Class Resumption Plans

Sep 11, 2020

All Hong Kong families with school-aged children were delighted to hear last week of the firm plans announced by the Education Bureau (EDB) for the resumption of face to face teaching and learning from mid-September. I can add that teachers were similarly delighted to receive this affirmation that we are returning to a normal state, albeit one that is quite different to that experienced before the advent of COVID-19. Many aspects of life in the months and possibly years to come will be shaped by global events in 2020. The ubiquity of masks seems unlikely to disappear anytime soon. Temperature checks, travel checks, and health checks will also become firmly entrenched in the ‘new normal’.

This week, I am writing to provide members of the ISF community with a summary of our intentions as we prepare for the resumption of classes in school. Both the Academy and the Pre-School have submitted their own resumption plans to comply with EDB requirements; the plans share many commonalities, including the overall approach taken in determining priorities for the plan. Essentially, EDB has asked for schools to resume classes in two equal groups, with the option of some special orientation activities in the week before the first phase of resumption.

At the time of writing, we have formally submitted these resumption plans to the EDB, and have received some initial feedback. It is quite possible that some of the arrangements described below may undergo further modification before we formally resume classes in person.

The first part of resumption involves some on-site orientation activities and briefings for new students and students undergoing transition from one school division to another; a further special group consists of students preparing for formal external examinations at this time. Accordingly, commencing on 16 September, we have sought EDB approval to bring in students from Grade 6, Grade 11, and Grade 12 for some morning orientation and preparatory sessions; Foundation Year students will have online learning in the morning, followed by on-site orientation in the afternoon. Pre-School students will be invited in class groups to attend the new campus in Kennedy Town from 16 September to 22 September.

The first phase of formal resumption, starting September 23, will see the return of Grade 9 and Grade 10; they will join Grade 6, Grade 11, and Grade 12 students for a full-day of lessons. Students in Grade 7 and Grade 8 will continue with their e-learning program at home. In the Primary School, Grade 1 and Grade 5 students will have morning lessons at school, followed by e-learning activities in the afternoon for all students from Grade 1 to 5. With the elimination of some breaks and a restructured timetable, Foundation Year students will complete their full schedule of classes by 12:20 pm each day. The afternoons will be available for reading and offline study. In the Pre-School, Year 2 students will attend either morning or afternoon sessions according to their current enrolment; Year 1 students will continue with online learning.

The second phase, commencing September 29, will see the return of all remaining students to school. Primary School will conduct half-day classes on-site, with afternoon e-learning continuing for Grade 1 to Grade 5. All Secondary School students will follow their full-day timetable. Pre-School will welcome all Year 1 students to their respective sessions.

As previously reported, we will continue classes through until the start of the delayed mid-term break at the end of October.

It must be emphasized that this resumption plan is subject to EDB approval.

The following points, which were also adopted during our resumption at the end of May, reflect our overall approach to resuming classes on site:

• Each student will provide a detailed electronic health declaration and travel history before they resume classes at school;
• All parents, students, guardians, and family employees requiring entry to the school must also complete a similar health declaration;
• All health declarations are confidential and all data will be stored securely;
• Parents are reminded to conduct a daily temperature check for their child and themselves;
• PowerSchool has been enhanced to include a body temperature record for each student, to be completed by the parent each day.
• We will also check the body temperature of students and staff on arrival at school or during the day using a wide-field, electronic scanners, equipped with alarms;
• All occupants of vehicles entering the campus carpark will also have their body temperatures checked manually at the front gate;
• We are in touch with Kwoon Chung to confirm resumption arrangements;
• Kwoon Chung has been asked to conduct additional body temperature screening of students before boarding the bus in the morning;
• Cleaning will be carried out regularly and thoroughly in accordance with CHP and EDB regulations and standards;
• Sufficient supplies of hand sanitizer will be made available in all classrooms, offices, and public spaces in the campus.
• All students and staff will wear masks while at school;
• Any students or staff who are unwell should not come to school and should seek medical attention.

Pre-School Resumption Plan

Note: fields highlighted in yellow are to be conducted face to face on campus.

Our full-day resumption plan for Secondary School is based on our intention to offer a meal service during the day. Catering arrangements for Secondary School students will involve the use of both Jessie’s Kitchen and the A Block Cafeteria. We have capacity to accommodate all Secondary School students in two sittings, with all students separated by appropriate distance and partitioning; a thorough cleaning will be conducted between sittings. Dining areas will be well ventilated before, during, and after the meal service. Sodexo Managers are preparing their own resumption plan at this time, which will include disposable lunchboxes and utensils. Only contact-less payment will be accepted. Students will not be permitted to eat outside of designated areas set aside for the consumption of food. There will be no meal service for Primary School students. Food consumption on campus will observe the following principles:

• No food should be ordered from outside when school resumes;
• Students may bring their own snacks for recess, but these should be packaged and used only for individual consumption;
• Students are not permitted to share food; and
• Students should wash their hands before and after eating any food.

The success of our class resumption plan will rely heavily on community-wide cooperation and commitment. School leaders and teachers can only achieve so much to make this work.

We must all comply with the conditions approved by EDB. We must also continue to enforce social distancing.  On the resumption of face to face classes, every effort will be made to eliminate large gatherings in small spaces. Assemblies and other plenary gatherings will be strictly controlled. Arrival and dismissal arrangements for Pre-School, Primary School and Secondary School will be managed carefully. As was the case in May when we resumed classes, members of the ISF Leadership Group will be on hand each day to monitor the flow of students through the school for arrival and dismissal; they will also monitor the street area immediately outside the front gate; they will disperse any groups that form.

We are looking forward with great hope and anticipation to a healthy and successful resumption of classes very soon. I will be waiting for you at the front gate!

Dr. Malcolm Pritchard

Head of School