The Safe Return Plan can be viewed and downloaded as a PDF by clicking here.
Calumet Public Schools
P.O. Box 10 Calumet, OK 73014
405-893-2222 Fax: 405-893-8019
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Brandon Voss, Superintendent
Jason Pennington, HS Principal Lindy Renbarger, Elementary Principal
Calumet Public Schools
Safe Return Plan 2021-22
(Updated June 1st, 2021)
Calumet Public Schools is committed to keeping our students and staff safe while school takes place during the 2021-22 school year. We are going to do our part in stopping the spread of COVID-19 at school and in our community. We are following local, state and nationwide health protocols. We have looked at the CDC guidelines and the OSDE Safe Return Plan.
We truly believe at Calumet that the most effective way to deliver instruction to students is a face to face interaction with a teacher. Students at Calumet will return on August 12th, 2021 for the first day of school. There are a variety of ways we can instruct students depending on their individual needs, but we feel strongly about having our kids in Calumet back in school in August. We are taking all of these items into consideration as we build our Safe Return Plan for Calumet.
We reserve the right to adjust this plan as we get any new information or things in our community change or if the CDC recommends certain changes.
Phase 1 – Traditional School Learning Day at Calumet
Students at Calumet will come back to school on August 12th, 2021 for the first day of school as our school calendar indicates.
At all our sites:
Custodial - All of our school buildings will be cleaned and disinfected before, during and at the end of each school day. All of our restrooms will be cleaned before, 2X during the day, and at the end of each day. Our classrooms will be cleaned during the day, between classes and at the end of each day.
Temperature Checks – There will no longer be temperature checks at school or on the bus. There will be stations where kids can check their temperature at front of HS or in the offices. We would ask that all parents check your child’s temperature before they come to school. If they are sick, or have a fever, please stay home. Please understand that if your child has a temperature of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, they will be required to go home.
Student’s Hygiene – Students will be asked to wash hands as often as possible during the school day. We will have hand sanitizers in every classroom when washing hands with soap and water are not available.
Protective Masks – Students and faculty will have the option to wear a mask if they choose to do so but it is optional and not mandatory.
Parents and Visitors – We are going to allow very few visitors in our school buildings during the day to limit the spread from any outside sources. Parents and visitors may come to the front of the school with each secretary to check students in and out. You may also call and remain in your cars for drop-offs or pick-ups.
Social Distancing -We are going to practice social distancing in our classrooms and hallways during the day by maintaining 6 feet apart and 3 feet in classroom desks.
Elementary Modifications:
Arrival in the morning – PreK-1st grades will go straight to their classrooms. (*if a parent/guardian wants to walk their child to the PreK-1st grade rooms, we are limiting the number of visitors in our school). 2nd – 6th grades will report to the cafeteria for breakfast and assembly. Students will be spread out in the cafeteria and gymnasium. (*we are asking parents of 2nd – 6th grades to not accompany their child into the building!)
Lunches – Additional lunch periods will be put in place to allow students greater distance between each other in the lunchroom. No guest or visitors will be allowed to eat lunch with students.
PE Classes and Recess – Understanding the need that elementary students have to have play time and recess, we are going to do our best to social distance our kids. We will go outside for recess as often as possible weather permitting. PE classes will be split up in both of our gymnasiums.
Classroom Supplies – Classroom manipulatives that must be shared will be cleaned and sanitized between each student’s use. Individual student supplies will not be shared and will be kept in individual student containers.
Water – All of our water fountains will be turned off to avoid unnecessary spreading of germs. Student will be encouraged to bring their own water during the day.
Class Changes – Students will be encouraged to social distance in hallways and move to the next classroom and not congregate in groups. We will dismiss students at different times to ensure less crowding in hallways.
Restrooms – Restrooms will be cleaned throughout the day, and students will be stressed to wash hands for 20 seconds when they leave with soap and water. We want to not have restrooms as a place for groups to gather at one time.
End of the day Procedure – Parents will not be allowed in the buildings at the end of the day to pick up their child. Please remain in your cars and we will bring your student to you!
Secondary Modifications:
Arrival at School – Students that come early to school will be asked to socially distance from groups until time to enter the classrooms. Students will be encouraged to go ahead into classrooms upon arrival at school. If students drive, they will be encouraged to wait in their cars until it is time for school to start to cut down on numbers in the hallways. Parents are encouraged to drive their children to school instead of having a high number of students on our buses.
Water – All of our water fountains will be turned off to avoid unnecessary spreading of germs. Student will be encouraged to bring their own water during the day.
Class Changes – Students will be encouraged to social distance in hallways and move to the next classroom and not congregate in groups. We will dismiss students at different times to ensure less crowding in hallways.
Restrooms – Restrooms will be cleaned throughout the day, and students will be stressed to wash hands for 20 seconds when they leave with soap and water. We want to not have restrooms as a place for groups to gather at one time.
Lunches – We will be accommodating students more time to social distance at lunch and avoid large crowded areas. We are planning to space students out in our cafeteria. When kids leave campus, they will be highly encouraged to use social distance and proper hygiene when they return to school.
Phase 2 – Blended Learning Day at Calumet and Distance Learning at Home
If we anticipate a rise in cases of COVID-19 in our community and school, Calumet will move to a blended learning day. This model would allow students to still have face to face interaction with a teacher for instruction and begin to transition into a distance learning at home if condition continue to worsen. We will try to limit the number of students in our buildings.
Elementary Campus:
PK-4th Grades will remain with the same school days as in the traditional model.
5th – 6th Grades will come to school Monday Wednesday and Friday for a traditional face to face instruction with teacher. To limit the number of students in the elementary building, these two grades will be distance learning on Tuesday and Thursday from home. They will be working on assignments that were given to them by their teacher at home.
Secondary Campus:
7th -9th Grades would come to school on Tuesdays and Thursday for face to face instruction. Monday and Wednesday would be time for them to work on assignments at home. Friday would be our Distance Learning Day at home for students. We will deep clean our school buildings at this time. We will use this day for our teachers to zoom our students and answer any questions that might have arisen during the week. Friday would prepare us for the following week.
10th – 12th Grades would come to school on Monday and Wednesday for face to face instruction. Tuesday and Thursday would be time for them to work on assignments at home. Friday would be our Distance Learning Day at home for students. We will deep clean our school buildings at this time. We will use this day for our teachers to zoom our students and answer any questions that might have arisen during the week. Friday would prepare us for the following week.
Phase 3 – Distance Learning at Home
In the event of a rise in cases of COVID-19 and the state decides for the best interest of school to offer students learning remotely, then Calumet will offer distance learning at home.
Unlike the 2020-21 model we did last year for distance learning, the 2021-22 model will take a different shape.
All grades and credits will count for the student’s academic progress. Attendance will be required for students to be participating in assignments. Our students will be instructed in a different fashion with Google Classroom and Acellus. Our students will be monitored and assessed differently also with more of an emphasis on engagement in lessons.
We could also use distance learning in case a student needs to stay away for days or weeks at a time for medical reasons.
Testing Positive for COVID-19
If your child exhibits any of the symptoms at school, they will be isolated and parents contacted immediately for your child to go home and seek a medical evaluation.
If your child exhibits any of the symptoms at home, please contact your doctor immediately.
If your child has been sent home due to temperature, he or she must remain out of school until fever free with no fever reducing medication for at least 3 days. During this time the student will become a distance learner according to district procedures.
Calumet Public Schools will follow CDC guidelines when a student or teacher tests positive for COVID-19. In this situation, we will use our local, state and national protocols to isolate and stop the spread at Calumet.
This pandemic has changed the way we are dealing with education now and for the future at Calumet. We have purchased the state of the art cleaning machines, sanitation devices and safety procedures for our students and staff to feel safe while at school and home. We have purchased extra technology devices to ensure learning takes place at home. Our lives have been disrupted but our commitment to education at Calumet has remained the same. We are committed to providing the finest education to our students.
*Updated September 1st 2021*
Checking for Symptoms
*Please make sure that you as parents and guardians are checking your kids every morning before they come to school to ensure they are being monitored for any symptoms.
Class “A” | Class “B” |
Symptoms: Fever > 100.4 or higher, sore throat, cough, difficulty breathing, diarrhea or Vomiting, new loss of taste or smell | Symptoms: Stuffy or runny nose, muscle/body aches, fatigue, chills, nausea, loss of appetite, elevated temperature < 100.4, new onset of severe headache |
Get tested if you have 1 symptom | Get tested if you have 3 symptoms |
Covid – 19 Positive or Close Contact
*Please make sure you are contacting the school if your child has been exposed outside of the school setting.
Any student or staff who tests positive for Covid 19 must remain home in isolation for 10 days from the onset of symptoms or 10 days from the date of the positive test if asymptomatic.
Any student or staff who are in direct close contact of a positive Covid 19 case will need to quarantine to prevent the spread within our school. Close contact is defined as within 3 feet. Quarantine will be 10 days from the last point of exposure.
Students will not be quarantined if they: A) vaccinated B) have had Covid in last 90 days C) are outside of a 3 foot perimeter of positive student.
*Please, If you think you have been exposed or have come into close contact with someone who has Covid 19, and are getting tested, please stay home and isolate until you find out results.
When students can return to school
If they have Covid, they may return on Day 11. If they have been exposed or quarantined, they may return on Day 11. If a student is quarantined and showing no symptoms, and chooses to get a negative test result, they may return on Day 8.
To stop the spread of Covid-19 in our schools, we are asking kids to do the Three W’s: Wash your hands, Watch your distance and Wear a mask. Students are asked to enter classrooms and exit classrooms by washing their hands with sanitizer stations at the doors. We are asking them to socially distance themselves in hallways, classrooms and at lunch. We are encouraging students to wear masks while indoors at school.
**Oklahoma State Law prohibits requiring students and staff to receive a COVID-19 vaccination prior to coming to school. The Oklahoma State Department of Health and the CDC recommend the vaccine for those who are eligible for the shot.
Sincerely,
Brandon Voss
Superintendent Calumet Public Schools