COVID-19 Safety Procedures at The LIFE School‍

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We have developed the following plan in thoughtful consideration of family survey responses, the guidance of health officials, and other key factors. Our ultimate goal is to keep our students and staff safe and healthy in the midst of a global pandemic, and to provide a dynamic, high Koality learning experience.

School Schedule

1. Our school campus will be open on Monday through Friday each week.
2. High school students can attend school in-person OR virtually on Mondays through Thursdays.
3. Fridays will be virtual for high school students and will include Morning Meeting, club/team meetings, and Study Halls where students will work on academic projects and/or passion projects. 
4. Zucchinis meets in-person Monday through Friday.

Attendance Expectations

1. High school parents can choose each day whether their student comes to school or works from home. 
2. We will take attendance every day in Morning Meeting.
3. Attendance will also be taken during each class and club/team meeting. 
4. Whether virtual or at school - 

- Students are expected to attend all meetings and classes etc - to be on time, prepared with the necessary materials, stay for the full duration, be fully engaged and participate. 

- Parents who agree for their high school students to work from home will be committing additional effort to ensure their student is successful. This includes, but is not limited to, helping their student map out a daily schedule for pre-set classes/meetings and independent work times, and to also help them arrange one on one or small group tutoring sessions with peers and teachers. Our school staff can help you make a personalized plan, but parents will take the lead at home to implement it with their student.

Classes

1. All high school classes are hybrid and will be delivered via video conferencing software (e.g. Zoom, Google Meet). This approach allows us flexibility with the ebbs and flows of the pandemic.
2. All Zucchinis classes are in-person, but as-needed virtual classes are available when students are traveling, quarantined, or home sick.
3. Projects and assignments will continue to be delivered through Google Classroom.
4. Students that are physically at school will need to sit with their class and teacher, and log in to the video call so that they can participate in the lesson and activities with their virtual classmates. 

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Should I work at school or at home? 

We encourage all families to make careful decisions each day about whether their student works at school or home. Here are some considerations as you make this decision each day. Note: This is not an exhaustive list.

I should work at school if:

• I am a new student to The LIFE School. 
• I am a returning student who is still developing my self direction skills. 
• I would benefit from (or my parents think I would benefit from) the guidance, support and structure provided by school staff.
• I need access to WI-FI or printers.
• I want to use the school’s music studio or art room.
• I want to work with the plants, rabbits and/or fish.
• I work better when I can review my work with an adult in person.
• My project group has decided to work together at school today.
• I want to participate in an in-person workshop happening at school today. 

I should work from home if:

• My temperature was taken this morning and it is above 100℉.
• I feel sick and it hasn’t gotten better as I started to get ready for school.
• I have tested positive for COVID-19 or someone in my house has tested positive.
• I have health challenges that put me at high risk for COVID-19.
• I live with someone who is at high risk for COVID-19. 
• My commute would require significant potential exposure to COVID-19 (e.g. taking public transit or Uber/Lyft) and I do not have an alternative, safer way to get to school. 

Additional Notes:

• Tutoring and teacher meetings will be available virtually and in-person.
• Any students who come to school will be expected to stay for the full day.

Health Precautions at school

Required PPE: Masks and/or face shields

• Students must bring their own PPE to school each day.
• We will have disposable masks available for student use if they damage their own. 
• Parents should consider sending their student with backup PPE, if you have preferred products that you all are using.

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Daily health and cleaning procedures

• Hand sanitizer will be required upon arrival. 
• We will have hand sanitizer in every classroom and workspace.
• If students have a fever, they will be isolated until we can do a temperature check. If they still have a fever, they will need to go home for the day. Parents should check their student’s temperature before leaving home each day. 
• While students will still be expected to clean their spaces, staff will also do regular electrostatic disinfections.

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Handling sickness

• Any student or staff member who is sick will need to stay home until they are healthy. 
• Per CDC guidelines, if any student or staff member is confirmed by a doctor to have COVID-19, we will inform the school community and ask everyone who has been exposed to quarantine at home. 

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