Due to the number of students in each class and the size of our classrooms at HTS, we are able to maintain 6 feet of social distance between students seated at their desks.

Over the summer, adjustments were made in classrooms to create safe environments wherever students and faculty are present.  This was accomplished by removing nonessential furniture, reconfiguring desks, reorienting classroom set ups, and utilizing flexible spaces.

In the elementary building, all students will remain in their classrooms.  Specials teachers will travel and conduct classes in each individual classroom.  Classes will be on a staggered schedule to go outside for movement breaks and snack.

Middle school students will remain in their designated cohort (6-1, 6-2, 7-1, 7-2, 8-1, 8-2) and teachers will travel to instruct them in their specified cohort classrooms.  To minimize movement, middle school students will only change classes for math and world language. In an effort to reduce movement throughout the middle school building, band/chorus and art/digital storytelling will be taught remotely during afternoon hours (1:30 - 3pm).  During times when students must change classes, faculty will be assigned to oversee traffic flow and adherence to social distancing guidelines.  Lockers will not be used. 

Social distancing on public school buses mandates one student per seat with the exception of siblings, who may sit together.  HTS will operate in compliance with these guidelines.

During school hours at HTS, all students and staff are required to wear a face covering or mask at all times in our buildings and on our buses. If a student forgets their face covering, a disposable mask will be provided.  Understanding wearing masks for extended periods is challenging, outdoor "mask breaks" will be built into the daily schedule for all students. 

The CDC recommends cloth face coverings, but disposable masks are also acceptable, as long as the mouth and nose are properly covered.  Students are encouraged to have extra masks on hand each day, stored in a ziploc bag or other sanitary container. Cloth masks should be washed each day; be sure to dry thoroughly before wearing. 

Each morning, HTS parents will be required to complete a symptom screening on-line, which will be accessed and submitted to the school nurse through Genesis.  The screening will include general health questions and will require each child’s temperature to be taken at home.  Students with a fever (100.4 or above) should not be sent to school under any circumstances. Parents will be asked to report symptoms consistent with COVID-19 to the school nurse in case quarantine and coronavirus testing are warranted.  ALL HTS faculty and staff will be required to complete a COVID-19 screening, including temperature check, each day prior to the start of school.

Symptoms will also be monitored at school. If a student or staff member exhibits symptoms consistent with COVID-19, they will be safely and respectfully isolated from others as per direction from the NJ Department of Education. Specific procedures for symptomatic staff and students will be developed in concert with our local health department. If an individual who has spent time in any of our buildings or buses tests positive for COVID-19, we will notify local health officials, staff and families that a case has been confirmed and follow all other required procedures.

Throughout the day, handwashing and hand sanitizing will occur frequently.  Hallways and primary entrances will be equipped with hand-free sanitizing stations.  All students will receive frequent reminders and guidance from faculty and staff regarding effective handwashing techniques.  

ChromeBook usage will be one-to-one.  Students utilizing Chrome Books will be assigned a number and will use the same book for the duration of the day, each day.  Chrome Books will be sanitized at the end of each day.

Elementary students will have seat sacks to house all of their own personal school supplies.  No communal supplies will be utilized.  Middle school students will keep their backpacks with them to have access to their own materials.

We will continue to adhere to existing required facilities cleaning practices and procedures, and will follow any new specific requirements of the local health department as they arise. 

We will also increase routine cleaning and disinfecting, especially of frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as desks, chairs, tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc.

The preschool classroom will be cleaned and sanitized in between the three-year old and four-year old sessions.

The nurse’s office will be equipped with essential resources such as touchless temperature scanners and protective personal equipment for faculty and staff.

Per the New Jersey Department of Education, an isolation room will be identified so any students and staff who develop symptoms can be safely and respectfully isolated from others and attended to.  HTS will follow all guidelines and requirements of the local health department regarding reporting and contact tracing and ensure adherence to privacy laws.

Both the elementary and middle school buildings are equipped with a bottle filler feature with no-touch sensor activation. Students are encouraged to bring reusable water bottles to school each day, as they will not be permitted to drink directly from the fountains.

Each of our classrooms and large capacity spaces have unit ventilators that meet required standards for air exchange. Units are continuously maintained to ensure safe ventilation of spaces.