COVID-19 Information

In-Person

Elementary students will attend school five days a week following the typical school day schedule. Students will be expected to follow safety recommendations explained within the plan.

In-person

Middle school students will attend school five days a week following the typical school day schedule. Students will be expected to follow safety recommendations explained within the plan.

In-person

High school students will attend school five days a week following the typical school day schedule. Students will be expected to follow safety recommendations explained within the plan.

Screening

COVD-19 questions should be directed to a family physician or the Indiana Department of Health COVID-19 call center at (877) 826-0011.

• Students who are sick or displaying symptoms must stay home. All student attendance incentives K-12 are discontinued for the 2021-2022 school year. 
• Students/parents are to report a COVID exposure to a family physician.

Face Coverings (Masks/Face Shields)

• All Carmel Clay students, staff, and visitors, grades K-12 will be required to wear a mask beginning Monday, August 16, 2021.
• Face shields have been approved by the local health department
• According to current federal guidelines, masks are required for all students and employees while on public transportation, including school buses.
• Students at the secondary level are also expected to wear their CCS Identification Card where it can be easily seen.
• Tips for wearing a mask
• Mask Up 101PDF download

Social Distancing

Social distancing will be used to the greatest degree possible and areas in our buildings will be maximized for spacing, but it will be difficult to meet the recommended 3 feet of social distancing in classrooms and many learning spaces. 

Hand Washing and Hand Sanitizer

Students will have frequent opportunities for hand washing and hand sanitizer stations will be located in several locations such as, the cafeteria, recess, etc.

Facility Cleaning

• The district continues to utilize products confirmed by the manufacturer and EPA to kill human Coronavirus and other viruses. CCS will continue to clean and disinfect school facilities and equipment in alignment with guidance from the CDC.
• Custodial staff at all schools are focusing extra attention on sanitizing high traffic areas and commonly used surfaces including counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, light switches, keyboards, and tablets.
• Custodial staff will be constantly checking to make sure hand washing and hand sanitizer supplies are checked, restocked and refilled.   
• Custodians will work to help prevent the spread of germs by disinfecting classrooms.

Ventilation

• Ventilation systems have been evaluated to ensure proper central filtration.
• CCS has updated current ventilation systems to MERV 13 pre-filters as recommended.
• MERV 13 filters are recommended by ASHRAE guidelines for response to COVID.
• Portable equipment in classrooms is not being implemented at this time.

Per state law (IC 16-41-2-1), CCS is required to notify close contacts of exposures in school. However, because of Carmel Clay Schools mask mandate, students are not required to quarantine, but should monitor for signs or symptoms of illness. If your student shows signs or symptoms, please keep your student home and consult a physician. If your family chooses to self quarantine please contact your school attendance office and teachers. Self quarantined absences will be excused for up to 14 days from the date of exposure. 

Classroom Management and Preparation

• Based on current social distancing guidelines, and in order to accommodate more students in the classroom, teachers have the option of reconfiguring desks to reduce exposure. 
• All students may be asked to face forward whenever possible to prevent possible transmission of COVID virus. 
• Clean all work surfaces, student desks, tables and teachers' desks at the end of the day and more often as needed. 
• Students will have assigned seats.

Morning Arrival

• Students can bring backpacks to school. 
• Teachers and staff will be monitoring the halls and will encourage students to drop off their items in the cubby area and proceed to class promptly.
• When students enter the classroom, they will be asked to wash or sanitize their hands.

Restrooms

• Teachers will limit the number of students in the restroom at one time.
• Teachers will remind students to stand at a distance and educate students about the importance of effective handwashing.

Food

• Students who pack their lunch will keep their lunch in their backpack or cubby until lunch time as in the past. 
• Students should not bring food into the classroom unless approved by the classroom teacher or an administrator.
• School breakfast and lunch will be available as in the past. Students will eat in the school cafeteria.

Recess

• Students will attend recess with their grade level.  
• Students will wash their hands or use hand sanitizer prior to recess and when returning to the classroom.

Classroom Materials

• Students will be able to use class sets of books. Students will use the same book each time. 
• Students will be assigned to use the same computer, as much as possible. 
• Special programs and celebrations inviting parents into the classroom will be temporarily suspended.

Classroom Management and Preparation

• Restrooms – students will be expected to maintain social distancing in the restrooms as much as possible.
• Each student will be assigned a locker and sharing lockers will not be permitted.
• Teachers have the flexibility to move classes outside to maximize distance between students. 
• Special programs and celebrations inviting parents into the classroom will be temporarily suspended and determined in consultation with the health department and inline with up-to-date guidance.

Instrumental Music

• Students should be seated in straight rows, facing the same direction, and as distantly spaced as room sizes allow.
• Sectional/split rehearsal groupings should be employed as space allows.
• Participation in auditions, contests, festivals, and other events is permitted. Students are expected to be aware and follow the safety measures at these venues.

Choral Music

• Students will be seated/standing in straight rows, facing the same direction, and as distantly spaced as room sizes allow. Consideration should be given to utilizing the largest spaces possible (e.g. auditoriums).
• Sectional/split rehearsal groupings will be employed as space allows.
• Participation in auditions, contests, festivals, and other events is permitted.  Students are expected to be aware and follow the safety measures at these venues.

• All visitors to Carmel Clay Schools must follow safety guidelines.
• At this time, all visitors must wear facial coverings.
• Volunteers will be allowed in schools on an invitation-basis only.
• Lunch room visits are not currently permitted at Carmel Clay Schools. 
• Special programs and celebrations inviting parents into the classroom will be temporarily suspended and determined in consultation with the health department and inline with up-to-date guidance.

Face masks are optional during after-school extracurricular activities. This policy is consistent with policies at public venues throughout the state. When traveling outside the district to events, CCS students and staff should adhere to masking policies at those locations or venues. 

Preparing to Train - Protect Against Infections

• Should an athlete or coach exhibit symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or be diagnosed with COVID-19, he/she should stay home and contact a family physician.
• Arrive as close as possible to when practice begins and try to be timely when picking up your athlete. Athletes may enter 10 minutes prior to practice and will enter in a social distance manner.
• Please maintain social distance while on the property for drop-off and pick-up.  

Student-Athletes Should Bring

• A full water bottle.
• A clean beach towel to each practice to be used individually by the student-athlete for perspiration. Do not share towels.
• Hand Sanitizer for individual use if possible.

During Practice

• Maintain appropriate social distancing from other athletes when possible. 
• If you need to sneeze or cough, do so into a tissue or upper sleeve/arm area. (Wash hands after or use hand sanitizer.)
• Athletes must listen carefully and follow all coach directions.

Procedure in Case of Positive COVID-19 Test or Known Exposure

• The individual should let the head coach of their sport know immediately.
• Any individual with COVID-19 symptoms should remain home, contact your family physician and report absences as usual. All positive cases should be reported to the Indiana State Department of Health.
• Carmel Clay Schools will continue to follow recommended social distancing guidelines as best as possible during school and extracurricular activities.
• Parents are asked to closely monitor children for possible symptoms and contact your family physician if needed.

COVID-19 Special Education Considerations

Students receiving special education services will adhere to the safety protocols deemed necessary in their building of attendance. Additional safety precautions may be considered by the case conference committee contingent on the individual programming needs of the student. Such additional considerations would be identified and documented in the student’s individualized education plan.

Community Based Instruction and Vocational Training

Community Based Instruction (CBI) and Vocational Training (C3/Vital 4): Bus seating procedures will follow CDC and local health department guidelines for all community experiences. According to current federal guidelines, facial coverings are required for all students and employees while on public transportation, which includes school buses. Parents will have full discretion if their student attends a community experience. If parents are uncomfortable with community-based experience or vocational training, the case conference committee will convene to discuss alternative instruction.

Students will continue to participate in transition activities, internships and jobs, as long as health and safety protocols can be followed. The school will make contact with the student’s place of employment to be aware of their COVID procedures and what protections are required of employees.

Special Transportation

Special transportation continues to be offered for students who require this related service.  According to current federal guidelines, facial coverings are required for all students and employees while on public transportation, which includes school buses.

Case Conference Committee Meetings

Case conference committee meetings may continue to be held via Zoom or other virtual meeting capabilities.

If a case conference is held in a Carmel Clay school, visitor protocols must be followed.

Procedures

• Students and staff are expected to social distance while waiting to enter and inside  the clinic.
• Symptomatic students and staff will be provided with a surgical-grade mask.
• Each clinic will maintain two separate areas:
  • Regular care and operations space.
  • Separate space for students and staff who show signs or symptoms of illness.
• Nebulizer treatments will not be given in the school environment. Students with asthma should contact their physician to obtain an inhaler, spacer, and mask (if necessary) as needed for use in the school clinic. 
• If a student exhibits symptoms of COVID-19, parents will be contacted to pick up the student. 

Tips to Protect You and Others from Illness

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the inside of the elbow. 
• Throw used tissues away in the trash.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Stay away from people who are sick or not feeling well and avoid close contact with others through hugging, kissing, or shaking hands.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects such as toys and doorknobs.
• Seek assistance from your doctor or a health professional if you see or experience symptoms that cause concern.
• 12 Tips to Keep Kids Germ-Free at School

• Cafeteria tables will be spaced out to the greatest extent possible. 
• Hand sanitizer stations will be placed at the front of each serving line. Students will be expected to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer prior to entering the lunch line.
• Parents are encouraged to pre-pay student lunch accounts online using the EZSchoolPay system to reduce the handing of money/checks. (You will need your student’s ID number found in your Powerschool account.)
• Cash will only be accepted in one serving line per cafeteria. 

• Per CDC order, masks are required to be worn on public transportation, which includes school buses. Information regarding this federal CDC order can be found here.
• Students will have assigned seats for contact tracing purposes.
• Students will be allowed to sit 2 per seat. Siblings will be encouraged to sit together. Further spacing of students will occur as much as possible.
• A regular ridership schedule is requested for each address in order to support our capacity and contact tracing efforts.
• Due to restricted seating capacities as well as assigned seating to allow for contact tracing, students will only be allowed to ride their own bus to which they have been assigned for home-to-school/school-to-home transport. Students will not be permitted to ride with another student on a different bus.

• Regular attendance policies will be in place with the exception of COVID related absences that will be reviewed by building administration on a case-by-case basis.
• Students/parents should report absences due to quarantine or exposure to their attendance line.

• Updates will be communicated using the district’s standard channels of communication, including phone calls, emails, text messages and the CCS website.
• To ensure notifications are received, parents and guardians should verify that their phone numbers and email addresses are correct in the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
• For phone numbers registered within PowerSchool, CCS families can sign up to receive text alerts by texting YES to 67587.

• As students head back to school, many may express feelings of anticipation and excitement related to reuniting with teachers and peers; however, it is expected that they may experience feelings of worry, nervousness, and fatigue. The following actions can assist with supporting your child as they transition back to school:
• Prior to the start of the school year, establish and practice a healthy sleep and hygiene routine in order to support your child in preparation for their return to school.
• Review safety protocols with your child in order to familiarize them with expectations. Reassure your child that these protocols are in place for their safety as well as the safety and health of others.
• Continue to monitor your child’s exposure to social media and news sources that may provoke anxiety and fear.
• Engage your child to engage in open conversations where they have the opportunity to ask questions and gain clarification about what to expect during the next school year. This will help in reducing worry and provide them the opportunity to process their feelings in a healthy and supportive manner.
• Remember that sharing your feelings about COVID-19 can increase or decrease your child's fear.  If your child expresses concern for their safety/health, remind your child that the school is doing everything within our power to keep students safe and well.
• During conversations, carefully listen or have them draw or write out their thoughts and feelings and respond with truth and reassurance.
• Recognize warning signs and symptoms of more pervasive mental health concerns, such as a change in habits, a decline in mood, withdrawal, decreased social and academic functioning, erratic or changed behavior, and increased physical complaints as well as  warning signs of suicidal ideation.
• Encourage your student to develop and practice coping and calming strategies that may include:
  • Meditation
  • Yoga
  • Physical exercise
  • Deep breathing
  • Gradual Relaxation
  • Journaling
• Should you have any concerns related to your child’s mental health or if you would like to request additional resources, please feel free to contact your child’s Social Worker or Counselor located at your child’s school building.

Resources

How to Talk to Your Child About COVID-19 -- A Resource For Parents
Talking With Children Tips for Caregivers, Parents, and Teachers During Infectious Disease OutbreaksPDF download
Coping With Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks

Social & Emotional Learning

Our Administrators and Staff recognize that social-emotional learning will be imperative as we transition into the next school year. Because of the restrictions implemented in 2020 to maintain health via social distancing, we understand that students will be coming to school with a need to connect with their peers and adults in their school building. Therefore, it is our priority to ensure that we are fostering opportunities for students to develop this crucial skill set. In order to facilitate social-emotional wellness as we plan to implement the following:

• There will be a districtwide emphasis on building and establishing connections by spending increased time acclimating to routines and rituals as well as providing frequent social-emotional check-ins with students.
• Social Workers, Psychologists and Counselors will be focused on provided targeted groups for students experiencing difficulties transitioning back to school. 

Any information related to COVID-19 testing and vaccinations is available at the Indiana Department of Health website. 

IDOH WEBSITE