● Maintain the health, wellness, and safety of the entire school community
o Flexibility for our most at-risk students, staff, and families
o Compliance with social distancing recommendations and PPE as required
o Preparedness for responding to local, state, and federal orders
● Commit to developing equitable and innovative re-opening approaches that meet the academic and social-emotional needs of allstudents
● Support all staff to adapt and respond to the instructional and operational needs of all stakeholders ● Secure a strong financial and operational future
● Sustain open communication with the Garrison ISD community
We are committed to ensuring that all students receive the support and services that they need. We understand the importance of choice for families, so families will be able to choose how their children receive instruction for the 2020-21 school year, including the option of 100% at-home distance learning. No matter what your family chooses, there is a place for every student in Garrison ISD. We will offer robust and engaging instruction in a variety of ways. Below are the potential instructional models we are working on at this time:
On-Campus Face-to-Face Teaching and Learning
On-campus face-to-face learning occurs when the teacher and the student meet physically in a classroom for a set time for whole-group lessons, small-group lessons, guided practice, and independent practice with social distancing and health and safety measures in place.
At-Home Distance Teaching and Learning
Distance learning occurs when the learner and teacher are separated by distance and either meet online at an agreed upon time (synchronous), or the student receives instructions for learning and completes their assignments at their own pace (asynchronous). The teacher and student do not meet in a traditional physical classroom setting.
Please know that these models will be adjusted as we continue to receive guidance from federal, state, and local governing bodies and feedback from our staff and parents.
GISD Re-Opening Protocols
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
All students arriving before 7:55 a.m. should enter through one of the designated entry points. It will be extremely beneficial, and potentially time-saving, if students will enter through the same entry point each day, when possible.
All students arriving after 7:55 a.m. should enter through their campus-appropriate designated entry point.
**Due to the varying arrival times of high school students, resulting from dual credit and late arrivals, ALL high school students will be given a color-coded wristband at entry to signify they have been pre-screened. Each day of the week will coincide with a color, and students will be required to keep the wristband on until they exit the district at the day’s end**
Students will be expected to enter at the designated entrances to the campus. Students will report to their designated classroom at 7:30 a.m. for tutorials and await the first bell.
Elementary students will report to their assigned homeroom class.
Middle School students will report to their first-period classroom.
Students will not be permitted to gather in common areas, such as the gym or cafeteria during this time.
Any student not attending tutorials should report to school at 7:50 a.m.
Students will be offered individual cubbies or lockers, depending on grade level, to prevent contact of personal belongings.
Hand Sanitizer will be placed at each entrance to the building and every classroom throughout the district, and it is anticipated students will utilize these resources as needed throughout the day.
Virtual learners will be provided the opportunity to pick up meals at designated sites. Additional information will be provided regarding menu, ordering processes, and pick-up locations in the near future.
Virtual Breakfast DAILY Pickup--------8:20-----------------Middle School/Elementary Foyer
Virtual Lunch DAILY Pickup------------12:30----------------Middle School/Elementary Foyer
**Students may not pickup both breakfast and lunch at the same time**
**We understand that a Daily pickup at different times is difficult on families. As of July 23, 2020 this is the only option available via USDA to schools** **This is subject to change based on guidance from TEA and the USDA**
GISD will make every effort to offer electives face-to-face however some skills based electives may not be offered in a 100% virtual setting .
Yes. Students participating in 100% Virtual Empowered Learning will follow a structured daily schedule with consistent daily routines. Students will access their learning through a district-approved digital platform. (PreK-2 SeeSaw & 3-12 Google Classroom)
Please note that these are general administrative procedures and guidelines may be altered or changed at any time for the safety of our students, staff members, and community.
No, students who select remote learning may not participate in extracurricular activities.
Staff may be eligible for the following:
* Up to 10 days paid leave for a positive COVID-19 test or quarantine.
* Up to 10 days leave at ⅔ pay to care for a family member that is diagnosed with COVID-19.
* FMLA offers up to an additional 10 weeks of unpaid sick leave if needed. Employees will need to provide medical documentation to HR to qualify for the leave above.
NOTE: An employee who experiences multiple instances of symptoms, testing, or quarantine is only allowed a maximum of 10 days of paid leave per federal law. If additional time is needed, the employee will be required to use their personal accrued leave or go into leave without pay as they would with any other illness.
Yes. The Governor’s Order on July 2nd requires facial coverings, such as masks, for staff, and all students while on school buses and in common areas, hallways, restrooms, and other areas where social distancing cannot be maintained. Students under 10 years old may be allowed to remove their facial covering based on classroom protocols being established by the District. Expectations for the use of facial coverings will be appropriate to age and need. Facial coverings must be solid colored, school logo, or a simple, school appropriate pattern such as dots, stripes, or plaid. Face coverings must not have characters, logos other than school logos, or symbols of any kind. Protective measures, including the use of face coverings, will be determined by the level of disease activity of COVID -19.
GISD will rely on data from the office of the Governor of Texas, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and other local agencies to determine the disease activity level and the appropriate protective measures. Student’s individual needs will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Example: If six students are on a bus together without a mask and one student, by days end, experiences COVID symptoms the whole bus could possibly have to quarantine due to the close contact rule. If six students are together on a bus and one student, by days end, experiences COVID symptoms only the sick student could possibly have to quarantine.
**Close Contact is defined as: **Being within 6 feet of someone for more than 15 minutes without wearing a facial covering* *
**GISD highly recommends all students and employees to wear a facial covering to reduce the risk of having to quarantine in the event of a possible exposure to a confirmed COVID case.
The campus will work to identify the maximum number of students per restroom and create processes to ensure the restroom’s capacity limits are adhered to by students and staff. Restrooms will be monitored during changing periods to prevent overcrowding
**Restrooms will receive scheduled cleaning**
**Shared drinking fountains will be converted into water filling stations**
Yes, students will have recess and the ability to socialize, but social distancing may change how this looks on campus. Guidelines are being developed by Garrison ISD and will align with guidance from the Texas Education Agency. The format of the recess may be staggered and limited to low interaction with play surfaces, such as the playground.
There will be strict visitor limitations to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the risk of exposure to our staff and students. All authorized visitors must complete a health screening and wear appropriate facial coverings before entering the building.
Only parents that have been cleared will be allowed past the front office for scheduled appointments.
** Visitors will be discouraged from coming to the school, but if they must, they will be required to submit a pre-screening**
ARD/504 MEETINGS: **All parent/guardians will be encouraged to participate via phone/internet from home.
Campus COVID Team will identify those who have been within six feet of the individual for 15 minutes or more at any time within 48 hours before the individual’s onset of symptoms until the individual has left school property. Those individuals will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days and from their last exposure to that individual. They will take part in virtual learning during that time period.
A single case would not necessarily close the entire school unless determined in conjunction with guidance from the local health department.
Students who test positive for COVID-19 will be required to provide a doctor’s release before returning to school.
Parents may opt for their child to engage in virtual learning over the course of the school year. Should parents decide that in-person schooling is a better fit for their child or family, then parents may select to bring their child back to school instead of engaging in virtual learning. To provide a seamless transition, this change will be made at the start of the next grading period.
Attendance will be made up regardless of remote learning or face-to-face.
**Attendance make up will only be permitted throughout the year for 12th Grade, 8th Grade, and Kindergarten students, in the form of Saturday School**
**Social distancing, specific small group scheduling, and facial coverings will be enforced**
**Students could possibly incur fees for make-up days**
**All other students will be expected to make up days after the last day of instruction, possibly into the month of June, in order to obtain credit or move to the next grade**
Students who select 100% Virtual Learning will be required to attend or participate in class activities daily during school hours. This could include instruction and independent activities, projects, and practice either through email correspondence or via telephone.
Students will be engaged in a full course load with assignments and assessments that are comparable to what students who are attending school in-person will be required to complete.
Students will receive numerical grades at the secondary level which will be calculated into GPA.
GISD campuses will offer parents/students the opportunity to drive through and drop off school supplies and possibly have a small window to see and say hello to their teacher for the upcoming school year. This will be assigned by campus and offered mainly for the lower grade students.
We are thankful for your patience during this stressful and uncertain time for you and your family and as always appreciate your feedback.
