Pandemic Response

We will still employ a layered prevention approach as recommended by the CDC that includes:

• Possible use of masks
• Physical distancing to some degree
• Handwashing and respiratory etiquette
• Cleaning and maintaining healthy facilities
• Contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine
• Robust air handling with bipolar ionization, MERV 13 filters, and modified air filtration

At this time, we anticipate continuing the wellness screenings using SchoolPass; however, we may modify the approach. We have had such few instances of illness on campus this year as a result of parents keeping their children home when they have contagious symptoms that we will ask everyone to continue this practice for the health of all.

We don’t anticipate making the Covid vaccine mandatory for students at this time. We will offer the full, core Awty experience for all students regardless of vaccination status, and we are carefully following the actions of US universities, some of which offer extracurricular and supplemental experiences to vaccinated students only. We’re studying such an approach and considering it’s implementation. Much depends on the availability of vaccines for our students and the Covid conditions as we near August.

We have not mandated the vaccine at this time, but are aware that at least 85% of our employees have received the vaccine and voluntarily disclosed this information.

We are monitoring the evolving guidance regarding school protocols from the CDC, TEA, and the local health authorities and will make adjustments as conditions and recommendations change.

Based on the success in mitigating virus spread, declining infection, and lower hospitalization rates, as well as the availability of vaccines, we feel face to face instruction will be back to normal in a number of ways.

• Early Learning - We plan to bring back all face to face instruction. We will also hold art and music classes (in a cohorted fashion). Awty Plus will return.
• Lower School - L2 will be in person and mixed within a grade level. Art, music, and other subjects will be as they are within respective homerooms. Recess will be by grade level and Awty Plus will return.
• Secondary - We are planning to bring back student choice in Upper School and the Middle School triple switch. We will have an added emphasis on contact tracing and attendance.  We will also work with our students to coach them on shared accountability for their contacts for the purposes of contact tracing. We will be recombining for language and electives. We hope all students can access all extracurricular options. We feel confident that vaccinated students will have the full array of options.
• Clubs - Clubs will resume with appropriate protocols.
• Athletics - We will have athletics. While we don’t know exactly what they will look like yet, we will be participating. Students who have been vaccinated will have full opportunity to participate.
• Music - We have found ways to continue activities such as choir and band, but know it hasn’t been the full experience. We anticipate that vaccinated students will have the greatest range of options in which to participate.
• Performing Arts - We also anticipate that vaccinated students will have the greatest range of options in which to participate.

We will continue to do as much outdoors as possible.

Health and safety are still paramount, but we have learned that contact tracing is the key to understanding impacts in the event of a positive case. We will place an emphasis on seating charts, distancing, and attendance as well as an added shared accountability charge for Secondary. These measures will help us effectively contact trace. We know that at least 85% of our staff and faculty have been vaccinated (the actual number is very likely higher) which also allows us to support more in-person instruction

At-home learning will be available to students with an Extended Excused Absence (EEA). EEA is offered to students with a medical condition or extenuating circumstances that necessitate a long-term absence from school. Approval is granted by the Division Office and may require supporting documentation. EEA situations are rare in nature. At this time we anticipate requiring quarantine for close contact exposure to a Covid case and will support students with at-home learning during this time, but we will no longer offer at-home learning for travel quarantine, or convenience.

For medical conditions or extenuating circumstances, the same process we use to handle other medical exemptions will be used. It will need to be approved through the Division Office. If a student needs to be approved for at-home learning due to quarantine, this will require the nurse's approval or directive.

Once an at-home learning situation is verified, the Division Office and the student's teachers will develop a personalized learning plan for the student. Learning plans may blend synchronous and asynchronous elements to allow the student to remain connected to their Awty education.

Due to the need to have recess and out-of-classroom activities, there will be times that students will be mixing outside.

• ELC - will maintain cohorted recess as it has proved to be developmentally more beneficial to the students.
• LS - will have recess by grade level.
• Secondary - will have division specific break times. The morning break is 15 minutes and the lunch break is 30 minutes. We will work with students on a shared accountability framework for students to better understand and take ownership of their contacts.

At this time, we do not anticipate gathering in mass groups (hundreds of people) for assemblies, festivals, etc., but we will continue to monitor evolving conditions and guidance.

We will not be dining together in large groups, but will continue with grab and go or in-classroom dining in smaller groups. We will utilize additional spaces and outdoors wherever possible.

We are working on a visitor protocol that prioritizes the health and safety of our community, student well-being, and overall community experience. While we don’t envision it being as restrictive as the past year, we do expect to have a reduced visitor/parent presence from prior years. We need to be able to manage all campus visitors from a health and safety perspective in light of Covid and our construction project. Visits will be planned and purposeful to the student experience. CDC and TEA still recommend keeping visitors to essential need.

We will continue to offer busing. Please see the busing information here.

We are planning to bring back Awty Plus programming following appropriate Covid protocols.

We expect to open the School Store with visitor limitations and will still offer email ordering.

Yes, the libraries will be open during the school day with visitor limitations. Due to the temporary relocation of the Secondary library for construction, there will not be the additional space for library visits outside of the assigned, prescribed, or approved times.

Secondary students will go back to locker use. Lockers will be grouped by grade, and loitering at lockers will not be permitted to limit contact time.