guidelines specified by each mode of transportation.MRHS Charter Bus School employees with the appropriate licensure will continue to drive the school buses. Uponentering the bus, the driver will check students’ temperatures and ask screening questions.Students will sit one student to a two-person seat, physically distanced. If implementing thehybrid learning model, the number of students on the bus will be reduced by approximately 50%,which increases physical distancing.Public Transportation (Metro-North and Beeline Bus) guidelines will be dictated in accordance withlocal transportation authorities.District Bus guidelines will dictate students’ home school districts. Families should check with their localschool districts often to ensure transportation is confirmed for the 2020-2021 school year.Automobile Arrivals Students arriving to school by car will adhere to the entrance procedures delineated earlier in thisdocument.Food Services Students may continue to bring their lunches in sealed containers that they will carry with them.As always, for the health and safety of our community, food may only be consumed in the dininghall. Microwaves and toasters will NOT be available.Meal Service Students may use a pre-order application to purchase lunch. Students pre-order meals online theFriday before a week of classes. Menu options will be available through this application. Mealswill be prepared at the outside vendor’s Covid-19 certified location and delivered to MRHS inindividual containers with the student’s name and group-identifying information. Payment will bemade in advance through the application. Vending machines will be disabled for the foreseeable future.12
Physical Education, Sports, and Extracurricular ActivitiesPhysical Education If physical education classes can be conducted safely while adhering to social distancingguidelines, classes will take place outdoors whenever possible. Activities may includesingle-person exercise, conditioning, and flexibility activities. Students will NOT engage in anycontact activities during physical education classes. This decision is pending guidance from theNYS DOH and Archdiocese of NY.Interscholastic and Intramural Athletics Per the NYS DOH guidance on interscholastic sports, no athletic activities will begin untilSeptember 21, 2020. Guidance from the Archdiocese of New York is also pending. Intramural sports will not begin until interscholastic sports are permitted.Extracurricular Activities and Use of Facilities Inside and Outside of School Hours Mass and Assemblies: In the hybrid learning environment, those in charge of an assembly orcelebrating a mass will be in a central location such as the Information Center or the gymnasium.The assembly and/or mass will be live streamed into classrooms during an extended homeroomperiod. In the remote learning model, assemblies and masses will be live-streamed. Driver’s Education: Lectures will take place in the dining hall after the end of the academic day.Students participating in the program will have their temperatures checked before entering theschool building and will enter through a separate entrance nearest the dining hall. There will beone bathroom designated for their use which will be cleaned and disinfected by the nightmaintenance staff. All other regulations will be in accordance with the NYS Department of MotorVehicles. SAT/PSAT: MRHS will administer the SAT to seniors in September and the PSAT to Grades 10and 11 in October. These test administrations will be in accordance with the guidelines set forthby the College Board . Physical distancing protocols will remain in effect during the testingadministration. Club Meetings: No in-person club meetings will take place initially upon the reopening of school.Consideration for virtual meetings will be discussed during the school’s first fall faculty meeting Retreats: In the hybrid model, grade-level retreats will take place in small breakout groups withgroup sizes significantly smaller than the capacity of the rooms where they take place. Studentswill remain in one area of the school building or use the on-property convent as their retreat space.Retreats will take place during regular school hours.13
Student, Parent, Faculty, and Staff OrientationIn order to ensure the smoothest transition from orientation to the hybrid learning environment, MariaRegina High School will be taking the following steps: During the weeks of September 7 th and September 15 th , multiple orientation sessions will be heldfor students, parents, and faculty in the areas of: Movement through the school building and on campus. Health and hygiene regulations. Academic expectations. Mental health. Technology use and training. Once orientation is complete, we will conduct two to three days of remote learning and will followthe remote learning schedule as indicated in Appendix D. This will allow our students and facultyto become accustomed to the technology, introduce course expectations, and get to know eachother in a more relaxed atmosphere. Once our orientation days and remote-learning demo days have been completed, we will reassessand announce the first day of hybrid learning. A finalized schedule of orientation sessions, with dates and times, will be emailed to ourcommunity and posted to the school website in the coming days.14
Appendix A: Reopening Committee MembersNamePositionMs. Anna ParraSchool PresidentMs. Maria Carozza-McCaffreyInterim PrincipalMs. Silvia SantoAssistant PrincipalMs. MaryAnne WirthVice Chair: Board of TrusteesMs. Kathy PisanoBoard of TrusteesMr. Randall RichardsBoard of TrusteesMs. Leah KaplanSocial WorkerMr. Thomas RobertineLearning SpecialistMs. Laura Zarychta-BiancoDirector of Admissions & NinthGrade AdvisorMs. Shelly YapchanykSchool NurseMr. Tim CarrollDirector of SecurityMr. George McCulloughDirector of School MaintenanceMs. Lauren EllzeyLibrarian/Database SpecialistMr. Paul RobbinsDirector of ITMr. Michael MolinelliArchitectMs. Judith FurnariFacultyMs. Anne LoseeFacultyMrs. Patricia MartinFacultyMrs. Marcia ViqueiraFacultyMs. Ewoma JonesParentMrs. Elizabeth MustoParent15
Appendix B: Daily COVID-19 Screening QuestionnaireThe Daily COVID-19 Screening will be completed through the SchoolPass a pplication.Questions included in the daily COVID-19 screening questionnaire are as follows:1. Have you experienced any COVID-19 symptoms in the last 14 days, including but not limited to,a fever greater than 100 F?2. Have you taken any medication to reduce a fever in the last 24 hours?3. Have you tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days?4. Have you come in close contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or has hadsymptoms of COVID-19 in the last 14 days?5. Have you travelled to/from a state with widespread community infection or anywhereinternationally in the last 14 days?Remember: COVID-19 symptoms in youth include: Temperature greater than 100 F, sore throat, newuncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, new onset ofheadache (especially with a fever).Students, faculty, or staff who answer “YES” to one or more of the above questions should not come toschool.These questions were adapted directly from the CDC guidelines for Daily Screening for Students.16
Appendix C: Hybrid Learning Daily Schedule(38-minute classes)( 5 minutes between classes)Minutes between classes are subject to change.ClassPeriodsDay 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5Day 6HR8:05 - 8:15A8:20 - 8:58B9:03 - 9:41C9:46 - 10:24D10:29 - 11:07E11:12 - 11:50F11:55 - 12:33G12:38 - 1:16H1:21 - 1:59I2:04 - 2:42Student Expectations:1. Virtual students will :a. Wear their MRHS uniform shirt and sit themselves in a “neutral” area at home that isconducive to learning.b. Sign in ON TIME for attendance at the beginning of each class via Google Classroom.c. Participate in ALL classroom activities and assignments as well as school-wide activities.2. In-school students will :a. Maintain physical distancing and other protocols put in place by MRHS.b. Have a charged laptop/tablet to use in class as well as their OWN chargers.c. Not share supplies of any kind unless approved by a teacher in a particular class.d. Participate in ALL classroom activities and assignments as well as school-wide activities.17
Appendix D: Remote Learning Daily Schedule 30-minute classes Two 45-minute testing blocksClassPeriodDay 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5Day 68:10-8:20Prayer, Pledge,AnnouncementsPrayer, Pledge,AnnouncementsPrayer, Pledge,AnnouncementsPrayer, Pledge,AnnouncementsPrayer, Pledge,AnnouncementsPrayer, Pledge,Announcements8:25-8:55Period APeriod IPeriod APeriod IPeriod APeriod I9:00-9:30Period BPeriod HPeriod BPeriod HPeriod BPeriod H9:35-10:05Period CPeriod GPeriod CPeriod GPeriod CPeriod G10:10-10:40Period DPeriod FPeriod DPeriod FPeriod DPeriod F10:45-11:15Period EPeriod EPeriod EPeriod EPeriod EPeriod E11:20-11:50Period FPeriod DPeriod FPeriod DPeriod FPeriod D11:55-12:25Period GPeriod CPeriod GPeriod CPeriod GPeriod C12:30-1:00Period HPeriod BPeriod HPeriod BPeriod HPeriod B1:05-1:35Period IPeriod APeriod IPeriod APeriod IPeriod A1:40-2:25TestingBlock1Subject TestDates/TimesTBD2:30-3:15TestingBlock 2Student Expectations:1. Students will:a. Wear their MRHS uniform shirt and sit themselves in a “neutral” area at home that isconducive to learning.b. Sign in ON TIME for attendance at the beginning of each class via Google Classroom.c. Participate in ALL classroom activities and assignments as well as school-wide activities.18
Appendix E: Remote Learning Handbook (coming soon) This handbook will serve as an addition to our usual Student Handbook distributed at thebeginning of the school year. The Remote Learning Handbook will outline the expectations andprocedures necessary to facilitate asynchronous learning with our teachers and students in thescho
Maria Regina High School . Education for Religious and Independent Schools. This document is a living document and is subject to change as government guidelines are issued and decisions are made in the best interest of the members of the MRHS community . TABLE OF CONTENTS L e t t e r from M R H S A dm i ni s t ra t i on 2 .
