Face Coverings/Masks 

• Masks must be worn on campus by employees and students at all times. Properly and consistently wearing masks is critical to keeping everyone as safe and healthy as possible. Students will not be allowed on campus if they do not wear masks. 
   
• We will work with students to ensure that their masks cover their mouth and nose.
   
• All masks must be clearly labeled with the student's name.
    
• We highly recommend sending additional "back-up" masks in a plastic bag in your child's backpack.
   
• If a students forget or lose their masks, we will have extra disposable masks for them.
   
• If your child has a medical exemption from wearing a mask, please contact your Division Director.
   
• For best practices regarding proper use, removal, and washing of cloth face coverings, please click here.

Types of Masks

• While on campus, students must wear either a cloth face covering or a disposable surgical grade mask. For your convenience, each student will be provided a cloth mask at the beginning of the year. Students are not required to wear these masks if they prefer to wear one of their own that complies with our policy. 
   
• Prohibited Types of Masks
  • Masks with air vents that allow air out are not allowed because this type of mask does not fully protect the wearer from droplets invading the mask and does not prevent your air droplets from escaping.
     
  • Gaiters or similar types of masks are not permitted, as recent studies have shown that they can increase transmission for the wearer. 

Proper Use

• If using a cloth face covering, it should be washed after each day’s use.
   
• If using a disposable mask, please replace it daily.

Mask Breaks

• Students will be given the opportunity to take short mask breaks throughout the day, as directed by a member of the faculty or staff.
   
• Students will also remove their masks to eat during recess and lunch, but must maintain 6 feet of distancing at all times.

Face Shields

• Students who have been instructed by their medical provider that they should not wear a face covering, should wear a face shield with a drape on the bottom edge, to be in compliance with State directives, as long as their condition permits it. 
   

• “Physical distancing” means keeping a safe space of at least 6 feet between yourself and other people who are not from your household.” (From the CDC.)
   
• Students should avoid spending extended period of time with other students outside their own classroom.
   
• Avoid “close contact” with others. At Laurence, with the mindset of taking an abundance of caution, we define “close contact” as being within six feet for more than 10 minutes of the infected person or having unprotected direct contact to body fluids of the infected person (e.g., cough or sneeze on face or sharing of a drink or a food utensil).

• Generally, students will be 6 feet apart while at their desks.
   
• In accordance with Los Angeles County Department of Health guidance and requirements, when 6 foot distancing is not possible, plexiglass dividers will be attached to the student desks to act as an additional separation that creates an equivalent 6 feet of separation. Students will also wear masks when in classrooms.
   
• Assignments will be turned in digitally whenever possible, and we will implement other procedures when it is not possible, to minimize contact between students and teachers.
   
• Should a teacher need to tend to a child because of an injury or in a restroom, students and teachers will remain masked at all times. 
   
• Additional classrooms, tents and outdoor class spaces have been created to permit physical distancing throughout campus and to allow for all students to be on campus, when permitted by the county and state.
   
• As we commence the school year and until further notice, specialists classrooms, including the library, art room, Tech Center, music, and science lab, will be used as homeroom classroom spaces. 
   

Recess and Lunch Areas 

• We will continue to ask teachers and students to maintain 6 feet of distance between them. Faculty will be assigned to monitor students and remind them to maintain a 6 foot distance.

PAC, Sports Court, Lightning Field

• PE coaches will be assigned to appropriate learning families and design their program to support 6 foot distancing.
• Climbing Structure: Following the most current CDC guidelines, the climbing structure located next to the sports court will be temporarily closed.

Bathrooms

• Only one student will be allowed in a bathroom at a time. Signage and physical distancing ground stickers will be in place to help students remember. 
   

• Walkways throughout campus will be one way and labeled with directional signage wherever possible.
   
• Signage reminding students and employees to physical distance, wear masks, and wash/sanitize their hands will be posted throughout campus.

• Hand hygiene is an important part of our efforts to mitigate the risk of COVID-19. Practicing hand hygiene, which includes the use of alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) or handwashing, is a simple yet effective way to prevent the spread of infection. CDC recommendations reflect the critical role of hand hygiene.
   
• When we return to school, teachers will develop routines enabling students to regularly wash and/or sanitize their hands at staggered intervals. 
   
• Please help us in our efforts to mitigate risk by teaching your children when and how to wash their hands to stay healthy.

Hand Washing on Campus

• Portable hand washing stations have been installed in several places on campus to provide opportunities for increased hand washing by students and employees.
   
• Hand-washing breaks will be scheduled, and teachers will encourage students to wash their hands frequently throughout the day and at key times.

Follow Five Steps to Wash Your Hands the Right Way

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

When to Wash Your Hands

You can help yourself and your loved ones stay healthy by washing your hands often, especially during these key times when you are likely to get and spread germs:

• Before and after eating food
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet
• Before touching your eyes, nose, and mouth 
• After touching a contaminated surface or object
• After blowing your nose
• After coughing or sneezing into hands 

• Touchless hand sanitizers will be available in each classroom.
   
• Teachers will sanitize their hands upon entering and leaving the classroom, and have their students do the same. 
   
• Teachers will encourage students to sanitize their hands, as needed, throughout the day.

• When students need to sneeze or cough, best practices are to have them  cover their faces with a bent elbow or cover their noses and mouths with a tissue and throw it away in a trash bin.
   
• Students should use a tissue to wipe their nose instead of their hand or sleeve.
   
• Students should avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth.
   
• Teachers will remind students of these best practices.
   
• We ask families to teach this to their children and encourage it at home, as well.

• All employees have been provided with a Return to Work document that explains our detailed protocols and procedures for heightened healthy, safety and hygiene. That document can be accessed here.
   
• During our in-service week for faculty and staff, our Health Office personnel reviewed the following:
  • Enhanced sanitation practices 
  • Physical distancing guidelines and their importance 
  • Proper use, removal, and washing of face coverings 
  • Screening practices 
  • How COVID-19 is spread 
  • COVID-19 specific symptom identification 
  • Preventing the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick, including the importance of not coming to work if staff members have symptoms, or if they or someone they live with has been diagnosed with COVID19. 
  • COVID-19 specific symptom identification and when to seek medical attention 
  • Our plan and procedures to follow when children or adults become sick at school. 
  • Our plans and procedures to protect them from COVID19 illness.

• Prior to our return of students to campus, we will be holding parent orientations to review our our health, safety, hygiene and risk mitigation protocols.
   
• To get a head start on teaching your children about the proper use and removal of masks, click here for tips from the CDC.
   
• When we return to campus, our teachers will also be spending time with their students to review these same protocols in age-appropriate manner.

• Students who take the bus to and from school will wear masks/face coverings according to our school policies while riding the bus. 
   
• Bus drivers will have extra disposable masks in case students forget theirs.
   
• Measures are in place to ensure physical distancing between bus drivers and students and between students while on the bus, including:
  • Students will have assigned seats to ensure that only one person sitting in each seat.
  • Students will be monitored as they enter and exit the bus in order to ensure that they maintain proper physical distancing.

• Before arriving to the bus in the morning, parents will complete a health screening in SchoolPass. (More details in the Campus Access & Health Screening section below.)
   
• Parents must show successful passing of the screening to the bus driver for each rider, before he or she will be allowed onto the bus.
   
• Students will sanitize their hands before they enter and when they exit the bus.

• Tumbleweed Transportation, our bus service, will increase cleaning and sanitization of the entire bus after each use and in the evenings.

• Outdoor portable sinks have been installed throughout campus to increase the frequency with which everyone can wash their hands during the course of the day.
   
• Touchless hand sanitizer stations have been installed throughout campus and in each classroom to facilitate students' ability to sanitize their hands as they enter and exit their classroom and frequently throughout the day. (We have secured a significant supply of sanitizer.)
    
• Bathroom sinks and toilets have been updated with touchless hand washing and flush mechanisms.
   
• We are looking into the possibility of adding additional portable bathrooms for additional flexibility in managing distance protocols (as needed).
   

• Fresh air is important! Teachers will open windows and doors whenever possible to increase the flow of fresh air into the classroom.
   
• The school will be upgrading filtration and ventilation, including installing MERV 13 rated filters, known to be a successful method of filtering airborne pathogens.
   
• If you have questions about the ventilation, air conditioning and/or heat in a particular campus space or classroom, please contact our Director of Operations, Greg Kovacs.
   

School Facilities

• Our facilities team and nightly cleaning crew are increasing cleaning and disinfecting efforts throughout the day and evening.
   
• Our new Clorox 360 Electrostatic Sprayer (also known as a fogger) will be used on a regular basis in the evenings, and as needed, to increase disinfecting efforts by our maintenance staff. 
   
• High-touch and common areas, such as door handles, outdoor tables, etc., will be cleaned and disinfected frequently throughout the day.

Classrooms (During the School Day)

• To limit outside staff from coming into the classrooms during the school day and to increase our cleaning efforts, teachers will spray and wipe down high-touch areas, including student desks, door handles, etc., with appropriately safe disinfectants throughout the school day.

Cleaning Chemical Information

• All chemicals used during the day are EPA-approved for human safety and for effectiveness in killing viruses and germs.
   
• Higher-grade disinfectants for increased sanitizing will only be used overnight. All spaces where these are used will be safe for students and employees by morning. 

• Snack Bar will be closed for the time being.
   
• Students will be asked to bring their own morning snacks.
   
• Teachers will have some extra snacks on hand in case a student forgets to bring something from home.
   

• We encourage students to bring lunch from home, but you will have the option to buy lunch from Freshlunches.
   
• Freshlunches will be preparing individually packaged lunches that will be delivered to the classroom.
   
• Freshlunches staff will wear masks at all time while on campus and handling food; they will also wear gloves while handling food. 
   
• Students will eat outdoors with their learning families. There will be a designated area for each learning family so they can maintain a safe distance from other groups of students.
   
• Students may take their masks off when eating lunch, and they will be asked to put masks back on after eating. 
   

• If you choose, your child may use school-provided water fountains. Fountains will only be used as bottle refill stations. No one will drink from them.
   
• If you plan to allow your child to use school water fountains, please send a labeled refillable water bottle with your child each day. 
   

We have developed new procedures for managing crowding during arrival and dismissal times and minimizing contact between students, staff, and families at the beginning and end of the school day. These procedures will include: 

• Staggered carpool pick up/drop off schedules. Parents will be given a designated time and location for their child’s/children’s pick up/drop off.
   
• During carpool, while exiting vehicles and getting to class, students will maintain physical distancing, which faculty will help monitor.
   
• Designated routes for entry and exit.
   
• School pathways will be one way wherever possible, with directional arrows as a reminder.
   
• Parents will not be able to drop-off or pick-up in person.

More details will be provided in the near future and prior to when students return to campus.

• In order to reduce the risk of exposure and number of people on campus at any given time, there will be minimal parent and visitor access to campus for the safety of all Laurence School students, faculty and staff.  
   
• Parents are discouraged from entering the school lobby unless absolutely necessary and with appointment whenever possible. 
   
• Adults other than faculty and staff cannot enter the campus.

Procedures for Parent Access to Campus

• If parents need to drop something off for a student (e.g., lunch or homework): Please call in advance so that the front office is aware of who might be coming to campus.
   
• If parents need to drop a student off late: Please call in advance so that the front office is aware of who might be coming to campus.
   
• If a parent needs to pick up a student early (e.g., appointment or sick): Please call in advance so that the front office is aware of who might be coming to campus.

School Pass Wellness Check

• Every morning before arriving at school (or the bus), all students, faculty and staff will be required to complete a daily wellness check using the SchoolPass app.
   
• The wellness check will focus on COVID-19 symptoms such as: 
  • Have you had a fever above 100.4F in the past 72 hours?
  • Have you taken Tylenol or Ibuprofen in the past 24 hours to control a fever?
  • In the past 72 hours have you had: chills/sweating, new or worsening cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, loss of taste/smell, chest pain, vomiting/diarrhea, respiratory symptoms, or aches and pains that are new or unusual?
  • Have you been in close contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
     
• Students and employees will be required to show school screening personnel that they passed the SchoolPass Wellness Check before being allowed to enter campus.

• When students, employees, or limited visitors arrive on campus, their temperature will be checked.
   
• Students' temperatures will be taken while they are still in their vehicles or prior to entering campus. Parents and children are asked to wear masks when school personnel approaches them to take their temperature.   
   
• Bus riders' temperatures will be taken prior to their entry on the bus.
   
• Should a student, employee or visitor's temperature reading be in excess of 100.4 degrees, we will ask the person wait 10 minutes. We will then retake their temperature. If the reading is still above 100.4, the person will be asked to return home.
   

• Prior to the return of students to campus, all faculty and staff will be tested for COVID-19. 
   

• The school will either bring a testing company to campus or ensure that employees receive testing on their own in compliance with California state requirements.

• We strongly recommend that all students and employees be immunized each autumn against influenza (flu) unless contraindicated by personal medical conditions.
   
• The school will provide flu shots for faculty and staff, as we do every fall.
   

What to do if your child is not feeling well AND/OR if you think they have any COVID-19-related symptoms (fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and/or diarrhea within the last 48 hours).

Before You Arrive on Campus: 

• If your child does not feel well for any reason, please keep them at home and take care. 

While Your Child is at School:

• Please instruct your child that if they start to feel unwell and/or experience any COVID-19-related symptoms during the school day, please immediately tell their teacher.
   
• The teacher will call the Health Office, and the school nurse or Melissa Walkes will meet the student outside for assessment. 

Follow-up:

• The school nurse will follow up with you regarding their symptoms.

See the Return to School section below for how to come back to school.
 

Look for emergency warning signs for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Bluish lips or face
   

• Once a student is in the Health Office, our school nurse will determine if the student has any COVID-19-related symptoms. 
   
• Students with possible COVID-19-related symptoms will be immediately isolated.
   
• The School Nurse will contact the student’s parents and/or emergency contacts.
   
• While student waits to be picked up:
  • The school nurse or Health Office Manager will make sure the student is wearing a face mask.
  • The school nurse or Health Office Manager will supervise the student while wearing proper personal protective equipment and, if feasible, maintain a 6 foot distance from student.
     
• The Health Office will also follow up with the Administration and classroom teacher with next steps.

See the Return to School section below for how to come back to school.

• The CDC considers exposure to mean that you were within 6 feet of someone who tested positive for COVID-19 for 15 minutes irrespective of whether masks were worn. For our purposes, to err on the side of caution, we are going with the “6-10 Rule,” meaning that we will consider an exposure to be that you were within 6 feet for 10 minutes with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, with or without a mask (i.e., “recent close contact”). Click here for CDC information regarding exposure.
   
• Please note that employees will not be considered to have been exposed if they are wearing a medical grade mask and eye protection. The school is providing medical grade masks and eye protection for every employee, every day.

• If your child has had recent close contact (under our definition of "exposure" above) with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, but feels healthy, your child should be quarantined (stay at home) for 14 days after the last exposure to the infected individual. 
   
  • You should also check temperature their twice daily and watch for symptoms of COVID-19.
     
• If your child has had a recent close contact (under our definition of "exposure" above) with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, and they are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, they should self-isolate (stay at home and isolate from others), and follow the protocols below regarding What If My Child Tests Positive for COVID-19 and Return to School.
   
  • To ensure sufficient contact tracing, we strongly recommend that you get tested if you or your child has symptoms consistent with COVID-19. 
     
  • For testing resources, visit: https://corona-virus.la/covid-19-testing.
     
  • For important information and health guidelines to follow from the CDC, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html.
     
• Please note that these same procedures and protocols apply to employees, as well.

• If your child is confirmed to have COVID-19, you should notify your Division Director and the Health Office as soon as possible. 
   
• The school will inform potentially impacted individuals of the possible exposure but maintain confidentiality, per ADA regulations. The school will also be in contact with our local health department for guidance. 
   
• You will be asked to identify anyone your child was in close contact with, as best they can recall from two days before symptom onset. If they are asymptomatic, you’ll be asked to identify those they had close contact with two days before their COVID-19 test, and in the prior 14 days (including other students, teachers and other school employees). 
   
• For more information about contact tracing and communications in the event of a positive COVID-19 case at school, please see our Contact Tracing and Exposure Communications Protocols.
   
• Please note that these same procedures and protocols apply to employees, as well.

Normal Illness, Cold, Allergies, Etc.

• We will require a doctor’s note after any sickness, confirming that your child is not infected with the virus before they are allowed to return to school.
   
• Please submit this note to the school nurse/Health Office prior to returning to school. The school nurse/Health Office will coordinate with your child’s division director. 

If your child has COVID-19-like symptoms, and tests negative for COVID-19, they may return to school 3 days after symptoms resolve.

If your child was a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19, they may return to school 14 days after quarantining.

If your child has tested positive for COVID-19 and is at home self-isolating, they may return to school under the following conditions:

• At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared or the test date AND
• At least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications AND
• Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved

Please refer to the chart on page 3 of the PDF at this link.

Students with severe to critical illness or who are severely immunocompromised:*

• At least 20 days have passed since symptoms first appeared AND
• At least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications AND
• Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved


*The studies used to inform this guidance did not clearly define “severely immunocompromised.” For the purposes of this guidance, CDC used the following definition that was created to more generally address occupational exposures.

Some conditions, such as being on chemotherapy for cancer, untreated HIV infection with CD4 T lymphocyte count < 200, combined primary immunodeficiency disorder, and receipt of prednisone >20mg/day for more than 14 days, may cause a higher degree of immunocompromise and require actions such as lengthening the duration of work restrictions.

Other factors, such as advanced age, diabetes mellitus, or end-stage renal disease, may pose a much lower degree of immunocompromise and not clearly affect occupational health actions to prevent disease transmission.

Ultimately, the degree of immunocompromise is determined by the treating provider, and preventive actions are tailored to each individual and situation.

• Please note that these same procedures and protocols apply to employees, as well.

Laurence School will follow the State of California’s mandates on school closure, which are:

• The school will consult with a public health officer first.
• A classroom cohort/learning family goes home when there is a confirmed case.
• A school goes home when multiple cohorts have cases or more than 5% of the school is positive.
   

• Laurence School is preparing for possible interruptions to on-campus learning (once we return to campus), in the event our area experiences a spike in COVID-19 cases. In that case, a shift back to full Remote Learning will happen as quickly as possible.

Character Education is a hallmark Laurence program, which will continue this year with our theme, Kindness in Action. This year we will focus on promoting equality, respect, and justice, and continue our grade-level work with our "Seven Kinds of Kindness" structure from last year.
 

• We will provide ways for students to connect with peers in other learning families and with faculty members including small group advisories, teacher “lunch bunches,” and more.

Ongoing support for all students from our School Counselor, Dr. Rachel Kavanaugh, including:

• Working with students to identify areas of needed support that are less explicit and/or observable
• Facilitating regular classroom activities focused on social and emotional learning
• Hosting “lunch bunch” groups at least once per week with each grade level
• Providing one-on-one virtual check-ins with students (per student, teacher, and/or parent request)
• Regular consultations with teachers
• Parent consultations as needed

We are hiring a school nurse to support student health, safety, and well-being.

• Virtual Learning will take place in the event that multiple people within a learning family (cohort) are exposed or test positive for COVID-19, or if the Country or State has mandated that all classes be taught remotely, which is the case for the beginning of our school year. 
   
• Our goal is to create a sense of community and routine in our learning schedule and for this reason, we carefully crafted our schedule so that we can easily pivot between Virtual and Hybrid learning. (More information is provided below about schedules). You will notice, however, that slight shifts in timing may appear in the Virtual Learning schedule in order to accommodate for more office hours and 1:1 check-ins with students.

K - 2 Core Curriculum

• In K-2, our core curriculum of Reading, Math, Language Arts, will be taught synchronously over Zoom. Social Studies and Science will offer a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities.

3 - 6 Core Curriculum

• In 3-6, our core curriculum of Reading, Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science, will be taught synchronously over Zoom. The scheduled time for these classes have been extended in order to allow teachers to deliver their lesson and for students to work on assignments while also having the opportunity to ask questions from their teacher in real time.

Specialist Classes & Enrichment

• PE will take place on a daily basis, whereas our other Specialist classes, such as Art, Music, Dance, Drama, Library, and Tech will follow an intensive schedule, where each discipline will rotate on the schedule and be taught daily for a multi-week period. 

Digital Classroom Platforms

• We will continue using Seesaw in Kindergarten through 2nd grade and Google Classroom in 3rd through 6th grade, but have added a website per homeroom as an additional organizational tool. The website will include links to all class pages and Zoom information.
  • Click here to view a sample K-2 website.
  • Click here to view a sample 3-6 website.
     
• Laurence will issue one tablet or laptop per student for school use while learning virtually from home. More information about this is provided below in the 1:1 Device Program section.

• To minimize the number of individuals that any given student has contact with each day and to ensure a small student-to-teacher ratio, each grade level will be divided into 3 or 4 stable cohorts called "learning families."
   
• These learning families will be intact for the entire year, both during virtual learning and in-person/hybrid learning. The schedules for each learning family will be unique from others in the grade level as the schedule is accommodated for specialists to rotate through the entire grade level. 
   
• While on campus, each learning family will be assigned their own classroom and a rotation of outdoor spaces based on a schedule. Students will interact only with others in their own learning family. As much as possible, all classes and activities for the learning family will take place in their designated classroom only (in addition to outdoor spaces whenever possible).
   
• Cross-cohort interactions with teachers and other adults will be kept to a minimum. Specialists who teach multiple learning families per day will follow strict social distancing and masking protocols. 
   
• During virtual learning, our learning mamily model will expand as we build opportunities for cross-cohort interaction in each grade level.  

• When we are able to return in-person, Laurence is pleased to offer learning on our campus for full school days, Monday through Friday, for all families who opt-in. Schools in our area are contemplating scenarios where some students come to campus in the morning, some in the afternoon, or where some divisions, grades, or students with specific learning profiles will alternate days that they come to school. We have heard you loud and clear -- most families have told us they prefer for their children to be IN SCHOOL every day.
   
• Preparing for on-campus school operations to resume requires consideration for both the academic classroom experience and activities beyond the school day. Students who select on-campus learning will continue to benefit from in-person engagement with their teachers and classmates as well as co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. Certain on-campus experiences are difficult to completely replicate during a remote experience, such as Art, Music, Drama, and PE (even though we will try!). Students who select the on-campus option will get the greatest benefits from these enrichment classes.

• We recognize that some families may want or need an option for their children to participate in school remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Laurence will provide a Remote Learning option (alongside our in-person program) these families. While we value the opportunities that result from in-person instruction, we understand that this may not meet the needs of some families right now.
   
• The Remote Learning Option will include a blend of remotely tuning in to some live class time and completing work asynchronously. The exact structure of the Remote Learning Option will vary by grade level and will be planned with the help of that student’s Division Director and classroom teachers. 
   
• Participating in Remote Learning Option will require an even greater partnership between home and school. If a family selects this option, the appropriate Division Director will communicate with the family to discuss the option in greater detail and to establish structure to ensure student success.
   
• Curriculum/assignments will be assigned daily. We cannot provide our curriculum in advance. 

• The schedules were created with careful consideration and intention to provide a safe, developmentally-appropriate, flexible, and sustainable reentry plan for students and teachers.
   
• Schedules were designed to work both for on-campus instruction and Virtual Learning. Slight shifts in timing may appear in the Virtual Learning schedule in order to accommodate for more office hours and one-on-one check-ins with students, but overall the schedule will remain the same regardless of whether learning is taking place as virtually or in person.
   

General School Supplies

• As we do every year, our teachers have created a list of school supplies your children will need for each grade. Please click here for the grade-by-grade supply list.
   

Academic, Enrichment & Technology Materials  

• Materials for the academic and enrichment programs, as well as technology devices will be provided for every student. These include books, academic packets, art supplies, PE equipment, and iPads/Chromebooks/MacBooks, depending on the grade.
   
• Distribution: We will distributing these materials beginning on August 31st via a drive-through pickup in the PAC Lot (Gate 4). Below are the dates and times for each grade level. Please be sure to sign up (link below) for a designated pickup time slot on your day.
   
  • IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have more than one child, please plan on coming on the earlier date (e.g., if you have a kindergartener and a 4th grader, please come on Monday, August 31st).
     
  • Pickup Schedule:
    • K, 3rd, 5th and siblings: Monday, August 31st, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • 1st, 2nd, and siblings: Tuesday, September 1st, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • 4th, 6th, and siblings: Wednesday, September 2nd, 12:30 - 3:00 PM
       
  • Sign-up Link: Please click here to sign up for a time slot on your assigned day. 
     
• If you have any questions, please contact the front office. If you need to make alternative arrangements, please contact your division director (Liz Silverman, K-2, or Eric Hogenson, 3-6).

Limited Sharing of Supplies & Materials

• Once we are back on campus, students' belongings separated and in individually labeled storage containers, cubbies or areas, and should be taken home each day to be cleaned.

• This year, we will be limiting the sharing of materials, supplies, books, technology devices, and other times, as much as possible.

• Where sharing occurs within learning families, items will be cleaned and disinfected between uses.

• We recognize that the partnership between students, parents, and our Technology Department is critical during this upcoming school year.
   
• Before the first day of classes, we are ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to learn/get a refresher on our primary learning platforms -- Seesaw (K-2) and Google Classroom (3-6) -- and learn our new workflow for accessing class schedules via the homeroom websites (see examples under the Virtual Learning section above).
   
• Additionally, depending on the grade level, some students will be introduced to a new device for online and classroom learning. For example, Kindergarten students will use the iPad and Seesaw, 3rd grade students will use Chromebooks and Google Classroom, and 5th grade will use MacBooks, as their primary device for the first time.
   
• We’re here to help! The Technology Team is developing self-paced online tutorials for all students. Instructions will be provided with the student device, which will be included in the Academic Materials Pickup mentioned above. We will also include the option to sign up for in-person tutorials should families want additional live support. 
   

• The first few days of school will focus on building the classroom community, setting classroom expectations, continuing to introduce or refresh students on the use of iPads/Seesaw, Chromebooks/Google Classroom, MacBooks/Google Classroom, and having fun!

• Prior to the beginning of school, each child (and parents) will be given the opportunity to meet their classroom teacher in order to help develop the student/teacher relationship this year.
   
• Details for each class will be sent out soon.

• When we pivot to in-person learning, we will provide updated student and parent orientation information, classroom maps, carpool and bus information, daily health screening protocols, and more.
   
• At that time, we will bring students back to campus -- potentially in a staggered manner -- approximately 14 days later, which will allow teachers and families time to prepare for this change, as well as self-quarantine.  

Please review the following documents and protocols prior to the start of school:

• Student Expectations for Virtual Learning
• Digital Citizenship: K-2 RUP and 3-6 RUP
• Students are expected to be in uniform each day, regardless of whether they are learning virtually or in-person. Click here for our uniform policy.
• Please communicate with your child’s teacher if there is going to be an absence. 
   

• In the interest of our collective health, the home-school partnership will require an even higher level of communication, collaboration, and understanding as we navigate the pandemic together.
   
• Adhering to health protocols provides reassurances for not only your family, but for every Laurence family, faculty, and staff member. As we close the summer, families can help reinforce responsible habits with their children.
   
• We are all in this together, so let's Represent the "L" and Keep Kind in Mind!

• Encourage frequent hand washing.
• Practice coughing and sneezing into elbows.
• Add daily temperature checks to your morning routine.
• Practice wearing face coverings responsibly.
• Visually demonstrate and practice physical distancing.

• Encourage physical activity and time outside.
• Provide children with the space to share and ask questions.
• Maintain a routine at home for stability.
• Reach out for help.
• Visit our webpage, Extra Resources for Parents.

• As we will begin our school year with Virtual Learning, all students will be issued a school device to be used while learning remotely from home.
   
• Devices will be provided during the Academic Supplies Pickup described above. The devices that will be provided for students in each grade level are:
  • K-2 - iPad
  • 3-4 - Chromebook
  • 5-6 - MacBook Air 

• When we return to campus with Hybrid Learning, students who opt-into the Hybrid In-Person learning option will be asked to bring their device back to school. These devices will then be left at school at the end of each day.
   
• Students who choose to engage in the Hybrid Remote program will continue working with their school-issued device from home.
   

Please review the updated Responsible Use Policy for our students, which will be shared as a part of the self-paced training provided with the student devices.

• K-2 Responsible Use Policy 
• 3-6 Responsible Use Policy

• School devices will come with all apps and programs that your children need for learning.
   
• All student devices will also be configured to have the following safety features:
  • Safe search will be turned on for Google, Bing or Yahoo search engines.
  • We will scan searches and block websites based on keywords.
  • Youtube will be accessible in restricted mode, which means that teachers must approve the video otherwise it will appear as blocked.
  • Please note that no security settings will filter everything out 100%. If you find that something has snuck through our settings, please email our Tech Team so we can investigate and correct the issue.
     
• Our Tech Team will be able to push all updates to and remotely troubleshoot for school-issued devices only.

• Field trips are not permitted at this time. We look forward to continuing our field trip programs when the state and county permit us to do so.
   
• We are in the process of developing our plans for extracurricular activities, including our Friday Elective program for Grades 3-6.
   
• We will also offer an After-School Virtual Enrichment Program this fall.
   
• Please be on the lookout for more information as we build out programs and schedules. 

• Our Physical Education and Athletics programs are pivoting to offer athletics instruction for Virtual Learning and on-campus learning. Students will continue to have PE class everyday!
   
• During Virtual Learning, students will receive instruction from their PE teachers in a mix of synchronous and asynchronous classes. Students will receive their own individual PE materials prior to the start school. (These will be provided during the Academic Materials Pickup described above.)
   
• When students are able to return to on-campus learning:
  • Students will have PE class with their learning family, with one dedicated PE teacher, and will not interact with other learning families.
  • Physical distancing will be maintained during PE classes.
  • PE classes will take place outdoors, whenever possible. PE classes will only take place indoors in the PAC when we are permitted to do so by the county.  
  • With regard to the sharing of PE materials, our coaches have dedicated materials for each learning family. Materials will be disinfected between uses.
  • Additionally, we will follow all safety and health protocols provided by the CDC and LA County Department of Health.

• Our goal during the COVID pandemic is to preserve the Laurence School traditions that we all love so much, and find new ways to connect and build community.
   
• Be on the lookout for schedules and plans for virtual Friday Red, White, Blue & Green Assemblies, holiday celebrations, Back-to-School Nights, Parent Education Series events, our Author Speaker Series for students, and much more.
   
• Our Parent Association is also working on exciting community events to keep us connected, while keeping us safe.