School Opening and Closure

• Are there situations that would require a school to close on campus learning after opening?
  Classrooms or cohorts may be closed and quarantined if there is a confirmed positive case of COVID-19 in the classroom/cohort. GPA may pause campus activities if multiple cohorts or classrooms within our school are required to quarantine. We will be working closely with state and local health officials.
• In the event that on campus activities are paused, what will happen?
  In the event that on campus activities are paused, students will participate in Distance Learning from home.

Health and Safety: Face Coverings

• Are students required to wear face coverings while at GPA? If so, are students also required to wear a face covering during lunch?
  All staff and students are required to wear face coverings over the nose and mouth at all times except to eat snacks and lunch. Eating will take place outside.
• What type of face coverings are acceptable?
  Any cloth or disposable face covering that covers the nose and mouth is acceptable. Masks will also be available on campus for anyone who requires one.
• Are there exceptions to students wearing face coverings? What if my student is unable to wear a face covering?
  According to the current guidelines, individuals who are unable to wear a face covering due to medical conditions or a disability, are exempt. A note from a physician is required if a student is to be considered as exempt from this requirement.
• What if I don’t want my child to wear a face covering all day?
  Your student may remain doing Distance Learning from home. Face coverings are required for all on-campus activities.

Physical Distancing

• Are cohort sizes small enough to allow for physical distancing?
  Cohort sizes will be reduced to provide for physical distancing.
• Is 6 feet between students required?
  Our county public health office has recently stopped requiring that students maintain a distance of 6 feet from other students when there is strict mask adherence. However, students will be expected to maintain a distance of 6 feet as much as practicable. Throughout the school day, and in all school settings, students will be distanced to the extent practicable. Use of indoor and outdoor spaces will be maximized to allow for distancing.
• What will happen during lunch and snack when children have to remove their face coverings?
  Students will eat outside in their assigned zones and will maintain distancing while their face coverings are removed to eat snacks and lunch.
• Will physical distancing be enforced during lunch?
  Physical distancing will be required at all times while on campus.
• If seated in groups at tables, will students be separated by clear dividers?
  Plexiglass dividers will be available in classrooms.

Cleaning, Sanitation, and Safety Procedures

• What cleaning and sanitation procedures will GPA implement in classrooms, bathrooms, and around our school site?
  Enhanced precautionary measures are in effect. High touch areas like door knobs, light switches, and sinks will be wiped down regularly. All cleaning protocols meet health guidelines. In addition, all rooms will be sanitized each evening.
• Will GPA require daily temperature checks for students and staff?
  Yes, all students and staff will have daily temperature checks upon arriving on campus.
• Will GPA utilize outdoor learning spaces? If so, how much outdoor space will each classroom have and how much time will students spend per day in the outdoor space?
  Each classroom will have an assigned outdoor zone specifically for their class, and each classroom’s zone will be spaced from neighboring zones to account for physical distancing. The amount of time spent outdoors will be dependent on the learning occurring throughout the day and the weather.
• What types of measures will be taken to avoid spreading the virus?
  The following safety measures will be required: All staff and students are required to wear face coverings while on campus, daily self screening, enhanced cleaning, replaced/upgraded HVAC air filtration systems, windows and doors to remain open, hand sanitizing stations, PPE available, table cohorts of 10 students per room, classroom safety protocols, increased signage, physical distancing indicators.
• Is the school going to have hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes around campus?
  Yes. There will be a hand sanitizing station and sanitizing wipes in each classroom, as well as throughout campus. In addition, there will be additional hand washing stations located near restrooms.

Possible Exposure and Positive COVID-19 Protocol

• Will GPA notify families of a positive case or possible exposure?
  Yes, all persons identified as having had close contact with a case will be recommended to home quarantine and get tested. For privacy reasons, names and personal information will not be shared. 
• Will on-campus distance learning transition to remote learning in the event of a positive COVID-19 case within a class? What is the threshold of cases that would require the transition to remote learning?
  If anyone within a cohort or classroom is confirmed to have a positive COVID-19 case and possibly exposed the other students in their cohort, the entire cohort will quarantine per health official guidelines and participate in distance learning from home.  
• If a student is required to quarantine due to possible exposure, being symptomatic, or being confirmed positive, when may the student return to school? Is a negative COVID-19 test required to return to school?
  A negative test is not required to return to school, but students must follow health official guidelines and quarantine following a confirmed exposure.
• What will happen when students are required to quarantine?
  If the entire cohort is quarantined, they will participate in distance learning from home. If a single student needs to quarantine, that student alone will participate in distance learning from home.
• Are families required to notify GPA if their student, friend, or family member tests positive for COVID-19?
  All students and staff, prior to coming on campus,  are required to honestly complete self-screening questions that ask if they have been in close physical contact with someone who has tested positive or is showing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 in the past 14 days. If a student or staff answers yes to that question, they will not be allowed onto campus until the guidelines set by health officials have been met. Families will be asked to inform GPA if a child is quarantined.
• Will students and staff be regularly tested for COVID-19?
  No. COVID-19 tests will not be required to participate, unless required by the COVID Decision Tree.
• Will the vaccine for children and volunteers be necessary before entering school?
  No, the vaccine is not required to participate in on-campus distance learning.

Class Size and Cohorts

• What are the anticipated cohort sizes for on-campus distance learning?
  Students who elect to participate in on-campus distance learning will be placed in cohorts of 10-15 students per room.
• May families request that their student be grouped with specific students? If so, how many requests can a family submit?
  Yes. Parents may put in requests, but due to the complicated nature of creating balanced cohorts, we can not guarantee that requests will be accommodated.

School Hours and Class Schedule

• What are on-campus distance learning hours?
  On-campus distance learning would run from 9:00am – 2:00pm daily. Students may begin to enter campus at 8:30am and will be dismissed from campus at 2:00pm.
• When will the on-campus distance learning start?
  On-campus distance learning will begin Quarter 4. Students can participate until the end of the school year, June 30, 2021.
• Will students attend on-campus distance learning everyday?
  Our default school site model is four days per week of in-person support for distance learning with precise schedules to be set based on the number of students who wish to attend in person, available space, and existing health and safety guidelines. No students will be on campus on Wednesday, to allow for Student Support Wednesdays and enhanced campus cleaning protocols. 
• Will my child still have the same schedule?
  Yes, students will continue to have the same class schedule. The only difference is that they will not be completing distance learning from home, they will be in a supervised classroom at GPA.
• Will a teacher be teaching them class or is the school just offering a classroom for students to continue learning through Zoom?
  GPA teachers will continue to teach remotely. Students who participate in on-campus distance learning will be working on Zoom from a supervised classroom on GPA campus. 
• Will students be divided by grade level?
  Yes. Students will be placed in grade level stable groups of 10-15 students unless they have a sibling who is also attending On Campus Distance Learning.
• Will there be any breaks outside while being spaced in between 6 feet apart?
  Each cohort will be assigned an outdoor Zone where students can take breaks and eat lunch.
• Will students change classrooms or will they stay in the same one throughout the day?
  Each cohort will be assigned to a specific classroom that only they will be in daily.
• What will the on-campus distance learning look like in the classroom setting?
  Students assigned to the cohort will be completing distance learning, on Zoom, with their teachers from a GPA classroom supervised by a GPA staff member.
• Will students have lunch time?
  Lunch would remain at the same time from 11:45 – 12:15. Students participating in on-campus distance learning will be provided lunch daily. Each stable cohort will have a designated outdoor lunch zone where they will eat daily with the other students in their classes while maintaining physical distance.
• Will lunch be staggered?
  No. Lunch will be from 11:45 – 12:15 daily. Students will eat lunch in their assigned zones.
• Will my child have the opportunity to move around the room or will they be required to sit at their desk all day?
  Students will have the opportunity to move throughout the classroom and school with their class while maintaining physical distancing. As a reminder, face coverings are required to be worn at all times on campus – excluding when eating/drinking.

Extra-Curricular and Before/After School Programs

• Will there be on-site tutoring?
  No. Tutoring will remain virtual during on-campus distance learning.
• Would there be after school outside activities for in person students?
  Yes. Students may also register to participate in “Recess at GPA” on the GPA field.
• Will there be before school programs?
  No. There will not be before school programs for students.

Miscellaneous

• Are parents allowed on campus?
  No. Parents are not allowed to enter campus. Parents who come to campus for drop-off and pick up will be required to wear a face covering at all times.
• How will drop-off and pick-up work when parents are not allowed on campus?
  Parents/guardians can drop off students at the entrance of GPA in our circle drive. Parents/guardians should stay in the car to the greatest extent possible. Once students exit the car, they will walk to the GPA Gates of Wisdom in the front of school, where they will be greeted and will have their temperature checked.
• What will happen to my child if I choose distance learning?
  The decision to participate in on-campus distance learning will have no impact on your child’s status as a GPA student. It is only an additional option for families.
• Will uniforms be enforced for 6th graders?
  Students will be required to wear GPA bottoms and GPA tops. GPA uniforms can be purchased at Marios (Lemon Grove: (619) 469-8391; National City: (619) 264-6081) If you would like information on uniform assistance, please visit our Virtual Office hours.
• If I decide I want to change my mind can my child join on-campus distance learning?
  After the program is up and running we will determine if we can support additional students during on- campus distance learning.
• Is it mandatory for my child to attend on-campus distance learning?
  No, it is not mandatory. On-campus distance learning is an option for families who would like their child to complete distance learning from campus.