Corner of 53*30th Street,Chan Aye Thar San Tsp, Mandalay
Mandalay International Science Academy is pleased to announce its COVID-19 Period Teaching and Learning Policy. The policy contains guidelines and procedures to ensure a safe environment for all of our community.

 

The plans for re-opening MISA’s physical campus for face-to-face alternative learning are constantly changing. As a result, these plans will be updated as we develop new ideas, and explore new instructional opportunities.

Our tentative plan is to reopen the MISA campus for regular classes on Monday, August 17. However, if the government does not permit opening physical classes, we shall continue with our online teaching and learning program.

Our COVID -19 Period Teaching and Learning reopening plan realize special measures and structures that are unique to the current health risks. We will adapt our procedures as the situation develops.

The reopening of MISA’s face-to-face teaching will be guided by the following principles:

  • Protect the health and safety of students and staff.
  • Follow any guidelines set out by the Myanmar Government.
  • Provide students with some familiarity with school routines.
  • Provide clear expectations for teachers and students.
  • Maintain a focus on the MISA mission, vision, and strategic themes.

This is an exciting time for MISA as we re-imagine school, learning from the past and preparing for a new future. We look forward to working with you in doing this.

 

Health and Safety Guidelines

 

Sick students

Students who show symptoms of any kind should not come to school or if at school will be sent home. Only after students have been symptom-free for 48 hours without the use of medication, will they be permitted to attend once again. If symptoms worsen, we strongly recommend immediate medical treatment. The CDC offers some useful guidelines which can be viewed here.

Symptoms to look out for are:

  • Fever
  • Flu-like symptoms such as coughing, sore throat, runny nose, and fatigue
  • Shortness of breath

Students who have come into contact with someone with a confirmed case of COVID19 should stay at home and be guided by Health Authority Instructions.

  • Masks and Face Shields will be made available by the school for all students.

Social Distancing

  • Two-meter markers will be placed in all areas of the campus.
  • Students must maintain a distance of 2 metres (or 6 feet) from each other throughout the school day both in the class and in other areas of the campus.
  • Hand sanitizer is available in multiple locations on campus and inside each classroom.  Before the start of every lesson, the subject teachers will require students to apply hand sanitizer, or to wash their hands, whilst observing the 2-meter distance.
  • Railings, door handles, light switches, and any places which are touched by students or staff. will be sanitized on a continuous basis throughout the day by the housekeeping staff.
  • Toilets and sinks will be sanitized on a continuous basis throughout the day by the housekeeping staff.
  • All rooms will undergo deep cleaning at lunchtime and at the end of each day. Deep cleaning means the floors, desks, and chairs will be cleaned with soapy water, rinse water, and bleach water, in this order.

The following expectations and procedures are in place to ensure the health safety and hygiene standards are met:

Arrivals

  • Visitors are not permitted on campus during school hours, 7:45 – 17:00.
  • Students may not enter the campus before 7:45 am
  • Parents will not be permitted past the school gate, and must leave as soon they have dropped off their child.
  • Parents are not permitted on campus unless they have a prior appointment.
  • Everyone must wear a face mask/shield to enter or leave the campus. All students and teachers must wear a face mask/shield at all times on the campus.
  • Everyone is to wash their hands before and after entering the campus. Washbasins with running water and liquid soaparte are located at the entrance of the school.
  • Everyone’s temperature is taken prior to entering the campus.
  • Students, faculty, and staff are not allowed to enter the school if they show any symptoms of illness and must be symptom-free for 48 hours before returning.
  • Students are allowed on campus only for the duration of the school day or when they are involved in a scheduled activity.
  • Students must adhere to the 2-meter rule when entering and exiting the campus and obey the social distancing markings on the pathways.
  • Students who enter the facilities will report directly to their classrooms.
  • Students must bring only the minimum amount of belongings needed and take them directly to their classrooms.
  • Students who arrive late must sign in at the Student Affairs office.

Dismissal

  • Each grade will be given a designated dismissal time.
  • Primary students will be taken to the dismissal area by teachers or released to their designated place.

Entering and exiting the classroom

Beginning of the day:

  • Students must bring all their belongings with them to the classroom, including extra clothing and bags.
  • Before and after removing any clothing or items from their bags, students must wash their hands for 20 seconds or apply hand sanitizer.
  • Students must keep their face masks/shields on during the classes at all times. 

During the day:

  • Students must wash their hands at least every two hours as well as before meals, after recess, after PE, after using the toilet, or any other time they enter the classroom.

End of the day:

  • Students must sanitize their hands before walking through the main entrance.
  • Students are to wear face masks while departing
Classrooms and the use of materials
  • Prior to and after class hours, housekeeping is responsible for sanitizing the classrooms.
  • During class hours, teachers and teaching assistants will be responsible for sanitizing the classroom and materials like markers, teacher’s desks, erasers, and active board pens
  • Prior to the start of class, all materials will be sanitized by students while supervised by teachers (computers, books, materials).
  • Disinfectant, hand sanitizer, and paper towels will be provided in each classroom.
  • All personal items must be cleaned twice daily. Items that cannot be cleaned should not be brought to school.
  • All toys and manipulatives will be cleaned after school.
  • All soft toys and pillows/cushions/blankets have been removed from classrooms.
  • Electronic devices are permitted, however, they cannot be shared.
  • Electronic devices need to be wiped before and after use several times daily with tech-friendly cleaning wipes.
  • Class pencils/pens, scissors, glue sticks, and rulers will be wiped down after use by the assistant teachers/teachers. These class items may not be shared.
  • Any art materials e.g. pastels, brushes, etc. are to be used, cleaned, and then packed away.
  • Playdough/plasticine/clay is not permitted.
  • A-4 papers or hard sheets may be used for important reminders.

Library

  • The main library will be closed
  • A small selection of books will be available daily. Once a child has read the book it must be packed away and cleaned at the end of the day.
  • Year 2 to 6: students will be assigned books from Epic! by their teachers. English teachers will assign a book every day. Teachers should follow up with every child if they have read the assigned books. In case a child has missed reading for 3 consecutive days, parents should be contacted by email to remind them of reading regularly.
Movement of All People in, out, and throughout the Campus

All movement of students around and within the campus is to be supervised by a teacher and adhere to the expected two meters distance. When students are moving around campus, they need to be taught the following expectations. These expectations must then be reinforced consistently by all teachers. A short video will be shown all throughout the day on the expected movements of the students and staff while on campus.

They are as follows:

  • Everyone washes their hands before moving to another section of the school.
  • Walk on the right when going up and down the stairs and through the hallways.
  • Stay five steps apart on the stairs.
  • Avoid any physical contact.
  • Wash hands after using the toilet.

Lunch and snack procedures

  • Students will not have lunch at school.
  • All students will eat snacks in their classrooms.
  • Students quill wash their hands before and after eating snacks
  • Snacks will not be permitted to be dropped off either by parents or outside vendors.
  • All staff washes their hands before and after eating snacks and lunch.
  • All staff sits 2 meters apart from each other during lunch.
  • Cleaning staff will thoroughly clean tables after staff has eaten.

Outdoor play

A revised recess schedule will be followed to provide safe opportunities for outdoor recess.

Student expectations for outdoor play

  • Students are expected to adhere to all new procedures so the school can follow health and safety guidelines.
  • As per the health and safety guidelines, students must play only with their designated group of playmates.
  • Students must maintain a two-meter distance when playing.
  • Students will be able to play on the playground equipment.
  • A washbasin with running water and liquid soap will be provided in the playground. Students must wash their hands before and after using the playground.

Grade Level Pre-K & KG Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5
Break 1 8:45 – 9:00 9:05 – 9:20 9:25 – 9:40 9:45 – 10:00 10:05 – 10:20 10:25 – 10:40
Break 2 10:45 – 11:05 11:10 – 11:30 11:35 – 11:55 12:00 – 12:20 12:25 – 12:45 12:50 – 1:10
Sample Primary School Recess Area Rotation
Areas Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Block APlayground Group A Group B Group C Group D Group E
Back Playground Group B Group C Group D Group E Group A
Small field /Obstacle Course Group E Group A Group B Group C Group D

Teaching and learning

Teaching

This pandemic period presents a new learning situation. Our goal is to familiarize students with school routines for social/emotional/academic learning within our school environment. Lessons will be designed to provide practice for consolidating skills and will focus on new learning where possible. Lessons should enable students to independently practice the skills taught. Therefore, teachers will use teaching materials, strategies, and teaching styles that are familiar to the students.

Google Classroom (for secondary) and ClassDojo (for primary), in combination with other online platforms, will still be used for homework. This will allow students to independently revise what has been taught in lessons.

If the teacher is sick but can do live online teaching with students, then the school will prepare the smartboard so that the teacher’s attendance is not affected.

  • Secondary teachers will use Google Classroom for all assignments, sharing of materials, and communication with the students. Primary teachers will use ClassDojo
  • Written feedback on assignments should be provided within 3 working days.
  • If classroom sizes do not accommodate social distancing requirements, the class will be divided into 2 groups. The teacher will teach 2 groups at the same time utilizing the assistant teachers.
  • If a teacher has mild symptoms, the teacher will conduct the class online using a substitute teacher in the classroom.
If the school goes back to online learning
  • Secondary teachers will teach online for the entire duration of the lesson according to the online learning program timetable.
  • The teachers will attend all the meetings online.
  • Students and teachers are to follow a professional dress code.
  • If the teacher is sick and unable to conduct online lessons, regular leave procedures apply. (informing the office staff and the VP to inform, sending a substitution work)
  • In case, the student misses a class for 2 or more days, the teacher will contact the parents by email or phone, via the respective VP and student affairs.
  • Any lessons missed due to the teacher taking leave will be rescheduled for the following week.
Class guidelines for the primary section

To prepare for COVID period learning and/or possible school closure, homeroom teachers along with co-teachers and subject teachers will create weekly online assignments to be completed at home. These assignments will be given on Fridays and will be posted on ClassDojo.

To prepare for pandemic period learning, class teachers along with learning support, EAL and single-subject teachers assigned to the grade will create groups based on distancing guidelines that will become a ‘class’ for the duration of adaptive learning.

The goal when creating groups of students is to develop well-functioning classes. The divisional principals and counselors will work with teachers to develop these classes.

This pandemic period learning situation will require adaptive class scheduling. In developing these schedules, student health and safety will be prioritized.

Sports and activities

PE Classes

PE classes will maintain regular schedules but with limited class sizes. Classes will be limited to outdoor sports facilities. Any sports equipment used in classes will be thoroughly disinfected before and after every class by the PE/ assistant teachers. Lessons will be limited to non-contact, socially-distanced fitness activities and games.

Students will be required to wash their hands upon arrival and at the completion of PE classes. Hand sanitizing stations are available next to the football pitch and basketball court. A washbasin with running water is provided at the entrance of the Sports area. Students must wash their hands prior to and after using the sports facilities.

Co-curricular Activities (CCA)

We will not begin after-school activities until we are confident they can be implemented within health and safety guidelines. Once school activities are permitted to begin, they will follow the same guidelines and recommendations as regular classes. CCA class sizes will be limited based on the activity and the size of the available classroom or meeting area. In order to limit contact with non-staff and to prevent additional personnel from being permitted on campus, CCAs will initially only be offered by MISA faculty and staff. Outside vendors and non-staff instructors will not be permitted on campus. CCAs will include academic, art, and music classes. In addition, sports CCAs will be limited to non-contact, socially-distanced activities.

Guidelines for teachers and staff to maintain health and safety

Working and collaborating will look and feel different. It is likely to be awkward and certainly will take getting used to. In addition to following the guidelines for moving around the building, please use the following guidelines:

  • Staff must wipe down their electronic devices and personal belongings several times a day.
  • Staff will conduct meetings online as much as possible, such as Zoom and Google Meet.
  • When working in the same room, staff will adhere to the two-meter distance guidelines, spread out in meeting rooms, and wash hands before entering the room and after leaving the room.
  • Use of staff rooms is only permitted if adults wash hands when entering and exiting, and apply social distancing expectations.
  • Staff must avoid any physical contact or close proximity to students.

Staff illness

Staff who show symptoms of any kind should not come to school or if at school will be sent home. These procedures will be applied more rigorously than MISA has been used in the past. Staff with mild symptoms can return to school only if they have been symptom-free for 48 hours without the use of medication.

If symptoms worsen we strongly recommend medical advice and would encourage staff to look at medical resources giving advice on when to consult a doctor or seek emergency medical care.

Staff who have come into contact with someone with a confirmed case of COVID19 must not attend school but adhere to Myanmar Health Authority instructions and advice.

Our mission is to facilitate student development through a challenging and balanced curriculum offering differentiated instruction.

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