Jenks Public Schools’ Learning Options and Guidelines for 2020-21
Launch the media gallery 1 playerDue to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020-21 school year at Jenks Public Schools will look different. The plans listed below are subject to change as new information on the coronavirus becomes available or as positive cases become more prevalent in the community or within our District. At JPS, the health and safety of students and employees is always the top priority, and we will do everything possible to comply with the very latest recommendations and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as well as state and local health agencies.
Although we are able to share this information, we realize there are still more questions than answers. All of this is unprecedented, none of it is easy. There may not be answers to every question right now, but we will attempt to address those questions as soon as possible. As the start of a new school year approaches, please continue to check your email and monitor all JPS platforms for the very latest information.
There are three distinct learning options for students enrolled at Jenks Public Schools for the 2020-21 school year. These options were created to provide choice and flexibility for JPS families. We want to help every parent make an informed decision about how their child will experience learning in the new school year. Please look at each one of these options carefully.
Regardless of what option is chosen, every parent/guardian must complete the online Back to School Registration process. The updating process is completed through your PowerSchool Parent Portal account. The web address for PowerSchool Parent Portal is https://powerschool.jenksps.org/public. The online Back to School Registration opens on July 15.
IMPORTANT UPDATE - JULY 28, 2020: With new recommendations published last week from the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the deadline to opt-in to the Trojan Connect Program (virtual option) or the blended option has been extended from July 31 to August 7. This extension allows more time for JPS parents/guardians to make an informed decision about the best option for their student(s) and family, and also allows JPS administrators more time to monitor the recent rise in COVID-19 cases and update the return to learn plan accordingly. More information will be shared after the JPS Board of Education meeting on Monday, August 3.
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ဒီစာရွက်စာတမ်းကိုဗမာဘာသာဖြင့်ကြည့်ပါ။ (Burmese)
OPTION #1 – ALL AT-SCHOOL LEARNING (Option Available Pre-K – 12)
In this option students will:
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Remain enrolled in Jenks Public Schools
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Attend school daily in a traditional, face-to-face classroom environment
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Engage in a variety of learning experiences with teachers and peers
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Continue to access educational technology supports
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Continue to access all courses and activities offered at Jenks Public Schools
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Continue to access guidance and counseling, media centers and other student programs as needed
***When necessitated by COVID-19 conditions, At-School Learning will move to Distance Learning facilitated virtually via the Canvas Learning Management Platform. Teachers will continue to introduce new content and assess/grade student progress.***
OPTION #2 – ALL VIRTUAL LEARNING THROUGH TROJAN CONNECT PROGRAM (Option Available K – 12)
In this new option for 2020-21, students will:
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Remain enrolled in Jenks Public Schools
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Access learning activities via an online platform (Calvert Learning for grades K-6 and Edgenuity for grades 7-12)
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Have progress monitored by a certified Jenks Public Schools teacher
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Receive supplemental instructional support for coursework from a certified Jenks Public Schools teacher
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Require at-home parental guidance and support during learning activities in grades K-6
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Have access to guidance and counseling services, media centers, and other student programs as needed
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Receive technology device and internet access support as needed
***Students must opt-in to the Trojan Connect Program by August 7. Once a student has signed up for this option, the student will be locked into the Trojan Connect Program for the entire fall semester. Click here to sign up for the Trojan Connect Program.***
OPTION #3 – BLENDED LEARNING (Option Available Grades 7 -12 ONLY)
In this option students will:
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Remain enrolled in Jenks Public Schools
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Attend school daily for a portion of the school day while completing remaining courses via the Edgenuity online platform
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Interact directly with teachers and peers
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Engage in a variety of learning experiences
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Be eligible to participate in school-sponsored activities and athletics
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Access guidance and counseling services, media centers, and other student programs as needed
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Receive technology device and internet access support as needed
*Students must opt-in to Blended Learning by August 7. To select blended learning or increase the number of virtual hours a student who is already enrolled in virtual classes, click here.
Regardless of what option is chosen, every parent/guardian must complete the online Back to School Registration process. The updating process is completed through your PowerSchool Parent Portal account. The web address for PowerSchool Parent Portal is https://powerschool.jenksps.org/public. The online Back to School Registration opens on July 15.
Return to Learn at JPS – General Guidelines for Staff, Parents and Students
Over the last several weeks, District administrators and staff members have listened to experts in the medical and educational communities, while continuously researching and evaluating the best practices and strategies for creating the safest possible learning environment. Although it is impossible to eliminate all risk, the goal is to maintain a layered approach to reducing the risk of spread in our schools. These practices are flexible and can be adapted or changed quickly depending on the current nature of the pandemic and the latest information from state and local health agencies.
Guidance published by the American Academy of Pediatrics states, “all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school.” The AAP also provides a variety of reasons why schools are fundamental to the overall health and development of children and adolescents. From the instructional aspect to social and emotional wellness, as well as providing meals, counseling services, and physical activity, schools play a critical role in the lives of students and in the overall health of a community.
The following information is shared to help everyone in our community understand how Jenks Public Schools is mitigating the risks associated with COVID-19 and how staff members and families can play a role in helping to stop the spread.
Monitor Symptoms
Staff members will be expected to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms prior to reporting to work each day.
Parents/guardians are expected to screen their students for COVID-19 symptoms each day prior to sending their students to school.
If a student begins displaying COVID-19 symptoms at school, he/she should report to the nurse’s office immediately. Parents will be contacted to pick up their child as soon as possible.
People with COVID-19 have reported a variety of symptoms - ranging from mild to severe. Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Families should monitor children and should not send children to school if they have one or more of the following symptoms:
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Fever
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Chills
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Cough
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Headache
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Loss of smell or taste
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Sore throat
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Nausea or vomiting
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Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
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Muscle or body aches
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Congestion or runny nose
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Diarrhea
Exposure and Return to School After COVID-19
Students or staff who come into close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days and may not return to their school site during that time.
What counts as “Close Contact?”
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You spent at least 15 minutes or more at a distance of six feet or closer.
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You had direct physical contact with the person (e.g., handshake, hugging).
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You shared eating or drinking utensils with them.
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You came into contact with their respiratory droplets (e.g., they coughed or sneezed on you).
Any student or staff member who tests positive or has COVID-19 symptoms may return to school after:
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3 days with no fever AND
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Respiratory symptoms have improved AND
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10 days have passed since the first symptoms appeared
Any student or staff member who tested positive for COVID-19 but had no symptoms can return to school after:
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10 days have passed since the test OR
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Two consecutive negative COVID-19 tests taken 24 hours apart
*Students and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 will be required to submit a letter of good health from a physician’s office prior to returning to school.*
ဤဇယားကိုမြန်မာဘာသာဖြင့်ကြည့်ပါ။ (Burmese).
Masks/Face Coverings
All JPS staff members, visitors, and students in grades 3-12 will be required to wear face coverings. Any exceptions require the approval of the site principal.
Students in grades Pre-K-2 are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings as feasible. Masks will be encouraged when social distancing is difficult to accomplish.
Bus Transportation
Regardless of age or grade level, all students are required to wear a mask while riding on a bus. All JPS bus drivers are required to wear a mask. Because socially distancing on a bus is more difficult, masks for all riders and drivers are important in helping to contain respiratory droplets and stop the spread of the virus. All JPS buses will have extra masks and hand sanitizer on board. Buses will be cleaned and disinfected after morning routes are completed and again when afternoon routes are completed.
As students board the bus, they should sit in an available seat closest to the back of the bus. Students getting on the bus should be seated from back to front to reduce the amount of close contact as much as possible.
Access to School Buildings for Parents and Visitors
All individuals entering a school building or JPS facility will be required to wear a mask or face covering. Parents will not be permitted to escort children into the building. Parents must remain in their cars and drive through the drop-off line. Staff members will be stationed outside of the school building to help direct students to their classrooms. Parents who wish to check their student out of school must only enter the main entrance of their child’s building and must wait in the secure entrance area. Parents and visitors will be prohibited from entering hallways, classrooms, cafeterias, gymnasiums, and other common areas.
Activities and Athletics
Extra-curricular activities, clubs, and athletics play an important role in a student’s educational experience. All school-sponsored activities and athletic teams will continue to adhere to guidelines put in place by the District, as well as recommendations from state and local health agencies. Please reach out to your child’s coach or club sponsor with any questions or concerns. Click here to view frequently asked questions and answers regarding athletic eligibility and return to learn options.
Changes to Start of School Meetings and Activities
Events such as Back To School Night, Meet The Teacher, and Schedule Pick-Up will be significantly altered due to the pandemic. Each one of these events will occur at the discretion of each JPS school site. Please continue to check your email, your child’s school webpage, social media pages, and other communication methods for the very latest school-specific information on events and activities.
Parents/Guardians, at your earliest convenience, please complete the online Back to School registration process. You should have received a letter in the mail with detailed instructions on how to sign in to Registration Gateway to update your information and to make sure your child is registered for the upcoming school year. Registration Gateway will open on Wednesday, July 15. Click here for more information on the online Back to School registration process.
Additional Measures for Disease Mitigation
Hand Washing/Sanitizing
Washing and/or sanitizing hands frequently is one of the easiest ways to protect against infection. Throughout the school day, students will be reminded to wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Students and staff members will also have access to alcohol-based hand sanitizer in classrooms and other common areas. Paper towel dispensers will be added to many restrooms and other areas. Staff will be expected to regularly wash or sanitize hands throughout the day.
Social Distancing
When feasible, school sites will implement social distancing in common areas such as hallways, gyms, and cafeterias.
Cleaning Protocols
During the school day, staff will clean commonly touched surfaces inside classrooms, while maintenance personnel will clean commonly touched surfaces in common areas. At the end of each scheduled event or school day, the District’s cleaning contractor will clean frequently touched surfaces and objects. A CDC approved disinfectant agent is also sprayed through rooms and coats commonly touched surfaces after cleaning.
Classroom Seating
Placing plastic barriers around desks or between desks is simply not feasible. It is not a financially practical solution for the District. Classroom seating will be arranged to allow for as much distance between individual students as possible. However, available classroom space and class sizes will not allow for a 6-foot distance between students.
Meals at School
Students must wash hands or sanitize hands before going through a food line or sitting down to eat in the cafeteria. Students should socially distance while waiting in a food line. No guests will be allowed to have lunch on-site as long as there is still a threat of COVID-19 exposure. Hand sanitizer and hand-sanitizing stations will be added to cafeterias at all school sites.
Supplies
Students will not be allowed to share supplies such as pens, pencils, markers, scissors, or crayons. Any supplies or tools needed to be used by multiple students will be sanitized between uses.
Water Fountains
Each school site will be equipped with water bottle filling stations. Students and staff members are encouraged to bring non-breakable water containers to school.
Air Filters
Improved heating, ventilation and air conditioner filters are being installed in all District buildings that will filter one hundred percent (100%) of a room’s air every eight (8) hours and capture 95% of COVID-19 droplets.