School News

July 28, 2020

COVID-19 Health & Safety Measures

      School 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.

• Symptoms Impacting Consideration for Exclusion from School
  Students and employees will be trained to recognize the following COVID-19-related symptoms:
• A fever of 100.4° F or greater
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

In-School Instruction & Full-Time At-Home Learning Option:

• In-school instruction: Students will be in person at school Monday-Thursday. Friday will be a home/virtual school day and students will have assignments to complete each Friday.

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.

• Full time remote learning will be available for students in high risk groups, who have a family member in a high risk group, or feel more comfortable staying away from the physical building. Families that would like to switch to at-home learning, or back to in-person instruction, will be able to make this choice at the beginning of each 9-week quarter. If a family would like to switch at a different time in the quarter, this request can be made and we will accommodate it if possible.
• If our health response requires that we change this schedule – to stagger groups at different times in the building for example – families will be notified with as much lead time as possible. Similarly, if local or state officials call for school buildings to close once more, we will shift to full-time at-home learning according to their instructions.

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

• SCL will communicate information to parents and employees about the symptoms of COVID-19
• Self Screening: Children will be screened by a family member, and staff will self-screen, for any COVID-19 symptoms prior to coming to school each day. Any symptoms of COVID-19 that cannot be otherwise explained will cause that student/staff member to be prohibited from coming to school.
• In addition, SCL will provide School-Based Screening each morning. Student and staff temperatures will be checked with a touch free thermometer prior to entering the building each day. Students will wash hands or use hand sanitizer upon entering school.

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.

• If a parent tells us that a student is ill, we may ask the parent whether the student is exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19.
• If an employee calls in sick or appears ill, the school can inquire as to whether the employee is experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.
• If a person is obviously ill, the school may make additional inquiries and may ask that person to leave the school property.
• Even without symptoms, if a student or employee has recently had contact with a person with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, has someone in their home being tested for COVID-19 because of illness, or has recently travelled from somewhere considered a “hot spot” by the CDC, the student or employee may be asked to remain away from the building and provided the recommendation that they self-quarantine for 14 calendar days.
• Symptoms Impacting Consideration for Exclusion from School
  Students and employees will be trained to recognize the following COVID-19-related symptoms:
• A fever of 100.4° F or greater
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

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:

• They have not had a fever for at least 72 hours (that is three full days of no fever without the use of medicine that reduces fevers); and
• Other symptoms have improved (for example, when your cough or shortness of breath have improved); and
• At least 10 calendar days have passed since your symptoms first appeared.

 Tested Positive- Symptomatic

Persons who experienced symptoms and have been tested for COVID-19 may return to school if the following conditions are met:

• The individual no longer has a fever (and is fever free for 72 hours without the use medicine that reduces fevers); and
• Other symptoms have improved (for example, when your cough or shortness of breath have improved); and
• At least 10 calendar days have passed since symptoms first appeared; or
• The individual has received two negative tests at least 24 hours apart.

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.

• If a student or staff member has a fever, regardless of the cause, that person must be fever-free, without the use of fever-reducing medications, for 72 hours before returning to school. Additionally, all staff and students with fevers or symptoms associated with COVID-19 should be encouraged to seek medical attention for further evaluation and instructions.
  • Students or staff exhibiting COVID-like symptoms at school will be isolated in a specific room in the building assigned for this purpose. All waiting staff and students will wear a cloth face covering. Only essential staff assigned to the room may enter. A record will be kept of all persons who entered the room and the room will be disinfected several times throughout the day. Strict social distancing is required and staff must wear appropriate PPE. Students who are ill will be walked out of the building to their parents.
  • Confirmed cases of Covid-19 on school property will be communicated to the local health department and IDOE.

HOW OUR SCHOOL SAFETY MEASURES SUPPORT MAINTAINING HEALTH

Social Distancing

• 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 no more than 12 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.
• Buddies and whole-school Passions classes are suspended until further notice. Individual or group Passions will be given time within the classroom.
• At drop off and pick up, grade levels will enter and exit through separate doors.
• Adults will not be allowed in the building at drop off/pick up and we ask that adults socially distance as they drop off their child(ren).
• Grade level groups will be distanced at recess and spread out throughout our outdoor campus. The playground equipment will be off limits until further notice. We will supply equipment to support games and
• Student desks will be spaced to allow for maximum distancing, and will all face one direction. Students will have assigned seats.
• Outdoor learning spaces will be utilized as much as possible, for all subjects and times of the day.
• Students will be instructed in their classroom only, with the exception of indoor PE in the Social Hall where they can properly distance. Middle School will split their time between the Middle School building and the Social Hall.
• If students or staff are required to transition between buildings a mask will be required for this transition.

Masks/face shields

• The most recent guidelines issued by the Marion County Health Department instruct the following:
  • Cloth face coverings, masks, or face shields are recommended for all ancillary staff, students and teachers.
• EXCEPTIONS:

1. Any staff or student with health conditions that makes the wearing of a face covering a risk to their health.
2. When staff or students are performing tasks that cannot be completed while wearing a face covering: eating, drinking, etc.
3. Any student who is unable to remove a face covering on their own.
4. When the wearing of a face covering or mask by a teacher may impede the student’s learning, face shields should be used.

• SCL will provide a cloth mask and face shield for every child at school. We ask that families also be prepared to supply their own mask so that students have at least two (in case one is left at home, etc.). If your child is not used to wearing a mask, we ask that you practice this with them over the summer so that they feel comfortable with this.
• Students will not be required to wear a mask/face shield while outside as long as the group is practicing appropriate distancing.
• Children must wear their mask as they enter the school building. Students will wear their mask until they arrive at their seat.
• While sitting in their seats, students may not need to wear their mask/face shield depending on their age and that their desks are appropriately distanced.

Hand washing

• Students and staff will be required to use hand sanitizer upon entry to the building each day, and prior to leaving for the day.
• Hand washing and/or hand sanitizing will occur frequently throughout the school day, and always after leaving the classroom space, prior to eating, and after using the restroom

Bathroom and Water Fountain Use

• Water fountains will only be used to fill water bottles throughout the school day. Students must bring a full water bottle to school each day (or keep one at school) that is labelled with their name.
• Classrooms will have their own designated bathroom that will be sanitized frequently throughout the day

Cleaning and Disinfecting

In addition to an increase in hand washing/sanitizing throughout the day

• We will increase disinfecting of all frequently touched surfaces and items throughout the day.
• The school buildings will be cleaned, and all primary surfaces will be disinfected/sanitized, each evening.
• Additional cleaning over and above what is stated here will take place as needed.
• Classroom windows will be kept open and fans may be used to increase classroom fresh air flow as much as possible.

Classroom Materials

• Materials transferred between home and school will be kept to a minimum.
• Any group materials, or materials that would be used by more than one student at a time, will be kept as minimal as possible.
• If materials are used by a pair of students or small group, they will be disinfected after use
• Shared materials like books will be sanitized before being passed onto the next child
• School supplies will not be shared between students.
• Students will have their own personal storage bin that will contain all of their supplies, folders, notebooks, personal hand sanitizer etc. Books that they are reading will also stay in these bins.
• Art supplies will be divided and not shared in a classroom.

School Visitors

• School and classroom visitors will be limited/eliminated as much as possible. Visitors will be allowed only if absolutely essential.
• Records will be kept to document anyone entering the building that is not students or staff, including their reason for entering and the locations in the building(s) to which they travelled

School Lunch, Snacks and Celebrations

• Second Helpings will provide individually wrapped sandwiches on Tuesdays and Thursdays to replace the hot lunch option
• Classroom party items will be commercially prepared and prepackaged
• Lunch will continue to take place in classrooms, or outside when the weather warrants.

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.

• If a teacher, student, or staff member has a fever they must remain home until they are fever free, without medication, for 72 hours (3 days).
• If a teacher, student, or staff member in a classroom shows symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19 all class members that have had contact will be asked to remain home for 14 days before returning to school. On-line learning will be available to those students while home.
• If you have contact with someone infected outside of the school please read the following scenarios for guidance about the time required for quarantine and a safe return to school.
• On-line learning will be available to students as they remain home and are able to do school work.

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.

• Who needs to quarantine?

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.

• What counts as close contact?

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

•  Steps to take

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

• When to start and end quarantine

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

November 26, 2019

SCL Online Auction - Now through Dec. 2nd

January 28, 2019

SCL Awarded Highest Certification in Indianapolis' Thriving Schools Challenge

SCL 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.

November 26, 2018

Thanksgiving Meal

On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, students, parents and teachers worked together to prepare, serve and eat a feast. When asked what she was thankful for, one of our third graders replied “thank you for this school and everyone in it because I know that everyone cares about me”. It doesn’t get much better than that!

October 1, 2018

Thank you St. Paul's Episcopal Church!

We extend a huge thank you to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church for their generous donation of new Chromebooks for our students at the beginning of the school year. We are incredibly grateful!

May 1, 2018

Eco Science Fair is a Rousing Success for SCL

SCL had a great showing at the Eco Science Fair at the Indiana State Museum. Here are just a few scenes and award winners from the Fair. A number of students represented the school and a couple projects were winners, as Marcela Rosales-Harms won the 5th-8th Grade age group and Riley Laucevicius won the Subaru Prize.

Congrats to all our competitors!

May 1, 2018

SCL Robotics Club Finishes Year with Top Six Finish at National Competition

The Robotics Club’s 2017-18 Robotics season has ended on a very high note! Not only did they place 1st for the second consecutive year in the Bloomington Robotics Club tournament (4 perfect scores in 4 competitions), but they placed either 5th or 6th out of 50 teams who competed in the tournament.

Great job Kaylee, Reuben, Maya, and Devlin!

June 19, 2017

SCL Robotics Club Places 1st in league

We are SO proud to report that our SCL Robotics Club placed 1st in the Bloomington Robotics Club League. Thank you to the coaches, the parents, and most importantly the students on the team for making this accomplishment possible. 

May 17, 2017

Spring Day of Service 2017

Our annual spring day of service was May 12, and we were blown away by the work that our students completed. They were investigators, mathematicians, foragers, gardeners, inspectors, and researchers.

The students divided into four interest groups: energy use, air/soil quality, green cleaners, and edible gardening. Students in group one did an energy audit of the school. They did an inventory of all the lightbulbs in our school and then calculated how much energy they each use. They also collected survey data from students about their water use at home. To finish out their day, they made reminders about ways to save energy to hang around the school.

In the morning, students in group two worked with two experts from the Indiana Department of Health to conduct air testing throughout the school. In the afternoon, they collected soil samples from several areas on our school grounds.

Group three researched the cleaners that are used in our school each day and learned about the benefits of using green or natural cleaning products. They spent the afternoon making samples of homemade, vinegar based multi-purpose cleaner for each student to take home with them.

Finally, students in group four planted an edible garden outside of our K-1 classroom, with the help of school parent Diana Gibbons, and spent the afternoon foraging for edible and medicinal plants on our school grounds with experts from White Pine Wilderness Academy.

January 18, 2017

MLK Day of Service, Part 1 - Reflections

In preparation for our annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, students selected their favorite Dr. King quote and reflected on the meaning of it. Several students presented these reflections at our whole school meeting to kick off our Day of Service.

Abby, grade 8
“We may have all come on different ships, but we’re all in the same boat now.”
To me this Quote means we all may have different skin colors, or have different religions, or may come from different places, but we are all in the same sorta place right now. We all have to follow the same laws and we all have the same rights as an American citizen (supposedly). So that’s what I think Martin Luther King Jr. day is all about- realizing that we may have a different background and have different circumstances but we all live in the same country and we all want to have peace in our country (you would hope).

Marcela, grade 7
“Only in the darkness can you see the stars.”
I interpret this as only when something horrible is happening, do people stand up and shine. Only when darkness and hate hang over us like dark clouds, do we stand up from our seats and spread our love. We worry about ‘what if this happens’ and ‘what if that happens’, but we do not realize the clouds coming until they are already above us. When we realize this darkness, we feel inspired to do something. Something meaningful. There is a whole lot of darkness in the night sky, but when you look up, you see all of the stars shining. To me Martin Luther King Day is about someone stood up and saw the clouds rumbling over him and, instead of asking what ifs, began to shine. He inspired others to get up and spread their love, that way when the clouds came they were ready for them.  He turned our world around and so today, I too, can shine.

Skylar, grade 6
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”
Loving someone can make you so glad, but hate for someone makes you mad yourself. We might not like a lot of people, or just one person; they might send a bad vibe or be mean . We might even call them our enemies. But we should not be mean to them. They are human too.  If we kill them with kindness they might be nice to us too. If we love them they might just feel that love and know they are safe. They might even change, in the best way possible. They might just love you too. Love is a powerful thing. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a very wise man.  He knew that love was the most important thing in the world. I just want you to know that everybody has a good side to them, you just have to find it. They might just be your friend.

Seth, grade 8
“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
This quote to me means that hatred can degrade you, and that loving something is a lot easier to do and can improve you as a person. This quote basically exemplifies his movement as a whole. His movement was about love, loving all people.  This quote is the exactly the same. Instead of hating people who thought people of color should not be equals, he chose to do peaceful protest to change their mindset. He did extremely powerful speeches to get his ideas out to the public. In the end hatred achieves nothing. If he were to have decided to go down the path of hatred, he would have never made an impact at all.

Arielle, grade 4
“The function of education is to teach one to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”
I think School for Community Learning teaches both intelligence and character. One reason is that I think School for Community Learning shows intelligence and character is that they teach some of the 5^th grade work to the 4^th graders.
Another way that School for Community Learning teaches intelligence and character is that they give students a chance of their own points of views.
The last reason why I think School for Community Learning teaches both intelligence and character is that they have Passions which is a way to pick between many picks’ about what you would like to do for 1 hour every Tuesday and Thursday.
Now you know why I think School for Community Learning teaches intelligence and character.

Christina, grade 4
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. says that the function of education is to tech one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character that is the goal of true education.”
I think that SCL teaches both academic thinking and character.
One reason SCL is smaller than other schools because we only have 4 teachers and classes are combined and we teach community because we share rooms.
A reason SCL teaches character is by doing good projects like making a compost bucket our of empty water jugs for the whole school. The jugs are made of plastic so we are reusing things that you could just recycle and forget about.
Lastly, we have good community by rules not to leave others our of a game or friend group. They also teach us responsibility by making sure every wrong is right.
SCL is connected by size.
SCL teaches community by difference.
SCL teaches responsibility by good projects.
SCL teaches us intelligence and character by connection, community and last, responsibility.

Myra, grade 5
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.”
How I think School for Community Learning fulfills MLK’s quote is we teach both character and intelligence.
One reason I think our teachers and staff are kind and understanding is because when someone forgot their homework then the teacher and student will decide what to do, then the student brings back the homework the next day. This is why I think the teachers and staff at our school and kind and understanding.
Secondly we have been taught to be understanding and have manners because the teachers are understanding and act polite, so we do the same. This is a reason why I think we have manners and good understanding.
Lastly even if we don’t like some people we still treat each other with respect and treat each other like a community because we have been taught to care and be kind and accept what happens. This is the reason why I think we treat each other with respect and treat each other like a community.

Chioh, grade 5
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and critically. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.”
You ask me many questions about this quote. I will say I agree with it very much and I think School for Community Learning applies to this well. Let me tell you why.
One, I think our learning curriculum supports and has students thinking critically. That is because the School for Community Learning puts us in scenarios where we need to really think how to handle this situation. That is the first reason why I think School for Community Learning applies to MLK’s quote very well.
Two, the way SCL teaches let’s students express their emotions in a way the teacher understands. That way the student can give kindness to the community and the community can give that kindness to other communities and so on. That is my second reason I think SCL (School for Community Learning) applies to MLK’s quote very well.
Three and finally, the reason we teach so peaceful and calmly is to let students see there’s a way to be intelligent with character. For the past three years I’ve been here, when a teacher puts their hands on a student it’s to comfort or greet a student. By this way students can become polite. That way students can build character very well. Overall I think School for Community Learning applies to the way MLK thought teaching should be.

Lennon, grade 4
Do you know MLK? Well in one of his quotes he said “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character.” I am going to tell you how School for Community Learning is fulfilling that quote.
They helped me find my passion. SCL helped me find stuff I liked. I have a more stuff to do that I’ve never tried before. Passions is always fun and hard. Clearly, passions is character and intelligence.
They are really nice and are always helping kids. They are always there for us. They care for us and our health. They help us when we are struggling. Clearly, they are fulfilling MLK’s quote.
They help us be good people in life. They always tell us to be kind to one and other. They don’t yell at us unless they have to. We have reflections to think back on our favorite part of mistakes so we can change it tomorrow. Clearly they are teach us to be good people. In conclusion, I think SCL is fulfilling MLK’s quote.