The Marin school 2020-2021 Continuity of instruction and School site-specific protection plan

In preparation for the upcoming school year, The Marin School's Reopening Committee considered numerous paths forward. We also relied on research and experience from educators, health professionals, and other schools to create a plan that will allow us to pivot quickly in the face of evolving circumstances. We have a multi-tiered plan that will allows for flexibility as we plan our return to campus when it is safe to do so. The timeline will depend upon conditions and recommendations from the  Department of Public Health. TMS is small and nimble, and will be able to adapt to changing conditions without disruption to the important work of educating and supporting our students.

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Guiding Principles:

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  • Incorporate what we learned from Spring 2020

  • Reduce cognitive load on students 

  • Simplify landscape for teachers

  • Reduce variables in the master schedule

  • Plan to have students back on campus safely

  • Maintain high academic standards and flexibility

  • Enhance facility and improve tech capacity

  • Keep everything “as TMS as possible"

community update archive:

Cohorts

Why cohort?

  • Local public health guidance strongly recommends small, stable cohorts of students

  • International schools report reopening success with cohorts

  • Simplifies contract tracing

  • Limits reach of positive cases within the community

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How will cohorts be designated?

  • We have created three separate cohorts of students for the Fall semester. (See chart below)

  • This model will need to be adjusted in the spring to adapt to second-semester courses, depending on conditions at that time.

cohort 1:
All 9th graders
cohort 2:
Grouping of 10th/11th graders
cohort 3:
Grouping of 11th/12th graders
the fundamentals:
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3x3 Block Schedule

What is the "3x3 Approach"?

  • Students take 3 “year-long” classes per semester

  • Four 80-minute blocks four days per week

  • One 50-minute block one day per week​

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On-Campus Benefits:

  • Operational simplification

  • Classrooms and common areas used by fewer people in a school day

  • Students and teachers have fewer in-person contacts

  • Better for hands-on courses

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Remote Benefits:

  • Simpler for students & staff

  • Block classes → better for remote learning

  • Overall reduction in cognitive / executive function load

TMS "As Usual"

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TMS standard schedule

TMS 3x3 Approach

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3x3_2.png

5 Response Tiers

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LEVEL 1

Level 2:

LEVEL 2

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LEVEL 3

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LEVEL 3

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LEVEL 5

Tier 1: Full Time on campus (unlikely)

Tier 1 features: 5 days on campus, in-person learning Minimum day Wednesday for students Virtual Monday Morning Meeting with Advisory PPE required Click image to enlarge



Tier 2: Physical Distancing & Student Cohorts Required

Tier 2 features: 4 days in person learning 1 remote day / cleaning day Minimum day Wednesday for students Virtual Monday Morning Meeting, held in Advisory classroom PPE required for all community membersStudents are limited to interactions within closed cohorts, social distance measures in place Click image to enlarge



Tier 3: Physical Distancing & Lower Density Required

Tier 3 features: 2 days on campus, in-person learning for each cohort 1 fully remote day / cleaning day Minimum day Wednesday for students Virtual Monday Morning Meeting, held in Advisory classroom for students who are on campus PPE required for all community members Students are limited to interactions within closed cohorts, social distance measures in place Click image to enlarge



Tier 5: Remote Learning Required

Tier 5 features: Fully remote learning Minimum day Wednesday for students



Tier 4: 4x10 Cycle Model

Tier 4 features: 4x10 scheduling works with virus cycle - could include 10 days of group quarantine 2 days on campus, in-person learning for each cohort 4 days of on-campus school operations 1 fully remote day / cleaning day Minimum day Friday for students Virtual Monday Morning Meeting, held in Advisory classroom PPE required for all community members Students are limited to interactions within closed cohorts, social distance measures in place



 
 
 
 
 
TMS Fall 2020 RE-opening plan: Full presentation
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