Thank you for joining Headmaster Parker for the two parent zoom meetings yesterday. If you missed the meetings, we encourage you to watch the
recorded parent Zoom meeting
. The meeting was also transcribed at the end of this document. Your questions and concerns were important to us as we are still developing class placements and other procedures. We appreciate your time, patience, and courage during this time of uncertainty. Below are answers to some of the questions asked during the zoom meetings. We understand it is possible that some questions may have been missed and in time we will have more answers as we navigate this COVID crisis together.
1. Headmaster Parker will hold another
parent zoom
on Thursday, July 23rd at 9 AM. An Archway parent gave us a great idea during one of the meetings yesterday. He suggested that Headmaster Parker hold another Zoom that is simply a Q & A session. Please add your questions to
this Q & A document
that will be answered next Thursday!
Meeting ID: 950 0958 3196
Password: ANPmeeting
Q&A from Parent Zoom July 16, 2020
1.
If we plan for our scholar to return to campus, can he/she still borrow a laptop for the remote learning portion at the beginning of the year?
Yes, an email will be sent out soon.
2.
With the possibility of the start date being pushed back to Labor Day, can we submit our RL or on-campus choice towards mid-August instead of August 1st? A lot can happen between now and Labor Day.
As of today, July 17, we are still scheduled to reopen campus August 31. If the start date is pushed back, dates to make a decision may change and be communicated.
3.
Will distance learning kids need the same school supplies?
More information will be coming out soon.
4.
If we pre-ordered textbooks but opt for remote learning - will we still get these items?
Yes, detailed information will be coming out soon
.
5.
Will Athenaeum start when in-person learning starts?
As of today, July 17, the plan is to reopen Athenaeum after in-person learning starts. Subject to change.
6.
Will there still be an opportunity for parents to pick up hardcopy packets at campus every Monday AM.
No, we want all students to experience the rich online learning opportunities and connection with their teacher and other students
.
7.
Is there a difference between Remote Learning and Distance Learning?
No
8.Are uniforms required for distance learning?
Uniforms are strongly encouraged, but not mandatory.
9.
What if we want the pre-ordered school supplies time to be delivered into the classroom (as it’s a lot!) and only pick up workbooks, because we have already decided that our scholars will be coming back to school?
Without knowing if dates will be pushed back due to the progress of COVID, we think it is best for the parent to pick up the supplies ordered Aug 5th or 6th.
10.
Will the kids doing remote learning be behind on their academics when compared with the kids learning in person at school?
No, all students whether in-person or remote to be learning the same information. Remote scholars can be sure to stay on track by participating in all subjects offered on Google Classroom.
11.
I work between 8:30 am to 5 pm. How can I cover the meeting days?
We have permission to record the synchronized learning and will share the videos with students that miss the sessions. You can also equip your scholar’s caretaker with technology offered by the school. Accessing the synchronous lessons will be easy - the click of a link right in Google Classroom - and the needed materials will be listed ahead of time, so that you can prepare. Once your scholar is on their lesson with the teacher, the teacher will take it from there.
12.
Will there be any flexibility for parents that are working? As a healthcare provider I am just not sure how I will be signing my kiddo on a few times each day.
Yes, and we will have recordings. Also,
accessing the synchronous lessons will be easy - the click of a link right in Google Classroom - and the needed materials will be listed ahead of time, so that you can equip the person caring for your scholar when you are at work. Once your scholar is on their lesson with the teacher, the teacher will take it from there.
13.
When you say there are no paper packets, will they be typing then instead of writing, or will we be using things like the Spalding book and the math workbook to have them write in answers which will then be scanned in for review?
This might be a different answer depending on the grade level; however, most students will be able to write out the work and scan it into Google Classroom. Almost all Archway level work will be written in the math workbook or Spalding notebook (or a separate piece of paper) and scanned in for review. There will be a few exceptions in the oldest grades (4th-6th grade) where a Google Form or a Google Document may occasionally be used for composition. Spalding lined paper will be provided to all K-2 students when they pick up their supplies. When worksheets are provided on Google Classroom, you are welcome to print them, but simply answering on a piece of notebook paper and scanning that is sufficient.
14.
Similar technology question: My younger kids managed to get by in the spring using iPads. Is there any way to let us know if laptops will be necessary?
Any device with 4 gig RAM & Operating system, either Win10 or Chrome OS can run google classroom. Examples: iPad, iPhone, X-Box, Amazon Fires. No keyboard will be necessary. If an older student is assigned a typed composition assignment, an accommodation will be made for the submission of a handwritten and scanned assignment. During the weeks of at-home standardized testing for Galileo, the school will reassess which families may need access to a Chromebook for the week.
15.
Start day for kindergarten, please?
August 10 Remote learning. The in-person start date is August 28 Kindergarten and August 31 for 1st-6th grades
.
16.
Will there be any requirements regarding masks (i.e., color)?
Solid color; no graphic, logos, or pop culture. Please see the Great Hearts
mask policy
.
17.
Masks on the playground?
No
18.
Are Kinder students who sign up for in school learning ALSO required or suggested to start online learning on August 10th?
All ANP students will start remote learning on August 10th.
19.
Do we need to order textbooks if we are doing remote learning?
You do not need to order textbooks independently as a family from an outside source, but your student will still need the consumable package offered through the school as well as the school supply list items (such as crayons, etc.) and their “Classics to Keep” literature library purchased by parents. These details can be found on the school’s website.
20.
How will you handle temperature checks for walking students?
They will come to the north MPR entrance. We will set up a tent or have them stand in a designated spot in the MPR to check temperatures. We will communicate any additional or modified information closer to the start of in-person learning.
21.
When we are back on campus, what changes are being made to Athenaeum?
It will be similar to the in school plans with indoor mask requirements and social distancing, but more communication will be coming out.
22.
Where can I get the list of 'books to keep' (Literature Library) this year?
https://archwaynorthphoenix.greatheartsamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2020/06/North-Phx-Academy-Literature-library-2020-21-SY.pdf
23.
FYI: One of the vendors for local Great Hearts campuses sells face shields for $10, minimum purchase of 4 (Image360 Scottsdale).
Thank you
24.
Will synchronous lessons be recorded so that they can be reviewed in the future or so that students who are ill can catch up?
Yes. This is a particularly important detail. While we know that direct contact and communication with the teacher during new content introduction is the very best thing for our students, we understand that life happens. All content will be available asynchronously for families who require different arrangements.
25.
Has any thought been given to just call it and do the whole year only online/distance vs dealing with the back and forth of policy change?
Remote learning will be available throughout the school year if that choice is best for a given family.
27.
I would love to see the whole year being done via remote learning but not all households can work remotely, too. This is something that is impossible without Federal or State mandate intervention.
A great contact for questions and suggestions regarding working with the State is Erik Twist, President for Great Hearts of Arizona.
28.
Just to confirm - Kindergarteners will be doing online as well?
Yes
29.
Will teachers and staff have daily temperature checks as well?
Yes
30.
What do we do if we need a computer?
A survey will be emailed out very soon.
31.
The fluidity of dates and policy: How will you make decisions going forward, should huge spikes in transmission happen again in our state?
Great Hearts follows all State and Local laws.
32.
Do we keep and use the school supplies we have purchased? Or, should we drop them off?
Please keep them for now.
33.
Will the remote teacher still be different from the classroom teacher?
At the beginning of the year, the remote teacher will be your scholar’s assigned teacher for all ELA and math synchronous learning. Some recorded asynchronous video, such as science experiments, will be created as a grade-level and so the teacher may be any one of those from your scholar’s grade-level. If in-person learning resumes, it is possible that your child’s teacher could change either in the remote or in-person format from the originally assigned teacher, depending upon the numbers of students choosing one or the other and the assignment of the teacher. We are still looking into every option to avoid changing teachers.
35.
Will anyone who enters any of the buildings have temperature checks?
Yes
36.
Will there be daily temp checks for all staff, students, and any visitors on campus?
Yes
37.
When is the deadline when we need to tell the school what program (distance or onsite) our child will attend?
A parent survey and instructions will be sent out soon.
38.
I would really like to hear how the teachers are feeling about returning to campus? Will some be choosing not to return?
Like
many families and other professionals, teachers are feeling a deep desire to be in community with their students and yet a pressing concern for their own health and safety for everyone. Great Hearts is supporting its teachers’ needs currently through a process of applying for medical accommodations. Currently, our faculty is intact for the planned period of remote learning.
39.
Can you please expand on RL teachers? If we all will be RL through Labor Day, will it be with the assigned teacher? Once we resume to on-campus learning, is RL with a different teacher or the same assigned teacher?
At the beginning of the year, the remote teacher will be your scholar’s assigned teacher for all ELA and math synchronous learning. Some recorded asynchronous video, such as science experiments, will be created as a grade-level and so the teacher may be any one of those from your scholar’s grade-level. If in-person learning resumes, it is possible that your child’s teacher could change either in the remote or in-person format from that originally assigned teacher, depending upon the numbers of students choosing one or the other and the assignment of the teacher. We are still looking into every option to avoid changing teachers.
40.
Would it be possible to stagger the synchronous times by grade level to allow parents with students in multiple grades to help with technological issues?
Yes. To the extent possible, start times for synchronous learning are staggered for grade-levels that primarily have siblings. Not all can be staggered, but grace will be extended by teachers and all sessions will be recorded. We have a plan to make accessing synchronous lessons as intuitive as possible and all from the Google Classroom screen.
41.
If we resume on campus learning, what will trigger school full or partial closure?
The administrators/nurses will work directly with the Arizona Department of Health Services to report covid positive and/or possible covid cases. The ADHS will guide the school in what they should do.
42.
We are starting Kindergarten and with both working parents going to work, some need to make in advance arrangements with our jobs. So, with that said, can you give a daily time frame where we would need to be available for e-learning for Kindergarten? Like 8am to 12pm? Or how many hours a day for Kindergarten?
Yes, a schedule will be available soon. While it is still being finalized, to give you an idea, Kindergarten will likely participate in some synchronous learning during the 8 o’clock and 9 o’clock hours (though not for 2 hours straight). Then, there will be a small group reading time with the teacher available during the 12 o’clock hour. The total amount of time, including any independent work the Kindergartener would participate in is 2.5 hours/day.
43.
Are masks required during P.E. or recess?
No
44.
How much are the masks? Super cute, by the way!
Thanks! They are $7.00 and to be sold by the PSO at the used uniform sale on August 5th from 3pm-6pm and August 8th from 12pm-3pm.
45.
Are the masks breathable?
I am not sure what kind of fabric they are made with.
46.
May a child wear a face shield as opposed to a mask?
Please see the Great Hearts
mask policy
.
47.
Cute masks. Do they have pockets for filters?
No
48.
Will we know ahead of time what time our child’s class will be online for learning? This would be helpful as soon as possible so planning can be made for working parents (out of the house)?
Yes. more information to come.
49.
Hours for Kindergarten distant learning, please.
Coming soon, for an estimate, see above.
50.
Will you be requiring a COVID test for any student that has called out sick? In kiddos, many times there are no symptoms or just symptoms of common cold.
No. If a parent has a question or concern regarding the illness of their child, please contact our nurse.
51.
It sounded like the in-person classes will be full (30 students).
After listening to parents' concerns, we are looking at every option for classroom placement.
52.
Will distance learning families be included in all communication regarding cases/closures/etc.?
Yes
53.
Will the school administer COVID tests? If so, what is the turnaround time for results?
No
54.
Is there a mandatory schedule for online students?
While we know that direct contact and communication with the teacher during new content introduction is the very best thing for our students, all content will be available asynchronously for families who require different arrangements. All core subjects will have grades just like if they were on campus.
55.
The device we borrowed from the campus did not have video ability. My son could see the teacher on ZOOM, but she could not see him. There was no way to change that. Was that a defect on that device or are all the cameras disabled on the school devices?
IT has been contacted regarding this issue.
57.
Not a question, but a comment: it would be helpful to level set the terminology we are using for “distance learning” and “campus learning.”
58.
In the interest of promoting a sense of community and lessening the isolation of students in the distance learning program, will a directory of class names, phone numbers and email addresses be made available?
Yes
59.
What will the schedule be for remote learning?
The schedule will be provided as soon as the schedules are confirmed. There is a lot of work to be done before they are shared.
60.
How will the time be spent for each subject?
The State of Arizona requires a certain amount of time be spent in instructional hours for different grade-levels. Estimates are: 2.5 hours for kindergarten, 5 hours for 1st-3rd, 6 hours for 4th-6th. All remote learning, including enrichment activities, written work, and video, will aim for these targets.
62.
Will remote classes be live at the same time as on-campus classes?
Yes, when in-person learning resumes, there will be a synchronous opportunity at the same time for remote students. The synchronous times for specific grade-levels may change when the transition back to in-person learning takes place.
63.
Could we ask for a crazy mask day (like crazy sock day)?
Yes!!
64.
Will kids have to stay home if there is possible contact between a household member and someone with COVID (like for parents in healthcare)?
As long as parents in healthcare are using proper PPE, not testing positive for Covid, not showing any signs or symptoms of covid, and their children are not positive for covid or showing any signs and symptoms of covid, their children may attend school.
65.
Why do students not have to wear masks when they are behind desk shields?
Students need to wear their face mask behind the shield but may lift the mask for a break as long as they are behind the shields. Please see the Great Hearts
mask policy
.
66.
If my child needs left-handed scissors in the pre-ordered school supply kit, who do we contact?
Please email:
anpschoolsupplies@gmail.com
67.
When will team sports resume?
Second quarter, but that is subject to change.
68.
What is the protocol for in-school scholars if a teacher is tested positive for COVID?
The instructor will be immediately sent home and will be quarantined for 14 days after their last symptom. The nurses will review the contact tracing and exposure that students had with the instructor. The Arizona Department of Health Services will be contacted, and the case will be reviewed with them. ADHS will give instruction on what actions the school should make as far as any closures/quarantines that need to be put in place.
69.
As parents in the medical field, we understand the exposure. If a parent tests positive, will the student need to be quarantined?
Yes
70.
Will the October fall break still happen since school is starting late, and when is the end of the first quarter?
Great Hearts is waiting on state guidelines before they can revisit the school calendar.
71.
Are the shields clear or opaque? Would love to know how isolated the kids will feel/be?
Clear
72.
Will the school calendar stay the same in regard to fall break and other no school days?
Great Hearts is waiting on state guidelines before they can revisit the school calendar.
73.
Can we do Meet the Teacher if we are doing virtual?
Yes
74.
What is the start date for remote learning, and what will be the daily schedule?
August 10th and we do not have the schedules available to send out yet.
75.
Is Meet the Teacher in-person or via zoom?
Zoom and you will receive a sign up prior to August 6th.
76.
Is it mandatory for masks?
Please see the Great Hearts
mask policy
.
77.
I have heard that the kids will have clear separators. Why use masks if there is a separator? So, all Kindergarten - 5 year old’s - do not have to wear masks? What is the school policy going to be when masks are not mandatory by the governor?
Please see the Great Hearts
mask policy
.
78.
With the zoom classes, will all students be required to mute themselves? Last time all the kids talking at once was a big problem.
Yes, instructions will be given out during Meet the Teacher.
79.
ANP made chrome books available last spring to families that needed these. Thank you for that. There were challenges with the Chromebooks not connecting to zoom (disabled videos) and not playing the videos teachers uploaded to Google Classroom (i.e., videos were not uploaded for the first month in the correct format for chrome books). These things were corrected after several months. Will Chromebooks be available again for scholars? Can Chromebooks be checked for connections to zoom (with video functions enabled) and for teacher video upload compatibility?
Yes
80.
I am sending my incoming scholar (K) to our Jewish Community Center where she will be provided with her device and headphones (we bought them) with educators helping her out from August 10th until in-person learning can happen - and so, will you be providing exact times for when she needs to logon for synchronous learning?
Yes
81.
How will masks be identified as each individual student's, especially when they take them out on the playground and such?
We will have a procedure in place for the students to safely store them.
82.
Will everyone need to use the car lanes, or will there be walk-up areas for temperature checks?
Temperature checks will be done in the car lines before students are let out of the cars. There will be an area for temperature checks of those students that walk
83.
Will the face mask policy change if the local ordinance changes?
Please see the Great Hearts
mask policy
.
84.
Will Chromebooks be available all year, if needed.
Yes
85.
Can you please provide some further information on how long we would be required to keep our children out of the classroom following international travel?
The policy stipulates 14 days.
86.
How does it work when my student has uniforms from last year that don't fit him, and we want to donate to the school? How do we get new shirts for him from the donation center at his school’s used uniform sale? Do you receive a discount for donating old clothes?
No, but they are very affordable. Used uniform sale: August 5th from 3pm-6pm and August 8th from 12pm-3pm.
Also, do you know who my student’s new teacher is going to be?
Before August 6th.
And lastly, how does it work with books and supplies that he will need from school to use at home?
Information will be coming out on pickup details.
87.
Are yearbooks in yet?
Yes, we do have the yearbooks in. We held a couple of distribution days in June. I apologize if you did not receive those email announcements. We will be holding a used uniforms sale and the yearbooks will be available for pickup then as well.
88.
Do you sell just the patches on this shirt? Is it heat pressed or do you know?
The PSO may have some patches for sale at their used uniform sale. Also, Anton Uniforms has installed the patches for shirts for around $6-8 in previous years.
89.
Will the curriculum be the same?
Yes, the curriculum will be the same for students who are learning in the building and students who are learning remotely. Students who are learning remotely will be held to the same academic standards as their in-building peers.
90.
What platforms will be used for on-line learning?
Google Classroom with asynchronous videos. SWIVL will be used for GHDL. Zoom will be used for live events.
91.
How will work be turned in?
Work will be submitted through Google Classroom. Teachers will evaluate the work and give feedback through Google Classroom.
92.
For 5th & 6th grade students, will social considerations be made in regard to issues such as locker assignment (hopefully they will be pre-assigned to avoid alienating the kids who join in-person at a later date (i.e., top lockers are better than bottom lockers, etc.)?
Yes, we will preassign lockers to manage social distancing.
93.
Is there any type of 5th grade orientation planned?
Yes, more information to come
94.
What if we fill out the survey and say we plan to stay online but then change our minds in the middle of August?
You will need to stay in remote learning until the start of the new quarter.
95.
Would you ever consider each class being synchronized so there is a mix of remote and in class students? It seems like this would allow for smaller in-person classes, which would help with distancing a bit more.
Yes, after the parent meeting we are considering this idea.
96.
Will remote learning be the same - across all changes? i.e. before physical start and after physical start?
Yes
97.
Will the play structures be sanitized after each recess?
They will be sanitized at least three times a day. Scholars will be required to sanitize their hands before and after they go to the playground.
98.
I have seen firsthand how quickly this virus can spread. Why is it that we are having full classrooms? How is this keeping our staff and children safe?
At this time, we do not know how many scholars will be learning on campus or online. We are looking into all possibilities for class placements.
99.
How will recess be structured if the kids are supposed to be distancing themselves?
The recess area will be split into 4 zones that each section (1A,1B,1C,1D) will occupy. This will be set on a daily rotation schedule so the scholars can have access to all of the recess features throughout the week.
100.
Can you walk us through a regular day for, let’s say, a 5th grader? How is his/her day going to look like during remote learning even after in-person class starts for other students?
The instruction will be similar. The remote scholar will synchronize math, reading and writing instruction. They will complete other subjects asynchronous. We are trying to keep the schedule the same for an easier transition.
101.
At both times
,
Will you pre-assign lockers to 5th and 6th grade to avoid all the top lockers being taken as well as other social measures to ensure the kids who are returning to campus at a later time do not feel disadvantaged compared to students already on campus?
Yes, lockers will be pre-assigned before the beginning of return to on campus school.
102.
When the email with the information from this Zoom call is sent out, can a picture of the desk shields be included?
I am sorry, do not have a picture of the brand we are using.
103. By "class" are you referencing grade level or classroom? Will they be able to see and play with friends in another class during recess?
Classroom. No, we want to try and have as much containment as possible to avoid cross-contamination
