Back-To-School Plan

Holy Cross Lutheran School

2021-22 School Opening

We appreciate your continued support and prayers as we evaluate and adapt our back-to-school plan in order to keep all of our students, their families and our staff members safe. We are so excited to start our school year and are really looking forward to seeing your children! Our goal this year is to return to as much normalcy as possible while continuing to follow the necessary safety guidelines related to Covid-19.

CALENDAR

School will open on August 19 for Kindergarten through 8th grade, and August 30 for preschool students.

Current school calendar.

START-OF-SCHOOL-YEAR ACTIVITIES

Meet the Teacher events, Preschool Practice Days and Parent Information Night are being redesigned and will be communicated by grade level.

MASKS & FACIAL COVERINGS

Visitors are required to wear a mask when in the building.

Preschool: Masks are strongly encouraged when in the building.

K-8th: Mask are required when in the building.

All students: Masks are not required when outside.

ASSIGNED SEATING AND COHORTS

Students will have assigned seating in each classroom, and cohorts will be used as much as possible to limit contact with other adults and students.  K-8 student seating/desks will be three feet apart and have clear desk shields. 

DAILY SCREENING

Holy Cross will not be utilizing the health check app for student and staff screening this year.  We ask that parents do an assessment of their child each morning for the potential signs/symptoms of Covid-19.

LUNCH

Lunch will be held outside, weather permitting. When inside, students will be in the lunch area as much as possible, sitting three feet apart with desk shields. Fun Lunch Friday will be offered weekly.

OUTDOOR LEARNING

We are blessed to have a beautiful campus with many outdoor spaces. The use of tents will provide options for outdoor learning spaces in addition to the regular classrooms.

SPECIAL AREA CLASSES

Special areas of PE, Band, and Choir will make every effort to socially distance students by six feet. The Collaboratory (grades K-3) and Art will be using desk shields or masks, depending upon the activity.

CHAPEL

Faith development and worship are an integral part of our school day. We will continue have Chapel services in a modified format. Chapel may be held outside, or live-streamed to the classrooms (with one class in attendance on a rotating basis.) Preschool chapel will be held in the Worship Center, cohorted by class.

BEFORE AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE

Services will be provided for pre-registered students in cohorts to reduce interactions. Drop-ins will be permitted if space is available.

MONITORING ILL STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS

Covid-19 is a reportable communicable disease, and we are required by the Indiana State Department of Health to follow their guidelines for contact tracing and quarantining after possible exposure to Covid-19.

REMOTE LEARNING

Remote learning will be provided to students in Kindergarten through 8th grade who are out of school due to a Covid-19 quarantine.  We will be unable to provide remote learning to other students.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Our goal is to offer regular sport options.

VISITORS AND VOLUNTEERS

We are excited about the possibility of having visitors and parent volunteers in the classroom this year, but are not able to do so at this time. We hope to be able to revise this policy soon!

The leadership team will continue to evaluate our plan on a regular basis and remain diligent in responding to new research and information being published by health officials, as well as what is happening at Holy Cross.

[Page last updated on August 24, 2021.]