COVID-19
Remote Bell Schedule
This schedule should be followed for ALL students who are in remote.
Morning Check In: 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Synchronous instruction takes place during the first 25 minutes of each period.
Period 1: 8:30 - 9:25 AM
Period 2: 9:25 - 10:20 AM
Period 3: 10:20 - 11:15 AM
Period 4: 11:15 - 12:10 PM
Period 5: 12:10 - 1:05 PM
Period 6: 1:05 - 2:00 PM
Office Hours: 2:00 - 2:20 PM
Key Contacts
Parent Coordinator
N. Wallen [nwallen@bxdesign.org]
School Assistants
718-402-7690
I. Castro [icastro@bxdesign.org]
J. Gonzalez [jgonzalez@bxdesign.org]
D. Ramon [dramos@bxdesign.org]
Single Shepherds [Social Emotional Support]
9th Grade: L. George [lgeorge@bxdesign.org]
10th: K. Parliaros [kparliaros@bxdesign.org]
11th: D. Bonilla [dbonilla@bxdesign.org]
12th: U. Lynch [ulynch@bxdesign.org] & R. James [rjames@bxdesign.org]
Guidance Counselors [Academic Counseling]
9th Grade: M. Paez [mpaez@bxdesign.org]
10th & 11th Grades: K. Prindle [kprindle@bxdesign.org]
12th Grade & College Access: F. Hicks [fhicks@bxdesign.org]
Social Workers [Mandated counseling]
9th & 10th Grade: E. Freytes [efreytes@bxdesign.org]
11th & 12th Grade: A. Rivas-Gold [arivasgold@bxdesign.org]
Safety Information
Our school is committed to keeping our students and staff safe.
As such, we have implemented a number of changes to ensure everyone's safety.
Physical Distancing: All individuals in school buildings should remain at least 6 feet apart.
Face Coverings: Face coverings will be required inside school buildings.
Handwashing and Hand Sanitizing: There will be increased access and regular opportunities for students and staff to wash hands or use hand sanitizer throughout the day.
Signage and Floor Markings: Schools will have signage that upholds NYC Health’s Four Core Actions for Prevention.
Building Safety Precautions
Ventilation in School Buildings
Every classroom and office space used at Bronx Design have operable windows and air conditioners.
All DOE school buildings were surveyed by the NYC School Construction Authority.
- Learn about the Building Ventilation Survey reports and how to see the results for your school.
Cleaning and Disinfection
Schools will need to implement enhanced cleaning and disinfection of surfaces to ensure the health and safety of staff and students. Throughout the school year, the DOE will continue the rigorous practices used to prepare buildings for reopening, including:
- Providing adequate cleaning and disinfection supplies or plan to procure those supplies.
- Requiring deep cleanings to be completed on a nightly basis, including with the use of electrostatic sprayers.
- Improving HVAC systems to ensure proper ventilation.
- Setting-up enhanced cleaning in classrooms, bathrooms, and for high touch areas such as doorknobs and shared equipment such as laptops.
- Providing teachers with cleaning supplies for classrooms.
Screening and Entry/Dismissal Protocols
In order to minimize the number of individuals who come in contact with each other, and in order to identify potentially sick students and staff to the greatest extent possible, schools will be required to follow all applicable health guidance and to develop entry and dismissal protocols consistent with the latest health guidance, including:
- Staying up-to-date on guidance on symptom checks, which continues to evolve.
- Screening staff, students, and visitors daily on arrival for symptoms.
- Creating guidelines for health screenings of staff who report to work outside of morning arrival.
- Managing student drop off and pick up outside the school building to minimize the number of external visitors.
- It is strongly recommended that nonessential visitors do not enter the school building. Schools should limit the frequency and duration of other visitors.
Threshold for Closing Schools
Schools will need to close if New York City meets the following:
- The percent of positive tests in New York City is equal to or greater than 3% using a 7-day rolling average. If we cross this threshold, schools will close.
Your Responsibilities While in the Building
Everyone will undergo a temperature check upon entry into the building.
While inside the building, EVERYONE must wear a face mask. Facial masks must be worn properly, covering the nose and mouth.
All staff and visitors must complete and pass the DOE Health Screening.
Everyone must adhere to the room capacity allowance. The capacity is reflective of the physical distance requirements.
Students may not share technology or other supplies with their peers. As such, students are encouraged to bring their laptops or DOE issued iPads to school.
Everyone must follow the directional signs and ahead to using the correct entrances and exits.
Safety Precautions Taken By Our School
Classroom sizes will not exceed 12 students.
All desks have been arranged to ensure appropriate physical distancing.
Unannounced visitors will remain at the main entrance to be assisted. As such, parents should submit requests and make appointments in advance to gain clearance.
Thermometers will be distributed to all students who take part in Blended instruction.
Remote Only students will not be able to gain access to the building.
Blended Learning students who arrive to school on the incorrect day will be sequestered in a separate room until the end of the day or until a parent picks them up. They will not be able to attend in-person classes.
If Someone in the School Community Feels Sick
If a student or teacher is feeling sick, they are required to stay home and, if their symptoms are consistent with COVID-19, are asked to get tested. If a student begins experiencing symptoms in school, they will be isolated and monitored by a dedicated staff member until they are picked up by their family. Staff members who become symptomatic at school are asked to immediately leave the building.
Whether symptoms begin at home or in school, there will be a clear flow of information to facilitate fast action and prevent spread. A positive confirmed case will trigger an investigation by NYC Test + Trace and DOHMH to determine close contacts within the school. Schools will communicate to all families and students at school once a case is laboratory confirmed.
The DOE is working in tight coordination with DOHMH and the Test + Trace Corps to identify, isolate, and prevent spread of COVID-19. In the event that there is a laboratory- confirmed case in a school, all students and teachers in that class are assumed close contacts and will be instructed to self-quarantine for 14 days since their last exposure to that case.
Additionally, the DOHMH and Test + Trace Corps will begin an investigation into the risk of exposure to the school community and work with the DOE to issue clear guidance and decisions for next steps based on the outcome.
These protocols center the health of our students and staff at the very core of this school year, while pursuing the resumption of in-person learning and educational services. The City will continue to closely monitor health conditions, and if community transmission begins to rise across the boroughs, a decision may be made to close all schools and switch to full-time remote learning.
For all scenarios outlined below, all post-investigation decisions on classroom quarantines or whether full school closure is required will be dependent on the specific facts of each investigation.
| Conclusion of Investigation | During Investigation | Post Investigation |
|---|---|---|
| A. 1 confirmed case | Close Classroom | Classroom remains closed for 14 days; students and staff in close contact with positive case self-quarantine for 14 days. |
| B. At least 2 cases linked together in school, same classroom | Close Classroom | Classroom remains closed for 14 days; students and staff in close contact with positive cases self-quarantine for 14 days |
| C. At least 2 cases linked together in school, different classrooms | Close school | Classrooms of each case remain closed and quarantined, additional school members are quarantined based on where the exposure was in the school (e.g., the locker room); |
| D. At least 2 cases linked together by circumstances outside of school (i.e., acquired infection by different setting and source) | Close school | School opens post investigation, classrooms remain closed for 14 days |
| E. At least 2 cases not linked but exposure confirmed for each one outside of school setting | Close school | School opens post investigation, classrooms remain closed for 14 days |
| F. Link unable to be determined | Close school | Close school for 14 days |
Whenever a student is quarantining at home, the expectation is that they continue engaging with learning remotely if they are feeling well enough. If a school is closed, the principal will communicate by 6pm on the night before about the status of opening the next morning, based on the status of the investigation. We will not reopen a school building without confirmation from public health experts that it is safe.
Notifications will be posted on the school website, sent via Remind, and robo call. Please be sure your contact information is updated with our Parent Coordinator, Ms. Wallen (nwallen@bxdesign.org).
Guidance for Hybrid & Remote Learning
Please see the hybrid and remote learning information below.
How Hybrid Learning Works
Remote Learning Expectations
Technology: Getting a Device and Internet Access
Request an iPad Device
Complete the Device Request Form. Please be advised, iPads are delivered to the assigned school first. Expect delays in processing and shipment. If there is wifi inside the home, please request a laptop from the school instead.
iPad Update
For anyone who has a DOE-loaned ipad, we have some important updates for you. It is essential that you take the actions below to ensure your child’s ipad is ready for use for return to school. The first day of school is only a few weeks away, and all students will be working remotely for at least a few days a week. Your child will need their ipad to be ready for learning for the fall.
Please note that when we have other updates, we will send messages to you and your iPad on Thursdays, and we will let your schools know about the updates.
To prepare, you MUST:
Turn on the ipad - some iPads have not been turned on all summer. We need you to charge and power up the ipad.
Turn Airplane Mode on and off to reset your internet connection
a. Go to Settings
b. Find the Airplane Mode button
c. Turn Airplane Mode on for ten seconds (button turns green)
d. Turn Airplane Mode off and wait until the ipad reconnects to the internet
e. You will see the connected icon at the top of the screen
f. Go to schools.nyc.gov to make sure your ipad is connected to the internet - all DOE-loaned ipads have internet access.
Return to the main screen and sign into Zscaler in order to ensure your child is using the internet with all the safety the DOE requires and protect your child. You will need your child’s @nycstudents.net account. Once you get that please follow these directions:
a. On the main screen, click the Zscaler icon. After clicking the icon, you will be taken to the login page.
b. Enter your child’s @nycstudent account (only use the student’s username and password, no need to include @nycstudents to log in), then click the “sign in” button.
c. Click on the "allow" button and wait one minute for a connection to be established until you will see the Zscaler screen
d. Once the connection is secure, close the app
e. That is it. You can use the iPad normally now.
Sign into the Learn at Home App To get ready for the first day of school, make connecting to learning and support much easier for your child (and you, too!), and allow
you to get notifications on the iPad:
a. Find the Learn at Home icon on the main screen on the iPad
b. Log in the same way you did for Zscaler, using the same @nycstudents.net account (only use the student’s username and password, no need to include
@nycstudents to log in)
c. From the Learn at Home app your child can access TeachHub, Google Classroom
and get help.
Good news!
Your child’s ipad is now a hotspot that allows you to connect other devices used for remote learning to the internet. It is easy:
a. Go to Settings
b. Find Personal Hotspot and click to take you to the login screen
c. Select Allow Others to Join
d. Devices other students in your house are using for remote learning can be added
to that connection
e. As a reminder, as with the ipad itself, the hotspot connection is to be used only to access remote learning activities. Any unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.
iPad Care & Safety
Damaged iPads are protected by AppleCare. The DOE will work with families to get broken devices repaired using this coverage. For AppleCare support, please file a Technical Support Ticket(Open external link) or call the Help desk at 718-935-5100. Families will not be held accountable for accidental damage through normal use, but please exercise caution and common sense to protect your iPad. iPads must be installed in the case provided. You should be using your iPad primarily indoors for schoolwork and it must be secured in the case when you travel with the device.
Free and Low Cost Internet Options
[FREE]
The following internet carriers are offering free household Wi-Fi or special accommodations for 60 days:
- Comcast
- Charter Communications/Spectrum
- Altice
Learn more about the above at NYC.gov(Open external link).
There are many places across the city where you can connect to internet for free. Locations include:
- All branches of the New York Public Library(Open external link)
- Several public spaces in Lower Manhattan(Open external link)
- LinkNYC kiosks(Open external link) across the City
[LOW COST]
Altice (also known as Optimum)
Altice offers Altice Advantage(Open external link), a plan that starts at $14.99/month. To qualify, you must be:
- eligible for--or participate in--the National School Lunch Program (NSLP); or
- a New York City resident who attends a New York City public school; or
- eligible for--or receive--Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and 65 years of age or older; or
- a veteran and receive state or federal public assistance.
Charter (also known as Spectrum)
Charter offers Spectrum Internet Assist(Open external link), a plan that starts at $14.99/month. To qualify, one or more members of your household must be a recipient of one of the following assistance programs:
- National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
- Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the NSLP
- Supplemental Security Income (for applicants age 65+ only)
Verizon
Verizon offers the Lifeline program(Open external link), a plan that starts at $19.99/month. To qualify:
- Your annual income is at 135% or less than of the U.S. federal poverty guidelines
- You, or someone in your household, participates in a qualifying federal assistance program:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly known as food stamps), or
- Medicaid, or
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
- Tribal Programs (and live on federally-recognized Tribal lands)
For more eligibility information, visit Lifelinesupport.org
Tips for Successful At-Home Learning
Resources
Please see below for important resources.
Find the nearest COVID testing site by visiting nyc.gov/covidtest.
Free Meals
NYC Student Take-Out Meals
- Free Breakfast and Lunch meals are available for all NYC Students
- Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 12:00pm
- No registration, ID, or documentation required
- No dining space is available, so meals must be eaten off premises
- Parents and guardians may pick up meals for their children
- Use the search below to find a Take-Out location near you
Find a location nearest you.
New York City is committed to making free meals available daily for all New Yorkers. Any New Yorker can receive free meals available at more than 200 locations across the city.
- Meals can be picked up from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm, on schools days only. Please view the DOE calendar for more information
- Meals are not available to the general public at any other time
- No registration or ID required
- Multiple meals can be picked up at once
