Return to School FAQ's

This Frequently Asked Questions page is intended to provide additional clarity and detail to the Christ the King Catholic School 2020-2021 Return to School Plan. Due to the on-going nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, certain plans and procedures must remain fluid as we work toward providing a safe educational environment for our students.  As a result, this document will periodically be revised as it becomes necessary to modify policies, we discover better methods, or conditions change in the community relative to the pandemic. 
We encourage parents to submit any additional questions or feedback to ckcs@ctkcsdaphne.org for consideration.  We know that this FAQ cannot address all of your concerns, but our goal is to be as transparent as possible with what we do know and what we do not know.   

Masking Policy

1. Are masks required?
Yes. Students in grades K-8 will be required to wear a mask while at school. Parents may choose the mask most suitable for their child/children. Masks can fasten on the ears or have bands around the head or both. Any student with a medical condition that prohibits the wearing of face masks will need written documentation from a physician noting the condition and proposing a reasonable alternative. Christ the King will make every effort to work with students unable to wear masks, but it reserves the right to require distance learning for such students if the same is necessary for the safety of other students and faculty and staff. 

2. Are we required to wear specific types of masks?
No. Parents may choose the mask (not face shield) most suitable for their child/children. Masks can fasten on the ears or have bands around the head or both. Gaiter masks that cover the nose and mouth may be worn. Students may also use a lanyard to ensure the mask does not fall to the ground when it is removed.

3. Are there restrictions on mask designs or patterns?
Masks must be appropriate for a Catholic School. Monogramming is not allowed as that impacts the mask's integrity.  (Updated July 31)

4. Will students be expected to wear masks for the entirety of the school day?
No.  Students will not be expected to wear masks while eating or drinking or during PE, where social distancing will be maintained. Students will also be provided with outdoor, socially distanced “mask breaks” throughout the day.

5. Can students wear a face shield instead of a mask?
No.  Based on available CDC guidance, face shields do not provide the same level of protection as masks and can allow particles suspended in the air to circulate around the mask and potentially be inhaled longer.  As a result, students are not allowed to wear face shields in lieu of masks. 

6. Are parents and visitors expected to wear masks while on school grounds?
Yes. All parents and permitted visitors will be required to wear a mask if on school grounds.  Parents are not required to wear masks while dropping off or picking up their children, provided that the parent remains in the vehicle.

7. Will the school provide my child with a mask?
No.  Each student will be expected to provide his or her own mask or masks.  In the event that a student forgets his or her mask and does not have a “back-up” mask at school, Christ the King will have a limited supply of single-use masks available. 

8. Do I need to send extra masks to school for my child?
Yes.  We ask parents to send at least one extra mask to school with their child in case a mask is forgotten or damaged or becomes unclean during the course of the day. Parents of younger children will be notified if their child has used his or her back-up mask, and students will need to supply another back-up mask upon his or her return to school.  Masks not being used must be stored in a ziploc or other airtight container clearly labeled with the student’s first and last name. We are actively working with faculty and staff on procedures for mask storage, but no specific plan has yet been decided upon.

Social Distancing & Sanitation Efforts

1. Where will students eat snack and lunch?
Students will have snack and eat lunch in the homeroom classrooms or in classroom units either outside on tables or at other specific locations on campus where social distancing can be maintained. 

2. Will student special lunch or ice cream be available?
Special lunch will be delivered to each classroom, but ice cream and milk (Updated July 28) will not be available for purchase.

3. What is the school doing to maintain social distancing during the school day?
Students will remain in homeroom units throughout the day to minimize the potential for physical interactions. When necessary, teachers will move from classroom to classroom for instruction. The school is developing a schedule that minimizes student interaction, including in restrooms and on verandas, and allows for disinfection of common areas and high-use areas throughout the day.  We also recognize that students need to move outside the classroom during the day and are incorporating such opportunities into the schedule where possible.   

4. How will Music/Computer/Library classes be held?:
At the beginning of the year, enrichment teachers will go to individual homerooms for class. We will continue to evaluate the situation as the year progresses and make adjustments based on the circumstances. (Updated July 31)

5. What increased sanitation protocols are the school implementing?
Faculty and staff members will be trained in proper sanitizing procedures, and high-touch items will be disinfected regularly throughout the day (e.g., door-knobs and handles, classroom desks and chairs, countertops, light switches, athletic equipment, shared toys, remote controls, telephones, computer keyboards, mice, etc.). The maintenance staff will be following CDC guidelines for cleaning and sanitizing common areas, including but not limited to, bathrooms, doorknobs, and hallways.  
In addition, hand sanitizing stations will be added outside every building on campus, and students, faculty, and staff will be required to sanitize their hands before entering any classroom on campus.  Additional school supplies will also be stocked in each classroom to avoid students having to share items. The school will be deep cleaned on August 3. (Updated July 31)

6. Has the school considered using air scrubbers or UV-C light to increase air quality and/or mitigate the spread of COVID-19?
Yes.  We have explored and continue to explore many different environmental sanitation ideas. Based on research by the Baldwin County Board of Education, air scrubbers and UV light treatments are not effective investments of the very limited funds Christ the King has to spend. This issue is consistently being revisited as technology and scientific guidance evolves. The school has purchased and received Purashield 500 air scrubbers for all classrooms. (Updated July 31)

Volunteers and Visitors

1. Will parents, volunteers, or visitors be allowed on campus?
Parents or other primary guardians will be allowed on campus only to meet with the administration, a teacher, or to pick up/drop off a child. No other visitors are allowed on campus at this time without special permission from the administration for essential visitors.

2. Will parents, volunteers, or visitors be required to undergo a health screening prior to entering campus?
Yes.  Prior to entering the school office, parents and any essential visitors must have their temperatures taken. Any person with a temperature at or above 100.4 degrees will not be allowed to enter the school. Parents and essential visitors passing the temperature screen must sanitize their hands prior to entering the school offices and are NOT allowed to leave the school office area until departing campus. 

3. Will parents or other visitors be able to attend school Mass?
No.  In order to maintain proper social distancing, parents and other visitors will not be allowed to attend student Mass at this time.

4. Will there be volunteer opportunities this year?
Christ the King is temporarily suspending all on-campus parent volunteer opportunities for the duration of this crisis and will rely on school personnel for special lunch, carpool duty, and playground duty. However, we are exploring other opportunities, such as virtual story time or virtual classroom visits. We appreciate all of our volunteers and are actively looking for safe ways to keep everyone involved at Christ the King.

Distance Learning

1. What tools will be used for distance learning?
Teachers will use a google classroom, digital classroom, or website for easy communication of assignments, videos, lesson plans, and news. You can see an example of a digital classroom HERE. (Updated July 31)

2. Can students choose distance learning even if the school is physically open for in-person instruction?
Yes.  Students may elect to participate in distance learning from the beginning of the school year or at any time during the year.  However, once a student chooses this option during an academic quarter, the student must continue distance learning for the remainder of the quarter. 

3. When is the deadline to notify the school that a student is going to use distance learning beginning on August 12?
August 7.

4. How should parents notify the school of their intent to utilize distance learning (or to return to in-person instruction at the end of an academic quarter)?
Please complete the Request for DL form or contact the school office. The link is on the left of this page under the FAQ section or click HERE.  

5. How will distance learning work for students who choose that option even while the school is open for in-person instruction (i.e., Scenario A)?
Teachers will use a Google classroom, digital classroom, or website for easy communication of            assignments, videos, lesson plans, and news. Students will be in contact with teachers at scheduled times, and teachers will answer all emails within 24 hours. Each student will also be assigned a resource teacher who can troubleshoot and use a video platform for tutoring and instruction with the students during the school day, as needed. Resource teachers will schedule these times with the student and parents. 

6. If the entire school must go to distance learning, what will it look like (i.e., Scenario B)?
Students will receive assignments through Google Suites. Teachers will be available for instruction, troubleshooting, and tutoring from 8 am to 3 pm, using video and Google platforms. Any video instruction that is scheduled will be during the normal school hours. Resource and enrichment teachers will also be available for tutoring during the school day. Teachers will answer emails within 24 hours.

7. If a student chooses distance learning, is there a modified school supply list?
School supply lists are the same for on campus and distance learning. 

8. How are enrichment classes treated during distance learning?
Students will be required to complete assignments for enrichment classes. Enrichment teachers will use a google classroom, digital classroom, or website for easy communication of assignments, videos, lesson plans, and news.  Resource and enrichment teachers will assist classroom teachers and parents during this time.

Sports and Extracurricular Activities

1. Will CYO have sports this academic year?
CYO, in conjunction with the Archdiocese, makes all decisions regarding scholastic sports. At this time, CYO is proceeding with normal sports offerings.  

2. Will Christ the King have extracurricular activities?
CTKCS will not have extracurricular activities at the beginning of the shcool year. We will advise parents when and if this changes. 

3. If a parent, student, or visitor is on campus after hours for sports, must he or she wear a mask or undergo a health screening prior to entry to campus?
This decision will be communicated through the athletic office as sports are under the jurisdiction of the parish. 

4. Will there be band this year, and if so, what will that look like?
This is still to be determined. 

Quarantine, Isolation, & Temporary Closures

1. If a student becomes sick during the school day, when can he or she return to school?
At this time, any student registering a temperature will not be allowed to return to campus until they are fever free without medication for 72 hours. This is subject to change if CDC recommendations change.

2. If a student tests positive for COVID-19, when will the student be allowed to return to school?
The student will be allowed to return to campus at a time consistent with the then-current recommendations of the CDC.  At present, the CDC recommends 10 days since symptoms appeared and 72 hours since last fever w/o meds and symptoms have improved.
 
3. If a student or faculty member tests positive for COVID-19, will parents be notified?
If a member of our campus community tests positive for COVID-19, Christ the King will seek guidance from medical professionals, the Department of Catholic Education, and the Alabama Health Department as to appropriate protocols for reporting and notification. If it is determined that you or your child may have been exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual, you will receive an email notification alerting you of that fact. The school will not disclose the identity of students, faculty, or staff that have tested positive for COVID-19 except as may be required by law.

4. If a student enters distance learning due to quarantine or isolation following a positive COVID-19 test result in his or her homeroom, can the student resume in-person instruction at the conclusion of quarantine or isolation?
Yes.  If the reason a student elects distance learning is due to quarantine, voluntary or involuntary, or isolation following the positive COVID-19 test in his or her homeroom, the student may return to in-person instruction upon conclusion of the appropriate period of time for quarantine or isolation.

5. Will the entire school temporarily close in the event of a positive COVID-19 test result in our campus community?
In most cases, no.  By keeping our students together with their homerooms, we are attempting to minimize the likelihood of transmission of COVID-19.  Unless contact tracing or unusual circumstances indicate a widespread outbreak, a positive test will result in the temporary closure of only the “infected” classroom for proper sanitization.  Students in the homeroom will be relocated to a new area on campus for several days while sanitization is taking place.

6. If a student or faculty/staff member tests positive for COVID-19, will his or her immediate family members (i.e., siblings, children) also be required to self-quarantine for ten (10) days?
Given the likelihood of transmission among family members, yes. Plase note that the siblings will be allowed to move in and out of distance learning just like the positive student.

7. If a non-student family member tests positive for COVID-19, must my student be quarantined?
Yes.  If an immediate family member of a student or faculty/staff member tests positive for COVID-19, the student or faculty/staff member will be required to notify the school and undertake distancing learning for fourteen (14) days.  As testing for COVID-19 can be delayed in some instances, we strongly encourage not sending a student to school that has been exposed to someone who may have COVID-19 but is awaiting a formal diagnosis.  
 

Pick-Up / Drop-Off

1. Were other drop-off and pick-up options considered for inclusion in the Return to School Plan?
Yes. The administration reviewed a multitude of options for drop-off and pick-off and considered the merits of each relative to limitations due to staffing, cost, traffic, and safety. We understand that the current plans may take longer than normal drop-off and pick-up, and we appreciate your patience as we refine our new procedures.   

2. Can I drop off or pick up my child at his or her classroom?
No.  All students must be dropped off or picked up utilizing the school’s carpool procedures, except for students who walk or ride their bikes to school. 

3. Can older siblings walk their younger siblings to class from morning drop-off?
Yes. 

4. What are the K-8 carpool drop off/pick up times?
Morning carpool will begin at 7:15 AM.  Afternoon carpool will run from 3-3:30 PM . Students must be picked up by 3:30 PM. (Updated July 27)

5. What if my child has a temperature of 100.4 when checked in the carline?
If someone should present with an elevated temperature >100.4° they will be directed to pull to the recheck area and allowed to sit for at least 5 minutes after the initial reading and be retested. If the second temperature reading is less than 100.4°, the person will be permitted to enter campus.  Should the second reading be greater than 100.4° the person will be considered to have a fever and will not be permitted to enter campus. If multiple students arrive in one vehicle and one or several have temps greater than 100.4 those students will not be allowed on campus, however, other students in the vehicle with a temp under the 100.4 level will be allowed to go to class. (Updated July 31)

Miscellaneous

1. Will water fountains be operational and their use permitted to refill personal water containers?
Water fountains will be operational for refilling personal water containers only.

2. Will the traditional back-to-school meetings still be held?
This year, we will have our Parent/Teacher Back to School meetings before we begin school on August 12th. Preschool, kindergarten, and first grade parents will have in person parent/teacher meetings (following safety guidelines). For our new families, there will be an in person welcoming orientation. Meeting attendance is optional - meeting recordings will be provided for grade level meetings for those parents unable to attend. In grades 2-8, teachers will record a welcoming video with back to school information for parents with students in their homerooms. Please see below for more details:

Preschool Meeting: Wednesday, August 5, PK3 @ 6:00 PM/PK4 @ 7:00 PM in Assumption Hall. One parent is allowed to attend. Social distancing rules are in effect and masks are required. AH will be cleaned between meetings.
 
New Parent Meeting: Thursday, August 6, 6:00 PM in the gym. Only parents are allowed to attend. Social distancing rules are in effect and masks are required. 

Kindergarten Meeting: Monday, August 10, 6:00 PM in Assumption Hall. One parent is allowed to attend. Social distancing rules are in effect and masks are required.

1st Grade Meeting: Monday, August 10 (Please note the date change) 6:00 PM in the Gym.  One parent is allowed to attend. Social distancing rules are in effect and masks are required.
(Updated July 31)

3. Will before school and after school care be offered?
Due to staffing and location considerations, we will not be able to offer after school care at the beginning of the year. We will continue to monitor the situation and hope to be able to continue this service during the year.

4. Will Back to School Night be held this year?
We will not be able to have our normal Back to School Night this year. Students may bring their supplies/books to class over the first 3 days of school. (Updated July 31)