Welcome to the �2021-22 School Year

Lower Merion – HEALTH AND SAFETY INFORMATION SESSION

AUGUST 31, 2021

�� To our new families,��Welcome to Lower Merion High School.�

Welcome to 21-22 School Year

Sean Hughes – Principal

Scott Kilpatrick – 12^th Grade Assistant Principal

Jon Fadely – 11^th Grade Assistant Principal

Ty Ross – 10^th Grade Assistant Principal

Karen deFranco – 9^th Grade Assistant Principal

Jason Stroup – Athletic and Activities Director

Common Themes in Questions

LMHS Information Session 2021-22 School year Full Open

Agenda

• Welcome and Opening Remarks
• LMSD Health and Safety Update
• Lower Merion Student Experience
• Miscellaneous

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Welcome Back

2021-2022

June 18, 2021

June 18^th, 2021- We made it!

Me on on June 18, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

• During the pandemic, while you managed COVID life challenges, you were our true partners in supporting students.

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• Patience
• Flexibility
• Communication
• Support for teachers

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Thank you!

Purpose of the Presentation

A Careful, Imperfect Balancing Act

Dynamic, engaging, authentic school experience

Public health imperative to keep COVID-19 infection rates manageable

Agenda

• Welcome and Opening Remarks
• LMSD Health and Safety Update
• Lower Merion Student Experience
• Miscellaneous

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Health and Safety Updates

August 2021

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Harriton High School

Lower Merion High School

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Our Guidance…

Research, Studies, Expertise:

• Harvard
• Brown
• AAP
• Etc.

District level Health and Safety Team

• Reviews guidance from Health Authorities: CDC, PA Department of Health, MCOPH, and also CHOP
• Health and Safety Plan on website
• Revised as needed

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Health and Safety Team and Plan

Covid Mitigations

Distancing

• Highly vaccinated population allows more flexibility with younger students who are not yet vaccinated
• 3 ft of distancing where possible

Masks

• Staff and students required to wear masks indoors – State Mandated
• Optional outdoors

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Masking

• Both federal and local guidance continues to evolve
• CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html
• Montgomery County Office of Public Health: https://www.montcopa.org/DocumentCenter/View/32152/MCOPH-2021-2021-School-Year-COVID-School-Guidance
• Currently:
• In alignment with CDC, MCOPH recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status or school district level of community transmission.
• In general, neither the CDC nor the MCOHP recommends masking outdoors for either vaccinated or unvaccinated individuals.

Posted throughtout the building

Covid Mitigations

Ventilation

• Meets or exceeds standards
• Merv 13 filters
• No need to open windows in schools
• Windows open on buses

Cleaning

• Electrostatic cleaning with vital oxide (safe)
• Extra cleaning of high touch surfaces
• Hand sanitizer throughout school

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• At last count >90% of staff vaccinated (still receiving vaccination info)
• Significantly higher than population in general
• District facilitated vaccines for staff through MCOPH, MCIU, and 5 on-site clinics
• Staff who are not vaccinated will be required to test for COVID-19 2x week

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Vaccinations: Staff

• Families currently submitting proof of vaccination
• Covid-19 vaccine is not mandated in PA-cannot require
• Between 70-80% each grade fully vaccinated
• Numbers of vaccinated students will continue to increase
• Even without full count, our % of vaccinated students in significantly higher than other districts, areas
• Please send photo of vaccine card if not done within LMSD

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Vaccinations for Students

More Good News

• 5 Clinics offered within LMSD to date, thanks to many LMSD staff, as well as parent nurses, physicians and pharmacists
• Will offer additional clinic in September for catch-up and those just becoming eligible
• Will offer booster vaccines on site when available

Vaccination Clinics

• Additional COVID-19 testing opportunities offered by PDE, PA DOH in addition to ACE-IT program
• Also testing out of quarantine, testing if identified as close contact at school, unvaccinated staff and activities at higher risk of spread (close contact athletics)
• Likely a combination of pooled testing (state program) and rapid testing (ACE-It program)
• More details to come

COVID-19 Testing: 2021-2022

Isolation: Period of time in which an individual who has a positive COVID-19 test must isolate at home (typically at least 10 days from onset of symptoms). Each case is evaluated individually and period of time is determined by MCOPH /Contact tracers

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Quarantine: Period of time in which an individual who has been determined by the Local Health Authority (ex. MCOPH) or Contact tracer to be a close contact of a positive individual, must stay at home. Each case is evaluated individually and period of time is determined by MCOPH/Contact tracers.

Definitions

• Dedicated nursing staff for contact tracing: delegated to perform this function by MCOPH in accordance with MCOPH requirements
• Contact trace only in-school cases (out of school cases referred to MCOPH)
• Dedicated hotline/helpline for COVID questions and reporting (610-645-1973)
• Nurses communicate with MCOPH daily and work in collaboration with them

Quarantines and Isolations

Isolation: MCOPH and/or contact tracers will provide return date to family. At least 10 days but may be longer if very symptomatic. If a positive individual was in school while infectious, parents/guardians and staff will be notified of school and grade in addition to notifications to close contacts.

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Quarantine: MCOPH and/or contact tracers will provide return date to family. At least 10 days (return on day 11). May be longer depending on additional factors or shorter (return on day 8) if individual tests “out of quarantine (negative) on day 5-7.

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Quarantine and Isolation

• Varies depending on setting
• Classroom setting is different than other settings in school
• Masking a variable
• Can be different for athletics
• Requires review of seating charts etc.

Who is a Close Contact?

• The LMSD COVID/contact tracing team and the MCOPH are very familiar with how to determine close contacts as defined by MCOPH.
• They will notify you if you are close contact of a positive individual when known.
• Notification is usually within 24 hours. Entire school will be notified of a positive case including which grade, even when not identified as a close contact .

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Who is a Close Contact?

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• Official Quarantine: Students who are officially isolated or quarantined by the MCOPH or the district COVID team may zoom in during the required number of days for quarantine/isolation.

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• This option is not available to students who are home sick, home awaiting Covid testing, or who are “quarantining “ at the discretion of the family (not an official requirement).

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Learning while Isolated or Quarantined

• May be limited
• First priority is to ensure safety of students and staff and to allow 3 feet distance where possible
• May require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative Covid test to enter building (excluding parents)
• Must follow all Covid protocols

Visitors to building gatherings

Any Covid related exposures, reports, questions

Any vaccine questions

Any testing questions

Any Covid concerns

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Monitored by our COVID /Contact Tracing Team:

Call- (610) 645-1973

Email- healthservices@lmsd.org

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COVID Hotline/Helpline Questions?

Agenda

• Welcome and Opening Remarks
• LMSD Health and Safety Update
• Lower Merion Student Experience
• Miscellaneous

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LMHS Health and Safety Team

GOVERNANCE

HEALTH/SAFETY

INSTRUCTION

TECHNOLOGY

FACILITIES

OPERATIONS

COMMUNICATIONS

Consistent Communication

2. Common Blackboard Navigation

Lunch and Learn Returns September 21^st

September 9 – 20^th we will run a 4-lunch special schedule

Bipolar Ionization �(Cafeteria, Auditorium, and Main Gymnasium)

Student Daily Guidelines and Procedures

Self-Check

• EVERY MORNING complete the Student Pre-screening (see below).
• If you have ONE or MORE SYMPTOMS, please remain home, contact the attendance line (610-658-3949) or complete the absence form, and contact your doctor. (Absence Form)

Masks

• FACE COVERINGS MUST BE WORN properly by ALL while inside the building

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• With the exception of breakfast and lunch while eating.
• Valved face masks and gaiters are NOT acceptable face coverings and may not be worn as they pose a health risk to others.

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Arrival / Dismissal (BUS)

• Students must wear masks on the bus and as they enter the building.
• Students should report directly to the cafeteria or their first class.
• Students will enter through the lower atrium beginning at 7:00am.
• At Dismissal, 2:40pm, buses will pick-up in the bus circle outside the lower atrium. 
• Students are required to leave the building at dismissal unless approved for an afterschool activity/athletic event. 

Traffic on Montgomery

Family Drop Off/Pick Up or Walkers�

• Students can be dropped off/picked up in the parking lot in the front of LMHS adjacent to Montgomery Ave.
• Students can enter the building starting at 7:00am and be picked up at 2:40pm.
• Students should report directly to the cafeteria or their first class.
• Students are required to leave the building at dismissal unless approved for an afterschool activity/athletic event. 

Moving Through the building

Moving Through the building

• Masks are REQUIRED when moving through the building.

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• All hallways allow for 2-way traffic. Students must always stay to the right to avoid crowding and maintain social distancing.

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• Students should remain 3 ft apart from peers to the best of their ability when transitioning and report directly to the next class.

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• Face masks are required at all times when moving through the building.

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• All common area furniture is available to students with frees and during lunch and learn.

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Breakfast and LunchProcedures

• Whole breakfast and lunch meals will be available at no cost. Students will be required to enter their student ID number.
• Only those students eating breakfast can be in the cafeteria. All other students should report directly to their first class.
• All Advisories will have a 30-minute lunch period through September 20th, and then LMHS will be on the Lunch and Learn Schedule.
• Students will pick up lunch in the cafeteria and eat in the cafeteria, main gym, or the outside areas of the cafeteria. Not outside of these spaces until we start Lunch and Learn
• Once Lunch and Learn starts, students will have more locations available to eat lunch.
• Students must remain seated and 6 ft apart from peers when removing masks to eat breakfast or lunch. Masks must be put back on once you finish eating.

Cafeteria Seating

Gymnasium Seating

Main Gymnasium

• PHOTOS

Courtyard Seating

Cafeteria/Courtyard/Art Wing Seating

Cafeteria/Courtyard/Art Wing Seating

The Art Garden

The Outside Cafe

The Bus Circle

The Courtyard

Classroom Procedures

• All seats are situated to maximize social distancing for no less than 3ft.
• Face coverings MUST remain on the entire time you are in class.
• Students should not move seats without permission from the classroom teacher.
• If the teacher is absent, and there is not a substitute in the classroom:
• 9th and 10th grade students should report to the cafeteria.
• 11th and 12th grade students should report to the library to check-in and may report to any work station or remain in the library.

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Classroom Procedures

Classroom Procedures

Restroom and Hygiene Procedures

• Restroom Procedures

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• Follow classroom procedures to access the restroom.
• When using the restroom, please do so quickly and return to class.
• Wash hands for 20 seconds prior to exiting the restroom.

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• Hygiene Procedures

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• Students may bring their own unscented sanitizer to school for personal use.
• Students may use HAND SANITIZER STATIONS during transitions.

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Study Halls and “Frees”

• 11th and 12th grade students with frees or 9th and 10th grade students with study halls at the beginning of the day may arrive at the start of their first scheduled class for the day.
• 11th and 12th grade students with frees during the day have access to collaborative spaces/furniture, the courtyard, outside spaces, and the library.
• Students are not permitted to leave and return to school during the day.
• 9th and 10th grade students with study halls during the day should report to their assigned class for study hall.

Work Spaces

Courtyard

The Auditorium

Sharing of Personal Items

Sharing of Personal Items

• Students should bring their own items to school (i.e., laptop, books, pens, pencils, etc.).
• If a student would like to be assigned a locker, they should contact Mr. Kilptarick’s office.
• No personal items or materials should be shared with peers.

Sports Equipment/Locker Rooms

• Equipment can be stored in the locker room when students arrive at school.
• Students will be able to change and store equipment in the locker room after school.
• Students should provide their own locks during practice and for storing equipment overnight.

Student Supports

• Counselors are available by appointment.
• Students should email counselors to schedule a meeting time outside of instructional/class time.
• If a student is in a crisis or emergency situation, the closest staff member should be alerted immediately.
• Concerned about a peer? Use a START Referral.
• Teachers are available during Lunch and Learn for additional support.
• If you’re a teen who is starting to feel overwhelmed and need another teen to talk to, please call Montgomery County’s teen talk line at (866) 825-5856 or text (215) 703-8411.
• Montgomery County Children’s Crisis Support Program provides not only immediate support for crisis situations but also assistance with managing recurring or future crises. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-888-HELP-414.

WHERE TO GO WITH QUESTIONS:

Who do I call/email?

Eli Skinner skinnere@lmsd.org

Tech Support

techsupport@lmsd.org and 610-645-1899

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Students can submit their own helpdesk tickets at https://helpdesk.lmsd.org

Take a picture of this!

Agenda

• Welcome and Opening Remarks
• LMSD Health and Safety Update
• Lower Merion Student Experience
• Miscellaneous

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Parking

Updates:

• 70 to 80 student spots on campus
• Seniors only
• Complete application for lottery
• Lottery on 9/17
• Questions – email Mr. Kilpatrick

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Thank You!