Xavier Middle School
Re-opening Protocols and Procedures for Students and Family Members
God, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change; the courage to change the things we can; and the wisdom to know the difference.
Xavier’s Mission
St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System is a Christ-centered community dedicated to faith formation, academic excellence, community engagement, and individual growth of our students in a safe environment.
Goals for Re-Opening
- To protect the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health of students, families and staff
- To maximize learning through flexible instructional models
- To offer student life opportunities in multiple areas
- To support parents and families in developing young people who are safe, valued and loved
How Should Students Expect to Learn?
There are two XMS learning models. Given the potential for a change in the health circumstances, students need to be prepared to learn in either instructional model. Students and their families should be prepared to adjust accordingly.
As of right now, the school year will begin with
Social Distancing Learning Days
in a face-to-face environment.
Social Distancing Learning Days
Typical Day:
Each student will spend their class periods receiving direct instruction from a teacher in a classroom where every student is socially distant. All classrooms will be arranged so that students are socially distanced from one another and all face the same direction to minimize risk, where possible. Some classroom furniture will be removed from classrooms to maximize the necessary square footage for learning.
All tables used as learning spaces will be removed from the classroom and will be replaced with desks. Other tables will be removed as necessary.
The school day will be extended to 3:30 PM. At the end of 9th period, all students will go to their homeroom and end the school day in their homeroom.
Variations:
- Physical Education, Choir and Band classes will be held outside when possible in order to maximize social distancing. The entire class can meet together if enough space is available. Specific details regarding these classes will be shared by the individual teachers. Students and families are also encouraged to contact their child’s teachers directly for any specific question related to the classes.
- Classes are welcomed to meet outside when it makes sense, but social distancing is still required and teachers will check with students and their families for allergies or other concerns related to the students going outside for class. Teachers will notify the middle school office when their class will be moving outside.
Health protocols:
- Students and teachers will be required to wear masks at all times while in school.
- Teachers will minimize small group work and will set guidelines for each student.
- Teachers will minimize shared equipment and will make sure equipment is cleaned before the next group uses it.
- Locker rooms will not be used during the school day, except for Physical Education classes.
E-Learning Days
I
f mandated by state and local officials, XMS will move to an e-learning environment.
Typical Day
:
E-Learning Days entail students to participate in e-learning from home. If the school itself must be closed, students will connect with teachers via Google Classroom. The school week will be structured with half of the classes meeting on Mondays & Wednesday and the other half of the classes meeting on Tuesdays & Thursdays. Encore classes will meet on Fridays. The exact schedule of classes will be shared immediately before the start of e-learning.
Teacher Expectations:
Teachers will provide 30-45 minutes of new material and instruction each day. Students should then have 45-60 minutes of work to be done for the class.
- Teachers will update a Google Site daily so that parents can view class outlines, assignments and expectations for live Google Meets.
- Teachers will use Google Classroom as the learning management tool for their classes.
- Teachers will employ a combination of live Google Meets (24 hours of notice will be given), recorded lecture / presentations, office hours for student questions, worksheets, at-home projects, reading assignments, and independent study to provide students with the opportunity to master the standards of the course.
- Formative assessments will be used frequently, but alternative summative assessments may be a better way of measuring student learning.
Behavioral Protocols:
When e-learning is in effect, students are required to participate in Google Meets from an appropriate learning environment, wearing appropriate attire, and focused on the class discussion. Examples of inappropriate participation would be participating from one’s bed, not wearing school appropriate clothes during the Meet, or connecting to the Meet on one’s phone while participating in a leisure activity.
Learning Adjustments in all Instructional Models
- Students who are unable to attend class in person will be able to work with the teachers to arrange for participation via alternative options.
School Day Protocols
Our Catholic Identity
At the heart of our school’s mission is our Catholic faith. We will integrate the faith into our school day regardless of instructional model. Key pieces include:
- Prayer at the beginning and end of the school day, during each class, and during lunch
- Mass offered weekly to the entire school
- Virtual experiences including retreats and prayers
- Spiritual and emotional support provided by faculty
Mass
Students will have an opportunity to participate in mass weekly on Tuesdays at 9:30 AM. Only one grade level will participate in mass in the auditorium and the other grade levels will view a live stream feed of mass in their homerooms. Communion will only be distributed to students in the auditorium per the Diocese of Green Bay guidelines.
Health Screening
When students arrive at school, they will be given a brief health check by faculty. The health check will frequently include a temperature check and a review of the following questions:
- Have you been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID?
- Are you experiencing a cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or a sore throat?
- Have you had a fever in the last 48 hours?
- Have you had new loss of taste or smell?
- Have you had muscle pains or chills?
- Have you had a new headache?
- Have you had nausea, vomiting or diarrhea?
Students who are sick should stay home from school. When calling your ill student in as absent, we ask that parents report the symptoms of the illness so that we can keep record.
Arriving & Entering XMS
Upon arriving at school, all students are expected to wear a mask at all times in hallways and common areas unless otherwise directed by XMS staff.
Students can enter XMS as early as 7:00 AM this school year. Any student arriving to school between 7:00 AM & 7:30 AM will enter through door #5 (scrip office/gym lobby entrance) and will be screened by Xavier staff. Students will remain in the gym and/or cafeteria until 7:30 AM.
To help the screening process, students arriving to school in a vehicle between 7:30 AM & 8:00 AM will enter through either door #5 (scrip office/gym lobby entrance) or door #7 (near tennis courts). Students with a last name from A-K should enter through door #7 and students with a last name from L-Z should enter through door #5. This should help balance the number of students being screened at each location since the majority of XMS students arrive at school during this time frame. Students will be sent to their homerooms upon entering school after 7:30 AM.
Students arriving to school by bus will enter through door #1 (main office entrance).
Students who walk or ride a bike to school can enter through any door after 7:30 AM.
Students arriving to school after 8:00 AM will enter through door #1 (main office entrance). Parents/family members do not have to walk their child into school, but should provide a note for the office stating the reason why their child is late to school. The student will be marked tardy if no note is given.
End of the School Day
At the end of the school day, to help with consistency for all students and family members, students should exit the building using the same door they entered, except for door #5. Students that enter through door #5 in the morning will exit using door #4 and will spread out between door #4 & door #5 while waiting for their ride. Students should maintain social distancing when leaving school and while waiting for a ride.
Students in 5th & 7th grade will be dismissed from school before the 6th & 8th grade students. This will allow for easier movement within the hallways at the end of the school day.
One-For-All Initiative
The Xavier System has invested in a One-For-All initiative at the elementary and middle school levels. This initiative will provide a chromebook for every middle school student to be used during the school day. Each student will collect their chromebook from their homeroom during the beginning of the school day and will return their chromebook to their homeroom at the end of the school day. During the school day, students will only use their chromebook at the teacher’s discretion.
Backpacks
Students will be allowed to carry backpacks to and from class. Before homeroom, students should have supplies for their morning classes in their backpack. At lunchtime, students will transition their backpack to their afternoon classes. Each grade level team will determine specific backpack details.
Student School Supplies
Specific school supplies have been added to the school supply lists. Individual items such as water bottles, mini-pencil sharpeners, mini-staplers, individual Kleenex, disinfectant wipes, etc are required for students. These classroom supplies will help limit shared classroom items and water bottles can be filled at the water bottle filling stations located throughout the school instead of students drinking at the water fountains.
At this time, we understand that purchasing disinfectant wipes might be a challenge. If a family does have a difficult time finding disinfectant wipes to purchase, the school will have supplies as necessary.
Disinfecting and Cleaning
XMS has recently purchased electrostatic sprayers to be used throughout the school. The sprayers will be used throughout the day on high touch areas and a deep cleaning of all learning spaces will be done daily after school. XMS is working with professional cleaning companies that will assist with cleaning the building after school on a nightly basis.
Time will be given at the beginning of class to disinfect surfaces. Each student, along with the teacher’s help and guidance, will have an opportunity to use a disinfectant wipe or rag to disinfect their desk prior to sitting in the desk.
Passing Time
Students and staff are required to wear masks and observe social distancing while passing in the hallways. Hallways will be marked so the student traffic flow is moving in the same direction on the right side of a hallway in order to minimize contact and time spent in the hallways. Passing time may be adjusted to reflect the flow patterns in the hallways.
Students will only be permitted to go to the bathroom, their locker, or to fill a water bottle during class time. If a student needs to use the bathroom or to go to their locker during passing time, students need to ask their teachers for permission. This will help to limit the time that students spend in the hallway, the number of students in a bathroom, and will help focus the students on getting to their next class.
Lunch and Food Protocols
Lunch will be eaten in the student’s homeroom and monitored by the homeroom teacher or other assigned staff. Students are encouraged to bring their own lunch. Students that do not bring a cold lunch can order hot lunch from the school lunch program. Orders will be taken each morning during homeroom and will be delivered to a designated area for students to grab for lunch. The options for hot lunch will be limited for the first few weeks and will be modified as needed.
XMS understands that lunchtime is an important time for students to socialize with friends and we recognize that not every friend is in the same homeroom. Each grade level will determine a rotation for students to eat in different homerooms with their friends during the timeframe that students are eating in the classrooms. The goal is to mix the groups eating in homerooms to allow for the students to be with different classmates which will provide more social opportunities.
If a student has an allergy, the student and family should alert the school and an allergy free area will be provided. The family and the teachers will work together to identify the needs and create an agreed upon plan.
No food deliveries will be allowed during the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year, either at lunch or after school.
If a student has food delivered, the delivery person will be turned away and the family may still be charged for the food.
Visitors and Volunteers
In an effort to minimize contact, Xavier Middle School will not be allowing classroom or office volunteers for the first semester of the school year. Essential volunteers may still be admitted with permission from administration.
All visitors to school are required to wear a face mask at all times while in the school.
School Events
Assemblies and all school events will not take place during the first semester of the school year.
No field trips will be allowed for the first semester of the school year.
No live concerts will take place during the first semester of the school year. Recorded concerts may be published if social distancing allows large groups of musicians to perform together.
Athletic and extracurricular activities done outside of the school day will be allowed as authorized by the Appleton Health Department. Policies for health, safety and transportation will be published in a separate document.
Library Protocols
The LMC will be used as a classroom, so classes will not be able to use the space during the school day. Exceptions may be given if the library is open during certain periods. Students that need to use the library need to seek permission from the teacher who will seek permission from the librarian.
Xavier Re-opening Website
