2020-2021 School Year Plan

Addendum to the Student and Family Guidebook and Employee Guidebook

Last Updated: July 30, 2020

7/30/2020 changes appear highlighted in blue

This addendum is subject to change.

From Our Head of School

Aspen Academy’s vision is to be a national leader in innovative and transformative education.

The last several months, since COVID-19 closed school campuses nationwide, have solidified the importance of achieving this vision for our students and the world that they will eventually lead.

The profound challenges of COVID-19 compel us to look even deeper into that vision, while ensuring that each member of the Aspen Academy community: takes care of themselves, demonstrates deep care for others, keeps everyone safe and healthy, and continues to deliver a world-class education. We’ve spent countless hours understanding the science/data of COVID-19 and the numerous health and executive orders and guidelines. We’ve translated those into our plan for a safe and healthy school year.

In this year, especially, we ALL need to dig deep and commit fully to our values to be kind, do good, work hard, and make the world better. Having what’s convenient or desired will sometimes need to give way to what’s necessary – for each of us. There are a few things that won’t change as we return to campus and a number of things that will be different for this temporary COVID-19 period.  

Our children are watching the adults in their lives very closely for cues as to how they ought to respond to this situation. This is a moment for all adults to model, for each other and for our children, a growth mindset of optimism, resilience, agility, flexibility and our values in all that we say (and don’t say) and do (and don’t do).  

We know that relationships are at the heart of the Aspen Academy experience, and we recognize fully the importance of having children and their teachers together regardless of the format. Based on survey results, the vast majority of our students (92.4%), will experience togetherness on campus. Due to underlying health conditions in their family, some students (7.6%) will experience togetherness via our synchronous virtual learning platform. This hybrid in-person/virtual “HyFlex” classroom will not be easy to execute; however, we are committed to each of our students and families.

Right now (07/26/20), we are in Level 2: Safer at Home. While we are all still safer at home, we are also able to practice greater social distancing in our vast outdoors than in confined indoor spaces. Much of Colorado is now open with restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect those at highest risk for severe illness.

Colorado has been encouraged to prepare for state and local public health orders to be extended, amended, or changed as needed to protect public health. We may move between the different levels during this pandemic. The plan below outlines more details/guidance for schooling at each of those levels.

Officials have told school leaders they can’t predict whether there will again be a Stay at Home order compelling school campus closure (and a temporary return to a mandated virtual learning environment). In this case, we would adopt “Contingency Plan B,” our schoolwide virtual learning format immediately after the Stay at Home Order. Schedules for that learning will be altered to allow for smaller virtual class sizes per parents’ requests.

We’ll be prepared to respond to the health orders that come our way. As a community, we need to collectively work to prevent transmission and minimize risk. Given that the virus has not been eliminated and an effective, universally available vaccine may still be far off, we are compelled to learn to live carefully with this virus for the time being.

Aspen Academy has a number of advantages in our planning: a culture of innovation; small class sizes; highly skilled and deeply caring teachers and administrators; robust technology infrastructure; a spacious building and campus; and positive and productive partnerships with our families. All of these help us to be well-positioned for the coming year.

As a community, let’s continue to be the exemplar for other schools in engaging in positive and productive partnerships as we navigate through the complexities of a global pandemic. We, each one of us, are Aspen Academy. We do hard things here, and we do them well – together. 

With gratitude and love,

Kristina Scala

Head of School

Addendum to the Student and Family Guidebook and Employee Handbook: 7/26/2020 Draft, subject to change                

Table of Contents

From Our Head of School        2

Aspen Academy’s Guiding Principles        7

2020-2021 Plan        7

Our Goals        8

School Calendar Changes        8

14-Day Safety Zone Starts August 12        9

Colorado Health Guidance for Schools by COVID-19 Phase        9

Health Guidance Overview        10

COVID-19 Transmission Mitigation Tactics        11

Protocols Regardless of Phase        12

Physical Distance        12

Cohort        12

Minimize Transmission Risk        12

Confirmed COVID-19+ Case        13

Coordinate with Local Public Health        13

Masks/Face Coverings/PPE        13

Health Screenings        13

Faculty and Staff COVID-19 Testing        13

Hygiene/Safety        14

Transportation        14

What to Expect: By Phase        15

Stay at Home        15

Safer at Home        16

Protect Our Neighbors        17

COVID-19 Scenario Planning        18

Contact Tracing        19

HyFlex Platform: On-Campus or Online Attendance        19

What to Expect: On-Campus Learners        20

Pre-Arrival Health Symptom Screening        20

Morning Drop-Off and Afternoon Student Pick-Up        20

Building Entry and Exit         20

Handwashing and Temperature Check Upon Arrival        20

Sickness        20

Student Supplies and Personal Belongings        21

Lockers/Cubbies        23

Cohorts        24

Outdoor Classrooms and Auxiliary Spaces        24

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and School Climate and Culture        24

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)        24

Student Success through Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)        25

Daily Schedule        25

Essentials and Electives        25

Recess        25

Lunch        26

Restrooms        26

Extended Care        26

Extracurriculars and Intramural Athletics        27

Health & Safety        27

What to Expect: Virtual Learners        30

Virtual Learning and Teaching Platform Tools        30

Single Sign-On (SSO) Through Clever Integration        30

Inclusion        30

Considerations        30

Attendance        31

Absences        31

Cohort        31

Daily Schedule        31

Student Supplies and Personal Belongings        32

Student and Family Support        34

Parent Civic Organization (PCO)        34

Community Strength and Service        34

Volunteering        34

Health and Safety Advisory Committee        34

Contingency Plans        35

Aspen Academy’s Guiding Principles

OUR VALUES

Be Kind.
Do Good.
Work Hard.
Make The World Better.

OUR MISSION

We edify and inspire students and educators to grow, learn and lead.

OUR VISION

We are a national leader in innovative and transformative education.

As we endeavor to develop a thoughtful and inclusive response to COVID-19, our community’s guiding principles serve as both our foundation and our aspiration.

In March, our preparedness led to swift execution of our virtual learning platform within hours of the Governor’s executive order to close school campuses. We received near unanimous “excellent” ratings from our families on our team’s extraordinary performance when making that shift. We achieved and exceeded our high standards for student growth and performance despite the pivot and demonstrated continued strength and service to/with our community. Each member of the Aspen Academy family (parents, students, grandparents, faculty, administrators, and staff) has embodied the values, mission and vision that Aspen Academy holds dear.

2020-2021 Plan

The dynamic nature of COVID-19 science and data, as well as the government and health agency orders and guidelines have been, and will continue to be, intense. This 2020-2021 School Year Plan will be a living and agile document, and it will serve as an addendum to the Student & Family Guidebook and Employee Handbook.

Addendum to the Student and Family Guidebook and Employee Handbook: 7/26/2020 Draft, subject to change                

Our Goals

1. Maximize on-campus learning to ensure a reasonable level of safety for students and staff and provide a HyFlex and a synchronous Virtual Learning Platform (for students who have underlying health conditions themselves or in their immediate family that prohibit their ability to attend classes on campus).
2. Ensure equity in educational opportunity by considering learning and health needs of all students, including those with varying health conditions, economic backgrounds, language skills, or educational needs.
3. Minimize disruptions to education by facilitating timely responses to COVID-19 through cohorting students and staff when possible, screening for symptomatic individuals, and coordinating closely with local and state public health agencies.
4. Keep student and staff growth, performance and social and emotional well being at the forefront while responding to ever-growing scientific knowledge about COVID-19 with flexibility, adaptability, and innovation.

 School Calendar Changes

While most schools in Colorado have opted to push off their start dates by two weeks, we opted to stay the course and start in-person. Our first start date remains as scheduled on August 26, albeit with some modification to support our students, families and faculty as we transition to new protocols.

On the students’ first day on campus, they will:

• Get acquainted with their classmates and teachers & tour all the new outdoor classroom and recreation areas.
• Be trained in all the COVID-19 Health Protocols and our standard response protocols for school safety and security. Each of these sessions will be attended by members of our social emotional support team. There will be ample time allotted for students to ask questions and share any feelings that they are experiencing.
• Complete all their academic assessments and personal profiles.

Please note the staggered start days below, based on grade level:

Friday Schedule Change for Students Attending On-Campus

During the period in which we are operating a HyFlex model, we will dismiss students from campus every Friday at 11:30am. After a lunch break, they will resume learning virtually. Students will complete tests, assessments, and participate in assigned asynchronous learning modules.

While we understand that this is not especially convenient for our families, it is critically necessary to provide the time for the following:

1. Ensuring students are prepared for and knowledgeable about learning on a virtual platform, should we have a positive COVID-19 case in their cohort.
2. Teachers will spend each Friday afternoon preparing and planning for both their on-campus and virtual learners, through: Domain Team (virtual) planning session meetings; Grade Level planning and collaboration team meetings; Essentials Integration planning meetings; health and safety trainings and debriefs; time for connecting with families; and deep cleaning their classroom learning equipment.
3. Our janitorial and facilities teams will conduct weekly Level 2 - Level 3 cleaning and disinfecting of all classroom and common areas. To best combat COVID-19, it’s critical there be a prescribed time for all aerosolized particles to land and for the deep cleaning and disinfecting to occur.

Click here to download a PDF of the 2020-2021 Calendar (7/24/2020 version)

14-Day Safety Zone Starts August 12

This is a period of caution before school begins, in order for each person in our community to take care of themselves and care for others. Students, families, faculty, and staff are asked to plan ahead for a "pre-return to campus safety zone" 14 days before August 26. During this time, we strongly advise that you refrain from all non-essential travel. We also ask you to minimize sleepovers, playdates, and interactions with other families, especially those visiting from out-of-state. The goal is to limit activities that might increase the risk of viral transmission. Please use your best judgment.

Addendum to the Student and Family Guidebook and Employee Handbook: 7/26/2020 Draft, subject to change                

Colorado Health Guidance for Schools by COVID-19 Phase

National, State, and County Health and Government agencies have developed guidelines for schools based on evolving scientific knowledge about the spread of COVID-19 among children and in schools, as well as infectious disease control and management. Our 2020-2021 School Plan reflects these guidelines.

Health Guidance Overview

• Global COVID-19 evidence suggests that younger children (0-10 years of age / our Pre-Kindergarten through 5th graders) play a smaller role in transmission of COVID-19. The risk of transmission between young children and from young children to adults is very low and, with layered mitigation protocols, become greatly minimized. The risk to children is likely lower than that of yearly influenza, accounting for both primary disease and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C).

• There are initial studies that children aged 11 and older (our 6th-8th graders) may have a higher rate of COVID-19 transmission than younger children. Again, this risk can be greatly minimized with the layered mitigation protocols that Aspen Academy has established.

• The risk of transmission from adults to other adults is greater. Therefore, limiting the number of adults required/able to be in close proximity to one another protects the health and safety of the teachers and staff who are essential to the return and continued operation of the school.

• Given the limited role young children play in transmission, there likely is minimal benefit relative to the great difficulty of physically distancing young children within a class to prevent COVID-19 spread. Moreover, physical distancing has the potential to negatively impact appropriate child development in this age group. Therefore, our focus has been placed on other risk mitigation strategies that better complement the learning and socialization goals of children up through 5th grade. In middle school, there is likely a greater impact of physical distancing on risk reduction of COVID-19.

• By limiting the number of close contacts of each individual, cohorting significantly reduces the number of students and staff who will need to be excluded in the event of a positive case of COVID-19 in the school (all of whom will need to be quarantined and shift to virtual learning for 10-14 days if they have close contact with a case).

• For COVID-19, a close contact is defined as any individual who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes, starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to positive specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated. Factors to consider when defining close contact include whether one or all individuals were wearing masks, proximity, the duration of exposure, and whether the individual has symptoms. 

• Protection efforts applied collectively will provide stronger protection than any one effort in isolation, reducing the transmission of disease and minimizing the disruption to in-person learning. (e.g. Pre-screening for COVID-19 symptoms daily AND daily temperature checks AND hand washing AND social distancing AND using face masks AND cohorting AND fresh air ventilation with gross exchange of air on regular basis AND cleaning and disinfecting on a continual basis in the building AND utilizing outdoor classroom learning, recreation and meal areas AND managing staggered start and end time AND rerouting in-building traffic AND limiting building occupancy to students and employees only AND more…)

COVID-19 Transmission Mitigation Tactics

There are multiple approaches to reduce the risk of COVID-19 Transmission. When it is not feasible to use all of these tactics, we will layer them to achieve maximal mitigation.

The following list provides a list of mitigation tactics that Aspen Academy will employ. (Note: this is a high-level list.  A myriad of other strategies will also be in place and the list will evolve as we move through this journey as well as through suggestions from our community.)

• Daily Family and staff COVID-19 symptom pre-arrival screening
• Student temperature check on arrival
• Clinic and isolation rooms
• Low congestion on campus (only students and staff in building)
• Structured in-building foot traffic directionality
• Cohorts
• Small group sizes
• Low respiratory output programs
• Masks, face coverings, PPE
• Social distancing 3-6’ depending on age and inside/outside
• Ventilation: forced fresh air circulation and ionized air cleaning
• Outdoor classrooms, lunch and recreation areas designated per cohort
• Hourly, daily, weekly cleaning and disinfection protocols

The graphic above demonstrates the importance of cohorting

in contact tracing and mitigating spread of COVID-19. Image Source: https://www.cde.state.co.us/communications/20200720reopeningguidance

Addendum to the Student and Family Guidebook and Employee Handbook: 7/26/2020 Draft, subject to change                

Protocols Regardless of Phase

School Environment

Physical Distance

• 6-foot between-student spacing reduces disease transmission risk and is preferred; 3-foot distancing still provides substantial benefits and is acceptable in the context of a comprehensive disease control strategy. Distancing will be practiced when possible.
• Teachers and staff should make the greatest effort to adhere to 6-foot distancing, as their risk of contracting and transmitting the disease is higher than students.
• Staggered arrival and pickup times will reduce crowding in entrances and hallways.

Cohort

• In-building cohorts will be limited to the student’s homeroom class (12-18 students). Note: students will join their grade level classmates for recess(es), lunch and other outside grade level programming.  
• Cohorts reduce the number of exposed students/staff from a confirmed COVID-19 case and will result in fewer students/staff required to quarantine.
• Elevate Student Support Services staff and Director will minimize contact with non-client students and other adults in classrooms.

Minimize Transmission Risk

• Physical barriers (e.g. partitions) will be used, where appropriate, to decrease risk of viral transmission.
• Symptomatic employees and students will be referred to the CDPHE Symptom Support tool and their health care professional for evaluation and potential testing and reported to local public health agencies.
• Dedicated isolation rooms (apart from the health office) will be used to contain symptomatic individuals until they can return home or to a health facility. Facilities will be cleaned and disinfected appropriately between use.
• All high-touch surfaces and shared objects will be regularly cleaned and disinfected.
• Windows will be opened as much as possible. A “gross exchange” of fresh air will be forced through the HVAC system regularly. Technology has been installed into all HVAC units to reduce the spread of disease through needlepoint bipolar ionization. While effective against a broad range of illnesses, it's the only HVAC indoor air quality technology with 3rd party verified testing for 99.4% inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 viral particles.
• Hand sinks will be stocked with soap and paper towels. Automated hand dryers have been disconnected. Hand sanitizing stations will be stocked outside classrooms and at exits. Students will be trained and coached on frequent and proper hand washing. Signage encouraging frequent hand washing appears throughout the school and in bathrooms.

Confirmed COVID-19+ Case

• All cohorts will be prepared to shift to remote learning for 2-14 days when school closures or cohort dismissals occur in the event of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case among students or faculty.
• Exposure definitions and outbreak investigation requirements are currently being refined by health officials and when complete will be added to this addendum.

Coordinate with Local Public Health

• We will work closely with Tri-County Health in the case of a COVID-19+ diagnosis during on-campus learning.

Masks/Face Coverings/PPE

• Aspen Academy will comply with applicable state and local mask orders, in addition to below:
• Faculty, staff, and students will wear face coverings over the nose and mouth in the building and for all exterior situations in which a 3’-6’ distance cannot be maintained. (Exception made while people are eating and drinking)
• Face coverings may be temporarily removed, or transparent alternatives may temporarily be substituted when learning differences interfere with instruction.
• If necessary, the mask may be removed for the shortest duration possible to facilitate instruction.
• Adults are required to wear coverings over the nose and mouth when they are with other adults, as possible.
• Pre-Kindergarten: All masks will be removed during nap times; masks should be designed so students can remove them without assistance.

Health Screenings

• Students and employees will undergo home temperature and symptom screening or self-screening prior to arriving on campus each morning.
• Students and employees are required to remain home if experiencing COVID-19+ symptoms or if a family member has been diagnosed with COVID-19+ or is experiencing symptoms. Again, this is under revision and will be updated in this handbook as details are provided.
• Students will be temperature screened upon arrival to homeroom class.

Faculty and Staff COVID-19 Testing

• We are working to secure bi-monthly COVID-19 testing opportunities for each of our faculty members.  The current shortage of tests and waiting period of up to two weeks for results prevents this option currently. We will continue to pursue this option.

Hygiene/Safety

• Students and staff will wash hands frequently for 20 seconds with soap and water. When soap and water are not available, individuals will make use of wipes and/or hand sanitizer.
• Students and staff will be trained on specific health/safety protocols.

Students / Immediate Family Members identified as at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19

• Parents/guardians of children with special health needs should discuss the risks and benefits of in-person vs. virtual schooling with their health care provider.

Transportation

• There will be a temporary halt of transportation-dependant field trips and activities.

Addendum to the Student and Family Guidebook and Employee Handbook: 7/26/2020 Draft, subject to change                

What to Expect: By Phase

Stay at Home

High COVID-19 Incidence in the Community

To the best of our knowledge, another Stay At Home order like last spring (which could only be established via state executive order or county health order) is highly unlikely. In that event, we would move to a virtual learning format.

GRADE LEVEL        GUIDANCE

K - 5th        ● Virtual learning

     6th - 8th        ● Virtual learning

  Staff-Only Activities        ● Remote or outdoors if possible; groups of 10 or fewer if physical

           attendance is required.

  Refer to “Contingency Plan” section for more details.

Safer at Home

Moderate COVID-19 Incidence in the Community

As of today (07/26/20), Colorado is currently under the Safer At Home Executive Orders and Guidelines.

GRADE LEVEL        GUIDANCE

K - 5th        ●  HyFlex (on-campus and virtual instruction)

• Up to four adults per class per day
• Students in PreK-5th grade are not required or expected to meet 6-foot social distance in classrooms or other locations
• Normal class sizes may occur
• Outdoor Classroom use

6th - 8th        ●  HyFlex (on-campus and virtual instruction)

• Up to three adults per class per day in the building, but additional adults may be part of the teaching team because of outdoor classroom use
• Normal class sizes may occur because our regular small class sizes allow for 3-6’ distancing
• Outdoor Classroom use

Staff-Only Activities        ● Remote or outdoors if possible; groups of 10 or fewer if physical attendance is required.

Cohorting Under “Safer at Home”

• Students will remain in their homeroom cohort to prevent full school closure if a positive case is identified.
• Cohorts may have staggered recess periods with designated, rotating play locations and equipment.
• Cohort movement (e.g. to Essentials/Electives classrooms) will be coordinated to avoid mixing of cohorts.
• We remain prepared to pivot to full-time virtual learning for a cohort or the entire school in case of an outbreak.
• Cohorts may be realigned during the school year to support student educational needs. Longer durations of stable cohorting and changes that coincide with school breaks or dismissals enhance the effect of cohorting.

Refer to “HyFlex Platform” section for more details.

Protect Our Neighbors

Low COVID-19 Incidence in the Community

This order could come via state executive order or Tri-County Health order.

GRADE LEVEL        GUIDANCE

K - 5th        ●  HyFlex (on-campus and virtual instruction).

        ●  Students in grades K-5 do not need to meet the 6-foot distance in classrooms or other locations. Standard layered risk reduction strategies will be maintained as appropriate.

• Normal class sizes may occur.

6th - 8th        ● HyFlex (on-campus and virtual instruction).

• Normal class sizes may occur. Our standard small class sizes allow for 3-6’ distancing to be employed in conjunction with other layered risk mitigation tactics.

Staff-Only Activities        ● 50% of listed space capacity while maintaining 6’ distancing.

Cohorting Under “Protect Our Neighbors”

• The greatest practical degree of cohorting will be employed in conjunction with other layered risk mitigation tactics.
• Cohorts will have staggered recess periods, and movement times to Essentials classrooms will be coordinated to avoid mixing of cohorts.
• We remain prepared to pivot to full-time virtual learning for a cohort or entire school in case of an outbreak.
• Cohorts may be realigned during the school year to support student educational needs. Longer durations of stable cohorting and changes that coincide with school breaks or dismissals enhance the effect of cohorting.

Addendum to the Student and Family Guidebook and Employee Handbook: 7/26/2020 Draft, subject to change                

COVID-19 Scenario Planning

We’ve fielded several “What if…” scenario questions with regard to the school’s response regarding symptoms, exposure, and positive testing for COVID-19. The following table provides high-level action and communication guidance for a particular scenario. That said, there are myriad permutations of each scenario that will be addressed by school administration in consultation with our COVID-19 Health Advisory Team and/or health department guidance on a case-by-case basis.

*Note: Per Public Health, Human Resources and Student Privacy and HIPAA laws, names of students or staff exhibiting health symptoms may not be disclosed publicly by the school. Aspen Academy community members are requested to refrain from making inquiries as to names of individuals involved in any of these scenarios. 

Contact Tracing

Contact tracing is the process used to identify those who have come into contact with people who have tested positive for contagious diseases, including COVID-19. It is a long-standing practice and is an integral function of local health departments. Aspen Academy will collaborate with the Tri-County Health in contact tracing policies and procedures, as well as educating the broader school community on the importance of contact tracing. 

HyFlex Platform: On-Campus or Online Attendance

The CDC just published new guidelines for schools as well as a decision-making tool for helping families to decide whether to attend school on campus or online: CDC School Decision-Making Tool for Parents, Caregivers, and Guardians. 

Families will submit their choice to attend school on-campus or online (if there is an underlying medical condition in the student or immediate family) by 8/14 for Quarter 1 and then a week before the end of each quarter thereafter for the 20-21 school year.

Switching from on-campus to online for reasons other than a policy change, quarantine, isolation or illness are not permissible because of the challenges that creates from a logistics, management and safety perspective. If we change our policies and that change makes your family more or less comfortable, you may update your preference to reflect our change in policy or conditions by contacting your child’s academic division director.

Click here to download this HyFlex graphic above

Addendum to the Student and Family Guidebook and Employee Handbook: 7/26/2020 Draft, subject to change                

What to Expect: On-Campus Learners

Pre-Arrival Health Symptom Screening

Staff must self-certify daily that they are COVID-19 symptom free via a free, school-provided app.

Student’s caregiver must complete daily pre-arrival screenings and report via a free, school-provided app.

Morning Drop-Off and Afternoon Student Pick-Up

Per Health Department and State orders: ALL students must be dropped off curbside. Parents may not leave their cars nor enter the building in order to ensure social distancing among adults and to not to impact the health of the classroom, grade level, and faculty cohorts. 

We will continue on our staggered drop-off and pick-up times assigned by grade levels. This year, older siblings’ start and end time will be assigned to correspond with that of their youngest attending sibling to provide the greatest convenience for parents. Times will be announced in August. We do not anticipate significant differences from past years. 

To ensure the most efficient flow of one-way traffic and potentially create additional drop-off and pick-up lanes, each family will be assigned a parking lot entrance and exit to use for ingress/egress. Maps will be sent to you the week before school.

Building Entry and Exit 

Per Health Department and State orders: Parents are not permitted in the school building or on campus grounds, to limit exposure to students, staff and other parents. Students and staff will enter/exit at different doors at staggered times in order to reduce risk mitigation and potential transmission.

• Staff will enter through northwest main entrance doors.
• Grades Pre-K – 3 will enter through northwest main entrance doors.
• Grades 4 – 8: Enter through southwest main entrance doors.

Handwashing and Temperature Check Upon Arrival

Upon arrival, students will proceed directly to their homeroom teacher’s classroom. We will assist students with this for several weeks until everyone is comfortable with their morning path. A team will be in place throughout the year to support our youngest students in getting to class. Once at their class door, homeroom teachers will greet students and take their temperature.

Sickness

Strict symptom management, including isolation, communication, contact tracing, and post-illness protocol will be enforced for students and employees.

Parents of students who have a fever (100.4℉ or more) at the homeroom temperature check, will be immediately called for pick-up and student will be brought to an isolation room.

Health monitoring of staff and students will occur throughout each day. All teaching staff will be supplied with non-contact infrared thermometers. Anyone who begins to exhibit symptoms or a temperature of 100.4℉ or more during the school day will be isolated from other students and staff in a designated isolation room per State Health order. For students, emergency contacts will be called, and the student must be picked up as quickly as possible (within 30 minutes). 

The isolation room will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each use with EPA approved products that meet CDC guidelines for COVID-19. 

If you have opted for On-campus learning, but your child is sick and unable to attend school, you will be able to request the class zoom recording for the day your student missed and that video will be available for 48 hours from the time you receive it. 

Student Supplies and Personal Belongings

Health Department and State orders prohibit the sharing of student supplies and require the daily cleaning and disinfecting of a student’s personal supplies at home. 

The school has traditionally collected a student supply fee for communal supplies that could be shared by an entire class, grade or school. In the past, the bulk discount we’ve secured has allowed us to keep that fee very low for our families. Purchasing an individual pack with those available dollars simply was not a possibility this year. Instead, those funds will help offset the cleaning and disinfectant supply and additional student materials costs in each classroom. 

We’ve partnered with Edukit to provide you a cost-effective, one-stop-shop to have your child’s supply box shipped to your door. The website explains the cost per grade level kit, ordering deadline, and items for specific grade levels. If you have multiple students you will be able to purchase all student kits at once. Our ordering website (7/30: If you experience an error when ordering, the deadline to order through Edukit has passed as orders were due on 7/24. Please use the Grade Level Supply List as a guide so you can purchase as needed.

Each day, your student will place in a backpack appropriate for their physical size: their lunch box (if not participating in the school’s lunch program); their pencil box; and learning materials as supplied by the school. Per State protocol, all student personal items must be brought home daily for cleaning and disinfection.

Additional supplies were purchased in bulk by the school and will be distributed to each student per grade level. 

Personal Supply Lists By Grade

Per Health Department and State orders: cubbies and lockers are prohibited to limit risk and possibility of transmission. All students will keep all their supplies, personal items and lunch box in one backpack (size specified below) and will bring that backpack with them as they move to each of their learning periods. We know that this is challenging, but it is a requirement we are compelled to abide by.

Lockers/Cubbies

Health Department and State orders prohibit the use of cubbies and lockers as a measure to ensure maximal distancing in a school setting. 

For now, ALL items that a student brings to school must fit in a 15” or 17” backpack depending on the child's size, including personal effects, school supplies, computing device and lunch if brought from home. Each student will store their backpack by their class chair throughout the day.

Cohorts

Health Department and State guidelines for schools include the development and protection of cohort grouping of students, by class (or by grade) that allows for the same students and staff to be together each day to mitigate risk, limit the possibility of transmission, and allow for contact tracing if a COVID-19 positive case were to be diagnosed. 

At Aspen Academy, our small class sizes (Pre-K: 12/class;  K-3rd Grade: 16/class; and 4th-8th Grade: 18/class) and a limit of three classes per grade, allows us to cohort very effectively. In the building, each homeroom of students will participate in their learning blocks together, as we have always done. Then, as is our practice, they will join the other classes in their grade for recesses and lunch as a grade level cohort. This way, the children can be with all their grade level classmates during these social and recreation times. Cohorts will include:

• In Building: Homeroom classmates (12-18 students)
• Outside (Recesses and Lunch): all grade level classmates
• 3 Core Teachers (Communications and Literacy, Math, and Science/Social Studies)
• 1 Essential/Elective Teacher (One Essentials/Electives teacher assigned to each grade for a two week period of time and then a different Essentials/Elective teacher will rotate into the grade for two weeks and so on.)

Outdoor Classrooms and Auxiliary Spaces

The school has made a tremendous and unexpected investment to build and outfit an additional 10 outdoor classroom spaces (one per grade level) throughout the campus to promote the highest level of compliance possible to the Health Department and State orders and guidelines.

Each grade level cohort will be assigned a specified outdoor space for the following:

1. One or more outdoor class periods per day for at least the first quarter (weather permitting). This may be a Core or Essential block period, to ensure the students are outside as much as possible. Students are expected to dress for the predicted weather. 
2. Enjoying their classmates during a grade-level cohort lunches outdoors (weather permitting).  

The outdoor spaces will rotate among the grades on a regular schedule that teachers determine in August to allow for optimal use of spaces pertinent to particular units of study. 

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and School Climate and Culture

Social emotional learning (SEL) is critical in re-engaging students, supporting adults, rebuilding relationships, and creating a foundation for academic learning. We have thoughtfully planned around the well-being of educators so they can: support the social and emotional well-being and learning needs of their students; acknowledge and prepare for the potential trauma that staff and students have faced during the COVID-19 school closures; and recognize and empower educators’ and staff’s strengths. 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Our nation is in the midst of a long overdue watershed of awareness-raising, personal and system learning, growth and reformation with regard to racial, gender and other cultural social justice, equity and reconciliation. Our newly appointed Director of Elevate, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion alongside our DEI Facilitator Team, administration, faculty, students and families are setting high goals for positive and productive and integrated learning, growing and leading framework for these important domains.

Student Success through Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

MTSS is a systematic approach to prevention and intervention for students who have a diagnosed learning disability and/or behavioral challenge that offers educators and families a mechanism to identify and help individual students who need extra support.

Aspen Academy has added two additional personnel members to our Elevate Team for the upcoming year.

Daily Schedule

• Block 1: Leadership and Entrepreneurship
• Block 2, 3, 4: Communications and Literacy, Math, or Science/Social Studies – Each core class will last from 75-90 minutes and will be scheduled throughout the day to allow for lunch, recesses and the Essentials Block
• Block 5: Essentials/Electives (Music, Art, Drama, Dance, Fitness, Spanish, STEAM Domains) will be scheduled between or after core academic blocks. Essentials/Electives will be 2 week blocks and students will move in their cohorts to the Essential/Electives classroom. Safety measures such as staggering passing periods and establishing alternative routes to get to the Essentials classrooms to avoid two way traffic in the halls. In order to keep students and staff safe, Essentials teachers will be assigned to one grade for 2 weeks to coincide with the known incubation period of COVID-19. 
• Virtual students will not be able to see their classmates to protect the privacy of our students, but virtual students will hear their classmates and the class will be able to hear them. 

Essentials and Electives

Essentials and Electives represent the domains of Music, Art, Dance, Drama, Fitness, Spanish, STEAM and several other varied courses.

Each cohort is limited to four teachers per day in our current phase. As a result, each grade will be partnered with one Essentials/Elective teacher who will teach Block 5: Essentials/Electives for two weeks, in order to maintain the integrity of each cohort and to ensure that the students are receiving a highly robust and varied Essentials Program exposure. The Core and Essentials teachers will work together to develop a highly integrated and engaging curriculum and experience.

Because of the state mandates regarding maintaining the integrity of the cohorts for the health and safety of all, the electives choice options must be postponed for now. We know that these elective choices are a beloved part of the Middle School experience and we, like you, are looking forward to the time when we can bring those options back. For our Middle School students, our Essentials and Electives team will be working with you to gain your feedback so that your voice, ideas and passions can help develop the sequence, domains, and topics.  

In order to include the Essentials domains in every student’s program, we’ve added 20% more faculty to the Essentials Division Team.

Recess

We’ve made a massive investment in recreation spaces for our students this summer to create separate spaces for each grade level cohort each day, mitigating risk and reducing exposure between grade levels. The kiddos are going to love all their new play spaces and the opportunity to play with their full grade level cohort. To mitigate risk of incident or transmission, recess locations will be rotated regularly for each cohort throughout the campus.

New or Improved Outdoor Recess, Recreation and Fitness Amenities for students for the 20-21 school year:

• Putting Green - IMPROVED
• Bocce Ball Court - NEW
• Lacrosse Field - IMPROVED
• Soccer Field - IMPROVED
• Pre-K and Kindergarten Playground - NEW (September Install)
• Parkour Agility and Fitness Playground - NEW (September Install)
• Tower Playground - NEW (September Install)
• Playground Games Court - IMPROVED
• Basketball Court - IMPROVED
• Volleyball Court - IMPROVED
• In-line Hockey Court - IMPROVED
• Shuffleboard Court - IMPROVED
• Bouldering Climbing Wall - NEW
• Corn-Hole Court - NEW
• Ping-Pong Court - NEW
• Natural Boulder Playscape and Amphitheatre - NEW
• Musical Playground - NEW (September Install)
• Tag Playground - IMPROVED

Lunch

Students are encouraged to participate in our purchased lunch program. The logistics of moving all students outside to their designated outdoor grade level auxiliary space (or eating lunch in the homeroom on inclement weather days) is going to be a challenge given that this is now a duty wholly managed by the grade level teaching team. Having our vendor, Grateful Plate simply deliver the box lunches to the designated classroom or space, will make this much simpler for all parties and assures that every student has their lunch every day. Grateful Plate has made it very affordable to ensure your child receives a delivered lunch each day and is making an additional commitment to safety for COVID-19. If you had funds remaining in your account last year, those funds will roll-over to the 2020-2021 school year. Students bringing their own lunch must ensure that it fits within their backpack. 

Due to the regulations, parent visitors are not permitted. As a result, accompanying your student at lunch and drop-off of lunches are disallowed.  

Restrooms

Restroom and handwashing breaks will be scheduled (to the extent possible) in accordance with cohort guidelines for 2nd - 8th grade classes who do not have an embedded toilet and sink facilities in the classrooms. All restrooms will be cleaned and disinfected throughout the day and at the end of the day.

• Pre-K - 1st Grade will use restrooms in classrooms.
• 2nd - 3rd Grade will use Lower School restrooms with 4 scheduled restroom breaks per grade.
• 4th - 5th Grade will use Main Floor school restrooms with 4 scheduled restroom breaks per grade.
• 6th - 8th Grade: will use Middle School restrooms with 4 scheduled restroom breaks per grade. 

Extended Care

We know that the last several months of COVID-19 and the mitigation strategies put in place to slow and combat the virus have created enormous challenges for families. Most schools that we’ve surveyed have opted to cancel before- and after- school childcare programs.

Knowing the burden this would create for several Aspen Academy families, we are working on a solution that will allow us to continue this program and to ensure that risk mitigation strategies (including cohort integrity) are maintained. Families needing before or after school care must register for the program by August 7, if you haven’t done so already. Registration is on a first come first served basis with limited spaces available. More information will follow to those registered for the program in the coming weeks. (NOTE: We will not be offering After Care on Fridays in order to provide a Level 2- Level 3 cleaning and disinfecting throughout the whole school.)

Extracurriculars and Intramural Athletics

Due to cohorting restrictions and the intramural leagues’ current cancellations of games and tournaments, we are compelled to hold off on the distribution of the Extracurricular and Athletics Catalog temporarily. Once COVID-19 cases start to markedly decrease, we look forward to adding these programs back.

Addendum to the Student and Family Guidebook and Employee Handbook: 7/26/2020 Draft, subject to change                

Health & Safety

In addition to discussing and reinforcing appropriate protective and preventative behaviors (e.g., social distancing, sneeze and cough protection, handwashing, face masks, etc.), teachers and staff will place a significant emphasis on cleaning and disinfecting to ensure the health and safety of students and staff. 

Cleaning & Disinfecting

Our Cleaning and Disinfecting protocols exceed guidance from the CDC, State and Local Health Departments, OSHA, and EPA. Due to the fluidity of the pandemic and ongoing research to better understand how the virus spreads, our cleaning and disinfecting plan is subject to change.

Our Facility & Campus Department has been diligently operating since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, successfully establishing and implementing cleaning, disinfection, and building operational protocols to prevent the spread of the virus. We’ve developed this plan based on guidance from the CDC, OSHA, and EPA.

We have expanded the frequency of cleaning and disinfection by custodial staff, with increased attention to high touch and common areas, and with the support of additional equipment (e.g. electrostatic foggers) as warranted. We have established protocols for cleaning and disinfecting and provided guidance and supplies for individuals regarding the cleaning and disinfecting of classrooms and offices. Aspen Academy uses an EPA-registered cleaning and disinfecting product that has been proven effective and has been approved for use to combat COVID.

Classrooms will be cleaned and disinfected between and after classes. Cleaning and disinfecting supplies are available in the classroom (including wipes, hand sanitizer, and other cleaning supplies) to allow staff to wipe their areas prior to the start of the class.

In order to accomplish the Herculean frequency and level of cleaning and disinfecting, Aspen Academy has increased its Facility & Campus team and will be contracting additional custodial staff.

Cleaning

While cleaning refers to the removal of dirt, germs and impurities from surfaces, it alone does not kill germs. Cleaning levels will be adjusted throughout campus in order to focus custodial resources on the disinfection protocols necessary for successful virus mitigation.

Disinfection

Disinfection works by using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs. But killing germs that remain on a surface after cleaning further reduces any risk of spreading infection.

Three levels of disinfection have been established based on the response required to mitigate the virus:

1) LEVEL 1: Precautionary Disinfection - Routine custodial assignments are followed in addition to focused/prioritized disinfecting with standard cleaning disinfectant on high contact areas/touch points (i.e. Elevator controls, doorknobs, push plates, handrails, handles, telephone receivers, etc.).

2) LEVEL 2: Enhanced Disinfection - This involves using a disinfectant on high contact areas to include reachable air vents. Includes a one-time application of an antimicrobial to the carpeted areas. Increased disinfection frequency of high contact points (i.e. elevator controls, doorknobs, push plates, handrails, door handles, telephone receivers, water dispensers, low air vents, etc.) Increasing to twice a day cleaning/disinfection of lavatories.

3) LEVEL 3: Decontamination of a Positive Contact Area - This procedure involves an electrostatic application of disinfectant in an area or space when a confirmed positive SARS-CoV-2 individual has had contact in a building. This procedure will be applied where the positive contact occurred in addition to the traced path of the individual. Areas to be disinfected will be determined on a case-by-case basis. The area will be closed 24 hours prior to this procedure to allow for aerosols to settle. Occupancy will be allowed one hour after the completion of this procedure.

Heating, Ventilation and Cooling

The building has been evaluated for ventilation and other preventative measures appropriate for the space. Beginning three years ago, finishing this summer, we’ve replaced all windows in the building to allow for fresh air to come through open windows. We have increased the ventilation rates and the use of outdoor air as systems will allow for proper operations. We use OSHA standard premium filters for the highest level of filtration. Improvements to the HVAC systems and controls over the last few years allow for gross wholesale air exchange, continually bringing fresh air into the building. Additionally, we made a $70,000 investment this summer to install IAQ Technology into all 25 of our HVAC units, reducing the spread of disease through needlepoint bipolar ionization. While effective against a broad range of illnesses, this is the only HVAC indoor air quality technology with 3rd party verified testing for 99.4% inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 viral particles. This is the leading air quality system available in the world and has been installed and studied at the nation’s busiest level one trauma hospitals, research centers, the White House, and more.

Face Masks

Per state order, and for the protection of our teachers and students, Face Masks are required for all students and employees in the building. In a case, where a student is directed in writing by a doctor that wearing a mask would be an impediment to a diagnosed health condition, the school would encourage online learning so as not to jeopardize the teachers and the student cohort’s health. If, on the playgrounds and auxiliary classrooms, six (6) feet of physical distancing can be maintained, students may be permitted to remove their masks if they so desire. Everyone will wear their mask if they are not able to maintain social distancing.  

Because children are such social beings, it is difficult at best and more realistically, improbable to plan or ensure adherence of social distancing among our 4 - 14 year old children 100% of the time. We have made every structural intent and will train the students in the importance of this preventative measure, but after having observed dozens of camps, sports practices, parks, etc. over the last few months, we pragmatically recognize the challenge in the practicality and enforcement of this guideline in early, primary and middle schools as are educators and parents throughout the world. Given that, face masks will be part of our new norm. Having also observed summer camps and childcare centers where face coverings are required, I’m happy to report that the students adapt readily and do an excellent job of keeping the masks on without complaint. 

The 8th Grade BSE store leaders and their mentors have worked with one of our families to produce Aspen Academy reusable fabric masks from BioMsk. Click here for more information or to purchase.

Clear Masks for Teachers

In response to concerns from some parents about students not able to see their teachers’ faces and expressions, Aspen Academy has searched the world over and invested in clear face masks for faculty to use for classroom instruction, allowing for the ability to see facial expressions and emotions, catch visual cues, and communicate easily with students. These are not face shields, but rather face masks that were originally developed to support the hearing impaired community.

Additional PPE

Aspen Academy will provide gloves, face shields, gowns and other protective equipment as appropriate for an individual employee’s job duties. It is the department’s responsibility to provide gloves and PPE for task specific jobs as required by OSHA, CDC, or DDPHE.

Individual desks and transparent dividers provide an additional layer of protection through distancing and mitigation.

Hand Washing/Sanitizing, Sneeze, Face-Touching Precautions 

Some of the most effective measures related to combating the spread of COVID-19 are precautionary. Staff will work to ensure the following safety procedures are taught and used throughout the building. Planned activities include: 

• Providing instruction and signage on how to properly wash hands and use hand sanitizer. 
• Planning for students to wash hands and/or use hand sanitizer after coughing/sneezing, before and after meals/snacks. 
• Providing hand sanitizer at all classrooms.
• Providing hand sanitizer to all students when entering the building and classroom (e.g., before school, after recess, after group activities, etc.) and encouraging frequent handwashing. 

Additionally, signage reminding students and staff of handwashing and sneeze/face-touching etiquette will be displayed throughout the building and frequent reminders made to our school community. 

Addendum to the Student and Family Guidebook and Employee Handbook: 7/26/2020 Draft, subject to change                

What to Expect: Virtual Learners

For students who choose to attend school via our online platform vs. on campus, we know that this is not an easy decision. Our aim is to create an inclusive environment so the kiddos at home feel connected and have great friendships with their classmates. We are committed to doing all we can to ensure that each of our families participating virtually feels connected to the Aspen Academy community.  

For an overview on our virtual learning recommendations, please review this Aspen Academy Virtual Learning Guide for Families

Virtual Learning and Teaching Platform Tools

• Personal Computing Device. Instructions will be provided in the coming weeks as to which apps to install prior to the first day of school. As communicated earlier, families will need to secure a computing device for your child for online learning. If you are having a challenge affording such a device, please contact your child’s Director for assistance.
• We will continue to use Zoom, Canvas, See-Saw, Google Apps to engage, teach, and assess students. Zoom continues to improve its security features, with its latest updates focusing on a significantly improved encryption system and mandatory waiting rooms to ensure the highest level of security for our students and faculty.

Single Sign-On (SSO) Through Clever Integration

Thank you to our families for all your feedback regarding logins to multiple platforms. We’ve invested in a streamlined website/app platform called Clever, so students can access all sites/apps they need with a single sign-on (SSO). Our students will simply sign into Clever using their unique password or badge, and all of their important websites will be organized there with one-click access. This will eliminate the time and frustration of password management for teachers, students, and parents.

Inclusion

We beta-tested our HyFlex classroom model during our Kickstart camp earlier this summer and received rave reviews from families who participated in those courses both on campus and through our virtual learning platforms. Parents were thrilled that students are able to engage technically with Zoom, other tools, and  receive check-ins during the instructional time from teachers providing real-time interaction as needed.

In those sessions, we were able to test myriad teleconferencing, virtual learning equipment, processes, protocols, software, etc. to ensure that we have solid systems that will work for our students attending via the virtual learning platform.

Considerations

Our hope is that the school meets every single one of its students, families, faculty and staff right where they need us to in all things. That remains our aspiration.

We have the most amazing teachers and we’re eternally grateful to work with this caliber of professionals. We are asking a great deal of our teachers and we need to ask you for your care, support and cheerleading of them as we move through this unprecedented time without historical models. If you have suggestions along the way as to how we can improve the HyFlex or Virtual Learning models, be our partner and let’s work together to optimize the program for your student’s needs.

There are some limitations regarding virtual learning and teaching that we all need to understand, honor and adhere, including student and family privacy, human resource laws, and regulations. Our team has set a priority of creating an engaging environment for all virtual learners while honoring regulations we are obligated to adhere to as an educational institution. We have received numerous suggestions regarding technology solutions that work in other settings for remote meetings. We have tested and evaluated several classroom virtual learning devices. After extensive consideration, with consultation from several technology companies, legal counsel and insurance representatives, we have determined that virtual students will be able to: view the teacher during active instruction; view the classroom’s interactive whiteboard; and view the teacher’s computer screen when it holds a learning model. Virtual students will participate in class discussions via audio feed (just as if they are in the class on-campus) but the camera will remain fixed in order to minimize risk of compromising student privacy.  

We have created auxiliary outdoor classrooms to be used by each cohort for at least one block per day in order to bring on-campus learners into the outdoors more. To ensure continued connection for our students attending virtually when a class moved outdoors, we’ve made significant investments so the signal strength is strong in those areas. We anticipate this could go well, and given the different settings outdoors, we recognize that there will be ambient environmental noise and other factors that we’ll need to work out once we get started. Thanks in advance for your patience and good ideas as we make this particular element work for everyone

Attendance

Virtual students will be assigned a standard schedule exactly as if they were on campus. That schedule will be sent to your family prior to the start of school. Students will be expected to arrive on time and attend each class as if on campus. Attendance and tardies will be recorded by the teacher at the beginning of each class session. 

The typical practice will include their teacher welcoming all students (virtual and on-campus learners) at the start of each learning block, for an opportunity to see and interact with their classmates. NOTE: it is critically important that the student is in the Zoom waiting room prior to the start of class so the teacher can allow them to enter the classroom session. Once the teacher begins teaching the lesson, they will not have the opportunity to continually check for students in Zoom waiting rooms.

Absences

If your student is too ill to attend virtual class, you will be able to request the class Zoom recording for the day(s) your student missed. That video will be available for 48 hours from the time you receive it. 

Classes will be recorded and sent by request only in the case of students receiving excused absences. The link to the class recording will expire after 48 hours. Class session recordings will be stored for 10 days after the lesson, then purged due to preserve storage capacity for ongoing class content. 

Cohort

Each student attending virtually will be placed in a class cohort as described earlier in this document and will attend each of their core and essential/elective classes with that cohort albeit virtually.

Daily Schedule

All academic modules will be created in Canvas and available Sunday by 4PM the night prior to the start of the week to ensure virtual students have all supplies needed for the live instruction throughout the school week. 

When the student is admitted into the session from the Zoom waiting room, they will likely see the teacher on screen for introduction of the material and direct instruction. During the lesson, learners will see the screen that is being shared with the classroom; or the teacher; and/or other students in their cohort attending virtually.

• Block 1: Leadership and Entrepreneurship
• Block 2, 3, 4: Communications and Literacy, Math, or Science/Social Studies – Each core class will last from 75-90 minutes and will be scheduled throughout the day to allow for lunch, recesses and the Essentials Block
• Block 5: Essentials/Electives (Music, Art, Drama, Dance, Fitness, Spanish, STEAM Domains) will be scheduled between or after core academic blocks. Essentials/Electives will be 2 week blocks and students will move in their cohorts to the Essential/Electives classroom. In order to keep students and staff safe, Essentials teachers will be assigned to one grade for 2 weeks to coincide with the known incubation period of COVID-19
• To protect the privacy of our students on-campus, virtual learners will not be able to see their classmates during the full block of teaching. They will hear their classmates and the class will be able to hear them. 

Student Supplies and Personal Belongings

The school has traditionally collected a student supply fee for communal supplies that could be shared by an entire class, grade or school. In the past, the bulk discount we’ve secured has allowed us to keep that fee very low for our families. Purchasing an individual pack with those available dollars simply was not a possibility this year. Instead, those funds will help offset the cleaning and disinfectant supply and additional student materials costs in each classroom. 

Virtual learners will need supplies. We’ve partnered with Edukit to provide you a cost-effective, one-stop-shop to have your child’s supply box shipped to your door. The website explains the cost per grade level kit, ordering deadline, and items for specific grade levels. If you have multiple students you will be able to purchase all student kits at once. Our ordering website (7/30: If you experience an error when ordering, the deadline to order through Edukit has passed as orders were due on 7/24. Please use the Grade Level Supply List as a guide so you can purchase as needed.

Additional supplies were purchased in bulk by the school and will be distributed to each student per grade level. Should you need additional supplies, please contact your child’s teacher. 

Addendum to the Student and Family Guidebook and Employee Handbook: 7/26/2020 Draft, subject to change                

Student and Family Support

We know that managing virtual learning from home isn’t always easy. Each family will receive a check-in call weekly from the school to see if there is anything we can do to support you.

Students enrolled in our Elevate program will continue to receive student success services through a schedule  customized to that learner and communicated with you in the coming weeks.

Parent Civic Organization (PCO)

Our PCO team will remain an active and important partner to our teachers and staff as they pivot their focus to building community in new and different ways. They are planning a series of small-group, socially distant, and virtual events for the forthcoming year to keep us connected.

Community Strength and Service

Aspen Academy’s community is absolutely extraordinary. The care, love, concern, friendships and partnerships that exist among this amazing group of folks is truly special.

Volunteering

We love our parent and grandparent volunteers. Their impact on the students, classes, programs, events are amazing. Due to state restrictions, volunteers and in-person class visitors will be temporarily restricted from entering the building. As a result, we’re working to creatively shift volunteer opportunities so that our families still have plenty of opportunities to be involved. We look forward to sharing information on upcoming events and opportunities in early fall. Parent volunteer hour requirements will be eliminated for semester one and semester two requirements will be evaluated as the school year proceeds.

Health and Safety Advisory Committee

Our Health and Safety Advisory Committee consists of trustees, staff, and parents/community members who have needed specializations in the focused areas of concern for our 2020-2021 school year.

Contingency Plans

In addition to preparing for our HyFlex model and on-campus health and safety protocols, we prepared several contingency plans for what COVID-19, state executive order or county health agency requirement might warrant. Here are a couple of the many scenarios that we can pivot to, if needed: