Safe Return to In-Person Instruction
and Continuity of Services Reopening Plan
 

~Hamden Public Schools~

The Promise, Pride and Power of Learning

 

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Letter from the Superintendent of Schools

 

(sent June 23,2021)

Dear Hamden Families and Staff:

Back in July of 2020, we submitted a re-opening plan to the State of Connecticut, which took us through this past school year. Beginning the year with a hybrid plan positioned us well to adapt to remote learning and a five-day in-school week as health conditions warranted.

We are currently making plans for the opening of schools for the 2021-2022 school year, based on guidelines we will continue to receive guidance from CT Department of Public Health and the CT State Department of Education. As it stands now, we are planning to return to regularly scheduled school days, five days /week, for all students this fall. View a Copy of the 2021-2022 School Year Calendar.  I am confident that with the decline in positivity rates, the increase in numbers of those becoming vaccinated, and greater opportunities for frequent testing, we will be able to return to full brick and mortar learning.

The following pages contain the plans we have in place for opening our schools for the upcoming school year. These plans continue to be informed by Department of Public Health and Department of Education guidance and the input we continue to receive from you. This input includes the various surveys and comments made at various meetings since March 16^th, 2020. As we collected the responses, there were several themes that emerged, such as a need for properly functioning HVAC systems and school repairs, student social and emotional wellness, and access to adequate technology.  All stakeholders believed students were most impacted by minimal social interaction, lack of motivation for school work, and lack of concentration and physical activity.  Supports that students would benefit from included in-person learning, credit recovery opportunities, programs and activities to support social interaction, and small group instruction with a teacher and/or tutor.

During the summer, you will have additional opportunities to provide feedback on this current draft at upcoming Board meetings scheduled in July and August. In addition to surveys and meetings, we will hold opportunities for additional input, once the new school year begins.

I will continue to keep you updated throughout the summer.

Sincerely,

Jody Ian Goeler
Superintendent
Hamden Public Schools

 

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Introduction

The purpose of this plan is to provide a framework that will ensure consistent practices and expectations for all students and staff as we begin the 2021-2022 school year.  We will continue to learn, grow and adapt as needed to adjust to the complexities of new safety and health guidance as it becomes available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), State Department of Education (CSDE), State Department of Public Health (DPH), and the Quinnipiack Valley Health District (QVHD).  As such, this document may change and should not be considered an exhaustive list of expectations and responsibilities.

“Connect Before Content”

Content-based curriculum will not be emphasized until after the first five days of school. The first week of school will focus on building relationships with students, reviewing school wide PBIS expectations,  and ensuring a safe and welcoming classroom community.

 

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Table of Contents
 

Introduction  (above)

Part 1:  Health and Safety Strategies 

Daily Health Assessment

Mask and Face Shield Protocols 

Operations-Facilities

Health Office Guidelines

Infection Control Plan 

Part 2:  Continuity of Services 

School Hours 

Elementary Instructional Minutes 

Instructional Adjustments 

K-12 Tiered Instruction (SRBI)

Special Education 

Part 3:  Public Comment 

Health and Safety Liaisons 

District and School-wide Communications 

Classroom and School-based Communications 

Communication with Families of Multilingual Learners 

Part 4:  Periodic Review Process 

Part 5:  Understandable and Uniform Format 

Appendices

Appendix A: Log Entries in PowerTeacher

Appendix B: How to Enter “Missing” Code 

Appendix C: Mask Non-Compliance Plan

Appendix D: Learning Opportunities for Quarantined Students