Reopening Schools 2020-2021
NHCS will operate under Plan C for grades pre-K through 5 with remote learning for all through January 22, 2021. Grades 6-12 will continue to operate under Plan B AA/BB schedule. Grades pre-K through 5 will transition to Plan B AA/BB schedule on January 25, 2021.
Health data will be assessed on a continuous basis and updates will be posted as they become available at www.nhcs.net and on NHCS Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram platforms.
NHCS families should verify PowerSchool contact information is current to receive Connect 5 phone, email, and text notifications from their schools and the district.
See the NHCS website for more information about school reopening.
Student Groupings
Students in grades Pre-K- 5 will transition from Plan B to Plan A beginning January 19, 2021 and will attend school five days a week. For parents who elect not to have their children attend in-person school full time, a 100% remote learning option will be provided. Schools will design these options for their students.
Attendance Expectations
- Face-to-Face attendance will be taken Monday –Friday based on attendance in students’ in-person classes. Students not attending assigned in-person classes will be marked absent.
- Remote Learning attendance will be taken Monday –Friday based on a students’ attendance in synchronous and asynchronous learning. Students not attending Zoom classes and not completing asynchronous assignments will be marked absent.
- NHCS Second Semester 2020-2021 Elementary Attendance Expectations - English
- NHCS Second Semester 2020-2021 Elementary Attendance Expectations - Spanish
Transportation
- Click here for a list of all bus routes and stops for the 2020-21 school year. Please verify your students' route and stop time before the start of school on in January. All students should be at the bus stop 10 minutes before their scheduled pick-up time.
- All bus riders are required to have a Bus Attestation form on file that is signed by their parent/guardian in order to ride the bus.
- All bus riders will be screened upon arrival to the school building. In order to be admitted to their classrooms, bus riders will have to pass the screening process. Bus riders who do not pass the screening will be held in the isolation cove until the parent/ guardian arrives.
- Please take time to watch this Bus Arrival video!
- School begins at 7:50 AM. We will start screening car riders at 7:20 AM.
- Morning drop off will look significantly different this year. We ask for your patience as we implement new procedures that align to new requirements. Please understand that the car line will take longer this year. You will want to leave yourself ample time in the morning as we implement procedures that are new to everyone.
- Students are NOT PERMITTED to exit their cars until they have been screened and directed to do so by a school staff member. Unfortunately, parents will not be permitted to park and walk their child to the building.
- After turning off Roger Haynes Drive, drivers will utilize two lanes to pull up the front of the school. Working one lane at a time, a staff member will come to each car in the line to screen all of the students in that car. The screener will take the temperature of all CHES students then ask the screening questions of the driver. When the students pass the screening, the staff member will ask the students to get out of the car, hand each student an admission ticket, and make sure the students make it safely to the sidewalk. Once all students have safely made it to the sidewalk, a staff member will direct the cars in that line to pull forward. The screeners will repeat this process with the next lane of cars.
- Students who attend Holly Shelter will not be permitted to exit their vehicles at Castle Hayne Elementary.
- Please take time to watch this Car Rider Arrival video!
School Arrival Health Screening Procedures
- All students will be given temperature checks and health screenings before entering the building. If they arrive by bus, they will be screened as they exit the bus. If they arrive by car, we ask that they stay in the car until a health screener has stopped by your vehicle.
- We recognize how complicated the screening questions may be for our youngest learners. A visual option will be provided. As appropriate, please take time to talk to your child about the questions and help your child understand what’s being asked.
- Screening Questions: a. Do you have any of these symptoms: fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache, nausea, diarrhea? b. Within the past 14 days, have you been in contact with anyone with COVID-19 or COVID-like symptoms? c. Have you had a positive COVID test within the past 10 days? d. Within the past 14 days, has a public health or medical professional told you to quarantine or self-isolate because of COVID-19 infection?
Building Social Distancing Features/Expectations
- Students will be required to maintain social distancing at all times throughout the school day. Sadly, students will not be permitted to hug, give high 5s, or touch in any way.
- Students in PK-1st grade will use the restrooms located in their classrooms. Students in 2nd-5th grade will follow a schedule for bathroom breaks. Students must be supervised and escorted to the restrooms by the classroom teacher. Social distancing practices will also be required in the bathroom. All bathrooms will be disinfected at least once every hour with the approved disinfectant spray. Bathrooms will be off limits during arrival and departure.
- Classroom teachers have been equipped with cleaning products and disinfectant. Custodians will wipe down high traffic areas frequently throughout the school day.
- Students will have their own materials and will not be permitted to share. All students will have their own set of school supplies and will only be permitted to use their materials.
- Water fountains will remain off limits to students. The water bottle refill stations are open. Please send a refillable water bottle with your child.
- Students will be required to wash their hands upon arrival to the classroom each day and frequently throughout the day. Hand sanitizing stations are also located throughout the building. Please take time to watch these videos!
- Students will eat breakfast and lunch in their classrooms. Breakfast will be served in a “grab and go” manner. This means that students will grab a breakfast bag on their way to their classroom during arrival each morning. Lunch will be delivered to classrooms.
- We are excited for parents to be able to come to the school to visit, eat lunch with your child, and volunteer. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate visitors and volunteers at this time.
Procedures When a Student Becomes Ill at School
Mask Guidance
- Car riders who do not pass screening will not be permitted to get out of their vehicle.
- Bus riders who do not pass the screening will be moved to an isolation space while parents are contacted.
- Students who present any COVID-like symptoms throughout the day will be moved to an isolation space until parents arrive.
- By governor’s order, all students will be required to wear masks at all times. Teachers will follow prescribed guidelines for providing students with 5 minute mask breaks during the day.
- Lanyards will be provided to all students. Additional masks are also available to students who need them.
- Please take time to view these presentations!