Proposed Hybrid Schedule for Returning to

In-Person Learning Presented by:

Dr. Elie Bracy, IIIPortsmouth Public Schools Superintendent

Images courtesy of: pilotonline.com and cdc.gov

Date Reopening ActionsMonday, March 29 All Staff ReturnMonday, April 12 All Special Education and English Language

Learners (K-12) students return for four days of in-person instruction

Monday, April 19 All Pre-K through 3 students return in a hybrid schedule

Monday, April 26 All 4-8 students return in a hybrid scheduleRemainder of the 2020-2021 school year

All high school students remain virtual (but all students will still have to report to schools to take SOL tests)

Proposed Reopening Plan

Hybrid Teaching and Learning2020-2021

Portsmouth Public SchoolsPresented by:

Dr. Anita Wynn Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction

Overview• Students are our first priority! We are looking forward to in-person

teaching and learning. The calendar reflects the plan for this.

• SOL testing creates a challenge for providing instruction as there are no waivers and students must be tested in person. Students will begin testing May 3, 2021.

• Students will remain with their currently assigned teachers, in-person and virtually. These relationships are vital to the success of our students and the continuity of teaching and learning.

• Teachers will provide in-person and virtual instruction simultaneously.

• Once testing begins, teachers will be proctoring SOL assessments. Therefore, virtual instruction will be mostly asynchronous during this time.

Return to In-Person LearningStudent Group Testing Windows Notes

Grades 3-12 SOL Testing

May 3, 2021 - June 9, 2021

Testing must be done in person, so this will have a major impact on in-person and virtual learning.

Virginia Kindergarten Readiness testing begins

April 19, 2021

PALS testing begins April 26, 2021

Teacher Support• Teachers will receive professional development to assist them in using Webcams and

technology to provide in-person and virtual learning, simultaneously.

• Curriculum and Instruction Information Sessions will be available each Thursday, March 11, 18, 25. Teachers may view these pre-recorded sessions at their convenience and will have an opportunity to post questions for C & I through a Google Form survey.

• Session One - Staff and Student Return to In-Person Learning • Session Two - How can I teach live and virtual at the same time? • Session Three - Balancing Virtual and In-Person Instruction for Elementary and

Secondary

• Technology Resource Teachers (TRTs), Specialists, Interventionists and Coaches will work directly with teachers and be available to provide onsite support.

• Wednesdays will continue to be asynchronous, flipped learning days to allow teachers adequate planning and collaboration time, and to provide time to work with small groups or independent learners.

● Virtual students will sign in each day for live instruction, using the same schedule they currently follow.

● During SOL testing, students will be asynchronous as teachers will be proctoring tests.

● In-person learning will provide an opportunity for students to transition back to full time in-person instruction.

● Elementary school counselors will continue to provide asynchronous SEL lessons and will provide mental health support through face to face or live Zoom interactions

These templates do not reflect the actual times for each school. School hours are assigned by Tiers so the start times differ from school to school. These templates are provided as guidance for schools in planning instructional time.

PreK-12 Sample Schedules

Elementary Hybrid Schedule Sample (K-6)Hybrid A Student M/T – In-person W – Independent

Learning DayThurs/Fri – Virtual

Monday/TuesdayIn-person day schedule

Wednesday Thursday / FridayVirtual day schedule

8:15 – 8:35 Morning Routine (breakfast, announcements, attendance, etc.)

8:35 – 9:15 Core

9:15 – 10:00 Core

10:00 – 10:30 Encore/Recess/SEL

10:30 – 11:00 Lunch (in classrooms)

11:00 – 11:45 Core

11:45 – 12:30 Core

12:30 – Dismissal of Online Students

12:30 – 1:30 Dismissal of in-person students(staggered for elementary schools)

1:30-3:30 - Teacher check-in with virtual students (group or individual), conferences or small group instruction

Independent Learning Day

Encore Activities in Schoology

Student Catch-Up day

**Teacher planning / prep / catch-up day

** Teachers may use this day to set up meeting with the Virtual students

** Virtual students will attend live instruction from 8:15-12:30. Students will login to get the daily lesson and instruction from teachers during each time slot. Students should not be on the entire time frame.

8:15 – 8:35 Morning Routine (breakfast, announcements, attendance, etc.)

8:35 – 9:15 Core

9:15 – 10:00 Core

10:00 – 10:30 Encore/Recess/SEL

10:30 – 11:00 Lunch (in classrooms)

11:00 – 11:45 Core

11:45 – 12:30 Core

12:30 – Dismissal of Online Students

1:30 – 3:30 – Hybrid Virtual students will use this time to independently complete assignments and activities in Schoology if they didn’t finish during the morning session. Students may also be scheduled for individual check ins with teachers, counselors, and support staff.

*This is a sample schedule for an A-Day student. The schedule would flip for B-Day students in that they would be virtual on M/T and in-person on TH/F.

Full-Time Virtual Learning Sample Schedule Elementary (K-6)Full-Time Virtual Student

M/T – Virtual W – Independent Learning Day

Thurs/Fri – Virtual

Monday/TuesdayLive/ Virtual Instruction

Wednesday Thursday / FridayLive /Virtual Instruction

Full Virtual students will Zoom into the classroom each day for instruction.

8:15 – 8:35 Morning Routine (breakfast, announcements, attendance, etc.)

8:35 – 9:15 Core

9:15 – 10:00 Core

10:00 – 10:30 Encore/Recess/SEL

10:30 – 11:00 Lunch (in classrooms)

11:00 – 11:45 Core

11:45 – 12:30 Core

12:30 – Dismissal of Online Students

1:30 – 3:30 - Virtual students will use this time to independently complete assignments and activities in Schoology if they didn’t finish during the morning session. Students may also be scheduled for individual check- ins with teachers, counselors, and support staff.

Independent Learning Day

Encore Activities in Schoology

Student Catch-Up day

**Teacher planning / prep / catch-up day

** Teachers may use this day to set up meetings with Virtual students

Full Virtual students will Zoom into the classroom each day for instruction.

8:15 – 8:35 Morning Routine (breakfast, announcements, attendance, etc.)

8:35 – 9:15 Core

9:15 – 10:00 Core

10:00 – 10:30 Encore/Recess/SEL

10:30 – 11:00 Lunch (in classrooms)

11:00 – 11:45 Core

11:45 – 12:30 Core

12:30 – Dismissal of Online Students

1:30 – 3:30 - Virtual students will use this time to independently complete assignments and activities in Schoology if they didn’t finish during the morning session. Students may also be scheduled for individual check- ins with teachers, counselors, and support staff.

English LearnersDuring the month of March, the WIDA ACCESS test will be administered in-person to all identified ELs, about 100 students.• Testing will begin Wednesday, March 3, for two weeks. Testing will

occur every day, including asynchronous days.• There are four separate tests: reading, writing, speaking, and

listening. Students will take two tests per day. • More than 60 new potential ELs in the district have also been

screened in-person since the beginning of the school year.• Teachers continue to strictly adhere to all PPS social distancing

guidelines and safety protocols.

Special EducationIn-person instruction will be offered four days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday)*42 Self-contained classrooms throughout the division (PreK-12th)*10 SECEP classrooms

Career & Technical Education (CTE)The following CTE programs will offer in-person instruction four days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday) beginning April 12:

• Barbering• Cosmetology• Nail Tech • Welding - currently attending

labs on TCC campus

Parent Support• Communication is vital to the success of students and

staff. Feel free to contact your child’s school, teacher, principal, etc.

• Parent Liaisons and School Counselors will work directly with parents to provide resources and respond to concerns.

• The division continues to provide technology support through the Parent Help Center and resources on the Virtual Learning page through the PPS website.

• Resources for mental health are available on the Here to Help webpage.

Student and Staff Safety • Face coverings will be required for all students and staff• In accordance with CDC guidelines and Health

Department counsel, temperatures will not be taken on school buses or at school entrances

• Any student who reports not feeling well in school will immediately be sent to the clinic for assessment

• If any COVID-19-related symptoms are evident, the child will be placed in the school’s sick room for pick-up

• Employees who report being unwell will be asked to leave the building

• If there is a COVID-19 positive case in a school, PPS will follow all Health Department protocols for notification and contact tracing

Auxiliary Services Plans for School Reopening

Presented By:Dr. Jerry L. Simmons

Director of Auxiliary Services

• Examining CDC guidelines and recommended mitigation strategies

• Visiting and collaborating with local school divisions to determine best practices

• Reviewing all plans with the Portsmouth Health Department• Providing support and training to all principals and building

administrators• Researching new disinfecting/cleaning procedures and

strategically integrating those practices throughout the division

• Creating and deploying Deep Disinfecting Teams

Portsmouth Public Schools established a Pandemic Committee in March of 2020.

That committee leads all operational efforts by:

Deep Disinfecting Teams In the spring of 2020, Deep Disinfecting Teams (DDTs) were created to support custodial teams in routinely deep cleaning and disinfecting all buildings on a rotating schedule

DDTs utilize 50 hand-held electrostatic sprayers and 21 mobile electric misting machines along with DZ7 and other industrial-strength cleaners

PPS is also researching outside vendors to potentially support DDT efforts when schools are reopened

Photo courtesy of wvec.com

• General building cleaning and sanitizing occurs daily• Plexiglass dividers are in every building• Touchless standing sanitation stations are in every building• Safety signage is displayed throughout every building• Customized floor decals are in all elementary and middle schools• Sneeze guards have been ordered for student desks/tables• Touchless water-filling stations in all schools are being installed• Urinals will be spaced and covered to maintain proper social

distancing in boys restrooms• Maximum classroom capacity have been developed for schools

and shared with school administration• Air filtering systems have been adjusted to enhance their air

contaminant prevention

Building Safety

• Since the fall, PPS has been stocked with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for staff and students as well as all COVID-related material and supplies

• All staff and students will be required to wear masks when returning to in-person instruction

• Additional student masks have been ordered to replenish supply once in-person instruction begins

Personal Protective Equipment

Food Services • All students can continue to receive breakfast and

lunch at no cost• Meals will be served in a grab-and-go style and

taken to the classroom to eat• Kiosks have been ordered for all schools• Food Services Staff will continue to follow all

CDC guidelines for food preparation and service

• Students who remain virtual may pick up a meal from any PPS elementary or high school

• Parents may pick up meals for students who are on the virtual days of instruction in the hybrid schedule

• PPS Food Services will offer a separate menu for staff

Transportation ServicesType of Bus in the PPS

Fleet Number of

BusesCapacity in COVID-19

77-Passenger 10 22

65-Passenger 98 17

Special Education 24 (case by case)

TOTAL BUSES 132

Even in a hybrid model, all PPS buses will be needed to transport students to and from school. Administration is seeking School Board approval for a waiver

that would allow buses to carry two students to a seat, if needed.

Bus routes will be posted to ppsk12.us.

Transportation Safety• Students will be unloaded one student at a time, as

recommended by the CDC

• Students, drivers and monitors will wear masks while on the bus - drivers will provide masks for those who do not have one

• The school bus will be disinfected between each tier for morning and afternoon routes and then deep cleaned/disinfected at the end of the day

• Air purification systems are currently being installed on PPS buses

• Six feet distance markers have been placed at the bus ramp of each school, which leads into the school building

Questions?