Dear members of the Temple Christian School community,

Further to our letter dated July 13, 2020 concerning plans for the upcoming school year, we continue to hope that you and your family remain safe and well at this time particularly with the passage of hurricane Isaias. With just under four weeks before the school year was scheduled to commence, I wish to further update you about our planning processes for the fall term.

 

Our intention was to open with face to face instruction with grades K3-K4, and grades 10-12, while adopting a hybrid model based on alternate full days of instruction for grades K5-grade 9. However, as a result of the two week nationwide lockdown currently in place, and also the potential delays associated with a phased reopening, Temple Christian School will reopen with full online instruction for all classes on Monday, September 7, 2020. Moreover, please note that it may be necessary to further delay the start of school by one or two weeks should the national lockdown continue in order to not only allow parents the time to adequately prepare their students to receive instruction, but also enable the teachers to deliver the curriculum. Once the competent authority makes a determination concerning national operations after this initial lockdown period, a further update in this regard will be provided.

 

In order to deliver online instruction, the school has adopted Microsoft 365 for Education. Teachers will soon receive training in the use of the newly adopted learning management system. Costs associated with this adoption will require a restructuring of fees in order to mitigate additional costs to parents.

We remind parents and guardians of the need to provide reliable internet-capable devices in order for students to access remote instruction. Devices may be tablets, personal or laptop computers which should be multimedia ready (with built-in camera, speaker and microphone), keyboard accessible, and able to access an internet browser. Please be advised that, for best performance, devices should be no later than 2018 models.

More details concerning scheduling, book collection, uniforms and procedures related to our online learning system will be released by our principals in the days to come. Additionally, in a few weeks, the principals of the respective schools will host virtual open house and orientation sessions by Zoom. Information concerning the dates for these online sessions will be forthcoming from our elementary and high school offices.
When it is safe to do so, and the government permits, we will transition to a hybrid model of learning and eventually return to face to face instruction.

 

Transition from online learning to face-to-face instruction

 

When face-to-face instruction is permitted, the campus grounds will be open to the public. Signage will remind visitors to follow the campus mask-wearing policy and other health and safety protocols. All persons on our campuses will be required to maintain social distancing of 6 feet, follow directional signage in buildings, and use hand sanitizer before and after entry through doors with knobs or handles. However, access to classrooms will be limited to students and employees only.

 

Classroom Changes

 

• Desks will face the same direction.
• Desks will be configured to allow for 20 square feet per student.
• Classroom capacity will be 35% to 50% of normal capacity depending upon the specific size and shape of each room.
• Traditional classrooms will be supplemented by creating new teaching spaces in eating areas, assembly spaces, and outdoor tent classrooms.
• Even with new spaces, room capacity will be limited. Therefore, for some grade levels classes will utilize a combination of in-person and remote instruction, where half of the students are remote and half are in-person, alternating class each day to reduce occupancy in classrooms.
• Current national social distancing guidelines (subject to change by the competent authority) will enable Temple Christian High School to conduct classes face-to-face for grades 10-12.
• We are examining the most suitable hybrid learning options for grades 7-9. More information in this regard will be forthcoming from our high school principal, Rev. Perry R. Cunningham.
• Current national social distancing guidelines (subject to change by the competent authority) will enable Temple Christian Elementary School to conduct classes face-to-face for grades K3 and K4.
• We are examining the most suitable hybrid learning options for grades K5 – Gr.6. Mrs. Sharmaine N. Porter, elementary school principal, will provide more information in this regard.
• Students may not share supplies.
• Students must have their own personal sanitizers and wipes each day.
• High traffic areas will have hand sanitizer available.
• Students are required to wear standardized face masks with the school’s logo or face shields where permitted.
• Specialist teachers will move from room to room.
• Students will have supervised mask breaks throughout the day with social distancing. Lunch will be eaten in classrooms.
• Doors and windows will be left open where possible to maximize air circulation.
• Custodians will monitor social distancing during bathroom use.
• Only 2-3 students may access the bathroom at any one time, depending on its size.
• Bathrooms will have occupancy signage to optimize social distancing.
• Enhanced cleaning protocols have been adopted.
• High touch surfaces will be disinfected at the start of each day.
• A second round of disinfection of these spaces will be conducted at mid-afternoon daily.
• In the case of the high school, we are not accepting requests for the use of facilities by off-campus groups during the fall semester. Groups interested in using TCS facilities in the new calendar year may submit their requests for consideration to the respective school principals.

As much as possible, meetings beyond formal classroom sessions would be held outdoors or via video conference technology (Zoom, Office 365, etc.). Three weeks after the resumption of face-to-face instruction and pending an assessment of health conditions on campus, clubs may register with the principal to meet using specific meeting rooms for low density activities. Approved gatherings are subject to standard protocols regarding social distancing and wearing masks. Strict attention will be given to the adherence to occupancy limits based upon room size and national guidelines of one student per 20 square feet.

 

Reduction of Gatherings

 

• Parent movement will be limited with face masks and social distancing.
• Designated drive up areas will be utilized with parents remaining in vehicles.
• Having multiple individuals in narrow hallways where a 6 foot distance is not possible will be avoided.
• Lunch birthday parties are suspended until further notice.
• Students who bring a packed lunch should ensure that it does not require heating.
• Pre-ordered, prepackaged lunches will be available from the cafeteria.
• Chapel sizes will be reduced to accommodate social distancing.
• Group play will not be permitted.
• Whole school assemblies are temporarily suspended.
• Visitors to the office are subject to social distancing guidelines.
• Receptionists have been equipped with appropriate plexiglass guards to protect employees and students.
• Vendors may operate with face masks and observation of posted social distancing guidelines.
• However, vendors are required to make appointments two days in advance of coming onto campuses, and must limit the number of their personnel to no more than 

 

Monitoring of Symptoms

• Faculty, students, and staff temperatures will be taken daily upon arrival on campus.
• A temperature of more than 100.4 °F will require a second check.
• A second elevated temperature requires the individual to be sent home.
• dents showing symptoms of having Covid-19 will be taken to a designated outdoor waiting area for pickup.
• Staff suspected of having Covid-19 will be required to leave campus and immediately seek further medical attention.
• Students/Staff which test positive for Covid-19 require a physician’s authorization to return to school.
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Physical Education and Athletics

• Physical education classes will allow for supervised student movement with social distancing.
• Team sports are temporarily suspended.
• The decision to participate in interschool athletic competitions will be made at the appropriate time, and will be informed by the national state of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• We will confer with the B.A.I.S.S. and other school associations regarding subsequent decisions.

 

We are committed to providing a high quality, Christian-based education to our students in a safe environment, and we welcome your ideas about how we can make this school year safe and effective. Should you have questions related to any of the above, you may address them via email to the respective school principal as follows:

 

• Mrs. Sharmaine N. Porter, 325-1119/325-3245, sporter@templechristianbahamas.com
• Rev. Perry R. Cunningham, 394-4481/4, pcunningham@templechristianbahamas.com

With continued best wishes for your safety,

 

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Samuel L. Rutherford, Ed. D.
Administrator