Back-to-School Plan 2020-21

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to do if my child is going to be absent from school?

IMPORTANT REMINDER: Our remote option was designed and is intended for COVID-related quarantine or isolation due to COVID, for the safety of loved ones. Students who need to miss school for vacations, travel or non-COVID illnesses will be marked as absent. We are unable to provide Zoom or remote learning in these situations.

On-campus learners who need to be absent for reasons other than COVID: Please report your absence to your classroom/homeroom teacher or to the front office by calling 813-961-3087 or emailing Dawn Bronson on the East Side or Jen Haas on the West Side. Teachers will work with families to make sure students have what they need to catch up and/or will work closely with them when they return on campus. 

Off-campus learners needing to miss a school day or scheduled class (NON-COVID related): In this scenario, we ask you to report your absence to your classroom/homeroom teacher. Teachers will work with families to make sure students have what they need to catch up and/or will support them when they return online.

On- and off-campus learners needing to miss school due to COVID-related issues: Please contact our school nurse, Susan Leyshon, R.N., at nurse@corbettprep.com and Dawn Bronson in the East Side front office or Jen Haas in the Middle School office or call 813-961-3087. We will then communicate specifically regarding your child's situation.

If my child is a remote learner, what additional supplies do they need?
Remote learners will need all required on-campus supplies as well as access to a computer with a webcam, microphone, speakers, and internet access and a printer. Remote learners should establish a workspace within the house that limits distraction and includes a desk, chair, lighting, and access to electrical outlets. They will be expected to enter each school day groomed and with the mindset of being on campus in appropriate dress code attire: pants, shorts, tops (not pajamas).

Will families have an option to continue remote learning or return to school after the current session?
Near the end of each remote learning period, we have offered the opportunity for students to return to campus or continue classes online. We are continuing to assess the situation to see what options we may provide for the third trimester. If the learning scenarios adjust either up or down, communication will continue with our families
regarding options and needs.

Could you share more information about the new school nurse?
We are excited to welcome Susan Leyshon, a registered nurse, to our staff! She is our COVID-19 Coordinator on campus with a clinic in the East Side building that was previously the dance room (the dance room is now in the Betty Anderson Room in the Farish Center). She can be reached at nurse@corbettprep.com.

What about athletics, After-School Activities, CSA and CSS?
We offer Extended Day after school for families in need. Our athletics program, After-School Activities, Community School of the Arts and Community School for Sports will resume in February. 

Can students bring their own sanitizers and cleaning supplies?
Sanitizer, soap, and cleaning supplies will be provided by Corbett Prep and available to students in each classroom. If a family chooses to provide their child with their own supply of sanitizers, wipes, etc., all should be scentless and kept inside each child’s backpack. If items brought from home become a distraction, we will inform the parents of a need to change.

May I still bring in birthday celebration treats for my child’s classroom?
Yes, please refer to our Visitor Policy regarding procedures for dropping off items. All items need to be individually wrapped. Doughnuts, cookies, and cupcakes in bulk need to be saved for a different time.

How will we know if there is a COVID-19 case on campus? What type of communication can we expect from the school?
In our Back-to-School Plan, we have outlined notification letters that will be sent home to families based on a
COVID-19 occurrence on campus. These letters are color-coded and will outline what to do, what has been done, and what will need to be completed prior to return. Confidentiality of names will always be maintained.

Face Coverings: Masks Are Mandatory for All

Employees and visitors must use face coverings in all Corbett Prep locations, both indoors and outdoors. The use of face masks is vital to mitigate the transmission of the virus and essential for the school to remain open. More details on masks are available in the 2020-21 Back-to-School Plan.

All students, including prekindergarten and kindergarten, will wear masks while indoors or anywhere where physical distancing will be a challenge. Teachers will include mask breaks and creative maskless times outdoors throughout the day.

Face coverings are not a substitute for physical distancing, which should remain the primary means of preventing transmission.

Mask Update

As research continues to update best practices for wearing masks and provides information on types of masks, Corbett Prep has determined that the choice of masks required for students, faculty and staff masks at school must come from the following list:

• Disposable surgical-style or KN95 masks

• Cloth masks (should be washed daily)

Please Note:

1. All school masks need to be free of words and be school appropriate.
2. Non-examples of school-appropriate masks for students, faculty and guests include respirator-style masks, masks with words or controversial images or gaiter-style mask.
3. Masks must cover nose, mouth and chin.
4. Face shields may only be worn when mandated by a physician for a medical condition and approved by administration. A doctor’s note requesting the use of a face shield for on-campus learners needs to be submitted no later than Monday, Aug. 17. School approval must be given prior to anyone using a face shield on campus. 

Mask Teamwork

We can all help each other! All students should have an adequate supply of face coverings available. All students should have an extra mask labeled in a Ziploc bag to turn into teachers on the first day of school. Review CDC recommendations for guidelines and updates for wearing face masks (proper materials, proper use, methods to properly take on and off, how to clean and dispose of, etc.). If you are concerned about wearing a face covering based on a disability, please contact Nicholas Rodriguez, Head of School.

Remote Learning Updates

Please see the Back-to-School Plan for sample remote learning schedules for each division and additional information. An overview is provided below.

Remote learners will have a team point of contact, and a system will be put in place for consistent communication to ensure their success. Weekly remote schedules will be shared at the end of each week for the following week. Each schedule will be created by classroom teachers to best meet students’ developmental, academic, and social/emotional needs.

Remote learners will have access to many of the same extracurricular activities and electives as our on-campus learners. Specifics of after-school activities including Athletics, Odyssey of the Mind, CSA, CSS, etc., will vary and will be shared with our entire community. Remote learners who choose to join these programs on campus will be subject to the same safety protocols and reporting requirements.

Early Primary Division Details

All remote learners will join their classmates for the start of every school day at 8:05 a.m. Students are asked to be in dress code daily just as their on-campus peers
are expected to do.

• Remote learning will include both asynchronous learning and synchronous learning.
• Playful learning and exploration opportunities will be built into each week’s schedule.
• Specials classes will be included in daily schedules to continue to enrich student learning experiences.
• Program includes daily contact with a Corbett faculty member.
• Classes will be designed with each student in mind, so differentiation can still occur within both live and recorded content.
• Livestream classes will be scheduled throughout the day based on students’ planned academic and specials classes as well as in response to classroom needs. The schedule of these live streams will be sent home weekly along with additional lesson plans.
• Classrooms will utilize instructional technology Canvas and Zoom.

Upper Primary & Intermediate Division Details 

All remote learners will join their classmates for the start of every school day at 8:05 a.m. Students should be in dress code daily.

• Remote learning will include both asynchronous learning and synchronous learning.
• Program includes daily contact with a Corbett faculty member.
• Content from math, language arts, science, social studies, and Spanish will be provided and required for students to complete.
• Content from PE, art, music and drama will be provided and required.
• Classes will be designed with each student in mind, so differentiation can still occur within both live and recorded content.
• Livestream classes will be scheduled throughout the day based on students’ planned academic and specials classes as well as in response to classroom needs. The schedule of these live streams will be sent home weekly.
• Daily use of Canvas and Zoom will be expected.

Middle School Division Details

All remote learners will join their classmates for the start of every school day at 8:05 a.m. Students should be in dress code daily.

• Remote learning will include both asynchronous learning and synchronous learning content.
• Program includes daily contact from a Corbett faculty member.
• Classes will be designed with each student in mind, so differentiation can still occur within both live and recorded content.
• Content from math, language arts, science, social studies, and Spanish will be provided and required for students to complete.
• Content from PE, art, music and drama will be provided and required.
• Livestream classes will be scheduled throughout the day based on students’ planned academic and specials classes as well as in response to classroom needs. The schedule of these live streams will be sent home weekly.
• Daily use of Canvas, Zoom, and Google Drive will be expected.

Health and Safety Precautions for On-Campus Students

Bus Transportation

Bus drivers will take students’ temperatures at pick up prior to students entering the bus. Parents must remain at the pickup location until temperature is taken and given the all clear. Students’ temperatures will also be taken prior to leaving school at dismissal. If the student has a fever of 100.4 or higher, they will be taken to the clinic, and parents will be notified to pick up the student at school.

Students will use the hand sanitizing station on the bus prior to entering the bus and before departing, both to and from school. Bus drivers will ensure physical distancing throughout the bus, except for family members who may sit together. When possible, bus drivers will have bus windows open.

Arrival and Dismissal

We have redesigned arrival and dismissal at Corbett Prep to allow for multiple dropoff and pickup locations based on grade. To make arrival and dismissal as safe as possible, it is important that your child is dropped off and picked up at their correct stations each day. Each arrival station will be clearly marked and will allow us to keep children adequately spaced. We understand this may mean multiple dropoffs if you have children in different grades; however, we need to keep safety our top priority. To ensure safe arrival and dismissal for all students, it is important for you to stay in your car and allow our staff to assist with the children. Temperatures will be taken as soon as the child has stepped out of the car and before parents leave.

Arrival Procedure

• Please stay in your car during arrival/drop-off. Children’s temperatures will be checked as they exit the cars. Please wait until you receive the OK to drive away.
• For our little ones: We will have staff on hand to help your child(ren) out of the car and take temperatures upon arrival.
• If temperatures are higher than 100.4℉, the parent will need to park and wait to have the child's temperature checked again.
• SPECIAL NOTE: We look forward to making each family’s car name tag(s) and passing them out the first week of school. Until we have the car tag(s) ready, please print out your child’s first and last name on a piece of paper. This will allow us to maintain distancing at each station as we learn our vehicles and families.

Dismissal Procedure

• Please use only the car line for dismissal/pick-up.
• Please be patient through the car line as our teachers will be making sure students proceed safely and correctly.
• Parents allowed to begin parking by pick up spot at 2:50 p.m.
• Our pick-up time has a range of 2:50-3:15 p.m.. Please arrive within this window for dismissal.
• Both arrival and dismissal: Parents stay in the RIGHT lane until all children are picked up.

Arrival and Dismissal Locations
East Side Campus
Station 1: PreK3, PreK4, Kindergarten will be outside the Farish Center in the back loop.
Station 2: Grades 3 and 4 will be outside Gatlin Hall/East Side gym.
Station 3: Grades 1 and 2 will be just beyond the Front Office.
Station 4: Grade 5 and Multiage (3/4) All Stars will be outside the Health Clinic/former Dance Room.
Middle School Campus
Station 5: All Middle School students will be dropped off and picked up at this one location.
 

Late arrivals: If arrival is after 8 a.m., please stay in your vehicle and call the office at (813) 961-3087, ext. 121 so that one of our staff can kindly and carefully escort your child to their class. Parents, please refrain from walking your child(ren) onto campus and refer to our updated Visitor Policy.

Extended Day

This service is offered to families who are in need of a later pickup. To keep everyone as safe as possible while on campus, we are asking that all families who are able to pick up their children at dismissal to please do so. Extended Day is pre-register only! Due to safety this year, all children need to be registered for Extended Day prior to being allowed. Walk-ups will not be allowed.

Children in Extended Day will be mixing with students beyond their daily classroom cohorts. All students will be in age-level division cohorts. These new groupings will still have the same physical distancing and mask requirements as required throughout the day.

Extended Day is available on all full- and half-school days beginning at 3 p.m. (or noon dismissal). Students will be spread throughout campus in smaller age-level groups following safety recommendations to provide physical distancing. When picking up your child, please remain in your car. Students will be brought to them by a member of our Extended Day team.

Extended Day Pick-Up Locations:
Station 1: PreK3, PreK4, Kindergarten, 1st-5th grade (Outside the Health Clinic/former Dance Room)
Station 2: Grades 6, 7, 8 (Outside Middle School Dean Dining Hall)