We are planning to open Greenhill’s campus for the 2020-2021 school year, but we must acknowledge that this year will be like no other year in our history. To reopen successfully, we are making changes for the safety and wellness of our students, faculty, and staff. These changes will require some sacrifice from every member of our community. When we open in the fall, spaces will look different, schedules will shift, and new rules will be in place. But we are #GreenhillTogether, and we know that our relationships, connections, and common goals will carry us through this challenging time.
 
This website will be your guide in returning to school this August. The information contained on this page will continue to be updated as we make decisions and refine our plan.
 
Please understand that the information contained on this website may change at any time, depending on the course of the virus and guidance from state and local officials.

Summer Updates with the Head of School

To keep you informed, please join Head of School Lee Hark for bi-weekly summer dates via Zoom. In these Zoom meetings, we'll update you on our planning, answer questions, and share the thinking behind our decision-making.
UPCOMING SESSION
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Webinar ID: TBD
Password: TBD
FUTURE SESSIONS
Tuesday, July 28, 9:00 AM
 
These grounding principles will continue to inform our preparations:

1

Ensure that our students continue to receive an EXCELLENT EDUCATION in an environment that is safe for them and our faculty.

2

Ensure that the School's commitment to sustaining a DIVERSE, EQUITABLE, AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY remains central when making decisions about the year to come.

3

Ensure that the needs of our MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS are considered when making decisions about the year to come.

Scenarios

We are planning for three opening scenarios:
 
1
Full return to campus with social distancing requirements in place.
2
Operate in-person school at less
than 100% capacity.
3
Start the school year
in remote learning.

100% Remote Learning Option

Greenhill will offer families the choice of participating in a 100% remote learning program for 2020-2021. The School is realigning roles and responsibilities, as well as investing in additional classroom technology for this program. This option will also allow students to continue their learning at home in the event that they need to quarantine because of an exposure to COVID-19. Later this summer, families will be asked to identify which program their child will participate in at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year.

Task Forces

We assembled six task forces of administrative team and faculty members to concentrate on the categories of planning below. These teams are using resources from local and national peer schools, state and local educational authorities, the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and the CDC and local health department to guide their decision making.

1

TEACHING & LEARNING
This group is focused on improving remote learning and building flexibility into our educational plans for next year.

2

HEALTH & OPERATIONAL PLANS
This group will identify operational protocols to help reduce the spread of the virus.

3

EVENTS & COMMUNITY
This group will evaluate which events we will need to continue to offer virtually and which we will be able to hold in person, with a special emphasis on maintaining our sense of community.

4

FACILITIES
This group will consider how physical campus locations will need to be adjusted and/or modified to accommodate required social distancing.

5

COMMUNITY WELLNESS
This group will consider the social, emotional, and wellness needs of our community as we restart the learning journey.

6

FINANCIAL HEALTH
This group will evaluate the school’s financial position and ensure that our financial health remains strong.
 

Flexible Calendar & Possible Interruptions

School will start on Tuesday, August 25, 2020. We have added FOUR WEEKS to our calendar to accommodate for potential closures due to COVID-19. If we use all four of these additional weeks for COVID closures, then the last day of school will be June 18, 2021. At this moment, we advise families to hold 2021 summer vacation plans until after June 18, 2021.
 
 

NEW PROCEDURES

Below is a summary of the new procedures that we plan to implement for the 2020-2021 school year. Additional details on each area will be shared in the weeks ahead and posted below this section as updates are made.
Face coverings will be required as recommended by the CDC and local health authorities.
Visitors or volunteers will NOT be allowed in any building.
We will offer more carpool drop-off/pick-up locations to enable better social distancing.
Spectators for outdoor athletic contests will be limited and will be required to socially distance.
Lunch will be adjusted to include prepackaged meals and alternate dining locations for social distancing.
All student performances will be live streamed.
All cleaning and sanitary practices on campus will be enhanced.
We will follow health screening protocols for students, faculty, and staff before entering campus.
We are partnering with Dallas County Health and Human Services regarding our procedures for handling illness on campus.

Health & Safety

1

DAILY HOUSEHOLD HEALTH SCREENINGS
Greenhill is in the process of identifying a digital screening tool to allow families to conduct student screening at home prior to arriving at school.

2

FACE COVERINGS
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), recommends that students and staff wear cloth face coverings while at school. Greenhill plans to follow this guidance to provide yet another layer of protection for our community. The CDC explains that COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets shared when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Wearing a cloth face covering is shown to greatly reduce the transmission of respiratory droplets. The School is working to develop policies for all faculty and staff members as well as students in all grade levels to wear face coverings or shields while on campus.

3

REGULAR HANDWASHING
Health experts agree that frequent handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is one of the best ways for people to stay safe and reduce the spread of germs. Greenhill will continue to ensure that students wash hands at regular intervals throughout the school day, especially as students enter the classroom and before eating.

4

PHYSICAL DISTANCING
Following the guidance of the CDC, Greenhill is reconfiguring its classrooms to allow for six feet of physical separation for all students and faculty when in a classroom setting.

5

SANITARY MEASURES
All cleaning and sanitary practices on campus will be enhanced. Hand sanitizing stations have been added outside of each classroom. We are investigating ways to increase ventilation inside the buildings.

School-Day Modifications

Two ways to help reduce the spread of infection include reducing group sizes and limiting the number of contacts that each person has. To that end, we are implementing the following:
REDUCE GROUP SIZES
  • Dining will be adjusted to include alternate dining locations for social distancing. (Breakfast will not be served in the fall.)
  • Eliminate use of lockers in Middle and Upper School
  • Eliminate the use of locker rooms in athletics
  • Eliminate shared classroom equipment
  • Implement one-way walkthrough routes through buildings where possible
  • Limit the number of students in restrooms at one time
 
REDUCE CONTACTS
  • Maintain six feet of social distance in classrooms and throughout campus
  • Faculty to travel to classrooms where possible, especially in Preschool and Lower School
  • No third party enrichment programs/vendors
  • No visitors or volunteers allowed in any building.
WHAT WILL THIS LOOK LIKE FOR OUR STUDENTS:

List of 4 frequently asked questions.

  • PRESCHOOL (PREK - K)

    Students will remain in their classroom with their teacher and associate teacher. Co-curricular classes (music, art, Spanish, PE, etc.) will be offered in a modified way. Recess will likely be held in designated zones spread out across campus. Lunch will be modified and served in the Preschool building.

  • LOWER SCHOOL (PRIMER - GRADE 4)

    Students will remain in their classroom with their teacher. Co-curricular classes (music, art, Spanish, PE, etc.) will be offered in a modified way. Recess will likely be held in designated zones spread out across campus. Lunch will be modified to reduce cross-group contact.

  • MIDDLE SCHOOL (GRADES 5 - 8)

    Middle School will adjust schedules to reduce the amount of student travel required between classes. Lunch and break times will be modified to reduce congregation and group size. Break and recess will be held in designated zones near the Middle School. Lockers will not be used to reduce student contact and allow more passing space in the hallways.

  • UPPER SCHOOL (GRADES 9 - 12)

    The Upper School block schedule will be utilizing A and B days as planned. Student movement during free periods will be restricted to designated study areas. Passing periods will be extended to allow for modified traffic flow. Lockers will not be used. Lunch and break times will be modified to reduce congregation and group size. Seniors will not leave campus for lunch.
 

Greenhill School

A coed independent day school for prekindergarten – Grade 12
4141 Spring Valley Rd. | Addison, TX 75001 | 972-628-5400
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