FAQ's
CMS Semester 2 Reopening Information - Frequently Asked Questions
INSTRUCTION
Q: What will learning look like in the classroom? How will the teachers teach both students at home and in the classroom?
A: Our learning model will continue to include distance learning which will allow us to educate students in the classroom and at home. For most classes, this will occur concurrently via a concurrent curriculum delivery model, aka live streaming. Just like teaching during a typical school year, teachers will have the autonomy to decide the best way to support student learning, and this may look different for each subject area. It may be necessary for all students (in the classroom and at home) to be online learning at the same time. For example, teachers may choose to have the students in person work with a student learning from home on a group work assignment. It's important to remember that each classroom is a community of learners, and the teacher will be doing his/her very best to support every student everyday, no matter where their learning takes place. Thank you for your support of our teachers as they navigate this new and complex approach.
Q: Why are Chromebooks/laptops and headphones necessary when in the classroom?
A: As mentioned above, teachers will have students learning from campus and learning from home each day. The teacher may ask that all students, whether they are at home or in the classroom, log into the class via Zoom for an activity involving the whole class. Of course, this will look different for each subject area and may vary from week to week. Teachers will continue to use teaching strategies such as synchronous and asynchronous learning to support all students. All students will need access to a device and headphones. They may bring a personal Chromebook or laptop to school, or our school will provide a Chromebook to those students who request one. Our Wifi has adequate campus coverage and will support students accessing it in the classroom and in designated outdoor spaces.
Q. What if I want to change my child's learning option?
A: Classrooms have been strategically set up to provide responsible and safe distances practices. If students opt to continue on BRIDGE, but change their mind and request a return to school, we may not be able to accommodate this request due to classroom capacity and your student will be placed on a waitlist. If a student opting for on-campus learning changes his/her mind to learn from home, he/she may do so, and the classroom capacity will be adjusted.
Q. What if I left the district to homeschool or attend a private school? May I re-enroll and opt for hybrid learning?
A: Our survey is for currently enrolled students. If families choose to enroll at CMS after the survey closes, they will be placed according to preference if space allows.
SAFETY
CUSD will continue to follow the San Diego County Public Health Order or the California Department of Public Health Guidelines
Q. Will teachers and students be required to wear masks?
A. Yes. Masks are required for all staff and students. Acceptable masks and face coverings can be found in the Safe Reopening Plan
Q. What is the physical spacing requirement for classrooms and campuses?
A. The teacher work station will be separated from the students a minimum of six feet. Students will be separated from each other by six feet, as practical. In outdoor spaces, six feet of spacing, as practical, will also be required. Directional arrows and diagrams will be on campus, as needed
Q. How often will classrooms and high touch surfaces be cleaned?
A. Our custodial staff will clean classrooms once per day and use an electrostatic cleaner between class periods. All classrooms have been supplied with disinfectant wipes and a bottle of hand sanitizer, which are available to students and staff to use as often as they see fit. We encourage students to regularly wash their hands, use hand sanitizer, and clean their workspace.
Q. Will students be required to clean their hands every time they exit and enter a classroom?
A. Yes, students will be required to sanitize when they enter and exit the classroom and are expected to wash their hands after using the restroom. All health and safety guidelines and protocols will be clearly posted and reviewed with students regularly..
Q. Will students be allowed to have a snack during break? Can they purchase one at school?
A. Students will be allowed to have a snack at school, however, they will need to bring their own snack from home. Items will not be for sale on campus. Health and safety guidelines regarding eating will be reviewed with students, and they will be expected to follow the on campus protocols for removing their mask, physical distancing, and eating in designated areas.
Q. How is the district supporting medically vulnerable staff, staff who get sick, and substitute teacher availability?
A. All schools sites are working closely with the CUSD Human Resources Department to support staff during this unprecedented time. If a teacher needs to be away from the classroom, a substitute teacher will be arranged. If a class needs to be quarantined, the BRIDGE model will be able to continue supporting all students learning. We are aware of the substitute teacher shortage in San Diego County and continue to actively work to recruit additional substitute teachers.
Q. Will students and teachers be regularly tested?
A. All staff are tested regularly. CUSD is implementing testing for students. Testing is strongly recommended and will be highly recommended if a student is symptomatic or has been exposed to COVID-19. Testing is the parents choice and responsibility. If your student tests positive for COVID-19, we appreciate you contacting and informing the school.
Q. How many students will be in a classroom during a period?
A. Phase 4 is to bring back approximately 50% of our student body each day, which will result in approximately 10-15 students in a classroom at a time. Students will be seated with as much space between them as possible, and no less than one meter apart. Students will be grouped according to their last name in the alphabet and their assigned days of the week.
Q. Will students be in cohorts?
A. Cohorting in secondary schools is very challenging, as the definition of cohorting is to keep one small group of students together for the entire day. With secondary students taking a variety of classes and levels, this creates multiple complexities. Since Phase 4 includes students attending three classes a day, students will be part of multiple cohorts. We are not required to cohort our students, but we believe by grouping them by the last name in the alphabet and assigned days of the week, we can trace and isolate students who have been on our campus.
Q. Can I pick my student's in person learning days or ask that the day be coordinated with my elementary or high school student's schedule?
A. We will do our best to stay aligned with CHS, but unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate any schedule or learning day requests due to the need to balance our classroom capacity to support classroom safety and social distancing.
Q. What are the plans for notifying parents when a COVID-19 positive case is identified on campus?
A. We will continue to follow CUSD protocols. Anytime a positive case is identified, all CMS families will receive a general notification. However, students considered a "close contact" will be personally contacted by a staff member. The CDC defines "close contact" as anyone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes. An infected person can spread COVID-19 starting from 48 hours (or 2 days) before the person had any symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19. Link to the CUSD COVID-19 Dashboard.
In the spirit of keeping our community safe and healthy, we appreciate your continued communication with the CUSD health team and CMS administration should students be positive for Covid, become sick with any Covid symptoms or be notified as a close contact. Please email the following individuals:
Joellen Semo R.N., CUSD District Nurse: CUSDNurse@coronadousd.net
Nicola McMahon R.N., CMS Nurse: nicola.mcmahon@coronadousd.net
Brooke Falar, CMS Interim Principal: brooke.falar@coronadousd.net
Alison Keehan, CMS Interim Assistant Principal: alison.keehan@coronadousd.net
Sept. 2021: CUSD Grades 6-12 FAQs
Q: Why are Phases 2 and 3 only bringing back elective classes? Why don't these phases include core classes like math, English, history or science?
A: There are a couple of reasons for this. Most importantly, in order to responsibly and safely reopen campus, we must have baseline data to make informed and sound decisions. Bringing students back in electives cohorts decreases the impact on consistency of instruction in the event of a cohort needing to quarantine or a school closure. Although online may not be the most optimal learning platform, teachers are providing effective, well planned standards-based lessons, and therefore, disrupting the current flow of core classes without baseline data can negatively impact consistency of learning. Many of the elective classes can be held in an outdoor area or classrooms with easy access to the quad, lunch areas and other outdoor spaces on campus.
Q: Once the survey is completed by the family, may I change my mind?
A: Please fill out the survey carefully. Your response is critical in helping us make decisions in accordance with our planning. Results of the survey will guide staffing and programming, and therefore families may not change their cohort or learning preferences (Bridge or In-Person experiences) until the end of Semester 1.
Q: If our family chooses to stay 100% online BRIDGE during Semester 1, will we be able to change to partial on-campus for semester 2?
A: Yes, parents will be given the option at the end of Semester 1 to keep the current choice for learning environment or change learning environments. Due to staffing and logistical constraints, changes before this time will not be possible.
Q: Do I need to fill out the survey for each student in my family?
A: Yes, each student in your family will need to have a survey filled out and returned by September 24th. Students in the same family may have differing needs and it is important that we have your commitment for each student's individual needs.
Q: What is the last date that I can fill out the survey?
A: Thursday, September 24th at 4:00pm.
Q: Are students required to wear facial coverings?
A: Yes, all students attending school are required to wear masks. Students should not wear gaiters, bandanas or masks with valves as these do not prevent the person wearing them from transmitting COVID-19 to others.
Q: Will students be wearing their masks the entire time they are in school?
A: Yes, students will be required to wear masks while on campus.
Q: Will facial coverings be provided by the school?
A: The school will have a supply of facial coverings to provide students who do not have one or who have misplaced, damaged or non approved facial coverings.
Q: What happens if a student does not wear a facial covering?
A: Prior to and on the first day of returning to campus, students will be instructed on how to to properly wear facial covering. Families will be notified if a student does not comply with wearing a facial covering and he/she may not be allowed to attend on campus learning.
Q. Will students be required to clean their hands every time they exit and enter a classroom?
A.Yes, students will be required to sanitize when they enter and exit the classroom and are expected to wash their hands after using the restroom.
*All health and safety guidelines and protocols will be clearly outlined prior to students returning to campus.
Q: What is a cohort?
A: A cohort is a stable group that stays together for all on campus activities.
Q: Why is cohorting important at this time?
A: Cohorting guidance has been provided to school districts from the CDC and SDPHD. Cohorting may facilitate more efficient contact tracing in the event of a positive case and provide targeted measures to that one cohort rather than school wide.
Q: How does a cohort work at the secondary level?
A: Cohorting in secondary schools is very challenging, as the definition of cohorting is to keep one small group of students together for the entire day. With secondary students taking a variety of classes and levels, this creates multiple complexities.
Q: How will students be placed in cohorts?
A: Cohorts to be determined based on survey results.
Q: The CUSD plan states that Phase 2 includes students with disabilities and on campus experiences. What does that mean?
A: Survey results will help guide the development of cohorts which will allow for students to be on campus for one or two of their classes at this time. Classes may include electives and/or intervention during phase 2.
Q: What will students who opt in for on campus experiences do when they are not on campus? A: All students will continue to follow their current BRIDGE schedule and Zoom into their classes.
Q:What will it look like if we opt for 100% online learning BRIDGE?
A: At this time, all students will continue to follow their current BRIDGE schedule and Zoom into their classes.
Q: What if I left the district to homeschool or attend a private school? May I re-enroll and have partial on-campus classes?
A: Our survey is for currently enrolled students. If families choose to enroll at CMS or CHS, they will be placed according to preference if space allows.
The District Office will provide information regarding transportation inquiries.