There is always something going on at the School for Community Learning! Read the latest news updates and stories about what’s happening at our school.
Today our students put their 2nd quarter work on display for each other. They shared projects, writing pieces and more. At SCL, children get to share their work in meaningful and authentic ways.
Read MoreOur students and staff love to come together each month for Whole School Meetings. These are opportunities to learn about each other, share knowledge and play games. This Fall we have held our Meetings outdoors. Cross-age relationship building is an important way that students at SCL engage with each other.
Our Middle School class created an outstanding exhibition and celebration in honor of LatinX Heritage Month. They presented their work to the rest of the school in a wonderful afternoon of students teaching students.
Read MoreSchool for Community Learning – COVID-19 Health and Safety Measures
The following document lists the procedures School for Community Learning will put in place for the 2020-2021 school year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This document will likely change over time in response to guidance provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) and Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). All updates will be highlighted with the date they were made. Our intent is to create a plan that can be responsive to changing needs both in Marion County broadly and in our school specifically.
Prevention of the Spread of Illness Begins at Home:
Preventing the introduction of Covid-19 to our school community begins with all of us at home. If a child or staff member is ill with a common Covid-19 related symptom (repeated below), that person should stay home from school, unless that symptom is otherwise explained. If a student is quarantining at home, virtual/home learning will be provided during that time.
In-School Instruction & Full-Time At-Home Learning Option:
Students will only be with their grade level group throughout the entire school day, including at recess time. This allows students to “pod” in groups of no more than 12 students in grades K-5. In grades 6-8, students will spend most of their day in small groups less than 12. All activities that middle school students do as a whole group will include proper distancing in their classroom or outside. Each “pod” will have regular contact with 2 teachers only.
Health Protocols:
State statute gives schools/school districts the authority to exclude students who have a contagious disease such as COVID-19 or are liable to transmit it after exposure (IC 20-34-3-9). In addition, the local health department has the authority to exclude students from school and may order students and others to isolate or quarantine (IC 16-41-9-1.6).
If a student or staff member has a fever they must remain home until they are fever free, without the use of fever reducing drugs, for 72 hours or 3 days regardless of their other symptoms.
Screening
Students that exhibit symptoms without being otherwise explained are prohibited from coming to school. If they do come to school, they will be sent home immediately.
The Indiana state website (https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/2524.htm) has a list of over 200 testing facilities, their location, and hours of operation. This list is updated frequently. Once a student or employee is excluded from the school environment due to COVID related symptoms, they may return if they satisfy the recommendations of the CDC. Currently those guidelines are:
Untested for COVID-19
Persons who have not received a test proving or disproving the presence of COVID-19 but experience symptoms may return if the following four conditions are met:
Tested Positive- Symptomatic
Persons who experienced symptoms and have been tested for COVID-19 may return to school if the following conditions are met:
Tested Positive- Asymptomatic
Persons who have not had symptoms but tests positive for COVID-19 may return when they have gone 10 calendar days past their test without symptoms and have been preferably released by a healthcare provider or have had two consecutive negative tests in a three day or more period.
HOW OUR SCHOOL SAFETY MEASURES SUPPORT MAINTAINING HEALTH
Social Distancing
Masks/face shields
Hand washing
Bathroom and Water Fountain Use
Cleaning and Disinfecting
In addition to an increase in hand washing/sanitizing throughout the day
Classroom Materials
School Visitors
School Lunch, Snacks and Celebrations
We will continue to learn what is best health practice as scientists learn more and make changes to safety protocol.
Below are information and scenarios to make clear when and how we will move forward if we have a teacher, student, or staff member infected by COVID 19. It also gives scenarios in order to clarify how to go forward if you, family, friend, or school member are exposed or infected. We thought these might be helpful.
Quarantine If You Might Be Sick
Stay home if you might have been exposed to COVID-19
These guidelines apply to all members of School for Community Learning regardless of where exposure or infection initiated. We are always ready to clarify these procedures with you if you have any confusion.
Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Quarantine helps prevent spread of disease that can occur before a person knows they are sick or if they are infected with the virus without feeling symptoms. People in quarantine should stay home, separate themselves from others, monitor their health, and follow directions from their state or local health department.
Anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 whether this is a family member, teacher, or another student.
This includes who previously had COVID-19 and people who have taken a serologic (antibody) test and have antibodies to the virus.
You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes
You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
You had direct physical contact with the person (touched, hugged, or kissed them)
You shared eating or drinking utensils
They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you
Stay home and monitor your health
Stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19
Watch for fever (100.4◦F), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19
If possible, stay away others, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19
You should stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19.
For all of the following scenarios, even if you test negative for COVID-19 or feel healthy, you should stay home (quarantine) since symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.
See scenarios below to determine when you can end quarantine and be around others.
Scenario 1: Close contact with someone who has COVID-19—will not have further close contact
I had close contact with someone who has COVID-19 and will not have further contact or interactions with the person while they are sick (e.g., teacher, other student, co-worker, neighbor, or friend).
Your last day of quarantine is 14 days from the date you had close contact.
Date of last close contact with person who has COVID-19 + 14 days= end of quarantine
Scenario 2: Close contact with someone who has COVID-19—live with the person but can avoid further close contact
I live with someone who has COVID-19 (e.g., roommate, partner, family member), and that person is isolated by staying in a separate bedroom. I have had no close contact with the person since they isolated.
Your last day of quarantine is 14 days from when the person with COVID-19 began home isolation.
Date person with COVID-19 began home isolation + 14 days = end of quarantine
Scenario 3. Under quarantine and had additional close contact with someone who has COVID-19
I live with someone who has COVID-19 and started my 14-day quarantine period because we had close contact. What if I ended up having close contact with the person who is sick during my quarantine? What if another household member gets sick with COVID-19? Do I need to restart my quarantine?
Yes. You will have to restart your quarantine from the last day you had close contact with anyone in your house who has COVID-19. Any time a new household member gets sick with COVID-19 and you had close contact, you will need to restart your quarantine.
Date of additional close contact with person who has COVID-19 + 14 days = end of quarantine
Scenario 4: Live with someone who has COVID-19 and cannot avoid continued close contact
I live in a household where I cannot avoid close contact with the person who has COVID-19. I am providing direct care to the person who is sick, don’t have a separate bedroom to isolate the person who is sick, or live in close quarters where I am unable to keep a physical distance of 6 feet.
You should avoid contact with others outside the home while the person is sick, and quarantine for 14 days after the person who has COVID-19 meets the criteria to end home isolation.
Date the person with COVID-19 ends home isolation + 14 days = end of quarantine
calendar: continued contact
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The strength and the pain of the protests this summer have changed our world. The systems that have marginalized, oppressed, terrified and killed Black people in this country for 400 years become harder and harder for those with power and privilege to either ignore or protect (or both). Our vision for SCL has always been to create a place where people can come together across difference, to share our time, talents and treasures, to be a force in actively dismantling the false narratives and histories so widely spread as “truth” in this country. In the coming weeks, months, and years, we will continue to galvanize this foundation and dig even deeper as we work with all of you towards creating a world where everyone can feel safe, heard and valued.
The teachers and staff at School for Community Learning actively join and stand in solidarity with our fellow citizens seeking equity, safety, and justice for all people. The tenets of dismantling systemic oppression are the backbone of our mission and vision as a school. As people who care for our country, we understand that we cannot continue as a nation to ignore the unresolved wounds caused by our 600-year history of oppression and violence toward people of color, LGBTQ citizens, people with disabilities, religious communities, women, and those threatened by poverty. We understand that the systems and assumptions of “who is valuable” are put in place while children are young and have been supported by the schools and educational institutions they attend. We are committed to educating through ongoing dialogue with our students about our history, the joys of liberation for all, and our interconnection as neighbors, communities, and as a nation. We teach students how to take action on issues that matter to them and to our world. We support students in their roles as friends, citizens, and leaders in the ongoing struggle for equitable access to resources and opportunity, environmental health, justice, and safety. We recognize that, in order to teach through these lenses, we must face our own personal biases, beliefs, and stereotypes as well as understand the systems of oppression that shape our country.
Our core beliefs include:
If you have come here to help me you are wasting your time, but if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.
– Lilla Watson
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COVID-19 RESPONSE: In accordance with state mandate, SCL’s building is closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year and students are engaged in e-learning. Click on the link below to learn how we are meeting our students’ academic needs, and supporting our families, during these unprecendented times.
Read MoreThe SCL Middle School showed their support for renewable energy policy when they visited the Statehouse today. Students had the opportunity to meet with Senator Greg Taylor, State Representative Greg Porter, and congressional candidiate Jennifer Christie. Thank you to these leaders for connecting with our young people to learn about their concerns for our future!
Read MoreAs a sustainability-based school, we are teaching our students to grow food and attract pollinators. Thank you to Ellie Blaine, Kevin Allison and Jen Spinosa for helping us plant our garden this fall!
Read MoreSCL is one of just a few Indianapolis schools to be awarded the City’s Thriving Schools Master’s Level Certification! We are honored to be a part of this vitally important program. This Certification recognizes that we have multiple green initiatives going on at our school. We also received a Thriving Schools Challenge grant to support our efforts.
The Thriving Schools Challenge focuses on early education on sustainability and engaging children and young adults around important topics like environmental stewardship, social responsibility, waste reduction, and conservation of resources.
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