COVID-19 School Guidance Checklist

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) developed a framework to support school communities as they decide when and how to implement in-person instruction for the 2020-2021 school year. This framework and guidance is rooted in the scientific evidence available to date and supports twin goals: safe and successful in-person instruction.

Read the Pacific School's COVID Guidance Checklist

COVID School Safety Plans

The Pacific School is following all local and state regulations to protect the health of our school community. Home COVID test kits are available in the K8 and High School offices.

The following resources support our COVID School Safety Plan:

• CDPH School Guidance (updated 10/2/23). The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) continually updates its framework to support school communities. CDPH provides guidance for K–12 schools to support safe in-person services and mitigate the spread of communicable diseases during the 2023-2024 School Year. 
• 22.23 COVID School Protocols (updated 2/1/2023). The Pacific School follows local (Mendocino County Public Health) and state (California Department of Public Health) guidelines to protect the health of our school community. 
• COVID Prevention Program (updated 8/1/2021). As of Dec. 1, 2020, Cal/OSHA’s emergency regulations requiring employers to protect workers from hazards related to COVID-19 are now in effect. The regulations require that employers, including LEAs, implement a site-specific written COVID-19 prevention program to address COVID-19 health hazards, correct unsafe or unhealthy conditions and provide face coverings. Cal/OSHA has posted FAQs and a one-page fact sheet on the regulation.

Outdoor Learning Protocols

Outdoor learning and field studies have always been an integral component of our programs. In the current climate of distance learning and COVID-19, outdoor classes are being promoted as a safe way for offering in-person instruction. We received a waiver from the State to initially offer outdoor learning days with our K-5 classes. We are continuing our K-5 outdoor classes in the 2nd semester with additional days and expanding to include middle school students beginning March 23. In-person Spring Fridays for high school students will begin after Spring Break. Our Outdoor Learning Protocols offer details for participating families.

Read our Outdoor Learning Protocols

Learning Continuity & Attendance Plan

PCCS developed a Learning Continuity and Attendance Plan for the 2020/21 School Year in accordance with guidance from the California Department of Education. The Learning Continuity Plan was adopted by the PCCS Governance Council on September 23, 2020 after receiving and incorporating feedback from our stakeholders.

Reopening Plan: 2020-21 School Year

PCCS has developed this reopening plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will inform in-class learning scenarios at the K-8 and High School sites and outlines instructional options that include distance learning, hybrid instruction and outdoor learning. Any reopening will follow current local and state guidelines, and be adapted and/or implemented to be in compliance according to that guidance.

PCCS will follow the guidelines and protocols described in this plan while continuing to offer engaging K-8 and High School programs that align with the school’s mission. Where possible programs will encourage “social connectedness with physical distancing.” 

The PCCS Governance Council approved and adopted this Reopening Plan on August 5, 2020.

Download a copy of our Reopening Plan for the 2020-21 School Year.

A Note on Reopening from our Management Team Chair

July 20, 2020

Over the past 13 years the Pacific School has played a central role for our family with my oldest son, Logan, graduating high school this year. Our family has chosen to be a part of this school community because of its empathetic spirit, project-based learning, collaborative classrooms, field studies, and family participation.
 
After all these years at the Pacific School, I didn’t anticipate that I would be stepping from the role of parent to Management Team Chair in the midst of a global pandemic. In this new role I’ve worked closely with Todd Orenick as K-8 Director and Michele Taylor-Jones as our new High School Director to develop a plan for reopening our school that keeps our community safe. Together we are participating in meetings with the County Health Officer, County Superintendent and California Department of Education as well as following local and state guidance.
 
We are working diligently to consider the needs of students, families, and staff to create a program that not only addresses the challenges presented by COVID-19, but that also aligns with our school values. I also recognize that every model of schooling that we’ve considered has advantages and disadvantages and may not be the preferred choice for every family.

COVID-19 Planning

In response to the continued impacts of COVID-19 we are carefully considering how to move forward with the 20-21 School Year. Our first priority is the safety of our students and staff and we are working diligently on our 2020-2021 Reopening Plan. In collaboration with Mendocino County Office of Education and County Health Officer, we are working on these 2 scenarios:

1. Full-time distance learning: The student and teacher will engage online every school day. This engagement can be synchronous, classes occur on set schedules and time frames via live instruction through Zoom or Google, or asynchronous, through assignments completed on the student’s own schedule and supported with videos, online instruction or other materials. Families and students will be expected to fully participate and attendance will be tracked. This option may be available to families on an individual basis regardless of other options being implemented in the fall.
2. Hybrid model: Students would attend school on specified days and complete distance learning assignments on days they are not on-site at the school. Building community, fostering social connections and experiential learning will be prioritized during on-site instruction days. Distance learning assignments will support in-person lessons and activities.

What we know is that school will reopen according to one of these scenarios in August and that Distance Learning will be a component to ensure a safe learning environment.