Yes, students are required to wear a face covering at school and on the school bus/van, unless they have a medical or mental health condition or disability, documented in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or IDEA, that precludes the wearing of a face covering in school. Accommodations for such students should be made in partnership with the student's health care provider, school nurse, and IEP/504 team.

Yes, staff must wear a face covering (mask or face shield) unless they have a disability, documented in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, that precludes the wearing of a face covering in a school.

November 20, 2020 - New guidance from the PA Department of Health regarding face coverings is as follows:

"Face covering" means covering of the nose and mouth with material that is secured to the head with ties, straps, or loops over the ears or is wrapped around the lower face. A "face covering" can be made of a variety of synthetic or natural fabrics, including cotton, silk or linen. A "face covering" may be factory-made, sewn by hand, or be improvised from household items, including, but not limited to, scarfs, bandanas, t-shirts, sweatshirts, or towels.

While procedural and surgical masks intended for health care providers and first responders, such as N95 respirators, meet those requirements, these specialized masks should be reserved for appropriate occupational and health care settings.

(Updated 11.24.2020) Based on clarification from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, face shields are NO LONGER an approved face covering, except under certain conditions. If you feel your child(ren) may qualify for an exception, please contact the building principal.

August 17, 2020 - New guidance from the PA Department of Health regarding face coverings.

The District is following new guidance from the PA Department of Health requiring students to wear face coverings at all times while in school, even when six feet of social distancing can be achieved. There are limited exceptions. Schools may allow students to remove face coverings when students are:

• Eating or drinking when spaced at least 6 feet apart; or
• When wearing a face covering creates an unsafe condition in which to operate equipment or execute a task; or
• At least 6 feet apart during “face-covering breaks” to last no longer than 10 minutes.

November 20, 2020 - New guidance from the PA Department of Health is as follows:

Yes. Everyone who participates in sport activities including coaches, athletes (including cheerleaders), and spectators must wear a face covering, such as a mask, unless they fall under an exception in Section 3 of the Order.

Indoors: Coaches, athletes (including cheerleaders), and spectators must wear face coverings, when indoors and where another person or persons who are not members of the individual's household are present in the same space, irrespective of physical distance. This includes while actively engaged in workouts, competition, and on the sidelines, etc.

Outdoors: Coaches, athletes (including cheerleaders), and spectators must wear face coverings if they cannot maintain sustained physical distance from persons outside of their household. This includes while actively engaged in workouts, competition, and on the sidelines, in the dugout, etc. If sustained six-foot distancing can be maintained, face coverings may be removed when outdoors.

No. We are asking parents to provide an appropriately-fitted face covering for their students. If you are unable to provide a face covering for your child, please contact your school. Each school will have a limited number of extra face coverings on hand in the event someone forgets, damages, or loses their own.

Yes, per the Pennsylvania Department of Health order, all visitors, if permitted to enter the building, must wear a face covering.

Schools will have a limited supply of disposable surgical masks in child's sizes in the event a child's face covering is lost or damaged. Students will not be sent home if they forget a face covering. If you have trouble procuring a face covering for your child, please contact your building administrator so we may assist you.

New guideline from the PA Department of Health as of November 20, 2020.

The Secretary of Health issued an order requiring Pennsylvanians visiting other states to have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to their return to the commonwealth, or to quarantine for 14 days upon return to Pennsylvania. (This does NOT apply to people who commute to and from another state for work or medical treatment.)

In order for a student to return to in-person Traditional Learning after traveling out of state, a negative COVID-19 test must be given to your child's school building prior to his/her return to school. If a negative COVID-19 test cannot be provided, the student must follow the travel quarantine guideline stated above. During the travel quarantine time, your child will be able to participate in Virtual Learning at Home.

The Travel Order goes into effect immediately, per the Secretary’s order.  To simplify the process for families to submit the appropriate documentation when traveling out of state, please complete this linked Out-of-State Student Travel Form.  Once completed, families may submit the form electronically to the District Attendance Officer or the Building Principal.

Please contact your child's building principal with any concerns or questions.

Students and adults entering Spring Grove Area School District facilities will be expected to self-screen at home before coming to school. The CDC provides a free self-check tool that you can access here: CDC Self-Checker

Students who are experiencing the following symptoms should not come to school:

• Temperature over 100.4 (Should be fever-free without the aid of fever reducers, such as Tylenol or Motrin. Reducing the symptom of fever does not protect others from viruses such as COVID-19.)
  
• A new cough that you cannot attribute to another health condition
  
• New shortness of breath that you cannot attribute to another health condition
  
• The loss of any sense of smell or taste
  
• A new sore throat that you cannot attribute to another health condition
  
• New muscle aches or headaches that cannot attribute to another health condition, or that were caused by a specific activity such as physical exercise
  
• Vomiting or diarrhea

All staff will be required to complete a health self-check each day prior to reporting to work.

• The District will maintain its enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures with approved disinfectants with particular attention to high-touch surfaces.
• Efforts will be made to reduce the need to touch objects/doors.
• Ventilation systems will be checked AT LEAST daily to ensure proper operation, and circulation of outdoor air will be increased by opening windows when possible. Air filters will be changed frequently.
• Classrooms and communal spaces will be supplied with sanitizers and disinfectants to be used as frequently as needed.
• High-touch, shared items will be limited in, and if possible removed, from classrooms, offices, and communal areas.
• Hand sanitizer will be available in all classrooms.

Signage about frequent handwashing, cough etiquette, nose blowing, and physical distancing will be widely posted in highly visible locations in all school buildings. The signage will be age-appropriate and include pictures for those that cannot read.

Family members or other guests are not allowed in the school building, except under extenuating circumstances determined by district and school officials.

Access to district facilities for rental by outside organizations will be prohibited until further notice.

Vendors will be directed to follow the same government/CDC guidelines when visiting our buildings for deliveries and/or to perform services.

Generally, we will limit contact within these processes and evaluate other options to limit contact between staff and family members.

Yes, each school has a supply of consumables in stock. Presently, we have a sufficient stock of seven different EPA-approved disinfectants. Each building has an electrostatic sprayer to aid in disinfecting procedures.

Custodial staff will be primarily responsible for sanitizing and disinfecting classrooms and district buildings. With that said, everyone has a role in making sure that our classrooms and schools are as safe as possible. Staff will be asked and are encouraged to assist in sanitizing areas during high traffic times and will be provided with the appropriate materials to do so.

Students may be asked to sanitize their personal space in a classroom with a safe alcohol-based sanitizing wipe, with consideration/exemption for students with allergies or other skin-sensitivity issues.

Ventilation systems will be checked AT LEAST daily to ensure proper operation and circulation of outdoor air will be increased by opening windows when possible. Air filters will be changed frequently. The District continues to work with vendors on improving ventilation and controls. We have stand-alone air purifiers to compliment air quality, if needed. Classroom windows will be permitted to be open to increase fresh air circulation.

Students will be instructed on how to wipe down equipment, with appropriate material(s) and under staff supervision, with consideration/exemption for students with allergies or other skin-sensitivity issues. The electrostatic machine will be used at the end of each day.

We are discontinuing the use of water fountains and will instead be using bottle filling stations. The District is in the process of increasing the number of bottle filling stations in each building.

Yes, students will have the opportunity for recess. The recess process has changed slightly to reduce the number of students outside at one time, along with practicing proper hygiene before and after the use of playground equipment.

The District will provide school supplies for students, with the exception of a backpack and lunch box. We will limit the use of classroom materials to small groups and disinfect between use, or provide adequate supplies to assign for individual student use.

Upon notification of a positive test, the District will work with health officials to identify and notify any individuals that may be at risk per the CDC guidelines. All individuals will be expected to adhere to health department guidance and complete all processes before returning to the school building. We will work with local health authorities to determine what precautions we must take and whether we need to close a classroom, building, or school.

In order to return to school, students and families should expect to have documentation from a physician’s office. A COVID test may be necessary. In the event of quarantine, families should produce documentation of when a physician issued the quarantine so that a student may return on the appropriate date determined by the District.

Students will go to the nurse immediately if feeling ill or presenting with symptoms. Any student/staff member showing signs of illness will be placed in a separate room.

If we have a reported positive case, we will disclose what is necessary and allowed to those that may be impacted, out of respect for privacy for the individual involved and for FERPA and HIPAA reasons. Following guidelines from local and state health officials, the District will provide appropriate notification. Every situation will be unique.

Yes, students are required to wear a face covering at school and on the school bus/van unless they have a medical or mental health condition or disability, documented in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or IDEA, that precludes the wearing of a face covering in school. Accommodations for such students should be made in partnership with the student's health care provider, school nurse, and IEP/504 team.

No, parents will be responsible to conduct the health check prior to the student(s) arriving at the bus stop.

Drivers will wear face coverings and will complete a symptoms check each day prior to starting routes.

Loading and unloading procedures will be adjusted to minimize contact. Students first on the bus will be seated to the back (with the exception of kindergarten students). When possible, older siblings will be seated with kindergarten students. Students seated in the front of the bus will exit first.

Bus seating will be reduced to allow for physical distancing, as feasible. Buses will seat a maximum of two students per seat and will keep family members together when possible. Elementary and Intermediate School students will be scheduled together, when possible. Students will be assigned seats and drivers will take attendance each day.

"Drop and go" arrivals will be conducted at all schools to reduce the congregation of students. After exiting the bus, students will have the opportunity to get a grab-and-go breakfast, if choosing to do so, and then go directly to their classroom. The schedule changes will allow for the staggered loading of buses at dismissal to minimize contact and assist in maintaining physical distancing guidelines.

Weather permitting, windows will be open while the vehicle is in motion to increase air circulation, if appropriate and safe.

With the changes we are implementing, we expect that, in most cases, they will ride for a shorter period of time.

Unless medically necessary, open food or drink containers are prohibited.

Buses/vans will be sanitized between routes and will be disinfected nightly.

Bus passes will not be issued this school year except for emergency circumstances. If you have a custody agreement, please contact the Transportation Office as soon as possible to make the necessary arrangements for transporting your child for the 2020-21 school year.

Breakfast:

Every school building will utilize a Grab-and-Go process for breakfast. When students enter the buildings each day, they will have the opportunity to get breakfast and head directly to their classroom to eat.

Lunch:

• Grades K - 4 will eat lunch in the cafeteria
  
• Grades 5-6 will use the cafeteria and classrooms for lunch
  
• Grades 7-8 will eat lunch in classrooms
  
• Grades 9-12 will use the cafeteria and classrooms for lunch

The District will provide the same great meals with options available. Meals will be packaged and served differently to reduce contact and maximize physical distancing.

This will depend on each building. Physical distancing with students facing in the same direction will be maintained to the extent possible and where feasible. Face coverings can be removed while seated and eating/drinking.

Nutrition and custodial staff will ensure tables and benches are sanitized before, between, and after all meal periods using EPA-approved products. Classrooms will be outfitted with sanitizer to have desks/spaces cleaned/sanitized before and after meals that are consumed in the classroom.

Yes. Parents are encouraged to make sure younger students are able to open all of their own packed lunch materials to reduce contact.

Our goal is to encourage families to utilize the MySchoolBucks online payment system. Cashiers can still input funds once per day, but there will be no cash at the register during the meal service.

We are not allowing shared food items to be brought into the classroom from home. Nutrition Services offers a safe, nurse-approved birthday basket option for parents to purchase. Nutrition Services plans to expand the list of items that can be purchased by parents to be shared in the classroom.

The first day for all students is Monday, August 24, 2020.

1. Traditional Instruction

• Physically in the classroom, five days a week, adhering to the recommended health and safety guidelines as feasible.

2. Distance Learning

• Learning will take place at home via Schoology using the district-issued iPad with content designed and taught by SGASD teacher(s).
   
• The lessons and activities will parallel the instruction that is taking place in the classroom.
  
  
• Students will have the opportunity to interact virtually with the teacher and the students in the physical classroom while at home.
   
• In most cases, students will have access to the same courses as students physically attending school.
   
• For students in grades K - 4, parents should be prepared to assist their child with support from the classroom teacher on a daily basis.
   
• Students in grades 5 - 12 will need to be able to work independently with parental oversight as needed.
  
  
• There will likely be some flexibility when they do the work within the school day. Since distance learning is being designed to mirror what the teacher is doing in the classroom on a daily basis, it is recommended that students complete the assigned work daily to not fall behind for the next day’s lessons.

3. SGFlex Cyber Academy

• SGASD’s in-house full-time cyber program may or may not be facilitated by SGASD teachers.
  
  
• SGFlex is a self-paced learning platform that operates independently of traditional classroom instruction. Students will learn the same content and standards, but will not be directly connected to a physical classroom like they would in distance learning.
   
• In this environment, students will have access to core courses and will only be able to participate in a minimal number of electives. AP and honors courses are currently not available in SGFlex.
   
• This option is best for students who are able to work independently without virtual interaction with students and teachers.
   
• For students in grades K - 5, parents should expect to spend 3 - 5 hours per child facilitating cyber learning each day. The program at the K-5 level is designed primarily to be facilitated by a learning coach (an adult in the home).
  
  
• Students in grades 6 - 12 will need to be able to work independently with parental oversight as needed. 

If you have specific questions about the Distance Learning or SGFlex programs, please contact your child's Building Principal. Contact information for each Principal can be found on the school building's webpage.

The District requests that families refrain from making a change to their child's learning option ten days before and after school begins. However, we understand if a change needs to occur and we will work with families to make the best decision for their child(ren). Switching from traditional instruction to distance learning and vice versa can be done fairly seamlessly. Switching to and from SGFlex is more complex, as the cyber instruction is not in line with traditional instruction in the classroom and distance learning. There is a ten-day period from the time of enrollment into the SGFlex Cyber Academy to when a student can begin courses in SGFlex, due to the ordering and delivery of needed materials. During the ten-day period, students will remain in their current learning environment until the materials are received.

The school schedules are as follows:

• Middle School & High School: Drop-off 7:00 AM; Dismissal 1:35 PM
  
• Intermediate School: Drop-off 8:00 AM; Dismissal 2:45 PM
  
• K - 4 Elementary Schools: Drop-off 8:00 AM; Dismissal 3:10 PM
  

One of the biggest challenges to reopening schools for traditional instruction is the ability to transport students safely while adhering to physical distancing guidelines. Making slight changes to our school schedules will allow the Transportation Office to alter the bus runs to accommodate the reduced number of students on each bus. It also reduces the number of students gathering in one place to enter and exit a bus.

In most cases, parent/guardian meetings will take place via Zoom and/or phone conference.

Yes, students will be able to participate in specials classes. Supplies and equipment for these classes will be sanitized and disinfected according to CDC guidelines. Modifications may be made depending on the class lesson/activity.

PE classes will take place outdoors as much as possible and in the gym with physical distancing to the extent possible. Students will be instructed to wipe down equipment, with appropriate material(s) and under staff supervision, and with consideration/exemption for students with allergies or other skin-sensitivity issues. The electrostatic machine will be used at the end of each day.

Schoology will be used in grades K - 12 for both traditional instruction and distance learning.

For SGFlex, Edgenuity will be used for grades 6 - 12, and Fuel Education will be used for grades K - 5.

Students taking part in traditional instruction will be able to transition to distance learning in the event of an absence from school. If their condition allows them, they may be able to complete their classwork. Those in the distance learning or SGFlex setting will simply continue as their physical condition allows.

If a building has to close for any period of time, students participating in traditional instruction will transition to the distance learning program.

Distance learning for the 2020-2021 school year will focus on new learning as well as continued connections with teachers. Students and families should plan for the same rigorous expectations of engagement through instruction, work completion, and project work that mirrors our in-person traditional instruction. Learners can expect to receive teacher-directed instruction each day followed by a learning activity to practice and apply new skills. This instruction may be in real-time, through pre-recorded video, or other means. This can be anticipated for every course in a student’s schedule each school day.

Yes, any student enrolled in the District's distance learning or SGFlex programs can participate in district athletics, band, and other extra-curricular activities.

Students in distance learning will have access to teachers virtually. Teachers will respond and may develop specific times when they are available for conferencing and/or questions. Parents can also request meetings with their child's teacher as in the past.

All students in K - 12th grades will be issued a District iPad for learning purposes in the classroom and at home.

Students in distance learning will have an assigned teacher and consistent classmates.

In some cases, we have changed events and are working to provide them in a different manner, such as back-to-school nights. In other cases, we have canceled them to adhere to the safety requirements. The challenge is to provide the same (and better) experience while adhering to the safety plans. Building principals will reach out with more information.

The District will work to operate all programs within the specifications of the Board-approved Health and Safety Plans, as required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. As changes occur pertaining to the status of York County, surrounding counties, and the Commonwealth, changes will be made for the safety and well-being of all students, staff, and community members.

On October 6, 2020, Governor Wolf updated the gathering limits for indoor and outdoor events. This most recent update allows the District to return to our revised Health & Safety Plan that was approved at the Monday, September 28, 2020, School Board meeting.

Spectators will be allowed entry to home athletic competitions via District-issued passes only. The District-issued passes will be distributed to student-athletes, cheerleaders, members of the marching band, and some student spectators.

As we previously communicated, general admission remains closed and visiting team spectators are not permitted. For the safety of our student participants and personnel, we ask that you do not congregate on campus. Any spectators (age two and older) attending a home sporting event must wear a face covering. All spectators are expected to physically distance and remain in the stands, with the exception of restroom breaks or emergency situations, throughout the event.

We invite and welcome everyone to watch the games and cheer for our Rockets at home via our live stream YouTube channels that can be found here: https://www.sgasd.org/Page/6435. 

All home athletic competitions are being live-streamed. Live stream channel information can be found here: https://www.sgasd.org/Page/6435.