OUR SCHOOL’S COVID PLAN - OUR SCHOOL’S COVID PLAN

WELCOME TO OUR SCHOOL'S COVID-19 RESPONSE PAGE

Below you’ll find all the critical information about how P.S. 20Q is changing the way we operate to reduce the risk of COVID infection.We are doing everything we can to make sure staff, students, and families are safe. Please check back regularly, as we will update the information here as conditions change.The Department of Education also has important information and resources for you.

BLENDED LEARNING SCHEDULE FOR FALL/WINTER 2020

_{We are starting the school year with a hybrid learning schedule. That means that your child will be in school some days and working from home some days.}_{At this time we are continuing with the Groups A, B, and C cohorts. We will continue to evaluate the possibility of phasing in up to 5 days of in-person instruction.}

_{If the city moves into a Health Emergency, we will switch to 100% remote learning for all students. Check this page for updates.}

_{Group A will be in school on Wednesdays and, every other Monday or Tuesday and, working from home Thursday, Friday, and every other Monday and Tuesday.}
_{Group B will be in school on Thursdays and, every other Monday or Tuesday, and working from home Wednesday, Friday and, every other Monday and Tuesday.}
_{Group C will be in school on Fridays and, every other Monday or Tuesday, and working from home Wednesday, Thursday and, every other Monday and Tuesday.}
_{Group D will be in school and working from home remotely Monday-Friday.}
_{If you need to switch your child's in-school learning days, contact the main office at 718-359-0321 press 0 for the main office.}
_{If you would prefer a 100% online learning schedule for your child at any time this year, contact the school at 718-359-0321 to enroll.}
_{The school day will run from 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Students may be dropped off no earlier than 8:30am and must be picked up promptly at the end of the school day.}

COVID-19 STUDENT AND STAFF CONSENT FORMS

Please read all information below regarding the COVID-19 Testing Consent forms. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Parent Coordinator, Monique Lizcano by email (mlizcano@ps20q.org) or phone (347-688-8825 between 9:00am-3:00pm).

Mandatory in-school testing will happen weekly for a random selection of staff and students in all reopened school buildings. In order for your child to return to in-person learning, you must submit the consent form for in-school COVID-19 testing by the first day your child returns to their school building.

View this video to see on how COVID-19 tests are administered.

Submitting consent have your child tested for COVID-19 in school is quick and easy. If you have already submitted consent, we encourage you to do so again to ensure your student has the latest form on file. There are two easy ways to submit.

If you do not already have a NYCSA account: You can create one right away! If you have an account creation code from your school, you can create a full account in approximately five minutes, and then provide consent as described above. If you do not have an account creation code from your school, you can still provide your consent right away by clicking “Manage Consent” under “COVID-19 Testing” and filling out your and your child’s information to provide consent.
Print and sign the form and bring it to your child’s school on the first day they are back in the school building. A printable PDF file is available in ten language, below.

Student COVID-19 Testing Consent Forms

Exemptions

Exemptions will only be granted in certain limited cases:

For students who need a medical exemption, due to a health condition that would make it unsafe to undergo testing (e.g., facial trauma, nasal surgery), use the Student Medical Exemption Form, below. This form must be signed by a physician and you must submit medical documentation from a health care provider.
For students with disabilities who cannot be safely tested in school due to the nature of their disability, use the Student with Disabilities Exemption Form, below.
Translations will be available by Wednesday, December 2, 2020.

Student Medical Exemption Form

English

Student with Disabilities Exemption Form

English

To view this information in your language visit the COVID-19 Testing for Students and Staff on the NYC Department of Education website.

KEY CONTACTS

_{If you have any questions about the COVID-19 plan, please contact the Assistant Principal Patrick Foy.}

_{Email: PFoy@schools.nyc.gov}

_{Phone: 718-358-0321}

_{Address: 142-30 Barclay Avenue Flushing, N.Y. 11355}

_{*You can also connect with your teachers directly using their @schools.nyc.gov email address, Class Dojo, or calling the main office at 718-359-0321.}

SAFETY INFORMATION

_{Our school has implemented a number of changes to ensure everyone's safety.}

_{Your Responsibilities While in the Building}

_{We have put safety procedures in place to keep our students and staff healthy.}

_{Masks: Masks must be worn at all times by all adults (teachers, staff, and visitors) and by students in Pre-K and grades K-5 while in the building. If your child is unable to wear a mask for medical reasons, please call the main office at 718-359-0321.}
_{Handwashing: Students and staff are expected to wash hands thoroughly before and after eating, after using the bathroom, if exposed to body fluids (like saliva or a sneeze), and at other times necessary throughout the day.}
_{Drop-off and pickup procedures: Please maintain social distancing between families during drop-off and pickup. Parents are not allowed to enter the building with their child unless arrangements have been made in advance with the office. Please move through the drop-off and pickup line as quickly as possible to make room for families behind you.}
_{Visiting our school: We are limiting visitors to the school during this time. Parent and community volunteer and in-person tutoring have been suspended until further notice. Most parent-teacher conferences and other meetings can be held virtually. All visits must be pre-approved and scheduled with the office.}
_{While in the building: Upon entering the building, all visitors, staff and, students are required to complete a Health Screening Survey (https://healthscreening.schools.nyc/), have their temperature checked and, wear a mask at all times.}
_{Traffic flow in hallways and common areas: Hallways are marked with arrows. Please keep at least 6 ft. distance between yourself and others.}
_{Illness: Students and staff exhibiting signs of illness or having a fever of greater than 99.9°F must stay home. If you or someone you know has COVID-19 (or shows symptoms of COVID-19 such as coughing or fever), it is required that you stay home or at a designated care facility for a minimum of 14 days. Please contact us via phone (718-359-0321), email the classroom teacher, or Monique Lizcano, Parent Coordinator at (mlizcano@schools.nyc.gov) as soon as possible.}
_{Directions for local COVID testing: Please visit the NYS Coronavirus Find a Test Site page to find a test site closest to you.}

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS TAKEN BY OUR BUILDING

GUIDANCE FOR BLENDED & REMOTE LEARNING

Please see the hybrid and remote learning information below.

How Hybrid Learning Works

Blended Learning combines in-class instruction and at-home learning. This allows us to limit the number of students in the building each day for safe social distancing, while still ensuring that students can benefit from direct interaction with teachers and peers.

During days in class, teachers will provide direct whole-class instruction and small-group instruction. These days will be used primarily to introduce new topics, provide small group and one-on-one instructional support, and conduct assessments to monitor student progress towards standards.
During students at-home learning days they will participate in online live instruction with a secondary teacher. These at-home days will consist of a combination of technology-based learning activities as well as offline tasks, projects and, writing assignments. At-home learning activities are an important part of the learning process and will be graded.
Teachers and intervention specialists will have limited virtual "office hours" after school hours Monday - Friday from 2:00pm-2:20pm. Parents who have questions or students who need extra support can check in with their teachers during their office hours for help with at-home learning assignments.
Students with IEPs or 504 plans, or who have been identified as at-risk for not meeting academic standards, may have additional one-on-one intervention provided either virtually or during school hours.

Remote Learning Expectations: During blended or 100% remote learning, your child is expected to complete all assignments provided by the teacher. At the same time, we recognize that working independently at home is different and difficult for many students, so we want to provide flexibility.

Students and families should check Google Classroom daily for important updates from their teachers.
At-home assignments for the week will be posted in Google Classroom every day each week.
At-home assignments for each week should be turned in by 8:00 p.m. each day. Assignments will be graded.
All students are expected to complete their SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) check-in survey and, sign into their morning meeting at 8:30 a.m. Monday-Friday. Look for the link in your Google Classroom.
During 100% remote learning, your teacher will conduct live classes via Google Meet or Zoom. Check Google Classroom for your live class schedule.
When signing in for virtual classes or meetings, students are expected to be on time, appropriately dressed, and ready to learn. We suggest signing in 5 minutes before class starts. Please try to reduce background noise and distractions as much as possible. Using headphones or earbuds are recommended.

TECHNOLOGY: GETTING A DEVICE AND INTERNET SERVICE

We are committed to making sure that all students can successfully connect to online learning during their at-home learning days.

_{If your student needs a tablet, fill out the Device Request Form to reserve your device. Borrowing a device is free! Students in grades PK - 5 will receive tablets.}
_{Borrowed devices should be used for school purposes only and kept in a secure location. Take your device with you on in-school days.}
_{If you are using your own device, make sure it meets the technology requirements for online learning.}
_{If you do not have internet access at home, LOCAL INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS are providing free or low cost connection for families with students learning at home. You can request free or low cost internet access directly with the company.}
_{If you are not able to get internet hooked up in your home, your child's teacher will work with you to provide alternative offline assignments.}
_{If you are having trouble connecting to Google Class, Google Meet, or any of our online learning resources, visit Translated Support for Blended and Remote Learning, contact your child's teacher or call 718-359-0321 for tech support.}

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL AT HOME LEARNING

At-home learning will look different than a typical school day. The amount of time your child should be expected to engage in learning activities will vary by age and grade level. The expectations below are guidelines. If your child is not able to complete at-home learning assignments within the time periods recommended below, contact your child's teacher to discuss a modified assignment load.

Make sure your child has a quiet place to work (ideally a desk or table) and the school supplies they need. Try to remove distractions like the television or other technology not needed for learning.

For grades K-2, expect your child to work up to 2 hours per day, broken up into sessions of no more than 30 minutes.

For grades 3-5, expect your child to work up to 4 hours per day, broken up into sessions of no more than one hour.

For the Suggested Minimum Daily Live Instruction visit the Teaching and Learning page located on the NYC Department of Education website.

Ten tips for families as you adjust to the new reality of learning at home courtesy of Children and Screens, Institute of Digital Media and Child Development.

1. DIGITAL QUARANTINE

Consider limiting your children’s cell phones and tablets until their schoolwork is done satisfactorily, so that it can receive their undivided attention. Apps, games, and messaging features are fun, but they can also prove distracting. It may not be an option for everybody, but ideally, try to give your kids a dedicated device such as a school laptop for maximum online learning.

2. MAKE SPACE FOR LEARNING

Your children will achieve their best work in a quiet, comfortable, and dedicated space devoted to learning. Ideally, this will be a different set-up than where they normally play games or watch television. Keep in mind that children will be in this space for many hours each day, and parents should watch out for any orthopedic issues that may arise related to comfort and posture.

3. MONITOR THE (COMPUTER) MONITOR

In this new learning milieu, you can help by monitoring your children’s levels of interest and engagement in adapting to their new schedule and at-home materials. The simplest way to do this? Observation. Look at your child’s eyes to see if they’re following along with the screen. Check if they’re taking notes or zoning out. Ask questions at the end of a lesson. While this may require taking an hour off from work or stepping out for an early lunch, it’s important to confirm that your children are indeed learning. If you find that your child is not engaging with the lessons, don’t be afraid to contact the school or teachers to better explore the issue. Sometimes, easily remedied technical problems such as bad audio, poor connection, or an unhelpful camera angle can make all the difference.

4. DIGITAL RECESS

Make sure that your children take plenty of breaks in order to get physical activity and time away from screens. Set alarms similar to those they would encounter at school and encourage them to get up, get some fresh air, go for a walk or bike ride, or have a snack so that they are not sedentary for the entire day.

5. FACETIME

In-person interaction is ideal for kids, but until it’s safe for them to return to school, encourage your children to video chat or text message rather than simply scrolling through social media. You don’t want your children to feel socially isolated, but at the same time, you want to protect them from becoming wholly reliant upon their devices. Sit your children down for face-to-face conversations about screen time. In order to give them agency, discuss how much time they think is reasonable to spend online and make a “contract,” committing to goals for on-screen vs. off-screen hours.

6. KEEP IT OLD SCHOOL

Overuse of screen time can have adverse impacts on young brains, so it’s essential in these special circumstances to be extra careful when it comes to the littlest ones. As much as possible, parents should encourage print and book reading. If available, request textbooks from your child’s school along with other print materials in order to offset the amount of online learning they will be doing. Studies show that remote education can be challenging for all ages, but especially young kids, so do whatever you can and always err on the side of caution. Stimulate self-expression by having discussions with your children about what they are doing, and also encourage creative writing and imaginative story telling.

7. WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER

Remember that you’re not alone in this journey. Check in with other parents to see what they’ve found effective or to ask if they need help. Share your concerns and useful hints. If you need contact information for other parents or resources, reach out to the PTA or your child’s school. It is important that we all work together as a community for the good of our children and families.

8. PLAN YOUR WORK AND WORK YOUR PLAN

Good planning can relieve stress for both children and parents. Check in with your kids about their plans and help them develop a written schedule not only for the day, but for the week as a whole. Help them prioritize and learn to create goals, tasks, and deadlines, just like adults do when they go to work. Tasks that may not have been difficult for them while attending school in person can become more challenging when learning from home, so it’s important to reinforce boundaries and offer incentives for healthy behaviors. To avoid disruption, some after-school activities may be offered via online video apps, Facetime, or Skype.

9. SCHOOL IS IN SESSION

Even though staying home from school might feel like a holiday, remind your kids that they’re not on vacation. Assignments, grades, requirements, and tests like state tests aren’t going away just because classes have moved online.

10. DON’T FORGET TO HAVE FUN

Plan off-screen activities for the whole family. Between school and work obligations, it’s rare for parents and children to have this much time together, so turn it into an opportunity for bonding. Write predictions for a TV show that the whole family watches. Organize a tournament, family card games, charades, or chess, or get outside for a hike or walk together after school. Follow your community’s guidelines about safe behavior and events, of course, but make sure you still find time for fun with your kids.

LEARN AT HOME RESOURCES

NYC Department of Education blue and green Remote Learning Icon with a computer and a student.

RESOURCES

_{FREE MEALS}

P.S. 20Q is a Meal Hub and will operate for children and families from 9:00am to 12:00pm, and for adults from 3:00pm to 5:00pm.

New York City is committed to making free meals available daily for all New Yorkers.

All families and students can continue to go to any school building between 9:00 am and noon on the weekdays to pick up free grab-and-go meals.
- No identification or registration is necessary.
- Halal and kosher meals are available at selected sites, listed below.
- Vegetarian meals are available at all locations.

Members of the community can pick up meals from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday at locations across the city Please view the DOE calendar for more information
- Meals are not available to the general public at any other time
- No registration or ID required
- Multiple meals can be picked up at once
- Vegetarian meals are available at all locations.

HELP FOR FAMILIES

We know that many families are struggling during this time, and we are here to help.

We are providing free breakfast and lunch for all students during in-school days. Students and families needing additional food support may pick up free meals through the Meal Hub program (see link above).
Our guidance counselor, social worker and school psychologist are available for virtual meetings. They can also connect your family with community resources to help you.
Please contact Ms. Bonnie Littman, our School Counselor, if your child is experiencing trauma or mental health issues.
Please contact out IEP teacher if your child needs to be evaluated for an IEP or 504 plan.
Please contact Ms. Ebony Johnson, our Social Worker, if your family has lost housing, is experiencing a crisis, or needs additional support during this time.

There are many community resources available for families who need help with housing support, utilities, mental health services, crisis services, and other supports during this time. Use the quick links below to connect with more community resources.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

UPDATES: STAY CONNECTED

To stay up to date with any changes to procedures or scheduling, please bookmark this page on your browser. We'll also be sending out emails to all families.

Make sure you are receiving emails from P.S. 20Q.
Make sure we have a working email and phone number for you.
To update your contact information please call the main office at 718-359-0321, press 0 for the main office.
Sign up for text message updates through Remind using the school code: 626468. Download the Remind app using this link.

MEETING SPECIAL NEEDS

Families wishing to continue to learn remotely: If your child or a family member is at high-risk for complications due to COVID-19 may opt to continue 100% remote learning. Contact Lori Manzolillo, school secretary at 718-359-0321 to enroll your child in our remote learning program.

Special needs students: Students with special needs will receive a separate email from Karen Ritter, IEP teacher, with instructions. We are committed to fully complying with IEP and 504 accommodations for all students to the fullest extent possible during remote, and blended learning models.