Lewiston Campus Reopening

What school will look like at the Lewiston Campus

While school will look different in the fall, we are excited to return and feel confident we can do so safely and while protecting the integrity of our learning environment. Many safety measures have been put in place by the dedicated faculty, staff and administration of St. Dom’s. Our intent is to have all children in school with as much face-to-face learning as possible. We know it is better for students educationally and socially to be at school. We also know it is helpful for working families to have children at school. With that said, we must meet the distancing guidelines within our school buildings and with our current staffing. Classrooms and available spaces have been measured to determine exactly how many students and staff can safely fit into our buildings. Thus, classes may have a waitlist capacity and teachers and specials staff will be moving between rooms. Student movement will be minimized as much as possible while keeping the integrity of a healthy school environment in place. We will also continue with our ability to be flexible and do what is in the best interest of students and families, making alterations to aspects that may need to change depending on circumstances.

Changes that parents/guardians should be aware of:

• At this time, parents/guardians and visitors will not be allowed in the buildings. Staff will be greeting students and parents before entry.
• Students will need to enter buildings through assigned entries and go through a temperature check
• Parents will be asked to complete a self-health check prior to the start of the school day
• There will be a remote option available for those families who require it
• Student movement throughout the buildings will be greatly reduced
• Many more safety practices will be put into place. Examples:

• Traffic patterns will be in place to help keep physical distancing.
• Social emotional needs will be covered with students in depth the first few weeks of school, and be revisited often throughout the school year. These are trying times and understanding how to identify and manage stress; supporting overall well-being; and practicing positive physical and mental health is important.
• Meals will be in the classrooms. Students will have access to school lunch, which will be delivered to the rooms.

2020-2021 Daily School Schedule

6:30 - 7:30 Before Care available in the Church Basement

7:30 – 8:00 Drop off - Students report to their zone entrance for temperature and health screening. There they will be greeted by one teacher per grade-level team to help students to their classrooms. The other grade-level teacher will be monitoring students in both classrooms who are settling in for the day. We will establish a morning routine that includes morning transition, independent work and social time for this part of day

Zone 1(PK) Front Schoolyard side door
Zone 2(K-2) Front Schoolyard side door
Zone 3(3-5) Back Schoolyard side door

8:10 Classroom Instruction begins
9:30 - 10:00 PK outside recess
10:00 - 10:30 K-2 outside recess
11:15 -11:45 Zone 2 Lunch, Zone 3 Recess
11:55 - 12:20 Zone 2 Recess, Zone 3 Lunch (Zone 1 will likely choose this time as well and lunch will be provided in the school gym)
2:20 PK dismissal out front schoolyard side door
2:25 Bus students collected by duty teachers
2:30 Students will be called grade levels at staggered intervals to proceed out the front schoolyard side door to their designated dismissal area - Starting with Gr. 5 down to K along the rectory brick wall.
Aftercare students will proceed out with their class and be led from outside to the church basement by Aftercare staff.

Face Coverings

• It will be required that visitors, faculty and staff wear face coverings while on the school campus, especially during specific conditions and guidance from health officials.

• All individuals over the age of 2 will be required to wear a cloth face mask when they arrive at school. Face coverings may only be removed during designated times and activities (while seated at their individual desks in the classroom and during lunch), if students remain physically distant, six feet away from each other. Students with specialized needs may have the option for alternative appropriate face coverings with prior approval.

• Parents must provide a well fitted, comfortable face covering for students ages 3 and older. In addition, an extra face covering may be requested by the school for the teacher to keep in a well labeled, individual zip-loc bag in the event the student comes to school without a face covering.

• Guidance for wearing masks can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wear-cloth-face-coverings.html.

Additional Considerations

The spirit shop will be by appointment only. Parents are encouraged to order through Tommy Hilfinger directly or via our order form. Please contact Jen.Cyr@portlanddiocese.org or Alanna.stevenson@portlanddiocese.org for order forms or appointments.

We will be holding grade level open houses the week of August 17th to orient parents and students. Question and answer Zoom meetings will follow orientations to allow parents and students the opportunity to discuss any questions or concerns with the classroom teacher.

Mass will be held weekly on Tuesdays and will follow the Diocesan guidelines for safety. This will mean that our students will attend Mass with a grade level cohort and may not attend weekly so as to keep attendance under 50.

Morning Prayer will take place in the classrooms and will become an opportunity for students to guide and lead prayer with the support of their teacher and classmates.

Lewiston school department will provide bussing for our students. There will be a shuttle for St. Dom’s students from the Lewiston campus to the Auburn campus both in the morning and afternoon.