The First School In the United States Built Solely to Educate and Provide Therapeutic Services to Children with Multiple Disabilities

Safe Return Plan

A. Harry Moore School

Jersey City, New Jersey

2022-2023 School Year

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BACKGROUND

 

 

The AHM Safe Return to In-Person Instruction Plan is derived from the guidelines set forth by the State of New Jersey, Department of Education, Restart and Recovery Plan for Education (June/July/August, 2020 and updated according to the New Jersey Department of Health March 2021).

 

A HARRY MOORE SCHOOL SAFE RETURN PLAN COMMITTEE

 

Jason Jusino, AHM Principal

Karyn Alexander, AHM Pupil Services Coordinator

Patricia Holzman, AHM Teacher & Technology Coordinator / AFT Representative

Gloria Grant, AHM Teaching Assistant / CWA Representative

Janelle Brown, AHM School Nurse

Peggy Garvey, AHM Medical Department

Hazel Esguerra, AHM Parent

Nicole Gohde, AHM Parent

Roger Harris, NJCU Liaison secretary

 

 

On May 17, 2021, Governor Murphy announced that upon the conclusion of the 2020-2021 school year, sections of Executive Order 175 which allowed remote learning would be rescinded. This requires schools to provide full-day, in-person instruction. It was also stated that the New Jersey Department of Education and the New Jersey Department of Health will share additional information regarding State requirements and further guidance for the health and safety protocols recommended for the 2021-2022 school year. School districts must open beginning in September of 2021. Remote learning will only be re-instated if there is a localized outbreak or another emergency. Parents and guardians will not be allowed to opt their children out of in-person instruction.

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SCHOOL SCHEDULE & SCHOOL DAY HOURS

 

 

Students will begin reporting to the building for the 2022-2023 school year.  Our school day will be from 8:30 am-2:30 pm in order to provide adequate educational and related services as well as social distancing upon arrival and dismissal of students.  

 

 

 

 

PART 1:  HEALTH, SAFETY & SCREENING MEASURES

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KEY UPDATES (January 2022):

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 Exposed close contacts who have no COVID-19 compatible symptoms in the following groups should be excluded from school:

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      Age 12 or older who completed the primary series of a recommended COVID-19 vaccine but have not received a recommended booster shot when eligible.

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      Persons who are not fully vaccinated.

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 Exposed close contacts who have no COVID-19 symptoms in the following groups do not need to be excluded from school:

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      Age 12 or older and have received all recommended vaccine doses, including boosters and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people.

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      Age 5-11 years and completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.

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      Had confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days (tested positive using a viral test).

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COMMUNICATION

School officials and local health departments will maintain close communication with each other to provide information and share resources on COVID-19 transmission, prevention, and control measures and to establish procedures for LHD notification and response to COVID-19 illness in school settings.

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HEALTH SCREENINGS

Please also see: “Daily Scheduling / School Hours”.

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Parents/caregivers are encouraged to monitor their children for signs of illness every day as they are the front line for assessing illness in their children. Students who are sick should not attend school. 

 

School Personnel

 

All AHM Educators MUST fill out the “School Day Health Survey” prior to entering the building. 

 

Upon entrance to the school, an Infrared Scanner will monitor everyone as they enter.  All school personnel will be screened via temperature check prior to entering the building.  Any school personnel with a temperature of 100.4 or greater will be denied entry to the building and encouraged to seek medical treatment.  Should an employee begin to feel ill during work, s/he will be asked to go home and seek medical treatment.  

 

All school personnel will also be asked to not come in to work if: s/he is exhibiting symptoms of COVID, s/he has been exposed to someone exhibiting COVID symptoms, s/he has been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID, s/he or someone within their home has traveled to locations (states, territories, countries) in which travel advisories have been issued.

 

Students

 

All families that are sending their child to school MUST fill out the “School Day Health Survey” each morning before being picked-up by the bus.

 

Upon entrance to the school, an Infrared Scanner will monitor everyone as they enter.  All AHM students will have their temperature screened upon entry to the building.  Any students exhibiting a temperature of 100.4 or greater will be immediately isolated and the parent will be contacted to pick up their child.  Students exhibiting a fever or other cold/flu/COVID symptoms will be sent home.  Parents are asked to kindly monitor symptoms and take temperatures at home prior to sending their child to school.  Students who are sent home from school or are kept home may join that day on Remote Instruction. 

 

Parents will be informed that if they, their child or someone within the home is exhibiting symptoms of COVID, has been exposed to someone exhibiting COVID symptoms, has been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID, or have traveled to locations (states, territories, countries) in which a travel advisory have been issued, we are asking to kindly refrain from sending the student to school.  Students who are kept home may join on Remote Instruction.

 

 

 

Visitors

 

All visitors to A Harry Moore School must have their visit pre-approved by School Administration.  Although A Harry Moore has always had an open-door policy and welcomes the community and families to visit our school, we will be restricting the number of visitors allowed into the building.  All visitors will be screened for temperature prior to gaining entry to the building.  Visitors with a temperature of 100.4 or greater will be denied entry.  Masks will also be required (please see separate section on Masks/Face Coverings / Face Shields).  Visitors will not be allowed into classrooms when school is in session. 

 

If the visitor or someone within the visitor's home is exhibiting symptoms, has been exposed to someone exhibiting COVID systems, has been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID, or have traveled to locations (states, territories, countries) in which travel advisories have been issued, please refrain from visiting the school.

 

All deliveries, mail pickup, etc. will be conducted at the entryway.    

 

Parent Drop Off / Pick Up

 

In prior years, when a student was brought to school or picked up from school by a parent or family member, that person was allowed entry into the building.  Please note, this process has changed.

 

For the 2021-2022 School Year, parents/families are advised to use the school bus drop-off lane for pick-up and drop-off.  When you reach the main entrance, a staff member will be there to assist your child into the building.  If parents choose to park and walk their child to the main entrance, please note parents will not be allowed access into the building.  Staff members will assist bringing your child into the building.

 

RETURNING TO WORK/SCHOOL

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Updated CDC Isolation & Quarantine Protocols (January 19, 2022)

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https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/documents/topics/NCOV/isolation_quarantine_nonhealthcare.pdf

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For any faculty, staff or student who was not admitted entry into the building due to fever, exhibiting symptoms, or whom went home sick, the following policy is in place:

• Must be 48-hours fever-free

• Must return with a doctors’ note

 

For any faculty, staff or student who came in contact with someone testing positive for COVID, it is recommended to:

• Quarantine for 10 days

 

 

 

 

 

P.P.E. (MASKS / FACE COVERINGS / FACE SHIELDS)

 

Faculty & Staff, School Personnel

 

All faculty and staff are required to wear masks the entire school day.  Faculty and Staff may remove their masks when alone in the classroom, but ONLY when there are no students present.   When faculty and staff remove their masks, they are required to remain appropriate, socially distant from any other adults in the room.  Faculty and staff may remove their masks for eating and drinking purposes. 

 

Faculty and staff may opt to wear their own mask, but for those who do not have individual masks, each employee will be provided one disposable mask every day.  Please note that employees are expected to maintain the required cleaning and sanitizing if they choose to wear fabric reusable masks. 

 

Faculty and staff may opt to wear a face shield in addition to the mask.  Face shields will be provided by the school to each faculty and staff member, although employees may choose to wear their own.  Please note that face shields will require cleaning and sanitizing by the employee.

 

Face shields are being recommended for use in addition to masks, when appropriate social distancing cannot be maintained with students (e.g., feeding, toileting/changing, and therapies).  

 

Protective, disposable gowns will also be available for faculty and staff if needed when appropriate social distancing cannot be maintained with students (e.g., feeding, toileting/changing, and therapies). 

 

Students

 

Due to the Governor’s recent mandate, masks and/or facial coverings of students are required for the duration of the school day unless:

1. If a student’s documented medical condition, or disability as reflected in an Individualized Education Program (IEP), precludes the use of a face covering.

2. If or when anyone has trouble breathing or is unconscious, is incapacitated, or is otherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance (e.g., face coverings should not be worn by Pre-K students during nap time).

3. When a student is eating or drinking.

 

Parents may opt to provide their child with mask/facial coverings which are clearly labeled with their child’s name. Disposable masks will be available for those who do not have their own. 

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HAND HYGIENE

    1. We will teach and reinforce handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds 
    2. When soap and water are not readily available, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol under the strict supervison of faculty and staff.

    3. Students will receive assistance to ensure proper handwashing.

 

 

HAND SANITIZING

 

Hand sanitizing stations will be available throughout the building in key locations (stairwells, elevator, hallways, offices, conference room, etc.).   

 

Upon entry to the building, all faculty, staff, students and visitors will be required to use hand sanitizer. 

 

Classrooms will also be provided an adequate supply of hand sanitizer. 

 

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS

 

Substitute teachers will be assigned to specific classrooms on a weekly basis to reduce any cross-contamination or intermingling possibilities whenever possible.  Additionally, substitute teachers will be following the same guidelines and protocols as employees (temperature screening, use of PPE, etc.).

 

CONTACT TRACING

 

Our school nurse will work in collaboration with the NJCU Response Team, school districts and the local health department regarding contact tracing for anyone testing positive for COVID.

 

 

DAILY SCHEDULING/ SCHOOL HOURS

 

In order to provide health screening measures for all individuals arriving to the building and to maintain appropriate social distancing measures, the following schedules are being implemented for September 9th, 2021:

 

Teaching Assistants (Report for Duty: September 1, 2021)

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Teaching Assistants will report for duty at 8am; working hours: 8am-3pm

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School for all students will begin on September 9, 2021 with teaching assistants supporting classroom teachers from their classrooms, unless ADA accommodations were received.   

 

Faculty (Report for Duty: September 7, 2021)

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Faculty members will report for duty at 8:30 am; working hours: 8:30 am-3pm

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School for all students will begin on September 9, 2021 with teachers from their classrooms unless ADA accommodations were received.   

 

With the exception of staff working in the Cafeteria/Kitchen, Public Safety/Security and Custodians, health screening for staff entry to the building will begin promptly at the times listed above.  All school personnel arriving prior to their designated start times may not be able to be screened or gain immediate entry into the building.

 

All school personnel, with the exception of School Administrators, will be required to vacate the building by 3:30pm in order for the school to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. 

 

 

Student Hours

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Beginning September 9, 2021, all students arriving by bus or other transportation methods, will report for entry to the building beginning at 8:30am.  Dismissal will begin at 2:15pm. 

 

 

 

BUS/TRANSPORTATION

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Buses will be unloaded and loaded individually and when instructed to do so by school personnel in order to maintain appropriate social distancing through the health screening process.   

 

FAQs

 

You will receive Bus Route assignments and pick-up times from the bus company.

 

Bus personnel is expected to follow and enforce the CDC guidelines.

 

Students are expected to be properly seated according to the CDC guidelines. 

 

All vendors are required to have a disinfecting plan for their vehicles, which includes a daily cleaning routine of high touch areas.
 

Drivers and aides will submit to a daily temperature screening by their employer and are required to wear masks.

 

Students will be subject to temperature checks prior to boarding the vehicle. Any student with a fever of 100.4 or greater will be unable to ride.

 

Students will also be required to wear masks, unless they are unable to for medical reasons.

 

All vehicles will have hand sanitizer available for student and staff use.

 

Vehicle capacities will accommodate social distancing guidelines with routes designed to limit time in transit.

 

 

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PART 2: CONTINUITY OF LEARNING

 

 

As stated previously, parents/guardians of AHM students will not have the option of remote learning for their children.  We realize this may be fluid and may fluctuate over time.  We continue to follow the directives of the NJDOE and NJ Department of Health. Continuity of learning is our mission under all and any circumstances. 

                 

A. Harry Moore School Virtual Learning Summary

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If the need for remote learning should become required, our goal will be to ensure that our students are provided the opportunities for learning to continue during health-related crises and closures. We will continue to focus on academic and therapeutic goals as well as our commitment is to meet the individual needs of all our students. 

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We will provide opportunities for our students to connect with other teachers, teacher assistants, classmates, therapists, administration, and our entire school community. These connections are essential for the social emotional well-being of our students during times of remote learning.

Teachers and therapists will establish routines to communicate with our students and their families.   

 

Safe Return Educational Component

 

Person to Person Contact

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To reduce the potential of spread should someone test positive for COVID within our school, the following person-to-person contact policy is in effect.  All employees and students will be required to wear face masks.

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Student mobility around the building will be limited throughout the school day.  Students will remain with their classroom staff: teacher and teaching assistants. 

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The intermingling among students and other classes will be discontinued until further notice.  However, classrooms are encouraged to hold zoom meetings with other classrooms to encourage social skills in a virtual format.

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We realize many of our students require hand-over-hand assistance throughout the school day.  For classroom activities, staff will use discretion when social distancing cannot be maintained.  For those students who require assistance with feeding and toileting, staff are encouraged to use additional PPE such as utilizing face shields, disposable gloves, disposable gowns, etc.

 

School-Wide Activities

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 All in-person, school-wide activities/assemblies will be discontinued for the 2020-2021 school year until further notice.  This is for the health and safety of all students and staff. 

 

Hallway Traffic

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Hallway traffic will be limited and scheduled for student transport to their Related Service providers.  All other personal toileting needs will occur naturally as needed for staff and students.  Six feet social distancing will be adhered as much as possible.

 

Related Services - Therapy

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Parents will have the ability to select whether their child’s therapists will maintain a six-foot social distance or allow the therapist to cross the social distancing barrier to perform hands-on therapy. 

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Therapists in each respective discipline will be assigned to an entire class of students.  This will limit their contact with the entire school.  Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech therapists will work with each other to determine their list of assigned students. 

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As an example, PT-A, OT-A, ST-A will be assigned to all students in classrooms 1, 2, and 3. 

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For individual therapy, students will be brought to the therapist by a classroom assistant.  Since therapy is not able to be socially distanced, staff are encouraged to use additional PPE such as utilizing face shields, disposable gloves, disposable gowns, etc. while working with their individual students. 

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Therapists will be responsible for thoroughly cleaning any equipment utilized as well as mats, tables, etc.  Therapists will need to take this into account when determining their schedules.

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Small group therapy can only be held when appropriate social distancing between students can take place.  Again, there will be no intermingling of students from different classrooms, so small groups will be held with students from the same class.

 

A Harry Moore Lunch Program for In-Person Instruction

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Due to the unique dietary needs of A. Harry Moore students, A Harry Moore Food Service staff will continue making and serving lunch for our students.

Lunches will be distributed to each classroom (cafeteria staff will not enter classrooms, they will leave the labeled lunches in the hallway outside each classroom on a table for teachers/aides to retrieve).  Students will eat lunch in their classrooms.  Parents may also opt to send in a non-perishable lunch for their child.

 

Building Maintenance, Security & Signage

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Building Maintenance

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All will follow CDC guidelines regarding the sanitization and disinfection of shared spaces, classrooms, bathrooms, etc. 

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Increased frequency of cleaning bathrooms, elevators, and frequently traveled areas and manipulated items (e.g., doorknobs, elevator buttons, etc.) is being recommended throughout the school day. 

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Nightly deep cleanings of all classrooms, hallways, cafeteria, offices and bathrooms are being enforced. 

 

Classrooms

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Classrooms will be arranged conducive to three-foot social distancing guidelines.  Utilizing Plexiglas partitions Students will be encouraged to interact with their peers from a distance and will have the opportunity to interact with their classmates on remote instruction via daily zoom meetings. 

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Throughout the day, classroom staff will remain diligent in cleaning.  Deep, thorough, cleanings will take place after the students are dismissed daily. 

 

Signage

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Social distancing signage will be provided in all public areas such as the elevator lobby, outside bathrooms, etc.   Handwashing signage as well as signage regarding not spreading germs will be displayed throughout the school and in classrooms. 

 

 

Security

Security personnel will be responsible for monitoring the front entryway once classes are in session. 

Security personnel will adhere to the same health guidelines and requirements of faculty and staff such as the wearing of facial covering/mask and having their temperature screened upon entry to the building.