No, you are all set and ready to start school August 5, 2020 as planned.

No, those will stay the same. Bell Schedules - School Day Start & End Times

Yes, transportation will continue to be provided for students attending in person at their boundaried school based on the district’s normal transportation procedures.

It is not possible to achieve social distancing on our buses, however, there will be extensive cleaning protocols in place including nightly spraying down of our bus interiors, regular wiping down of the surfaces, and staff will wear masks. Students will be asked to wear masks while on the bus.

It is not possible at this time to provide transportation for students who select the flex options.

Elementary specials will continue to be offered for students attending in person including Art, PE, General Music, Library, and Band/Strings (5th and 6th grade).  Students will need to utilize personal or rented equipment.  Limited sharing of instruments.  Frequent sanitization of equipment as needed. 

A number of changes to our classrooms and campus set-ups are being made to reduce the proximity of students as much as possible.  It is important to note that working in groups will still take place and will be managed in such a way the learning and health and safety are supported as best as possible under the current circumstances. These include but are not limited to: 

• When possible, student desks and tables will be front-facing.   At the elementary level,  tables may have taped off student areas to help define the individual student areas.
• Cleaning protocols including deep cleaning and frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces
• Staggering bell schedules during the school day
• Hand sanitizer stations
• Plexiglass in specific areas
• Sanitization “gun” for deep cleaning of schools
• Not sharing supplies, for example, pencils, instruments
• Students welcome to bring their own wipes
• Opening up common areas during lunch to create extra space for students to spread out to eat, library, grass areas, etc.
• At this time face coverings are required on our campuses, as per the Maricopa County Emergency Order, we do not know what the requirements will or won’t be when school begins
• Employee health screening protocols
• Student health screening protocols

Hand sanitizing stations will be available throughout the school and each classroom will have hand sanitizer supplied.  Schools and classrooms will be deep cleaned every night, with deep cleaning nightly in high use areas such as bathrooms, weight rooms, cafeterias, auditoriums, gymnasiums.  Desks and chairs will be wiped down regularly with sanitization materials to include clorox or alcohol wipes, antibacterial, anti viral sprays etc.  In addition, JH and HS students can bring their own wipes to school and can choose to wipe down their chair and desk as they wish throughout the day.

There will be a limited number of students on the playground spread out as much as possible. Social distancing activities will be encouraged and a limited number of students will be allowed on equipment at one time.  Each day the playground equipment will be sanitized.  Students will wash/sanitize their hands at the end of recess.

Elementary

At the elementary school level, lunch will be staggered and the time between each lunch period lengthened to allow for fewer students in the lunchroom at a time. Students coming from the classroom will be organized alphabetically and walked to the cafeteria. Each student will be identified at the cash register where the nutrition services worker can identify the student’s account.  Otherwise, the student must know his student number so that staff can input the account information. Again, hand sanitizers and ongoing cleaning of tables and chairs will occur throughout the lunch periods.

Students having lunch after recess will be encouraged to wash their hands and then use hand sanitizer readily available at cafeteria entrances.

Secondary

Tables will be spread out in the lunchroom with fewer chairs at each table. Students will be provided spaces outside, in libraries, and other areas throughout the building to eat their lunch spreading out students.  Again, hand sanitizers and ongoing cleaning of tables and chairs will occur throughout the lunch periods.

Important Reminders for Elementary and Secondary

1.  Student cards shall be discontinued for the start of school - students must be identified with the Point of Service machine or must know their account number to be entered in by nutrition services staff.
2. Salad bars will be eliminated at least initially at the start of school
3. Choice will be provided but each meal and side will be prepared in the morning and packaged to facilitate placing on student trays and to minimize clean up and spillage
4. Cafeteria tables will be marked decreasing table capacity by 30% to 50% to minimize proximity to other students.
5. Additional garbage cans will be provided for disposal of completed meal packaging and leftovers. 
6. After each lunch period, tables and seats will be wiped down for the next group of students.

As the numbers for breakfast are much less than for lunch, it is expected that breakfast will occur as normal as possible.  Seating will be provided, however, further apart and hand sanitizing stations will be readily available in the cafeterias and multipurpose rooms.  Students will be required to wear a mask while entering the cafeteria and will remove their masks once seated in order to eat, under the current Maricopa County Order as of 06/19/2020.

Yes, secondary students will move from class to class with a range of protocols in place including staggered passing periods and others listed on the preventative measures page. Click here to view.

Parents will be educated on the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and will be required to keep their child home if they are exhibiting any signs. Parents will be expected to check their student(s) for symptoms daily.  All of our campuses are staffed with Nurses and/or Health Assistants who will assess students who become ill while at school. 

Additionally, we have modified our Health Office guidelines in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This will help us assist students who require first aid and medication, while also preventing them from being exposed to children who become ill while at school.

Employees will be educated on the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and will be required to stay home if they are exhibiting any signs. Employees will also be asked to complete a self-screening questionnaire, daily.  All of our campuses are staffed with Nurses and/or Health Assistants who will provide support should an employee have questions or need to be assessed while at work.

At this time, June 23, 2020 face coverings are required on our campuses when six-foot physical distancing is not possible and barring exceptions, as per the Maricopa County Emergency Order, Town of Gilbert Emergency Order, and City of Mesa Proclamation.  We do not know what the requirements will be or won’t be when school begins on August 5. We will continue to keep our community updated.

If a student comes under the exemptions for wearing face coverings, under the County guidelines, please reach out directly to your campus to inform them of this.  At this time, as per the County guidelines, Preschool and Kindergarten students will not be required to wear face coverings.

At this time, June 23, 2020 face coverings are required on our campuses when six-foot physical distancing is not possible and barring exceptions, as per the Maricopa County Emergency Order, Town of Gilbert Emergency Order, and City of Mesa Proclamation.  We do not know what the requirements will be or won’t be when school begins on August 5.  We will continue to keep our community updated.

Our guiding principles for delivering support for our special education students and families during this time include: 

• Providing instruction based upon IEP goals
• Providing accommodations and/or modifications based upon student needs
• Communicating clearly and in a timely manner
• Implementing best teaching practices

On campuses, we will provide special education support through:

• Service delivery on campus per IEP 
• Accommodations/modifications provided per IEP
• Related service transportation provided
• IEPs and Evaluations conducted on campus

Virtual assemblies will be encouraged.  If there are in person assemblies the capacity will be significantly decreased to meet the guidelines in place at the time.

Our Building Blocks 3 and 4, Kindergarten-Prep, TOYBOX will be offered in-person on-campus. A range of preventative measures will be in place:

• Drop-off/pick-up provided with curbside procedures.
• Smaller class sizes are anticipated due to lower numbers
• Frequent breaks and washing of hands between rotations
• Within classes students stay in groups of five
• Regular hand washing and hand sanitizing stations available in every classroom
• Individually assigned manipulative and instructional materials, as possible

Amanecer Developmental Preschool will have two options:  the Global Academy/online option and the campus (in-person option) when school buildings reopen. The Flex option will not be available to Amanecer developmental preschool students.

Yes, VIK will be provided at the 27 elementary locations with structured door side drop-off/pick-up.  There will be small/consistent group assignments and a wide range of preventative measures in place, including cleaning protocols.

The GPS Gifted model provides gifted services to elementary students, grades 4-6 grades and will be available in all delivery model choices:

• Gifted math will be accelerated one year above the actual grade level.
• Gifted sixth graders will use the adopted ELA curriculum with learning extensions that include critical and higher-order thinking skills.

Click here for more information.

We are using a phased approach that reflects existing guidelines at a national, state, and local level.

We are using a phased approach that reflects existing guidelines at a national, state, and local level.  

For performing arts, marching bands, choirs etc there is guidance from national organizations on the best ways to utilize space to promote social distancing, or working together in smaller groups using sections.  Our district and campus teams are reviewing these guidelines and will share decisions as they are made with our students and families.

Storage facilities for instruments and set-up plans for practice are also being looked at to ensure that students are not congregating in large groups.

Field trips will be determined on a month by month basis.  There will be no elementary field trips during the first quarter of the school year.

Links to register for in-person on campus are above.  If you are interested in learning more about the Flex options or GPS Global Academy (full-time online) you can visit their pages to learn more, and register.

The Maricopa County Department of Health will monitor positive cases of COVID-19 and work closely with our Health Services Office. Schools would only close at their direction, or if the Governor calls for another, larger closure. As a school district, we will closely monitor our staffing levels at campuses to ensure student and staff health and safety.