ASFM Hybrid Learning Hub

Values matter, especially during a crisis. They allow individuals and institutions to orient themselves and set priorities quickly. They permit us to navigate confusion, turmoil, and emotion. They compel us to reflect on our relationships with, and obligations to, others. Most importantly, they inform our decisions and actions. ASFM is committed to supporting our students in an open minded, caring and global manner, empowering all students to continue to develop their individual potential in this ever-changing world and based on the following principles: 

• Act with fidelity to the School’s Mission, Vision and Core Values.
• Prioritize student, faculty, and staff health, safety, and wellbeing over other principles.
• Ensure hygiene- and health-related policies are research-based, clearly communicated, effectively implemented, and diligently enforced.
• Promote practices and policies to reduce risk of virus transmission and support our capacity to be responsive and agile when facing changing health circumstances.
• Shift immediately back to distance learning in the event our local community experiences a spike in COVID-19 cases and/or ASFM has a community member test positive. This is a SEP mandate. 

The realities and needs for the 2020-2021 school year are being researched and developed by a team of ASFM leaders and educators and are based on best practices from around the world, trends and plans from other schools, experience from the past months in distance learning, and effective pedagogy for learners in grades nursery through 12. This team has been working on details, policies and procedures within the following areas:

• Learning Transitions
• Learning Design 
• Health, Legal and Safety 
• Operations

ASFM has established this planning team to develop and maintain a re-opening strategy that allows for flexibility, transparency and prioritizes the health and safety of our community, while supporting our mission to provide a quality education to our entire community. Through regular and ongoing meetings, the team is committed to maintaining awareness of global best practice in the management of COVID-19 while providing quality education in the international school context. This team also monitors all recommendations and guidelines that come from the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control, and the Mexican authorities. 
 

Primary Driver: ASFM honors the learning, health, safety and the wellbeing of all of its community members and all decisions will be driven by these factors. 

Additional Drivers: 

• Federal regulations and decrees (Sistema de semáforo nacional) 
• Nuevo Leon regulations, decrees and/or required filters
• IMSS and SEP regulations, decrees and/or required filters
• Santa Catarina and San Pedro regulations and decrees 
• Community spread / outbreak rates 
• Flexibility 
• Community choice 

In the ASFM Hybrid Learning Scenario, students experience a modified schedule with limited onsite days and access learning experiences both on and offline. This scenario aligns with the Mexican Secretary of Education’s initial plan for reopening schools that calls for a reduction in the number of students per classroom, a rotation based on last names, physical distancing, the use of face masks and specific hygiene protocols. 

Within this scenario, students will be learning “physically on campus” 2 days a week and at home in a modified “distance learning” setting the other days. Some students may be provided a possible, occasional 3rd day a week on campus on Fridays depending on their needs and circumstances. On campus learning will involve direct engagement with staff, and at home learning will involve independent, asynchronous learning for students.  ASFM believes learning should be an active, contextualized, and constructive process for students that allows them to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. We believe that learners construct knowledge through experience and social mediation and that the essential purpose of school is to provide “supportive environments rich in engagement, social interaction, and feedback.” Relationships play an essential role in every student’s school experience; these connections make us human. Accordingly, ASFM is highly motivated to continue with learning in a Hybrid mode and provide students with opportunities to learn in both an onsite environment and online in both synchronous and asynchronous modes. 

The administrative teams, curriculum departments, and teachers have developed new concepts and plans that align to the Hybrid scenario. We will continue with the training of staff to help them better understand more effective and efficient ways to address whole groups, small groups and individualized learning in this new mode of learning. Adapting to a new way of thinking about learning is important for all stakeholders. Professional development has focused on student ownership of learning, student agency, essential skills, viable assessment, and asynchronous / synchronous instruction.

• Revised schedules for students on campus and off campus
• Increased student collaboration
• Supporting students who do not attend on-campus learning
• More opportunity for 1:1 feedback for students
• Increased small group instruction and activities
• Built-in breaks for at-home learning and on-campus learning
• Focus on homeroom class subjects for on-campus learning
• Opportunities for in-person socialization within the on-campus days with classmates
• More responsiveness to students’ needs for social-emotional learning and academic learning
• Use of outdoor spaces when possible to allow for greater spacing of students
• Units designed to be adaptable for on campus or off campus learning
• Opportunities to measure student learning growth in real time
• Numbers of students allowed in class will depend on health and safety guidelines for spacing

• All modules of learning are designed to be completed on campus or online.
• A combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning for all students.
• Students will have equal access to on campus learning. Half the students will attend classes on-campus during the first period meeting of the week and the other half will be working via DLP from home; the groups will switch for the second period meeting of the week and all periods will have a brief third online meeting on Fridays.
• Feedback critical to success is given to students digitally or through face to face conferencing.
• Certain classes may be exclusively online due to health risks of teachers.
• We will use larger work spaces and outdoors when possible to allow for greater spacing of students
• Daily schedule has built in break/snack and access times to provide a break from screen time
• The daily schedule allows for students to return home around 2:00 p.m. for lunch with family
• Additional optional after class time (ASSIST) offered for those in need of extra teacher, learning support, counselor, or psychologist support

• All modules of learning are designed to be completed on campus or online.
• Hybrid learning will be a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning for all students.
• Students will have equal access to on campus learning.
• Feedback critical to success is given to students digitally or through face to face conferencing.
• Certain classes may be exclusively online due to health risks of teachers not permitting them to be on campus. Students may leave for home if their teacher is not on campus during the last period of the day, and may arrive for the second period of the day if their teacher during that first class is unable to be on campus.
• We will use larger work spaces and outdoors when possible to allow for greater spacing of students.
• The daily schedule allows for students to return home around 2pm for lunch with family
• Additional AP class times will be scheduled from 3 - 4pm to ensure successful completion of these courses.
• Opening of extracurricular activities will take place when we are given the green light to do so.
   

The Mexican government continues to use the national stoplight system introduced on June 1 to gradually phase-in additional economic activities in states and municipalities.   The four metrics to determine the colors in the Mexican government’s stoplight system are the trend in numbers of new cases, hospital occupancy trends, current hospital occupancy rates, and percentage of positive cases.

As was clearly stated within the Roadmap 2.0, our potential transition to a Hybrid model of learning is completely dependent on the State of Nuevo Leon’s authorization and stoplight system. As we all know, based on State regulations, all schools are still under restricted conditions and as such we will need to continue with our DLP 2.0 until further notice. Only with a GREEN light from the state will we be able to begin our transition to the Hybrid Learning scenario. 

Once schools are authorized to partially and gradually reopen based on the green stop light from Nuevo Leon, ASFM’s plan is to delay our transition to the Hybrid Learning Scenario for a maximum of 3 weeks. The purpose of this temporary, precautionary delay is to:

• allow our ASFM families and staff to return to Monterrey and clear a 14 day self-quarantine. 
• observe and monitor city-wide contagion data and make data-based, wise decisions. 
• preserve continuity of learning throughout the transition. 
• prepare students and staff (physically and mentally) for their re-entry into school. 
• respond to new requirements from the State authorities that are still unknown. 

Students will initially be divided into two groups to allow for 50% of students to attend school each day; creating groups of approximately 10 to 14 students.  Students will be grouped by the last name with which they are registered. The specific schedule for each group can be found below in the Schedule section.  The groups are:

• Eagles Red: Students with last names that begin with the letters A to G.
• Eagles White: Students with the last names that begin with letters H to Z.

It is our intention to allow for all members of the same household to attend on campus learning on the same day.  If students from the same household are in different groups, please contact the divisional administration to allow for all household members to attend on campus learning on the same day. Special requests will not be considered unless the request relates to your immediate family who live within the same household. 

Learning Cohorts
ASFM has placed students into learning cohorts as much as possible to minimize student interaction while on campus to prevent virus transmission.  The learning cohorts are organized at different scales in each academic section due to the academic offerings and the manner in which the educational program is managed.  

Elementary Learning Cohorts
Elementary school students will be cohorted in homeroom groups.  Students in elementary classrooms will be kept in the same limited homeroom grouping for classes, snacks, breaks and whenever possible at other times of the day.

Middle School Learning Cohorts
Middle School students will be cohorted as a middle school group.  The class schedule, which includes classes that contain students from multiple grade levels, does not allow for learning cohorts that are smaller than the entire middle school cohort.

High School Learning Cohorts
High School students will be cohorted as a high school group.  The class schedule, which includes classes that contain students from multiple grade levels, does not allow for learning cohorts that are smaller than the entire high school cohort.

The school asks each family to, whenever possible, also limit a student’s social interactions beyond school as a similar precautionary measure. 

Student schedules were created to be responsive to developmental ages, student learning needs and health regulations from the local authorities. On-campus attendance has been reduced in some capacity to meet the sanitary needs and regulations. Variables that were considered in the development of the following schedules include age appropriateness, flexible scheduling, transportation, distancing protocols, individual cases and student-teacher ratios. Teachers will provide guidance and instructions to all students regarding their responsibilities, tasks, and duties for their off campus / DLP work during the week and on Fridays. Fridays may also be used from time to time for on campus activities for some students depending on special circumstances. This will be determined by the school. 

Student schedules were created to be responsive to developmental ages, student learning needs and health regulations from the local authorities. On-campus attendance has been reduced in some capacity to meet the sanitary needs and regulations. Variables that were considered in the development of the following schedules include age appropriateness, flexible scheduling, transportation, distancing protocols, individual cases and student-teacher ratios. Teachers will provide guidance and instructions to all students regarding their responsibilities, tasks, and duties for their off campus / DLP work during the week and on Fridays. Fridays may also be used from time to time for on campus activities for some students depending on special circumstances. This will be determined by the school. 

Student schedules were created to be responsive to developmental ages, student learning needs and health regulations from the local authorities. On-campus attendance has been reduced in some capacity to meet the sanitary needs and regulations. Variables that were considered in the development of the following schedules include age appropriateness, flexible scheduling, transportation, distancing protocols, individual cases and student-teacher ratios. Teachers will provide guidance and instructions to all students regarding their responsibilities, tasks, and duties for their off campus / DLP work during the week and on Fridays. Fridays may also be used from time to time for on campus activities for some students depending on special circumstances. This will be determined by the school. 

We are pleased to announce that for the Hybrid Learning Scenario, we have adjusted the student daily schedule to allow all students to arrive home and enjoy lunch together as a family in the early afternoon. This will help reduce risk factors at school and provide a family lunch time option for all. 

On-site access to food for sale will not be available at first and a gradual approach may be implemented in the future based on capabilities, regulations, need and health risks. Due to health risks, no Cafeteria services will initially be provided within the Hybrid model. Students will need to bring sufficient reusable water bottles and prepared food or snacks. Water fountains and water refilling stations will not be available due to hygiene reasons. We encourage healthy choices to support student nutritional needs during the day. Avoid processed foods if at all possible. No microwaving will be available and students will eat primarily in their assigned classrooms. 

Access to the campus will be limited to only students and staff. Departure from the campus will limit social interaction as much as possible. Please keep in mind the following key expectations regarding this topic: 

• Families will need to bring their own children in their household to school in their private cars driven by parents, grandparents, older siblings, or personal drivers. 
• Carpooling between families will not be permitted for the time being. 
• Cars will be permitted on campus to drop-off and pick up students at specific points. 
• Private transportation through LOGO will not be available until social distancing regulations and protocols ease and we feel that this service can safely resume. 
• Parents and drivers can enter the campus to drop off students and help them out of the vehicle. Parents may not guide their child to the classroom. Staff will guide students to classrooms.
• Only under the direction of the campus physicians will we permit parents to enter the school buildings.
   

Drop-off Procedures:

• Drop-off will begin at 7:40 a.m.
• Families will need to follow specific procedures for dropping off students.
• Parents and drivers can enter the campus to drop off students and help them out of the vehicle. Parents may not guide their child to the classroom. Staff will guide students to classrooms
• ASFM will maximize its entry points to allow for a fluid entry to the school.
• Specifics will be shared once a transition date is determined.
• Staff will help students to exit vehicles if needed. 

Pick-up Procedures:

• Pick-up will begin at 12:00 for students in preschool and kindergarten
• Pickup will begin at 2:00 for students in grades 1 to 5
• Parents and family hired drivers will be directed to specific locations on campus to meet their children. 
• The ASFM security team will direct you to the specific locations.
• Parents and drivers can enter the campus to drop off students and help them out of the vehicle. Parents may not guide their child to the classroom. Staff will guide students to classrooms.

We encourage all families to teach children how to buckle and unbuckle seat belts prior to beginning any on-campus events.
 

• Drop-off or student parking will start at 7:40 am.
• Entrance will be exclusively by the Sundial. All other entrances will not be accessible to students. 
• Parents are not allowed to step down from their cars.

Health, safety and security are of utmost importance to ASFM and as we have stated before, we will do our best to protect the ongoing welfare and safety of our students and staff while they are on the school campus during this pandemic and during the possible Hybrid Learning scenario. The following statements, recommendations, expectations and/or actions are shared with you as examples of all we are doing and asking of you as a community to ensure ongoing health and safety: 

• Before leaving home, staff and students must self-screen for symptoms each day they enter the school using daily health checklist guidelines. 
• Multilayered face masks (appropriately sized) are mandatory to enter ASFM premises. 
• Following appropriate procedures, checkpoints will be used at school entrances to sanitize and ensure risk mitigation. 
• Anyone that reports symptoms shall stay home, seek health care and notify the corresponding school Doctor for further instructions and follow-up.
• Teachers, students and staff are expected to increase hand washing and constant use of antibacterial gel. 
• Special signage around the school will help the ASFM community follow best practices in health safety and prevention to move throughout school premises.
• Suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases are expected to follow the quarantine guidelines and expectations established by the school.  Confirmed COVID-19 cases within the family must be disclosed to the school Doctor. 
• Only essential learning items in a backpack will be permitted in school for teachers, students and staff. Personal accessories shall be limited to only those needed for medical purposes. (ie. no jewelry, watches, etc.)
• Increased frequency of cleaning routines and sanitization in school facilities has been implemented. 
• Use of bathrooms will follow the appropriate protocol to reduce interaction between persons. 
  • Anyone exhibiting symptoms of COVID should avoid using the hallway restrooms and must be sent to the health facility restroom.
  • 2 mt. physical distance, wearing of face mask and hand washing protocols are to be observed at all times. 
  • No more than 2 persons at a time will be allowed inside the restrooms.
  • Increased cleaning protocols will be implemented at all times. 
• Highly touched surfaces and furniture were reduced to minimum required. Carpets and fabric furniture were removed to reduce contact surfaces. 
• Non-essential visitors will not be permitted on Campus during this Hybrid Learning scenario. 
• All off-campus field trips and trips have been cancelled until further notice and until conditions allow. These will most likely not occur during this entire school year. 
• The ASFM community is expected to be mindful of travel choices, especially during the three weeks transition period before returning to school.

Examples of signage around the school:
 

1st Level: before leaving home 
Before leaving home, staff and students must self-screen for symptoms each day they plan to enter the school. Health screening should take place daily at home formally by parents; no students with fevers (above 37.5 degrees) or other signs and symptoms of illness, history of close contact or potential exposure to COVID--19 should be sent to school. This is a SEP indication and requirement! 

We are providing you with a chart and checklist to help in this process. Staff will NOT be maintaining these records for each student. We hope that this tool is one that will assist you to keep track of your family’s health:

2nd level: at school
A second level of screening will take place daily at school by administrators and/or medical staff. Symptomatic students will be separated from others and sent home. Covid-19 testing will be required for students to return. 

3rd level: in the classrooms
A third level of screening within the classrooms throughout the school day will take place by teachers and/or medical staff. Symptomatic students will be separated from others and sent home. Covid-19 testing will be required for students to return. 
 

All ASFM students and staff who arrive from outside of Mexico are expected to self-quarantine themselves for 14 days before participating in the Hybrid Learning Scenario. Families who find themselves in a self-quarantine should communicate with the corresponding administration so teachers can be informed and students can be temporarily excused from on campus part of the Hybrid scenario during the days of quarantine.  

If the school finds out that a student or a staff member who has been outside of Mexico has come to school without respecting the quarantine expectations, they will be immediately sent home until further notice. Parents of these students will be contacted to determine next steps and consequences. Staff members in this situation run the risk of disciplinary action. 

Confirmed COVID-19 cases within the family must also be disclosed to the corresponding school Doctor so we can plan accordingly and inform the administration. 

The purpose of this expectation is to protect yourself, your family, and others. Please help us help each other. 

• Consistent use of appropriately sized, multilayered face masks is required for students, teachers and staff when social distancing is difficult to implement or maintain. New research suggests masks with at least two layers of fabric are more effective than those with a single layer. When not in use, masks should be stored in a ziplock bag (supplied by each family). 
• Face masks must be worn by all staff and students in the following locations: classrooms, common areas such as hallways, corridors, bathrooms, health clinic, playspaces, cafeteria, main office. Students may take off masks temporarily with the permission of the teacher for purposes of oral clarity, when eating or drinking, when there is appropriate distancing or during emotional situations. Teachers and staff should wear a mask when in close proximity with students and when visiting other classrooms. Teaching staff need to wear a mask when instructing or giving directions yet can remove it when needed.  Upon leaving any classroom space, masks need to be worn by all staff and students. Students who are instructed by parents to wear masks at all times are permitted to do so. Masks should be handled only by the owner. Masks need to be labeled properly with names written on them. 
• Students should always have an extra mask with them at school at all times (stored in a separate ziplock bag). ASFM will also have extra masks for unforeseen circumstances. 
• Desks/tables/learning spaces will be placed 2 meters apart. 
• Students are expected to maintain a social distance of 2 meters apart. 
• Teachers should maintain 2 meters from students when possible and if not disruptive to the educational process.
• Outdoor spaces will be used when and where possible.
• Students will be regularly required to wash and/or sanitize their hands, upon entry to the classrooms, during the school day, before snacks, and after toilet use. 
• Particular avoidance of close physical proximity in cases of increased exhalation (singing, exercise) will be enforced.
• Lockers will not be used in MSHS at this time.

The ASFM health team will be conducting contact tracing and as such contacting and interviewing individuals, students, teachers and staff who have either tested positive for COVID-19 or have been in close contact with someone within the ASFM community with COVID-19. They will provide guidance on self-quarantine or self-isolation, ask about close contacts and notify those contacts, provide recommendations and promote best practices. This process will allow the School to provide guidance and resources to those that are affected, determine if others are exposed, determine who needs to self-quarantine, and assess the impact of the virus in our campus.

Our Health Services Department will work closely with the State health authorities to execute contact tracing in order to determine who might need to be quarantined or isolated. There are multiple variables that must be considered such as proximity and duration of exposure that will be considered in making the determination.
 

Students that fall in the category of at-risk according to the CDC guidelines should not plan on participating in the Hybrid Learning Scenario and will need to continue with their DLP 2.0. Regarding staff, ASFM will follow the IMSS risk factors calculator and our ASFM Medical staff assessments to determine which employees will have to continue working from home. Students and staff in this situation shall maintain a safe and healthy environment for themselves and others by continuing their work and studies remotely. Please contact the appropriate school doctor to notify us of this situation and to receive further instructions. 

Approximately 30% of our ASFM staff are considered “high risk” based on the IMSS calculator and will therefore not be allowed to participate in the on campus aspect of the Hybrid Scenario. Parents and students should keep this in mind as we transition to this new scenario as this might create changes in teacher and staff assignments and duties. Depending on the number of families who decide not to send their children to school for the Hybrid Learning Scenario, classrooms might have to be reorganized and shuffled around to accommodate appropriate supervision and instruction. 
 

All after school activities will continue to be held via a distance learning mode and no activities will take place on campus after school for the time being. We will do our best to move these activities on campus in a hybrid format as soon as we feel it is safe to do so and once we see that we are able to maintain the Hybrid Learning scenario over an extended period of time. Any change to this decision will be communicated to the community at a later date. 

All employees and families are asked to abide by this community wellbeing policy. By continuing your employment with ASFM and/or by agreeing for your children to participate in the on campus Hybrid Learning Scenario, each employee and parent accepts the responsibilities and possible consequences mentioned within this policy. 

ASFM is committed to implementing health and safety precautions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our school community while prioritizing the safety of our teachers, parents, and students, as well. Our school staff will be following the recommendations of the state and federal authorities, as well as international recommendations from experts.  

We are committed to balancing the need to provide a safe school environment with students’ developmental needs to socialize and develop a love of learning so that the predominant climate of our school remains positive and stress-free. 

Students represent approximately 80% of the ASFM Community, therefore, we need your help!  We can’t do it without your support. To that end,  ASFM has created this COVID-19 Community Wellbeing Policy to ensure that we are all working as a team to keep each other healthy. We have the great fortune of being a responsive, dedicated, and caring community. By following these precautions together, we can decrease the chance of transmission and keep school open to serve your family.

ASFM On Campus Safety Measures
Out of great respect for each employee and their personal assumption of risk, we commit to the following precautionary measures:

• Close monitoring of symptoms and isolation of symptomatic individuals
• Increased use of outdoor classroom spaces
• Social distancing (2 meters when feasible)
• Increased hygiene signage and hand cleaning supplies
• Teaching good hygiene techniques - especially proper hand washing routines
• Enhanced sanitation routines
• Face coverings/masks
• Non-essential visitors not permitted
• All off-campus field trips cancelled until further notice and when conditions allow
• Use of our DLP 2.0 mode for large group meetings

Family at Home Safety Measures: 
The following guidance is requested for each family to the greatest extent possible. Please read and provide your consent and support. 

I acknowledge and understand that participation in school activities or programs at ASFM during the COVID-19 pandemic presents certain risks beyond ASFM’s control, and which may exist regardless of whether ASFM controls or attempts to control such risks and even if ASFM exercises the utmost care in trying to prevent anyone from getting injured or sick. 

To show our support and help the school community reduce the chance of transmission, our family commits to the following precautionary measures: 

• In public spaces, all members of our household commit to the following:     
• Increased social distancing 
• Minimizing close contact conversations to less than 10-15 minutes 
• Wearing face coverings/masks when social distancing measures are not available 
• Monitoring for symptoms, or self-quarantine if chance of exposure, after international travel or domestic travel to an area experiencing widespread community transmission 
• Hand sanitation after contact with high touch surfaces 
• Hand washing during or after public activities 
   

At home, all members of our household commit to the following: 

• Monitor daily for symptoms of COVID-19: such as fever or chills, runny nose or congestion, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, cough, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, new loss of taste/smell, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, and refrain from sending a child to school if anyone in the household has these symptoms. 
• Monitor your child's mental health by providing space to ask questions and talk freely about COVID-19 and other concerns.
• Reporting to the school doctor when there is a confirmed COVID-19 case in our family. 
• Connect with our Student Support Team as needed. Our counselors, psychologists, learning support teachers, administrators and school doctors are available to help and support your entire family.
• Continue regular well-child visits to your pediatrician or healthcare provider.
• Disclosure and self-quarantine when known direct contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case. 
• Being mindful of travel choices, especially over the three weeks before returning to school.

Acknowledgement of Risk & Personal Responsibility
I/we acknowledge that I/we have freely chosen to enroll my/our child/children at American School Foundation of Monterrey A.C. (“ASFM”) for the 2020-21 school year. I/we understand that the school has taken reasonable precautions to protect parents, students, and staff from exposure to COVID-19. I/we further understand that despite those precautions there is still some risk of exposure.

I/we understand that ASFM has an insurance policy for all students for injuries or accidents occurring in any programs or events organized by the school, or during their presence in school premises. I/we am/are aware that this insurance does not cover any COVID-19 related expenses. Therefore, I/we accept full responsibility for all medical expenses for any injuries or exposure my family might receive by reason of my/our child’s/children’s attendance. I/we further acknowledge that my/our child’s/children’s attendance may expose my/our family to COVID-19, and I/we assume any such risk, thus releasing ASFM and all its agents from liability. 

I/we also agree that by attending ASFM, our family will fully comply with all such measures out of respect for the safety and health of the teachers and larger school community. I/we agree to take all reasonable safety precautions when in public spaces outside of school.
 

During the Hybrid Learning Scenario timeframe, only essential educators, educational administrators, teachers and health office staff will be allowed on campus to support the learning needs of children while they participate in a partial return to campus for face to face learning. Some isolated office staff members might also be working from school, but most office and clerical staff will continue to work from home in a remote environment. All exceptions will be communicated to the corresponding staff member by the two Head of Campus. All Central office employees (including the Cashier) will continue to work remotely from their homes unless special arrangements have been made with the Superintendent. Any staff member who falls on the “high risk” list will of course need to work from home. 

Parents can continue to reach out to all departments via email and/or the rerouted telephone numbers that are available on the website. 

• Once we are in a Hybrid mode of learning, we are mandated by the SEP to shift immediately back to a distance learning mode in the event ASFM has one community member test positive. Based on SEP indications, we will consider a community member to include students and staff for this purpose. 
• We will do our best to work with all parents, students, and staff who have specific needs and/or situations that might prevent them from transitioning to the hybrid model and/or who experience future problems with possible shifts from one scenario to another. 
• ASFM can not offer learning opportunities to students in their private homes or outside of official ASFM facilities due to SEP indications, legal ramifications, labor ramifications, risks of contagion, risks of accidents, child protection guidelines, lack of supervision capabilities, and staff protection guidelines.
• Specific details of any and all parts of the Hybrid Learning Scenario are subject to change at any moment based on the decision making decision making drivers mentioned within this microsite.

1.    What happens if I travel, will I have to quarantine? What will be the notification process for travel and quarantine? 
See the Quarantine section above.
 
2.    What happens if I am not willing to send my child(ren) to hybrid mode and prefer to stay in DLP? Parents in this situation should contact their corresponding Head of Campus (Joe Stanzione in ELEM and Sheldon Guenther in MSHS). 

3.    What are the security measures the school will take? Temperature, hand sanitizer, hand washing stations, social distancing, etc? What is the protocol for entrance to the school?
See the Mitigating Risk: Health Services, Campus Safety and Security sections above.

4.    How will we know what days my child(ren) has to go to school? If I have multiple children do they all go on the same days? 
See the Student Learning Cohorts and the Daily School Schedule sections above.

5.    How many hours will kids go to school? What happens during lunch? How will they be organized to eat?
See the Daily School Schedule and the Nutrition and Food Consumption sections above.

6.    On the days they don’t go to school, how are their learning schedules at home?
See the Daily School Schedule section above. Teachers will inform their students about responsibilities during the at home DLP days. 

7.    What school materials are we going to be required to take to school? Will they be sharing colors, scissors, glue, paint, etc? Is there anything I will need to purchase extra that my child will have to keep at school?
Student supplies will be limited to individual needs. Supply lists for this year were reduced dramatically and future material replenishment may be needed and socialized with families at a later date. Teachers at each grade level may be requesting specific items to support learning on campus and at home. To begin the Hybrid learning scenario model, please refer to the following comments about what is permitted: 

Materials Permitted: Snack containers and water bottles, backpack, notebooks, pencils, pens, other basic learning supplies, small ziplock bags, protective cases and personal hygiene supplies. Teachers in younger grades will share a list of what may be needed individually to avoid sharing. 

Sharing of Materials: We will be avoiding sharing of materials as much as possible. Only in some circumstances will classroom materials be shared and these will be sanitized after use.

8.    What happens if my child loses/ tears/ wets their facemask? Will the school have extras? 
See the Social Distancing and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) section above. ASFM will maintain a stock of face masks for emergencies. 

9.    Do they have to wear a facemask and a face shield? If yes, when and how, what are the requirements, will they be wearing it at all times? When not wearing it where will they store it?
See the Social Distancing and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) section above. 

10.    How many kids will there be by group and time slot? 
See the Student Learning Cohorts section above.

11.    If a COVID case is detected what happens? What are the safety and security measures will the school take? Will parents in the class be notified? Will the kids be expected to quarantine for 14 days and the whole family? And what happens to their school work? Is it excused for sickness?
See the Positive Covid-19 Test and Contact Tracing Procedures and Protocol Cohorts section above.

12.    What happens to after school sports? Are they also hybrid? 
See the After School Activities section above.

13.    How is dropoff/pickup for both ELEM and MSHS? If I have kids on both campuses; will they be able to carpool? Can my HS child drive to school? Who will be able to pick up my kids? Can we send our drivers? 
See the Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures section above.

14.    If the school lent me equipment, do I have to give it back? 
This determination will be made once we are in the Hybrid Learning Scenario. Since there is a strong likelihood that we will have to toggle back and forth between our Hybrid and DLP modes due to the circumstances, we will most likely allow families to continue to use the hardware that has been temporarily lent to them. 

15.    For MSHS will they be moving from one class to another? In ELEM will they go to a different class for music and art and PE? Will they have PE classes? If yes will they all be outdoors? 
Teachers will be clarifying these specifics with students during the 3 week window of transition. See also the Hybrid Learning Scenario Definition, Student Learning Cohorts, and Daily Student Schedule sections above.

16.    How will they use the restroom in ELEM and MSHS?
See the Mitigating Risk: Health Services, Campus Safety and Security section above.

17.    Will all classes be in person or some in person and some online?
See also the Hybrid Learning Scenario Definition, Student Learning Cohorts, and Daily Student Schedule sections above.
 

• ASFM Roadmap 1.0
• ASFM Roadmap 2.0
• ASFM Admin team research, experience, and feedback
• PTA input and feedback
• ASFM Parent survey input and feedback 
• COVID-19 Planning Considerations: Guidance for School Re-entry, American Association of Pediatrics
• SEP, CDC, WHO, and IMMS guidelines and indications 
• USA Consulate and Embassy information (STEP program) 
• AAIE input, discussions, and school research 
• ASIJ Roadmap, Tokyo, Japan
• AISM Back to School Plan, Maputo, Mozambique
• Back to School Plan from the American School of Milan
• Catch the Spirit Back to School plan from Colegio Maya in Guatemala 
• Community Playbook from RIFFA Views International School (Bahrain) 
• Breck School (re)Unite plan and handbook (Minneapolis, MN) 
• Eagles Reunite: A plan to reopen Graded’s campus (Sao Paola, Brazil)