Protocols shared for Gentry schools

GENTRY — The return to school Aug. 24 will be different than past years for Gentry students due to restrictions to prevent the spread of covid-19.

While the details for each school campus are outlined in videos posted on the school website, the following is a summary of the new expectations for those who will attend school on-site. Masks are a must. Students and teachers will be required to wear approved face masks when entering or exiting the school and any time when social distancing is not assured. On some school campuses, students must wear their own masks to and from school but wear school-provided masks at school.

In many cases, because classroom space is not great enough to allow social distancing, masks must be worn during class times, as well as in the halls and restrooms. In some cases, clear masks will be used so teachers and students can view mouths during instruction. Procedures will be in place for the cleaning of masks on a regular basis.

Most students will be issued a laptop or Google Chromebook for their use to prevent sharing keyboards and electronic devices among students.

Playground equipment will be off-limits for the younger students. Instead, the students will have certain items, such as a jump rope and yo-yo, issued to them for use during recess times.

When the weather doesn’t permit outdoor activities, other activities will be provided for students to do at their desks, such as coloring sheets and other projects. Teachers will be on hand to assure that students wear masks and/or practice social distancing.

Cafeteria mealtimes will be staggered in order to limit the number of students in the cafeteria at the same time so students can be required to sit apart, at least 6 feet, while eating.

In addition, floor markings will indicate the direction students must walk in halls, and spacing indicators will be included in places where students must wait in lines.

Restrooms will be limited in occupancy to provide for social distancing, in many cases to two or three students at a time.

Each school will have its dropoff and pickup procedures in place to minimize contact between those on-campus and parents and guardians off-campus. See each school’s instructions regarding the procedures.

The schools ask that, whenever possible, paperwork be transmitted to the school in digital form to prevent the possible spread of the coronavirus from handling papers and documents. Randy Moll may be reached by email at rmoll@nwadg.com.