Upper School
Start of School Year 2020-2021
Overview
Attendance
- In Luxembourg, physical attendance at school is obligatory for all students over the age of 4 years. As such, if your child is sick and cannot come to school, please call, send an email to usattendance@islux.lu or complete the absence notification form on MyISL.
- If your child is unable to attend or return to school for any other reason, please also inform the Upper School office accordingly. Although the school will be open for students and staff from 26th August our facilities will remain closed to parents and visitors other than by appointment.
- After school activities will be going ahead as usual although field trips and other external events will be extremely limited and dealt with on a case by case basis.
Confirmed Case
What happens if a faculty/staff/student tests positive for COVID-19?
The Ministry of Health (MoH) will advise the actions to take.
What is the procedure for a person who has been in contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus?
This person has to stay at home and contact the MoH for further advice, if not already contacted by the MoH. These persons must stay at home for 7 days counting from the day of the last contact with the infected person - the Health Inspectorate will provide them, if necessary, with a certificate of incapacity for work. During this period, all unprotected contact with other persons must be avoided. From the 5th day onwards, they will be asked to be tested for COVID-19 at a laboratory of their choice, using the prescription that has been sent to them. If the test is negative, the quarantine ends. During the seven days following the quarantine, they must self-monitor and wear a mask when in contact with other people. If symptoms appear, they must immediately be tested again and placed in isolation.
Failure to comply is an offence punishable by a fine from 25 to 500 euro.
What to do if you are in quarantine?
What happens if a household member is placed on a quarantine?
Stay alone in one room, with doors closed, and take your meals in that room. Avoid all visits and contact and do not leave your room unless necessary. Wash your hands regularly. Do not share personal household items, such as dishes, glasses, cups, kitchen utensils, napkins or bedding with other people. After having used any of these items, wash them carefully with water and soap, or in the dishwasher/washing machine. All of the clothes, bed linen and towels have to be washed regularly in a washing machine.
Do I need to inform ISL if a family member has tested positive?
If a family member is tested positive, you will probably be put in quarantine by the MoH, and you will get a certificated issued by the MoH which has to be sent to ISL via email to lsnurse@islux.lu or usnurse@islux.lu.
Do I need to inform ISL if my workplace has a confirmed case?
No
In the case where a positive Covid-19 case is identified within the school, the Ministry of Health will advise the school about further steps to be taken. ISL will follow any recommendation from the Ministry including full support of their contact tracing.
Illness and Fever Guidelines
General Illness:
Your child should come to school if they can fulfil the following requirements:
- Can energetically participate in classroom activities and recess without use of fever/symptom-reducing medicine (paracetamol, Ibuprofen, cough syrup etc)
- Is FEVER-FREE with a temperature of 37.5 C or lower
- Has no symptoms of Covid-19 such as respiratory symptoms, muscle ache, loss of taste and smell, with or without fever.
- Has no symptoms of vomiting/diarrhoea.
You child should stay at home/will be sent home if they have any of the following:
- General illness:
They appear or complain of feeling unwell or they have a suspected communicable disease. - Fever:
Students with a temperature over 37.5 C will be sent home from school and should not return to school until they are FEVER FREE for 48 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine (e.g. paracetamol, ibuprofen etc) - Covid SYMPTOMS other than fever:
At these exceptional times, in the event a student presents in the nurse office with a continuous cough or respiratory difficulty, muscle aches and/or the loss of taste/smell we will send the student home as a precaution. The student should remain home for a minimum of 48 hours or until symptom free.
Students with fever will be held in a designated quarantine room (not in the nurse office barring other physical complications) and will be required to wear a medical mask until they can be picked up by their parents/guardian.
We would expect parents to be available to pick their child up within 45 mins once they have been contacted by the nurse. In the event a parent is unable to collect their child, we will contact the emergency contact we have on file. Parents/emergency contacts will be expected to collect the child by car in order to avoid possible spread on public transport.
In the event of a student presenting with Covid-19 symptoms, it is strongly recommended that you follow the Health Ministry of Luxembourg recommendations and contact your doctor to arrange for testing.
Please inform the school nurse if someone in your family is being tested for Covid-19.
Return to School After Illness/Fever (Covid-19 considerations)
- In the event of suspected Covid-19 infection you should contact your doctor to arrange for testing and not return to school until you have the results.
- In the event that the results are positive, you will need to follow the guidelines of the government in regards to quarantine and self isolation for the family. The student may not return to school earlier than the minimum quarantine requirement even if the student is feeling well. The length of quarantine is 14 days from the onset of symptoms. If the symptoms extend longer than 14 days, then you should remain in quarantine until you are 48 hours symptom free.
- If a member of the family receives a positive result of a Covid-19 test, we ask that the family self-isolates and students do not come to school during this time.
- In the event that the results are negative, students must be symptom and fever free for 48 hours or longer.
- In the event that the results are positive, you will need to follow the guidelines of the government in regards to quarantine and self isolation for the family. The student may not return to school earlier than the minimum quarantine requirement even if the student is feeling well. The length of quarantine is 14 days from the onset of symptoms. If the symptoms extend longer than 14 days, then you should remain in quarantine until you are 48 hours symptom free.
- On return to school following absence due to an illness or isolation, students must be checked at the nurse office immediately upon arrival to school, before going to the classroom. Students who arrive with fever, temperature over 37.5 C or have taken fever reducing medication will not be given access to the classroom and parents will be notified to pick up their child immediately
- When the child returns to school, he/she must be fit enough to participate in all activities.
Exception to the rule:
If there is a restriction from some activity (recess or PE) there must be doctor's note explaining for how long.
Learning and Support for Students
- We anticipate teaching and learning being as immersive and dynamic as usual. However, opportunities for group work will be limited and students will be largely at a separate desk.
- The daily Homeroom or Advisory times will be important for keeping students up to date with developments and supporting them in understanding necessary health and hygiene practices.
- We anticipate all staff returning to school. Should any staff be required to stay away from school for health reasons a substitute teacher will be provided as usual.
- Schoology will continue to be used as the Learning Management System so that, should a student have to be absent from school, they will be able to follow the programme via this means.
Social Distancing
- Rules and Expectations
- Driving on Campus
- Movement of Students and Staff within the Buildings
- Outdoor Play
Rules and Expectations
- In order to maintain the high standards of safety and hygiene, everyone in the school community must take responsibility for themselves and for each other. As such, social distancing rules and expectations for hygiene will be enforced throughout the school.
- Should a student find these expectations difficult to meet, they will have a conversation with the Principal, Deputy Principal or Dean of Students.
- Parents may then be contacted and asked to pick up their child. The Principal will discuss with the parents whether attending school at this time is the best for their child.
Driving on Campus
- The blue area on the image indicates the usual drop-off zone. The green area indicates the two-way pedestrian walkway.
- Remember, parents should not get out of their car but simply drop their child and leave. Parents are not permitted into the campus unless in an emergency.
- Face masks are mandatory on campus and in the buildings.
Movement of Students and Staff within the Buildings
- In order to minimise congestion and cross-flow of students, a one-way system will be in operation in the common areas of the school, especially corridors and hallways.
- This is clearly marked with arrows and other signs and visual aids.
- Students must keep their mask on when moving around the school and maintain social distancing protocols as best they can.
- To help avoid unnecessary congestion & maintain a smooth flow of students around the buildings, student movement from class to class and when visiting their lockers or using the restrooms, should be done as swiftly and safely as possible.
Outdoor Play
Health and Safety
Face Masks
- We wanted to clarify the expectations for the wearing of face masks, as this is a question which has already come up on several occasions.
- Students travelling to and from school, using public transport and moving around campus must wear their masks.
- Students will also be required to wear their masks in all areas of the school including corridors, classrooms, bathrooms and at the drop off and pick up points when arriving and leaving school.
- Students are only permitted to remove their face mask in classrooms with the permission of their teacher.
- Students are required to keep their face mask on at the end of school until they have completely left the campus.
Hygiene procedures
- The school has been thoroughly cleaned over the holidays.
- Additional hand cleansing stations are available throughout the building.
- Staff members will receive the following cleaning materials:
- Spray bottle of disinfectant
- Paper roll to wipe down
- Disinfectant wipes
- Masks
- Gloves
- The school has also purchased these additional supplies:
- Masks
- Disinfectant
- Thermometers
- Disinfectant wipes
- Disposable gloves
- Protective goggles
- Red bins dedicated for masks and gloves
- Thermal cameras
- Any student experiencing COVID19 symptoms will be sent home.
Organisation of the Day
Arrival Expectations
- Arrival 8.00 - 08.20
- Everyone entering the school will have their temperature checked as they enter the building. If a student or a staff member shows a temperature above 37.5 degrees celsius he or she will not be permitted to attend school. In this case, the parents will be informed by phone and you will need to either pick your child up, or confirm that they can go home by themselves.
- Once students have passed through the temperature screening students will go to the timber playground / field until school starts.
- Everyone entering the school campus must wear a face mask and avoid physical contact.
Use of materials
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Each day, students should bring whatever they need to school to be ready to learn.
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Students will be assigned a locker and locker use is permitted although social distancing protocols will need to be observed to avoid too much congestion at the lockers between classes.
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Because of the risk of transmission of the virus, students will not be allowed to share any of their belongings or materials with other students. The school will not be providing any communal use stationery for the same reason. Therefore please do ensure that the students have a personal supply day to day learning materials and stationary.
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Because the communal water fountains will be closed. Students must bring a full water bottle with them each day - clearly marked with their name. Students cannot share their water bottle with their friends. Water bottles can be filled up in the bathrooms.
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Charging laptops at school will be more difficult because of social distancing and cleaning protocols. So it is even more important than usual that students make sure their laptop is fully charged before arrival at school. Students will only be permitted to use their own charger at school.
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Because some of the learning will still be online, students must bring with them a pair of working headphones with microphone, every day.
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Students must bring their face mask with them every day.
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At break and lunchtimes, students will be expected to go outside to get some fresh air. They should dress appropriately for the prevailing weather conditions. Only on the occasion of seriously bad weather and where the school leadership feel that students should not go outside, arrangements will be made for students to remain indoors. At all other times, students will be outdoors as much as possible during the day.
Classroom Organisation
Daily Schedule
- Upper School Students will follow their regular schedule as detailed on INSIS family.
- School starts at 08h25 and ends at 15h40 (except on Wednesdays when school ends for students at 14h40).
- Like all first days back after the summer break, Wednesday 26 August will have a slightly adjusted programme. Across the first 8 days of school, there will be adapted schedules for some Grade Levels; the details of these adjustments will be sent out separately and in advance.
Cafeteria
- Menu choices will be limited and more formatted and although we can expect the same high quality and nutritious meals, the usual range of food selections will be reduced.
- Trays with cutlery and cups will be handed out by the cafeteria staff at the serving stations. There will be two serving points for one main dish and one serving point for the vegetarian alternative. A choice of set entrées and/or desserts, as well as the choice of two salads will be available at two cold serving points. There will be no self-service, only serving stations held by the cafeteria staff.
- A selection of sandwiches will be available for sale at the Snack Shack.
- Upper School students and staff must use an active student card, or arrange for a replacement at the Upper School reception, to ensure a cash and touchless checkout to pay for the combination of purchases made.
- Students must ensure that any breakfast, mid-morning and afternoon snacks & other refreshments are brought from home as the cafeteria will only be open for lunch. Additional seating will be available in the Snack Shack and in a covered picnic area outside near the Upper School entrance throughout the day.
- Mandatory hand sanitising before entry
- Tables set up for maximum 8 persons and spaced 1,5m apart
- Mask wearing is mandatory when not seated at a table
- Tables and seats are cleaned and disinfected after each course