Long Island City High School's COVID Plan

Welcome to our COVID response page. Below you’ll find all the critical information about how Long Island City High School is changing the way we operate to reduce the risk of COVID infection.

We are doing everything we can to make sure staff, students, and families are safe.

Please check back regularly, as we will update the information here as conditions change.

Our school district Opens in a new browser tab also has important information and resources for you.

Last updated: August 14, 2020

Hybrid Learning Schedule for Fall 2020

(Share your school's schedule for in-person and/or remote classes; see example below.)

We are starting the school year with a hybrid learning schedule. That means that your child will be in school some days and working from home some days. If our county moves into a Level 4 Health Emergency, we will switch to 100% remote learning for all students. Check this page for updates.

    Group A will be in school on Mondays and Wednesdays and working from home Tuesdays and Thursdays.
    Group B will be in school on Tuesdays and Thursdays and working from home Mondays and Wednesdays.
    Students needing extra academic support may be asked to come in on Fridays for intervention services. Students not coming in for intervention services should plan to continue at-home learning assignments on Fridays.
    If you need to switch your child's in-school learning days, contact ______ at _________.
    If you would prefer a 100% online learning schedule for your child this year, we are offering that as an option. Contact _________ at ________ to enroll.
    The school day will run from 8:00 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. Students may be dropped off no earlier than 7:45 and must be picked up promptly at the end of the school day.

Key Contacts

(Who is your school's primary contact for questions regarding this plan? See example below.)

If you have any questions about the COVID-19 plan, please contact Jessica Wordsmith:

Email
jessica.wordsmith@lichs.org Opens in a new browser tab

Phone
718-545-7095

Address
14-30 Broadway
Long Island City, NY 11106

*You can also connect with your teachers directly using the Staff Directory

Safety Information

Our school has implemented a number of changes to ensure everyone's safety.

Your Responsibilities While in the Building

(List your expectations for teachers, students, and staff to maintain safety while in the building; see example below.)

We have put safety procedures in place to keep our students and staff healthy.

    Masks: Masks must be worn at all times by all adults (teachers, staff, and visitors) and by students in grade 2 and up while in the building. If your child is unable to wear a mask for medical reasons, they must have an excuse signed by a doctor on file in the office.
    Handwashing: Students and staff are expected to wash hands thoroughly before and after eating, after using the bathroom, if exposed to body fluids (like saliva or a sneeze), and at other times necessary throughout the day.  
    Drop-off and pickup procedures: Please maintain social distancing between families during drop-off and pickup. Parents are not allowed to enter the building with their child unless arrangements have been made in advance with the office. Please move through the drop-off and pickup line as quickly as possible to make room for families behind you.
    Visiting our school: We are limiting visitors to the school during this time. Parent and community volunteer and in-person tutoring have been suspended until further notice. Most parent-teacher conferences and other meetings can be held virtually. All visits must be pre-approved and scheduled with the office.
    While in the building: When you enter the building, please check in at the front desk. During check-in, you will be given a nametag and reminded to wear your mask at all times.
    Traffic flow in hallways and common areas: Hallways are marked with arrows. Please keep at least 3 ft. distance between yourself and others.
    Illness: Students and staff exhibiting signs of illness or having a fever of greater than 99.9°F must stay home. If you or someone you know has COVID-19 (or shows symptoms of COVID-19 such as coughing or fever), it is required that you stay home or at a designated care facility for a minimum of 14 days. Please contact us via phone or email as soon as possible.
    Directions for local COVID testing: Please visit the NYS Coronavirus Find a Test Site Opens in a new browser tab page to find a test site closest to you.

Safety Precautions Taken By Our School

(List your school's changes in policies, procedures, and physical environment to improve safety; see example below.)

In addition to asking everyone to wear masks, wash hands, and maintain social distancing, our school has taken several steps to improve the safety of our staff and students. These steps have been recomended by local health authorities to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and other illnesses.

    Changes in class sizes: We've reduced the average class size from 31 to 18 for in-person instruction.
    Improvements in ventilation: In an effort to maximize air circulation, we are opening windows whenever possible and have added industrial fans to high-traffic areas.
    Increases in cleaning frequency: Our custodial team is committed to cleaning all classrooms twice daily, once before the school day and once in the afternoon. In addition, all classroom teachers have been provided with sanitizing wipes to wipe down surfaces and shared resources on an as-needed basis throughout the school day.
    Hand sanitation: All bathrooms have been stocked with extra soap for frequent hand washing. In addition, we have provided teachers with hand sanitizer for the classroom and added hand sanitizer stations in common areas.

Guidance for Hybrid & Remote Learning

Please see the hybrid & remote learning information below.

How Hybrid Learning Works

(Share your school's approach to hybrid and remote learning so that parents and students know what to expect; see example below.)

Hybrid learning combines in-class instruction and at-home learning. This allows us to limit the number of students in the building each day for safe social distancing, while still ensuring that students can benefit from direct interaction with teachers and peers.

    During days in class, teachers will provide direct whole-class instruction and small-group instruction. These days will be used primarily to introduce new topics, provide small group and one-on-one instructional support, and conduct assessments to monitor student progress towards standards.
    Students will be assigned additional activities to work on independently for there at-home learning days. These activities will allow students to apply and practice what they learned in class. There may be a combination of technology-based learning activities and offline worksheets, projects, and writing assignments. At-home learning activities are an important part of the learning process and will be graded.
    Teachers and intervention specialists will have limited virtual "office hours" (on Google Class) after school hours Monday - Thursday and during the day on Fridays. Students who have questions or need extra support can check in with their teachers during their office hours for help with at-home learning assignments.
    Students with IEPs or 504 plans, or who have been identified as at-risk for not meeting academic standards, may have additional one-on-one intervention provided either virtually or in school on Fridays.

Remote Learning Expectations

(Share your expectations for students and families while working independently at home; see example below.)

During hybrid or 100% remote learning, your child is expected to complete all assignments provided by the teacher. At the same time, we recognize that working independently at home is different and difficult for many students, so we want to provide flexibility.

    Students and families should check Google Class daily for important updates from their teachers. You can find a link to your teacher's Google Class in the Staff Directory.
    At-home assignments for the week will be posted in Google Class by Sunday night each week.
    At-home assignments for each week should be turned in by 4:00 each Friday. Assignments will be graded.
    All students are expected to sign into Virtual Home Room at 9:00 on Fridays through Google Hangouts. Look for the link in your teacher's Google Class.
    During 100% distance learning, your teacher may conduct live classes via Google Hangouts. Check Google Class for your live class schedule.
    When signing in for virtual classes or meetings, students are expected to be on time, appropriately dressed, and ready to learn. We suggest signing in 5 minutes before class starts. Please try to reduce background noise and distractions as much as possible.

Technology: Getting a Device and Internet Access

(Give instructions for families that need technology for remote learning; see example below.)

We are committed to making sure that all students can successfully connect to online learning during their at-home learning days.

    If your student needs a laptop or tablet, fill out the Device Request Form Opens in a new browser tab to reserve your device. Borrowing a device is free! Students in grades K - 3 will receive tablets and students in grades 4-5 will receive laptops.
    Borrowed devices should be used for school purposes only and kept in a secure location. Take your device with you on in-school days.
    If you are using your own device, make sure it meets the technology requirements for online learning Opens in a new browser tab .
    If you do not have internet access at home, LOCAL INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER is providing free connection for families earning less than $50,000 per year with students learning at home. You can request free internet access Opens in a new browser tab  directly with the company.
    If you are not able to get internet hooked up in your home, your child's teacher will work with you to provide alternative offline assignments.
    If you are having trouble connecting to Google Class, Google Hangouts, or any of our online learning resources, contact Ms. Smith for tech support Opens in a new browser tab.

Tips for Successful At-Home Learning

(Share best practices for successful remote learning; see example below.)

At-home learning will look different than a typical school day. The amount of time your child should be expected to engage in learning activities will vary by age and grade level. The expectations below are guidelines. If your child is not able to complete at-home learning assignments within the time periods recommended below, contact your child's teacher to discuss a modified assignment load.

    Make sure your child has a quiet place to work (ideally a desk or table) and the school supplies they need. Try to remove distractions like the television or other technology not needed for learning.
    For grades K-2, expect your child to work up to 2 hours per day, broken up into sessions of no more than 30 minutes.
    For grades 3-5, expect your child to work up to 4 hours per day, broken up into sessions of no more than one hour.
    Your child may benefit from focusing on a limited number of subjects each day. For example, If they are working at home Monday-Wednesday-Friday, they may want to work on science and math on Mondays, Social Studies and English Language Arts on Wednesday, and use Fridays to catch up on any assignments not yet completed.

Learn At Home Resources

(Post links to your school's most frequently used remote learning sites; see example below.)

Resources

Please see below for important resources.

Free Meals

(Give locations and times for free meal service; see example below.)

NYC DOE logo Opens in a new browser tab  

Meals Hubs will operate for children and families from 7:30 am to 11:30 am, and for adults from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.
No one will be turned away at any time • All adults and children can pick up multiple meals at one time • Vegetarian and halal options available at all sites

Help for Families

(Share information for how families can get help from the school and community partners; see example below.)

We know that many families are struggling during this time, and we are here to help.

    We are providing free breakfast and lunch for all students during in-school days. Students and families needing additional food support may pick up free meals through the Meal Hub program (see link to the left).
    Our social worker and school psychiatrist are available for virtual meetings. They can also connect your family with community resources to help you.
        Please contact Ms. Thomas, our School Psychiatrist, if your child is experiencing trauma or mental health issues or needs to be evaluated for an IEP or 504 plan.
        Please contact Mr. Jones, our Social Worker, if your family has lost housing, is experiencing a crisis, or needs additional support during this time.
    There are many community resources avaialble for families who need help with housing support, utilities, mental health services, crisis services, and other supports during this time. Use the quick links to the right to connect with more community resources.

Community Resources

(Share links for most commonly needed support services in your community; see example below.)

    Mental Health Resources Opens in a new browser tab
    CDC COVID Resources Opens in a new browser tab
    Find A COVID Test Center Opens in a new browser tab
    NYC Housing Support Opens in a new browser tab
    Find A Hospital Opens in a new browser tab
    Utility Bill Assistance

Updates

(Share information for how families should keep up to date as conditions change; see example below.)

To stay up to date with any changes to procedures or scheduling, please bookmark this page on your browser. We'll also be sending out emails to all families.

Sign up for updates through the Notify App using the school code: 5R2QKN. Download the app using the Notify tab to the right.

Meeting Special Needs

(Share information for students and families with exceptional circumstances; see example below.)

    Children of essential workers: We are offering an option for 100% in-person instruction for children of essential workers. Contact ________ at ________ for information.
    Families wishing to continue to learn remotely: If your child or a family member is at high-risk for complications due to COVID-19 may opt to continue 100% remote learning. Contact ______ at ________ to enroll your child in our remote learning program.
    Special needs students: Students with special needs will receive a separate email from Ms. Lewinsky with instructions. We are committed to fully complying with IEP and 504 accomodations for all students to the fullest extent possible during in-school, remote, and hybrid learning models.