Greater Brunswick Charter School Established in 1998

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our school re-entry committees have been working diligently to construct a learning plan that ensures the health and safety of our students and staff while generating an environment conducive to learning and instruction.  GBCS prefers to begin the school year with a School-Wide Full Distance Learning Model,  all students working at home following a rigorous learning plan.   If that is not an option, as per an order from Governor Murphy, we will open with two instructional model choices for parents/guardians in September.  One model is our Hybrid Model (Distance Learning & In-School) and the other is a Full Distance Learning Model. 

 

Our current decisions are grounded in the guidance provided by the New Jersey Department of Education, Road Back: Restart and Recovery Plan For Education, the CDC, our school configuration, and survey results from our parents and staff.  Our re-entry plan is flexible and subject to change pending the current health pandemic, state and city guidelines, and school decisions based on surveys and needs.  Our preliminary plan includes the following:

 

HEALTH & WELLNESS          

  TEACHING & LEARNING  

• Full Distance Learning Model:
  • School-Wide - Pending Governor Order
    • Full Distance Learning is when students spend 100% of their school time working at home. “School-Wide” means that the entire school will use this model, not requiring a choice from parents/guardians.  (This requires an executive order from Governor Murphy)
    • Educators at GBCS have identified elements of effective distance teaching and learning to build off of what we learned this past spring and improve our model.  We’ve learned a lot since March!  
    • The expectation and rigor of classes and assignments will reflect a traditional GBCS school program.  
    • The daily agenda for K-8 Distance Learning in all grades may include ZOOM mini-lessons, student-centered learning, small group ZOOM discussions, ZOOM partner work, projects, and independent work. 
    • Assignments will be given that will need to be completed online and offline, synchronously and asynchronously, while also working to strike a balance between screen time and book/paper/manipulative time.  
    • Distance Learning will include mandatory synchronous instruction Monday – Friday, following a regular school day schedule. Students are expected to log into all classes in order for instruction and learning to continue. Expectations will vary depending on grade level.  
  • Full Distance Learning -  By Parent/Guardian Choice
    • This model is the same as above, but instead of being school-wide, it is selected by the parent/guardian.  
• Hybrid Model - In-School &  Distance Learning Model:
  • Hybrid Teaching and learning include a combination of In-School Learning and Distance Learning. 
  •  50% of a class will work In-School and 50% will work at home.  They will follow A/B Day Schedules.  (Phase 1B = 1 day per week, Group A on Monday, Group B on Tuesday, Phase 2 = 2 days per week, Group A on Monday and Thursday, Group B on Tuesday and Friday.  Wednesday = distance learning for all).  
  •  Students In-School will participate in the classroom while Distance Learning students will observe the teacher and/or content via video camera and participate from home.  
  • The Hybrid Model is very similar to the Distance Learning Model, just eliminating the need to connect with the teacher through ZOOM on In-School Days and it requires social distancing.  See the program details above.  
• Percentage of Time In School increases from - Phase 1 to Phase 4
  • Phase-1A has Distance Learning five days a week (No In-School instruction)  
  • Phase-1B has In-School instruction one day a week and Distance Learning four days a week.
  • Phase 2 has In-School instruction two days a week and Distance Learning three days a week.  
  • Phase 3 has students in Grades K-3 In-School four days a week.  We will utilize extra classrooms in order to accomplish this Phase.  (Music Room, Art Room, Media Center, etc.) 
  • Phase 4 has In-School instruction five days a week for grades K-8.  
• Percentage of Students In School increases from - Phase 2 to Phase 4 
  • Greater Brunswick Charter School will follow an A/B schedule in order to maintain smaller class sizes, adhere to social distancing guidelines, and reduce the percentage of students In-School. 
  • Students will be organized into two cohorts (A & B). Siblings will be assigned to the same cohort unless a parent requests otherwise.  
  • Classrooms will have 50% of the students they typically house.  Instead of 22 students in a room, there will be 11.  Students will be socially distanced in the classrooms, six feet apart. 
  • During Phase 1B and 2, no more than 50% of students at GBCS will be in a classroom or in the building.  
  • During Phase 3, up to 50% of students in grades 4-8 will be In-School, up to 11 per room,  and up to 100% of students in K-3 will be In-School, up to 11 per room.  We will utilize extra classrooms in order to accomplish this Phase.  (Music Room, Art Room, Media Center, etc.) 

• Students will be separated into two groups (Group 1, Group 2) in order to create student cohorts that will attend school at the same time. Cohorts will be created to provide continuity across the school and grade levels. Parents/guardians will be notified which group their children are in, as well as which day(s) that group will have in-person instruction. Parents and students will also receive advanced notification of dates and times of online classes/Google Meets/ZOOM. 

PARENTAL/GUARDIAN SUPPORT AT HOME 

• If you pick the Hybrid Model, during the next month have your child practice wearing face-coverings/masks, gradually increasing the period of time until they reach four hours.  The more comfortable they are wearing a face-covering/mask, the easier the transition to working in-school will be.  
• While at home, consistently practice health and hygiene procedures such as temperature-taking, frequent hand washing, using hand sanitizers whenever soap and water are not available, and washing face coverings/masks after each use.
• Ensure that you have more than one working thermometer in your home, along with alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
• Know how to protect yourself and others. 
• Living, working, and learning during a global pandemic can be stressful and traumatic.  It is important to process and manage those emotions in healthy ways. Assess the social and emotional well being of your children and family.  Reach out for support when it is needed.  Contact GBCS if you’d like our help.  
• The academic program in September will be more rigorous than it was in the spring.  Speak with your child/children about setting up expectations and routines to help their success. 

PRELIMINARY SCHOOL SCHEDULE

• A multi-tiered model will be implemented based on student needs. 
• Phase 1A  - Fully Distance Learning Model.  
  • Instruction and Learning will begin at 8:00 AM and continue until 1:30 PM.  
  • Grab and Go Meals for the week may be picked up on Wednesdays 
• Phase 1B  - Hybrid Model.  Instruction will incorporate In-School and Distance Learning with a limited number of students in each class.
  • Students will be split into A/B groups to reduce In-School class sizes. 
  • Students will attend school for in-school instruction or distance learning from 8:00 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. every day.  
  • Grab and Go Meals for the week will be available at dismissal.  
  • Group A will attend in-school on Mondays (A Day) and Group B will attend in-person on Tuesdays (B Day). 
  • Instruction will be delivered in the same classroom all day, whenever possible.
• Dismissal times for students who require transportation may differ.