2020-21 School Year FAQs

What safety protocols will be in-place for students when they return to campus? 

Students and faculty will be required to wear face masks when on-campus.  Following the guidance of local health officials, the CDC, and TEA, other health measures include, but are not limited to, the following: frequent handwashing; appropriate social distance to minimize close physical interactions; disinfectants present in every classroom and common areas; modified meal distribution processes; sanitizing solution present within the hallways and common areas; and strategic placing of students’ desks.

Will Jesuit notify families if someone in the community has a positive COVID-19 diagnosis? 

Jesuit will notify families if their son has had significant exposure with someone who has received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.  In all communication, Jesuit commits to safeguarding confidential personal and health information. 

What happens if my son is infected with COVID-19? 

Guidelines have been developed and will be refined closer to the start of the school year. Continuity of instruction will be provided in a virtual setting for students well enough to attend class and complete assignments as needed while off campus per the guidelines.

Our family is in a situation in which we don’t know if returning to campus is appropriate. What are our options? 

Our technology team has been working over the summer to update our infrastructure in a way that supports live video streams from every classroom. This upgrade, in addition to our continued commitment to MicrosoftTeams, will enable students to be virtually present in the class if they are not on-campus. The new device policy requires every student to have a device capable of video and audio, so students in and out of the physical classroom will be able to participate in the classroom experiences. 

Has Jesuit made any changes to the facilities in response to COVID-19? 

Jesuit has reviewed and made changes to its nightly cleaning protocols as well as HVAC systems to reduce potential exposure to COVID-19 and other pathogens. The frequency of cleaning in high traffic areas has increased. Higher rated filters and bi-polar ionizers will be installed this summer to air handlers on campus. Jesuit will continue to monitor industry and health recommendations and make changes as needed. Jesuit has also provided each classroom with cleaning supplies so the touch points can be cleaned between class periods. Hallways have been marked with directional markings to minimize interactions. Partitions have been installed on Cafeteria tables. A nurses station has been added to the Student Affairs office, including an isolation room. Cafeteria serving lines have been adjusted to accommodate grab-and-go pre-plated/boxed meals.

What community efforts are being encouraged for families?

Jesuit Dallas believes in the power and responsibility of the community. We will be communicating with the students about their role in the efforts to keep themselves and others as safe as possible. These efforts include, but are not limited to, the following: properly wearing a mask when in public and around individuals not in your home; frequent hand washing during the day; and, avoiding large gatherings where exposure is possible. Parents, as well, have a very important role in supporting the efforts Jesuit is taking to create an effective learning experience and continuity of community. This includes monitoring their own behavior and the behavior of their son/s. If a parent has any concern about illness with their Jesuit son or anyone in their household, they should require their son to stay home from school. Every day that a student is scheduled to attend school for any reason, a parent will be required to submit a screening assessment that includes questions regarding their health status, temperature, and potential exposure. Once complete, the assessment will give the parent information about if their son is permitted on campus for that day. Jesuit provides many interventions to teach students the value of integrity and, as such, expects all students and parents to collectively answer the daily screening form honestly and completely each day. Each day a family completes the screening form and the student attends school, the family is reaffirming their commitment to the mission of Jesuit Dallas and the themes of Catholic Social Teaching that undergird our student experience and progress as a community.

What protocols are in place for faculty and staff?

The faculty and staff at Jesuit are essential to the formation of the students. The Human Resources office at Jesuit has established protocols for the Jesuit faculty and staff, including screening protocols similar to that which is required for the students. All individuals on campus will be required to wear masks, including teachers during class.

Similar to prior years, steps are in-place to minimize disruption in the student learning experience if a teacher is not able to attend class in-person.

As noted previously, Jesuit will notify families if their son has had significant exposure with someone who has received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.  In all communication, Jesuit commits to safeguarding confidential personal and health information. 

How does the blue/gold model impact the number of interactions my son might have with other students and faculty?

The blue/gold model, in conjunction with the new bell schedule, reduces the number of on-campus interactions your son may have with other students. Here are several helpful pieces of information that might provide insight into how this compares to prior years and what things look like in a 'normal' operation of the schedule;

	Blue/Gold Hybrid Model with new Bell Schedule	100% in-Person with new Bell Schedule	"Old" Bell Schedule (prior to 2020-2019)
Number of Students on-campus	approximately 500	1,100	1,100
In-Person class size	5-15 (depending on alpha breakdown and number attending 100% eLearning)	18-24	18-24
Number of in-person days of class per week	2	5	5
Academic Periods per day (not including athletics)	7	9	9
Academic classes a student may have per day	4-6*	4-6*	9
Number of in-person academic classes per week	8-12*	20-30*	40-45*
Lunch Periods	4	4	3
Number of passing periods (not including arrival/departure)	5	5-9 (students attend full schedule on Wednesdays)	9
Duration of Passing Periods	10 min	10 min	5 min
Lunch Process	Pre-plated/packaged for grab-and-go	Buffet lines	Buffet lines
All School assemblies in one indoor space	No	Yes (depending on timing/situation)	Yes, weekly
Athletic Schedules/protocols	Varies by sport and season.	Normal protocols/operation	Normal protocols/operation

*Range is due to variety of student schedules between and among grade levels.

What are the learning environments that my son may experience during the 2020-2021 school year? 

• On campus: Students will attend classes on campus following the safety protocols in place.  Students who are at home due to exposure, illness, or risk, are able to join classes virtually. 
• Hybrid: Each student will be assigned to a cohort, Blue or Gold. The cohorts will alternate attending class on campus and attending class virtually. Students who are unable to learn on campus will join their classes virtually through Microsoft Teams regardless of which cohort they are assigned. 
• eLearning: All students will attend class virtually.   
• Framework: Synchronous: classes will meet in real-time during scheduled class times each day. In all learning environments, classes will follow the bell schedule.   

If employing an eLearning protocol is required or advised, are there any changes being considered to the eLearning protocol that was used during the spring? 

Yes. While the goal for the fall is in-person learning, we are prepared to employ an eLearning protocol that is very different from what was used in the spring at Jesuit.  

The significant changes that are being made include the following: required attendance for live instruction every day that includes content deliver, lectures, discussions, and group work (e.g., Labs); a consistent schedule for each class that happens in the bell schedule rotation; and, attendance being recorded and reported every class period. Furthermore, we are committed to the rigor and pacing you expect from Jesuit, Catholic Social Teaching values being infused into the curricula, video/audio access to teachers, counselors, and administration for guidance and support, and intentional efforts by teachers and counselors to maintain social interactions among students to support their mental and physical well-being. 

Will Jesuit still follow the new bell schedule for the 2020-2021 school year? 

Yes, classes will follow the new bell schedule regardless of the learning environment. All environments will require in-person instruction and attendance daily, as personal interaction is essential to the Jesuit experience. You can review the bell schedule details here. 

How will my son engage in his classes if he is unable to be present on campus? 

Teachers are preparing to teach students in person, virtually, and both simultaneously.  We are updating classroom infrastructure to allow live video streams.  This upgrade, in addition to our use of Microsoft Teams, will enable students to fully participate in classes even when they are not on campus. All students will be provided information from their teachers regarding MicrosoftTeams during the first days of school. There will be times for 'practice' with each class to make sure things work before the school year gets fully underway.

How are passing periods being handled to minimize interactions? 

The hybrid model significantly reduces the number of students who are walking in the hallways between classes and our extended 10 minute passing period affords teachers and students the time to stagger their entrance and egress from each classroom. Each classroom, instead of 20-24 students, will only have between 8 and 15 students (depending on alpha). Also, our floors have been marked with directional markings similar to a two lane road. The new bell schedule also reduced the number of passing periods because there are fewer periods in the day. Also, announcements and prayer are being done at the start of one of the classes instead of a separate homeroom period each day. Each classroom will have sanitizer and students will be expected to use it during the day during passing. Hallways are also equipped with sanitizer in regular increments. Faculty, counselors, and administrators will be present in the hallway to monitor mask compliance and distancing.

Can families change between modalities (in-person vs. 100% eLearning) during the year?

Yes. We are prepared to educate your son regardless of whether he is in-person or at home. Families have been asked to provide us with their preference for the start of the year via RangerNet; however, that is not a locked-in preference and is being used for back-to-school planning. At any point during the year, families can opt to attend school in-person or virtually. A process will be outlined for communicating with once school begins, but families should always make choices that are in the best interest of their individual situation and preference. Attendance will be taken daily in each class - for the purpose of accountability and safety - but "present" is not considered different between in-person or online. Moreover, teachers will be taking attendance for their roster during the class period and there is no difference between being present in the classroom on the students' assigned day (blue/gold) or online using Microsoft Teams. That being said, any student who opts to attend a day virtually must be online in the Microsoft Teams in order to be considered present for the class.

How will students participate in Community Service? 

The summer has provided Jesuit a chance to visit with the agencies we support and serve, in addition to reviewing their individual protocols for keeping safety as a priority for those being served and those volunteering. We have identified various ways for our students and families to continue serving local, national, and international agencies. The Department of Community Service and Social Justice will communicate these opportunities during the back-to-school meetings as is customary every year.  

My son is involved in athletics. How do practices and games work? 

Jesuit will regularly review the guidelines and protocols as outlined by the UIL and the governing bodies for non-UIL sports and make decisions based off their protocols that are consistent with the policies in place for the school. Jesuit will respond and respect the decisions made by the governing body responsible for each sport. These decisions are being evaluated on the state/national level, depending on the sport, and we encourage you to contact your coach for the most up-to-date information. 

For information on the University Interscholastic League (UIL), please visit the UIL website here

Will my son continue to receive breakfast and lunch when on campus? 

SAGE Dining and Jesuit have adapted their food service protocols to continue to offer breakfast and lunch to all students on campus. 

What will lunch look like? 

Jesuit added a fourth lunch period to the schedule to reduce the number of students eating at one time. Students will be monitored to ensure they are not in the cafeteria or eating areas except during their assigned time.

All of the Cafeteria tables have been outfitted with Plexiglas dividers and additional tables have been set-up in other areas on campus (inside and outside). No more than 4 students are permitted at a table and must remain behind the dividers while eating without their masks.

SAGE is prepackaging/preplating breakfast and lunch. Students will be instructed on the exact protocol on the first day of school, but they will be provided the chance to choose between the options and then sit in a seating arrangement as described above. The number of adult proctors in the space has been increased to monitor compliance with the mask protocol. With the blue/gold cohort model, the number of students eating at one time is significantly reduced.

What options exist for carpooling if it is essential for transportation to and from school and students in a carpool are in different cohorts?

The cohorts were designed to keep families with multiple children in a consistent routine during the time we are in the hybrid in-person/eLearning modality and to create clearly distinguished groups for the sake of planning class rosters. We realize many families utilize and are dependent on carpools and that carpools may include students in different cohorts. We encourage carpool participants who find themselves in this situation to talk through driving options and establish a routine that is effective for all families. This may mean alternating days, driving different students to school, or looking for new carpool participants. We are appreciative of the efforts being taken by our community members during this unique time. 

One way to seek carpool participants is to use the new search feature in the parent/student directory in RangerNet. You can select “include all fields” and enter your zip code to get a listing of those families who live close to your home. We will help you identify families within your zip code to make new connections similar to the way we do with incoming freshman. We hope this is helpful!

What device does my son need in order to be successful and able to participate in all of the potential environments? 

Jesuit requires students to have a device that meets the published minimum device requirements. These requirements can be found here: https://www.jesuitdallas.org/students/resources. Furthermore, information about the device policy can be found on that website. 

What changes has Jesuit made over the summer that will allow for a seamless transition if there is a need to be in an iteration of eLearning? 

We will be using several digital platforms – regardless of the status of learning – that allow for constant communication and accurate information. Below are several of those changes: 

1. RangerNet: This updated platform provides a more robust tool for students, parents, and teachers. One significant change/upgrade is the student assignment calendar. Teachers have been working over the summer to develop new protocols for posting assignment due dates in one location, and RangerNet will be that location.  
2. Moodle and Google Classroom: In addition to RangerNet, these platforms will be used by teachers for content delivery and/or assignment submissions. Students will be informed by their teachers about how their individual classes will use these, as each class has different needs that are more suitable in the various platforms.  
3. MicrosoftTeams: All classes will have access to MicrosoftTeams Microsoft has been listening to the requests of schools and, over the summer, will have the following upgrades in place before fall 2020: up to 49 viewers on one screen; more user-friendly screen sharing and interactive tools; attendance features for teachers and students; and, small group features that allow for breakout meetings. Teachers are being provided training for MicrosoftTeams to ensure continuity of experience for students.  
4. MagnusHealth: All of our medical records for students are now electronic. This will serve you and your son in a variety of ways, including the following: accurate information shared with the Student Affairs office and, where appropriate, teachers and coaches (e.g., allergies and medical conditions); complete information available quickly for trainers and first responders; database of records necessary for state audits (e.g., physicals and immunization); and, convenience for updating and uploading school-wide permission forms.  

Vos Parate - This means "prepare yourselves" and is intended to get everyone ready for the start of the year! It is a student-only day and, unlike previous years, Vos Parate day will include a full run of student schedules. Students should attend on their assigned day (see below) in dress code with their face mask. All students will begin their day in Homeroom. Counselors and teachers will be in the halls assisting all new students.

There will be two identical Vos Parate days this year and they are scheduled using the Blue/Gold cohorts.

• Tuesday, August 18th: Blue Cohort students planning to start the year in-person will attend. All students planning to start the year 100% online will participate virtually on Wednesday, regardless of cohort. Gold Cohort and all students opting for 100% online have no school responsibilities on this day.
• Wednesday, August 19th: Gold Cohort students planning to start the year in-person will attend. All students opting for 100% online, regardless of cohort, will attend virtually. Blue cohort students have no school responsibilities on this day.
• Note: Students attending in 100% online will be provided MicrosoftTeams information several days prior and should plan to attend all sessions (minus lunch, athletics, and pictures) virtually according to their schedule. More information about pictures for 100% online students will be shared at a later date.

These days are only attended by students and, as you can see in the schedule below, students will get to meet all of their teachers, in addition to participating in several other activities. All students can view their schedule for the day (minus non-academic classes) on RangerNet. Counselors and teachers will be in the halls assisting all new students.

• DropOff/Arrival: 7:30am-8:00am. There are no morning activities or breakfast.
• Pickup: After 3:30pm. There are no afternoon activities.

	Freshmen	Sophomores	Juniors	Seniors
8-8:10am	Homeroom	Homeroom	Homeroom	Homeroom
8:10-8:40am	Prayer Service	Prayer Service	Prayer Service	Prayer Service
8:50-9:15am	Period 1	Period 1	Period 1	Period 1
9:25-9:50am	Period 2	Period 2	Period 2	Period 2
10-10:25am	Period 3	Period 3	Period 3	Period 3
10:35-11:15am	Lunch	Period 4	Period 4	Period 4
11:25-12:05pm	Period 4	Lunch	Pictures*	SJPP Period 1
12:15-12:55pm	Athletics/PE	Pictures*	Lunch	SJPP Period 2
1:05-1:45pm	Pictures*	Class Meeting	Class Meeting	Lunch
1:55-2:20pm	Period 5	Period 5	Period 5	Period 5
2:30-2:55pm	Period 6	Period 6	Period 6	Period 6
3:05-3:30pm	Period 7	Period 7	Period 7	Period 7

 

Important Details:

1.     All students will watch a health/safety protocol video during homeroom.

2.     Prayer Service will not be a large group gathering. The event will be live streamed into classrooms.

3.     Students do not wear blazers for pictures. Students should wear a solid white shirt with tie on their Vos Parate day. Seniors do not take pictures on-campus.

4.     Breakfast is not being served on Vos Parate days. Please eat prior to the start of the day

5.     Parking: Seniors may park in the senior parking lot on-campus on a first-come first-served basis. All other student parking and overflow parking will be at the Anderson Lot. Parents and carpools should drop students off and promptly depart campus to ease the traffic flow. Students need to practice physical distancing and wear masks upon entering and exiting the building, including to and from the parking areas.

Health Screening: Attending school and maintaining health is a community effort. Jesuit will be requiring parents to complete a health screening assessment for their son/s, including a temperature check, every day their son is scheduled to be on-campus. More information about this process will be forthcoming.

Follow the instructions in this short video or follow these step-by-step instructions.

Freshmen Orientation will take place on Monday, August 17th.

What:

Students will get to meet all of the important resources at Jesuit, including counselors, administrators, and some teachers. They will also get a chance to go through their schedules so they know where to go on the first day! All of their teachers are excited to meet them. Various clubs and organizations will be represented so they can start to learn about the many opportunities available to them at Jesuit. This is a student-only event and the dress code is casual. Parent 'orientation' occurs on the Freshman Parent Night (more information to follow)

When:

• Blue Cohort: 8am-11am on August 17th (Note: no breakfast/lunch service)
• Gold Cohort: 12:30-3:30pm on August 17th (Note: no lunch service)

Where:

Students should be dropped of in the front circle (wearing a mask). Counselors and administrators will be outside to help direct them to the right place!

While Jesuit is in the hybrid model, students will be grouped in cohorts based on their last name:

• A-Lee: Blue Cohort
• Legg - Z: Gold Cohort

Jesuit used this model to minimize the number of students in every section/class, thus forming even smaller cohorts during the day when they are indoors together for a period of time. Students will likely be in physical classrooms with between 7 and 13 students (depending on the alpha breakdown in each section) and desks will be appropriately spread out to maximize distance between students. This reduction - and the way the schedule works with long passing periods - will also allow students to minimize their interactions in the hallways and at events like lunch.

All events that are traditionally in large spaces have been modified to maintain social distancing. This includes masses, prayer services, and class meetings. For example, the opening prayer service will be delivered live to some students in the Terry Center and virtually (in small groups in classrooms) to others.

Switching cohorts is not an option at this time. As you can imagine with over 1,100 students, 75 classrooms, 675 class sections, making adjustments has the potential to influence the ratios we are trying to maintain within each class for distancing purposes. Furthermore, the split was made to create even numbers of students on campus on any given day for the purpose of planning meals, class events, and movements through the hallways. The new schedule minimizes the need to change schedules based on extracurriculars, as they were all removed from the academic calendar.

Blue Cohort

Monday and Thursday are designated as "Blue Cohort Days". It is on these days that students in the Blue Cohort are permitted to be on-campus in their classroom for class. Students not in the Blue Cohort (or those opting for 100% eLearning) are expected to be logged into Microsoft Teams for their classes. Students who are attending virtually are expected to be on-time and will be held to the same attendance standards as those attending in-person.  All students - regardless of their cohort - are expected to be logged into Microsoft Teams on Wednesdays; there are no in-person classes while we are in the hybrid model.

Gold Cohort

Tuesday and Friday are designated as "Gold Cohort Days". It is on these days that students in the Gold Cohort are permitted to be on-campus in their classroom for class. Students not in the Gold Cohort (or those opting for 100% eLearning) are expected to be logged into Microsoft Teams for their classes. Students who are attending virtually are expected to be on-time and will be held to the same attendance standards as those attending in-person. All students - regardless of their cohort - are expected to be logged into Microsoft Teams on Wednesdays; there are no in-person classes while we are in the hybrid model.

How does this work?

Over the summer, each classroom was outfitted with a high quality camera/microphone and a large second TV monitor. The camera will allow the virtual attendees to view and listen to what happens. The cameras are mounted on movable tripods so teachers can adjust based on the happenings in the class. The TV monitor will allow the students physically in the class to view their virtual peers and listen to their audio. This extends the classroom beyond the physical walls so that all can engage in learning. Teachers have been working over the summer to learn the ins-and-outs of the equipment, as well as various strategies to create and foster connections with all students regardless of their modality. All students are expected, per the device policy, to have a device with a camera and having the camera 'on' is required for attendance.

All students are attending classes virtually on Wednesdays while we are in the hybrid blue/gold model. Teachers will be providing details about the specific expectations but, unless otherwise outlined by a teacher, students should plan to be attending their classes virtually as scheduled on their schedule.

While it will be modified to some degree, seniors will be participating in service on Wednesdays. The specifics of the service program will be outlined during the first days of school for the seniors and communicated to parents appropriately. Details are still being finalized with individual agencies and, as you can imagine, many of their protocols and needs are evolving.