WHWS 2020-21 School Plan
Dear WHWS Parents,

Members of the Pedagogical Committee, the Re-Opening Task Force Committee and the Board of Trustees have been incredibly busy developing plans for the upcoming school year. The first portion is from the Pedagogical Committee and the Board, and gives you a basic outline of the upcoming school year. The second section is from the Health and Safety Committee, which outlines the requirements for all individuals on our school campus.

There is a significant amount of information in this email, and I encourage you to take the time to read through both sections. We welcome your input, so please take advantage of this opportunity to help us with our planning by clicking on the embedded links, or replying to this email.

Summer greetings,
Kathy Fraser, Administrative Director
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 Dear WHWS Families,

We are writing today on behalf of the Pedagogical Committee and our Board of Trustees to update you about how school might look for your child in the fall. While we recognize that these are uncertain times and maintain a commitment to adapt to changing circumstances, we are also ready to put forth a viable plan to welcome students, teachers and staff safely back to our school campus. We want to thank you for your responses to our recent survey, which informed this process. As we have moved forward with our plan, we have been encouraged by your words of support and desire for your children to return safely to their classrooms and teachers. 

As we look towards September 2 and our new school year, the majority of our work is concentrated in these three areas:

  1. Ensuring the health and safety of our students and staff
  2. Providing a quality Waldorf Education
  3. Preparing the school campus for the year ahead


Ensuring the health and safety of our students and staff

Members of the Health and Safety Taskforce continue to review guidance from Governor Jay Inslee’s office, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Washington State and Whatcom County Departments of Health. We are committed to following these recommendations to ensure the health and safety of our community.

We have included our Health and Safety Requirements document so you can read more details about how we will address these important mandates. We do understand the current situation is constantly changing, and we will modify our plan and practices in response. At this time the plan is to open our doors to students with the following changes to our daily routines:

  • Staggered drop off and pick up to avoid crowding
  • Entering the campus will require health screening and temperature checks
  • Illnesses will be tracked by a designated person on staff
  • Student desks will be 6’ apart to accommodate physical distancing requirements
  • Face coverings will be required inside the buildings, and also outdoors under circumstances where 6’ physical distancing is not possible.

As you can imagine, these changes will require new habits that will need to be carefully woven into our daily routines. Teachers are already sharing creative ideas, and are aware that their own positive attitudes regarding these new habits will go a long way towards their success. 

Providing a quality Waldorf Education

As a Waldorf school, we greatly value in-person education. The work the children do together in the classroom with their teachers is a uniquely living, social, learning experience that is not easy to replicate through distance learning. For this reason, we are committed to provide as much on-site learning as circumstances allow.

Our Kindergarten and Preschool teachers are transforming their programs to include more outside time where children will be able to play more freely. Our EC (early childhood) faculty is currently taking an online course to support them as they navigate this subtle but beneficial change to their way of teaching. They will continue to communicate with WHWS EC families directly about the coming year. A significant change in the EC program will be that the school will not be offering before or after school care, or afternoon  programs. 

For our grades classes, teachers are looking forward to having all students back at school full time. To do this, we will need to reconfigure our classrooms to comply with physical distancing requirements. We are looking at each space creatively, and potential campus modifications in order to make this happen. We believe that having our classes return to the school campus daily is an attainable goal, as long as the school has the enrollment and resources to support the necessary preparations that need to be completed over the summer.
 
For the upcoming school year, all specialty classes will be taught in blocks. In this way, students will be able to engage in different subjects throughout the year, while limiting exposure for both students and their teachers. It is important to note that there may be some changes to the subjects we usually offer. For example, singing or rhythmic activities that result in heavy breathing will only be able to happen outdoors or in large spaces where appropriate physical distancing can be accommodated. We will certainly be using our outdoor spaces more heavily, and it is our goal that all students will spend a significant part of their school day outdoors.

In the event that a student needs to miss a period of school due to virus exposure, we will provide packets to support students in continuing their studies and not falling behind their classmates.These packets will be updated throughout the year and contain a variety of academically supportive activities that can be easily completed at home. 

Distance Learning Scenario

We may need to adapt our learning plans during the upcoming school year. Changing health circumstances in Whatcom County may result in school closing down for periods of time. If significant changes are required, we may need to evaluate tuition rates and potential relief at that time, taking into consideration available economic programs, long-term viability of the school and other pertinent information.

To prepare for this eventuality, teachers are carefully considering their upcoming curriculum to determine which subjects they will be able to teach most successfully online. When distance learning, we will return to Google Classroom, and likely employ a system of “Packet Learning” to make distance learning as user friendly as possible for our students. Families will be able to collect and drop off these packets weekly. Teachers will be working together over the summer to envision the best use of Google Classroom, Zoom, and recorded material for distance learning.

Supported Homeschool Option

Supporting all of our community members during this challenging year is important to us.  We understand that there may be families who choose to keep their children at home for the upcoming year, even if school is open.

For these families, we are considering offering a supported homeschooling program. This would include a Waldorf homeschool curriculum that aligns with WHWS benchmarks, plus additional academic resources provided by our teachers, and inclusion in distance learning where possible, which will help keep an individual student’s learning in line with their classmates at WHWS. Families will also have a continued connection with their class teacher through regular phone calls or Zoom meetings.

The school will support our homeschooling families with the option of saving a space in their child’s class for the following year. Tuition rates for the supported homeschooling option have not been set at this point, though if this is the option that would best support your family, please contact the Pedagogical Committee .

PREPARING THE SCHOOL CAMPUS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD

In the next eight weeks, we will need to:

  • Remodel classrooms to allow for larger student capacity
  • Increase bathroom and hand washing facilities
  • Reconfigure entrances and exits to buildings to alleviate crowded spaces
  • Reconfigure Alia Hall to accommodate two additional large classrooms
  • Construct several outdoor classrooms / covered areas

We are currently searching for a project manager and team of volunteers. Please see this week’s newsletter for details and please contact us if you would like to help, we would love to have your support!

We hope this information helps give you a picture of our planning process, and reassurance that we are working hard to ensure the best possible scenario is in place for September 2. In order to help us move forward with these plans, however, we sincerely ask that you complete your contract in BigSIS, no later than July 24. The manner in which we re-open depends entirely on our concrete enrollment number. If you are interested in the supported homeschool option, rather than enrollment on school grounds, please notify us as soon as possible.

We promise to keep you updated as our plans progress, and you can expect communication from us by the end of July. In the meantime, if you would like to contact us with your questions or comments please email us at feedback@whws.org. We thank you wholeheartedly for your continued commitment to our school, and sincerely look forward to the joyful presence of your children on our campus again.

In community,

Emma Zook, for the Pedagogical Committee, pedagogical@whws.org
Tom Cahill, for the Board of Trustees, boardpresident@whws.org




Whatcom Hills Waldorf School
Fall 2020-2021 Health & Safety Requirements

The following requirements incorporates information from the CDC documents “Interim Guidance for Administrators of US K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs--Plan, Prepare, and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)”, “K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs” and “CDC COVID-19 Considerations for Schools”. It is intended to assist schools in complying with Governor and Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) requirements to help ensure student safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

This guidance is independent of what phase we are in. However, if we are in Phase 1 or modified Phase 1 there may be additional precautions implemented by the county, and some schools may be limited to remote learning temporarily. The local health department shall determine, in consultation with the state health department, if or how schools in these counties should operate. 
 
Guidelines and state mandates may change over the year while the science and the trajectory of COVID-19 evolves. All WHWS Health Protocol will be reviewed and approved by the County Health Department. The WHWS Reopening Committee will communicate these updates to families via school email as well as posting updates on the school website. 

General Guidance  
  • Students, staff, parents and guardians, or guests are not allowed on-site if they: 
  • Are showing symptoms of COVID-19 (see below). 
  • Have been in close contact* with someone who has confirmed or suspected COVID-19 in the last 14 days. 
  • *Health care providers, EMS workers, and educational staff associates who wore proper personal protective equipment (PPE) are OK to attend. 
  • Staff will be trained in health and safety protocols, including how to screen for symptoms, maintaining physical distance, wearing appropriate PPE, frequent cleaning and handwashing, and what to do if someone develops signs of COVID-19. 
  • Everyone within our community, especially families and staff, are encouraged to be vigilant about staying home when sick, maintaining physical distancing of six feet, wearing masks when called for, and consistent, good hand hygiene. 
  • All students, staff, volunteers, and guests must wear cloth face coverings in the K-8 settings. See below for more information about cloth face coverings guidance. 

People at High Risk for Serious Health Problems from COVID-19 
Those at high risk for health problems from COVID-19 should consult with their health care provider when considering whether to participate in in-person school activities. 

Drop-Off and Pick-Up  
There will be a staggered start time in 15 minute increments, beginning at 8:15 to allow for screening. All cars will drive through the driveway and screening will be done while the children are still in the car.  

Health Screening at Entry 
We will be checking for signs of illness for all staff and students at drop off each day. 
Staff and students with any illness must stay home . Every day, parents or guardians will be asked the following questions at drop off regarding the students before being admitted to school for the day: 
  • Does your student have any of the following symptoms [on the first day after a break or for a new student, we will ask about symptoms in the past three days (72 hours)]: 
  • A cough 
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing 
  • A temperature of 100.4°F or higher or a sense of having a fever 
  • A sore throat 
  • Chills 
  • New loss of taste or smell 
  • Muscle or body aches 
  • Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea 
  • Congestion/running nose – not related to seasonal allergies 
  • Unusual fatigue 
  • Does anyone in your household have any of the above symptoms that are not attributable to another condition? 
  • Has your student been in close contact with anyone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19? 
  • Has your student had any medication to reduce a fever before coming to school? 

The student must be excluded from school if the answer to any of the above questions is “yes.” Refer to “Returning to school after suspected COVID-19 symptoms” below. 

If the answer to all of the above questions is “no,” we will still check the student’s temperature via a touch-free thermometer and assess the student for signs of being sick, such as flushed cheeks or excessive tiredness.

Reducing Transmission  
Grouping Students 
We will be attempting to keep elementary school students in groups with dedicated staff, and maintain consistency from day to day among groups where possible. Multiple groups of students may use the same facility as long as they are in limited contact with other groups. 

Physical Distancing 
  • We will be practicing physical distancing (six feet) within each group of students as much as possible, and trying to reduce the amount of time they are close with each other. This will depend on the students’ ages and developmental and physical abilities.  
  • All assemblies will be cancelled for now.
  • Activities that are considered high risk, such as choir or other classes or activities that require students to remove face coverings, and may contribute to transmission of COVID-19 will be held outdoors or in a large well-ventilated space and with fewer people than usual to allow even greater physical distance between students or cancelled altogether.
  • We have increased the space between desks to maximize the space between students to reduce transmission caused from virus-containing droplets (e.g., from talking, coughing, sneezing). 
  • We have reduced the number of students at tables, or other workstations to increase physical distance. 
  • We have reduced the number of students in the halls at one time by staggering the times and release of classes. We have limited the activities where multiple classrooms interact.
  • We will be staggering arrival and/or dismissal times (see above). These approaches can limit the amount of close contact between students in high-traffic situations and times.
  • We will reduce congestion in the office by having a separate health office for children with flu-like symptoms and a different location for first aid or medication distribution.
  • We are strictly limiting nonessential visitors. 
  • We will be keeping students outside more, as weather and space permits. 

Meals 
We will limit gatherings and potential mixing of classes or groups by having students take their meals outside or in the classroom, seated six feet apart. All children, including early childhood classes, will provide their own snacks and lunches.

Hygiene Practices 
  • We will be supporting a policy of frequently washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Children and adults should wash hands when they arrive at school, before meals or snacks, after outside time, after going to the bathroom, after nose blowing or sneezing, and before leaving to go home. We will be helping young children to make sure they are doing it right. 
  • We will be teaching children (and adults) not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. 
  • We will have an alcohol-based hand gel available in every classroom and throughout the school with at least 60 percent alcohol (fragrance-free). We will supervise use of alcohol-based hand gel by young children. 
  • We will remind our students to cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash, cleaning hands with soap and water or hand gel afterward. 

Face Coverings 
Wearing a face mask or approved face shield reduces the spread of COVID-19 and is required for teachers, staff and students K-8 . Currently, children enrolled in our licenced preschool programs are not required to wear face coverings but are welcome to do so. See the Washington State Department of Health Guidance on Cloth Face Coverings and CDC Recommendation Regarding the Use of Cloth Face Coverings for more information. All students, volunteers, or guests must wear face coverings at school when indoors. 

For staff, facial coverings must be worn by every individual not working alone at the location unless their exposure dictates a higher level of protection under Department of Labor & Industries safety and health rules and guidance. 

Face coverings should not be worn by: 
  • Those with a disability that prevents them from comfortably wearing or removing a face covering. 
  • Those with certain respiratory conditions or trouble breathing.
  • Those who are deaf or hard of hearing and use facial and mouth movements as part of communication.
  • Those advised by a medical, legal, or behavioral health professional that wearing a face covering may pose a risk to that person. 

Other mask considerations:
  • Younger students must be supervised when wearing a face mask or approved face shield and will need help putting them on, taking them off, and getting used to wearing them. 
  • Even when face coverings are worn, we will continue practicing proper physical distancing. 
  • Students may remove face coverings to eat and drink and when they go outdoors for recess, physical education, or other activities. 
  • Cloth masks must be washed daily; disposable masks must be thrown away at the end of the day.
  • If masks get wet, they are ineffective and therefore must be replaced right away.
  • Masks will be provided for any student, teacher or staff that does not have one or needs a replacement during the school day.

Bus Transportation 
Those in our community using public bus transportation to and from school must wear a cloth face covering, use smart hand hygiene practices, and stay as far apart as possible from other riders while on the bus. Those individuals travelling by public transportation to school must go through the Health Screening process before being allowed into their classrooms. All students must have an accessible parent or guardian in the event the student does not pass the screening and needs to be picked up from school.

What to do if someone develops signs of COVID-19 

To prepare for the potential of students or staff showing symptoms while at school, we have a response and communication plan in place that includes communication with staff, families, and our local health jurisdiction. 

If a student or staff member develops signs of COVID-19 (see list under health screenings above), we will separate the person to the designated COVID-19 screening area, away from others, with supervision at a distance of six feet, until the sick person can leave. While waiting to leave school, the individual with symptoms will wear a cloth face covering or mask if tolerated. We will air out and then clean and disinfect the space where the person was after they leave. 

The employee or student’s parent or caregiver will inform the school right away if the person is diagnosed with COVID-19.

If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, the local health jurisdiction will advise, but it is likely that many of the student’s classmates will be considered close contacts and need to be quarantined for 14 days. 

Returning to school after having suspected signs of COVID-19 
A staff member or student who had signs of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 can return to the school when: 

  • At least three days (72 hours) have passed since recovery – defined as no fever without the use of medications and improvement in respiratory signs like cough and shortness of breath; 

AND  

  • At least 10 days have passed since signs first showed up. 

If a person believes they have had close contact to someone with COVID-19, but they are not sick, they should watch their health for signs of fever, cough, shortness of breath, and other COVID-19 symptoms during the 14 days after the last day they were in close contact with the person sick with COVID-19. They should not go to work, child care, school, or public places for 14 days. 

Follow Washington Safe Start Guidelines
We ask that all families abide by the Washington Safe Start guidelines specific to which phase Whatcom County is currently in to keep our community healthy and safe.