Face-to-Face Learning

Updated 10-13-2020 at 3:45 p.m.

When is the first day of the second semester?

The first day of in-person attendance for the second semester will be on Monday, February 1, 2021.

How will social distancing be achieved?

In buildings, HCPS will implement a combination of face coverings and a minimum of three feet distance between everyone present. On buses, HCPS will require a face mask and seat students one child per seat. Students that live in the same household may share a seat. Additionally, signage will be posted throughout the building, as well as directional arrows to guide traffic. 

Will students be able to have recess?

Physical activity will be incorporated into each school day. At the high school and middle school levels, teachers will work to find opportunities for movement and outdoor activity/learning.

Will students eat in the lunchroom?

Meals will be consumed in the classroom, in an outdoor setting, or in a larger space with approved modifications in consultation with the health department. Staggered schedules will be developed for students to purchase meals from the cafeteria.

What will class sizes be with the full face-to-face model?

We expect class sizes to be similar to the normal school year to the extent that 3 feet of social distancing of desks can be achieved. The class size may vary based upon the room size. Principals and facilities staff are working to reconfigure learning spaces to achieve greater distance. 

How will music and theater education be handled in a face-to-face environment at the middle and high school level? Will students still participate in electives such as music and theater classes?

As a community, we value our performing arts classes, and we are going to do everything possible to provide opportunities for our students. We are creating a cohort approach in middle and high schools so that teachers and students can continue to enjoy their learning communities. In this model, students will be taught synchronously with their online peers during the school day. We will continue to explore extra-curricular opportunities for performing arts that can be provided in a safe manner. Currently, we have developed plans for outdoor practice for wind and choral groups, and orchestra and percussion rehearsals may take place indoors with appropriate social distancing and mask use.

Will more teachers/staff be hired to spread children out?

There is no funding to hire additional teachers or other staff. Principals and facilities staff will continue to analyze space considerations and furniture arrangements to create capacity while following mitigation strategies. 

What are the face-to-face school schedules for the second semester?

The whole group elementary instructional day will begin at 8:10 AM and end at 2:15 PM. Due to transportation capacity issues, student arrival and departure for both buses and parent transportation will be staggered over 30 to 40 minutes. During staggered arrival (7:30 - 8:10), students will have the opportunity for independent work, independent reading, individual conferencing with the teacher, and other learning tasks. No morning bus stops will be scheduled prior to 7:00 AM. The whole group secondary instructional day will begin at 9:15 AM and end at 3:30 PM. Due to transportation capacity issues, student arrival and departure for both buses and parent transportation will be staggered over 30 to 40 minutes. During staggered arrival (8:45 - 9:15) and departure (3:30 - 4:00), students will have the opportunity for independent work. 

What are the student arrival and departure times for next year?

Elementary:

Student Arrival - 7:30 a.m. to 8:10 a.m.
Student Departure - 2:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Secondary:

Student Arrival - 8:45 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
Student Departure - 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

What will the school day look like for my child in the face-to-face model?

Elementary School: Students will have a schedule to participate in instructional activities in the core subject areas with a strong emphasis on literacy and math. Resource teachers (music, physical education, library, art) and school counselors will come to the students’ classroom to provide instruction and give classroom teachers opportunities for planning and breaks. In some instances, these lessons will include video-based instruction. When available, resource classrooms may be used by the resource teacher for certain units of study. Teachers will utilize outdoor spaces as much as is practical for both learning and play. 

Middle School

Core Classes

All students will have a full block of science and social studies over the course of two days. For English Language Arts and math, students will have a full block one day and an extension block on the opposite day (see below). This allows for additional instruction in math and literacy to develop fundamental skills.

Student Selected Elective

Each student will have an elective class every other day. For some students, this is a continuation of the class they had during the first semester. For others, this will be a semester elective. These deeper elective opportunities will help students develop their skills and interests.

Academic Curriculum Enrichment (ACE)

All middle schoolers are enrolled in this course for one block every other day. Throughout the semester, students will have the opportunity for elective exploration modules, character education, career exploration, and time with their school counselors. Some of the elective exploration will be taught by teachers who rotate into the classes for a few weeks at a time to do a “mini-unit.” At other times, students may do elective exploration of their choice through Schoology. We are hopeful that these opportunities will spark new interests for our students!  

Extension & PE

Students have ELA Extension and Math Extension built into their schedules to provide additional time for building skills in these areas. During this time students will spend half of the class for an "extension" of their math or language arts class and half participating in physical education/health, completing make-up work, spending additional time on assignments, or taking a brain break outside. We recognize the many benefits of physical activity and fresh air for our students and want to ensure that we provide time for that.

High School:
In order for high school students to make progress toward graduation requirements while still reducing the remixing of students, high school schedules will follow a modified 4x4 schedule. Each student will be assigned up to four classes that will meet each day. These classes, with the exception of some IB, ACA, and AP classes (see below for more information on these programs) will be completed at the end of the first semester in January. In some instances, such as performing arts and world languages, synchronous learning will occur with teachers and/or students in the Online School or across the division. Up to four new classes will begin at the start of the second semester and conclude in June. Principals will work to create master schedules that cluster students as much as possible, and travel between classes will be carefully orchestrated to create social distancing. 

sample schedule high

How will students in the Advance College Academy take their classes in the upcoming year?

Reynolds Community College has announced an all virtual fall semester, and HCPS will follow this approach with some modifications. All junior and senior ACA courses will be taught in a virtual setting so that students in both the face-to-face setting and the online school can have the same program. Students who elect face-to-face will meet at the ACA sites; students who choose the online school or students not wanting to travel to the ACA site will join the class in real time. Rising ninth and tenth grade students will take the required classes in their home schools, combined with other advanced level classes. Cohort activities for all students will continue to be organized by the ACA staff. 

How will students in the International Baccalaureate program take their classes in the upcoming year?

Principals at all four schools and the online school have worked together to create year-long opportunities for IB classes that juniors and seniors need to complete diploma requirements. These classes will be clustered in order to provide for a block of instruction every other day for a year, rather than a daily block in just one semester. Cross-school classes may be offered in a synchronous or asynchronous format in order to create workable schedules with limited student remixing. For sophomores and freshmen, pre-Bacc classes will be combined with advanced level classes; however, students can be assured that they will be prepared for the rigor of IB classes in the junior and senior years. IB classes may not be available to juniors and seniors who are not pursuing a full IB diploma this year. Upper-level world language classes may be offered as an early morning block synchronously to provide flexibility in scheduling so that students may complete their diploma requirements. IB exam information will be shared with students and families during the first semester. 

How will AP classes be offered in the 2020-2021 school year?

In order for students to be prepared for the AP tests offered by College Board in the spring, principals at all four schools and the online school have worked together to create year-long opportunities for AP classes. These classes will be clustered in order to provide for a block of instruction every other day for a year, rather than a daily block in just one semester. Cross-school classes may be offered in a synchronous or asynchronous format in order to create workable schedules with limited student remixing. Students may be limited in the number of AP classes that can be accommodated in this format. AP exam information will be shared with students and families during the first semester. 

Will the Health Sciences Specialty Center and The Hanover Center for Trades and Technology have face-to-face learning this spring?

Both locations will offer face-to-face learning opportunities this spring in the 4 x 4 block. Our CTE staff continues to work within the specific industries to make sure that any work-based learning follows all appropriate guidelines. Many of these classes are longer in length and carry 2 or 3 credits, so the time spent in these classes will be greater. We anticipate transportation being available from hubs, but families are encouraged to provide transportation whenever possible. Industry credentialing and state board testing information will be shared with students and families as it becomes available. 

Will classroom lectures be videoed and provided to students in case he/she needs to miss a class?

In the face-to-face setting, students will have access to their instructional materials through Schoology. At this time, we are not considering recording every classroom lecture. A wide variety of teaching methods will be used in our classrooms this fall. Teachers will work with students who miss class to assist them with make-up work. 

How will they make up the end of 2019-2020 academically?

Throughout the school year, teachers will use a variety of assessment strategies to identify learning gaps from the previous year. Teachers will then use instructional methods to support the prior learning while introducing new content.

Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.