Updated return to school information for New Albany students

Staggered Entry Return to School, Hybrid Schedule, Mask Mandate

New Albany School District (NASD) has continually prepared for a safe return to school for the 2020-2021 academic school year.   The health and safety of our students, staff, and community will remain the number one priority throughout this year.

Staggered Entry Return to School, August 6-7, 2020

Last month, NASD announced its staggered entry, return to school schedule for August 6-7. This schedule allows staff and students many benefits as students and staff become accustomed to an in-person setting with the increased health and safety protocols. The schedule for August 6-7 is listed below.

New Albany High School’s schedule:

Thursday, August 6: Only seniors and freshmen report to in-person school.

Friday, August 7: Only sophomores and juniors report to in-person school.

New Albany Middle School’s schedule:

Thursday, August 6: Only seventh and eighth graders report to in-person school.

Friday, August 7: Only sixth graders report to in-person school.

New Albany Elementary School’s schedule:

Thursday, August 6

Kindergarten: Students in the following classrooms are asked to report at 9 am: Dodds, Spencer, Parks, Robertson, Simmons

2^nd Grade

3^rd Grade
Friday, August 7

Pre-K: Mrs. Stubblefield’s Class

Kindergarten: Students in the following classrooms are asked to report at 9 am: Latham, Duncan, Denton, Murry, Freeman

1^st Grade

4^th Grade

5^th Grade

Hybrid Schedule-Moderate Phase, August 10-September 4

NASD announced its approved “Return to School” plan in June. This plan includes three schedule models based on the level of community spread as determined by state and local health officials.

“After the Governor’s press conference yesterday, the comments made by Dr. Thomas Dobbs, and the rising numbers in our state this past month, we believe it is in the best interest of the health of our community, to begin the 2020-2021 school year in the moderate spread phase of our return to school plan,” said Dr. Lance Evans, Superintendent.

NASD school officials met with Dr. H.F. Mason, Dr. Brad Scott, and Dr. Shane Scott on Wednesday, August 5. All of these community medical providers were in agreement that the hybrid model was in the best interest of community health and recommended that this model be used until the Labor Day Holiday. The school district will utilize the hybrid model from August 10 through September 4.

The moderate spread phase of the return to school plan includes a hybrid model to allow increased social distancing on each school campus. All students will be placed in either a Maroon team or a Bulldogs team and will report to school on their assigned Maroon or Bulldogs day. When it is not their day to attend in-person, traditional school, students will participate in school virtually. Students will NOT report to campus on Wednesdays and classes will be conducted virtually that day. Each Wednesday will be used for deep cleaning and additional sanitizing measures.

To assist families in preparing, the Maroon team & Bulldogs team will be determined by the last name of the oldest sibling/student in the household. This allows for the oldest sibling to remain in the home with younger students.

Team Maroon: Last Names A-J

Team Bulldogs: Last Names K-Z

Team Maroon will attend in-person school on Mondays & Thursdays; Team Bulldogs will attend in-person school on Tuesdays & Fridays. If students are not attending in-person school, they will be required to participate in virtual school. ALL students will participate in virtual school on Wednesdays.

Other important information to note:

• Students in grades K-2 will attend in-person school on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday; they will participate in virtual school on Wednesday.
• PreK students will attend Monday-Friday (even on Wednesday).
• Students who do not have reliable, fast Internet should consider attending traditional, in-person school on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday of each week.
• Bus transportation will be provided Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday each week.

Mask Mandates

In accordance with the Governor’s executive order regarding the mask mandate, all students and staff members will be required to wear masks while on school campuses and in the school buildings.

“We believe that the combination of the hybrid schedule and mask mandate will help reduce the spread of the disease in our community while still providing in-person, traditional academic opportunities for our students,” said Evans. “We request that parents and community members be patient as we make decisions and transition through these schedule models. These decisions are made in the best interest of the health, safety, and academic needs of our students and staff.”