In-Person Instruction: PreK-12 

BSD intends to begin in-person Instruction on the first day of school for students, August 24, 2020. We will review and reinforce previously taught skills as well as introduce new concepts following the Missouri Learning Standards. Be with us HERE (In-person) instruction is traditional at-school learning. Parents who select Be with us HERE will have their PreK-12 children at school.

• Additional safety protocols and social distancing will be implemented as feasible for at-school learning.
• BSD will follow the DESE guidelines, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, as well as Cass County Health Department guidelines for In-Person Instruction. 
• Grading practices will follow the same guidelines as the traditional in-person grading system, using standards-based grading for grades K-6 and traditional letter grading for grades 7-12 as outlined by each course’s syllabus with required credits for graduation.
• Response to Intervention plans and Learning Mentor schedules will be modified to follow CDC and DESE guidelines.
• To begin the year, students will be practicing new routines on social distancing, hygiene, and implementing social-emotional learning within the classroom. These will be revisited quarterly as needed.
• Students will be learning how to use and access district digital resources.
• Students will be screened on academic skills in the first few weeks to identify and address any learning gaps.
• Teachers will be creative in assigning science labs/group work to still promote social distance.
• All related services for students will continue with modifications as needed in order to follow CDC and DESE guidelines.
• Student travel within the building.
• Students and staff will continue to wear their masks when traveling in the building.
• Students wash their hands before they leave the classroom.
• When students arrive at a new location, sanitize hands upon entry.
• When students return to the classroom, sanitize hands upon entry.
• Library
  • BSD Library Re-entry Plan 2020-21 (Physical resources only)
  • Book quarantine guidelines from REALM
  • Books ‘rest’ for 7 days, even if touched once.
  • Any materials that cannot be wiped down should be put in storage.
  • Libraries will follow the Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) guidelines and REALM project guidelines.  

PreK Early Childhood Program (In-Person) 

• Students will be assigned to attend the full-day program, full-day fee-based program, and the half-day program.
• A waiting list will be maintained and adjustments made to class sizes based on health department guidelines and recommendations.
• The necessary cleaning protocols will take place in between AM and PM sessions.
• In Pre-K classrooms, every best effort will be made to maintain stable groups (children will remain in one classroom for learning).
• All programs will follow the Division of Health and Senior Services guidelines in order to be in compliance with licensing.

PreK Early Childhood Special Education (In-Person)

• Students will be assigned to an AM or PM session.
• The necessary cleaning protocols will take place in between AM and PM sessions.
• In Pre-K classrooms, every best effort will be made to maintain stable groups (children will remain in one classroom for learning).
• All programs will follow the Division of Health and Senior Services guidelines in order to be in compliance with licensing.

Elementary (In Person) Grades K-6

Elementary will be all in-person with social distancing as feasible.

• Students and staff will be required to wear masks.
• Special Class 
• To start, specials teachers will be coming to the classroom for instruction. *Starting September 22, children will be leaving their classroom to attending specials!
• No sharing of materials within a class.
• Staff will sanitize equipment between classes as needed.
• Schedules will allow for sanitizing and to decrease hallway traffic.
• Extracurricular activities may continue with modifications in order to follow CDC and DESE guidelines.
• 1:1 device training will be extensive for all K-6 students.

Secondary (In Person) Grades 7-12

Secondary students will be all in-person with social distancing of 3-6 feet with masks. Many of the course/program-specific points below also apply to students who are learning from home.

• Students and staff will be required to wear masks.
• Class bells will be staggered for allowing small groups of students to pass in the halls.
• Extracurricular activities may continue with modifications as needed in order to follow CDC and DESE guidelines.
• Canvas training will be provided for all 7-12 students using Canvas Standards.
• Students will be trained on expectations related to Be with us HERE (in-person), Be with us at HOME (virtual), and Distance learning.
• A+ students will not be permitted to travel to other schools for tutoring, etc. Arrangements will be made so students can fulfill the necessary requirements for this program.
• The Academies of Belton will be creative in providing opportunities for student and staff interaction with business partners through career fairs, job shadows, and roundtable discussions while adhering to CDC guidelines.
• Cass Career Center: Harrisonville Schools plans to open on August 24th as well. BHS will share how this will work with the students involved.

Virtual Instruction

We heard your feedback! During the school closure in the Spring, teachers were learning alongside students what works and what didn't when it came to this "new" way of delivering and receiving instruction. We are better prepared to serve each child and ensure they are challenged, engaged, and involved in their virtual learning experience.

Virtual Instruction involves two-way, real-time/live/recorded virtual instruction. Parents who select Be with us at HOME will have their children learning from home. The teacher will interact with students in a virtual learning environment for scheduled portions of the day. This teacher will be housed in a school building and may also help with other duties as assigned. By having the virtual teachers on campus each day, this will ensure Be with us HERE students and Be with us at HOME students are paced evenly across the curriculum. Teachers will also have the support of colleagues, including instructional coaches, and have the opportunity to collaborate on teaching and learning. We will review and reinforce previously taught skills as well as introduce new concepts following the Missouri Learning Standards.

• BSD will give parents the choice to Be with us at HOME (Virtual Instruction) by signing up before July 30, 2020. Under BSD’s proposed plan, parents who select for their child toBe with us at HOME, that selection remains in place for the entire semester.
• Under the Be with us at HOME (Virtual Instruction) model, BSD would provide instruction for students in grades K-12. Teacher instruction will comprise of electronic /web-based tools, textbooks, library/classroom books, packets/worksheets, manipulatives, learning games, and teacher-created materials.
• This option provides for ongoing virtual learning options for students in high-risk health groups and at significant risk if exposed to the COVID-19 virus.CDC Guidance for High-Risk Groups
• Live Zoom or pre-recorded videos will be used in curriculum units. Teachers will provide consistent guided support.
• Students will be held accountable and will have assignment deadlines that mirror their Be with us HERE (in-person) peers.
• Grading practices will follow the same guidelines as the traditional in-person grading system using standards-based grading for grades K-6 and traditional letter grading for grades 7-12 as outlined by each course’s syllabus with required credits for graduation.
• The BSD student would be considered enrolled in Be with us at HOME for attendance and funding purposes and would be eligible to participate in all extracurricular activities and sports per MSHSAA guidelines.
• All Be with us at HOME students will continue to be affiliated with their attendance zone school, including communications.
• Depending on the number of PreK families who select Be with us at HOME, Grace staff will contact parents to discuss a learning plan and ways to connect. There is no guarantee a virtual option will be available for PreK students.
• We could potentially have one teacher per grade level in the district as the Be with us at HOME teacher for grades K-6. This teacher could be another grade level teacher in a different school within the Belton School District.  For example, if we have 30 third graders across the district who chose to be a Be with us at HOME student, then we would have one current third grade teacher be the Be with us at HOME teacher for that group of students across the district. How this would impact the 20 additional days for Hillcrest STEAM Academy students is still under discussion. Hillcrest students who opt for Be with us at HOME will retain their in-person spot when they return to in-person instruction.
• On occasion, students taking advanced placement or dual credit courses may have more than the recommended time for Be with us at HOME suggested time for work completion. Partner universities and colleges are supportive of a Distance Learning model for dual credit course delivery and specifics will be supplied to staff and students as the first day of school nears.

Closures of All or Some Schools 

• In the event the Belton School District needs to close one or more schools due to an outbreak, or if the district is closed for consecutive days due to inclement weather, Complete Distance Learning for a single school or the entire district will go into effect.
• All K-12 students will take their device home.
• Grading and attendance will follow the Attendance procedures for Virtual instruction.
• Instruction will focus on:
• Review and reinforcement of previously taught skills
• Introduction of new concepts
• Independent practice and application of previously taught concepts
• App or web-based software to teach/reinforce concepts
• Virtual Instruction
• Assigned reading, study or activity to introduce new concepts