Campus Re-entry Plan
Upper Primary Returns to Campus
This information is intended for faculty purposes only. The intention of this site is to streamline information in one easily accessible place, and provide clarity and consistency in the procedures and expectations for Home Learning and our Hybrid Model- UP Home Learning Common Agreements.
This site will hold the most up to date information, and we will add or change information if there are changes to procedures or agreements over the coming days and weeks as we head towards the hybrid model and full day learning.
- AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
- ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL
- BRINGING SUPPLIES TO AND FROM SCHOOL
- CLASSROOM GUIDELINES
- EMPLOYEE EXPECTATION FOR COLLABORATION
- EXPECTATIONS FOR USE OF CLASSROOM MATERIALS
- HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES
- HOURS
- LIBRARY
- PARENT EXPECTATIONS
- Q&A'S
- RECESS GUIDELINES
- SCHEDULING AND INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACHES
- SPECIALIST SUBJECTS
- SNACK & DINING
- STUDENTS OUTSIDE OF HONG KONG
- TEMPERATURE CHECKS
- TRANSITIONING THROUGH THE BUILDING
- TRANSITIONING TO SPECIALIST SUBJECTS
- ATTENDANCE AND STUDENTS NOT IN HK
AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL
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Busing:
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Mandatory busing remains in effect for families.
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Bus cards will still be used when students get on and off the bus.
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Buses will be thoroughly cleaned between all runs. Additionally, all buses have been proactively treated with an antiviral/antibacterial coating. This coating is effective for 90 days.
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Students need to show a completed temperature log and mask before riding the bus.
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No eating or drinking on the bus.
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Arrival:
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Expect students to arrive between 7:15-7:45am in the morning session and 11:30-12:00pm in the afternoon session.
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PM students might be picked up before 11am depending on their location. Route information will be shared with faculty 24hrs prior to students returning to campus.
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Three adults will be on duty to take students’ temperature upon arriving to campus.
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Non-homeroom teachers will be assigned posts for arrival.
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Students need to use hand sanitizer before entering all rooms.
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After entrance screening, students will go to their homeroom classes directly, using the following staircases:
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Grade Level | Use the Indoor Staircase | Use the Outdoor Staircase |
3 | Lim, Morice, B. Little, Scott | Fietje, Holt, A. Little, Brockie, Johnston, Wickner |
4 | Bedard, Cleary, Hogan, Coetzee, Krause, Kroese | Perez, Robertson, Goodchild, Harnett |
5 | Greenberg, Niedospial, Hoard, Karnitz | Godek, Meyer, Winston, Deaver, Giga, Powers |
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Dismissal:
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TA’s will print bus schedules and deliver to teachers by the end of the day. https://psreport.hkis.edu.hk/
aas (Passcode: HkisTeacher) -
G3 students will bring backpacks to their specialist/CS teachers and be dismissed directly from those classrooms.
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Teachers will escort students to buses at the end of the day.
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Non-homeroom teachers assist with dismissal in hallways, along the bridge and by the buses each morning and afternoon.
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Small Buses: Students will go down the stairs just beyond the bridge and walk directly down the stairs and into the parking garage.
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Large Buses: Students will walk to the front of the Lower Primary and turn left at the first stalls, down the stairs and up the road to their buses.
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Walkers: Students will walk with the large bus students to the front of the LP and turn left at the first stalls and down the stairs, they will wait across the drive-way with the teacher on duty. Faculty Students can meet a caregiver at the fish pond or continue on with walkers.
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Grade | AM (morning) | PM (afternoon) & Full Day Schedule |
G3 | Dismissal 10:55 | Dismissal between 3:10-3:15 |
G4 | Dismissal 10:50 | Dismissal between 3:00-3:05 |
G5 | Dismissal 11:00 | Dismissal between 3:05-3:10 |
BRINGING SUPPLIES TO AND FROM SCHOOL
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Students will bring their iPads back and forth from school each day. We are looking into providing extra iPad chargers at school, so students can charge their iPad at home and arrive to school with their iPads fully charged. We believe most families will have an iPad charger at home, so this may not be necessary for all classes.
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We strongly suggest students bring their own pencil cases to school.
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Students are to bring a full water bottle and a snack. The drinking part of the water fountain will be closed but the water dispenser part of the water fountain will still be available for students to refill their water bottles.
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When school resumes full day, students will have the choice of bringing their own lunch or ordering a bagged lunch from Sodexo.
CLASSROOM GUIDELINES
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Entering and exiting the classroom
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Before entering and exiting the classroom, students must use hand sanitizer to clean their hands.
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Hand sanitizer bottles will sit on a stool or small table outside each classroom door.
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All classroom and hallway doors will be propped open and kept open during the day.
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Exception: the main door upon entering the bathrooms and exterior doors
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Teachers will stagger access to/from cubbies
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Social distancing (an “arm’s length”) in class is to be enforced during all classroom routines and activities (including Morning Meetings, etc.)
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No food will be shared during this time (cupcakes, pizza, etc).
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Desk setup
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Plexiglass dividers in between students
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No more than 2 students at a table, students must sit next to each other rather than facing each other
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Tables must be forward facing (i.e. all in the same direction)
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EMPLOYEE EXPECTATION FOR COLLABORATION
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Team Meetings will occur after school during half day and return to normal times once full day resumes. These meeting times will be shared with Cecilia and added to the UP Employee Calendar.
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Faculty Lounge and various other common rooms will be open for use & collaboration for staff, faculty & teachers. These spaces will be cleaned regularly.
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Employees must wear a mask when collaborating with colleagues and adhere to social distancing guidelines.
EXPECTATIONS FOR USE OF CLASSROOM MATERIALS
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Students are encouraged to bring their own pencil cases with supplies. If they are unable to bring these in, teachers should supply individualized cases.
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Teachers are permitted to use classroom materials (such as games, math manipulatives, classroom libraries etc.)
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Students will be able to access classroom libraries, but these books should remain in the classroom.
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Classroom carpets have been removed, labeled and stored. These will be returned once students no longer need to sit in forward facing desks.
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Classroom supplies (eg: math manipulatives) can be used as normal. We are not expecting classroom supplies to be cleaned after each use, as this is not an EDB requirement. However, the FM team will be using mists to clean surfaces and spaces in the room. If you have a particular material you would like given attention, please leave them out on a table.
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iPads will travel to and from school. If a child forgets their iPad, students may need to complete work in hard copy format.
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Headphones stay at school
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Ensure that routines are in place for staggered access to cubbies for collection and charging.
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Please remember that students have spent the last 6 weeks (plus) on screens so try to be mindful of how much exposure they have!
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If an iPad is broken or damaged at school, a teacher should fill out a help ticket via help@hkis.edu.hk. Include the student's full name and ID number and damages.
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If an iPad is broken or damaged at home, the family should fill out a help ticket via help@hkis.edu.hk and include the child's full name and ID number and damages.
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If faculty have concerns about classroom layout or furniture, they should contact their relevant administrator.
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Plexiglass will be delivered to classrooms prior to the return of students. Please use blue tack to stabilize these boards on tables.
HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES
HKIS has developed a Risk & Response Matrix to ensure the Health and Safety of everyone. These procedures will detail our response to all situations.
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Hand Sanitizer:
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Students are to use hand sanitizer before entering all rooms.
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A bottle will be distributed to every classroom, including Specialist classes. To help save on plastic, please bring in near-empty bottles to the health office for refills.
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Hand sanitizer will sit on a stool outside of classrooms and should be used upon every entry and exit.
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Masks:
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Everyone on campus must wear a mask throughout the day.
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A mask may be removed if an adult is in a closed space by themselves.
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Students are expected to wear a mask at all times and to store an extra in their backpack.
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During snack, students will be asked to safely store their masks in a bag that has been provided to them. Students should leave these bags in their cubbies, to be retrieved each day for repeated use.
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Students and faculty are not permitted to wear face shields. The EDB requires face masks to be worn at all times, by students and adults.
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Cleaning:
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FM will clean materials, whiteboards and furniture for teachers daily. Each learning space will also be cleaned using eMist at the end of each day. The use of eMist enables us to use classroom materials.
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Teachers will receive disinfectant spray and cloths for any immediate cleaning needs.
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Art, Music, Chinese Studies, STEM, Garage teachers will be given cleaning supplies to wipe down spaces after each class has been through. Training will be given to each teacher so they are clear on what to do and how to do it.
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Upper Primary spaces will be put into a cleaning schedule so that there is a centralized plan. If you require cleaning, please fill out a cleaning request to FM.
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Plexiglass
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Plexiglass has been ordered for classrooms including Chinese Studies, Art, Music and the Dining Hall.
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All students should be forward facing, sitting at desks with a plexiglass divider placed on desks between each pair of students.
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HOURS
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Working hours are slightly adjusted (7:15 am - 4:00 pm).
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Hybrid Schedule: Homeroom teachers should be ready to receive students in classrooms at 7:15 am or 11:30 am, depending on your AM/PM schedule.
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The school day will start at 7:45 am and end at 3:15 pm for all students, regardless of AM/PM schedule.
LIBRARY
PARENT EXPECTATIONS
Q&A'S
Q: What happens if someone in the HKIS Community is a confirmed case of COVID-19?
A: HKIS has an emergency health protocol in place, which is overseen by the Head of School in consultation with the Crisis Management Team. If there is a confirmed case of a student or employee who has been on campus:
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The affected division will be closed immediately for 1-2 days while the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) conducts an epidemiological investigation.
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Parents and employees will be notified via an HKIS Central alert, including dismissal instructions if closure needs to happen while students are on campus.
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Further instructions will be given once the CHP has completed their investigation.
Q: What should I do if I suspect a member of my household is a Confirmed Case or a Close Contact of a Confirmed Case of Covid-19?
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Complete the Emergency Health Notification Form found on HKIS Central.
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Contact your divisional principal by phoning the main office.
Q: What is a "Close Contact"?
A: A Close Contact is defined by the CHP as “a person having cared for, lived with, or direct contact with respiratory secretions and body fluids of a confirmed patient.”
Some examples of situations NOT considered a Close Contact:
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Household member is living or working in the same building as a confirmed case.
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Household member had an interaction with a Confirmed or Close Contact while wearing a mask.
According to the definitions above, classmates and/or teaching staff of a Confirmed Case would not be considered a Close Contact. However, the CHP will determine any Close Contacts or need for medical surveillance through an epidemiological investigation
Q : How do we get access to more tables?
A: Tables are limited. However, all teachers should have enough seating for no more than two kids per our rectangular or semi-circle tables. Teachers may sign up for more furniture by using this document.
Q: What are we doing for kids not in the country? Are students given the option of not coming back to school? Will we offer any online learning to those students who don't come to class?
A: Dear Parents,
We hope you are well. According to our records, we understand that your family is currently overseas/outside of HK and may not be back in time for a return to campus. As shared in the the Upper Primary Monday Newsletter yesterday, we are planning for students to return to school with a staggered start beginning with Grade 3 on Monday next week.
The intention of this email is to explain how Home Learning will change once students return to campus.
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Once students are allowed back onto campus, we will no longer be creating Learning Grids, as we have been doing for Home Learning.
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Our teachers will make every effort to remain connected to your child, they may invite your child to attend a morning meeting over Zoom (depending on your time zone). However, teachers will be unable to provide synchronous (live) lessons to students outside of HK.
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We will provide grade level appropriate resources for your child to access from home, that are related to the current units being taught in class. These activities are intended for students to work on independently with you at home and will be shared on a weekly basis through your teachers' blog so you can access them as you choose.
We understand that many of you may be unable to travel, and ask that you please inform the Upper Primary Office (rkaur@hkis.edu.hk) directly to inform us of your intended return date to Hong Kong. If your return date is unknown, please let us know your situation so that we are aware. Please also be reminded that HKIS requires all families to complete the Travel Declaration and observe a 14 day quarantine period on your return, before being allowed to return to campus.
Q: Has advancement created any schoolwide signs for safety protocols, social distancing that we should be using schoolwide so we are all delivering the same message in a consistent clear manner?
A: Yes, there is a link for them on the re-entry plan portal.
Q: Are Cardio based lessons workable/safe wearing a mask?
A: Yes, as students are always socially distanced with a mask.
Q: Can teachers take kids on the trail or on a walk somewhere?
A: We think this will be a good opportunity to get kids out exercising. Please hold off until we get students back into the routine of school, to allow some time to get school procedures established. We will make a firm decision on this when we feel the time is right.
Q: When will strings be taking place on site? What protocols will be in place?
A: Strings and Band will begin when we return to campus full day and follow the same protocols that Middle School/High School strings follow.
Q: If teachers need a break, how do they get them?
A: Teachers will have a break when students are at recess, lunch and during specials.
Q: Are we allowed to take third graders on tours of campus during the first few days?
A: Yes, as long as your class is socially distanced throughout the tour.
Q: Will the first few days back to school be team building as opposed to heavy academics?
A: Yes, building a strong community within your classroom will be essential in creating a positive learning environment on campus.
RECESS GUIDELINES
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Classes will have designated recess locations in order to track movement (5th floor, Dragon's Nest, 7th/8th floor playground). Classes who have been assigned the Dragon's Nest will also be assigned a bigger play space. In these instances, children may choose where they would like to play.
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Climbing structures and the slide in our playground will be off limits due to inability to clean within our transition time.
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Students should be reminded to stay 1m apart.
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Some play equipment (e.g. balls, jump rope) will be available for students, we are encouraging games such as foursquare.
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Play equipment being used at recess must be wiped down by playground monitors at the end of each recess time.
SCHEDULING AND INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACHES
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In the Hybrid Model the school day will be organized into a morning session (7:45-11:00am) and an afternoon session (12:00-3:15pm).
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In the morning session, there will be 5 classes of:
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Grade 3: Fietje, Holt, Lim, A. Little, Morice
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Grade 4: Bedard, Cleary, Hogan, Perez, Robertson
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Grade 5: Godek, Greenberg, Meyer, Niedospial, Winston
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In the afternoon session, there will be 5 classes of:
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Grade 3: Brockie, B. Little, Johnston, Scott, Wickner
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Grade 4: Coetzee, Goodchild, Harnett, Krause, Kroese
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Grade 5: Deaver, Giga, Hoard, Karnitz, Powers
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Each on campus session will either have a Chinese Studies or a Specialist class. Please view the specialist schedule.
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Dismissal will be staggered.
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Learning Support and SEL lessons will be scheduled by the LS/Counselors.
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Fall Break will be rescheduled days on the 6-Day Cycle as follows:
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September 28- Day 2
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September 29- Day 3
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September 30- Day 4
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Then a return to Day 2 on October 5 as per the calendar.
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SPECIALIST SUBJECTS
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When on campus, students will have Chinese Studies and specialist classes in their “normal” learning spaces.
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If Specialists have concerns about classroom layout or furniture, they should contact their relevant administrator.
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Materials and equipment can be shared and should be wiped down at the end of a lesson.
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The STEM lab and Garage will be able to be booked as normal once we return to full day resumption.
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The Kid Kitchen is out of use until further notice.
SNACK & DINING
Seating Arrangement: Students will have assigned seats in the cafeteria. Grade levels will design the seating arrangements. All changes must be updated in the document. Grade levels are encouraged to organize and update this system.
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Students will sit socially distanced and take off their masks only when they are eating. Before and after eating, students will wear a mask.
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Masks should be put into plastic bags when taken off during snack and lunch times. (Bags have been provided for each student.)
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Students are invited to speak to one another using an inside voice with students at their table, similar to that of visiting a restaurant.
Lunches: Students will pre-order their meals in advance. Assistants will provide the popsicle stick for students who have ordered lunch. Use this Google Doc for Orders. Sandwich, fruit & drink option will cost $50. Staff Lunch will cost $30.
*If a child has forgotten his/her lunch, Sodexo will provide a lunch for them. An "I owe you" will be provided and followed up with the assistants.
Entrance: Students are encouraged to wash their hands in advance of entering the cafeteria. All students should use hand sanitizer when entering the cafeteria.
Gray, Yellow, Red, Sections enter at the second entrance (far left)
Black, Orange and Blue Sections enter at the first entrance
Student who have ordered lunch will walk to the back of the cafeteria to collect their lunches and return to their seat.
While in the cafeteria: Students need to stay seated throughout lunch.
Dismissal: Staff on duty will dismiss students by classes use the following:
Front Exit - Use Internal Staircase
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5th Floor Playground
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Classes to the right of internal stairs
Left Exit - Use External Staircase
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7th & 8th Floor Playground
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Dragon’s Nest
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Classes to the left of internal stairs
Snack: Similar to lunch, Snack will take place in the cafeteria. Please see the schedule for your designated snack time. Teachers will be supervising snack time.
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There will be no sharing of food. Therefore, students are not permitted to bring in food to share on their birthdays.
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It is important to arrive on time to the Dining Hall as we have small turn around times and this space is cleaned after each session.
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Kid Kitchen- this space is unavailable until further notice as we do not have the capacity to clean the extra space.
STUDENTS OUTSIDE OF HONG KONG
Upper Primary: Supporting Students Outside of HK
As previously communicated to Upper Primary parents, once on-campus classes have resumed, online learning will no longer be available to our students. Upper Primary faculty will return to full day resumption from September 29th/30th, and for this reason they will no longer be able to provide synchronous (live) lessons to students not in attendance. In an effort to support families who are in quarantine and/or outside of Hong Kong, the Upper Primary has compiled supplementary resources in literacy, mathematics, and science/social studies. These resources are intended for families to use independently with their child at home. However, students will not submit any of this work to their teacher.
The following faculty expectations for supporting students in quarantine or outside of Hong Kong apply once Upper Primary return to campus- either half-day or full-day:
Once school returns to campus;
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Families outside of Hong Kong must email ups_principal@hkis.edu.hk directly to inform the school of their absence along with an explanation.
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The UP Office will maintain an updated list of all UP students who are outside of Hong Kong.
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The Upper Primary will discontinue Home Learning Grids.
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Faculty will work to make sure absent students (students in quarantine or outside of Hong Kong) remain connected to the classroom community (i.e. inviting them to morning meetings, closing circles, special classroom occasions, etc.)
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Upper Primary homeroom teachers will provide a check-in with an absentee student once per 6-Day cycle.
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Upper Primary faculty will discontinue live (synchronous) instruction or feedback to students in quarantine or outside of Hong Kong.
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Absent students will no longer be required to submit assignments and/or assessments for feedback.
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Student absences will be recorded in PowerSchool once school returns full day (September 30th).
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It is important for parents to note that the length of a child’s absence from school may impact the academic progress that can be reported on within a semester.
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Upper Primary teachers will individually email families in quarantine and/or outside of Hong Kong, grade level resources for the current units being taught.
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These resources will be compiled by the UP coaching team and are intended for students to work on independently, without instruction from the HR teacher.
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These resources will be updated and sent to parents approximately once per month but resources may vary depending on the content area and timing of units.
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Prior to emailing this resource to families, parents must have contacted the Upper Primary Principal to explain their family situation and student’s absence from school (see master list)
TEMPERATURE CHECKS
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Teachers should email a single sheet temperature log for parents to complete for the first day of school. This will need to be shown to the bus supervisors. Walkers will show their sheet to their classroom teacher.
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Temperature log books will be distributed to all children on their first day back to school. Parents are required to check and record their child’s temperature prior to leaving home each day. Students should stay home if they have a fever of 37.5℃.
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Upon arrival on campus, should a child’s temperature read 37.3℃ or above with a forehead scanner (surface temperature), students will be escorted to the Health Office.
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Should a child’s temperature read 37.5℃ or above with the ear thermometer (core temperature), students will be sent home as per school fever policy.
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TRANSITIONING THROUGH THE BUILDING
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Students will transition through the building using their designated staircase. They should walk on the right-hand side at all times.
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AM
PM
Indoor Staircase
G3
Lim, Morice
B. Little, Scott
G4
Bedard, Cleary, Hogan
Coetzee, Krause, Kroese
G5
Greenberg, Niedospial
Hoard, Karnitz
Outdoor Staircases
G3
Fietje, Holt, A. Little
Brockie, Johnston, Wickner
G4
Perez, Robertson
Goodchild, Harnett
G5
Godek, Meyer, Winston
Deaver, Giga, Powers
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All indoor doors will be propped open to minimise hand contact with door knobs.
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Each class may send one person to the bathroom at a time.
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Students should maintain an arm’s length distance (1m according to EDB guidelines) between others when transitioning.
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Communications are making HKIS signage that will be posted throughout the Lower and Upper Primary. Slides will be made available on the portal as a resource for teachers.
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Transition times have been intentionally built into the schedule.
TRANSITIONING TO SPECIALIST SUBJECTS
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All specialist classes will take place in the Specialist classrooms
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Teachers and/or teaching assistants are expected to transition students to their specialist classes.
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Teachers will ensure students adhere to social distancing guidelines (1m apart) when transitioning throughout the building. For all teachers/faculty/staff please use the “arm’s length” phrase for students to reference and use for the rest of the year.
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If students have a specialist class in the last block of the day, they do not need to return to class and can go straight to the bus. Students should bring their backpacks and be dismissed directly from that Specialist classroom. The Specialist teacher will be responsible for transitioning the class to the bus.
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Students can bring supplies, including iPads, to and from classrooms.
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Use your assigned staircase when travelling to and from Specialist subjects.
ATTENDANCE AND STUDENTS NOT IN HK
On campus learning: from February 17th
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HR Teachers will take regular attendance for ALL students both on campus and virtual in PowerSchool. If students are not attending lessons on campus or on Zoom, parents need to email their child's Homeroom Teacher and TA so we record absences in PowerSchool.
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Students in both the Lower and Upper Primary School not in Hong Kong or currently in quarantine will continue to join Home Learning instruction on the day their class is not on campus. Instruction and independent learning grid activities/resources will not be offered on the day classes are being delivered on campus.
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We will be unable to offer virtual instruction once we return to every day, face-to-face class resumption.
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Families who are currently absent from Hong Kong or currently in quarantine must inform the Principal, Ben Hart upsprincipal@hkis.edu.hk, so the school is aware of each individual situation. Absences from 'campus only' will be recorded on Powerschool, if the student is regularly participating on Zoom instruction every other day.
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We plan to return to face-to-face class resumption on a daily basis as soon as possible. When this happens, students who are unable to attend 'on campus' instruction, due to quarantine or being outside of Hong Kong, will be recorded as absent.