by Julianne O’Connell
news@thenewsleaders.com
St, Joseph’s Kennedy Community School is preparing to open the 2020-2021 school year. To avoid the spread of Covid-19 the school is following the No. 1 aim of Minnesota’s Safe Learning Plan: Prioritize the safety of students and staff.
When Kennedy opens its doors on Sept. 9, the new norm will have pre-kindergarten through second grade attending Monday through Thursday while attending classes via internet on Friday.
Students, in grades three to eight, will be divided, into Group A, which will attend classes Monday and Wednesday while Group B will attend Tuesday and Thursday. On Fridays both groups attend online classes as well. Kennedy is going the extra step in contacting each student’s household to review and explain how the plan will go forward.
The district has set up a Distant Learning Academy for students who would like to not physically attend school. The Academy is open to any St. Cloud school district student and registration can be done through the school district website, www.isd742.org.
Families are encouraged to take temperatures each morning before school. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 or higher should not go to school.
Students and adults should screen for respiratory symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath prior to coming to school each day. Anyone exhibiting these symptoms should not go to school.
Adults and students will be required to wear protective masks. Students will be required to wear masks before entering the bus.
The state’s learning plan was written by the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Education for use in all public schools. The plan can be found at education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/health/covid19/.
